Annie's New Year Page

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that
which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down,
and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;"
~Ecclesiastes 3:1-4~

God only promises us today. We don't know what is ahead of us. But God knows.
He doesn't always show us what is in store for us or even if we will have a tomorrow.
So we should live our lives as if each day is the last.

How terrible it would be to live your whole life and in the end be full of regret.

What a privilege we have as Christians. We don't have to trust in ourselves or our
New Year Resolutions. There really is no such thing as LUCK. For God is a God
of order and plan. He knows us better that we know ourselves. He even
knew us before we were born. (Psalm 139). We can trust in the Lord.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of
peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me,
and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek
me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be
found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather
you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith
the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you
to be carried away captive."
~Jeremiah 29:11-14~

The words in the above verse are so very comforting. The Lord "KNOWS" the
plans He has for us. He is Omnipotent and Omnipresent. The study of the
Character of God is such a awesome Bible study. Just that He KNOWS. I
also am reminded of the verse when Abraham asked who He was and God
answered "I am that I am". He is and we are. Isn't that so profound
and yet amazing at the same time.

When I look at the vastness of the universe that the Lord God created I am
overwhelmed with His love for me. What comfort, what peace and yes what joy.
To think that He would have sent His son to die just for me and you.

We can daily go to God and ask for forgiveness and He wipes the slate clean.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
~1 John 1:9~

"For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them
that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath
he removed our transgressions from us."
~Psalm 103:11-12~

Always remember that the Lord God is FAITHFUL and JUST, but most
importantly GOD IS LOVE. Notice here that God IS Love.
The word IS is a verb an action word.

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits,
even the God of our salvation. Selah."
~Psalm 68:19~

"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt
go: I will guide thee with mine eye."
~Psalm 32:8~

My prayer and hope for you this new year 2010 is that you are encouraged you to live by faith.
Remember that the Word of God tells us that "faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of
things unseen". Take these words and memorize them and ponder them in your heart!

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
~Hebrews 11:1~

Remember the song........
"....my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and righteousness.
I need no other argument I need no other plea it is
enough that Jesus died and that He died for me."

Let's start this New Year fresh. If you do not know Jesus Christ
as your personal savior........ let me invite you to become a Christian.

All you have to do is:
Admit you are a sinner. Romans 3:23
Believe Jesus died on the cross for you. Acts 16:31
Confess your sin to God and turn from it. Romans 10:9

If you are a Christian..........it is time for you to decide. Will you turn the
control of your life over to the Lord? Will you let Him guide and direct you?

"The heart which has no agenda but God's is the heart at leisure from itself."
~~Elisabeth Elliot~~

"After all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it's sometimes easy to feel
spiritually drained and dry. The psalmist sings that the one who
meditates on God's law day and night is like a tree that never
knows winter, planted as it is by streams of water."
~~Harriet Crosby~~ in A Well-Watered Garden

I was studying and looking up verses and the Lord brought a thought to my mind.
What does God expect from us or What does God want us to do ?

So I decided to go the Bible the inspired word of God and find out.
God's word is very specific about the answer.

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD
require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to
walk humbly with thy God?"
~Micah 6:8~

New Year's Eve Celebration Ideas

Here are some ideas for alternate ways to have a New Year party:

1~~ Take the family to a church candle light service.
2~~ Have a family fun night. Play board games together and watch a video.
3~~Have a "Take Out Feast". Maybe some egg rolls, tacos, fries, onion rings.
A little from each of your favorite style of restaurants.
4~~If you would like to toast the new year in why not try sparkling cider, mineral
water with bubbles or make some lovely frozen beverages with lots of fruit. You
don't have to use champagne. Here is a page with lots of Non-Alcoholic drinks
for you to choose from: The Webtender's Non-Alcoholic Beverages
5~~Buy some munchies & ice cream so you can "veg out" with the TV.
My favorite ice cream right now is "Peppermint Stick".
6~~Instead of going to Times Square to see the count down to 2010, you can
watch a New Year's special on the TV. Watch the Ball Drop Live! Check what
will be on in your area at TV GUIDE. USA Today has a preview of TV specials
for New Years Eve.

Put 2009 in the past and start fresh this New Year.

