HOW YOU CAN MAKE A FRESH START 2

(The next Reflections will be a series
of 14 brief messages on how you can make a
Fresh Start in your life. It is my prayer
that these suggestions will help provide
a real renewal in your total life.)


How You Can Make a Fresh Start
Whitney Hopler

Do you feel stuck? Maybe you don't
like the way your life has been going
lately, but can't seem to change it.
No matter how stuck you may have
become, you can move forward with
God's help. Here's how you can make
a fresh start to change your life for the better:


#2. Be honest about how something bad
makes you feel good. Sin that you're hanging
onto has something about it that attracts you:
If you try to control other people, you may be
getting a feeling of power from your efforts.
If you often express your anger through fits
of rage, you may be enjoying the adrenaline
rush that results. If you struggle with lust,
you may find the sexual fantasies that come
with it exciting. Admit what pleasure you're
deriving from your sinful habits, confess it to
God, and ask Him to help you really desire
to make a fresh start.

{Adapted from Fresh Start: God's Invitation to
a Great Life copyright 2009 by Doug Fields.
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers,
Nashville, Tn., www.thomasnelson.com.)
Article publication date: August 20, 2009

HOW YOU CAN MAKE A FRESH START 1

(The next Reflections will be a series
of 14 brief messages on how you can make a
Fresh Start in your life. It is my prayer
that these suggestions will help provide
a real renewal in your total life.)

How You Can Make a Fresh Start
Whitney Hopler

(Editor's Note: The following is a
report on the practical applications
of Doug Fields' new book, Fresh Start:
God's Invitation to a Great Life,
(Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2009).

Do you feel stuck? Maybe you don't
like the way your life has been going
lately, but can't seem to change it.
Perhaps you're struggling with an
unhealthy habit that you know you
should stop, yet still continue despite
your best intentions to change.

No matter how stuck you may have
become, you can move forward with
God's help. Here's how you can make
a fresh start to change your life for the better:

#1. Look beyond yourself to God. Your
ability to make real and lasting changes
to your life is limited, even when you try
your hardest. Rather than relying just on
your own determined resolve to change
and your own positive thinking (which may
improve your life temporarily but not lead
to permanent change), connect to God in
prayer daily and rely on the strength that
He will give you to truly change for good.
God loves you too much to let you stay
stuck; He wants to help you become
the best person and experience the best
life possible. Invite God to give you a fresh
start and cooperate with His work in your
life by following where He leads you.

{Adapted from Fresh Start: God's Invitation to
a Great Life copyright 2009 by Doug Fields.
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers,
Nashville, Tn., www.thomasnelson.com.
Doug Fields graduated from SCC in 1984
(now Vanguard), and received his MDiv.
from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1986.
Doug has served as a youth pastor for 25
years, and has been teaching pastor at
Saddleback Church since 1992. Doug
has been a global youth ministry leader
through his books, speaking and youth
ministry resources. He is the award-winning
author of more than 40 books, many of which
serve as curriculum in Seminaries and Bible
Colleges. Besides speaking regularly to
teenagers and the congregation of Saddleback
Church, Doug can also be found speaking to
youth workers around the world. Doug would
say his greatest accomplishment is marrying
way out of his league to his wife Cathy of 23
years. They have three teenage children; Torie,
Cody and Cassie.}

Article publication date: August 20, 2009

THE LIVING WORD

Scripture:

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish,
looked up to heaven, and asked God's
blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves
into pieces, he kept giving the bread and
fish to the disciples to give to the people.
They all ate as much as they wanted,
and they picked up twelve baskets of
leftover bread and fish.
Mark 6:41-43 NLT

Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
As though didst break the loaves beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word!
Mary Artemisia Lathbury

Bread of Life

While Break Thou the Bread of Life is
often sung during Communion, it is really
intended to prepare the heart for Bible
study. The great London preacher G.
Campbell Morgan customarily read the
words of the hymn before his midweek
service.

