Happy New Year!
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5.)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17.)
The newness of Christ never grows old and never needs replacing. He lives for you, so you can live in him.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners … . (1 Timothy 1:15.)
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:17-18.)
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9.)
Happy New Year, indeed!
And Happy New Year to you and yours Tim!
Wow, Tim, that really hit me. Our little guy is on the autism spectrum and sometimes life is just so much SAME. Same question 500 times a day. Same activities (puzzles, dvds) done over and over. Sometimes life feels more like a hamster wheel than an adventure of new vistas. I think I need to do some meditating on the relationship between NEW and SAME. (For me that will probably take the shape of a poem or story or something.) After all the God who makes everything new is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” HE must think same and new are compatible.
I don’t know if what I’m saying makes any sense, but when you read something and your insides start bubbling like a pot of chili there must be something going on..!
Jeannie, that is one beautiful mystery you pointed out: “HE must think same and new are compatible.” With God, there are no hamster wheels of life.
New Year blessings to you and yours,
Tim
Jeannie, I often wonder about the connection between stage one Alzheimer’s which my husband has and autism. My husband asks those same questions over and over and listens to the same DVDs over and over. Do you blog about his autism?
Hi Carol, I tried to reply to your question but it didn’t seem to work so I’ll try again (my apologies if 2 repetitive responses appear here!
. I do sometimes blog about it though not very systematically — just when I feel the need: see my June 15/July 24 2012 entries for instance. I also have a daughter with Asperger’s, so our family really puts the “spectrum” in autism spectrum. The repetition seems to give my son reassurance and security but it’s hard to know whether to respond every time or try to ignore or redirect. It’s really exhausting at times. Then I think how I sometimes pray to God “Help, I can’t do this” over & over and I hope He isn’t exhausted by MY repetition! (“His compassions are new every morning” is my mainstay.) It sounds like you have many challenges with your husband — learning to love him in a whole new way, I would think. I appreciate your question because it reminds me that the challenges which we think isolate us may actually draw us closer to others. God bless.
Wow, the comments here are just as beautiful and reflective as the post. Happy New Year everyone!
God is the same, yesterday today and forever. Less than a week into the new year, has every day been the same so far? No, because we are new every morning – whether we feel it, look it, or think it. Great is His faithfulness in making all things new. So when anything seems ‘samey’ we can know He’s refining us and making us more like Him. If the old of me is washed away, then that’s worth celebrating. Neat: same and new are compatable. I love wisdom from Tim, Jeannie and most of all, from God’s Word. Blessings!
“samey” has now entered my vocabulary, Sarah!
When I think of the old of me, it takes me to 2 Corinthians 5:17 where we are told that because we are now in Christ we are new creations and the old is gone. I love how complete that statement is!
Absolutely. If we remember daily who we are, we can make such an impact on our world. Christ has done it all. Alas we (collective Christianity) don’t fully grasp the significance of that.
(and I’m delighted I’ve given a new word to the English language – even if you and I are the only two who use it! You have encouraged me; thank you!)