Happy New Year 2020

Is this actually the last year of this decade, or is it is the beginning of a new decade? The way I was taught we count one to ten, 11 to 20, 21 to 30, etc., that would make 2020 the last year of the 2011 to 2020 decade. Others consider a decade as every ten years, as in the years 1980-1989; 1990-1999; 2000-2009; 2010-2019; 2020-2029. This can be so confusing. Anyway...Happy New Year!

I've been praying and thinking about this New Year and a focus for this blog for the last couple of months. What would the Lord have me study and write about? Honestly, I have been so focused on writing--formatting and illustrating my book "Parenting Day by Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character"--that I haven't spent much time on other things...like Christmas cards so belated Holiday Greetings to those who normally get cards from us.

One thing I considered blogging about was Death and Dying. We all must face death one day or the death of others close to us. I have three wonderful Christian ladies in my life who are all 93...and going to be 94 this year. I also have a second cousin who will be 100 years old in March. Each of these ladies have such a positive attitude about life and deal with their health issues without complaining. Although they have lost many dear family members and friends they don't appear to be stressed about dying someday. So many people seem to have a fear of dying. Fear. That is the key word. God doesn't give us fear.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)

No fear. Fear is not from God. But there is a fear that is actually respect for the Lord--that is a good thing. No fear for life nor death. 

Life-giving fountain.
Charleston, SC

    Fear of the LORD is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death.  
    Proverbs 14:27

Because God's children are human beings--made of flesh and blood--the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. Hebrews 2:14-15

We are God's children...if we believe in God and in Jesus as our Savior. It is a good way to start out the New Year--no fear. No fear of death. No fear of dying.

Prayer ~ Jesus, Thank You for setting us free from being slaves to the fear of dying. The burden of fear has been lifted and we begin this New Year rejoicing in Your love. Continue to fill us with Your joy in this New Year.

© 2020 Text and photo by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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