Happy New Year

We have just ended 2008 and have started on the new year for 2009.  We look back and remember what the year has brought us both the joys and the sorrows.   As we look forward to 2009 we anticipate a future before us.  How will you view that future.  Will you look forward to the blessings of God in your life, your family, your community and your church?  Or will you live in fear of the challenges of hard economic times, worry about jobs, sickness and broken relationships.  In 2009 we will experience both, but we have a choice of what we do about it.  We can prepare ourselves to experience God's peace and joy no matter what the circumstances. 

How can we do that? 
         1. Prayer is time spent communicating with God.  It is true we are to pray without ceasing.  It needs to be woven into every part of our lives.  But it is also important to stop what you are doing and earnestly pray.  Pray for God's peace.  Pray for your family members.  Pray for wisdom.  Pray for our leaders.  Pray for the church.  Pray for your service to God.

• Rom 12:12 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 
• Eph 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
• Col 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

        2. Fellowship.  Spend time with people who love God, gain strength from their encouragement.  Don't be a lone Christian, expecting that your faith will grow in a vacuum. 

• 1 Jn 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
• Heb 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 

       3. Serve God by serving others.  Don't put off your service to God for another year.  Find the gifts and talents that God has given you and use them for service.  Your giving will reward you mightily in both this world and the next.

• Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 
• 1 Cor 12:4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

       4. Read and study God's word.  Don't rely on others to tell you what is in there.  Don't rely on the Sunday sermon as the only time you hear God's word.  Don't rely on this blog to teach you all about God.  Read and discuss God's word with friends and family.  His truth is liberating and puts all things in perspective.

• Luke 8:2121 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” 
• Acts 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Next time we will be looking at Luke 4:16 - 19 and will see an example of the study of God's word.

Lk 4:16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
       18 “ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
       Because He has anointed Me
      To preach the gospel to the poor;
      He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted
      To proclaim liberty to the captives
      And recovery of sight to the blind,
      To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
       19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”


In the mean time I send to you and your family a wish for a Happy and Joyful New Year.