The author, Mary Lathbury, was better
known as a commercial artist than as a
poet. Her illustrations regularly appeared
in the popular magazines of the 19th century.
She was a devout Christian who often
vacationed at Lake Chautauqua, where she
became one of the founders of a new
movement. Mixing Christian inspiration,
culture, and education, the Chautauqua
movement spread across the country.…
As she sat with her Bible, overlooking Lake
Chautauqua, she thought of the disciples at
the Sea of Galilee and wrote this hymn.
Mary Lathbury's desire was to take Bible
students "beyond the sacred page" to meet
the living Word.
From The One Year Book of Hymns
(Tyndale House), entry for February 15

Reflection:

I remember, as a young man, attending church
and the first Sunday of every month we
would celebrate communion. This song
"Break Thou the Bread of Life" was quietly
sung as we participated in the Lord's Supper.
It was always very meaningful to me. The words
and the spirit of this song brought me to a place
where I met, the living Word, Jesus Christ.
I must ask myself, as I ask you, When is the last
time I met the Living Word? When is the last time
my spirit "panted" for Jesus Christ? LORD LET IT
BE NOW!

Prayer:

Lord You are the bread of life, I yearn for You.
I am ready for You the Living Word, LET IT BE NOW!
In Jesus Name Amen.

IS THE BIBLE REALLY GOD'S WORD?

All Scripture is inspired by God and is
useful to teach us what is true and to
make us realize what is wrong in our lives.
2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

The Word Transforms

Dr. E. V. Rieu was a classical scholar
and translator for many years. He rendered
Homer into very modern English for the Penguin
Classics. Rieu was 60 years old and a lifelong
agnostic when the same firm invited him to translate
the Gospels. His son remarked: "It will be interesting
to see what Father makes of the four Gospels. It will
be even more interesting to see what the four Gospels
make of Father."

The answer was soon forthcoming. A year later, Rieu,
convinced and converted, joined the Church of England.

In an interview with J. B. Phillips, Rieu confessed that
he had undertaken the task of translation because of
an "intense desire to satisfy himself as to the authenticity
and spiritual content of the Gospels." He was determined
to approach the documents as if they were newly discovered
Greek manuscripts. "Did you not get the feeling," asked
Canon Phillips, "that the whole material was extraordinarily
alive?" The classical scholar agreed. "I got the deepest feeling,
" he replied. "My work changed me. I came to the conclusion
that these words bear the seal of the Son of Man and God."

From J. B. Phillips, The Ring of Truth. quoted by R. Kent
Hughes in 1001Great Stories and Quotes (Tyndale House) pp 28-29

Remember This:

The B I B L E yes that's the book for me.
I stand alone on the Word of God. The
B I B L E.

AAAAAAAA MEN

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE BIBLE?

Your principles have been the music of my
life throughout the years of my pilgrimage.
I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord,
and I obey your law because of this.
Psalm 119:54-55 NLT

The testimony of presidents

The Bible was clearly important to many
American presidents. A few examples:

It is impossible to govern the world
without God and the Bible.
George Washington

The whole inspiration of our civilization
springs from the teachings of Christ and
the lessons of the prophets. To read the
Bible for these fundamentals is a necessity
of American life. Herbert Hoover

In regard to this great book, I have but to
say, it is the best gift God has given to man.
All the good Savior gave to the world was
communicated through this book. But for it
we could not know right from wrong. All things
most desirable for man's welfare, here and
hereafter, are to found portrayed in it.
Abraham Lincoln

Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet-anchor of
your liberties; write its precepts in your hearts
and practice them in your lives. To the influence
of this book we are indebted for all the progress
made in true civilization, and to this we must
look as our guide in the future. Righteousness
exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any
people. Ulysses S. Grant

From Great Thoughts & Funny Sayings by Bob
Phillips (Tyndale House), pp 39-40

I'M IN DEEP WATER

Scripture:

"Save me, O God, for the flood waters are up to my neck.
Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can't find a foothold to stand on.
I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me.
I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched and dry.
My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me…
But I keep right on praying to you, Lord, hoping this is the time you will show me favor".
Psalm 69:1-3, 13 NLT

Reflection:

Actually this prayer of David's in this psalm is telling us,
"Save me, I'm sinking". Here we see a very desperate
David who can't even think of helping himself. But at
least David knew whom he needs to ask for help.
Although he was exhausted from crying to the Lord in
prayer, he kept on shouting to his God, the only one
who could see him.
When the waves of adversity threaten to drown you in
despair, PRAY TO GOD. Remember David's persistence.
AND KEEP ON ASKING GOD FOR HELP!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I am exhausted from crying for help, but I
will keep on praying to You. I know that you are there
for me. I know that you are the only one that can
really see me.

