BEGIN AGAIN

Every moment in space and time comes with an opportunity to begin again. Woven into the year since early civilization, are the recognitions of seasons that permit us to start over...wiping out the old and embracing a clean slate open to new possibilities. Below are some basic points to consider as you begin again.

Begin with Grace
You are here today because God has sustained you. Something in addition to and beyond your effort has kept you. God continues to bless you to be here on earth. God's wonderful grace abounds. Hallelujah!

Begin with Thanksgiving and Celebration
If you begin with the acknowledgement of the gift of grace in your life, it should not be too difficult to move on to thankfulness. Praise God! God's goodness is all over your existence. Give God the praise. Celebrate God's goodness each day.

Begin with Purpose
Put God in the very center of your life. If life is going to make sense it is due to your theology. In other words, your belief in God and how God is at work in your life is essential for a meaningful life. The Bible tells us what God expects:

• "Be fruitful and multiply" Genesis 1:28
• " ...do justice...love kindness and walk humbly with your God" Micah 6:8
• "...love God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27
• There are two truths about what God places on your heart to do. One: it is not easy, and two: it is possible. A great year awaits you.

I believe you are here because God has more for you to be and do.

Begin with Forgiveness
We can learn from history but we cannot change it.
We must stop beating ourselves up because of the past.
The past may be filled with a basket of valuable lessons, but you cannot rewrite the past.
We must look forward now.
The player who is preoccupied with the last dropped ball is losing ground on catching the next one.

Begin with Focus
Distractions have one purpose and that is keeping you so busy that you do not have time to satisfy your deepest longings. You must concentrate! If you keep your hands filled with good tasks, you will not have any room for the most important things in your life. You cannot do everything that the world asks of you but you can do all that God has anointed you to do. If you do what God is calling you to do, there is one thing for sure...you will have the best year of your life. Do not be afraid; God promises you a wonderful future! Have a blessed and Spirit-filled New Year!

Remember, God's will for us is good. We must do the rest.

---Bishop James R. King, Jr. Resident Bishop, South Georgia Conference

God is still in Control!!!

Miss Lladale Carey
Web Producer
http://www.umcgiving.org/
United Methodist Communications
lcarey@umcom.org

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