2009 – Almost Gone!
Hey Friends,
The year 2009 is almost history! For some of you that is good news because this wasn’t your best year. For others, ’09 was great. No matter what camp you are in, it is quickly coming to a close. I want to challenge us all to get ready for what God has planned in 2010. This is going to require us to listen and to focus. Both of these two disciplines are growing obsolete.
Since we live in the land of multi-tasking, we have lost the ability to focus. It is hard to hear the Voice of God when we are checking our e-mails, texts, and tweets during devotions. We have lost the ability to hear the “still small Voice of God.” During the next few days, spend some time listening so you know His plan for the new decade.
Listening can be a problem since we find it hard to unplug. I want to challenge you to “cut off the stuff!” And you know what it is! Maybe it’s this blog, tweets, texts, e-mails and the like. The only way to real intimacy is for you to unplug. Jesus did it. No, He did not have an Internet connection, but He was wired into His Heavenly Father. Intimacy involves unplugging. Will you?
As you listen over these last few days of this year, write down your thoughts and plans for the new year and decade. Write down your spiritual growth plan. I would also challenge you to help your family develop a plan for the year.
This is the time to get with God. I believe He is waiting to hear from you.
Stop! Slow down! Be still!
Love,
Your Pastor
4 Comments
Dear Pastor and Brother In Christ Jesus, Shalom,
I am stopped.Slow down I’m the slowest I’ve been in years. Be still. No trouble there either.
Writing down my thoughts and plans for 2010 isn’t a problem. The trouble comes when we’ve not made enough plans and we don’t let God have those plans.
I’ve wrote out a spirital growth plan in the past and glad to say that I maynot remember all the scripture and Bible study I’ve done. I know that what I have learned from last years spirital plan has allowed me to (when need be) find the scripture in less time then it use to take me to help a person in their misfortune,or heart discomforts and my own moments of difficultlies.
I will with Gods help show someone since I have now no blood family to direct in spirital matters how to set up a spirital growth plan to benifit them and their relationship with God. Happy New Year!
Joy,Stranght,Understanding,Wisdom,and most of all LOVE!
Thanks for your wisdom-Developing a spiritual growth plan helps us wit our self honesty and we can see God moving in our lives
Des
Dear Pastor Chris,
It’s hard to believe how fast time goes by as we get older. I feel like it was yesterday when I was writing down a personal growth plan for 2009 and telling you about it. I’m proud to say I followed through on many of my goals, but the one I’m the most pleased about is my increased time in reading books. I’m one of those reluctant readers, but made it a discipline this past year giving myself the goal of reading a book a month…don’t laugh…I didn’t want to be defeated before I started. It was an attainable goal and I did it. 2009 was one of those bitter sweet years for me, but one that I have grown the most in…not because God hasn’t grown me in other years, but because I really “got it” this year. I really got that God is in control no matter what I do. Before I would try to fight God, help God, or figure God out. This year I learned to go with the flow. God pours into my life and I can trust His “current” as being the best for my life. Thanks for your encouragement, prayers, teachings, and commitment to shepherding Faith Promise Church and the Emerson Family. You make a difference in our lives. Blessings and Hugs…Mary
Proverbs 16:9