New Year, New Life with God

Happy New Year everyone!

It is a New Year that means for many it’s a new opportunity to change their lives. We hype this time of the year up as if it is magical but in reality many fail in their resolutions. I stopped doing New Year’s resolutions as I always failed them and it made the New Year very stressful. They’re just not for me, if they are for you then great, I wish you luck and I’ll be praying for you.

Many may mock you but it is because they’re stuck in their ways and wish they could change.

The truth is though, you all out there can be successful in change, even the ones that scoff and mock. Just because you failed in the past doesn’t mean you will fail today.

The best first step is to go to God.

With God He can make all things new. I’ve seen memes where they say, “You don’t need a new year just a Monday.”

Well with God you don’t need a new year or a Monday; you just need a new moment.

Right now everything can change for you.

My entire life has been different since I started having a relationship with God.

I have seen change in myself and others around me, I have seen miracles both small and big. When you give your life to Christ, you will see how God will take care of you.

God has taken care of my wife and I in so many ways, I wish I could list them all here today. I should be writing more about the ways God has effected my life in order to show the love of God and His wondrous works.

Well, would look at that, maybe I do have a New Year’s resolution.

But I digress.

Please pledge your life to Christ today.

If you have fallen away, recommit your life to Christ today.

Don’t just start a new year, don’t just start a new week, start your new life today.

Have a blessed week,
Chris

Here are three great Bible verses for you………….today.

Philippians 4:13 New King James Version (NKJV)
13 I can do all things through [a]Christ who strengthens me.

2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Deuteronomy 31:6
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Doer of the Word

As it says in James 1:22-25, “22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

We must not just listen and hear the Word of God we must do the will of the Father. Knowing scripture is not enough, the Pharisees were experts on scripture, yet missed the coming of the Messiah.

We must bring people to God and do so in the right away, in John Chapter 4 Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman, He asked her for a drink of water and then spoke to her about her sins, He promised to give her living water so she would never be thirsty again. Jesus didn’t point out her sins to condemn her or threaten her with Hell but instead He showed her love, the living water, His message was love not fear. Bringing people to God out of fear will led to them falling away. A successful relationship must be built on love not fear.

Also in John 4 (39-42), Jesus stayed two extra days on request of the Samaritan people, use that as a guide, we must take time and change our schedules to save others and help those in need.

Remember we too can give Jesus something to drink. Remember in Matthew 24: 35-40,  “35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

We are called to help those suffering, no matter what their beliefs are or what they may have done. God is willing to forgive ALL sins.

We must go out and do the work God has asked us to do. Without going out and doing the work we cannot truly be called servants of God, someone can take classes and read books to learn how to become a mechanic but until they actually do the work they are not a real mechanic.

Support and believe in others around you. Sometimes a person says they are going to turn their life around or go and serve God in the community, and others will look at one another and scoff or mock the person, they point out their flaws, laugh at them, ask who does this person think they are?

Jesus was treated this way in his own town. In Mark 6:1-3, “Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.”

Believe in your brothers and sisters.

Let’s go out and do the will of the Father today.

Father, I pray that You guide me to do Your will and not my own. Be patient with me and help me help others as You help me. Amen

Have a blessed week,
Chris

Links:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A22-25&version=NKJV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4&version=NKJV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A35-40&version=NKJV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6&version=NKJV

Trusting God’s plan

I have a story that has been taking place the last few years. I have been working with my little brother John, he has Autism, I was his in-home instructor, I taught him important life skills and helped him grow to be an independent adult. However his services stopped on June 28th as he is 21 years old and just finished High School.

Leading up to this I wasn’t sure what to do. I was nervous and scared, I wanted to move into another field, preferably an office type environment but I didn’t know if I’d end up working at a grocery store by the end.

To tell this story I must go back a couple years.

It was 2016, I enjoyed working with my brother and felt it was the right place for me, however my wife’s Father was sick and she was taking care of him and also trying to finish school at Notre Dame University in Baltimore. If he passed away we would need to move, my job with John was part-time. It was hard to find places that allowed couples to rent rooms or basements we would need a real apartment.

I saw that there was a full time library position open, having experience in libraries I figured I’d be able to get the job. I prayed about it and told God if I got an interview I would go, if I didn’t I would stay with John until his services stopped. I applied and I did get an email asking to call to set up an interview. I asked God to give me a sign if I shouldn’t interview. I called and received a “busy” signal. I felt that maybe a coincidence so I called back, someone picked up and I scheduled an interview. Then the very next day I got a call it was the person I spoke to yesterday, she didn’t know why but they needed to cancel all the interviews for the day I had scheduled mine, she asked if I wanted to reschedule, I heard the word “No” come into my head so I simply replied, “No, thank you. now is not the time.” I made a vow to God at that point to stay with John through the end, to see him through. I could feel that’s what God wanted.

Well some time went by and Jane graduated from college. She couldn’t look for a job as her Dad’s health continued to decline. Then one day, he abruptly passed away. My wife was distraught, myself and her whole family were dealing with grief.

But then life continues on. I was so scared, I didn’t understand, was I wrong? Did God actually want me to go for the library job and it was Satan putting those road blocks in my way? I prayed and prayed but finally I stopped, I wasn’t letting God get a word in, I was babbling like the pagans*.

So I listened, then I felt calm and relaxed, I knew it would all be okay. I had to fight the worry for awhile but God was always there. My wife started looking for a job, I kept my word to God and stayed with John. Then one day I felt the urge to help my Wife in her job search, I prayed beforehand and one job stood out to me. I showed it to my wife. She applied, was interviewed and got the job!

We were able to stay in the house for a few months and save up some money before moving into our first apartment together.

Now fast forward to May of this year. I was starting to do exactly what God tells us not to do, worry. I decided I would start applying for full time work, if I got a job offer I would take it, I was with John almost all the way through, I felt like I had to protect myself and help provide with my wife. We got a dog in February, next step is a baby, I need to move on to the next thing.

Over the next two months I applied for just over FORTY Jobs. I only got one reply and it would not be the right fit, to say the least. The last week with my brother was great but I was worried, what was going to come next? My wife reminded me that we had a little nest egg and God would take care of us. She also helped with my resume to bolster it a little bit, she is truly awesome.

Well Monday of this week came, I sent out a few applications. By this morning I had four companies contact me for interviews. Four! I went on my first interview and was immediately hired on the spot. God is good.

I kept my word and so did God.  It took less than two business days for God to find me a position. He will always provide, he has a plan, if we trust Him, his plan for us will be fulfilled.

*”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God Bless

*http://biblehub.com/matthew/6-7.htm

*https://www.biblestudytools.com/jeremiah/29-11.html