FACING THE NEW YEAR by Robert Soto

FACING THE NEW YEAR by Robert Soto

December 31, 2009

Deuteronomy 4:29 "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."

I have been told that whatever you are caught doing on the last day of the year will define what you will do for the next 365 days of the New Year. I guess it makes you think of your life and of all the things you do and not do, each day of your life. As for me, I look at my life and wonder what I could have done - not just today, but in the last 364 days that have already gone by. I think of the things I could have done but did not. I also think of the things I did do - either with content, or wondering how I could have done it better. I think of the people I met and the new friendships I have found this year. I think of people who I pray for and wonder how some are doing who I do not see every day and some who I do not even know. So here I am, one more last day of the year.

I do not make new year's resolutions. But as I start this day, I start praying for the next 365 days. I pray that whatever I do, it will bring honor and glory to my God and Creator above. I pray that the next 365 days will be days of strength and health to accomplish whatever God the Creator has placed in my heart. I pray for all the places I plan to go and I pray for all the people I will meet. I pray that my next 365 days of the year will be even greater than the last 364 days. As I pray, I pray that I will seek the Lord our Creator in all I do and that I find His favor and grace in my life. As Moses wrote, "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." So, I think I will sleep late, eat good food, do some beading, Indian dance a few steps, spend time with my family, meet a new person, drive around in my car, feed my turkeys and cats and go visit my buffalo, stop and pray, read my bible and go to church. What a way to meet the new year.

Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:

McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church