Dear Friends and Partners,

“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?

I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” (Isa. 43:19)

A new day is upon us!  It is always exciting to begin a new year.  Let’s look carefully at this text in Isaiah as an encouragement to us all as we begin this new year.  This verse begins with the word, “Behold.”  This is a word that means, “Look,” “See,” or,  “Change your view!”  I like the last translation the best.  I want to encourage you to change your view as we step into this New Year.  We have all heard what the government says, what the television reporters say, and what the newspapers reveal.  We are all going through what the economy is telling us.  The political world and the media are giving us bad news.  But I am here today to encourage you to “change your view!”  Focus on the Good News!

The good news is that the work that God has begun in you, He will bring to a completion (Phil. 1:6).  While we are still walking through this earth, we are trying to be the best spouse, parent, grandparent, employee, and citizen we can possibly be.  Many times, we are going through circumstances that make no sense whatsoever.  I want to encourage you today that all things work together for our good (Rom. 8:28), and what the enemy or people mean for our evil, God will use for good (Gen. 50:20). God is working in our lives to get us to His desired end!  Everything that we go through, both the good and the bad; our failures and successes, are all used to move us to His desired end.

Let me end by going back to Isaiah 43:19.  God said He was going to do a new thing!  You may not know how or when, but God is going to do a new thing!  First, if you do not know what God wants to do, begin to seek Him.  God is a rewarder of those will diligently seek after Him.  Secondly, we may not know how, when or where, but God is able to do all things.  In the text, it mentions how He can make a way in the wilderness or even a river in the desert.  Remember, the Israelites were trapped by two mountain ranges on the sides of them, with pharaoh’s army closing behind them and the Red Sea in front of them.  It seemed as though they would be slaughtered.  But this God we are serving caused that sea to separate.  A way was made for them to go forward, as they all walked on dry ground towards the Promised Land.

This is exactly what God wants to do in your life.  Trust in the Lord.  I believe the only person that can stop you from getting to where God wants you to go is yourself.  Sin cannot stop you, if you repent and run to God for forgiveness.  People and the enemy may obstruct you and cause detours, but again, God will use all of these in your life to propel you to your destination.

God wants to do a new thing in your life this year!  A new day is upon us!  Run towards it!  Embrace it!  I believe in your life, and in this ministry, God is going to do awesome things!  Change your view to God’s view.  Walk where God wants you to walk, and do what God wants you to do.

From my family to yours, Happy New Year!

Pastor Aaron Anthony