{"id":24803,"date":"2019-01-03T03:30:38","date_gmt":"2019-01-03T11:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=24803"},"modified":"2018-12-28T15:00:18","modified_gmt":"2018-12-28T23:00:18","slug":"january-3-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2019\/01\/03\/january-3-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"January 3, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cTherefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.\u201d <\/em>2 Corinthians 5:17<\/p>\n

New Beginning<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>This has been quite a year. Many good, yet many hard and sad things happened in 2018. I am looking forward to 2019, yet it is bittersweet. Saying goodbye to my dad at the end of 2017 was monumental and life-changing. This year has been a bit empty, yet I have a new son-in-law, and also a new daughter-in-law. It brings me joy and peace to know that my children are happy. The northern California fires have been devastating, especially close to home; almost a third of our town is gone, yet we are rebuilding. A friend I\u2019ve worked with for years, who brought much joy and laughter to my day, has moved on. Change can be hard, but God never changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us\u201d <\/em>(Romans 8:37).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>This is the adventure I can embrace in the new year. I\u2019ve always been positive and I am confident God is working all things for our good. We can always look up and know He\u2019s in control and fills all the empty and painful places in our hearts and lives.<\/p>\n

We are rich in Christ. We have His Word and the Holy Spirit to give us His perspective and encouragement. We can embrace our challenges and get up after defeats, renewed and stronger. It starts with spending time basking in His presence. I\u2019m always amazed that this valuable time can change my disturbed heart, giving new direction and hope when I allow Him completely in, acknowledging my state of mind, my disappointments, and yes, my sin. His Word washes over us better than any warm shower. He makes all things new.<\/p>\n

\u201cTherefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(Romans 8:1-2).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>And later in this same chapter: \u201cBut if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(vs. 11).<\/p>\n

This is a promise that we can embrace now. He can raise our dead emotions or attitudes and turn them to His will and purpose. This is our joy because He created us for Himself, and when we live full of the Holy Spirit we are most fulfilled knowing we are pleasing our Heavenly Father.<\/p>\n

Let us embrace this new year with hope and encouragement in Him. We can hope in even what we don\u2019t yet see: \u201cFor we are saved to this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope\u2026 but if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance\u201d <\/em>(Romans 8:24-25).<\/p>\n

\u201cHeavenly Father, we present ourselves as a living sacrifices for this next year. We pray we can submit to Your will in all things, enjoying Your presence and embracing Your adventure!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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