New Year

Made it through the holidays.

I think it's ironic that I consider the holidays a major challenge to my faith and deeds in Christ. Even though the holiday is dedicated to Christ, I tend to resemble Christ less during this time. You feel me?

I did better this Christmas than in past years. We had family here for a week and it was a miracle that I exhibited love much of the time. Then there was the last couple of days, where things fell apart for me. The less than loving side emerged. Just like any other time; I turn around (repent) and learn from it. There has been growth, but I must continue (persevere).

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

We have a new year ahead of us. As a church, we will be wrestling with the foundation we are laying, our pursuit of God's righteousness, and paying attention to what fruit we are bearing. I am still working on what to pray about, how to use my time and energy, and what does God have in store for the days ahead.

I am trying to assess my own life in Christ; growth in His character while actively implementing the Gospel message to the good of the Kingdom.

It is a real challenge to maintain a life of Godliness not only personally, but corporately as well. Unity in faith is still something we are grasping at. I think until we finally take hold of that unity, we will struggle to see numeric and spiritual growth as a body. I don't have an answer to this sense I have, but I pray to have our eyes opened and hearts willing to become what God has in store.

Eph 4:11-16
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Amen.