Uplook - January 3, 2026

Happy New Year!  

I learned recently that the early Roman calendar consisted of only 10 months...beginning in March and concluding in December.  If is fascinating to me that the dark winter months of what we know as January and February did not even rank being named.  The short days, bad weather, etc. made it difficult to cultivate fields or go to war and as such this time period was "unassigned".  

In Seattle, our short days and rainy weather can sometimes make us feel a bit like the early Romans did feeling like this time is kind of a "loss" or "unassigned" time to get through.  Yet, we know the scriptures tell us differently.

Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Daniel 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, And knowledge to them that know understanding:

As we begin the new year may we remember our great Creator who created not only sunshine but also snow and rain, who set the earth a perfect distance from the Sun to make it habitable and "tipped" it just enough to give us a variety of seasons which we in the Pacific Northwest are blessed to enjoy.  And may we also remember that to each time and season there is a purpose, not only generally and environmentally but personally for each of us. Perhaps you are in a dark season in your life, and just holding on.  If that is the case, please know you are not alone and God is not nearly as distant as it might seem.  May His purpose be accomplished even in this season.  And may we not be soon troubled in mind or heart about the world around us.  God is still in charge as He was in the time of the prophet Daniel: changing times/seasons, setting up and putting down whom He will on the world's stage which is His.

Finally, may He give each of us wisdom and knowledge of how to live for Him daily in the next year until Jesus returns.  

God bless you all.

BB

Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor