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Here we are at the first few days of 2009. Many have written down their New Years Resolutions. Weight to loose... Tempers to curb... Habits to break... Start back to Church... we all have our lists. The New Year is a great time for fresh starts. It is a wonderful time to start fresh... to start new. Are you ready for a fresh start? Make a fresh start today!

Here are five ways to start fresh this year:

1. Be Honest About Where You Are – Make an honest assessment of where you are at this point in your life. What are your strengths, your weaknesses? What needs immediate attention? Even though there are weaknesses and shortcomings, do not let that be an excuse for inaction. Philippians 4:13 tells us “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

2. Be Honest About How You Got Where You Are – Take responsibility for your life – your choices. Understand that there are many things that are outside the realm of your control, but at the same time, there are many things you have control over. Unless a person understands the paths he has trodden, the choices he has made, or the decisions he has made, he will habitually repeat himself.

3. Change What You Can Than Will Make A Difference – If you do what you have always done, you will go where you have always gone, and be what you have always been. Do not expect a different outcome from the same actions.

4. Do Not Focus On the Past – Focus On the Future – If there are failures in your past, seek God’s forgiveness, remember the lessons, then forget the details. Psalms 103:12 reminds us “How far has the Lord taken our sins from us? Father than the distance from east to west!”

5. Do Not Give Up – Even after a fresh start, there are going to be times when you blow it, times when you do again what you promised you would never do. Just because you fall, do not stay down. Pick yourself up, get back into battle and do not quit. True failure is not faltering, true failure is falling and then staying down. In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul says, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

It’s a brand new year – make a fresh start with the Lord in 2009!

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 9.01. Live for God, on purpose, every day of this new year!

Victory Is Mine in 2009!

A new year is upon us – and it is filled with potential! 2009 will be filled with opportunities the Lord brings your way. Each and every day, you will wake up to brand new situations and circumstances to see the hand of the Lord at work in your life! But – will this be a year of victory, or a year of agony?

A large part of how the year develops will be based upon the choices you make along the way! Not a single one of us will have a year without any challenges. But, every one of us can face those challenges, and come through victorious in the power of the Lord!

As we start the year, let’s make this new year a better one than last year! Are you ready for change? Well, let’s look for not just a “change you can believe in” but rather, a change you can live in!

Be sure to join us here at WFA each and every Sunday morning in January and February for this dynamic new preaching series, designed to help you make 2009 a year of victory for you!

Victory is Mine in 2009!

January 4
Keys to Victory – 1 Corinthians 15:57

January 11
Victory Over Stress – 1 Peter 5:7

January 18
Victory Over Worry – Philippians 4:6

January 25
Victory Through Prayer – Mark 11:24

February 1
Victory Over Deception – with Bob Anderson of Watchman Fellowship

February 8
Victory Over Obstacles – Isaiah 42:16

February 15
Victory Through Faith – 1 John 5:4

S.M.A.R.T Start the New Year!

“The righteous keep moving forward... and... become stronger.” – Job 17:9 NLT

Whoever said, “Procrastination is the thief of time,” was right. We keep postponing, promising ourselves we’ll do better. Be honest, how many of last year’s resolutions did you keep? This year do things differently. Make your goals S.M.A.R.T. In other words, make them:

(S)pecific: Get up 20 minutes earlier in order to read your Bible and pray before going to work. Not work past 7:00 so you can be with your family. Exercise for 25 minutes a day. Take care of your body; it’s God’s temple (See 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

(M)oderate: tackling more than one project at a time dilutes your focus and makes it harder to stick with. When you start too much you finish too little. Start small and build on your successes by mastering and maintaining one thing at a time.

(A)chievable: don’t try to swallow the whole elephant in one bite. Baby steps are the name of the game. Paul said, “One thing I do” (Philippians 3:13 NKJV). Talk in terms of what you will do instead of what you won’t. For example, instead of saying, “I’m not going to be so critical,” say, “Today I’m going to look for something good in everybody I meet” (See Philippians 4:8).

(R)ecordable: You can’t manage what you can’t measure. Documenting your progress (or lack of it!) makes you accountable, shows how far you’ve come and what you need to work on.

(T)ime-specific: review your goals weekly (or daily if you’re struggling). That way you can troubleshoot early, and change direction when necessary. The Bible says, “Throw yourself into your tasks so...everyone will see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:15 NLT). Come on, make up your mind, get up off the couch and go for it!

Our Hope for Years to Come

by David Jeremiah

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.” – Psalm 28:7

This verse provides a happy formula for the New Year. Notice the progression.

First, we realize that the Lord is our strength and shield. No matter what unfolds from day to day or from month to month, He’ll give us sufficient strength, and His presence will surround us as a shield.

Second, our hearts can fully trust Him. We can relax, rest, and lean on Him, knowing He is fully able to do all He has promised.

Third, as we recognize who He is and trust Him, we are helped. There’s no sense of panic as it relates to the uncertain future. He helps us in everything at every time. The past, the present, and the future are His.

Fourth, our heart can therefore rejoice. Today is a day for a joyful and glad attitude. And that leads to a song of praise. We can have a hymn in our hearts today – like this one: “O God our Help in ages past, our hope for years to come; be Thou our Guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.”

from Dr. David Jeremiah’s “Today’s Turning Point” daily devotional. www.TurningPointOnline.org

Hope in the Midst of Hassles

Jim Burns

“I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38, 39

If you read today’s headlines in the newspaper you can get pretty depressed. Yes, at times life looks pretty hopeless. But if we keep our eyes on our Lord Jesus Christ we can have hope even in the midst of difficult circumstances. We can be comforted by Paul’s words found in Romans 8:31 – “If God is for us, who can be against us?” God is for you, and through His love you can find hope! Here are four reasons why you can remain hopeful in the midst of confusing circumstances.

