January News 2007

A Happy New Year To You All and A Clean Start.



Dear friends,

It is New Year's Day and I thought that I had better phone my (88 yr old) mother. "Happy New Year Mam- you are up then?" "I have been up since half past six!" came the emphatic reply "Why?" I foolishly enquired. "To do my washing of course - I want to make a clean start to the year." There is, as they say, no answer to that. Many would like to make a clean start to the year,wash away the bad things; be free from thoughts from the past; remove the stains from a guilty conscience and begin the New Year in a new way- But How?


To begin with we have to think about the past and face it. Good things came our way over the last year that we failed to appreciate. We received many blessings from heaven that were never returned heavenward in the form of thanksgiving and praise. We also have to acknowlege our failures,mistakes and sins. If we do not do so then we are bound to repeat them year after year, again and again and again. Then there may be valuable lessons to be learned from some of the difficult and unpleasant things that we have encountered. Certainly as Bible believers we are assured of this - that 'God works all things together for good for those who love him.'


New Year, then is a good time - to think about the good things and to be thankful, to learn from past mistakes and make changes, and to repent of our sins and put things right in our relationship with God.


But what does this strange word repentance really mean and involve

Repentance means sorrow. Sorrow over our sins, sorrow because we have personally sinned, and sorrow because of the effect of our sins. Without being sorry for sin - we cannot be free from it - never ever!

Repentance means change. A change of mind - so that we begin to look upon the sin we once loved as wrong in the sight of God; A change of heart so that we no longer wish to offend God, who is holy. and a change of direction, a definite turning and returning to the Lord.

Repentance means joy. Our God is the God of forgivness. He delights in mercy, he is ready to receive returning sinners, and he welcomes those who return to him with sad but believing hearts. Back to top