Hymn Singing and Potluck

It’s the new year and time for our annual potluck. We gather to sing hymns and reflect on the past year and what’s ahead for the new year. Of course we don’t know what lies ahead, but we will share some messages that will encourage us no matter what we may face. God promises to never leave us nor forsake us. As Psalm 23 says, the Lord is our Shepherd. If you are seeking a new beginning for this year, start by genuinely seeking Jesus. Then, whatever you need, ask Jesus for it. In Matthew 7, Jesus says “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.Foreveryone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” It is a process of communication between us and God to seek what He wants for us and to align our wills with his. We are to be persistent in prayer. That’s what it means to ask, seek and knock. If you are seeking the will of God in your life, follow 1 Thessalonians. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks. It is easy to give thanks when things are good, but it rubs us the wrong way to give thanks when things are bad. But God always makes something good out of something bad. If we are constantly communicating with Him through prayer, He will show us what we need to give thanks for. It’s another opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with God. It needs to be more than just checking a box. Instead, it should be a longing to be close to God. God knows the thoughts that He has toward us as it says in Jeremiah. They are thoughts for peace and not evil and give us a hope and future. God’s plan is always the best plan, but we have to be willing to accept it. We often think that we have to fix every situation ourselves. It is better to just give it to God and let Him fix it. When we try to handle it all ourselves, we often stress about the problem we are trying to solve. The Word tells us to be anxious for nothing, but through prayer and thanksgiving, make your request known to God. In this life, we are guaranteed to face adversity. God knows the perfect solution to any problem. So trust Him for it and dig into God’s Word this year.