Close Out the Old–Rejoice in the New
Ilove brand new notebooks, a fresh page on the calendar, a new year.
I know time is continuous, but it still feels like a fresh start. No mistakes yet!
Close Out the Old Year
Despite my eagerness to shut the door on 2018, I know I need to review the year with my Lord.
- How did I do?
- Do I love Him more than I did 12 months ago?
- How is my walk with Him?
- What did I do well?
- Is there someone I need to forgive or ask forgiveness of?
- Is there something I need to confess?
- What did I learn from the trials He gave me?
- Have I thanked Him?
Rejoice in the New Year
Once I’ve “closed out” the old year, I rejoice about how God will build on my past to give me new opportunities and trials as He makes me into the image of His Son.
He has given me the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to guide me through the year.
And, no matter what, I can rejoice because my name is recorded in heaven. (Luke 10:20)
Theme for the Year
In 2018, I had one core goal: Hallow His Name (See Hallow His Name).
As I review with the Lord how I did, I’ll ask Him how I did with that one core goal.
This year, my one core goal is:
Rejoice!
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)
~~~
Happy New Year!
Christmas—the Glory of God
The glory of God is revealed in Christ, shown in a baby, manifested through His life, displayed in His crucifixion, and declared the Son of God with power by His resurrection.
At His birth, the angels praised God, saying “Glory to God in the highest.”
We are told that God showed us Himself through creation, through His various actions, through His Shekinah glory, through His prophets, and through the Old Testament.
But now, He “in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” (Hebrews 1:2)
And Jesus Christ “is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.” (Hebrews 1:3)
For in Him [Christ] all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.(Colossians 2:9)
What wonder that Almighty God chose to reveal Himself to us through His Son. Even more, that His glory is revealed in us.
God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.(Colossians 1:27)
The Old Testament is replete with prophesies about Christ (first and second coming). But it took Christmas for us to begin to see.
This Christmas, I challenge you—and me—to see God, and the glory of God, in that manger.
Hubble photo. Nasa.gov
Praise the Holy One
Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lordof hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory. (Isaiah 6:3)
Holy, holy, holy is theLord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come. (Revelation 4:8)
Holy God, Holy Father (John 17:11), Holy Lord Jesus Christ (John 6:69), Holy Spirit.
Holy
The use of “holy” with reference to God conveys His absolute distinctness and separateness. God is wholly other, wholly different than we are. He is totally morally perfect. He is infinitely above His creation. “Holy” refers to His flawless perfection.
Visions of the Holy One
A glimpse of our Holy God has a profound impact:
When Isaiah saw the Lord, he said: Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips… (Isaiah 6:5)
When Ezekiel saw the Lord, he fell on his face. (Ezekiel 1:28)
When Daniel saw the Lord: No strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. (Daniel 10:8-9)
The men who were with [Daniel] did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. (Daniel 10:7)
When John saw the Lord, he fell at His feet like a dead man. (Revelation 1:17)
Our Response to His Holiness
If we understand His holiness, even a little, we have a better comprehension of our own sinfulness, and wonder at God’s incomprehensible love for us. Seeing the Holy One spurs our desire to please Him and serve Him.
~~~
Holy God, we praise You. You are beyond our comprehension, infinitely above ourselves. We praise Your perfection, Your absolute righteousness. Help us fall at Your feet, worshipping You. Help us never be casual about You. Help us see our sinfulness in light of Your holiness. Help us seek You and strive to be holy ourselves as You commanded.
2019 Preparations
Iremember seeing a cartoon with a HUGE stack of firewood, all stacked neatly along the entire length of the house, and a man splitting yet more wood. Two people were watching him, and one said: “Will someone please tell him he is ready?”
Do you feel ready for 2019? Do you feel ready to tackle even the key issues you know about, let alone what might be coming?
Of course, we are never adequate to handle issues on our own. In fact, if we think we are adequate, we’ve proven we’re not. But if we know we’re weak in ourselves, then we can be strong in the Lord. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant.(2 Corinthians 3:5–6)
God’s Preparations
Be encouraged; God has been working on us. We are more ready now than we were a year ago. (Philippians 1:6 and 2:13)
God prepared work for us to do in 2019.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.(Ephesians 2:10)
Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.(2 Corinthians 5:4–5)
Our Preparation
Prepare our minds for action
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.(1 Peter 1:13)
Walk with the Lord
Confess what needs confessing. Repent as required.
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.(2 Timothy 2:21)
Study the Word of God
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.(2 Timothy 3:16–17)
Watch for the opportunities God gives you.
