Welcome to 2023! I have never been to 2023 before, so I am just as new here as you are, but we are all in this together. I just realized I have not written a single thing all year! So I’d better get busy now. Some of us are eagerly looking forward to turning the page and opening a new chapter in our life. Some of us are very reluctant, and afraid of what might lie ahead. Either way I have good news for you. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of  the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 NKJV

God’s goodness and mercy will continue following you all the days of your life, not just on the good days but on the bad days as well. God’s goodness and mercy will be with us just as much as on the day we die as on the day we were born, and every day in between. Can you look back and see how God’s goodness and mercy have been with you in the past, even on the worst of days? Perhaps you can share some brief testimonies of God’s goodness and mercy in 2022 in the comment section.

Image © Jim Howard at Goodsalt.com

Maybe you are afraid to look ahead because you think past mistakes have ruined your future. Have I got good news for you! Just the other day I was reading Mark 16. Earlier Peter denied he knew Jesus 3 times in one night. Peter did not mess up three times in a lifetime, or a week, or even one full day. He totally messed up 3 times in one night. When he realized what he had done, like a lot of us do when we’ve failed Jesus, he wept bitterly. He probably thought Jesus had kicked him off the team after so many terrible mistakes, but it never changed Jesus’ plans for Peter. Read what the angels told the women at the empty tomb.

But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” Mark 16:7 NKJV 

Peter was still on the team as far as heaven was concerned. God had great plans for Peter, and Peter was not able to ruin those plans. God’s goodness and mercy were much more powerful than all three of Peter’s terrible mistakes — and they were terrible! Still, God’s love was much greater. 

Now look at what happens to all 11 disciples.

Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. Mark 16:14 NKJV

These are some serious rebukes:  Hardness of heart and unbelief amongst Jesus’ own disciples? Surely He will have to let them all go and get another group with softer hearts and greater faith. But look what Jesus tells this group immediately after rebuking them for having hard hearts and no faith. 

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15 NKJV

Did you catch that? He just rebuked them for hardheartedness, unbelief, and then immediately sent them off with the most sacred responsibility in the universe. Jesus does not give up on us easily. He does not give up at all. After Peter’s blunders and everyone’s weaknesses and failures, Jesus still intends for them to accomplish His purpose for their lives. Friend, you may feel like you have blown it and God can’t complete His purpose for you anymore. I am sure you have already been told, but I will remind you, that you are not powerful enough to ruin God’s plans for your life. God’s goodness and mercy which follows you all the days of your life is much more powerful than all your mistakes combined. 

We can’t deny we have all made some terrible mistakes. We can’t ignore them or sweep them aside. King Saul tried doing that and he lost the throne. God could not continue His purpose for a king who would not accept rebukes, but only made excuses instead. But another king, David, accepted God’s rebuke. There were still consequences and prices to pay. But God’s goodness and mercy stayed with repentant David all the days of his life, and he was able to do everything God had planned for him to do. The disciples accepted Jesus’ rebuke and God’s goodness and mercy changed their lives. When you read about Peter and his friends in the book of Acts you don’t see any hard-hearted unbelief. You see faith and courage even in the face of death. They, like David, accepted God’s stern rebuke and turned around and accomplished all of God’s purposes for their lives. 

When we fail, let’s allow God to rebuke and correct us. Then, like the disciples, let’s go out in the power of God’s mercy and goodness and accomplish everything He has planned for us in 2023 and beyond. 

Amen!(1)

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/welcome-to-2023/

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21, NKJV). What crucial truths is Jesus speaking here?

Image © David Sorensen at Goodsalt.com

Who hasn’t read story after story of those who had amassed great wealth, only somehow to lose it? Our world is a very unstable place: wars, crime, violence, natural disasters, anything can come in a moment and take away all that we have worked for and, perhaps, even what we have honestly and faithfully earned. Then, too, in a moment, death comes, and so these things become useless to us anyway.

Of course, Scripture never tells us it’s wrong to be rich or to have amassed wealth; instead, in these verses Jesus warns us to keep it all in perspective.

What, though, does it mean to lay up treasure in heaven? It means making God and His cause first and foremost in your life, instead of making money first and foremost. Among other things, it means using what we have for the work of God, for the advancement of His kingdom, for working in behalf of others, and for being a blessing to others.

For instance, when God called Abram, He planned to use Abram and His family to bless all the families of the earth. God said to Abraham, who “was called the friend of God” (James 2:23, NKJV), “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3, , NJKV).

