Welcome!

A general theme running throught the Bible is one of “new beginnings”.

Genesis chapter 1 tells us, when God created the earth and all that is in it, on it and above it, He did not plan for its end, that one day when it might no longer be fit for purpose, it would have to be done away with.  It was after all, perfect in every way, and sin had not taken a foothold, so there was no need to plan an ending.

Sin changed everything. Sin introduced death; the journey of life ends with death, a thought associated with funerals. 

When in the journey of our lives, we think life seems to be ending, God opens doors which lead to new beginnings. This is God's love story: He loves us, the pinnacle of His creation, and will restore us to eternity with Him.  

As we step into 2019, we can either trust God’s love story, or we can reject it, in which case  we take the consequences. The choice is ours.

To anyone who by faith, accepts God’s plan as above, God has the following advice:

“Forget all that is past; it is nothing compared to what I am going to do” (Isaiah 43:18), because “as far as the east is from the west, have I removed any memory of your wrong doing” (Psalm 103:12).

The past is the past. Leave it there.

What is happening in the present is important, because it helps sustain our lives. “Look! Look and see! I am about to do something new; can you not see it happening?  I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers will flow in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19).  

Our lives in the present is made easier. The work of Christ on the cross has cleared a way through the wilderness, opening a new relationship for us with God. Nothing can hold us back from Him.

When God released the Holy Spirit, rivers of life-nourishing water flows through our lives, washing away all that is permanently dead, and feeding and bringing to life all which we need.

Look ahead to the future and see, “I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true” (Revelation 21:5). 

As we start a new year, shall we take the opportunity of God's new beginnings? 

God wants to forget the past because He chooses not to remember it, and He does not want us to keep reminding Him of our past by moaning about it.

God wants is to live well with confidence in the present because Jesus the Christ has cleared the obstacles and opened the way to a direct relationship with God.

God also wants us to see Him “making all thing new”. He doesn’t want His His love story to end. He wants our transition to eternity to be “happily ever after”, for ever and ever!

May 2019 be the best year yet for you, with better years to come!  Live life with this confidence. 

Kalyan 

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If you are new to Botley, North Hinksey, Cumnor (and surrounding areas) or to Botley Baptist Church, or have been worshipping here for a long time and wish to explore more about Church life, Baptist beliefs and how you can participate in the life of the Church, you are most welcome to join us on Wednesday 6th February, 2019 at 7:30 pm at the Das' home.