Pray
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.(Hebrews 13:20–21)
Rejoice!
See also You are Adequate
Landscape Arch, Utah. Tamara Griffin Walking Adventures Intl
Believe God’s Love
God tells us and shows us throughout the Bible that He loves us, those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ and received Him as Lord and Savior.
We don’t always believe it.
But we should!
God’s Love Comes from Who He Is
God’s love is an attribute, something He has said is true of Himself. God’s love permeates His essential being and conditions all His does.
What God Says About His Love
God’s character is impeccable. He is holy, righteous, and almighty. He does not, and cannot lie.
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. (1 John 3:1)
How God Proved His Love
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4–6)
What God Promises
Since He knows everything and is all-powerful, a promise “merely” tells us in advance what He will do.
Nothingwill be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. (John 10:27–30)
Believe God!
Almighty, Holy God says He loves you. He proved He loves you. Believe God’s love!
Pray!
Paul prayed for all the saints that we might
… be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of His love], and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:18–19)
Let’s pray we might believe God’s love for us, and live in the light of His love.
BELIEVE GOD’s LOVE!
See When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready? Chapters 6-9 expand on these truths.
Forgiveness
Is God a Liar?
Do you ever think you don’t deserve to have God forgive you?
Perhaps you worry that something you did was so bad that, even though you confessed and repented, God wouldn’t forgive you?
Are you still agonizing over sinful events in the past that you confessed, but still haunt you?
I’ve been there.
Repeat after me:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(1 John 1:9)
Our part
For this verse to apply to us, we have to be children of God. That is, we have to believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and have received Him as Lord and Savior.
Then we have to confess.
Confession isn’t a throw away, casual, “I’m sorry.” Confession is agreeing with God that what we did was sinful. And sin is lawlessness, rebellion against the almighty, creator God.
God’s part
We confess to a faithful, righteous God. He is always faithful. He is always righteous.
He has promised, if we confess, to forgive us and to cleanse us.
He always keeps His promise.
But…But…
If we confess, God’s forgiveness comes from His faithfulness and His righteousness.
I think it helps to really grasp His promise when we realize He can righteously forgive us.
Christ died for us. When we believed, our status changed. We were seated with Christ in the heavenlies. Christ is in us. The Holy Spirit dwells in us.
Christ, justice, is now on our side. We are accepted in the beloved.
Is God a liar?
If we say we haven’t sinned, we make Him a liar. (1 John 1:10)
If we say we have confessed but He hasn’t forgiven us, we also make Him a liar. He promised and He always keeps His promises.
Review your worries in light of God’s faithfulness.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
~~~
Praise to our faithful and righteous God.
Thanksgiving Prayer
Thanksgiving is a great time to be purposefully grateful.
Here is my prayer this Thanksgiving. You might want to join me… or write your own.
~~~~
Almighty God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—I am so grateful to You. I praise You for who You are, what You do, and for eternity to come. I praise Your absolute sovereignty, that You are in control of everybody and everything all the time. I praise Your holiness and righteousness, that You act with justice, and show love, mercy, and grace. Thank You for revealing some of Yourself to us, and for showing us You are infinite and beyond what we can understand.
Father, thank You for choosing me before the foundation of the world. Thank You for speaking to us through Your Son, showing us grace and truth. Thank You for sending Him to save us, giving all who believe in Him eternal life. I praise You for Christ’s resurrection, declaring with power that He is Your Son, and seating Him at Your right hand. Thank You for blessing me with every spiritual blessing, and giving me everything pertaining to life and godliness.
Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for humbling Yourself, coming here as man, and showing us the Father. Thank you for sacrificing Yourself for us, setting those who believe in You free from sin and death. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Thank You for Your ongoing intercession for us, and that, one day, You will present us to the Father holy and blameless.
Holy Spirit, thank You for working in me to convict me of sin, leading me to confession and repentance. Thank You for dwelling in me, guiding me to all truth and helping me to resist the power of sin. Thank You for praying for me, interceding for me according to the will of God. Thank You that You sealed me for eternity, guaranteeing my eternal life.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.(Ephesians 3:20–21)
~~~
Happy Thanksgiving!
Harry Durgin/Facebook
Praise the God of Glory
The God of Glory. (Psalm 29:3, Acts 7:2)
The Father of Glory. (Ephesians 1:17)
The King of Glory. (Psalm 24:8)
The Lord [Christ] of Glory. (1 Corinthians 2:8)
The Spirit of Glory. (1 Peter 4:14)
Glory has the sense of majestic beauty and splendor, or great significance. For example: “That is a glorious sunset,” or “I glory in my family/children/job.”
