12/31/2017
Come and join us on the last day of 2017! We meet for bible class at 9:30 and worship service at 10:30 and 5.
Here is a great read for the end of this year and starting next year.
Closing One, Opening Another
Today marks the closing of 2017. The contents of this year are nearly complete with both mountains of goodness and the chasms of sadness. To the faithful ones of God, we endeavor to be as Paul the apostle who said of his past, “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3: 13—14)
Some set goals for 2017. We hesitate to dwell long on that subject for we either reached them, exceeded them or gave them up. If such goals were of material sort, then there isn’t much lost or gained in either direction. It is the SPIRITUAL goals that create the concern for the faithful. To have reached them is gain for Christ; to have failed in them is to our own shame.
Some clearly rejoice at the close of 2017 as its contents were of severe difficulty at best. Be careful in that consideration: regardless of how unpleasant the events of this year, it remains a generous part of your life. Regardless of how difficult, God continued to bless His children and they must be gracious in recognizing those blessings. No mater how severe the course of this past year, the faithful rejoice in knowing He never left us nor forsook us.
If the Lord allows for 2018 to enter upon us, similar plans as we’ve just described will occupy the minds of many with full intentions of fulfilling those desires. Of these desires, some may find fulfillment, some may exceed the desires, and others will fail —it seems to be the lot of life’s course in dreams. But to the faithful, if God wills 2018 to enter upon us, we see but additional opportunity for good, and challenges by which to prove our steadfastness. We recognize that we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us (Phil. 4:1`3) and therefore take each day as it comes and determine to use that day to God’s glory! When finished with the day, if we’ve served Him to the best of our ability, we thank Him for the blessings received.
As we turn the calendar, notice the newness of what transpires. An abundance of new things are ushered to us: a new day within a new week, a new month, and a new year! Someone once said, “What you do the first day of the year, you’ll do all year.” Well, wonder how many will “take the rest of year off” since that’s what they intend to do the first day of the year! I doubt few if any. The point is this: How many will commit to serving God each day of 2018? Yes, I know we challenged that same last year … and the years before! The challenge remains the same, the motive the same, and the reward the same IF we accept the challenge! The faithful realize the value of such determination and eager accept the challenge! They realize the changing of the calendar changes nothing in regard to their service toward God. It is simply God’s blessing to them to do prove once more they love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, body and strength!
Indeed, we wish you all the very best of God’s best should 2018 become God’s blessing to us. As well, I remind you that making it the BEST requires giving GOD your best … and there’s no better time to start that process than now … even though it’s still 2017!
