By the very nature of turning the page the calendar, closing out 2017 and beginning a New Year, 2018, we cannot help but reflect, both on the year that has been and the one unfolding.  While the words roll of our tongues with great ease, 'Happy New Year'; and while such a greeting is accompanied by a sincere desire for happiness and peace and joy, the truth is every New Year brings with it a measure of both anticipation and  uncertainty.  In this life hope and fear walk hand in hand.

So as we reflect and walk into another New Year; here are some truths from God's Word on which we can build a confident foundation for 2018, no matter what lies before us.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid...for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.  (Psalm 25:5)

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  (Psalm 46:1)

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise--in God I trust and am not afraid.  (Psalm 56:3-4)

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  When you pass through the waters,  I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.  (Isaiah 41:1-3)

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.  (Jeremiah 3:25)

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.  (John 14:1)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  (Romans 8:28)

God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. (Psalm 33:22)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:38-39)

As you cling to the truth of His Word and the promises of our faithful God, may you have a blessed New Year!

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.  Luke 2:8
 
It some ways it was a night like any other night; life was unfolding the same way it always did for some shepherds, who were just doing what shepherds do, watching their flock.  But, into the routine of this ordinary night, God was about to break in in an extraordinary way. 
 
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:9-11
 
God was breaking into human history and what started out as nothing more than routine becomes a defining moment for these shepherds.  So it is with our lives; things move along routinely and then suddenly God breaks into our lives in a way that changes everything.  Perhaps not as dramatically as He did on the night in Bethlehem but we know God has stepped into our path and we too have experienced a defining moment.
 
This Christmas I invite you to open yourself to the possibility that God wants to come alongside you in a special way; open your eyes that you might see the presence of God all around you; that you might experience His kindness and love in new and wonderful ways; that you might hear His voice and be fully responsive to Him. 
 
Perhaps He will break through and surprise you with His grace or quietly whisper words of affirmation and encouragement.  Perhaps He will lead you into a path you never imagined and on that path you will see Him through the eyes of a renewed faith and experience a renewed hope.  Or perhaps he will simply draw you close to Him and invite you to rest in His presence.  Whatever the case, are you open to the possibility?
 
Janice and I want to express to our gratitude for the kindness and support we have received from so many over this past year.  Thank you to all who have shared this journey of faith with us! 
 
From our home to yours, we extend warmest wishes
for a wonderful Christmas and blessed New Year!
 
Pastor Ken

One Sunday, while the pastor was teaching, he put on the screen a quote from Henri Nouwen. I’m not a note taker so I grabbed my phone and took a picture of the screen at the front of the church. I use my phone camera frequently so I see this quote often.
 
“I still believe deeply that our few years on this earth are part of a much larger event that stretches out far beyond the boundaries of our birth and death. I think of it as a mission into time a mission that is very exhilarating and even exciting. Mostly because the One who sent me on the mission is waiting for me to come home and tell the story of what I have learned.”
 
What I learn from life is what’s important. As a child, I remember being frustrated with all the rules and limitations placed on me. Teen years brought anxiety as to who I was becoming. Being an adult meant taking on responsibility for my actions and their consequences. Now, I have valuable life lessons learned through trials and errors. Home is where God is and it takes these life lessons to steer us home.
 
Abba is always waiting for me to talk to him. Formal prayer has its place, but, for me, the continual communication throughout the day with Abba is like having my best friend with me all the time. I grasped this concept a little too enthusiastically as a child, as one night my parents talked to me about the “secret friend” I apparently had at school, that the teacher had told them about. When I explained that I was just talking to Abba, as they had taught me to, they told me I could keep my friend. I refer to my friend as “Abba” very intentionally. I have fond memories of cuddling up with my grandfather in his huge recliner and him wrapping his arms around me while I fell asleep or was comforted when unhappy. He would just take me on his lap and hold me and I would settle down. It is this special feeling of “all is well with the world” that I associate with the name, Abba. Abba means Father, but it is a far more personal relationship than many of us have with our earthly fathers. When I talk to Abba I know He will calm my soul.
 
Not everyone thinks like I do. The theme song for me when I was a teen was “Walk a Mile in my Shoes”.  I eventually learned that not only should people try to understand me, but that I should also walk in their shoes. The sad part here is that even walking in another’s shoes doesn’t always help. Far too often we are trying to sell the person new shoes; ones that we want them to wear. It is taking me a lifetime of walking in Jesus’ shoes, to truly learn to walk as God wants me to walk, to listen with the ears of God, and to love with the unconditional love that Jesus modelled for us.
 
Recently I struggled through another lesson. I was working within a group and the idea of what the final outcome should be was just not unanimous. My will verses other wills became a stumbling block. I doubt that God’s will was even being considered. Another quote from Henry Nouwen came to mind:
“The farther I run away from the place God dwells, the less I am able to hear the voice that calls me the Beloved, and the less I hear the voice, the more entangled I become in the manipulations and power games of the world.”
 
I was definitely entangled in manipulation and power. These people were my friends; people I highly respected, who were very talented and dedicated. Their ideas and desires were worthy of my consideration. I needed to listen with the ears of God. I needed to love these people the way God loves me. I needed to walk through the situation with God. With the change of attitude, the task at hand was amicably completed. It wasn’t as I had envisioned, but it was better. It was what God wanted. We were all to bloom where we had been planted so God’s glory could shine forth. Scripturally speaking, God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.  1 Corinthians 12:18-20 NIV
 
I’ve had to learn and relearn to put God first, to deny self, and love others as God loves me. Each time I am successful there is much joy to share with Abba, and when I fail Abba waits for His prodigal daughter to return home. There is no condemnation, no judgement, nor retaliation. There is simply an ever loving Abba waiting for me to seek Him out. He wants me to learn how to complete my mission on earth and return home. Home is where God is and the day will come when we will never be separated again. Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.  Proverbs 3:5 AMP