Happy New Year 1.1.23
Happy 2023 Everyone!! It seems hard to believe that two decades have already passed since the turn of the century. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older but it certainly does seem that “time flies.” It really doesn’t seem that long ago that Harold Howerton helped me unload our U-Haul on that snowy day in January 1986. Or that Sister Carmichael, Ruby Burgess, Ethel Finley and Mabel Wilson hosted a baby shower for our newborn daughter Jessica. Now Jessica has an 8 year old daughter of her own! Have you been here long enough to remember our “Bean Sunday” or the fireworks that Shoop lit from the stage during our “Celebration of Freedom” service? Remember serving hot cocoa down on Chelan Street when Link Transit first started? The Pumpkin Patch Parties, cleaning up after the Apple Blossom parade and distributing Christmas ornaments in our neighborhood. Of course, the many mission trips, VBS outreaches in the park that Pastor Janice spearheaded, the groundbreaking for our new building and “Revival Services” with Steve Jamison and Jed Minton are all events that bring warm feelings to our heart.
But, as I begin my 38th year of ministry here at WFA, I truly believe. no matter how good the past has been, that the BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD! It’s fun to reminisce but we can’t sit back and revel in our past accomplishments. We need to be like St Paul and “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize.” (Phil 4) God is always doing a “new thing.” Not in the sense of His character or purpose, but in the sense He is always working in our lives to perfect us and He’s always leading us into the most effective way of sharing the Gospel with those around us. Let’s look forward, not back!
One thing I have noticed lately, is that all effective ministry and works of the Holy Spirit are birthed out of prayer. That’s why we are not only going to being this year with a “Week of Prayer” but I’m going to continue to emphasize the need for us to seek the face of the Lord. Our theme this year is “Awakening.” I pray we will appreciate the things of the past but that we will be awake to what God wants to do in our lives today and throughout this New Year!