Jan

I entered this year into a different house, the yard is not ready for winter, and the garage wasn’t workable, the neighborhood has changed. much different that I had in the beginning of November.

Life has Changed, our circumstance has changed, but as we enter into this new year, I want to leave you with a few words of encouragement as we venture into this new year with God.

To do this, I have taken a few insights from one of my favourite author, speaker and pastor, Max Lucado,

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to prepare my own words, but this message is one that many need to hear. I needed to hear and my hope and prayer is that as we look together into God’s Word that we come away ready to face the year whatever it may bring.

Excerpted with permission from Begin Again by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado

Some of these words that you will hear this morning are taken from a devotional by Max Lucado and his book. If you would like a copy of this book, Begin Again it can be found on most of your regular book suppliers.

Begin Again,

Appropriate, as some of us are entering this new year full of hope in God,

yet as we are well aware there may be some approaching this new year with hesitancy.

Begin again,

The title pulls us to realize that we are to start something again.

Something that we know, we have done before, and yet it’s a starting point.

Let me read you some of His thoughts.

He tells a story of

Nadin Khoury was thirteen years old, five foot two, and weighed, soaking wet, probably a hundred pounds. His attackers were teenagers, larger than Nadin, and outnumbered him seven to one.

For thirty minutes they hit, kicked, and beat him. He never stood a chance.

Khoury’s mom had recently moved the family to Philadelphia from Minnesota. She had lost her job as a hotel maid and was looking for work. In 2000 she’d escaped war-torn Liberia. Nadin Khoury, then, was the new kid in a rough neighborhood with a mom who was an unemployed immigrant — everything a wolf pack of bullies needed to justify an attack.

The hazing began weeks earlier. They picked on him. They called his mother names. They routinely pushed, shoved, and ambushed him. Then came the all-out assault on a January day.

They dragged him through the snow, stuffed him into a tree, and suspended him on a seven-foot wrought-iron fence.

Khoury survived the attack and would have likely faced a few more except for the folly of one of the bullies. He filmed the pile-on and posted it on YouTube. A passerby saw the violence and chased away the bullies. Police saw it and got involved. The troublemakers landed in jail, and the story reached the papers.

A staffer at the nationwide morning show The View read the account and invited Khoury to appear on the broadcast. He did.

As the video of the assault played on the screen behind him, he tried to appear brave, but his lower lip quivered. “Next time maybe it could be somebody smaller than me,” he said.

Unbeknown to him the producer had invited some other Philadelphians to appear on the show as well. As the YouTube video ended, the curtain opened, and three huge men walked out, members of the Philadelphia Eagles football team.

Khoury, a rabid fan, turned and smiled. One was All-Pro receiver DeSean Jackson. Jackson took a seat on the couch as close to the boy as possible and promised him, “Anytime you need us, I got two linemen right here.”

Khoury’s eyes widened saucer-like as Jackson signed a football jersey and handed it to him. Then, in full view of every bully in America, he gave the boy his cell phone number.1-

1. Sean Alfano, “Teens Arrested after Posting YouTube Video of Beating 13-Year-Old Boy and Hanging Him from a Tree,” New York Daily News, February 1, 2011. See also Rick Reilly, “Eagles over Wolves in a Rout,” ESPN. com, last modified February 14, 2011.

From that day forward Khoury has been only a call away from his personal bodyguards. Thugs think twice before they harass the kid who has an NFL football player’s number on speed dial.

Pretty good offer. Who wouldn’t want that type of protection?

As we enter this year,

We have something many people don’t

We have a God who not a phone call away, but is only a prayer away.

Let me outline a few ways that we know this to be true

God gives you the same promise

In fact, the writer of Hebrews quoted the words in his epistle:

Hebrews 13:5–6 (ESV)

5 ...... be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Be content with what you have

These maybe be troubling words as we enter this new year.

I had a great time on New Year’s Eve walking around to my neighbors and hearing their stories and their current situation. We talked, shared, and even cried for the way things have happened, but I can tell you there was hope.

