Happy 2025 everyone! As the old year passes and the new year dawns, my heart is filled with gratitude. The Lord’s mercies are new every morning, and endure forever! Every breath is a gift, and even when enduring sorrow, we have His hope of paradise and communion and fellowship with Him. He has given us this earth to take dominion over and to nurture and cultivate for His glory. He has given us a Church family, His people, our love and inheiritance. He has given each of us a calling, and the ability to serve and praise Him. He has given each and every person gifts.
As we open aa new year I encourage you all to avoid selfish or silly self help goals. Set your mind on the Lord. Let Him work in you, and trust his word. Seek to find more ways to serve the Lord and praise Him with your unique gift. Even if you are in a wheelchair in a nursing home, there are ways to be a blessing to those around you, and grow in your relationship with Him. Seek virtue and honor and nobility. Seek his Face.
If snuggling with guilt, trust is His forgiveness and mercy. If struggling with sin, seek His Word and sanctification. Pray for and trust the Holy Spirit’s work. If sorrowful, rejoice in the light and beauty of God. Be comforted in His fellowship, and fellowship with His people (both those in glory and those here). If sick, trust in the Great Physician. If worried, glory in His promises. If wrestling for something, know that His grace is sufficient. If in danger, ask for His help, and remember that He is a “Strong Tower” of deliverance. This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible:
New King James Version -Phillipians 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your [a]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.
Meditate on These Things
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
May this be our motto for the new year!
Solo Deo Gloria – To God be the Glory!
