New Seasons

The news headlines and editorials concerning the current economic climate paint a grim and depressing picture of our future in the short, mid and long term. 

“UK to suffer worst recession of any advanced nation”  “Financial expert jumped in front of train after predicting recession” “Global unemployment could rise by 50 million”   “House prices fall by £30,000 in a year” 

Around us there seems to be ‘doom and gloom’.  It is a fact – The recession has and will affect us all at some level.  Many of us have had to take stock of our own current financial state of affairs and make the necessary adjustments.  The current crisis is real, there is no denying it and we should not deceive ourselves into believing otherwise.  We can see the effects when during our weekly shopping and in the rising cost of energy fuel, etc.

Question – what is our response to this present crisis?  Should we be fearful for our future?  No. Should we be concerned? Yes but not afraid. Our lives are in God’s hands and he has equipped us with the wisdom, power and ability to take charge and be a people capable of handling our ‘business’.  We should be proactive and not reactive and more so when we find ourselves in difficulties or challenging situations.

We know and understand that “…faith without works (action) is dead”.  Faith alone is not enough (in other words we should not simply pray without coupling our prayer with action).  We must not be immobilised by our situation.  We must put our faith to work; we must put it into action; we must let prayer turn the ignition key of our vehicle of faith!  Remember, His Name is Immanuel, ‘God with us’.  So He will be with us in every situation and circumstance and He promises that ‘…He will never leave us nor forsake us’.  This does not negate the fact that there will be situations that may be outside of our control and in those instances; we are charged to exercise our faith in the promise of God’s word which says that “…all things will work together for good, to them that love God and are called according to his purpose…” and keep on moving.

In 1941, Winston Churchill during an address to students at Harrow School, made the following quote “….Never give in, never give in, never, never, never–in nothing great or small, large or petty–never give in except to your convictions of honour and good sense.  Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”  We can take encouragement from this quote choosing to never, never give up on: our dreams; our desire for change; our expectations for success, etc.   As a church, we have declared that 2009 is our “Year of Breakthrough” and despite what the economy says, in the words of President Barack Obama, “Yes We Can”!  Yes, we can and will have our breakthrough in 2009.  This is our year of breakthrough – a year to BREAK through the boundaries, PENETRATE or REMOVE the ceiling of limitations and soar.  So by faith, see it, believe it and achieve it!  

QUOTE–“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

Starting today, as individuals with focused purpose, let’s begin the journey, if we have not already started, that will take us a step or stage closer to actualising our goals or dreams, etc. in 2009.  Note – Purpose and Destiny is not restricted by age, gender, race or colour nor is it bound by time except the time of our life’s span.

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” 

Deuteronomy 20:1-4 “When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. 2 When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. 3 He shall say: “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. 4 For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”