I had the chance to say, God has provided, I also had the chance to say, I’m there for them as well as each of their stories holds a different path for them this coming year.

Be content...

Why, because God is with us.

The writer of Hebrews leaves us with a question.

That last question is a troubling one.

What Can man do to me

What can anyone do to me? You know the answers. “Lie to me.” “Deceive me.” “Injure me.” “Terrorize me.” “Bully me.”

But the Scripture asks a different question. If the Lord is your helper, what can anyone do to you?

The Greek word for helper in this passage is boēthos, (BOY THOS) from boē, which means “a shout,” and theō, which means “to run.”

2. W. E. Vine, Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words: A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Original Greek Words with Their Precise Meanings for English Readers (McLean, VA: MacDonald Publishing, n.d.), 554.

When you need help, God runs with a shout, “I’m coming!” He never leaves you. Ever! He never takes a break, takes a nap, or takes time off for vacation. He never leaves your side.

No matter what we will face this coming year.

God has promised to be there for us.

No matter how you feel, God will comfort our soul.

These last 6 weeks i have experienced that very thing.

In the midst of all what is happening, God has been my strength, my hope. My Start Again.

Has there been times of despair, concern, worry,

You bet, but God has been faithful.

Here is another thought,

What about the well known passage in Philippians,

Philippians 4:4–7 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

A little while ago, Heather has written a thought about this verse, and I would like her to come up and share here words, I could speak them, but I thought it would be good to hear them from the writer.

Picture an old fashioned fort where soldiers used to live. The walls are fortified with granite. The gate is made of steel and it clangs shut with certainty and permanence. Soldiers stand guard at different intervals around the fort. Each soldier is carrying a weapon of choice willing to sacrifice his life in order to save the lives within the walls. Imagine a soldier trying to persuade someone to stay within the walls for his/her own protection.

“Ma’am? Excuse me, ma’am. Where are you going?”

“Just outside. Why?”

“The Colonel told us to keep everyone inside. I can’t protect you if you go outside these walls.”

“I just want to go for a little walk. You can’t keep the enemy away?”

“No, ma’am. If you do not stay within the fort, I cannot defend you. If you go outside the walls, the enemy may strike. It is not safe out there.”

“Oh, I want the safety that you can provide, but I do so want to be outside.” Obviously the woman could not have the security of both desires. She either had to stay in the fort and be safe, or take the risk and go outside.

Philippians 4 says that we should present our worries to God by praying and the peace of God will guard our hearts. The word “guard” is pictured like a soldier standing at the garrison. We can leave our worries with God and God will guard our hearts by giving us a peace. This peace is a tranquil state of mind. This peace does not dull our awareness as if we were zombies, but it allows us to continue living without being chained down by worry. Worry is introspective and concentrates on ourselves, whereas peace allows us to continue looking out for others. Worry depletes our strength because we become agitated, short with others and it is physiologically stressful. Peace gives us the strength to continue on despite our circumstances because we know that God is in control. We can attain this tranquil state of mind if we stay within the walls of prayer. To go outside to worry is to go beyond the safety of the peaceful fortress.

We cannot worry and have peace at the same time. We either choose to leave the worry at the feet of Jesus or choose to carry it by ourselves. We choose to be safe within the walls having peace guard us or we are outside the walls at the mercy of worry. How safe are you?- Heather

God’s Promise is true,

We are safe knowing God is the one who is on our side.

This year may be difficult for sure, but the One who made you is with you.

Is the world in fear of pandemics? Indeed it is. Still, the Almighty will never leave you or forsake you.

Consequently, everything changes!

Since God is strong, you will be strong.

Since He is able, you will be able.

Since He has no limits, you have no limits.

With the apostle you can boldly say,

Hebrews 13:6 ESV

6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

But there is more.

Max said this,

The biggest — and best — news is this: God not only stays with you... He fights for you.

Not only does God desire that you have a chance to begin again, but He fights for you so you can and then remains your guardian throughout your journey.

