Happy New Year!!!

A new start! A new beginning! A new me! Why is it that the change of one day brings forth the "new" beginnings that could have started yesterday, last week or last month? The promise of NEW is always so refreshing and a whole year to do it makes it seem more realistic. I am reminded of the true new beginning I had 24 years ago next month! It was the day that I gave my life to Christ. The moment He forgave me from my sins and washed me clean. 2 Cor. 5:17 says it all "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" Not a new beginning but a NEW CREATION! A new person. From that point on it was up to me to make the changes through Christ to be the best new creation I can be. I have a new chance each day to do this and my God loves me enough to give me "new mercies" every morning. (Lam 3:23) We have the promise of God and are reminded in Heb 10:23 to "hold on unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful". " Being confident of this, He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" (Phil 1:6 ) is our promise that He began the work and He will see US through. Do we have any role in this? Romans 12:2 tells us to "not be conformed to this world BUT be transformed by the renewing of your mind". We are to be "filled with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding" ( Col 1:9) To do this we are to spend time WITH Him and IN His Word. I decided years ago not to make New Year's Resolutions but to recommit to spending more time in His Word and with Him each day. I think this is something that we all can strive to do. So as 2011 begins, I know there will never be a better new beginning than the one that took place that Friday night in February of 1987 and I will continue to "press on to the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:14)