Here's How to Get Started

For a writer, beginnings are crucial. The beginning is the most important and often the most difficult part of writing a piece, contributing to writers often being lonely, unhappy people. (I’m not happy with this one either, but let’s just get on with it).

As we begin 2018, we should give some thought to what we want this new year to be like for us. We should realize that much that will happen this year will be beyond our control. So, what we can shape, what we do have control over, is ourselves. We can control our priorities, our attitudes, our calendars and our resources. Our teaching series for the next month is Applying God’s Wisdom to Everyday Problems. The challenge I put before you is will you put God at the center of your life this year? Will you make this commitment and do everything you can to honor Christ in your everyday life?

Here is a prayer that might help you make this commitment. It is a prayer of John Wesley that we use in worship every year about this time. It is often called the Wesley Covenant Prayer.

We will be praying it this Sunday in worship:

I give myself completely to you, God.

Assign me to my place in your creation.

Let me suffer for you.

Give me the work you would have me do.

Give me many tasks or have me step aside while you call others. Put me forward or humble me.

Give me riches or let me live in poverty.

I freely give all that I am and all that I have to you.

And now, holy God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it.

May this covenant made on earth continue for all eternity. Amen.

May God bless you this new year and may we put Christ at the center of everything we are and do.

See you in worship. Rich Morris, pastor