I like how he says this:

Fears, diseases, pain, disappointments, and hurts come at you like a legion of hoodlums. Yet rather than run away, you turn and face them. You unsheathe the promise of God’s Word and defy the enemies of God’s cause. You are a grizzly and they are rats. “Get out of here, shame! Begone, guilt! Fear of death, regrets of the past, take your puny attacks elsewhere.”

This is what happens when you are living the new-beginning life. You were not made to quake in fear. You were not made to be beholden to your past. You were not made to limp through life as a wimp. You are a living, breathing expression of God. What’s more, He fights for you.

Did you know that God is fighting for you?

2 Chronicles 32:8 (ESV)

8 ...... but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

The king stood up in front of the people and gave these words of declaration.

What type of battle are you facing today?

For many of us it is the uncertainty of what will happen in the coming months.

There will always be struggles in this world in which we live, sin has a way of bringing us to the feet of Jesus,

But we come knowing the Jesus will be there to fight for us.

He has come to this world, died on the cross and has conquered death, the victory has been won by his actions and not ours.

No matter what you will be facing this year, God is on your side.

As Nehemiah reminds us,

Nehemiah 4:20 (ESV)

20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”

When those things in this world that may come crashing down on us,

Things of doubt… feelings of how can I possibly make it through another event in our lives.

Things of fear....feeling the loss of control as the world you are now living in

comes crashing down on you.

Things of failure… Feeling how can I even handle all those things that have been placed in my life, I’ve doubted again,

Look at the verses.

Our God will fight for you.

My God will fight for Me

Our God will fight for us.

How do we know this?

That the Lord will as the Psalmist so carefully states it

Psalm 35:1 ESV

1 Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!

Max says,

God fights for you. Let those four words sink in for a moment.

God. The CEO, President, King, Supreme Ruler, Absolute Monarch, Czar, Emperor, and Raja of all history. He runs interference and provides cover. He is impeccably perfect, tirelessly strong, unquestionably capable. He is endlessly joyful, wise, and willing. And He...

FIGHTS.

He deploys angels and commands weather. He stands down Goliaths and vacates cemeteries. He fights...

For. For your health, family, faith, and restoration. Are the odds against you? Is the coach against you? Is the government against you? Difficult for sure. But God fights for...

You. Yes, you! You with the sordid past. You with the receding hairline. You with the absentee dad. You with the bad back, credit, or job. He fights not just for the rich, pretty, or religious. He fights for the yous of the world. Are you a you?

Max said it this way......

The big news of the Bible is not that you fight for God but that God fights for you. And to know this — to know that your Father fights for you — is an unparalleled source of empowerment.

When God became flesh, He fought for your soul. When Jesus faced the devil in the wilderness, He fought for your peace.

When He stood up for the neglected, was He not standing up for you? When He died on the Cross for your sins, He fought for your salvation. When He left the Holy Spirit to guide, strengthen, and comfort you, He was fighting for your life.

Believe this:

Psalm 121:3–8 The Message

3 He won’t let you stumble, your Guardian God won’t fall asleep. 4 Not on your life! Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep. 5 God’s your Guardian, right at your side to protect you— 6 Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke. 7 God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. 8 He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.

This is what God wants to be for you; it is His goal for you. This is your inheritance: more victory than defeat, more joy than sadness, more hope than despair, more new-beginning days.

The New Year Challenge

If this new year, you have set yourself up with some personal challenges,

I hope that this one may be a challenge as well.

Begin Again.

Wake up every morning and begin again.

Begin again to reach out to God for your strength for the day, the hour, the minutes of each of your days.

Begin again to set your mind on things above no matter what is happening around you and in your world.

Begin again to reach out to others in their time of great need to show them the Love of God.

The Challenge this year, and its only day two, a great place to start.

Is to begin again.

In Summary

In summary,

and before we close our service with a song of response, I want to leave you with a picture of Hope in the form of a video.

Video

Response to Worship

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