Happy New Year
With the new year, many of us begin making our famous, New Year's
Resolutions. You know, the things we say we're going to change, and
then after about two weeks we slack off from them which carries them
to a state of non-existence shortly thereafter. Nevertheless, the
attempt or motivation is much greater than futile, for whether it is
the beginning of the year, or a random day in seeking positive
change, such is always honorable.
Rather than focus on this change though, I want to take a time to
encourage you to celebrate the changes that you have already
received, and to try and live those to the fullest before taking on
any new ones. Some of these can be provided with a brief listing as
follows:

1. In Christ Jesus, you are saved - Yeeehaw!!! I pray that you
remain motivated just at the least based on the fact that where you
were once doomed, you are now delivered from an eternity of pain.

2. Your sins are forgiven by God - Rather than spending, or rather
wasting, any other moment of your limited time in guilt, regret,
sorrow, etc., over something that was done that cannot be changed,
repent of it accept God's forgiveness and move on in joy and
confidence. If He can move on from it and remember your sin no more,
how much greater are we to still hold on to it? If He forgave it,
that settles it, and it is over. Enjoy the release from the yokes of
the past.

3. Rejoice and just be positive - Apostle Paul taught us that he
rejoices in that he dies daily. Weeping may endure for a night but
joy comes in the morning! You have made it this far and you are
still alive and in your right mind; that is enough in itself for
celebration. Likewise, with each new day, month, year, etc. you are
afforded an opportunity to make another change for positiveness, so
look at each day as such an opportunity, rather than an obligation,
and make an effort to find something positive to embrace and share
each day. This way, you can truly live the words of the song, "all
of my good days, outweigh my bad days, I won't complain."

May the peace above all understanding engulf you continually as you
journey through the paths of your life. As quoted from Hamlet, "life
is neither good or bad, but thinking makes it so." It's all on how
you look at it, and if your eyes are on Jesus, goodness can only
follow.
By the grace of God,

Kelvin N. Broadus
Pastor - UGFE Ministries
Regional Elder for GA - UCFM
http://churchugfe.freeservers.com/
http://www.ucfm.net/