A New Beginning - Part 1

As a boy Jim Abott dreamed of pitching in the major league, and he did. As a matter of fact Jim Abott even pitched a no-hitter in 1993. What’s so special about Jim Abott? Why is he another example of desire? Jim Abott was born with only 1 hand.

What’s your desire for your life??

Where do you want it to be??

What’s your desire for your; relationship with God

for your marriage

for your family/friends/community

what’s your desire for Central...

Where do you want those things to be?

What are your goals, hopes, dreams and desires for 1998?

I’d like to encourage you to give those questions some real thought and to use the New’s Year Letter to God form from last week - there are more on the back table, use it to articulate exactly what your desires for your spiritual life/your personal life/your family life and for your church are in 1998.

Go ahead and dream about it and don’t be afraid to dream big -because dreams do come true!

Brothers and sisters you need a vision for your life - The bible says that "without a vision the people perish" - that’s true - and it is also true that without a deep desire your new beginning will perish. But with that desire - even what seems impossible at the moment can happen...Never underestimate that power of a dream and a desire.

In 1870 the Methodist held their annual conference in Indiana. the guest speaker was a young college president. In his speech he said, "I foresee the day when men will fly." The Bishop got up later and said, "we have heard heresy today - we know men won’t fly. the bible says there are 2 things that fly angels and birds. And after saying that the Bishop went home to his wife and 2 sons Wilbur and Orville. (Dec 17, 1903 they flew for 59 seconds).

In order to have a successful new beginning you must have a deep desire for something better. A passion to see those dreams for your marriage, family, church, community, spiritual life fulfilled.. W/O that desire you simply won’t do the work, pay the price, finish the race.

Let me share with you 1 of my desires as I set sail for my new beginning. It has to do with my deep desire for my own spiritual life. As I sat in the office this past tuesday morning and wrote the date in my spiritual journal I realized that it was 18 years ago to the day that I became a Christian... I was immersed into Christ on December 30th 1979 (I was 19).

And this thought quickly sent me into some deep reflecting on my life... I thought of some of the great victories I’ve had, and some of the defeats I’ve suffered.. I thought how after 18 years of being a Christian I would like to have been much further along in my journey with God.

I also thought as I prayed to God, about how at this moment I am poised like never before to be used of Him... And I prayed to God to increase that passion and desire to be used by Him.

Then I asked God to lead me to the right scriptures to read, and as I was praying -- I felt led to start reading in Philippians from the message bible.

And here is what God said to me...