Hold on tight -- 2025 is zooming your way!

 

How often do we start the new year full of plans, goals, and a fresh attitude, only to lose motivation within weeks, days, or even hours? New Year’s Day feels like a chance for a fresh start—an opportunity to leave behind past disappointments and begin again. It’s a day that inspires hope and renewal.

However, many of us give up when we falter, thinking we need to wait until the next year to try again. But we don’t have to wait. God understands our struggles and doesn’t limit us to one chance per year to start over.

Big goals are inspiring but rarely bring immediate results. To achieve them, we need to focus on small, daily steps and break them into manageable tasks. Consistency in these small changes leads to success. As you think about God’s role in your life, consider these thoughts:

• How do I spend my time each week? Time is life, and how you spend it reflects your priorities. While it’s important to relax, ask yourself how much of your time is dedicated to God.
• What do I look forward to most each week? Does your answer include your relationship with God or serving Him?

Discipline is essential for achieving goals. Like a muscle, it grows stronger with practice. Small acts of discipline lead to more discipline and, eventually, greater growth. Discipline provides the freedom to achieve your goals and is based on commitment, not fleeting emotions.

Those who create change take ownership. They don’t wait for others to act but hold themselves accountable. A positive mindset helps you stay focused, reach your goals, and remain present. Remember, we are shaped by our thoughts. Meditate on the Bible daily and keep this in mind:

• Read the Word. Don’t be discouraged if you miss a day, a week, or even a month. Starting anew means being open to God’s guidance.

Psalm 25:5 shows how King David sought God’s guidance: “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.” David’s life was a mix of reliance on God and personal failings. He had a teachable heart and often asked for guidance, but he also gave in to sin. Despite his flaws, God called him “a man after His own heart.” We can learn from David’s example.

Starting anew begins in the heart. Ezekiel 36:26 shares God’s promise: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” This renewal is made possible through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. As Romans 6:4 explains, “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

Faith is not wishful thinking but thoughtful reasoning based on God’s Word and empowered by the Holy Spirit. “Little faith” allows circumstances to control our thoughts, but true faith takes those thoughts captive to God’s truth. Worry isn’t thinking too much; it’s not thinking enough about the biblical truths we know. Let God’s Word dwell richly in you and fill your mind with His promises.

Whether 2024 was filled with joy or challenges, the new year brings hope for the future. No matter your circumstances, you can trust Emmanuel, “God with us.” The world may change, but God remains constant. His mercies are new every morning, and with Him, every day is a chance to start fresh.

Ghosting God

 

As the Christmas season fades into the rearview mirror and the focus on Christ and the meaning of His birth slips away, a quiet question lingers: What now? After the celebrations, the carols, the festive lights, and the family gatherings, it’s easy to lose sight of the deeper significance of the season. For many, the drive to attend church or engage with their faith begins to wane, and the rhythm of everyday life takes over. This shift, while subtle, can lead to a deeper question: Are we ghosting God?

The Christmas season often draws in more people to church than at any other time of year, but the motivations are mixed. For some, it’s a genuine opportunity to reflect on the birth of Jesus, honoring Him as the Christ and Messiah. For others, it’s more about family tradition, the nostalgia of the season, or the desire to soak in the “Christmas vibes.” But there's a danger when people misunderstand what it means to follow Christ. For those who only show up on Christmas and Easter—the so-called “Chreasters” or “irregular regulars”—there can be a sense of security in their sporadic attendance, as if simply showing up twice a year somehow guarantees their place with God. Yet, this view misses the mark of what Christianity truly is: a dynamic, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ, not a cultural tradition or a set of occasional appearances.

For some, church attendance becomes a routine, a checkbox they mark for the season. But genuine faith is never about maintaining an appearance or fulfilling an obligation. It’s about being in a real, ongoing relationship with the Creator, one that doesn’t begin and end with a holiday. The Bible warns us not to forsake gathering together with fellow believers (Hebrews 10:25), yet many who only attend during Christmas or Easter miss the deeper call to community, accountability, and regular worship. Church is meant to be a place where believers can encourage one another, be challenged, and grow in their walk with Christ—not a once-or-twice-a-year gathering.

The rise of affluence and comfort in our society often leads people to believe that they have all they need. The world tells us that success, security, and happiness can be found in wealth, comfort, and achievement. As a result, many don’t feel the need to turn to God, especially in times of crisis. They see the church as irrelevant or powerless to help. But success, as Jesus pointed out, does not satisfy the deepest longings of the soul. The pursuit of success outside of God’s will is like chasing after wind—it promises fulfillment but leaves us empty.

Then comes the New Year, and with it, the quiet "ghosting" of God. The festive spirit has faded, and now it’s just life as usual. For some, the temptation to withdraw from God becomes stronger after the holidays. Ghosting, as it’s called, may feel like the easiest escape—avoiding the awkwardness of confrontation or the discomfort of commitment. It’s a way of fading out of something that’s no longer convenient. But ghosting isn’t just a sign of apathy or avoidance; it often reflects deeper struggles—lack of courage to confront the direction one’s life has taken, or a refusal to embrace God’s call to a different way of living. Ghosting, in a sense, becomes an act of saying, "I want to live life on my own terms."

