011325 From the Banks of Burcham Creek...

 A Time for Everything…

“There is a special time for everything.
There is a time for everything
that happens under heaven.

There is a time to be born,
and a time to die;
a time to plant,
and a time to pick what is planted.

There is a time to kill,
and a time to heal;
a time to break down,
and a time to build up.

There is a time to cry,
and a time to laugh;
a time to have sorrow,
and a time to dance.

There is a time to throw stones,
and a time to gather stones;
a time to kiss,
and a time to turn from kissing.

There is a time to try to find,
and a time to lose;
a time to keep,
and a time to throw away.

There is a time to tear apart,
and a time to sew together;
a time to be quiet,
and a time to speak.

There is a time to love,
and a time to hate;
a time for war,
and a time for peace.”

- Solomon
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 TLV

***

Time Is…

Time is
Too slow for those who wait,
Too swift for those who fear,
Too long for those who grieve,
Too short for those who rejoice,
But for those who love,
Time is Eternity.

- Henry VanDyke

***

There Is A Time…

There is a time to work and play,
A time to eat and sleep;
A time to study and to pray,
A time to laugh and weep;
A time for fellowship that's sweet,
A time for sacred song;
But never is there time to treat
A human being wrong.

There is a time to lift men up
And help them on life's road;
A time to drain their bitter cup
And share their heavy load;
A time to bless them with our grace
And boost them all along;
But never is there time and place
To treat our fellows wrong.

There is a time to help men seek
Our God who saves the soul;
A time to show them that the meek
Shall reach life's highest goal;
A time to help them turn aside
And leave the wicked throng;
But never did our God provide
A time to treat men wrong.

- Walter E. Isenhour

***

No Time For God...

No time for God.

what fools we are to clutter up
our lives with common things,

And leave without heart’s gate
the Lord of life and life itself.

No time for God is soon to say
no time to eat or sleep,
or love or die.

Take time for God,
or you shall dwarf your soul.

And when the death angel comes
knocking at your door,

A poor,
misshaped thing you’ll be to step
into eternity.

No time for God?

That day when sickness comes
or trouble finds you out,

And you cry out to God,
will He have time for you?

No time for God?

Someday you’ll lay aside this mortal self
And make your way to worlds unknown.

And when you meet Him face to face,

Will He…
should He…
Have time for you?

- Norman L. Trott


***


Humanity has one really
effective weapon,
And that is laughter.
- Mark Twain

So let us go forward quietly,
each on his own path,
Forever making for the light.
- Vincent Van Gogh

The wise man does not lay up
his own treasures.
The more he gives to others,
the more he has for his own.
- Lao Tzu

Building a better you
Is the first step to building
A better America.
- Zig Ziglar

It's not what you've got,
It’s what you use that
Makes a difference.
- Zig Ziglar
 
Famous archer, Howard Hill
Won all the 267 archeries
Contests he entered.
He could hit a bull’s eye
At 50 feet, then split first
Arrow with the second.
Would it be possible for you
To shoot better than him?
YES, if he were blindfolded!
- Zig Ziglar

Many marriages would be better
If the husband and the wife
Clearly understood that they
are on the same side.
- Zig Ziglar

Any man can help create a child
But it takes a real man to love,
Cherish and raise that child
- Nishan Panwar

My father used to play with my
Brother and me in the yard.
Mother would come out and say,
"You're tearing up the grass."
"We're not raising grass,"
Dad would reply.  
We're raising boys."
- Harmon Killebrew

My father always told me,
Find a job you love and
You’ll never have to work
A day in your life.
- Jim Fox

Success usually comes
To those who are too busy
To be looking for it.
- Henry David Thoreau

Alone we can do so little;
together we can do so
Much.
- Helen Keller

The key to happiness
Is having dreams;
The key to success
Is making them come
True.
- James Allen

Individually we are
One drop,
Together we are
An ocean.
- Ryunosuke Satoro

Edited by H.C.