1. Jesus will win the final victory.
One day an old janitor was sitting in the gymnasium of a theological seminary reading the book of Revelation. One of the young theologians sat down beside him and asked him, “Do you understand all the symbolism?” The janitor replied, “No, absolutely not, but I have figured out that Jesus wins, and that’s comforting to know because I’m on His side.”

Jesus told these words to the apostle John: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life” (Revelation 21:6).

2. Jesus sets you free.
Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” In Christ you can have hope because you have been set free from your sin. You are free to be all that God desires you to be without the constraints of your past. You can know the meaning of abundant life because of what Christ did for you on the cross.

3. There is no condemnation for those in Christ.
In Christ you are a new creation. Romans 8:1-2 puts it best: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Even though we deserve death and spiritual separation from God, we have now beginnings and eternal life in Jesus Christ. Talk about a reason for hope!

4. God’s love transcends human understanding.
Because God loves us, we are “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37) through Christ. God loves you and wants the best for you. His love will give you hope even in the bleakest of circumstances. There is a light always shining, and the light is the love of God. In Him YOU can find hope.

as seen in “Today’s HomeWord,” a daily devotional with Jim Burns. Visit them online at www.homeword.com

Divine Interruption

It was business-as-usual for Moses the day he noticed the burning bush, an event that wasn’t uncommon in the hot desert. Except this time the bush kept burning. And “when...he turned aside to look, God called to him.” You’ll have some of your greatest Spiritual experiences in the midst of your everyday life – if you’re open to a divine interruption.

In Luke, Chapter 10, Mary ministered to Jesus’ divine nature while Martha ministered to His human needs. But Martha’s ‘kitchen agenda’ made it almost impossible to interrupt her, while Mary was so heavenly minded she’d probably have forgotten to turn the stove on! Now it takes both to achieve a balance. But if Jesus has to choose, He’ll take foot-washers over master-chefs every time. That’s because one of our primary focuses should always be praise and worship, (expressed appreciation) resulting in greater intimacy with God.

Are you so busy working on your ‘to-do list’ that it would take fire from heaven to get your attention? A well-known pastor writes: “You can be in the midst of a common moment, only this time the activity is filled with the presence of God. When in the middle of your harried day you notice something unusual...your first reaction might be, ‘I’m too tired to investigate... I’m not going to disrupt my life.’ Yet in that moment you may have the opportunity for a unique encounter with God. When you see the unusual in the midst of the business-as-usual. God may have ordained that moment to be life-changing for you and those around you.”

A New Years Blessing for You

Purpose – As you complete your daily tasks, may you understand how they contribute to the larger purpose of your life. May you experience deep satisfaction as you discover and carry out your unique role. (Psalms 25:12, 139:16; Jeremiah 29:11)

Fulfilling Work – May you take pleasure in all your work. May every task you undertake succeed, and may you enjoy the good things your labor supplies. (Ecclesiastes 1:24; Psalms 41:3)

Physical Health – May you and those you love remain strong in body and free from disease. May those who suffer from injury or illness recover quickly and completely. (3 John 1:2; Deuteronomy 7:15; Psalms 41:3)

Peace of Mind – May you mind and heart always be at rest. May gratitude and peace replace every anxious, fearful thought. (2 Thessalonians 3:16; Philippians 4:6)

Good Relationships – May you be surrounded by loving, faithful, and supportive friends. Where relationships have been broken, may you find reconciliation and forgiveness. (Proverbs 17:17, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Matthew 5:23-24)

Sufficient Resources – May you have exactly what you need for each day. May you become rich in every way so that you can share generously with others. (Proverbs 20:8-9; Luke 11:3; 2 Corinthians 9:11

The Last Impression

A guy named Brent received a free ticket to the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day from his company. Unfortunately, when Brent arrived at the stadium, he realized the seat is in the last row in the corner of the stadium. He was closer to the Goodyear Blimp than the field!

About halfway through the first quarter, Brent saw through his binoculars an empty seat 10 rows off the field right on the 50 yard line. He decided to take a chance and makes his way through the stadium and around the security guards to the empty seat.

As he sat down, Brent asked the gentleman sitting next to him, “Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?”

The man said, “No.”

Now, very excited to be in such a great seat for the game, Brent again inquires of the man next to him, “This is incredible! Who in their right mind would have a seat like this at the Rose Bowl and not use it?!”

The man replied, “Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Rose Bowl we haven’t been to together since we got married in 1968.”

“Well, that’s really sad,” said Brent. “But still, you couldn’t find anyone to take the seat? A friend or a close relative?”

“No,” the man replied. “They’re all at the funeral.”

Another new year, and another new volume of firstIMPRESSIONS begins! Hard to believe that this marks the ninth year of sending out these weekly devotional thoughts! I pray that everyone that receives firstIMPRESSIONS finds a nugget or two that will bless them, that they can use in their ministry, and will then be multiplied by being a blessing to others.

Please always feel free to forward firstIMPRESSIONS to your friends and anyone you think may enjoy reading the devotionals. And, if this issue was forwarded to you, you can subscribe (for free) by clicking here – and receive each Friday’s issue directly in your email!

May 2009 be a most wonderful and Christ-lead year for you!