Yet, when we choose to go our own way and reject God’s invitation to live in relationship with Him, He doesn’t force us to stay. Much like the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), God allows us to walk away if we insist on doing things our way. But there are consequences. Just as the prodigal son found himself destitute, disconnected from his father, and wasting his inheritance on fleeting pleasures, so too do we squander the resources God has given us—our time, our talents, our gifts—when we choose a path apart from Him. The things we chase outside of God’s will never truly satisfy us. The pursuit of worldly success, comfort, or self-gratification may promise fulfillment but ultimately leaves us feeling empty and unfulfilled.

The good news, however, is that God doesn’t give up on us. Just as the father in the parable eagerly awaited the return of his son, so does God wait with open arms, ready to welcome us back when we turn to Him. Even if we’ve ghosted Him, even if we’ve wandered far away, our heavenly Father is always ready to receive us with love and grace. There is always a way back to Him, and His forgiveness is ever-present for those who return to Him in repentance.

In the end, the choice is ours: will we continue to ghost God, or will we come back to Him, seeking a relationship that brings true joy and fulfillment? The deeper fulfillment we seek can only be found in Christ, and the life He offers is far greater than any empty pursuit the world can provide. God’s plan for us is always the best plan, and when we live in alignment with it, we find not only purpose but also peace that transcends circumstances.

So, as the glow of Christmas fades and the reality of the new year sets in, let’s reflect on where we stand with God. Are we ready to reconnect with Him, to stop ghosting Him, and to allow our relationship with Him to grow? The choice is always ours, but the invitation to return is always open.

Have a Blessed New Year!

Beyond the Tangible: A Richness that endures into eternity.

As we enter the Year of the Dragon, a common greeting resonates: "xīn nián kuài lè, dà jí dà lì" – wishing everyone a Happy New Year and prosperity. This phrase sparked thoughts on the concept of 'richness' and its true meaning.
In Chinese culture, the New Year often emphasizes wealth, prompting me to question about the type of richness we aspire to. Is it the American dream of material success – money, homes, and cars? Or are we seeking a richer, intangible fulfillment? Could our focus extend beyond material wealth to include wisdom, intelligence, and good health? Is it possible that our aspirations should involve the legacy we leave behind and the impact we have on others and the world?
Delving deeper, the question arises: What kind of wealth will endure beyond our time on this earth? What do we genuinely want to accumulate in our lives?

As we are entering the second month of this new year, the call is not just for financial prosperity but also for enriching our lives in ways that extend beyond the grave. Whether it involves cultivating wisdom, nurturing meaningful relationships, or leaving a positive legacy, may this new year bring us a wealth that truly matters.

My aspiration for this year revolves around deepening my understanding of my purpose. It's evident in observing the myriad of ways people invest their focus, time, and resources into various pursuits we are inherently designed to worship. What we choose to worship becomes the essence of our lives.

I am committed to avoiding the squandering of my life on pursuits that are transient and fade into the memories of the past. Instead, I desire to channel my time and focus into endeavors that extend beyond my own existence and withstand the test of time. My wish extends to those around me, urging them to recognize the significance of acknowledging an eternal judgment and being prepared for the presence of the Creator, the Ancient of Days.

Reflecting on my worship of the God I trust, I draw attention to the undeniable existence of a creator beyond human comprehension, evident in the world we inhabit. While scientists seek the knowledge of the beginning of time without definitive explanation, the Bible consistently provides answers to the origins of this knowledge. The notion of God being present equally in the past, present, and future, across every location within creation, heaven, and hell, emphasizes the omnipresence and omniscience of God. This awareness offers both comfort and a sobering realization that nothing we do can escape His knowledge, and we can not hide our actions.

I acknowledge the challenge of grappling with the idea of a God beyond our control and understanding. However, my preference is to worship and have faith in a God known for being trustworthy, never failing, fulfilling His promises, and possessing the power and knowledge to bring about the best for us. I find solace in the concept of a perfect judge – an Ancient of Days who comprehends the entirety of the story and ensures decisions based on fairness, devoid of favoritism and incorruptibility.

For the upcoming year, my hope for you is to be rich in knowledge of the God I trust – a God deserving of your love, trustworthy enough to be intricately involved in every moment of your life, holding your life in His hands. A God who, out of boundless love, understands the impossibility of self-improvement to the extent required to overcome the ugliness of sin and evil. A God willing to redeem His child through the sacrifice of a part of Himself – as a Son who paid our sin penalty, a Spirit dwelling within our spirit, and a Father persistently seeking His child until they are brought home.

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there, your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Psalms 139:7-15=ESV