***

Sunset Listen Through - Hymn of Heaven
(Acoustic Sessions) – Phil Wickham


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frOIAn43v4o

011125 From the Banks of Burcham Creek...

From the Banks of Burcham Creek…

Lisa and I like most of you enjoyed the snow day
Off from work yesterday, we sat by the fire pit a bit
And walked around our place on Burcham Creek.
Our dog Bella enjoyed the day too…

Yesterday was also my Dad’s Birthday I spoke
To him via telephone we had a nice visit this
Past Sunday with him and Doris my stepmother
In Corinth, MS.

Thankful to our God that he is still with us.

The late Toby Keith was inspired to write a song
When he asked actor Clint Eastwood what kept
Him active and going strong.

Eastwood replied,
“I don’t let the old man in”.

Keith would write the song and it
was also used In Eastwood’s movie “The Mule”.

I am attaching the song as well as this post
In honor of my dad, Rex H. Childs, Sr.

- Hayden Childs

***

Charles Spurgeon's Daily Devotions

The Eleventh of January

From Spurgeon's "Faith's Check Book"

Faith Sets the Bow


“It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth,
 that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud;”

 Genesis 9:14

Just now clouds are plentiful enough, but we are not afraid
that the world will be destroyed by a deluge.

We see the rainbow often enough to prevent our having any
such fears.

The covenant which the Lord made with Noah stands fast,
and we have no doubts about it.

Why, then, should we think that the clouds of trouble,
which now darken our sky, will end in our destruction?

Let us dismiss such groundless and dishonoring fears.

Faith always sees the bow of covenant promise whenever
sense sees the cloud of affliction.

God has a bow with which He might shoot out His arrows
of destruction.

But see, it is turned upward!

It is a bow without an arrow or a string.
It is a bow hung out for show, no longer used for war.

It is a bow of many colors, expressing joy and delight,
and not a bow blood-red with slaughter or black with anger.
Let us be of good courage.

Never does God so darken our sky as to leave His covenant
without a witness, and even if He did,

we would trust Him since He cannot change or lie or in any
other way fails to keep His covenant of peace.

Until the waters go over the earth again,
we shall have no reason for doubting our God.


***

“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake
it is necessary to stand out in the cold.”

Aristotle,
Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath

Aristotle’s philosophy encourages stepping
outside one’s comfort zone as part of pursuing
eudaemonia — human flourishing.

He emphasizes that achieving excellence and
virtue often require effort, discomfort,
and rational action beyond habitual or
pleasurable routines.

EXERCISE…

How has taking on life’s challenges and stepping
outside your habitual and pleasurable pursuits
provided you some of the more beautiful aspects
of living?

Where and when can you continue to step out into
some of the chillier aspects of life to discover
other kinds of beauty awaiting you?

- Barry Demp


***

“Generosity is not a loan to repay or a
debt to settle. It’s a gift to appreciate.”

Adam Grant,
American organizational psychologist and bestselling author

Adam Grant’s book, Give and Take, is one of my favorites.
If you have yet to read it, today’s quote could be one of
the top nuggets to summarize its wisdom.

Through his extensive research of givers, takers,
and matchers, it’s the givers of the world who seem to
lead the most richly rewarding lives.

Perhaps the best way to show our appreciation of the
generosity of others is simply to acknowledge it.

EXERCISE…

I hope you will take Adam’s advice and give the
generous people in your life your sincere appreciation
for their many gifts.

- Barry Demp



***


Don’t Let the Old Man In – Toby Keith
2023 People’s Choice Awards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFfQDqY6mC4

010825 From the Banks of Burcham Creek...

From the Banks of Burcham Creek…

Abraham Lincoln's
Favorite Devotionals
January 8

Complete in Christ

"For in Him dwells all the fullness
of the Godhead [a] bodily;

[a] in bodily form

and you are complete in Him,
who is the head of all
[a] principality and power."

[a] rule and authority

- Colossians 2:9, 10 NKJV


Thy saints on earth,
and those above,
Here join in sweet accord:
One body all in mutual love,
And thou their common Lord.
Yes, thou that body wilt present
Before thy Father's face,
Nor shall a wrinkle or a spot
Its beauteous form disgrace.

- The Believer's Daily Treasure

***

From the January 8th quotes
Archives…

You will never be greater
than the thoughts
That dominate your mind.
- Napoleon Hill Foundation

Those who are lifting the
world upward and onward
are those who encourage
more than criticize.
- Elizabeth Harrison

Don't say you don't have
enough time.
You have exactly the same
number of hours per day
that were given to Helen Keller,
Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo,
Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci,
Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.
- H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Dreams come a size too big
So that we can grow into them.
- Josie Bisset

The one who tries to get something
For nothing generally winds up
Getting nothing for something.
Napoleon Hill Foundation

However difficult life may seem,
There is always something you
Can do and succeed at.
- Stephen Hawking

If you go to work on your goals,
Your goals will go to work on you.
If you go to work on your plan,
Your plan will go to work on you.
Whatever good things we build
End up building us.
- Jim Rohn

Circumstance does not make the
man;
It reveals him to himself.
- James Allen

A little more persistence,
A little more effort, and
what seemed hopeless failure
may turn to glorious success.
- Elbert Hubbard

Eventually we all have to accept
Full and total responsibility for
our actions,
Everything we have done,
and have not done.
- Hubert Selby Jr.

Don’t look back;  
You’re not going
That way.
- Mary Engelbreit

See the light in others and
Treat them as if that is all
You see.
- Wayne Dyer

There's a reason I swam five straight
Years and didn't take a single day off.
There are reasons why I swam every
Holiday, every Christmas, every birthday.
I was trying to be as prepared as I could,
And I tried to see what I could really do
And what my potential was.
I just really did kind of whatever it took.
- Michael Phelps 

(Most decorated Olympic Swimmer

of all time)

If you want to live a happy life,
Tie it to a goal, not to people or
Things.
- Albert Einstein

Where justice is denied,
Where poverty is enforced,
Where ignorance prevails,
And where any one class
Is made to feel that society
Is in an organized conspiracy
To oppress, rob, and degrade them,
Neither persons nor property will
Be safe.
- Frederick Douglass

I never doubted not only that
I would get out, but also that
I would prevail in the end and
Turn the experience into the
Defining event of my life,
Which, in retrospect,
I would not trade…
- James Stockdale

Commenting on his 8 years
As a prisoner of war in Vietnam,
During which he was tortured
Over 20 times.

It doesn’t matter what
You are ranked until
The end.
- Coach Nick Saban

I don't think it's about
Who you play,
I think it's about who
You are.
- Coach Nick Saban

The formula for success is
Every guy can make a difference
For the entire team in whatever
His role is.
And to do it right,
To get it right,
Is a critical factor in being
Successful.
- Coach Nick Saban

***

www.Daisys-Place.org

***

Scarecrow – John Mellencamp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYFquMneMe8&list=PLDNtAuXIhbEP9BXw5UGdsZTBLFZV_oPoD

010525 From the Banks of Burcham Creek Sunday Edition...

 A New You

How would you like a brand new you in this
New Year of 2025?

Such is not an unreasonable desire or possibility.

In fact, it is God’s intent to eventually
“Make all things new” in the “new heavens and new
earth” (Rev. 21:5, 1).

Until that time, the Lord is preparing a people
who are said to be “born again … of water and the
Spirit” (John 3:3, 5).
    
In the process of the new birth, we become
children of God and receive the Spirit of Christ,
entitling us to address God as our Father (Gal. 4:6).

A truly new you are not through New Years resolutions,
but only in Christ:

“If any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature; old things are passed away…
all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).

Newness of life is not found in just being a good
neighbor, a good husband or wife, or respectable
person, or even in just being religious.

Jesus expressed His purpose in coming into this world
when He told His disciples, “I am come that they might
have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”

(John 10:10).

The gospel (good news) by which we receive this life centers upon

Jesus’ dying upon the cross for our sins, being buried, 

and raised to life, as witnessed to us through His apostles

(1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

The apostle Paul also made it plain that this
justification is available to us through faith in Christ, saying,

“Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through the

Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).


Justification by faith involves repentance and baptism, 

coming forth from the watery grave of baptism into
“Newness of life” (Rom. 6:1-6).


Mere New Year’s resolutions will not accomplish this,
but a personal commitment to Jesus Christ,
the Son of God in faith and obedience to His word,
as Peter explained it:

“Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth
through the Spirit… being born again…

by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”

(1 Pet. 1:22-23).

Have you yet received this new life?

- Ron Bartanen

Edited by H.C.

***
 

I just love Phil Wickham’s song…
The Jesus Way…

A Beautiful song with
a powerful message!


Friend,
Will You Choose
The Jesus Way?

“And when I am lifted up from the earth,
I will attract all people toward Me.”

John 12:32


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fhv4arL3yk

010325 From the Banks of Burcham Creek...

From the Banks of Burcham Creek…
 

Tim McGraw’s Drugs or Jesus
Has a powerful message.

“Everybody just wants to get high
Sit and watch a perfect world go by
We are all looking for love and
Meaning in our lives
We follow the roads that led us
To drugs or Jesus…”

So thankful for a great Christian
Heritage that led me to Jesus
And not to drugs and the hopelessness
Of that lifestyle.
I get High on life not drugs…

- Hayden Childs

****

The Greatest Man on Earth

He didn't own a mansion on a hill
He didn't drive a fancy automobile
He didn't travel with the "In" crowd
He didn't act as if he were too proud

He wasn't the subject of tabloids pens
He never gossiped about his friends
He didn't wear designer clothes of hue
He wore barefoot sandals instead of shoes

He had no earthly riches; not one red cent
He gave what he had and on others he spent
He accumulated no earthly treasures
He wasn't interested in worldly pleasures

He heard the peoples' cries and their laments
He gave them is blessings wherever he went
He healed their sicknesses and saved their souls
He gave them something far greater than gold

He was a virtuous man completely without vice
He gave His all and paid a heavy price
His gifts to man were more than money was worth
Jesus Christ was the greatest man on earth

- Ellen Bailey

***

HE IS!
In Genesis, He’s the Breath of life
In Exodus, the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He’s our High Priest
Numbers, The Fire by night
Deuteronomy, He’s Moses’ voice
In Joshua, He is Salvation’s Choice
Judges, Law Giver
In Ruth, the Kinsmen-Redeemer
First and Second Samuel, our Trusted Prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He’s Sovereign
Ezra, True and Faithful Scribe
Nehemiah, He’s the Rebuilder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He’s Mordecai’s Courage
In Job, the timeless Redeemer
In Psalms, He is our Morning Song
In Proverbs, Wisdom’s Cry
Ecclesiastes, the Time and Season
In the Song of Solomon, He is the Lover’s Dream
He is, He is, HE IS!
In Isaiah, He’s Prince of Peace
Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet
In Lamentations, the Cry for Israel
Ezekiel, He’s the call from sin
In Daniel, the Stranger in the fire
In Hosea, He is Forever Faithful
In Joel, He’s the Spirits power
In Amos, the Arms that carry us
In Obadiah, He’s the Lord our Savior
In Jonah, He’s the Great Missionary
In Micah, the Promise of Peace
In Nahum, He is our Strength and our Shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He’s pleading for revival
In Haggai, He Restores a lost heritage
In Zechariah, our Fountain

In Malachi, He is the Sun of righteousness rising with healing in His wings
He is, He is, HE IS!
In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God, Man, Messiah
In the book of Acts, He is Fire from heaven
In Romans, He’s the Grace of God
In Corinthians, the Power of love
In Galatians, He is Freedom from the curse of sin
Ephesians, our Glorious Treasure
Philippians, the Servants heart
In Colossians, He’s the Godhead Trinity
Thessalonians, our Coming King
In Timothy, Titus, Philemon He’s our Mediator and our Faithful Shepherd
In Hebrews, the Everlasting Covenant
In James, the One Who heals the sick.
In First and Second Peter, He is our Shepherd
In John and in Jude, He is the Lover coming for His bride
In the Revelation, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords
He is, He is, HE IS!
The Prince of Peace
The Son of Man
The Lamb of God
The Great I AM
He’s the Alpha and Omega
Our God and our Savior
He is Jesus Christ the Lord
and when time is no more
He is, HE IS!
AMEN AND AMEN!
 

- Aaron Jeoffrey



Give Me Jesus

In the morning when rise
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
And when I am alone
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
And when I come to die
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
 

- Fernando Ortega


***

Drugs or Jesus – Tim McGraw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNoEDGBaHSs

 

010225 From the banks of Burcham Creek...

 From The Banks of Burcham Creek…

On the 31st I went to Lauderdale
County Courthouse to take care
of some personal business and while
In line I noticed a lady with a
tee shirt That had the following
words…

“Good Moms Say Bad Words”
maybe you have Seen it too.

I thought to myself how sad.

As a Christian I must disagree with
That sentiment.

Good Moms and Dads Say GOOD words
not bad.

I believe God’s Holy Word will back
Me Up on that.

As many of you know I took a job at
An Automotive plant last July.

Daily I am bombarded with “bad words”
the people I work with some of them
use God’s name in vain.

Many curse-like sailors, sadly these bad
Words have become a habit in their daily
Speech and apparently, they think nothing
Of using these “bad words.”

I want to share some scriptures
From a message I presented to the
Barn Creek Church 11/13/24.

Seeds of the Mouth

Proverbs 18:20-21

20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the
fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled

21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue;
And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

This picture in Proverbs 18:20-21 of planting seeds
in our lives from our mouths.

We are given the choice of either planting
bad seeds which produce poisonous fruit
or good seeds which produce good fruit.

Proverbs 4:24
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.

Proverbs 8:7-8
7 for my mouth will utter truth;
    wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

Proverbs 20:20
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

Proverbs 10:21
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of wisdom.

Proverbs 22:17-18
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your heart to my knowledge;

18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within
you;
Let them all be fixed upon your lips,

Proverbs 16:23
23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.

Proverbs 8:7
7 For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Proverbs 12:22
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

Proverbs 24:26
26 He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.

Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew 12:34-35,
34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil,
speak good things?
For out of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaks.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of his
heart brings forth good things,
and an evil man out of the evil treasure
brings forth evil things.

Our words reveal what is in our heart.

If we use “bad” words our heart is “bad”.
Jesus says they are evil!

Only Jesus can change a heart from
Bad to good.

The people we work with,
go to school with,
play ball with etc.…

Need Jesus…

He is the answer
To the “bad” words problem
In our world today.

- Hayden Childs

#giver


POWER OF WORDS
A careless word may kindle strife,
A cruel word may wreck a life,
A bitter word may hate instill,
A brutal word may smite and kill,
A gracious word may smooth the way,
A joyous word may light the day;
A timeless word may lessen stress,
A loving word may heal and bless.
- Anonymous

Via Bulletin Gold

***

From the 01/02 Quote Archives…

Don’t watch the clock;
Do what it does.
Keep going.
- Sam Levenson

We relish news of our
heroes,
Forgetting that we are
Extraordinary to somebody
too.
- Helen Hayes

Every human has four endowments …
Self-awareness,
conscience,
independent will
And creative imagination.
These give us the
Ultimate human freedom...
The power to choose,
To respond,
to change.
- Stephen Covey

Change is difficult but often
Essential to survival.
- Les Brown

The measure of your life
Will not be in what you
Accumulate but in what
You give away.
- Wayne Dyer

See God in every person,
Place, and thing and all
Will be well in your world.
- Louise Hay

I think everybody should
Take the attitude that we’re
Working to be a champion,
That we want to be a champion
In everything that we do.
Every choice, every decision,
Everything that we do, we’re
Working to be a champion.
- Coach Nick Saban

There is no failure except
In no longer trying.
- Elbert Hubbard

Do you know the difference
Between Education and experience?
Education is when you read the
fine print;
Experience is what you get when
you don't.
- Pete Seeger

The con man works harder and
pays more
For what he gets out of life
than any other person,
But he kids himself into
believing he is getting
Something for nothing.
- Napoleon Hill Foundation


***

Three Resolutions...

