preparing for the new year

“I am not what used to be but I am not yet what I am going to be.”

That speaks volumes to me. It also reminds me that I cannot dwell on the past when I have the possibilities of the future ahead of me. Think about with me for a few minutes.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

We cannot allow our past, our poor decisions, our hang ups or whatever to hold us back. In the future there is more opportunity. There are possibilities. There are mountains to climb and valleys to trudge through one step at a time.

So, tell me how will you be entering the new year of 2018?

I am choosing be an optimist. On Monday the New Year begins. I will remember the past, but I will step in to a new day with all that is has to offer. Learn from the past and prepare for great days ahead.

Will I choose faith or choose fear? Fear too often holds us back or keeps us looking back. Faith allows us to open the window of the future and to choose it no matter how it comes. Think about it with me.

Philippians 3:13 NASB

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

We have a couple days to think it over and to make our decision. Over this weekend may we be found optimistic about the New Year and even excited about the possibilities it will bring.

Ephesians 5:16

Make the most of every opportunity these days.

Please consider giving an END OF THE YEAR GIFT. All gifts are tax deductible to The Community Fellowship and Dream Center, and thank you ahead of time for your generosity. Bring your gift to church this Sunday or mail your gift to PO Box 388, Collinsville, VA 24078 and choose general fund, Dream Center (homeless and feeding ministry), mission offering (annual mission offering) or Vision fund (completion of new campus). You can also give online at https://tcf.ccbchurch.com/w_give_online.php

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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