“A Community of Faith, Family and Friends”
Pastor: Rev.
Christopher Druce Jones
Dear Members and Friends,
If you haven’t done so already, you might be thinking about your New Year’s resolution. Usually, January 1st is a time when we resolve to do something that will make life better for us in some way. Mostly, New Year’s resolutions relate to health. Health is a good thing to focus on in the New Year. However, many people don’t make it to the end of the month. The lures, temptations, and stresses of life are usually the cause of the lack of focus and fulfillment of the resolution.
What have you resolved to do or not do beginning in 2007? Does it relate to your health? Does it relate to your finances? Does it relate to your lifestyle? Does it relate to your faith? What plans do you have in place in the event that you are wavering and struggling to maintain the resolution? What support person or group do you have to encourage you or discourage you when the pressures become great? What is the anticipated end goal of the resolution? How will this resolution change your life for the good? Will it affect other parts of your life that will cause you to renew the resolution for 2008?
These are questions many people don’t consider when they make a New Year’s resolution. It’s more than just saying I am not going to do or not do something. It’s actually a change in behavior. It’s a new perspective on life. It is change - - that one word that is scary, hard, refreshing and filled with hope. As I consider all what goes on in making a New Year’s resolution, I see it’s not that different from practicing our faith.
Our faith effects and influences our health. Our faith effects and influences our decisions around finances. Our faith effects and influences the way we live our lives. We need a plan in place to help us when we are struggling to maintain our faith. We need support persons to encourage us to do what is right and/or discourage us from doing what is wrong. We need to know the end goal of our faith in order to set the direction for us to travel. In a very real way, we need faith to journey through a New Year’s Resolution.
As you consider what you will resolve to do or not do in the coming year, please consider your faith - - your relationship with God in Jesus Christ. May it influence and encourage you to meet your goal and change your life for the good. Please know that you are surrounded by people of faith to encourage you along the way. And if no one gives you strength for the journey, I know at least three that will be cheering you on: God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, who have promised to be with us always; even during New Year’s resolutions. Happy New Year!
Wishing you well on your journey,
Pastor Chris
Sermons for the Soul January 7 “Unfinished Business” Isaiah 61:10 62:3 January 14 “A Few Good People”
Acts 19:1-10 January 21 “Great Things are Coming”
John 1:43-51 January 28 “Letting God in Order to Move On”
Mark 1:14-20 We’re ringing in
the New Year with a Heritage and
Cultural Food Festival! Who:
Everyone here at the church What: Ethnic food festival – bring a dish
from your ethnic background
Where: When:
H I L D R E N’
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