A new year is about to happen. That always brings anticipation and fresh hope, and the opportunity to do things differently than we have in the past year, or years. I hope that is an encouraging thought for all of us. Fresh starts are always something to look forward to. As to what this New Year will hold for all of us, that still remains to be discovered. We know that God will be with us, and we will not walk alone, no matter what our circumstances. Will the economy improve? Will I stay healthy? Will I continue in my present job?

Will I find fulfillment in this coming year? These are all questions that will be answered in the coming 12 months. Some of the answers will be determined by ourselves, but others will be determined for us. But a new calendar tells us that we have been given a fresh gift to build our lives as they ought to be. And with God’s help, and our own perseverance, we can make some things different than they have been in the past. At the risk of sounding like another sermon, I would like to give you 7 scriptural principles that we can put into practice every single day of this coming year. I would suggest to you that these principles, if followed, can pretty well insure that we will experience a fulfilling and interesting and meaningful year.

1. Forget about yesterday The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:13, “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind…” Don’t let the past defeat you. Failures, hurts, and disappointments happen to all of us. But we must not continue thinking and talking about them. Choose not to dwell on those things. God has no desire for us to live with regret. Your past can be covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.

2. Don’t worry about tomorrow “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6,7) Worry assumes without God. And that is foolish! God has promised to meet your every need in 2011, so why should you waste your time worrying? Spend your time on something more productive---and fun!

3. Make today count Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Don’t waste today. You can’t have it back, or do it over. So, make it count for something eternal.

4. Help every person you can “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10) Don’t be self-centered. Look around you and see all the hurt and pain, and then do something about it. Everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle, so get in there and help them. We need to take care of each other within the church family. But we also need to extend ourselves to those outside the circle of faith. Make your life count in every way you can.

5. Keep your heart pure

A clean engine always runs better. It is able to deliver more power. So let’s clean the garbage out of our lives. Holiness and happiness are twins in the Christian life. The Bible tells us that clean living and the fear of the Lord go together. Besides, a pure heart makes you a very desirable and enjoyable person to be around.

Senior Pastor’s Column

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6. Renew your strength daily How do you best do that? Isaiah 40:31 says, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Learn to specialize in our spiritual life. Give a special place every day for the presence of the Lord to invade your life. Nourish your spirit every day by feeding on God’s Word. Spend time in God’s presence through prayer. This is all spiritual food, and we need it daily to maintain our spiritual strength.

7. Act on God’s promises and commandments Philippians 4:8 tells us the kind of pure and wholesome things our thoughts should center on. If it isn’t on the list, don’t waste your time thinking about it. There is no substitute for simple obedience. That is what God is looking for from each of us. God’s Word is filled with hundreds of promises for you to experience, and hundreds of directives that are there for our good. So, act on those words. I think it is safe to say that if you and I will follow these simple principles in our lives, we will experience a pretty meaningful year in 2011. My prayer for all of us is that we will discover all that God has in store for us, both as a church family and as individuals. Let me close by saying how much I love and appreciate all of you. I don’t ever want to take for granted the hundreds of people who have made this church what it is today. You prayed, you shared your faith, you brought people to church services and activities, you gave generously, you taught classes, you worked in the Nursery, you befriended some teenagers, you lead a small group, you sang in the choir, you took a meal to someone in need, you cried with someone in pain, you rejoiced with those who experienced an answered prayer, you used your skills on a Missions trip, and the list could go on and on and on.

As I count my blessings over this past year, I am so very thankful to be part of such a great church family. I love you, and pray that God’s very best will be yours in this coming year, as we serve God together in this community.

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Wednesday Night Activities begin

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Sunday Evening Activities begin.......

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Men’s Breakfast .............. January 15

Leadership Retreat..... January 28-29

Baby Dedication............. February 6

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