HAPPY NEW YEAR!! ~ WHITE AS SNOW...

" 'Come now, let us reason together,' says the LORD. 'Though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson,

they shall be like wool."

ISAIAH 1:18 NIV

So here in Southwestern Ontario, we had a GREEN Christmas... how sad is that. Well it was still a blessing celebrating the BIRTH of our SAVIOUR with friends and family. But now, that it is the 2nd day of 2010, our city is full of the WHITE STUFF! Looking at the SNOW makes you think of many things. Some people have feelings of JOY when they think of sledding, snowball fights, building a snowman, making snow angels, skating, and more... Others may have feelings of FEAR, as it brings the thoughts of accidents, and getting lost in the snow. Me, I love SNOW, because of the fun things that were mentioned alongside JOY, but also because it reminds me of the Bible Verse that Jesus washes us white as snow. It is a NEW YEAR, and if we have asked for repentance, we have a NEW clean slate to start out our lives with. I reminded our Junior Church 'ReignForest of Faith' Children of this true and exciting fact. Some people hate change, and new things... but I love it!

In the Bible, it says that JESUS came to set us free, and He died for our sins. He sends our transgressions from us as far as the East is from the West. That is exciting news for all of us. Our BLACKENED hearts that are full of sin, can now be washed WHITE as SNOW, because of the RED blood of Jesus!

Do you have this FREEDOM? Have you accepted JESUS as your LORD & SAVIOUR? Well what better way to start the NEW YEAR than with Jesus by your side. He is your Pilot, not your co-pilot. He will lead you into GREAT new things, and will do EXCEEDINGLY and ABUNDANTLY more than you can ask or think or imagine! ("Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV)

To experience this FREEDOM, it's as easy as ABC...
It only takes a moment, to change your life forever. If you so desire, you can re-commit your life to Him as well too ~ it's never too late, while you are alive anyway.


A- - Admit to God you are a sinner, and repent and turn away from your sin


B- - Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and He gave His life for you and me


C- - Confess your faith in Jesus as your Saviour and your Lord forevermore

This simple prayer will change you from the inside out.

Another thought regarding the SNOW, is that it is fresh and unmarred... one of my dear friends wrote this quote... it is worth pondering. "On this New Year's day, as I look at the beautiful white blanket of snow--no footprints--nothing but an expanse of white : I'm reminded of how much it is like today---a whole year before us--untrodden-unmarred. May the footprints we make-if followed, lead others in paths of peace and righteousness and point them toward the ONE leading us." (E.K.) Isn't that so true? We have a NEW path set before us this year. May we truly walk in the path that the Lord is leading us on, and not live by our own desires and dreams. May we remember that God does have a plan for each of us, and that plan includes living eternally, where none should perish! "FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU SAYS THE LORD..."

"'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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,' declares the LORD, 'and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.'" JEREMIAH 29:11-14 NIV 

We were reminded by our Pastor on Christmas Eve, that God indeed does have a plan for all of us. No matter what we've done, where we've been, or who we've been with, God still deeply loves each one of us, and wants the BEST for us! Remember this truth, as you begin your NEW YEAR!

May the Lord bless you and keep you, and make His face to shine upon you and bring you peace! (Numbers 6:24-26)

~Blessings;