new years

Stepping Into the New Year with Hope

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

A new year feels like standing at the edge of a fresh page—clean, unwritten, full of possibility. We often enter January carrying mixed emotions: hope and anticipation, but also weariness from the year behind us. Scripture reminds us that God meets us right here, at the turning of the calendar, and walks with us into what’s next.

Before we make resolutions or set goals, it’s comforting to remember that God has already gone ahead of us. Nothing about the coming year surprises Him.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

We don’t step into the unknown alone. We step forward with a God who plans with purpose and love.

The new year invites reflection, but it also invites release. Regrets, failures, and disappointments don’t have to define what’s ahead. God specializes in renewal.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

Isaiah 43:18–19

What if this year we trusted God enough to let go—making room for the “new thing” He wants to do?

The coming year will have challenges. But God doesn’t promise us everything at once—He promises daily grace.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22–23

Every morning brings fresh mercy. Every day brings enough strength for that day.

We may not see the full picture, but faith invites us to take the next step—trusting God with the rest.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5–6

God doesn’t ask us to know everything—only to trust Him with everything.

As this new year begins, may we walk in hope, grounded in truth, and confident in God’s presence.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

Here’s to a new year—not just of new goals, but of deeper faith, renewed joy, and steady trust in the God who makes all things new.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.

How God Looks at You

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The world often judges us by our past. We most often view ourselves on our present. I believe God looks at us through our future.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV

The story of the apostle Peter has always been one that resonates with me in someways. Peter was impulsive and battled with pride. I find the same qualities in myself. Peter had highs and lows. He also praised God through his actions at some moments and denied him in others. but when Jesus interacted with Peter, he didn’t look at the mistakes that he had made, or his up and down faith. Jesus had his eyes set on Peter‘s future. By calling him, Peter and the first place, Jesus was making a statement about who he would become. As we read about in the New Testament, Peter was not his original name. Not only did Jesus give him a new name, but he proclaimed that the same faith that Peter had in order to declare Jesus, the Messiah, would be the same faith on which Jesus would build his church. Even after Peter denied Jesus three times on the eve of his crucifixion, Jesus knew that his destiny would not be marked by denial, but by the faithful pursuit of the kingdom of God. Not long after the resurrection of Jesus, he met with Peter and reminded him of his love for him. When Jesus ascended, Peter would be instrumental in preaching one of the greatest sermons and history after which 3000 people gave their hearts to Christ. Peter would go onto live the rest of his days devoted to sharing the gospel. Ultimately he would give his own life For the sake of the gospel.

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.””

John‬ ‭21‬:‭15‬-‭19‬ ‭ESV

Jesus has rescued me from a troubled past. He rescues me still from my pride and my up-and-down faith. But I believe, just as in Peter, Jesus views me in light of the destiny that he has aligned and prepared for me. I believe the same is true for you. God sees you. He knows all of your hurt and your brokenness and your sin. He knows your needs and your wants. He is for you. No matter what you’ve done., or where you find yourself now. He wants a relationship with you. And if He already has that, He wants it to grow to new heights.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭ESV

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.

New Year New You

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This isn’t your typical new year’s resolution kind of post. In fact, it is probably the exact opposite. While there’s more than enough messages this time of year promoting self improvement, not many are proclaiming that the new version of ourselves should be a whole lot less of ourselves. Christians are familiar with the often quoted 2 Corinthians 5:17. We are new creations in Christ. I see that verse used more this time of year than any other time of the year. Sermons and devotions that promote self improvement. I believe that exercise, eating better, and healthy habits are great things. But the call of the gospel on our lives is much deeper than that. The gospel life is one lived for others. It’s a life of sacrifice, giving, loving, and serving. The “new creation” is a Spirit-filled individual who cares far more for the salvation and betterment of those around them than for how they are viewed by others or even for their own needs. One of the greatest of the apostles, Paul, states it this way:

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20:24 ESV

In a different letter to the church at Galatia he wrote this:

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

To the Philippians Paul emphasized something very similar.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…

Philippians 2:3-5 ESV

And just so no one thinks this is just Paul’s message, look at how Jesus Himself phrased it.

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23 ESV

It is easy to get wrapped up in goal setting when a new year rolls around. What I would propose is that we all focus less on the “usual” goals for the new and improved us, and make our goals more about others and how we are going to put Jesus on display this year. Instead of the new year bringing about a new you, it can bring about less of you, and more of Jesus. I invite everyone to pray that this would be the case for me. Those who know me, I ask for them to hold me accountable. We need to encourage our brothers and sisters in this life of surrender. Eat healthier. Exercise more. Set goals. But may we never forget what our ultimate goal should always be: To know God and to make Him known.

This year may it no longer be us who live but Christ who lives in us. This year may we do nothing out of selfish ambition but look out for the needs of those around us. This year may we testify to the gospel of grace. This year may we take up our cross and follow our King.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.

Time to Train

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Growing up as an athlete, it was ingrained in me to train hard in order to achieve the goals I set to accomplish. I would lift, run, change my diet, get more rest, watch film, study my opponents, and more, in order to reach peak performance. It became a lifestyle. Sure, it intensified during seasons and built up to seasons, but there weren’t many days and weeks that fell outside that time period. It was devotion. And the level of devotion determined, in large part, how successful I was. All of that was for what? A title? Medals? Acknowledgment?

