Something New for You

In the Life Group Kimberly and I are in we were challenged to read the Gospel of Mark in one week.  As we read Mark we were to pray for the Holy Spirit to bring to light God's word to us for 2013.  It was powerful to listen as each person in our life group shared what God had given them. For example,  One person shared that God had given her the word trust and then shared the Scripture through which the Spirit revealed this word.

Today, I would like to share with you the word God gave me from Mark for 2013.  In Mark 2: 21-22 Jesus says, "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment.  If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.  And no one pours new wine into old wine skins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins and both the wine and the wine skins will be ruined.  No, he pours new wine into new wine skins."

Jesus has come to bring the new.  The religious of Jesus day do not get this.  They did not want this.  And, if we are honest, we don't either.  As much as we say we want the new thing God has for us, we tend to resist and sabotage it.  We make excuses to avoid it.  Or we simply tell God that we are fine with the new, but he needs to do it our way and in our time, which is just another way of saying we don't want the new.

I am as bad as anybody when it comes to resisting change, but this year I find myself hungry...even desperate for the new God wants to do.

That is what this Sunday's launch of the new series is about...a new thing for you!  Come this Sunday and discover why God is asking us to forget the resolution and embark on an adventure with him!  Whether you are 4 years old or 84, we will start this journey together this Sunday in a whole new way.

That is also why it is so important for every one who calls LH hope their home to make the decision and take the initiative to join a small group.  God never gives us the new thing he has for us in isolation. We cannot receive the new until we connect with His Body in a way that is real and poured out.  That is where transformation happens.

So, join us this Sunday as we forget the resolution and embark on an adventure in which we have no chance of surviving without God's supernatural power and love.  And yet, on this adventure God has for us we will not survive, but come alive to the new God dreams for us to live. Invite a friend and join us this Sunday at 9:30 or 11 AM.