Blessed New Year!

We’re not much on big New Year celebrations around here, in fact we went to bed at 10:00 last night. But we know lots of people who are into it, so Sara and I want to bless you with a full and rich new year ahead.

And to do that, instead of pressuring yourself with all that you want to do to make your life better this year, perhaps you’d consider asking God what he is doing to make his life more real in you. Transformation begins with his will and desire, not ours.

And then you’ll realize what God knows. Transformation is not his goal, it is merely the fruit of living loved by him. His goal is not to change you, it is to invite you into his love, Change will happen as the fruit of that, not the goal!

What I love about God is that he doesn’t mark time on calendars and offer a fresh start once a year. His mercies are new every morning, so that each day is a fresh start in his life and grace.

(And if you want to see the many faces of Wayne and Brad while recording The God Journey, you might check out our new photos over there!)

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By: Wayne | 2010/01/01 | Encouragement | Trackback | Comments [RSS 2.0]

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Angela Davenport

Comment by Angela Davenport | 2010/01/01 at 14:13:53

Hey Wayne,

Thanks so much for sharing, I am so moved by this blog that I reposted part of it on my facebook page. I hope you don’t mind. I thought some of my friends might need to be set free from resolutions! I am going to relax and ask God what He is doing to make his life more real in me. Hoping I am transformed beyond recognition this year!

Thanks again! Happy New Year to you and your family!

Angela
Lindsey

Comment by Lindsey | 2010/01/01 at 15:18:34

Actually, I was thinking how much more sacred New Years was for me than Christmas. It’s a reminder of what He has done, and I love celebrating that.
Love your thoughts about sanctification not being the goal, but the fruit. It kind of gives me an answer to something that was bugging me, even last night. I heard on a Christian radio station about how important it was to “get plugged in” and find “Accountability partners” otherwise one might become “spiritually lazy”. I just had to turn it off. That so much implied that we have to constantly work at producing the results. Yuck! Thats just wrong!
I was on my way to spend New Years with my not so spiritually in-tuned cousins and it didnt escape my attention that a few years ago, (after being saved and wanting to completely accept Christ, also accepted some pretty dogmatic views) I would have shunned the visit, or spent the whole time “pointing to Jesus.” I’m glad I didnt. I had a pretty good time with them just as they were, and me just as I was (and that is NOT ultra “spiritual” all the time!) Who knows? Maybe that could lead to some real conversations in the new year.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day!
Lindsey
Ian Stapleton

Comment by Ian Stapleton | 2010/01/01 at 16:27:02

We only made it to 11pm. We are the same, not that big on new years celebrations. But yes as we know Him more His fruit is bore in us more. After all isn’t that why we have been chosen ‘that we bear much fruit and that it should remain’ and through this the Father is glorified.

Have a great new year and blessed new year everybody, full of grace and truth!!
Ian
Charles Graham

Comment by Charles Graham | 2010/01/01 at 16:29:22

I used to be big on New Year celebrations. God’s people bringing in the New Year with praise and worship and a new sense of direction. Now I realize that maybe I was trying to impress him into believing that I was completely sold out. How foolish, he knew what was in me already.

Now we get together with friends, play games and fellowship over food and conversation. A lot has changed in the last few years. To be free in his love is truly joy unspeakable and full of his glory.

May we all experience the fullness of his love and grace on a daily basis. Knowing that wherever we are he is right there in the mess with us.

Charles
Kimberly Simpkins

Comment by Kimberly Simpkins | 2010/01/01 at 18:38:49

Hi, Wayne…

This is my first post to your blog, but we’ve had a couple email exchanges in the past month or so. Just wanted to let you know that your site and articles have been such a tremendous blessing to me in the past several months. And this post is right on target for where I’m at in my walk with the Lord right now. Thank you, and many blessings!
Sue

Comment by Sue | 2010/01/01 at 20:54:06

Funny. For me right now, asking God what he is doing in my life to make himself more real to me is wondering why it feels like he is a million miles away and maybe not even there at all.

A very strange experience. But sometimes, on the faith journey, I guess these seasons come. And perhaps faith really comes to the fore here – to sit in the numbness of feeling like God does not even exist for me right now, asking him how he is making himself more real

I had a lovely New Year’s Eve, spent with a good friend and a good friend of hers. We watched the rain fall and it felt like some sort of a blessing. A washing away of the old and a bringing in of the new, all fresh. A fresh new decade.

May we all see the fruit borne of the past decade, which has been very difficult in many ways. Happy New Year, Wayne!
Don F.

Comment by Don F. | 2010/01/02 at 17:08:52

Happy New Years to everyone and God bless you all with the love and wonder of his Son Jesus Christ. May this year bring you the treasures that truly count. LOVE that flowed down the cheeks of Father as he watched his son suffer for us. PEACE that comes when you know that your care is in the hands of a loving Creator. JOY that comes when God’s love fills your heart and flows out to touch others.

Blessed New Year!

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