The Funeral of the Year

My mother has taught me something down through the years regarding successes and especially failures. As a worship leader, I recall times that I came out of Sunday services feeling completely frustrated and defeated because of the way things had gone in the portions of the service for which I was responsible. Moments when we had finished all the songs on the list and something else needed to happen, but for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what. Moments when I’d tried my hardest to lead the congregation to a point of freedom in worship and felt like I myself couldn’t even get there, much less lead anyone else. Moments when I felt like I’d opened my mouth to speak and had only managed to ramble a string of inconsequential clichés and jumbled thoughts. Those moments are frustrating in life. For me, those moments happen in ministry. For you, I’m sure you can relate in your own pursuits in life, whatever those may be. We have those moments, those days, those weeks, when it just seems like we totally flopped. And for a lot of us, we tend to beat ourselves up over them; we digest, re-digest, regurgitate, and digest more. We dwell on the negative; we analyze and replay the scenarios over and over in our minds. Enter Mom.

God put her in my life for a very important reason (um, besides birthing me and raising me and all that, of course). My mom cuts to the chase; she doesn’t beat around the bush, and for me, that’s a very good thing, because I tend to get lost somewhere over on the far side of the bush, and that’s where she usually finds me, beating away. So over the years in ministry, she has taught me one thing that has served me well on the subject at hand: “Amy, let the curtain fall on it.” Much like a theatrical production, when it’s over, just let the curtain fall; let whatever happened just be. Pick your head up, and start looking to make the next thing better. Yes, correct what needs to be corrected, learn from it, but don’t forget to move on.

So I’m planning a funeral for the year. That’s right: a funeral for 2013. The curtain is about to fall on the year, and I’m ready to let it. Granted, I’m not going to drop the curtain prematurely. I’m determined to make the most of every opportunity that presents itself even still (Ephesians 5:16; reference All I Want for Christmas); however, when midnightstrikes at the end of December 31 and launches us into January 1, I’m lowering the curtain on 2013 just as fast as I can… It’s time for something new!

I celebrate the good things this year brought… New life, new dreams, the fulfillment of some long-held dreams and promises, groundbreaking achievements, greater understanding about the principles of God and His Kingdom, breakthroughs in relationships… A lot of really good stuff has come out of it, when I stop and think about it! And of course, we’ve walked through a lot of really bad, too. But 2013 is coming to an end, and I’m determined not to punish 2014 with the residue of 2013. Will I carry lessons and benefits from it? Yes, absolutely. But I’m not going to allow the new year to be birthed in the shadow of the old.

As I prepare to let the curtain fall, here are some of the things I am packing up and carrying with me:

1. I have learned that God is bigger than my dreams, and that He not only wants to bring them to pass, but that He really will bring them to pass.
2. I’ve learned that God is bigger than my fears. I’m still wrapping my head around it, but I’m so thankful that it’s true.
3. I’ve seen first-hand that extraordinary things can be achieved if you (a) believe God, (b) start where you are, and (c) have a team of people with you together in unity.
4. I’ve learned that I could do more than I thought I was capable of doing, and that when I stopped limiting myself by my previous expectations of myself, then faith and God could really kick in and show me what’s possible.
5. I’ve learned that a lot of people in my life are stronger than I ever realized they were, and I’ve seen proven more than ever that we will not be shaken (Psalm 62:6; Hebrews 12:27-28; Hebrews 10:39). Along with that, I’ve seen how it’s ok to be honest when you’re hurting without losing faith that God is still who He says He is, and He’s still good.
6. I’ve moved into a new mindset regarding giving and regarding expectation of God’s provision for my life and our family and church. In doing so, I find myself even more dependent on God and simultaneously more confident of His faithfulness than ever before.
7. I’ve seen demonstrated in greater ways than ever how much God wants to be with us and to do good both for and through us.
   These things I will carry with me into 2014, and I place an expectation on 2014 to live up to and surpass all of this (Ephesians 3:20). With that established, I want to dream big for 2014. I don’t want to allow fear of disappointment to dictate what I will dare to believe God for this year. I don’t want to allow weights or failures or even successes from 2013 to hold me back in pursuing all that 2014 has to offer. I want to move forward. I don’t want to stall and stand still.

Would you dream with me?

As we let the curtain fall on 2013, can we ask ourselves questions that really do put a demand on the year to come? It has been said that expectation is the breeding ground for miracles. Do we dare to expect more from this year than we’ve ever seen before?

• What sickness have you or your spouse or kids been putting up with that you want freedom from this year?
• What has been plaguing your thought life and holding you back from living in the fullness of joy and peace that Christ gives? Do you dare to expect complete freedom from that this year, regardless of how many times freedom seemed to elude you in the past?
• What habits are you ready to drop? What addictions do you need broken? Do you dare to believe that this is your year to walk out of those things once and for all?
• What relationship do you want to see healed and restored in 2014? Is it someone in your family? A once-close friend? God?
• What dream do you want to see fulfilled this year? You know, that thing that you’ve always thought would happen “one day”… Do you dare to believe that “one day” actually has a date of 2014?
• What do you want God to clear up for you this year? Maybe there’s some aspect of your faith and belief system that you’ve really wavered and struggled with, and you just want it to be settled in your heart?
• In what ways do you want to reach outside of yourself and really touch other people this year? Maybe you’ve had ideas in the past, but what’s one step you can take this year toward making it happen?
• How can you give more generously and purposefully this year?
• What do you want to see happen in your relationship with God? Do you need greater desire for Him? Greater discipline in your time with Him? Breakthrough in your prayer life?
• What ministry opportunity do you want to seize this year and dare to believe that God will help make it happen? Is there a missions trip you know you need to be on? Is there an outreach program you’re supposed to join? Is there a place you should be serving in your church—kids’ ministry, meals ministry, transportation, greeting, ushering…???
  How can you shift your mindset this year to be more God-focused, more others-focused, and less selfishly focused?
• When you get to this time next year, what will success look like to you?

I’m not talking about New Year’s Resolutions. I’m talking about dreams, plans, & expectations… Ones that require God… Ones we can’t do on our own. We’ve tried; we’ve failed. Time to call in the One who can take us to the next level.

I refuse to wander aimlessly into 2014. Everything that has been, well, has been. It’s over. It’s done. I don’t understand all of it and can’t wrap my head around it all. But a new year is coming. It’s on the horizon. I can see the glimmer of the new sunrise.

The curtain is starting to fall on 2013, and as it does, which side of the curtain will you be on? Will you be stuck alone behind a thick drape on a stage where all the lights have gone out and the actors have left, or will you stand with the audience, applaud the successes, and then exit the building to move onto the next thing God has for you?

And make no mistake: God does have “next” things for you. Big things, wonderful things, great things. He wants 2014 to outshine any other year in your past. Are you ready to let it?

I invite you to join me, just a few days from now… Let’s bury the old year, take the treasures we can find from it, strap them on our backs, and pioneer a blazing trail of high expectations and God-breathed dreams into 2014!

Never stop believing.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. – Philippians 3:12