Tuesday, January 10, 2006

A New Beginning, A New Year, Newness of Life, A New Song to Sing

January 1, 2006 has passed. It is a New Year! The past year is gone never to be lived again and the New Year is here with all its possibilities and opportunities. What a joy to say to each of you, Happy New Year! We do want it to be happy for you! We want you to be successful and prosperous! What will this year hold?
We know several who will have new babies this year. There are some who will have new jobs and some who will marry and begin a new life with their mate. What does it mean to be new? In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we read: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” A new creation sounds pretty exciting! According to W.E. Vine’s “An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words”, new means recent, differing in character, new in respect of time, fresh, unused, and newness (life of a new quality). When we accept Jesus as our Savior we become a new creation. The Holy Spirit of God comes to live within us and makes us different from the old me, new and fresh for a new day and a new work. There are many scriptures that speak about becoming new.
Matthew 26:28 “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
2 Peter 3:13 “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
Revelation 5:9 “And they sang a new song, saying: You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”
It is an exciting time when things are new! As the old song says, 'Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before'. Each day is so exciting with much anticipation of how the Lord will lead, guide and direct us. If we spend time in the Word, on our face before the Lord seeking His will, in Intercessory Prayer and walking in obedience to the Word, we will experience a freshness and a newness in our life that will draw us closer and closer to the Lord Jesus.
We pray for all of you a very joyous, exciting, new and fruitful 2006!
We love you,

Charley & Karen

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