Happy New Year - 2006

The hum of Christmas has changed key and changed to the melody of a New Year. The sounds of laughter and family and friends have become the sounds of cleaning up, re-arranging, and refilling the larder. Christmas candles are being changed for a new fragrance and the aroma of cinnamon and pine will be put away until December arrives again.

New Year’s Eve at Linwood House was a slow and relaxed evening with a friend from Florida treating us to her culinary expertise. The aroma wafted out to the Great Room where we waited for the call to come and dine together.

As 2006 begins there are plans to be made, schedules to look at, and time needed to let this year begin to unfold so we can see what God’s schedule is for this Ministry.

The January “Thought” posted on our website is about having Jesus character when we meet others.
Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me – you did it to me.’

Christmas is a season where you find people giving to others in need and sharing the “Spirit of Christmas”. In reality Jesus calls us to have this aroma of giving, of sharing, of being aware of others every day. Today as I sort through paperwork in the office, as I remember all the fun and joy of the past weeks, I am reminded that the routine of living also carries its own melody and fragrance.

Consistency and change go hand in hand. Consistency in how we treat others, how we model Jesus while at the same time we change as we become more Kingdom like in daily living. Like the key change of a melody – the tune is the same but the notes are played slightly different.

As each of us move to the key change, we wish you a Happy New Year from all of us at Linwood House.