Happy New Year everyone!

Hi all...

Just a reminder not to let this blog waste away. =) Can always post anything that you glean from your devotions, or anything that you have questions about or want to share with us.

7 things Pastor mentioned we should do this year:

1. Count your blessings
Instead of saying "I'll be happy if..." we should be counting our blessings! Give thanks in all that you do. Now is a great time to look back as the last year and see how God has been faithful and give thanks to Him.

2. Read the Bible everyday (if you are a couple, try to read the Bible together too)
Be disciplined to spend time with God each day, and to read His word. It will help us to grow and give us wisdom and insight on our daily lives.

3. Fast and pray
Pastor said he fasts and prays at least twice a week. When we are weak from fasting, we can depend more on God and learn of his strength and goodness in a deeper way.

4. Build our families
We need to ask God for unconditional love to give to our families and loved ones. Spend more time with your family if you haven't been. Support them, be with them when they need you. Shower them with God's love and they will be touched and blessed.

5. Get out of debt
Owe no man anything. "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." Romans 16:7-8

6. Worship in spirit and in truth
Let us worship God with our lives. "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:23-24

7. Serve faithfully
Be faithful with the gifts and talents that God has given you. We are all called to be ministers. If we are not serving in church, we should be serving our families in God, we should be serving in our marketplace. Service should be a lifetime offering to God. I read a joke somewhere before that God didn't say we can take sabbatical leave from serving God. God wants us to serve Him all our days. Think about how you can serve Him more this year.

Blessed New Year!

-Sarah