Happy New Year!

  As I contemplate the past year and the hope of looking forward to a blessed New Year, I asked myself “What makes New Year’s such a time of celebration and anticipation?” It seems to be about closing the door on another chapter of life, another year. Some enjoyed rich blessings – new love, new life, new jobs, coming home, new beginnings, overcoming addictions and good health during the past year. Others have felt heartache, heartbreak and loss of all kinds and are ready to put the year behind them.   What are you anticipating? We all embrace hope. Hope of new things, better things, being the best you, you can be – the list is endless. The slate is wiped clean…ready for a do-over, a makeover, or a building on a good work that has begun.

Seek Hope in Jesus

Hope. What a wonderful feeling of anticipation of what is not seen, but a stirring in your heart for something better. Hope is defined as ‘a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen’.   Hope. It’s what Jesus Christ came in the flesh to offer. The hope you are seeking can be found in our loving Savior, who lived, died and overcame death, that we might have eternal life. Hope. Only Jesus can fill that void, that hole in your soul to make you whole. Once you give your life to Jesus, truly and completely, a peace and joy, hope and love rushes in to restore your very soul. Does that mean life will be easy? No. But you will have the hope of the Lord to lean on. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-8, NIV)   Many of you have heard Jeremiah 29:11, but look closely at the following 2 verses. “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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”(Jer 29:11-13, NIV)

Let 2017 be the year you sell-out to the Hope of Jesus. Let Jesus fill your heart with a Hope more complete and forever than that of a New Year’s Celebration. May God bless you richly in 2017. Press On!