New Year Expectations for God's Mercy

 What are your specific expectations for this coming New Year? You may hope everything will remain the same so that your life stays predictable. Are you waiting and hoping for the world to make significant changes so you will feel more secure and safe? Thousands of people are preparing to ring out 2022 and celebrate the coming New Year with fun and laughter.

New Year’s celebrations and parties can be a happy, joyful time to acknowledge what God has provided for us out of his love and kindness. As we are willing and able to express an attitude of gratitude for God’s goodness, our hearts are transformed into repositories overflowing with God’s mercy.

What significant change do you expect to make in this coming New Year? As you consider what that one expectation could be, ask the Lord Jesus Christ to speak to you clearly, and then commit your heart and soul to pursuing that objective. The Lord God promises you a bright future. Happy New Year and God bless you!    

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The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope. The Lord is good to everyone who trusts in him.

~Lamentations 3:22-25  Good News Bible

 

Overflow with mercy and compassion for others just as your heavenly Father overflows with mercy and compassion for all. 

~Luke 6:36 The Passion Translation

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New Year Expectations for a Hopeful Future

Hope for the future can be supported by expectations that good things do happen to those who trust in God’s goodness and mercy. How would you define expectation? Simply put, expectations identify what you want, or fear will happen, in the future. Expectations are closely related to what is anticipated.

Scores of people go forward into the new year expecting to make changes that will have a positive outcome. Good things can happen, so evaluate your expectations to be sure they’re in line with what is possible. God gives you faith for analyzing what is within reach of his will for you.

God designed us to make changes in our life where we fail to live up to self-imposed goals and expectations. Moving forward from where we are now can be achieved by trusting that “God is working by his power in us to do much more than we could ever ask for or even imagine.” This can be your hope for the future. Happy New Year!  

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The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

~Proverbs 10:28 English Standard Version

 

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can see something of the future he has called you to share. I want you to realize that God has been made rich because we who are Christ’s have been given to him!

~Ephesians 1:18 The Living Bible

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Moving Forward with New Year Expectations

It’s impossible to live without expectations, specifically when those expectations are linked to the necessities that perpetuate our existence. Expectations are oriented toward the future and to decisions that daily confront us. Expectation can be coupled with something that brings joy and pleasure or to what is difficult and even feared.

We will soon be saying goodbye to 2022, which indicates the Christmas season is ending but not what made it joyful and delightful. For some, this first day after Christmas means getting back to routines and reality, but to others the joy of sorting out gifts and visiting with loved one continues to be delightful.

The new year challenges us to move forward with hope. Jesus gave us this encouragement, “Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find; knock and the door shall be open to you.”  These are action-oriented words and filled with hope for those who believe God is present to help us with unexpected challenges.  

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Fellow Christians, I don’t think I have [the goal] in my hands. But one thing I do: I forget what is behind, reach for what is ahead, and with my eyes on the mark I go after the heavenly prize to which God has called us in Crist Jesus.

~Philippians 3:13-14 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

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God's Christmas Gift: Reconciliation

Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus is the Prince of Peace?  Think about this verse as you celebrate his birth on this Christmas Day: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. Thanks be to God, for he refuses to keep a record of our offenses against us, but committed to us the wonderful ministry of reconciliation.”  

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, gives you his gift of peace, and through that gift of peace you become eligible to receive his gifts of love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. So count yourself most fortunate and privileged. Merry Christmas and God bless you!   

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The angel reassured them, “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “ I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

~Luke 2:10-14 New Living Translation

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From Wednesday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs have been posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

God's Gift: Peacemaking in the Presence of Discord

Why is Jesus called the Prince of Peace? Jesus is the Prince of Peace because through him we have peace with God. The name Prince of Peace means “one who removes all peace-disturbing factors and secures peace for us.” Luke 2:14 gives this declaration: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

As we take notice of the world around us, peace seems unattainable. Yet God calls us to be peacemakers, for “blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God.” So be kind to everyone, and the peace of God will be your gift as a peacemaker. Merry Christmas and God bless you!    

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God’s Kingdom consists of God’s approval and peace, as well as the joy that the Holy Spirit gives. The person who serves Christ with this in mind is pleasing to God and respected by people. So let’s pursue those things which bring peace and which are good for each other.

~Romans 14:17-19 God’s Word Translation

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On Wednesday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs will be posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

God's Gift: Inner Peace in the Presence of Discord

God sent Jesus, the Prince of Peace into the world to create a state of goodwill between himself and you. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, generated a spiritual flame to burn in the heart and soul of all humanity. He came with a message of God’s love that burns so deeply and intensely that nothing can permanently extinguish it.

How does Jesus, the Prince of Peace, calm your inner being so you can live in  peace with yourself and others? Decide to be a peacemaker so you can, by faith, enjoy the gifts of love and mercy God will bestow on you. Faith is God’s gift to you, so open your heart to receive it. God bless you and Merry Christmas!   

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God does not want us to be in disorder but in harmony and peace.

1 Corinthians 14:33 Good News Bible

Let the peace of heart which comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. And always be thankful.

~Colossians 3:15 The Living Bible

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

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On Wednesday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs will be posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

God's Gift: A Life with Peace in the Presence of Discord

Isaiah concluded Jesus would be called the Prince of Peace. A prince, especially an honored, highly respected prince, should occupy a special place in your heart and soul. Do not permit routines associated with Christmas to overshadow your devotion to the Prince of Peace and the Christmas message. 

God the Father longs to restore and rekindle in you the peace only he can give. This  precious gift can be received by opening your heart and soul to God’s generosity. Jesus is the giver of life – abundant life and eternal life – for those who are receptive to the most precious gift you will ever receive. Merry Christmas and God bless you!  

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For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

~Isaiah 9:6 Christian Standard Bible

 

May the God of peace himself make you entirely pure and devoted to God; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept strong and blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes back again. God, who called you to become his child, will do all this for you, just as he promised.

~1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 The Living Bible

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

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On Wednesday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs will be posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas".