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The Upload

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I pray that you have had a blessed week.

I find it hard to believe that 2013 is over. I remember writing my first letter of 2013, and that seems like just yesterday. Where did the year go? For some of us, we will be glad to see this year end because of illnesses or other struggles; for others, we might wish it would never end. I know for Jill and me, 2013 was a wonderful year. After struggling in 2012 and dealing with the death of both her parents within just four months of each other, 2013 was filled with joy and excitement. Our youngest daughter, Dana, graduated from KU and is now a high school math teacher; our grandson, Parker, was born in June; and our daughter, Christine, was married in August. In some ways, I did not want the joy of 2013 to end, but the reality is a new year has just begun, and now I have to wonder what God might have in store for me, and us, as a faith community, in 2014.

Now, like you, I have no idea what God has in store, but I do know this: Whatever it is, Christ will walk through it with us. If you are like me, any time I prepare to start something new, I get a little scared. I don’t like dealing with the unknown. I like to “plan my work and work my plan.” I like knowing what is on the schedule, so when things start anew, I often get a little apprehensive. This time of year, especially, I have to keep reminding myself of the four words the angels always used to greet those whom God sent them to deliver a message, “Do not be afraid…”

Fear can control our lives, and oftentimes it can paralyze us and keep us from doing the very things we need to do. Most often, we fear the unknown, but God always reminds us through his angels (literally, God’s messengers) that we are not to let fear control our lives. Remember what God had the angel tell Mary after he informed her that she would conceive a child and that her older cousin, Elizabeth, was also pregnant, “For nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). Yes, even though we may not know what is in store for us in 2014, we do know with certainty that, whatever it is, God will be there with us.

How can I be so sure that God will be with us in 2014 and in all times? I am certain of this because of the words that we will read in the Gospel of John this coming Sunday, “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). God became flesh and walked among us in the form of Jesus so that we might come to know God. But that was not good enough for God, so God went even further. God does not want us to be alone, and to make sure that we would always know that we are not alone, Jesus said, “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you” (John 14:25-26). God sent his Spirit to be with us always, and we are not to fear the unknown because, no matter what happens, God can do all things and nothing is impossible with God.

As all of us look to 2014, I pray that we remember to seek God and God’s call for our lives in the new year, and I pray we know that we are not alone, for Christ has promised to be with us always and that with God all things are possible.

Happy New Year!

Shalom,

Pastor Dave

Tags: Weekly Word