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV

Eating healthy and physical training are good things. Athletics are beneficial. Pushing ourselves and being dedicated are great qualities. However, I think it would be safe to say that most people, even most Christians, don’t put in the same level of devotion to spiritual training that athletes put into physical training. I know I certainly don’t. And I am convicted of that. If I was willing to spend so much energy and change my life habits so much, in order to win a championship that doesn’t matter one lick in light of eternity, I should be far more willing to put in equal, if not greater, effort, in spiritual matters. And so should we all.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-14 ESV

Our spiritual lives deserve the attention that we fail to give it. Paul says it’s like straining towards the goal. It’s a battle against literally everything in life that seeks to distract us from Christ. How do we ‘press on’ as Paul said? How do we train ourselves spiritually? I believe it consists of setting up habits, much like an athlete, that commutatively, will help us reach the goal. So, what’s the goal? Paul says it’s the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. He is the prize. Our impact on the lives around us is the prize. A heart at peace is the prize. A beautiful legacy is the prize.

I don’t want anyone to get the idea that I am promoting earned salvation or works-based doctrine. Jesus already earned salvation for everyone who puts their faith in Him. But anyone who has tred the ground of the Christian life for long, knows that it takes work and consistency to maintain. There are so many ways to fall off the path. Just think about how differently we respond to things and treat people when we haven’t been tending our spiritual life. Our thoughts and words are even different depending on the amount of time we’ve put into building up our faith. To train spiritually can be summed up in the words that Jesus spoke during His earthly ministry.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:4-5 ESV

All the things we do, the habits if you will, are meant to keep us in connection with Him. I know January is a time that a lot of people use to evaluate how they are spending their time and setting new goals for the coming years. So why not set the goal of creating more life-giving habits? Not as a checklist, but as an intentional training ground for the heart and mind. More habits of prayer, reading the bible, studying the bible, meditating on bible, meeting with other believers regularly, Christian counseling, regular acts of service, increased church attendance, becoming more involved in the church, giving more, etc…Spiritually, we are all somewhere. And we can all go deeper. We can all add new habits. We can all train harder. Not to the point of burnout, but to the point our cups are overflowing with God’s goodness and character and those streams of living water are pouring over everyone in our lives.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

The spiritual habits of the Christians are not just part of their life, they are their life. To live, is to live for Jesus. To live, is to live with and in Jesus. If He is our prize, our daily habits should reflect that. For me, as a husband and father, my spiritual habits are not just about me, but about my wife and kids as well. Even for those who are single, people still need you to train…to abide in Jesus.

A few weeks ago, I was talking to my 8 year old daughter about being a light and having a positive impact on people. She has this little glow in the dark cross. The longer it is exposed to light, the longer and brighter it will glow. You can see the spiritual illustration. I was trying to help her see, understanding that she is only 8 (but habits start early), that the more we do to be close to Jesus, the more we’ll be like Jesus. The same simple illustration works for me and you. Time to train!

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.

Detox

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

A poison or venom that causes sickness, and even death, when present in the body.

Toxin

As a parent of two little girls I am constantly on the lookout for potential hazards that could harm my children. For some reason the main instrument of investigation for little ones is their mouth. So it is very easy for toxic things to enter a child. 

The most toxic thing to the human body is not from a snake, spider, or any living organism. It’s not even chemicals from paints or lead or cleaners. Any parent would be proactive about protecting their children from any of these. Without a doubt we are very aware of keeping ourselves safe from these as well. 

So what is the most toxic thing to the human body? It’s a nasty three letter word and it infects and affects everyone. It is the root to every problem plaguing societies, individuals, and even nature itself. The most toxic thing is sin.

“For the wages of sin is death…”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:23‬(a) ‭ESV‬

Toxins of all sorts can cause sickness and physical death, but sin reeks havoc on everything and causes a much worse death…a spiritual death…and if left untreated, an eternal death. 

Lies, murder, adultry, gossip, sexual immorality, cowardous, pride, greed, covering, and on and on it goes. Sin, left unchecked, will spill over into the lives around us and have a ripple effect possibly for generations to come. Sin puts people into bondage. The Bible refers to it as slavery. It causes anxiety, depression, anger, and addictions. 

As I said, we all are infected with sin and our sin can infect others. As a parent, I not only need to protect my kids from worldly toxins, I also need to protect them from infectious sin, even that which lives within my own heart. Sin can creep in through the most inconspicuous ways. Movies, tv, books, relationships, and yes, even from parents. As a husband, friend, teacher, or whatever the role may be, it is vital that I deal with the toxins within me. 

Even though sin is the most toxic thing it is also the most curable. Other toxins may lead to cancers or other incurable illnesses. Some may result in near instant death. But sin, it can be eradicated in an instant. 

“…but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 6:23(b) ESV

Jesus made a way for a sure fire detox. Around this time of year there is a barrage of detox methods, healthy eating plans, exercise routines, five step programs to new habits, how to achieve that new career, etc…January 1st is a day for new beginnings for many people. Why not make it a new beginning by allowing Jesus to detox the sin within? What better goal for the new year than spiritual renewal? 

There is nothing more hindering to life than sin. There is nothing more dangerous to ourselves, our children, our spouses, and any other relationship, than sin. And there is nothing more liberating that the freedom that Christ can give to everyone who asks for it. 

As anyone knows who has tried this detox before, it is both instant and a life long process. January 1st can be the beginning of a new year, and a new life, full of hope and promise. No sin is too toxic for the cleansing blood of Christ. No life is too far gone because Jesus creates an entirely new person. 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God bless brothers and sisters! May you find new life, new hope, and new freedom in the year to come.