- R. A. (Bob) West

Happy New Year!

Yes, it's that time of year again.

But before we get all wrapped up with 2025,
let's take a quick glance in 2024.

In your case, how was it?
What kind of life did you live?
Do you think God was pleased?

Of course, we can't live that part over,
but we can profit thereby.

We now have a completely New Year ahead of us.
What will we do with it?
Whom will we serve in 2025?
God or Satan?
There is no middle ground.

As we reflect upon the rewards inherent in service to the one
and the consequences of the other, our decisions are made easy.

My decision has prompted three resolutions.

I herewith share them to encourage you to adopt them as your own.

1. Resolved…

To come to a more complete knowledge of God's will.
Naturally, I cannot hope for an eternal home with God if I am not
pleasing to Him; I cannot be pleasing to Him if I do not do His will.
I cannot do His will if I do not know what it is.

Therefore, I will faithfully attend all Bible classes and fervently study
the Scriptures daily to learn His desires.

I will approach the Bible with an open and honest mind and let it
speak fully and freely on every subject.
I will endeavor to study each passage in its proper setting,
not willing to wrest the Scriptures lest I do so to my own destruction.

2. Resolved…

To live in harmony with the will of God.
I will be active in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Of course, before one can be active and fruitful,
 he must enter the Lord's vineyard, the church,
 by obedience to the gospel plan of salvation.)

I will be more prayerful.
I will attend all the assemblies (worship and Bible study)
and give as I have been prospered.

I will forsake all, even denying myself, to follow Jesus.
And though I know that all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution,

I am resolved to not be ashamed,
but to present my body a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God.

I will work out my salvation with fear and trembling,
being not conformed to this world,
but transformed by the renewing of my mind by the
good and perfect will of God (Phil. 2:12; Romans 12:1,2).

3. Resolved…

To teach and persuade others to obey God's will.
As I obtain knowledge of God's word I will teach others also.
I am resolved to teach them in word and deed.
With the sword of the Spirit as my weapon with the militance of
Jesus I will lovingly expose religious error and moral wickedness.

And yet I will seek to possess Christ's other qualities
(e.g. love, joy, peace, faithfulness, meekness and self-control)
to such a degree that I might lead those involved in sin and iniquity
to repentance.

These three resolutions, if kept,
will keep us busy serving and pleasing God.
We will have no time for the devil.
Let's determine now to keep all three in 2025 (and forever after).

The Gospel Guardian
VOLUME 18, January 6, 1967, NUMBER 34, PAGE 8b
Edited by H.C.

For More Information…

https://www.wordsfitlyspoken.insearchoftruth.org/gospel_guardian/index.html




***


Bless The Lord O My Soul – Matt Redman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwIT8JjddM

123124 From The Banks of Burcham Creek...

From The Banks of Burcham Creek…

Our favorite New Year’s Eve
Occurred on 12/31/12 when
Allison married Daniel Clark.

We are so proud of them
and so thankful…

God is so good!

They are dedicated parents
To Caragan Grace and Claire Rose.

We cannot forget their son
Colson Lee Clark who is in
Heaven in the arms of Jesus.

This post is in honor of them.

They let their lights shine
Bright for Jesus every day
They make a difference in this
World.

-    Hayden Childs

***

An optimist stays up until midnight
To see the New Year in.
A pessimist stays up to make
Sure, the old year leaves.
- Bill Vaughn

We will open the book.
Its pages are blank.
We are going to put words on them ourselves.
The book is called Opportunity and it’s first
Chapter is New Year’s Day.
- Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Here’s to the bright New Year,
And a fond farewell to the old.
Here’s to the things that are yet to come,
And to the memories that we hold.
- Jeff Kinney

***

New Year’s Wish 2025

I wish you Health...
So you may enjoy each day in comfort.

