A sharing by Samantha
New Year 2010 …has brought forward the never-ending heart-breaking news from previous year…
Controversy – within the countries and its people
Disasters – many lives and homes were destroyed
Diseases like Cancer and viruses – mutating and spreading
Crimes (suicide, war, murder, robbery, etc) has never ended!
Do we care about what happened in the world and around us? Are we able to see that life is like a drop of morning dew? It comes and soon it is gone… and when this life has gone, what is left for us? Are we like the rich fool in the parable who said to himself “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years, take your ease, eat, drink and be merry?”
“But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have gathered–whose will they be?’ he who lays up treasure for himself on the earth is not rich toward God.”
BRETHRENS, DO WE REALISED MANY SOULS ARE DYING? DO WE CARE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES AND IN OTHERS LIVES? ARE WE TOO BUSY TO CARE AND TOO OCCUPIED WITH OUR OWN BUSINESS – JUST LIKE THE RICH FOOL?
New Year Resolution
I used to write long and assertive resolutions in the beginning of every year. However I stopped since the last two years. As figured, things written were mainly my ideas of THINGS I WANT TO DO FOR GOD and it turned out to be merely an ideal….(what a sad thing to realise!!!)
Since then, towards the end of every year and before venturing into the New Year, I will look up to God and ask “GOD, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TEACH ME THIS YEAR”. This has been a guideline for me throughout the year.
It is true that God speak to everyone in different ways. Somehow I experience it each time when I ask He will answer me. So, the same answer came many times and in many ways from 1 Thess 5:16-18. God has given me a resolution for 2010: “Rejoice always, praying without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.
The challenging part is the more I meditate on the verse, the more burdens are laying on me. And so the more I have to ask God for mercy and forgiveness. To some extent, I am living like a rich fool. Always too occupied with my own things and though’ my heart is willing but I am weak and have no strength to do things that I’m supposed to do.
Hearing the sad and never-ending news around us today, seeing people suffering and dying truly make my heart breaks. It is a tough month to start in the New Year…!!! To venture out with God, we must keep up the good spirit and strive forward without looking back so that there will be no regrets when we come to the end of the year. Here are the inspiring words that God has given me:-
Practical resolution of the year:-
REJOICE … when things are bad and difficulties are ahead.
PRAY NON STOP… pray fervently for those in needs and pray for hopes. Involve Him in everything, ask and trust His ways.
GIVE THANKS… good or bad circumstances, give thanks to God. He has His purposes in everything.
Our lives will determine our destination. So, let’s start this NEW YEAR with a NEW spirit and a NEW resolution from the LORD. The world that will be never the same if we care to make a difference in our lives. Do we care enough? New Year isn’t New Year till it really happens in your heart… 🙂