“So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Galatians 3:9). We have the same challenge presented to us as was presented to him.

“Money has great value, because it can do great good. In the hands of God’s children it is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, and clothing for the naked. It is a defense for the oppressed, and a means of help to the sick. But money is of no more value than sand, only as it is put to use in providing for the necessities of life, in blessing others, and advancing the cause of Christ.” — Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 351.

<–Wednesday Friday–>

Amen!(11)

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Being part of God’s family, I welcome you to 2023.

Managing for the Master Till He Comes will show us that
God Is Working His Purpose Out – Hymn 225 in all we do and say. May we be encouraged by this hymn for this quarter and that 
In Our Work And In Our Play – Hymn 591 we will work until Jesus comes. Hence, a choice of theme hymns for this quarter.

 What a joy to be part of God’s family! Here at the beginning of 2023 we will commence our singing with 
Hymn 482 – Father, Lead Me Day By Day as we step forward into this new year asking our Father to help us do all things correctly. Our Father will guide and help us along the way as we manage all things to help others look forward to Jesus coming again very soon.

 The head of the family is our God, our Father, and with this in mind we can state clearly that we are 
Children Of The Heavenly Father – Hymn 101. At times we will need to request 
Father, Help Your People – Hymn 353 saying 
Father, I Stretch My Hands To Thee (I Do Believe) – Hymn 486. With the abundant help of our Father we can say 
Father, We Thank Thee – Hymn 566 because of the showers of gifts that are sung in 
Hymn 643 – Father, Who On Us Do Shower.

Monday reminds us that even with David’s abilities to acquire huge stores of special materials (as we may be able to do also), our prayer is 
We Give Thee But Thine Own – Hymn 670 and 
Hymn 694/695 – Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.

The greatest resource God gave us, His family, was His love through Jesus: 
Hymn 78 – For God So Loved Us. Jesus gave us salvation, and for “those who were concerned about their food and clothing, Jesus offered comfort by saying,
“Seek Ye First The Kingdom” – Hymn 224. He then promised “the gift of the Holy Spirit to comfort”: 
Hymn 260 – Hover O’er Me, Holy Spirit, 
Hymn 268 – Holy Spirit, Light Divine, 
Hymn 589 – Holy Spirit, Gracious Guest and 
Hymn 680 – Holy Spirit, Hear Us.

 Matthew 7:21-27 (Wednesday) encourages us to build on the Rock: 
Hymn 531 – We’ll Build On The Rock as we keep His commandments and 
Trust and Obey – Hymn 590.

 Once again (Thursday) we find it is wise to 
Seek Ye First The Kingdom – Hymn 224.

 Today, and every day, we look forward to Jesus coming again. Oh, what a day that will be 
When We All Get To Heaven – Hymn 633 because 
That Glorious Day Is Coming – Hymn 209.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Amen!(0)

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We all enjoy the spiritual and temporal blessings and gifts that God gives us. How comforting to know, too, that we are “part of the family.”

Read Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew 22:37. What does this mean, and how do we do it?

How would you love God with “all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37, NKJV)? Interestingly enough, the Bible gives us the answer, and it’s not what most people expect, either.

Read Deuteronomy 10:12-13,  and 1 John 5:3. Biblically speaking, what is our proper response in our love relationship with our Father in heaven?

mage © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com

Keeping the law? Obeying the commandments? For many Christians, unfortunately, the idea of obeying the law (especially the fourth commandment) is legalism, and they claim that we are called, simply, to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. However, God is clear: we reveal our love to God and to our neighbors by, yes, obeying His commandments.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3, NKJV). We are used to looking at this verse as, well, we love God and, therefore, we keep His commandments. That’s fine. But perhaps we can also read it as “this is the love of God,” that is, we know and experience the love of God by keeping His commandments.

In Matthew 7:21-27, Jesus said that those who hear and do God’s words are likened to a wise builder who built his house upon the solid rock. Those who hear but don’t obey are likened to a foolish builder who built his house on the sand — with disastrous results. Both heard the word; one obeyed, one didn’t. The results made the difference between life and death.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Amen!(2)

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/wednesday-responsibilities-of-gods-family-members/

We’re beginning a new quarter of studies on Managing for the Master — Till He Comes. Lesson 1 is Part of God’s Family.

Amen!(0)

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/part-of-gods-family-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school/