Happy New Year 2016!
Once again, another year has come to an end … and much too quickly, I might add. It never ceases to amaze me how fast the years go by the older I get. It’s very possible that I have lived more than half my life already, but I still feel like there is much God desires to do through me yet. There must be, or I would not still be alive.
The blessings of 2015 outweighed the trials, for which I am very grateful. Sure, there were little things that came up, some stresses that I did not want to go through, but if I am honest, they were really pretty small compared to what so many are going through.
Usually I would have taken the last week or two to pray and focus on what God desires to speak to me concerning my future, character, etc. Things have been hectic here so, although I have prayed about it some, I have not had enough time to really listen to my Father’s voice. I hope to do so next week.
What I do know is that my ultimate calling is to be faithful. Until He shows me otherwise, I plan to continue doing what I have been doing to serve Him, while praying to be open to whatever changes He desires me to make. This is not always easy, but I know it is necessary.
Some friends got me a devotional journal, and I am looking forward to using that this year. I believe it will be the perfect tool to help me slow down and listen.
It seems most people have done away with New Year’s Resolutions, but I would encourage you to not give up on resolutions altogether. Sure, you don’t want to make promises that you will inevitably break, but we should be willing to ask God to search us and try us and show us the areas of our lives that need to go and then fight the good fight to get rid of those things. It may seem hopeless but, with God, all things are possible.
My prayer for the coming year is that it be filled with joy unspeakable, and strength for each trial. May that be your testimony as well!
Thank you for the encouraging notes. You have been a great blessing to me through the past year. I pray that you have a blest new year.
But my spirit is greatly troubled when I see the spiritual condition of my family, the people in the churches and this country.
I hesitate to say bless this thing or that thing, because when if I do I feel like I am condoning sin. I am not perfect, by know long shot. I often slip, I’m just a human. But I am trying to do what’s right.
It is getting harder for me to find a church locally to go to where I can worship with fellow believers. I try not to be too critical. But when I go to churches locally it is like going to some self help motivational rock concert with all the lights, smokes and whistles. If it is not that, they are the very opposite, no life at all, move me if you can.
I went to visit a church the other day, not a big church, just a little country church. The pastor was our pastor 30 years ago. He let me sing a song. The Holy Spirit did move and people were blessed. I am Pentecostal. I saw the hand raised and people reacting as I sang. It was great.
But after church that Sunday evening, the pastor and I was talking and he told my style of praising God was out of style. I mentioned the service and He said the young people would leave. We are basically the same age. I am 63. And I ask him a question, who do you want to leave the older people or the younger people? His reply I prefer ministering to younger people they are the church of tomorrow.. The young people were some of the one that were reacting to the annointing.
The Bible say for the younger to learn from elder, but in the church the younger are just coming in and pushing the elder out, they do not want to listen.
I am criticize for staying at home and watching Jimmy swaggart on TV and getting my soul blessed on Sunday Morning. But yet this person who lives in a big city goes to a church that has satellite churches around the city and they watch the Singing and preaching on a big Screen in an auditorium and I am told I am wrong.
So you see why my spirit is troubled.
Sony somewhere we are missing something. Has the people of the church been seduced into a perverted Gospel? Or is it I? I am seeking fellowship with fellow believers, but can find none. What have I missed?