THE ROSE BOWL TOURNAMENT AND PARADE

1902 - The very first Tournament of Roses collegiate football game was
played in Pasadena, California this day. Michigan trounced the Stanford
Cardinal 49-0. It would be 14 years before another Rose Bowl game was
held. One is being held today, in fact; following the Tournament of
Roses Parade; where all floats in the parade are created using only
flowers, fronds, leaves and seeds. You're probably watching it on TV
right now if you didn't camp out in Pasadena overnight.

1926 - The Rose Bowl was carried coast to coast on network radio
for the first time. Graham McNamee provided play-by-play on NBC Radio.

1982 - We know, you can't get enough of that Rose Bowl news, now
can you? Here's more: Washington's Huskies beat the Iowa Hawkeye's
28-0 in the Rose Bowl. It had been 29 years since the last
Rose Bowl shutout.

For more New Year and Parade Listing visit:
Annie's Christmas TV Page

Another year is dawning!
Dear Master, let it be,
In working or in waiting,
Another year with Thee!

Another year of leaning
Upon Thy loving breast,
Of even deeper trusting,
Of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness,
In the shining of Thy face.

Another year of progress,
Another year of praise;
Another year of proving
Thy presence "all the days."

Another year of service,
Of witness to Thy love;
Another year of training
For holier work above.

Another year is dawning!
Dear Master, let it be,
On earth, or else in heaven,
Another year for Thee!

What a wonderful promise this verse is!
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things
have passed away; behold all things have become new."
~2 Corinthians 5:17~

God is the God of second chances and new beginnings. God's Word is full of
many more promises that even this verse. Visit Annie's Comfort Page
to find a Bible verse for your specific concerns and feeling.
The page is similar to a Promise Book.

New Year's Traditions Explained
The information you will read below is just to inform and educate you.
I found it interesting. Please understand that as a Christian I do not
have to depend on rituals and luck in my life because the Lord's provides
blessings and takes care of my needs. The Grace of God will not lead us
where His hand cannot protect us and provide for us.

"Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall
give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4

Hoppin' John: "This dish looks like a normal starch dish, but the name
is intriguing. In the South it is served as often as you wish, but always
on New Year's Day, in which case it is to bring you good luck. I am
told that the children were so fond of this dish in the old days
that they would hop about the kitchen waiting for it to cook
thus giving it the name." ~From A Cookbook~

"Many nationalities believe that anything in the form of a ring is lucky
since it symbolizes completion of the year's cycle. Black-eyed peas,
in some sections of the country, are combined with hog jowl; in
other sections the peas are mixed with rice (and sometimes other
vegetables) and the dish becomes Hopping John. The black eyed peas,
though, are the important ingredient. Turkey is served in New Orleans
at a feast rivaling Thanksgiving , and ham is traditional to many
nationalities. Cabbage is highly regarded as lucky by German and Swedish
communities, and salmon is the lucky dish of the Northwest. But the
finder of the money in a coin cake is the most fortunate of all. People
of Dutch descent and the Dutch think doughnuts and apple fritters eaten
on New Year's Day will ensure good fortune for the rest of the year."
The above information is quoted from
"The Year-Round Holiday Cookbook by Suzanne Huntley"

Family Friendly New Year Sites
Happy New Year from Billy Bear: This site has blank pages you can print to make your own
Calendar for the new year ahead. There are some recipes here for alcohol- free beverages
too. And much more.
Happy New Year Page from There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays. Jeanne has a page
for every holiday you can think of and some you might not of heard of at all. You will always
learn something new at her site.
Happy New Year - But for what reason - a look at the customs and history of New Years Day.
What do the words Auld Lang Syne mean? from HowStuffWorks.Com
Happy New Year! from FabulousFoods.com

"Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are
his people, and the sheep of His pasture." ~Psalm 100:3~

The Jewish New Year

Even though the Jewish New Year is not celebrated at the same time of year as our New Year,
I think that there is a lot for us to learn from it. As Christians we believe the Old and the
New Testaments in the Bible. Jesus Christ fulfilled so very many of the verses in the
Old Testament that foretold of his birth and life.

This is a SHOFAR
Visit: Annie's Shofar Page

The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah is widely known and celebrated as the New Years Day of
the Jewish calendar, but actually Rosh Hashanah has a fourfold meaning - It is the Jewish New
Year, the Day of Judgement, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing.

Here are some sites about the Jewish New Year:
Annie's Feast's of the Bible Page
Annie's Feast of Trumpets Page
High Holy Days on the Net- The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah

Calendars

This is the time to get a new day timer or wall calendar. Put all the family birthday and
anniversaries on it FIRST. This is a great gift idea too for the new bride in the family or for
an older family member. Give it for a birthday present. If you add the year of birth for the
children it will make it easier for the family to remember how old they are.

