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Adult MinistryDear fellow disciples of Jesus Christ,
As we turn the corner to begin the second half of this school year (and a fresh batch of adult discipleship groups and classes), we also turn the page on a new calendar year. It’s a time when we tend to take a deep breath and resolve (again!) to do better concerning various aspects of our lives—finances, health, relationships, getting organized, fulfilling goals and dreams, etc. It feels good to take that deep breath and sense the hopeful anticipation of starting fresh—of doing better going forward.
Did you know that the God of the Bible specializes in fresh starts?
The prophet Jeremiah wrote,
My splendor is gone...Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him (Lamentations 3:18a, 21-25).
Because of His great loving kindnesses, God’s mercies are new every morning, not just on January 1. So if you’re feeling a bit like Jeremiah—like you need a fresh supply of splendor—it’s often good to take some practical steps toward regaining it, but the most important step is to remember that God Himself is your Greatest Resource. So wait for Him, hope in Him, and seek Him first—on January 1 and all the other 364 days of the year—and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).
In the following pages you’ll find great options for discovering your Great Resource’s perspective on seeking Him and on moving forward with some of those practical steps toward a healthier life and realized dreams. And speaking of starting fresh...if your radar is customarily set toward one section of this booklet, that’s great; but let me encourage you to take a deep breath and see what new mercies might await you in another section as well.
Waiting, hoping, and seeking Him with you,
