HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2016

I hope all of you had a safe holiday season, and now we have a clean slate for the new year. Lots of people are making New Year's resolutions. I used to do that, and my resolve lasted a few days, a few weeks, or a few months. Because I was doing it in my own strength and will ... which isn't really strong.
I learned a better way to face the new year.
My very best friend is a missionary. We've been friends for close to 30 years. Several years ago, we started asking God for His word or words for the new year. Sometimes they were the same word. Sometimes they were different words that went together. Sometimes they were totally different. 
I didn't get my word until I was the New Year's Eve prayer meeting at our church last night. We come together to praise and worship God. During breaks between worship songs, we prayed for our families, then our church, then our country, then for the people in our area who need to know the Lord, and lastly for people around the world who need to know the Lord.


My word is: Beloved.  And more than that: Beloved of God.  Because I'm Beloved of God, I can: Trust Him in All things!!
Philippians 4:4-5The Message (MSG)4-5 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! 
Because He loves me, I can savor Him. He loves me in all things and through all things.
Because of His love for me, He will always be with me, leading me and helping me.
Here's a wonderful promise from God.
Jeremiah 1:8The Message (MSG)7-8 God told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’
    I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there.
I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it.
    Don’t be afraid of a soul.
I’ll be right there, looking after you.”
    God’s Decree.