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Matthew chapter 13 contains eight parables. The first one is called the key (Mark 4:23).

An outline of this chapter: 1 Corinthians chapter 15

An Outline of 1 Cor. 12

When we learn what is God’s part and what is our part then spiritual growth happens.

A Fresh Start

 I think we all long for a fresh start sometime. Our lives fill up with stuff. Some of this stuff we bring and invite while other stuff, like junk mail, arrives on its own. Well-meaning people load us up with stuff they think we need or maybe its stuff they don’t want. Not so well-meaning people just dump their frustrating stuff, angry stuff. and scary stuff seemingly with no thought if we have room for it or even want it.

We fill our closets with clothes, our rooms with furniture and trinkets, and our garages with cars and stuff. We fill our stomachs with food, our minds with information, and our imagination with fantasy. We fill our time with business, our days with anxiety and our nights with tossing and turning.

We fill our emotions with the expresso special of the day, our will with whatever direction is screaming the loudest, and our spirit with nothing precious.

Some are tempted to dump it all. Walk away and move on from stuff. Who needs it? Let someone else sort it out.

Some are enslaved by it. Working hard to keep it all together. Stuffing it wherever until we can only make little paths around it. Stuff rearranging our lives instead of we arranging the stuff.

Some try to condense it. Compacting it into nice uniform little packages. The little boxes cannot hold the pressurized stuff and so it explodes and reenters our mental and emotional atmosphere.

Some try to sell it. Redressing it and acting like they couldn’t do without it but willing to give it to you, their friend, a real deal.

Here we are, at the threshold of 2024 and the prospect of 365 days of reeling in more stuff. What shall we do?

Having just come past the Christmas season let’s not too soon forget some of the lessons presented.

Remember Joseph and Mary? Seems they had to do a little traveling away from home (family stuff) for a while.

Remember the Shepherds? Left their flocks in the field for a little while (occupational stuff). Seems an angel (more than a few) had some good news for them.

Remember the Magi. Took a longer journey based on some obscure prophetic writings. But they brought some stuff with them. Some good stuff. Gifts of value to present to a king. Some stuff of hope and destiny. May we do the same.

Remember the child. He left the throne room and the stuff of heaven. Chose to come, empty Himself for our sakes and lived a life to show us the best stuff.

Receive and enjoy the love of Jesus Christ this year!

We all can have a fresh start this year. Old things can pass away and new things can come.

What might that look like in your life? What actions can you make?

Make a commitment to Jesus Christ!

Get water baptized if you haven’t yet.

Live a life walking in the Spirit of the Lord.

Spend more time in relationship with Jesus and reading his word.

Watch over your attitudes, speech and words to others.

Decide to fellowship with other believers at services and elsewhere.

Choose to bring greater balance into your life.

Forgive those who have offended you.

Get better sleep, you’ll be happier.

Ask the Lord to use you in serving others. Look for ways.

Have a date night with your spouse.

Choose joy rather than depression.

Watch for the miracles that only Jesus can do.

Have better manners.

Have Jesus be the head of your home.

And . . . ?

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There are some great individuals accociated with the birth of Jesus. Mary is one who served the Lord and went the distance in being a genuine follower of the Son of God.

A brief survey of God’s puposes for our lives.

There are a lot of opinions and thoughts about the end times and the second coming of Jesus. There are some basic truths that are clear but read, pray and reread. We will know more as the the time of His return comes closer.

Like the leper who returned to give thanks may we also come to Jesus with true thanksgiving for His healing work in our lives.