With respect to God, Glory is the perfection of all of God’s attributes taken altogether.
The Bible helps us understand God’s glory by using examples and words associated with glory.
Creation
The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.(Psalm 19:1)
Goodness and Sovereignty
Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lordbefore you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” (Exodus 33:18–19)
Righteousness
The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples have seen His glory. (Psalm 97:6)
Lovingkindness
To Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.(Psalm 115:1)
Strength
Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle… Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. (Psalm 24:8.10)
Grace and Truth
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.(John 1:14)
And more
God is infinite, and there are no words to capture the infinite. Glory is all He is and did and does and will do to. Glory is everything He is to perfection.
Praise the God of Glory.
~~~
God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—we praise You in all Your glory. Thank You that You are beyond what we can understand, yet have chosen to reveal some of Yourself to us. Help us give You glory, help us make our lives praise You. To You be the glory forever.
Are You in a Dark Spot?
Suppose you came home from work/school/shopping to nobody and nothing. Everybody and everything were gone. Your loved ones had been kidnapped. Your home had been ransacked. There was no one, and nothing, left.
What would you do?
David faced that issue. When he and his men got home, all their wives and children had been taken captive, all the livestock driven off, and the town looted and burned.
Everyone wept.
But David faced a challenge you wouldn’t have: the people talked about stoning David.
What would you do?
David’s five steps in that dark spot are good for us to follow:
Encourage Yourself
David encouraged himself, he strengthened himself, in the Lord. (1 Samuel 30:6)
I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lordis my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. (Psalm 18:1–3)
We should, regularly and intentionally, center ourselves in our Lord God. He is our loving sovereign, has a loving purpose for our situation, and will guide us to the proper response. We need to humble ourselves before Him.
Ask the Lord what to do
Then David asked the Lord what to do. (1 Samuel 30:8)
God promises wisdom (James 1:5-8).
This step is essential! Too often, we run off doing what seems best to us, rather than inquiring of the Lord.
Remember, Christ is interceding for you. (See Jesus is Praying for You.) The Holy Spirit is praying for you (See The Holy Spirit is Praying for You).
Do what the Lord tells you to do
Then David went, pursued, fought, and recovered. (1 Samuel 30:9-20)
So—really, now—do you ever ask the Lord what to do, not like His answer, and act according to your own understanding and in your own strength?
Trust in the Lordwith all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.(Proverbs 3:5)
Honor God
Then David honored God with the spoil. (1 Samuel 30:23-31)
We are to give thanks in everything. Everything.
In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.(1 Thessalonians 5:18)
We don’t thank Him for evil, but no matter what happens, God is praiseworthy.
Share your Story
David shared the spoil with the elders of Judah, which included sharing the story of God’s mighty deliverance.
Who can you tell about how God helped you in a dark spot? Your story will encourage others.
Political Wars
My mom worked for several Governors and a US Senator; my dad worked in a congressional campaign; both were deeply interested in politics. Much of my career included government relations responsibilities. And yet I was mainly interested in policy questions rather than politics.
The past few years, however, I’ve been drawn more and more into who is in office, and campaign activities.
I’ve been increasingly agitated, even to the point of losing sleep.
I’ve hidden posts from some Facebook friends who I felt were maligning people (and who didn’t agree with me!).
Much of this is not good.
Very recently I’ve been praying about talking to one friend about highly negative posts, and how I didn’t think they reflected well on other posts about the Lord.
I’ve been praying about “speaking the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15)
But then… Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.(Matthew 7:3–5)
Oh my.
What has my Lord have to say to His servant? (Joshua 5:14)
I failed to believe that the “Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.” (Daniel 4:25)
Lack of trust in Almighty God resulted in sleeplessness.
I inconsistently prayed for elected officials (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
I failed to be compassionate to—or pray for—those who probably weren’t believers. (Titus 3:1-3)
I failed to bless those who cursed me. (Luke 6:28)
James’ comments about the tongue (that from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing) too often applied to me. (James 3:8-12)
I failed to focus on the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19-20)
Oh my.
~~~
Lord, forgive me. Please show me how to honor You in these troubled times. Please show me how to be light in the world. Please show me if I should speak up, and, if so, when and how. Please help me walk in a manner worthy of you.
~~~
See also Whose Side Are You On?
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When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready?
When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready? helps Christians not fear bad news, shows them how to handle current trouble, and helps them emerge stronger on the other side.
About me
I'm a Christian, wife, retiree, and author.
I love studying and putting knowledge into action. I'll share what I'm learning, encourage you, and urge all of us to press on to become more like Christ.
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