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The New Year

A new year always brings a sense of new beginnings. History claims another milestone as dates on the calendar set to restart…again. The early days of January are for me days of anticipation.

In Australia it is peak summer holiday season, so there is a strange tension in the air. Some days I want to do absolutely nothing and think about nothing more. Other days I want to plan out the whole year with all my dreams and visions!!! I want to get back out there serving Jesus and preaching the Gospel! Sending emails and making phone calls!! It takes wisdom to know when to rest and when to rise up and conquer new frontiers. I confess I need God’s wisdom to know the difference and not rush into everything like a “bull at a gate”. There is a Godly wisdom and a worldly kind of wisdom.

Here’s the difference:

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:13-18

I long to have wisdom that comes from heaven. We must choose. Will this new season be a year directed by God’s wisdom or the ways of men? In a world torn apart by hatred, war, terror, false religions, fragile economies, corruption and greed.

Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? James 3:11 We are one or the other. Bitter or sweet.

“Lord Jesus…. I pray you will help us to be people filled with a fresh spirit, like sweet water flowing from a mountain spring. Let us look only to you for wisdom that will carry us through another year. In a broken, fallen and uncertain world may you be our peace. You are the author and the perfecter of our faith. We love you and we worship you. Thanks for your faithfulness to our families, our marriages and all that we do. Help us make wise decisions in these early days of a new year. Amen.”

Godspeed,

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Pictured: Cheyne, Kerrie, Ryan, Steve and Jordan

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