Matthew 9:14-17

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Praise God for bringing us THROUGH another year TO another year.

New things and even new beginnings can be exciting.   Many times experiencing the “new” requires that we get rid of or let go of  the “old”.   Entering into the “new” oftentimes necessitates that we undergo a process of change in our thinking and lifestyle.  The bible calls it renewing of the mind.

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God

Once our thinking has changed, made new to see and think(and live) as God does THEN we will be able to discern His will for our lives.  We will be able to receive the “new” thing He is doing.  We’ll be able to hold the “new” wine in our new “renewed” wineskin!!

Isaiah 43:19

¹⁹Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

²⁰The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

May God’s word shine all the more brightly this year through us and to us as we continue to lean and trust in Him to bring us through this new year, 2006.  I pray that we all remain stedfast, unmovable and always abounding in the work the Lord has given us to do in discipling our children for Him.  May we continue to follow Him as He takes us through our season of the renewing of our minds so that we can see the marvelous work He has done and the way He has already made in our wilderness and the rivers in our deserts.

Jer 32:!7, 27

Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee…

… Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?