MY BEST FRIEND

Scripture:

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Psalm 139:1-3 (NIV)

Reflection:

Do you have a best friend? A person that knows
everything about you. A person who knows your
likes and dislikes, your secrets, all your various
characteristics. Very few of us are secure enough
to let our real selves come out and show itself,
except to a real friend who is close to us.
I like the old adage that defines a friend as,
"one who knows all about you, and likes you
anyway."
You know what, that's what so great about being
a Christian. Our God knows everything about us,
He knows every part of us, every characteristic,
every secret role we play, every hidden thing
we do. Our God sees all of this, He knows all
of this, AND HE LOVES US ANYWAY!
Our God created us, He knows us, and on top
of all of this, He is our best friend. He is our eternal
friend. Our creator and best friend has given us
diverse traits and characteristics so that we can be
the people He wants us to be.
OUR GOD HAS SEARCHED US, KNOWS US, AND
HE LOVES US.

Prayer:

Lord I joyfully acknowledge that You created me,
and I thank You for all that I am, even for the parts
of me that sometimes seem so undesirable. Thank
You God for loving all of who I am.

AGAPE

Scripture:

38For I am convinced that neither
death nor life, neither angels nor
demons,[a] neither the present
nor the future, nor any powers,
39neither height nor depth, nor
anything else in all creation, will
be able to separate us from the
love of God that is in Christ Jesus
our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39) NIV


Reflection:

The Unconditional Love of God
Ron Walters

It's the mother lode of scripture,
the Hope Diamond of truth. It's
Fort Knox in a book. And every week
we're asked to stand in front and display
its dazzling beauty: "I have loved you
with a love that lasts forever, and with
unfailing love I've drawn you to myself."

It's the story of God's immeasurable
heart and incomparable love, offered
without strings and paid in full to an
undeserving and resistant people. No
one could have devised such a plan...
no one except God. It's so...like Him!

(How true the following words are)

I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
of Jesus and his glory,
of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story,
because I know 'tis true;
it satisfies my longings
as nothing else can do.
Refrain:
I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.

2. I love to tell the story;
more wonderful it seems
than all the golden fancies
of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story,
it did so much for me;
and that is just the reason
I tell it now to thee.
(Refrain)

3. I love to tell the story;
'tis pleasant to repeat
what seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
the message of salvation
from God's own holy Word.
(Refrain)

4. I love to tell the story,
for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it like (from) the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
'twill be the old, old story
that I have loved so long.
(Refrain)

A REQUEST FOR PROTECTION

Scripture:

David Prayed

O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer!
From the ends of the earth, I will cry to
you for help, for my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
for you are my safe refuge, a fortress
where my enemies cannot reach me.
Let me live forever in your sanctuary,
safe beneath the shelter of your wings!
Psalm 61:1-4 NLT

Reflection: (just a little something to
remember)

Although we might not realize it, we are
just as vulnerable as King David was.
We need to be led to God's rock of safety.
Run to the Almighty in prayer and trust
in him to keep you safe.
GOD WILL KEEP YOU SAFE!

Prayer:

O God, lead me to the towering rock
of safety, for you are my safe refuge.
Thank You God for Your protection.
In Jesus Name Amen.

DON'T BE AFRAID

From Crosswalk.com

Scripture:

Revelation 1:17-18:

He placed his right hand on me and said:
"Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold
I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys
of death and Hades."

