It's A Wonderful Life!

Most have seen the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life" starring Jimmy Stewart - and heard the song, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year".  Christmas is an awesome time.  It can also be the most difficult time of the year for some.  Economic difficulties make the season hard.  For some, family members once present are now gone.  But, the Christian life is a wonderful life because the Christ of Christmas is a wonderful Lord!

The Christian life brings about a wonderful change.  Mary & Joseph certainly had to get used to a change!  Not only was a baby born to them, but it came earlier than they expected in their relationship, and their new baby just so happened to be the Son of God and the Savior of the world.  That would change things!

Change is unavoidable.  We don't like change - but just look at some old pictures of past Christmases, and you will see that change is unavoidable.  We try to postpone the changes that naturally come into our lives, but God has designed us to change.  So many times we miss out on the joy of the wonderful life God wants us to have because we resist the changes He designed for us!  We should take joy in changes and see what God is doing in them!  When we see what God is doing, it is wonderful!

The Apostle Paul said, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." - Romans 12:2

Think of the change Elwood Haynes brought with his first car!  How many who don't like change would rather walk ... without shoes ... or ride horses EVERYWHERE we had to go?

How about the change that indoor plumbing brought to us?  I love change!

A survey of clergy and laypeople show that 71 percent feel that churches are losing their effectiveness by being unwilling to change.

Change is happening!  Change will continue to happen whether we want it to or not!  I contend that the Christian life is a wonderful life full of changes for the positive, changes that bring blessing, changes that God wants to happen in our lives!  They may not always be easy!  I'm not saying that!  But God can see the end from the beginning and when we learn to embrace the change, we find the joy in the journey and we see all the more how "It's a Wonderful Life!"

When we accept the Christ of Christmas our lives are changed from darkness to light, from sadness to gladness, from sorrow to joy, from mourning to dancing, from despair to hope, from death to life!

The Holy Spirit lives inside us and brings us joy!

2011 has been the best year yet for our New Life Church family - 2012 is going to be even better - because God is bringing positive change!  Part of the change is new people and new families who have experienced the change that Jesus brings into their own lives!

It's a wonderful life!