A
Happy and Blessed New Year
Click to go to our Home PageDear brothers and sisters in the faith, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours
a blessed and fruitful new year in the Lord. Also, I want to thank those who
have supported our ministry of truth to the church and the world this past
year, and those who have supported it for many years now. To date, our
message has gone to nearly every country in the world and many around the
world have thanked us for the truths we have presented via this website and
other venues. We are living in most sobering and tumultuous times.
Even the world senses that momentous events are imminent. It is past time to
order our lives according to the will of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
with the aid of His Holy Spirit who has unlimited power to empower us in
doing His Will. We never know when our number will be called and our
life will cease. Many die in their sleep or in accidents. Many die suddenly
and unexpectedly from serious illnesses and pestilences. We must be ready,
sober and vigilant at all times. My prayer is that we will all determine to
be better watchmen on the walls of Zion in this coming year. Our small and short trek on this earth is
inconsequential except as we do God’s Will, and only such things as become
His Will are of any lasting consequence. God has promised to send His Holy
Spirit to teach us all things that are important to our best welfare. He can teach us more worthwhile knowledge
in a moment, than all man’s educational facilities can teach in a lifetime.
Let us determine in this new year to learn at the feet of our greatest
mentor, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit, which is given
freely by His grace to all who subscribe to the Desire of Ages. I would like to present for your reading a happy new
year greeting by Ellen G. White, which was penned one year before her demise
in 1915. My you be blessed by its content. A most God blessed New Year to all who will follow our
Lord’s leading, Sincerely, Ron Beaulieu Thoughts
for the New Year (1914) by Ellen G. White January 5, 1914 Thoughts for the New Year Although
in one sense the first day of the new year is no more to God than any other
day, yet He often puts into the hearts of His children at that time a desire
to begin the new year with new resolves,--perhaps with plans to carry out
some worthy enterprise,--and with purposes to depart from the wrongs of the
old year and to live the new year with new determinations. {AUCR, January 5,
1914 par. 1} In God's
plan for His ancient people, He gave the command, "On the first day of
the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle." We have no tabernacle
to set up as had the children of Israel, but we have a work of building to
do, the importance of which all need to understand. Let us remember that
character is not the result of accident, but day by day it is forming for
good or for evil. Great importance attaches to this work of character
building; for it is far-reaching in its results. We are builders for time and
for eternity. Few realize the power of habit. Examine your own heart and life
in the light of God's Word, and ask yourself, "What has my record been
for the year that is just closing? What advancement have I made in the
Christian life? What victories have I gained? And what have I done to help
others, and to lead them to Christ?" {AUCR, January 5, 1914 par. 2} God has
not placed you in the world to lead an aimless life. He designs that you
should be useful, and reach a high standard of moral excellence. To each one
some work is given. During the old year have you performed your appointed
tasks with cheerfulness and fidelity, having an eye single to the glory of
God? Opportunities and privileges have been granted you; what use have you
made of these gifts entrusted to you by our Heavenly Father? Have you made
yourself a blessing to those around you? Have you done what you could to make
them happy and win them to Christ? {AUCR, January 5, 1914 par. 3} All this
is a part of your appointed work. God also requires each of us to subdue
self, not giving the rein to self-indulgence or appetite, and to form
characters that will stand the test of the judgment and go with us into the
future life. {AUCR, January 5, 1914 par. 4} Shall the
close of the year find you further advanced than you are today? Will you put
away evil habits? Will you be considerate of others, faithful to do the work
of a Christian? If you will carry the principles of right-doing into all the
affairs of life, you will find that it will promote health of body, peace of
mind, and prosperity of soul. You will have a strength, dignity, and
sweetness of character that will have a transforming influence upon others.
{AUCR, January 5, 1914 par. 5} We are
now entering upon a new year, and may it prove a beginning of years to us. If
in the old year we have made failures, let us commence the new by rectifying
these errors as far as we can. If the old year has borne into eternity a
spotted record of opportunities neglected and privileges slighted, let us see
that that of the new year is free from these blemishes. Its days are all
before us; let us begin now to make the history of each as it passes, such as
we shall not tremble to meet in the judgment. Let us fill each one full of
loving, helpful work for others. Let us develop all our powers, and make of
ourselves all that God designed that we should. {AUCR, January 5, 1914 par.
6} In the
keeping of God's commandments there is great reward. A reward awaits the
overcomer in the great day, when he shall hear from the lips of our Lord,
"Well done, good and faithful servant"; and there is also a present
reward in the peace and happiness that flow from the conscience at rest, from
the sweet assurance that we enjoy the favour of God. "All the paths of
the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His
testimonies." To all who walk in His ways the new year will be crowded
with goodness and blessing. Mrs. E. G. White. {AUCR, January 5, 1914 par. 7}
|