Friday, December 31, 2010
Have you considered...: Not leaving this year with things undone?
Have you considered...: Not leaving this year with things undone?: "Before we rush to celebrate ringing in 2011 and begin living out those resolutions are there things we need to complete in 2011? It is..."
Not leaving this year with things undone?
Before we rush to celebrate ringing in 2011 and begin living out those resolutions are there things we need to complete in 2011? It is not too late!
Right now we can quiet our spirit, humble our heart and repent to God for those choices that reflect He was/is not primary in our life. The times when we took for granted the manifold blessings and graces of God in our lives, let's repent for those moments now. We can begin right now to begin in greater awareness that God is our provider and protector and we have myriad reasons to give Him the praise everyday.
We have family, friends, co-workers, church members, neighbors, and many others we need to reconcile with for reasons we know -- we may have to agree to disagree but we need to love them! Moreover, we need to forgive folks now and not carry that heavy bitterness into 2011 --- and they do not need to ask for it, we do not need their permission or cooperation to forgive them! We can forgive people and we must. We are a forgiving people because we are a forgiven people!
Now before you get ready to celebrate the end of the year, take the time to resolve some of the issues that need not be carried into 2011 or beyond!
Matthew 5:22-24 "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Right now we can quiet our spirit, humble our heart and repent to God for those choices that reflect He was/is not primary in our life. The times when we took for granted the manifold blessings and graces of God in our lives, let's repent for those moments now. We can begin right now to begin in greater awareness that God is our provider and protector and we have myriad reasons to give Him the praise everyday.
We have family, friends, co-workers, church members, neighbors, and many others we need to reconcile with for reasons we know -- we may have to agree to disagree but we need to love them! Moreover, we need to forgive folks now and not carry that heavy bitterness into 2011 --- and they do not need to ask for it, we do not need their permission or cooperation to forgive them! We can forgive people and we must. We are a forgiving people because we are a forgiven people!
Now before you get ready to celebrate the end of the year, take the time to resolve some of the issues that need not be carried into 2011 or beyond!
Matthew 5:22-24 "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
This year will only be different if you are?
Too often we look forward to the new year while retaining the same old attitudes, desires, habits, friends, and not understanding we must change to experience a change. We must do a new thing to experience something new.
Be aware that trying something new will not be easy, comfortable, and it will require considerable commitment and sacrifice. The question is how much do we really want to experience life in a new dimension? How much stronger do we want to be in spirit, mind, and body? Do we truly want to draw closer to God and the purpose for which He created us? Are we ready to put aside the weights of sin that so easily beset us - those things that distract us and slow us down. I know what mine are and you know what yours are --- will we lay them down and run with endurance this year. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live in peace and that is to be whole, lacking nothing. When we live in the power of the Holy Spirit we have the power to endure the hardship of making the changes necessary to do a new thing.
With the power of the Holy Spirit this year we will experience life differently in 2011. We will not react the same way, we will not interact with anyone the same way, and we will not operate on the same priorities - we will live our lives in obedience to the will and word of God. Our decisions will be made prayerfully and with fasting. In relationships we will move beyond friendship to fellowship where we hold one another accountable according to the word of God, we pray for one another, encourage one another, love one another, and provoke one another to good works. We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together in 2011 and will understand and respect the need to open ourselves to prayer and studying of the scriptures in our homes, workplaces, and at every given opportunity.
Yes 2011 is going to bring about a new way of being in our lives...starting NOW!
Be aware that trying something new will not be easy, comfortable, and it will require considerable commitment and sacrifice. The question is how much do we really want to experience life in a new dimension? How much stronger do we want to be in spirit, mind, and body? Do we truly want to draw closer to God and the purpose for which He created us? Are we ready to put aside the weights of sin that so easily beset us - those things that distract us and slow us down. I know what mine are and you know what yours are --- will we lay them down and run with endurance this year. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live in peace and that is to be whole, lacking nothing. When we live in the power of the Holy Spirit we have the power to endure the hardship of making the changes necessary to do a new thing.
With the power of the Holy Spirit this year we will experience life differently in 2011. We will not react the same way, we will not interact with anyone the same way, and we will not operate on the same priorities - we will live our lives in obedience to the will and word of God. Our decisions will be made prayerfully and with fasting. In relationships we will move beyond friendship to fellowship where we hold one another accountable according to the word of God, we pray for one another, encourage one another, love one another, and provoke one another to good works. We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together in 2011 and will understand and respect the need to open ourselves to prayer and studying of the scriptures in our homes, workplaces, and at every given opportunity.
Yes 2011 is going to bring about a new way of being in our lives...starting NOW!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)