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Written by Sparky Pritchard Thursday, 31 December 2009 23:25

New beginnings – fresh starts … I love them!  It gives us the opportunity of setting the course for the journey before us in the new year.  Though some people don’t embrace the idea of resolutions, all of us can benefit by evaluating who we are, what we are doing, and where we should be going.

Over the next few weeks, I hope to challenge my own heart, each member and the church as a whole to establish priorities that will encourage personal spiritual growth and corporate revival.  Let me set the stage by asking you to join us for special prayer meetings on the FIRST and THIRD Thursdays of each month in the Mizpah Room, beginning at 7:00 PM and ending at 8:00 PM.  (In January that will be January 7 and 21.)  Whether you can spend the entire hour or only part, these special times are designed to express our desire to God that He shape this ministry and unite our hearts to serve and worship Him.  (Rick Roberts is working with me in this vital endeavor.)

As we embark on our journey for this year let me also ask you to make it your goal to be in God’s Word regularly.  Along with prayer, the Word of God is crucial to the life of the believer and the body of Christ.  These are the solid pillars upon which we must build a vibrant church.

Concerning the Bible, David wrote these wonderful reminders and promises:

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

The rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 19:7-11

Three “guides” are available to you from the church.  First, we have printed a hard copy of the ESV Study Bible Plan that will take you through the Bible in a year reading from four sections of Scripture each day (Psalms, Law and History, Prophets, and Gospels and Epistles).  If you would like to have this sent to your phone or email, please visit www.esv.org/biblereadingplans and then select the ESV Study Bible format you prefer.  Information on the other plans on that site can be found at www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/.  The second guide we provide is our 365 Key Chapters brochure which will take you through the major stories and sections of the Bible reading one chapter each day.  The third is the one we have used for several years which is available only in the church office called Daily in the Word for 2010.

Let the Word of God dwell in you richly this year!