“Fresh Beginnings” 

Recently the Lord spoke to me and said 2008 would be a year of "growth". I explained to our congregation that the emphasis was on personal growth first. I also felt that this would mark the beginning of great changes in the body of Christ. A true crying out will begin from the body of Christ for the wonderful attributes associated with being a Christian to belong to us- Living for Christ from the inside out.

With that said, I was recently reading I Corinthians, chapter 13. I’ve read that particular portion of scripture many, many times. In fact, we’ve probably all read it so many times we can easily quote its content. Sometimes that can be a problem. We think because we can quote scripture we know what it means. It becomes extremely familiar to us so we can forfeit its deeper meaning. I saw something in this often quoted scripture that tied itself to what I stated earlier. 2008 will be a year of growth.

Continue with me a minute and see what you think. Read I Cor. chap. 13, beginning with verse 1. “If I speak in tongues, if I prophesy, have all knowledge, move mountains…” The list goes on but the connecting word between what you can do and how you do it is love. Now you may be like me, for years I felt, “How does someone give their body to be burned, clothe the naked, etc. and not do it by love”. The answer is easy. You can learn to do anything. Enough discipline in your life, you can muster up enough ability to do much of anything. Let’s look at terrorists. They blow themselves up daily. Where is the love in that? Exactly. There is none. Its motivation is hatred. We read further and see what love is. Love is patient, is kind and is forgiving. This, dear one, is how we grow. We grow from the inside out. We grow when we are in the presence of love. People grow where there is love. Our source of love comes from our Father, demonstrated by His Son, Jesus Christ.

Love is the secret to life. We know it but must daily experience it and learn to give it away. As we begin a fresh, new year may we always remember growth exists through love. Loving environments create safe places to learn, grow and create. True growth will be ours as we develop a greater understanding for the miracle power of love. May we all feel its incredible power.

Both the secular world and Christian world have had tremendous changes to deal with. People are scared and most news is very negative. Of course, we know this means Jesus is coming soon. We are being processed to look, and reflect back His image. His love will perfect us. So, the next time we feel less than patient, kind, or helpful, may we remember our secret weapon is love, love, love.

God Bless You.