I wish you the Love of friends and family...
And Peace within your heart.

I wish you the Beauty of nature...
That you may enjoy the work of God.

I wish you Wisdom to choose priorities...
For those things that really matter in life.

I wish you Generosity so you may share...
All good things that come to you.

I wish you Happiness and Joy...
And Blessings for the New Year.

I wish you the Best of everything...
That you so well deserve.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIEND!

Anonymous

***

What Does the New Year Hold?

The Lord willing we will celebrate the beginning of a
New Year 2025.

The year 2024 will be gone forever.

Some may be wondering,
"What will the new year hold for us?"
Will there be weddings?
Will there be funerals?
Will there be births will there be good times?
Will there be bad?
Will there be changes that we don't like?
Will there be changes that are good?

For man, the future is completely unpredictable and while we can
expect some things to happen, we really don't know what is going
to happen, and we should not spend our time worrying about what
MIGHT happen ( Matthew 6:34) but we should always say,
"If the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that" ( James 4:15).

So, what will the New Year hold, if the Lord will?

•    The New Year holds time!

We have before us 12 months, 52 weeks, 354 days, 8496 hours,
509760 minutes, and 30,585,600 seconds. Any way you look at it.
we have time given to us.

We can only live that time one moment at a time.
Each moment is precious, priceless, and pregnant with potential for
us to do that which is good and right, pure and holy.

There is also the potential for us to use our time to do that which
is evil and wrong, rotten and defiled.

Potential, however, never accomplished anything!
It's not until the potential becomes the kinetic that things happen!

How will we use our time in 2025?

Let us not give place to Satan, but redeem each moment doing the
Lord's will (Ephesians 5:16)!


•    The New Year holds opportunity!

We should pray for opportunity, but we should also pray for the
resources to be able to take advantage of the opportunities we have!

Health, family, friends, fellow Christians, financial means, talents,
and many other things are all resources that we all need to make the
most of our opportunities.

We can take appropriate advantage of those resources for good or we
can neglect them. We also need to pray for the ability to recognize the
presence of an opportunity.

Many times, opportunity knocks, but no one is home to
hear the rap. Let's be on the alert for ways in which we can do that
which is good toward all men (Galatians 6:10).

•    The New Year holds optimism!

A new year is not a time to be pessimistic and think of all the terrible
things that COULD happen to us.

Rather, it is a time for us to think optimistically!

Out of all the people on the earth, the Christian has the knowledge
to think optimistically.

We know that Jesus was raised from the dead.
We know that the life of the Christian is the best life one could live.
We know that one day Jesus will come again!

The faithful child of God has every reason to rejoice and nothing
over which to brood (Philippians 4:4).

•    The New Year holds work!

Since God created man, God has expected man to work to some
degree. Man's first job was to dress and keep the garden
(Genesis 2:15).

Today we have a God given work as well.
Jesus has exemplified this work for us in his mission to seek and
to save that which is lost (Luke 19:10).

The church has the same work today.
We must use the year 2025 fulfilling the mission that Jesus
has for His body.

We can fulfill this mission through our works of benevolence
for the needy, edification of the saved, and evangelism for
the lost.

 If we water and plant, then God will give the increase
(1 Corinthians 3:6)!

 Each day that passes in this New Year, let us consider how
we can be involved in this great work!

The New Year holds so much more than what we have set
forth here, but these four things are definite starting points
for us to make this New Year a great one.

The New Year holds time, opportunity, optimism, and work.

Let us put our hands to the work, with an optimistic attitude,
using our time to serve the Lord and looking for those
opportunities which are ever before us!

May God bless this New Year 2025 for the church of Christ
the world over!

- Anonymous

Edited by H.C.

***

Auld Lang Syne – Elvis Presley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrxifmCGn4I