Login Register
  • 3773 Geddes Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105-3028
  • 248-419-3390
LSEM
  • About
    • What We Do…
    • History
    • National Staff
    • Jobs
    • Contact
  • Administrator of the Year
  • Services
  • Archive
    • Devotions
    • LSEM 150th Anniversary
    • The Advocate
  • stories
  • Support
  • Store
  • Portal
  • About
    • What We Do…
    • History
    • National Staff
    • Jobs
    • Contact
  • Administrator of the Year
  • Services
  • Archive
    • Devotions
    • LSEM 150th Anniversary
    • The Advocate
  • stories
  • Support
  • Store
  • Portal
LSEM > Devotions > Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

  • January 4, 2022
  • Posted by: Carolyn Mahal
  • Category: Devotions
No Comments

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Happy New Year to you all!

Unless you’re following the Chinese Calendar. If so, then you have about another month to go.

You see, the Chinese calendar follows the cycles of the moon, so it has a range of dates, similar to how Easter Sunday changes every year. This creates a range of new year dates between January 21 and February 20. This probably poses some challenges for calendar makers, but then again, for most people the actual date of the Chinese New Year isn’t the most recognizable part of this celebration.

What comes to mind for most of us are the animals that coincide with each year. Twelve animals in rotation have the honor of having the year named after them. I honestly don’t know the significance of each animal. I did read online that, “folklore tells of how the Jade Emperor named each year for an animal after they raced across a river. Each animal’s personality was revealed during the race, and it is said that people share traits with the animal of their lunar birth year.” I was tempted to read on, but I really didn’t want to start connecting my family and friends to critters, especially when some of the choices include pigs, snakes, and dogs. I can, however, make some strong connections between the animals and the events of their years. Don’t believe me? Well, just know that every U.S. Presidential election falls in either the year of the monkey or the year of the rat.

If you think about it, years often seem to take on a persona. Perhaps it’s just something that we attach to them personally, but I think there are some years that have a universal reputation for having been good or not so good. 2020 is an obvious example of a year we’d all like to forget. 1968 is remembered as a year of great social turmoil in America. 1945 would be a celebratory year, having achieved victory in World War II. 1980 brings up feelings of patriotism thanks to a miraculous win by a group of college-aged hockey players against the vaunted Soviet Union.

So, what will this new year bring us?

Short answer: we don’t know.

We entered 2021 with a tremendous amount of hope that we would find ourselves on the other side of the pandemic. While much progress was made, we’re certainly not where we all hoped we’d be. This has encouraged many people to shift that same optimism to 2022. Conversely, others have jokingly cautioned us to enter the new year quietly and calmly, not wanting to wake the sleeping giants that might be awaiting us. I get the joke, but we as Christians know that there is no reason for worry. We have so many assurances from our loving God that we really need not fear anything that a new calendar on the wall might bring, including tigers and dragons. Our God is consistent, all-powerful, and filled with love for each and every one of us. We can go to His word for comfort, seek refuge in His grace and peace in the promise that He will never leave us and will give us what we need to overcome what life has in store for us. Take heart in the words of Christ from John 16:33, where He assures us of this security.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Take this promise to heart as you enter the uncharted waters of 2022 and beyond.

 

Devotion by Richard Schumacher

LSEM Director of Programs & Services

  • Recent Posts

    • Exciting Partnership Announcement
    • The Lutheran Education Podcast, Ep 62
    • Coming to Fruition
    • Steady Progress
    • Man Plans, But…
  • More Stories

    Coming to Fruition

    Steady Progress

    Listening is Reading Too!

    Support and Evaluation

    From Student to Teacher

    Everyday Victories

    Goal Achieved!

    The Success in Independence

    Students ARE the WOW

    Pressing On

    Struggles

    A Different Path

    No One Is Alone

    A Little Boost

    Daily Bread

    Not Just One Wow

    A Hungry Caterpillar

    A, Child of Jesus

    All Kinds of Smart

    When It ‘Clicks’

    Moments of Growth

    Gloomy to Glad

    Creative Engagement

    Vertical Learning Works!

    A Lasting Impact

    Acting to Improve Reading

    The Importance of Practice

    The Sticky Note

    Incredible Growth, Incredible Child

    Play A Game!

    Serving More

    The Journey

    Peer Mentoring

    See the Joy

    Celebrate the Achievement

    The Results Speak Volumes

    Everyone Needs Kindness

    40 Years of Service

    God Made It Grow

    Individualized Learning

    Cling to Hope

    Power of Intervention

    A Different Approach

    Little Wow Moments

    Code Crackers

    Seeing the Change

    Disability Awareness Event

    Facing Fears

    Perseverance and Persistence

    Support and Confidence

    Organization and Progress

    A Growing Service

    Long Lasting Effects

    Benefits of Collaboration

    Productive Starts

    It Works!

    A Fun Challenge

    More than One Way

    Importance of the Basics

    Loving Literature

    Being Special

    Celebrate the Victories

    Learning, Reading, Helping

    Benefits of Partnership

    Hearing God’s Call

    The Book Bunch

    Never Give Up

    More Than Just Book Learning

    From Struggles to Smiles

    Back on Track

    Leaps and Bounds

    Recognizing Success

    Graduation Gratitude

    Carryover Success

    Learning and Teaching

    Coolness!