Reflection:

Based on these two verses he writes:

Lord Jesus, how timely, stunning and
encouraging to know that the most
repeated command throughout the whole
Bible is "Do not be afraid". The angels
spoke these words to startled shepherds
at your birth, and you repeated the
command to a devastated Mary on the
morning of your resurrection, and now
you speak these liberating words to my
heart and conscience, "Do not be afraid!"

Because you are the First and the Last,
Jesus, I don't have to be afraid of anything in
between. You are God, and I am not. You will
never say "Oops" about anything in world history
or in my own life. You never "try" to do anything.
You never have to scratch your head in confusion.
You never have to resort to plan B. You are
perfectly executing your sovereign will, from
naming the stars to numbering my hairs. Glory!

Because you are the Living One, who was
dead and who is now alive forever, I don't have
to be afraid of judgment Day or this day. For
your death on the cross is my judgment Day
and your resurrection from the dead is my
assurance of being eternally and fully accepted
by God. Constantly sung over me by my Father,
and all my brothers and sisters in you, is the most
liberating of all lyrics, "There is now and forevermore
NO condemnation for those who are in Christ!" Not
only is there no condemnation, there is only full
delight! Oh my goodness!

Because you hold the keys of death and Hades,
Jesus, and to everything else, I don't have to be
afraid to die, or to live. You have robbed the grave
of its victory, you have removed the sting of death,
and you have defeated the devil and all the powers
of darkness! I don't have to be afraid of people. I
don't have to be afraid of failing. I don't have to be
afraid of getting old. Yes, yes, yes!

Place your right hand on me today in the
gospel, that I might be freed more fully from my
fears and live more fully to the praise of your glorious
Name. Amen and Amen forever!

To live is Christ, to die is gain!

NOTHING IS TO COMPLEX FOR HIM

Scripture:

"God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through
him. The Word gave life to everything
that was created, and his life brought
light to everyone. The light shines in
the darkness, and the darkness can
never extinguish it." (John 1:3-5, NLT)

Reflection:

You know I have a fairly simple life.
But sometimes it gets kind of complex.
Things seem to happen all at once.
And I often get overwhelmed. I sometimes
find my life too complex and I actually
wonder if God understands.
Then I remember something very
important: God created the entire
universe, that's right the whole universe,
and nothing, absolutely nothing, is too
difficult to Him. God created you and
me, He is alive today, and His love is
bigger than any problem you and
I may face. God brings His light into
my darkness, into my complex problems,
and my darkness and my problems can
never extinguish HIS LIGHT.

Prayer:

Oh Lord thank You for Your Light.
Thank You for Your creation, thank
You that nothing is too difficult for
You. Thank You that You are
alive today and that You have been
here for me. Thank you that Your
love is bigger that any problem I may
face.

NEVER GIVE UP!

Scripture:

One day Jesus told his disciples a
story to show that they should always
pray and never give up.
Luke 18:1, NLT

Reflection:

I grew up under my father's one basic philosophy,
"you never give up". That was my father's basic
philosophy of life, no matter how many times you
try and fail, "you never give up".
This is what Jesus Christ is telling us here. You
should always pray and never give up. Now this
doesn't me that in your prayer life you need
endless repetition or painfully long prayer
sessions. Always praying means keeping your
request constantly before God as we live for Him
day by day, faithfully believing that He will
answer. WHEN WE LIVE BY FAITH, WE ARE
NOT TO GIVE UP.

Prayer:

Oh mighty God as I bring my request before You, I
am ever mindful that I live for you day by day, knowing
that You will answer in Your time not mine.
In Jesus Name Amen.

ONE OUT OF NINETY NINE

Scripture:

"If a man has a hundred sheep and one
of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't
he leave the ninety-nine others in the
wilderness and go to search for the one
that is lost until he finds it? And when he
has found it, he will joyfully carry it home
on his shoulders."
Luke 15:4-5, NLT

Reflection:

We may be able to understand a God
who would forgive sinners who come to
him for mercy. But a God who tenderly
searches for sinners and then joyfully
forgives them must possess an extraordinary
love! This is the kind of love that prompted
Jesus to come to earth to search for lost
people and save them. This is the kind of
extraordinary love that God has for you.

If you feel far from God, don't despair.
He is searching for you.