This Year

I was sitting here thinking about the words of a song that a friend of mine sings..."Show me how to love in the true meaning of the word." That is what I want for 2008. I want to love like ONLY JESUS could love...that is the true meaning of the word. I know this is only possible by staying closer and ever closer to the ONE who is LOVE.
I have spent a lot of time over the last couple of days thinking about 2008. What do I want in 2008? How will this year be different from last year? What will I purpose in my heart?
Daniel purposed that he would NOT defile himself...
David purposed that he would offer nothing to the LORD that didn't cost him something...
Paul purposed that he would know nothing except for CHRIST and HIM CRUCIFIED...
Peter purposed that he would give what he had and would not attempt to offer what he didn't have...
How about you and me this year...What will we purpose to do this year that will make a difference for the GLORY OF GOD?
I am not talking about a rashly made New Years Resolution. I am talking about a prayerfully considered determination to walk with the LORD JESUS this year, NO MATTER WHAT. Will you purpose with Daniel, David, Paul, Peter...will you make the decision that YOU WILL WALK WITH JESUS FIRST AND FOREMOST THIS YEAR?
This will be radical living. Many, in fact most, will not understand and some will ridicule you.
Let's wrap up this morning with Psalm 32:10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
Perhaps in your mind you read those words and said, "Many are the sorrows in my own life." I imagine that at times the great men and women in the Bible also felt that their sorrows were many, but still they purposed to walk with the LORD. Still they determined that whatever it cost them it was what they wanted....they wanted JESUS and MORE OF JESUS. Psalm 119:71 says: It is good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn YOUR statutes. Yes, folks, we live in a world filled with sorrow and heartache, but with JESUS we can walk through every trial WITH JOY. Go back and look at the lives of the Bible greats, and you will see it over and over. That is my desire this year. I want 2008 to be the year that GOD does something so radical in my life that IT COULD ONLY BE HIM...
That might mean walking through a lot of sorrow along the way, but Oh the Joy of knowing HIM better through the trial.
THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR ANOTHER YEAR. THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE. THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE TRUSTWORTHY. THANK YOU THAT IT MATTERS NOT HOW BIG OUR TRIAL OR OUR DIFFICULTY, IT ONLY MATTERS THAT YOU ARE GOD MOST HIGH, YOU ARE THE GOD WHO CAN, YOU ARE THE JEHOVAH GOD. YOU ARE ALL THAT WE NEED IN THE FACE OF EVERY TRIAL. TEACH US TO WALK WITH YOU THIS YEAR LIKE WE NEVER HAVE BEFORE. WE ASK THIS IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS...AMEN!