Mount Hermon UMC

Pastor Rob's January 2009 Message

First of all, I would like to say “What a wonderful Christmas we had here at Mt. Hermon!” I want to thank all of you who had a part in our Mt. Hermon Christmas! The beauty of our church decorated for Christmas didn’t just happen. It took a lot of work and we all enjoyed the results of your decorating labor! Thank you to all who had a part in the hanging of the greens, to those participating in the cantata, the children’s program and its evening events, lighting the Advent wreath, Christmas caroling, and to those involved in every part of the Mt. Hermon Church Christmas season! Also, thank you for the way you responded in making those not as blessed as we are to have a better Christmas through giving to the Samaritan’s Purse Shoebox Mission Project and through the Christmas Cheer Program. You are a special group of people! We were very happy to celebrate the Birthday of our Savior, Jesus Christ, with you. Thank you for the special blessing that our 2008 Christmas season was to us as individuals, to us as a church, and to us as part of our community!

Now - can you believe it is January 2009. I will turn 50 this month. That is hard for me to believe! Take a minute from your busy schedule and meditate with me over some spiritual truths I saw recently in The Voice magazine! 2008 is gone! It is history. It can never be resurrected. It can never be relived. Its victories or its defeats can never be repeated.

We cannot live nor dwell in the past, but must say with the Apostle Paul, “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14)

2009 offers a new beginning for us all. Its pages are empty. We have done neither good nor evil. So how will we fill the pages of our lives in 2009? We can make holy commitments to live for God this year as never before. We can ask God to make our life count for Jesus Christ.

So if we failed in 2008 – this is 2009! We can start all over! God will forgive our failures and use us for His glory – if we will ask Him.

The Lord said, “Behold, I make all things new!” (Rev. 21:5) In this new year, the Lord can make you a new creation in Christ Jesus, if you will let Him. He can put a new song in your mouth, if you will let Him. He can give you a new heart for your old one, and help you to walk in new ways and see in a new light, if you will let Him! Let’s all LET HIM!

Now, as you start this new year, I pray showers of blessings on each and every one of you receiving this newsletter. I pray for you a great start, middle, and ending to the year of our Lord 2009!

In His Service,
Pastor Rob

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 06 January 2009 )