Friday, January 11, 2008

Fatherly Tips for 2008

In my January 1st post I shared a recent experience with a heavenly messenger and his declaration that “This is a New Day”. I preached about this experience last Sunday at The Bridge. Toward the end of my sermon I offered some fatherly tips for navigating 2008 well. Let me share them with you.

Don’t Look Back
Isaiah 43:18-19 says "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

God’s doing a new thing in 2008. Forget 2007, you can’t move forward if you’re always looking behind you. You’re powerless to change yesterday but you can still have a huge impact on today and on tomorrow. Looking back may cause you to miss what’s right in front of you.

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus
Hebrews 12:2 says “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”

People and circumstances may disappoint you but Jesus never will. Keep your focus completely fixed on the Lord and you’ll be more than satisfied no matter what happens in 2008. He’s bigger than you’re problem, he’s bigger than your need, look to him.

Finish the Race
2 Timothy 4:7 say “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Don’t quit! No matter what you do don’t quit. I’m convinced that the difference between great men and ordinary men is that great men never quit. Finish the race that God has marked out for you. Not only do I encourage you to finish, I encourage you to finish well. Like Saint Paul… fight the good fight and keep the faith.

It’s in you.
You’ve got what it takes.
You can do it.
You’re stronger than you know.
Christ lives within you.

And…

It IS a new day!

© Tom Zawacki 2008

2 comments:

  1. I agree, looking back doesn't have any value unless the Lord reminds you of how far you've been. I love what you said about the difference between ordinary men and great men (I know you meant women too :)...is great men don't quit. Finish and finish well...thanks for the encouragement forward.

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  2. "finish well". Good stuff. I have a feeling that I will be looking back at this post more than once this year...

    Congrats to your Giants

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