Some Thoughts for the New Year 2020

I’ve been thinking about the year behind us, and especially the year ahead of us. In 2019, it seemed that we had a very short summer, I had some dental issues, and our beloved cat Cleo died. We lost power for 44 hours in October, and I have never before experienced such darkness. Many good things occurred as well: I started an iron-on business to proclaim the Word of God. I make positive inspirational sayings & images that will grab people’s attention. We enjoyed wonderful regular fellowship with our church family. I joined a friendly and helpful Fibre Arts group, and I started sewing again, something I enjoy immensely.  We signed up as volunteers for Youth for Christ doing mostly media projects. I started making YouTube videos as another form of getting the Word out. Check out my first video here: https://youtu.be/QyCdb-FeDZA

We are also planning a trip south. We haven’t traveled much, and there’s many reasons for that. We are very content with the fulfilling life we have where we are. And we feel that this is a great gift of God. We are also called to be and stay where we are, and so God abundantly blesses us when we obey and focus on the ministry He has for us here.

But as we talk to others, it becomes evident that travel is often used as an escape—this greatly concerns me for every Bible-believing confessing Christian. I am reminded of these verses:

1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.

1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

As we come into the New Year, probably on nearly everyone’s wish/resolution list is to travel somewhere they haven’t been. And so many people are traveling this time of year, and will travel later this year. At times it seems that it is all people talk about, where they’re going and where they’ve been. And it isn’t wrong to travel unless it is for the wrong reason (like anything else we do). But is it right to focus most of one’s energies on it? Not everyone can or will travel. Perhaps the conversation should be steered to a more beneficial one for the hearers?

1Co 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient [suitable or appropriate]: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (Italics mine)

And traveling can be and is addicting as well. It can create a sense of discontentment with our lives, and we will continue to seek the next big adventure. But this is not real life at all. Like the saying goes, “Bloom where you are planted.” God put you where you are for a reason. Is there no one left who lives in your neighbourhood/street/area/suburb/town/city that needs to hear the Gospel and see your good works?

For this New Year and for always, our goal should not be how many places we’ve traveled to. Rather, I am reminded that our purpose down here is to love God and have a personal relationship with Him. This should be our goal. The first commandment is to love Him WITH ALL OUR HEART & SOUL AND MIND (see Matthew 22:37). It’s a TOTAL commitment. It comes before relationships with others, before trips, travel, new houses, cars, or anything else. He is to be our all in all.

Secondly, our focus is to be on our relationships with others —to love our neighbour as ourself (see Matthew 22:38). In fact, we don’t love God if we don’t love our fellow human being.

1Jn 4:20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

1Jn 4:21  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Loving God first and completely, and sacrificially loving others is where we need to focus our energies, not on how quickly we can escape the daily struggle, the daily routine. Remember the struggle is where we grow, this is where God is working with us, forming His perfect pearl in the shell we are struggling so hard to escape early from. God has a timing, wait for it. Don’t run ahead and leave God behind. The best things in life take time and so much patience, especially our spiritual lives.

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Let’s take verse 18 above to heart for the New year 2020. It is not so much having a Happy New Year, as it is to have a fruitful one because we have obeyed the call to love God first (and always) no matter what our circumstances. Whether we travel or stay at home, our duty to God and our fellow man is the same — to love.

It’s All About Jesus

Recently, I heard a carol I hadn’t heard for many years. It brought a memory to mind of being with my sister Adella in Saskatchewan. It was a snowy Saturday and we were driving to Prince Albert to do some Christmas shopping. I had a weekend off from Bible School in Eston. The church in Melfort had given me $100 since they had adopted me as a struggling first year student, so I could do some Christmas shopping. They had given me other care packages too. So did my parents. In fact, my mom had sent me a three-foot Christmas tree complete with lights and decorations. I proudly displayed it in my dorm room.

I remember how worried I was since I had no money for Christmas. I wanted to buy everyone a gift, even small ones. So, my sister Adella took me to Prince Albert and we went shopping.  I bought a couple of Christmas tapes in the Bible store, and we listened to them on the way back to Melfort.

