Looking Ahead to 2010

What an exciting beginning to the year 2010! I'm going through my photo albums and realizing how much God blessed us in 2009! I'm sure 2010 will be even more exciting! Honestly, I'm tired just thinking about puting away the Christmas decorations.....should I just leave it there since Christmas rolls around again in 11 months anyways?

In the new year, it is tempting to look back and with nostalgia in our voices, and recount of how wonderful life was before 2009 (or the pre-recession era). But everything is in God's perfect plan, and with the advent of 2010, let us not look back and dream of 'the good old days' and what we've lost in the past 12 month, but rather, look forward to the assignments and blessings God has in store for us.

For one thing, due to the cut in work hours and the addition of furloughs, many (recovering) workaholics have realized that they've had more time to be with their loved ones. They've realized that true joy is investing not in stocks or real estate, but in relationships. They've struck a balance between work and family, and are enjoying their family more than ever! Their family members are happy to have them home more often (physically and mentally). And people are saving more instead of spending too!

Perhaps as my pastor Al said, in the year 2010 we all have to leave our Egypt and live a simpler (and exremely abundant) life in the desert. With God and our loved ones, our exodus into an unknown place called "post-recession life" may turn out to be the most blessed decade of our lives! Together, let's anticipate what our Lord has in store for us, His children!

An upside of all of us being in the recession boat is: No one will be actively comparing what style attire is most fashionable this season, or what fancy restaurant is en vogue this week, because won't we all be  eating and wearing pretty much the same thing (Walmart and McDonald's)? Doesn't the thought of this take the pressure off of all of us instantly?