NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

Happy New Year! Today is the day that we all make resolutions for the new year. We say we will lose weight, quit smoking, get out of debt, be kinder to our families and friends, just become a "new person"! But most of us rarely keep our resolutions. Usually within a few weeks we have quit our diet, started smoking again, pulled out the credit card and bought something we really wanted but truly didn't need, yelled at our kids, took our bad days out on our spouses.

But there is a way that we can start fresh and become new and that is through Christ Jesus. We can turn to Christ who truly gives us the opportunity to forget our past and truly become new. The thought of being able to do this truly fills me with joy! It means that we have a never ending supply of hope and endless opportunities to move forward! We can have the courage to deal with our past failures and move forward in Christ. We have the opportunity to lead more meaningful, Christ-centered lifes. We can look forward to a future of peace and security and hope that only Christ can give.

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to start this year anew with the hope that only you can give. Thank you for forgiving us our past defeats and helping us to live the life that you want us to live. Thank you, Lord, for your never ending supply of hope. Help us to live this year as you would have us live - showing you in everything we do and giving you the glory.

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

RISE AND SHINE AND GIVE GOD THE GLORY!!

"Rise and shine and give God the glory" is a refrain from a popular children's song. Each day as I awake to face the new day, I am so grateful - grateful to be able to wake up and complete whatever God wants me to do with my life for the day! I am grateful for the tasks and grateful for the enjoyments that He has given me, and grateful for another day to share God's love with others.

On those days where I may not feel as well, where times may be more troubled, I am grateful for the blessings that He has given me and that I can turn to the light of God within that illuminates my course.

Lord, help me to let my inner light shine and to share my joy with others in my life. Help me to rise and shine and give You the glory everyday!!


"Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:15-16

GOD NEVER CHANGES

Here we go again! For those of you who are Mountaineer football fans, you know what I mean. Coach Rod is again being courted by another university to be their coach. He spoke with the University of Michigan yesterday about their coaching position. It was only a year ago that Mountaineer fans went through the stress of wondering if our beloved coach was going to leave us. He was courted by Alabama and actually offered the coaching position but turned it down. He signed another contract with WVU and has said only just a few days ago that he would not leave WVU. It came as a shock to hear that he was speaking to Michigan. How could he do this to us again???

But it made me start to think about how Coach Rod, no matter how great a coach he is, is only human. Unfortunately, money and prestige talk! And coaches come and go.

Unlike coaches, however, God is ALWAYS there. He doesn't come and go. It doesn't matter how much money we have or don't have. It doesn't matter what our jobs are or how much prestige we have. God is ALWAYS there! If we lose our jobs tomorrow, He will still be there for us. If we get a better job tomorrow, He will be there. If we get a bigger house, He will be there just like He is if we have don't have a house at all! God is in our hearts, not in our wallets or homes or anywhere else - He is in us. It just doesn't matter to God what we do or what we have in life. All that matters to Him is that what we do, we do for His glory. Others should see Him in all that we do and all that we say.

Remember that people come and go in our lives, our surroundings change, our finances change - but God NEVER changes. He is always there for you!! You never have to fear that He will leave you!

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you: He will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6