How different this Christmas was to all the ones before. You see, I had just recently been set free by Jesus.  He sought me out there at Bible School, and over time He became my best most trusted Friend, and Lord and Savior.  I had a joy and a peace and a hope I had never known before.  Yes, I became a Christian when I was five, but I didn’t really know Jesus like I did when I was almost 19. You know, when I think back to that day with my sister and how beautiful the countryside was, it wasn’t so much the scenery, although it was truly breathtaking, but it was about what had happened to me on the inside.

To me, life itself had taken on a beauty and a wonder I had missed since childhood. But that wasn’t enough to fill my heart with joy. It’s when change occurs on the inside, that’s really where it counts. It’s never the outward, but its what’s happening on the inside. Jesus was dealing with all my fears at that time. And I was looking to Him, and not to others to fulfill me and help me. I was truly coming into my own, with Jesus as my constant guide. He was forming me into His Workmanship (the name of our first-year class). Many times, through the years, I knew God had been faithfully working in me, and designing His own version of His own perfect masterpiece.  It has always come at a cost of giving up more of me, which is always a good thing.

 

God is so faithful. When I received that surprise $100, I knew it was a gift from God Himself — the church obeying the prompting of the Lord. I received it from Him. You see, whereas before I thought I was worthless because of the sinful life I had led, Jesus had lifted me up and He completely changed my heart.  I think now He wanted to show off His miracle-working power.  People could hardly believe the big change they saw in me.

When I came home to Souris, then Winnipeg for Christmas, things happened. That change became very evident when I went to see my old college friends at a Christmas party. I couldn’t get into it anymore. I had no desire for alcohol or drugs. I was just basking in the love of Jesus and it showed. My eyes were brimming with joy, and my heart was bursting with thanksgiving. Peace had beautifully settled over my life, and I now had purpose.  Jesus gave me a new life and a new start. 

That Christmas at home it was quiet. It was just me and my Mom and Dad. I remember Christmas morning I opened up my gift from them and it was a brand, new Scofield KJ Bible. Oh, how thrilled I was. I couldn’t have received a better gift.

This Christmas I pray that you will be overcome with the beauty, majesty, grace and love of God.  I pray that you’ll experience what I did those many years ago – that you will know that its not the scenery, the tinsel, the gifts, the meal, or even your loved ones and friends that give you ultimate purpose in your life, it is always all and only about Jesus. 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6 

Beware of the Counterfeit

For someone like me, the New Age seemed appealing offering things like freedom, peace, knowledge, and power. I think for me what I most wanted was FREEDOM.

Man (humankind) teaches that you have a right to do as you please and that is freedom. Sin all you want and break the commandments because you are sovereign over your own body and soul. Believe what you want and don’t let anyone tell you what to do. I bought right into this philosophy, but it wasn’t until later on that I realized it couldn’t deliver, at least not for very long. And I discovered that the Bible cautions us to beware of such promises: 

2 Pet 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 

John 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 

John 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
John 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
John 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 

My friends, we reap what we sow. I reaped death because I sowed into ground that was void of God’s blessings. It all caught upwith me, and I was anything but free. In the end, I needed rescuing and some day, so will you! No one alive will not need rescuing at some point. Do not wait until it is too late. 

And here is something wonderful to consider! God truly loves us and He is not the one we need to run from. He is the one to RUN TO! He offers us a safe place once we recognize an evil and unwelcome presence in our life. 

John 3:17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ESV

Psa 91:1  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 
Psa 91:2  I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Psa 91:3  For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. ESV 

Run from the devil and run from EVERY appearance or even HINT of evil. Don’t let Satan lie to you and say that God is at fault when clearly Satan is the one behind everything negative and evil in this world. He will counterfeit everything he can that God offers, but it will never be the real thing. It will never satisfy and you will always end up losing.

2 Cor 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 

1 Th 5:22  Abstain from every form of evil. ESV

If you feel caught in a snare of some kind, there is great hope for you right now. God will never turn you away no matter what you’ve done.