We often hear people say they would like a little “peace and quiet.” I think we can all say a hearty “amen” to that, especially with all that is taking place in our world right now. Yet, I wanted to take a few moments to encourage you today on this thought of “peace.”
At times, we have wrongly concluded that peace is simply the absence of conflict of any kind, yet we forget that Jesus came into a world that was filled with political and moral turmoil. Yet, He was, and IS the Prince of Peace!
It's time for new beginnings! It's time for a fresh start! It's time to make some resolutions!
Thank you for taking a few moments to read this Church New Years Letter.
These are often statements that are made by most people at the beginning of a new year, and we as Christians are not really all that different! Who wants to remain the same as before? I know I don't, because I want to continue to grow in the Lord, as well as put off some of those things that have held me down for being all He wants me to be.
I trust you are doing well during these challenging times.
I wanted to take a few moments to write you a letter to encourage you and to let you know that God is available to all of us as we grow and progress in Him.
Take a moment to let this encouraging scripture soak into your spirit:
Philippians 3:13 – Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
While we may feel tempted at times to “take cover” until the storms are over, I would encourage you today to use these challenging times to take your faith to another level!
Have you ever had the enemy try to convince you when you are faced with impossible situations that it's because God doesn't care? Or, possibly, even that you are there because of the bad decisions you have made?
We are often in difficult situations but have you ever stopped to think that there are times God puts us there to trust Him more?
Consider the following scripture:
Exodus 14:1-4 (NKJV) 1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.' 4 Then I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.” And they did so.
As the people were leaving Egypt finally after ten plagues had convinced Pharaoh that it was time to let them go, God knew that even after this, his heart would harden once again as he saw all his “free labor” leaving.