Hello Friends,
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!!! Grace and mercy be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I was so happy to ring in the new year, in the presence of the Lord at church!
A few minutes before midnight, I encouraged the congregation to pause and reflect on all the activities that happened during 2016. I especially loved the theme for the service “I’M A SURVIVOR” because you know what? Personally, I AM A SURVIVOR. I do not know about you; but I had a very rough year in 2016. But I survived. I still do not know how I made it, but I survived! There were times that I thought I would have crumbled and fall, but I survived!
If I ask you, how was 2016? I would get so many different responses. Perhaps 2016 was a good year, or a great year for you. Goals were accomplished. Dreams came to pass. Promotion at work. New job. Started a business. You got married. New baby. I celebrate with you!!!! I am happy for you! For the scripture says rejoice with those who rejoice.
But at the same time…….. I have to weep with those who weep. Maybe the year was not-so-good, it might have been very challenging. You lost a loved one, failed relationship, divorce, problem with your kids, health problems, job loss, finance issues. Yet, you are still here. You survived! You made it to another year: 2017! In fact, God has given you another chance!
Truth is, we all had our share of trials here and there. But don’t you quit and don’t you dare give up. Press on for God is with us and for us. AND, if God is for us, then who there be against us? I love the scripture in Romans 8:35-39 (KJV)
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I want to reiterate, that if you survived 2016, and everything that 2016 brought, then you can survive ANYTHING. God was maturing you and training you and preparing you for things to come in 2017. God kept you and me and he never let us go.
I want to encourage you to leave the past behind. Forgive those who hurt you. Pray for those who despitefully used you. Leave all negativity behind. Move on with your life because God has a destiny for you to fulfill.
Before I prayed with the congregation at the New Year’s Eve service – just a few minutes before midnight, we sang this song:
I don’t know about tomorrow; I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from it’s sunshine, For it’s skies may turn to grey.
I don’t worry o’er the future,, For I know what Jesus said.
And today I’ll walk beside Him,, For He knows what is ahead.
Many things about tomorrow
I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.
Every step is getting brighter, As the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden’s getting lighter, Every cloud is silver-lined.
There the sun is always shining, There no tear will dim the eye;
At the ending of the rainbow, Where the mountains touch the sky.
I don’t know about tomorrow; it may bring me poverty.
But the one who feeds the sparrow, Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion, May be through the flame or flood;
But His presence goes before me, And I’m covered with His blood.
I would like to thank you for being a part of my life and my ministry. Thank you for subscribing and following my blog, website and social networks. Thank you for watching my videos. I wish you a very special and fruitful year ahead in 2017. Here’s to making 2017 happy, fun, and a year of fulfilling your destiny! I wish you and your family:
🌹Jovial JANUARY🌹
🍁Fabulous FEBRUARY🌺
🌾Marvelous MARCH🌴
🌸Awesome APRIL🌻
💐Meaningful MAY🌷
🍀Joyous JUNE🐚
🌹Jubilant JULY🌻
🍀Amazing AUGUST🌴
🍃Successful September🍂
🌾Optimistic OCTOBER🍁
🌻Nurturing NOVEMBER🌾
💐Divine DECEMBER. 🌷
👍Have A VICTORIOUS YEAR!👍
PS. Feel free to leave a comment below. Also, stay tuned to announcements on great happenings in 2017. God bless you.
Ve-Anna Thomas 