Happy New Year, 2007

I can hardly believe it’s is 2007 already. The New Year is time to make resolutions. I hope we can make resolutions that will make 2007 a great year for our growth in discipleship with our Lord. I hope you’ll join me in considering working on one of more of the six marks of discipleship as a New Year’s resolution. These six marks were first appeared in a book called Power Surge by Pastor Michael Foss.

First let’s resolve to pray at least once a day. God is with us all the time, but we need to pray because it keeps us aware that God is with us. It also helps us to discern what God wants for us, and allows the Spirit to guide us in daily living. Personally, I like to sing my prayers by singing hymns in my mind. Others pray by reading prayers, others just talking out loud to God on your knees. However we do it, pray daily!

Second, let’s resolve to read the Bible every day. This allows us to hear God’s Word for us. It’s best to do this with other faithful people. We have several bible study groups that can help us discern how God’s Word is speaking to us. It tells us how God has created us and everything that exists, and how God has redeemed us through Christ.

Third, let’s resolve to worship weekly. Worship is giving thanks to God in songs of praise, hearing the Gospel, prayer, and celebrating the Lord’s Supper. This helps us remember what God has given and done for us, and what God wants for us. Worship gives us power for all the blessings and challenges of life. We usually think of worshiping in church when we are with other Christians, but if that’s not possible, we can also have family or personal devotions with readings and prayer.

Fourth, let’s resolve to serve our neighbors and community in Christian love. As an ordained minister, I am blessed to see the power of God changing people’s lives with the power of the gospel. But you don’t have to be ordained to serve others in Jesus’ name. Jesus called all disciples to bring the good news to others, especially who are sick, hungry, afflicted, or those who suffer injustice.

A fifth resolution is to develop great spiritual friendships. In a world that too often isolated, cruel and hateful, the blessing of having friends in Christ is a powerful force in our life together. Through spiritual friendships, we receive the power of the whole church of Jesus Christ in everyday living. I am always amazed at all good relations God has given me through you, my brothers and sisters in Christ. As fellow servants of Christ, we are connected to millions around the globe who love one another as Jesus has loved us.

Finally, let’s resolve to give generously in proportion to what God has given us. Too often the world says that we are only worth the possessions we own. But when we give generously, we are claiming that the promise of Jesus Christ for us. We are recognizing this is more important than anything else we own. What we give to the church is given to fulfill our purpose and mission as God’s people.

God has given another year, 2007. Thanks be to God! I pray that we will grow in our faithfulness throughout the year.

Amen