(summarized from a sermon by Pastor Don Patterson at Holy Word Lutheran Church on 31 Dec 2016)
This is my garage.
He wanted to help us say goodbye to our old year in the right way.
He wanted us to "declutter" spiritually based on God's Word.
He gave us three verbs to remember - Shelve, Shred, Share.
Shelve your disappointments in hope
Were you disappointed this past year? In someone else? In yourself? In the stock market/401k/interest rates/sales?
Shelve those disappointments. Tie them up, label them as what they are and put them on the shelf.
Why? Because God has promised good stuff for you.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
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.
Shelve the disappointments in hope of the Lord's wonderful plans for you.
Wait for them.
As you look back on the year past - you may even see things you thought were disappointments have changed into opportunities and reminders that the Lord has "plans to prosper you and not to harm you".
Shred your sins (and everyone else's sins) in forgiveness
When you shred something you make it unrecognizable. It can't be put back together again. Once you've shredded it you don't worry about it, think about it any longer. What would be the point - it's gone!
But for you to shred something - it has to exist. It has to be present and in your hands.
It's painful - but think of the sins of the past year.
Think you don't have any - or any really significant ones?
Jesus tells us otherwise.
1 John 1:8 (NIV)
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
The good news for you is - Jesus has shredded your sins.
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus perfect life, death and resurrection (for YOU) has wiped them out.
They are unrecognizable to everyone (even God).
You are forgiven - fully and freely.
You don't have to worry about them or think about them any longer.
Oh - and Jesus not only shredded your sins - but everyone else's, too.
All those wrongs you were the target of this past year.
They are shredded, too.
Forgive them - fully and freely.
And live like they are really and truly gone.
Share your blessings with thanksgiving
Fact: You exist. You exist because God gave you a soul and has been sharing his creation with you since you drew your first breath. Every heartbeat and breath since then is a blessing made specifically for you by God. Every blessing is an invitation to share in this creation.
This past year has been a daily unfolding of this blessing-filled creation.
Take a moment to write ten of them down.
Maybe some of them didn't seem like blessings in the moment - but you can see that they are now.
What should you do about it?
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Just as God is sharing his blessings of creation with you every morning, noon and night - you should thank him for it and share those blessings.
Don't be stingy.
Share!
=====================
Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)
 |
| My garage - a study in chaos and order (and clutter) |
- On the left - piles of stuff all jumbled together.
- On the right - Rows of organized and labeled boxes.
- The jumbled piles of stuff on the left?
- The organized boxes of stuff on the right?
- Or neither (because it's just so...much...stuff)?
He wanted to help us say goodbye to our old year in the right way.
He wanted us to "declutter" spiritually based on God's Word.
He gave us three verbs to remember - Shelve, Shred, Share.
Shelve your disappointments in hope
Were you disappointed this past year? In someone else? In yourself? In the stock market/401k/interest rates/sales?
Shelve those disappointments. Tie them up, label them as what they are and put them on the shelf.
Why? Because God has promised good stuff for you.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
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.
Shelve the disappointments in hope of the Lord's wonderful plans for you.
Wait for them.
As you look back on the year past - you may even see things you thought were disappointments have changed into opportunities and reminders that the Lord has "plans to prosper you and not to harm you".
Shred your sins (and everyone else's sins) in forgiveness
When you shred something you make it unrecognizable. It can't be put back together again. Once you've shredded it you don't worry about it, think about it any longer. What would be the point - it's gone!
But for you to shred something - it has to exist. It has to be present and in your hands.
It's painful - but think of the sins of the past year.
Think you don't have any - or any really significant ones?
Jesus tells us otherwise.
1 John 1:8 (NIV)
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus perfect life, death and resurrection (for YOU) has wiped them out.
They are unrecognizable to everyone (even God).
You are forgiven - fully and freely.
You don't have to worry about them or think about them any longer.
Oh - and Jesus not only shredded your sins - but everyone else's, too.
All those wrongs you were the target of this past year.
They are shredded, too.
Forgive them - fully and freely.
And live like they are really and truly gone.
Share your blessings with thanksgiving
Fact: You exist. You exist because God gave you a soul and has been sharing his creation with you since you drew your first breath. Every heartbeat and breath since then is a blessing made specifically for you by God. Every blessing is an invitation to share in this creation.
This past year has been a daily unfolding of this blessing-filled creation.
Take a moment to write ten of them down.
Maybe some of them didn't seem like blessings in the moment - but you can see that they are now.
What should you do about it?
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Just as God is sharing his blessings of creation with you every morning, noon and night - you should thank him for it and share those blessings.
Don't be stingy.
Share!
=====================
Lord
Lead me to say goodbye to bitterness, regret and guilt.
Remind me through your Word that you want me to...
shelve my disappointments,
that you've shredded my sins
and that I need to share my blessings.
Amen.
=====================
Lead me to say goodbye to bitterness, regret and guilt.
Remind me through your Word that you want me to...
shelve my disappointments,
that you've shredded my sins
and that I need to share my blessings.
Amen.
=====================
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