You can give them stamps and cards with the calendar. Stationary stores carry "Card Folders"
to hold each card to be sent for that month. Even you are not going to give it to anyone for
a gift why not gift it as a gift to yourself.

Let's remember that the Calendar that we use is based on the Romans.

Try The Internet Reminder Service. It's FREE!!!

Visit Billy Bear's New Year Page or you can find a Blank
January Calendar Page to print and color

Today in History: This site is exactly what is seems.
You can also check or search for other dates in history too.

The World Book Encyclopedia Online has this page: Calendars - Counting the Days

JUBILEE & Jewish Calendar YEAR

Did you know that we use the Gregorian calendar but the Jewish people have a different
calendar based on the lunar cycle? Did you know that there are word meanings for the
different years in the Jewish calendar?

The year 1998 or 5758 in The Hebrew Calendar was called TASHNIT, or a translation in
Hebrew of 'In the days or time of Noah'

The year 1999 or 5759 means 'The Year Of Redemption And Salvation'.

The meaning of 5760 is "the end is enwedged in the beginning and the beginning in the end".

For the meaning of 5761 click HERE. It is a page written by a Messianic Rabbi and really
quite fascinating.

The Jewish year starts each year on Tishri 10. Tishri is approximately September or October
on our calendar.

This information above was gleaned from The Five Doves Site.

From Marilyn Agee's Pro & Con 685
"According to J.R. Church, "The Jewish community has designated this year (September 29,
2000 through September 18, 2001) as the "Mikveh Year"--the year of Purification. A Mikveh
is a baptismal pool requiring 5,760 eggs-volume of water. Furthermore, the rabbis are calling
upon all Jews to "repent and be baptized!" As you may recall, that is exactly what John the
Baptist was doing during the Sabbatical Year, at the end of which Jesus was baptized and
began His ministry."

1998 was a Jubilee Year and is the year 5758 in the Jewish Calendar. A jubilee year is
celebrated every 50 years. Actually every 7 x 7 or 49 years and then celebrated on the 50th
year cycle. Isn't it exciting that the Jubilee was exactly 50 years after Israel
became a nation?

The Year of Jubilee means "The Restitution of All Things".

The Jubilee year frees a Jew who has been forced by poverty to sell himself as a bondsman.

"A Jubilee Year is celebrated every 50 years (49 years are counted 7x7 years and celebrated
on the 50th). Remember that it took the Lord 6 days to create the world and on the 7th day
He rested. Seven is known to be a perfect number.Isn't it exciting that the Jubilee is exactly
50 years after Israel became a nation? The Year of Jubilee means "The Restitution of All
Things". The Jubilee Year, The Year of the Lord's Favor (Yobel) denotes liberty. Jubilee was
inaugurated by the blowing of the ram's horn (Shofar) throughout the land on the Day of
Atonement. Here are what the restitution's were: the release of Hebrew slaves, the return of
mortgaged land to its original owner, and a year of rest for the land. Through this periodic
correction of economic imbalances, God intended the Israelites to restore their society. The
Jubilee gave poor families a new start in life and avoided the concentration of land in the
hands of only a few. Their claim to their land was one of possession, not ownership. Leviticus
25:13 "In the year of this Jubilee, you shall return every man to his possession"."
~Paragraph above excerpted from "God Intervenes In the Middle East by Marion F. Kremers~

Grab a hat and lets get ready to go.
We have a NEW year to look forward to.
With the Lord's guidance and help it can be a WONDERFUL one.

Annie's New Year History Page
I just love learning the history behind our traditions and holidays. I have had a hard
time finding the information myself so I thought I will try to add Holiday History Pages
for each new Holiday.

You don't have to wish on a star.
Just TRUST in the Lord and He will BLESS you and
give you the DESIRES of your HEART.

Let's open the door to 2010
and leave 2009 behind.

Why not visit Annie's Verse A Day Page
and start to get into God's Word every day.

Looking for New Year Graphics?
Visit my page: Annie's "Links to Holiday Graphics" Page

Annie's New Year Page was featured in The Believer's Weekly!!!
It was the site of the week in their email newsletter for the
week of 12/27/00. What a blessing to see the wonderful review.
Thank you so very much!!!