Happy New Year!
2018 is now in the history books and we are beginning a brand new year. The past year has been a roller coaster ride for many and for others it was a great blessing. For some, sickness, marital problems, troubled children and teens, financial difficulties, loss of loved ones and loss of a job seemed like a constant occurrence. For others, great opportunities came constant, jobs were never an issue, money was always there, health was never an issue and life was just great. Life has a way of dealing cards that just does not always seem fair at all, but through it all we are still blessed no matter what cards are dealt to us.
I have always said when someone comes to me saying "Life is just not fair!" "Everything I touch and life itself is always not favorable to me at all." Before I even speak, I think about how satan attacked our family before, during and after the birth of our three children. I had the exact same thoughts going through my head " God where are you? I would catch myself asking God a question "Life on this earth is just not fair and do you not even care what we are going through right now"? God would always respond to me with an answer I did not want to hear, but was actually the truth I needed to hear.
"Look around son, there is always someone in much worse shape than you"! As I began to do as he had asked, I did begin to realize that we were still so blessed through it all.
I would then ask God for forgiveness in doubting him and then begin to praise and thank him for all the blessings we had received and stop dwelling on only what I could see at that very moment. There WAS always someone or others that were facing a much greater battle than what we were facing at the time. So what are you saying you might ask? If 2018 was not your year, If there were to many days that you had no desire to even wake up the next morning, If everywhere you turned things were just a mess listen to me. God was still there even if you could not see him, hear him, feel him or touch him because his word declares in Deuteronomy 31:8 And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. He was saying, I am not only going with you through it, but I will also go before you so don't worry I've got this!
Make a determination NOW that everything that hurt, pulled and knocked you down or around in 2018, that you are not going to allow that same thing to control your 2019! It is a new year, new day, new blessing new hour and new power just for you! He was there! He saw you through it or you would not be here now. Begin to praise him and thank him for all his blessings that you have received already and he will begin to step in and change all those things that have held you back.
Make 2019 be your greatest year yet in drawing closer to God and serving him with everything within you because YOU ARE BLESSED!
Blessing,
Ken Smith, Pastor
I have always said when someone comes to me saying "Life is just not fair!" "Everything I touch and life itself is always not favorable to me at all." Before I even speak, I think about how satan attacked our family before, during and after the birth of our three children. I had the exact same thoughts going through my head " God where are you? I would catch myself asking God a question "Life on this earth is just not fair and do you not even care what we are going through right now"? God would always respond to me with an answer I did not want to hear, but was actually the truth I needed to hear.
"Look around son, there is always someone in much worse shape than you"! As I began to do as he had asked, I did begin to realize that we were still so blessed through it all.
I would then ask God for forgiveness in doubting him and then begin to praise and thank him for all the blessings we had received and stop dwelling on only what I could see at that very moment. There WAS always someone or others that were facing a much greater battle than what we were facing at the time. So what are you saying you might ask? If 2018 was not your year, If there were to many days that you had no desire to even wake up the next morning, If everywhere you turned things were just a mess listen to me. God was still there even if you could not see him, hear him, feel him or touch him because his word declares in Deuteronomy 31:8 And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. He was saying, I am not only going with you through it, but I will also go before you so don't worry I've got this!
Make a determination NOW that everything that hurt, pulled and knocked you down or around in 2018, that you are not going to allow that same thing to control your 2019! It is a new year, new day, new blessing new hour and new power just for you! He was there! He saw you through it or you would not be here now. Begin to praise him and thank him for all his blessings that you have received already and he will begin to step in and change all those things that have held you back.
Make 2019 be your greatest year yet in drawing closer to God and serving him with everything within you because YOU ARE BLESSED!
Blessing,
Ken Smith, Pastor