    A Path of Improvement

    Learning Brings Confidence

    Something That Works

    From Fearful to Fearless

    A Magical Moment

    Growth Mindset: Self Advocacy

    Growing and Blooming

    Building That Relationship

    Finding the Right One

    Getting Back On Track

    More Than Just Academics

    No Problem

    God’s Love in the Classroom

    A Familiar Face

    Rewinding the Negative

    What A Difference

    The Power of Relationship

    The Encouragement to Shine

    Long Lasting Effects

    A New Start For A Child

    Providing Effective Instruction

    Summer Practice and Fall Success

    Where God Leads

    What A Teacher Longs For

    Blossoming Success

    Support Makes A Difference

    Attitude and Determination

    A Real World Connection to Learning

    Watch in Amazement

    More Than Just A School

    Some Classroom Success Stories

    A “Shark Tank” Story

    Creature Comfort

    Fostering Spiritual Growth

    Catching Up

    Another Way to Read

    Connecting Learning to Hobbies

    A Wow List

    I Know the Answer!

    It’s Okay to Ask for Help

    Long Term Growth

    Resilience

    Practice Makes Progress

    Teaching at Many Grade Levels

    Yes You Can!

    Learning and Building Confidence

    Finding the Fun in Reading

    The Hybrid Classroom

    Teaching Outside a Resource Room

    Sight Word Wow

    Acceptance Leading to Growth

    The Goal Stays the Same

    Seeing Smiles

    A New Way to Teach

    Attitudes Change

    Consistent Alternatives

    A Hand to Help

    A Message from the President/CEO

    How Your Gift Makes an Impact

    LSEM Christmas Tea

    There Are Spiders in Her Office!

    Finding Her Place

    Small Tech Makes a Big Improvement

    New Families for a New School Year

    We Praise the Lord

    Transitions

    It’s Been a Busy Summer

    Golf for a Cause!

    Faith During the Pandemic

    A Fireside Chat with Stacy Hoeft

    Work From Home Desk Challenge

    We MOVED!

    Introducing 20 in 20

    Hear From Our Teachers

    LSEM Summer Shorts

    To God Be the Glory!

    A Thank You to Our Teachers

    A Valentine’s Special

    New Students and New Challenges

    A Brief Reflection On Service

    Teaching in a Virtual Landscape

    Teaching in a Time of Uncertainty

    LSEM in Texas

    Anxiety and Learning

    You Don’t Have to Choose

    A Learning Haven

    Causing a Culture Shift

    Connecting in a Time of Difficulty

    Growth and Goodbyes at St John Rochester

    Growing Confidence

    A Friendsgiving Story

    Not Being Defined by a Learning Need

    A Shifting Approach to Special Education

    Teachers Are Like Family

    Enthusiastic Support in Hanoi

    Step Up to Reading

    Starting on an Active Note

    Look at That Smile!

    Seeing Yourself in a Story

    What Makes a Wow Story

    Celebrate Them Going

    Lutheran Education Podcast

    Exactly the Help We Needed

    On the Ballot for the National LWML

    A Special Announcement

    Stories from Hearts for Jesus 2

    Stories from Hearts for Jesus 1

    Hearts for Jesus Continues!

    Busy Bees at St Peter

    Professional Development Helps Everyone

    An Unexpected Opportunity to Help

    Technology Opening Doors of Communication

    Satchian’s Story

    A Trip to Let It Shine

    Saying YES to a Child in Need

    Literacy and A Little Library

    A Positive Program Result

    A Kindergarten Wow Story

    Technology is Opening Doors for LSEM Students

    LSEM Helps Establish Standards

    Honoring the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

    An Innovative Principal’s Mindset

    It Takes A Team

    High School Transformation

    Growing and Graduating

    Minnesota Principal Sees LSEM Impact

    The Best Gift of All

    A Young Boy with a Giant Heart

    LSEM Helps Texas School Shine its Light

    Notes from the Tree House

    LSEM Student Uses Dance to Express her Love of Jesus

    Costa Mesa Principal Reports LSEM Success!

    A Second Grade Success Story

    Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Student Fearless About His Future!

    Crown of Life Lutheran School Puts its Mission into Action

    Future Cities Super Star Wins at National Competition

    Former LSEM Student Uses Her Experience to Help Others

     LSEM Teacher Uses Skills to Connect with Teen Learners 

    A Mother’s Voice: How Mia Transformed Her Struggles to Success 

    A Perfect Storm

    You can. We can. The children can!

    From shy and quiet to outgoing and involved

    Success stories all around us

    Students compete in national competition

    An “Updated” Story of Faith

    From the Heart: A Friend of LSEM Shares How His Family Made a Difference

    From Struggling to Smiling

    Wow! This has made all the difference

    One Child. Two Perspectives

ABOUT US

Throughout our history God has graciously revealed his plan for us. Although the educational landscape is constantly changing, LSEM is committed to partnering with Christian communities to help meet the needs of children and their families. Please contact us if you would like more information on how we can support you or your ministry.

QUICK LINKS

  • ABOUT US
  • LATEST NEWS
  • GIVE
  • STORIES
  • JOB OPPORTUNITIES
  • CONTACT
  • CONTACT US

    3773 Geddes Rd.
           Ann Arbor, MI 48105-3028

    248-419-3390

    Email: lsem@luthsped.org

     

     

    Footer logo
    Footer logo
    Search