“There is so
much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad
in the best of us,
That it hardly behooves any of us
To talk about
the rest of us.”
Edward Wallis
Hoch, Marion (Kansas) Record
(1849 - 1925)
Dear 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. May 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}
Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians
4:8. {LHU 15.1}
Already has the new year been ushered in; yet before we greet its coming, we
pause to ask, What has been the history of the year that with its burden of
records has now passed into eternity? The admonition of the apostle comes down
the lines to every one of us,"Examine
yourselves,
whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." God forbid that at
this important hour we should be so engrossed with other matters as to give no
time to serious, candid, critical self-examination! Let things of minor
consequence be put in the background, and let us now bring to
the front the things which concern our eternal interests. . . . {LHU 15.2}
No one of us can in our own strength represent the character of Christ; but if
Jesus lives in the heart, the spirit dwelling in Him will be revealed in us;
all our lack will be supplied. Who will seek at the beginning of this new year
to obtain a new and genuine experience in the
things of God? Make your wrongs right as far as possible. Confess your errors
and sins one to another. Let all bitterness and wrath and malice be put away;
let patience, long-suffering, kindness, and love become a part of your very
being; then whatsoever things are pure and lovely and of good report will
mature in your experience. . . . {LHU 15.3}
What fruit have we borne during the year that is now past? What has been our
influence upon others? Whom have we gathered to the fold of Christ? The eyes of
the world are upon us. Are we living epistles of Christ, known and read of all
men? Do we follow the example of Jesus in
self-denial, in meekness, in humility, in forbearance, in cross-bearing, in
devotion? Will the world be compelled to acknowledge us to be the servants of
Christ? . . . {LHU 15.4}
Shall we not in this new year seek to correct the errors of the past? It behooves us individually to cultivate the grace of Christ,
to be meek and lowly of heart, to be firm, unwavering, steadfast in the
truth; for thus only can we advance in holiness, and be made fit for the
inheritance of the saints in light. Let us begin the year with an entire renunciation
of self; let us pray for clear discernment, that we may understand our
Saviour's claims upon us, and that we may always and everywhere be witnesses
for Christ (Signs of the Times, Jan. 4, 1883).
{LHU 15.5}
Lift up Jesus, you that teach the people. Lift Him up in exhortations, in
sermons, in songs, in prayer. Let all your efforts be directed to pointing
souls, confused, bewildered, and lost, to "the Lamb of God, which taketh
away the sin of the world." Bid them look and live (Review and Herald,
Apr. 12, 1892).
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle.
Job 7:6. {OHC 370.1}
If we have but little time, let us improve that little earnestly. The Bible
assures us that we are in the great day of atonement. The typical Day of
Atonement was a day when all Israel afflicted their souls before God, confessed
their sins, and came before the Lord with living faith in the atoning
sacrifice. {OHC 370.2}
If there have been difficulties, . . . if envy, malice, bitterness, evil
surmisings, have existed, confess these sins, not in a general way, but go to
your brethren and sisters personally. Be definite. If you have committed one
wrong and they twenty, confess that your heart soften under the influence of
the Spirit of God, and say, "Will you forgive me? I have not felt right
toward you. I want to make
right every wrong, that naught may stand registered against me in the books of
heaven. I must have a clean record." Who, think you, would withstand such
a movement as this? {OHC 370.3}
There is too much coldness and indifference--too much of the "I don't
care" spirit--exercised among the professed followers of Christ. All
should feel a care for one another, jealousy guarding
each other's interests. "Love one another." Then we should stand a
strong wall against Satan's devices. Amid opposition and persecution we would
not join the vindictive ones, not unite with the followers of the great rebel,
whose special work is to accuse the brethren, to defame and cast
stain upon their characters. {OHC 370.4}
Let the remnant of this year be improved in destroying every fiber of the root of bitterness, burying them in the grave
with the old year. Begin the new year with more tender regard, with deeper
love, for every member of the Lord's family. Press together. "United, we
stand; divided, we fall." Take a higher, nobler stand than you ever have
before. {OHC 370.5}
If I have unnecessarily offended anyone at any
time, I sincerely ask your forgiveness and the Lord’s pardon.
Praying for God’s richest blessings for you
and yours in the New Year,
Omega Countdown Ministries,
Ron Beaulieu and Home Church