Pastor Mark's Blog
Happy New Year
I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and encourage you to sit down and reflect on the close of 2008. Take time to spend with God for what He wants for you in 2009. How will you serve Him in this new year? How will you witness to those around you in 2009? What will be different this year over the past year?
At this time when many are putting new resolutions into their lives about changes in their everyday life… Maybe loosing the extra pounds you have been thinking about since the new pounds started coming onto your waist line at Thanksgiving… Maybe it is getting into shape, yet with all my mathematical background I do know that “round” is a shape!… Maybe it is getting out of debt, stopping our impulsive spending… Maybe it is finding a new job or a new home…
These are all good things, but they will leave you empty. I want to encourage you this new year to make resolutions that have eternal value to them. I challenge you to read your Bible daily… Pray without Ceasing… Put others ahead of yourself… Invite your friends and neighbors to come to church and hear about God… Live for the King of kings and Lord of lords!
Study and meditate on the verses below. Allow them to seep into your heart and let God remold you and shape you into what He wants for you.
Matthew 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Philippians 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-23
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God Bless!
Pastor Mark
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