Release

     2013 is coming to an end. When I was growing up, the year 2000 sounded eons away, like the end of the world. We pictured a world like the world of the Jetson's and I guess we weren’t too far off. As technology races ahead, as the earthquakes increase and terror rages around the world, there is one thing that does not change and that is our God, our Creator. The hands that created the universe are alive and well and those hands will bring all things to their final conclusion and, ultimately, to their new beginning.

     Are you ready for a new beginning? Is it time to release everything to the God who loves you? Give Him everything deep in your heart. Release any guilt, release any hurt, release any worries to Him. Coming to Him in humility, with our broken spirits is a great place to begin anew.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit, a broken and contritie heart you, God, will not despise. Psalm 51:17

     Jesus was there at the beginning. He is the Word of God and He came to live in the flesh. (See John 1) God had a plan. When the time was right He sent His Son into the world. The perfect man, the perfect Lamb of God. He placed your guilt and mine, your sins and mine, all of the world’s disease, evil and hurt on His shoulders and suffered it all. He died and rose again. He is seated on the right hand of the Father. And He will come again. He loves you. Please believe it. He is real and He changes everything. All you need to do is believe.

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.  1 Corinthians 15:2-4

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

     This is the good news of the Gospel of Christ. For God so loved you. New beginnings. If you don’t know Him yet, get ready! He died for you. You are His and tomorrow we will confirm our faith in Him.

     Enjoy this New Year’s Eve with a spirit of anticipation. God’s love is ready to be poured out upon you.

Dear Father in Heaven,

Hear our prayers today. Take all of our hurt, all of our sin and wash us clean. Let this New Year be a new beginning for all of us to know You in deeper ways, to be challenged to live for You,  to truly accept Jesus as Savior.

Amen