Gtcotr/ws122811
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Life is designed by God so that no door closes without opening another, no moment ends without introducing the one which comes after, and the conclusion of each season is but a signal that all is prepared for the next to begin.
The old is the only seed bed which can bring life to the new.
Tonight will conclude our Church’s services for the year 2011. This is the last time we have planned to meet together as a group this year. So, for all practical purposes our Church year is over and the next time we meet we will begin a new adventure together.
Life requires change; time facilitates change, and along with each New Year comes a God given opportunity for us to change our lives.
All over the world this week people are preparing for the New Year. Many are considering their New Year’s resolutions, trying to make up their minds what they want to stop and what they hope to start. Some will decide that 2012 will be the year they get out of debt, lose those extra pounds, defeat their addictions or mend relationships. All worthy goals which many will set and some will achieve simply because they made a quality decision.
A quality decision is the right decision made at the right time for the right reasons.
Quality decisions don’t always guarantee success but they do give a great advantage to those who are willing to work hard at making the most of their new day opportunities.
I hope that you are considering at least one or two New Year’s resolutions yourself. Especially since this year New Year’s Day is on a Sunday, which is not only the first day of the week but the first day of the year as well. What better time to make a quality decision and take full advantage of this God-given opportunity to change some things.
Quality decisions, remember …
Right decisions made at the
Right time and for the
Right reasons
… most often point the way to success. When people look back to see what made the real difference in their life, they find certain critical turning points, points at which they made quality decisions which put them on their pathway to success.
Our lives follow the pathways of our decisions. You have heard it before: We can’t always choose what we go through but we do choose how we will go through it.
Quality decisions are not only made by individuals but are also milestones for families. One such quality decision is recorded in:
Joshua 24:15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
Quality decisions give direction to individuals, families, businesses, corporations, communities, governments and even to Churches.
Right decisions made at the right time for the right reasons.
Even though we are very happy with the last year of ministry in and through our Church, we nonetheless want 2012 to be better and we believe it can be. All it will take is a few quality decisions and a lot of hard work. But, without some change – we have been to our greatest day and we’re not ready for that.
We want our Church to be more spiritually and practically productive in 2012 than in any year previous. We want to please God more and make the most of every opportunity God gives us to make a difference with each individual and every family we touch. 2011 was great but we have even greater plans for 2012 and we have made some quality decisions for the New Year.
In order to sharpen the focus and increase the effectiveness of our ministries we have decided to make some changes in several departments of our Church. Let me tell you about a few of them.
· Children’s Department
o New Children’s Church Format
o Facilities Remodel
· Pre-Teen
o Dedicated focus on this particular age group needs
· Youth
o Increased personal discipleship opportunities
o Increased group oriented activities
· Sunday School
o Re-alignment & Teacher Training
· Weekly Men’s Early Morning Bible & Prayer Time
o The Most Powerful Minutes of Your Day!
o 5:40am each Thursday morning
· New Church Family Assistance Ministry
o Acts 6
· Visitors and New Members Pastor – Kenneth Woof
· New Church Service Prayer Time/Ministry
· Night Of Worship NOW –
· COTR South – January 15th – The First Sunday
· Israel Group Tour – October
· Philippines Mission’s Trip – March
· Thailand Pastor’s Conference – April
· 30 Steps to Success Book - 100% to Local and World Missions
· Iran TV
o Middle East; North Africa & Eastern Europe
· Devotional Translation into Chinese
o Potential 1 Billion people we cannot minster to presently
These and many other quality decisions have been made to coincide with this New Year, God given opportunity. As well we are continuing to do all the things we have been doing in 2011 and the past with the drilling of water wells, the continued outreach to Laos and Cambodia and Thailand via our Radio Station; the local COTR Food Bank, our Jail and Prison ministries, the Bible School and Orphanage in Nepal, the Churches and outreaches in East Africa, Russia, Israel, and many other countries, the work done through KE Resources, the weekly broadcast of our television program over TBN, our Church Online ministries, EZ Sermons.com resources website, the training of local pastors, youth pastors, praise and worship leaders and musicians, children’s workers and more.
Each one of the works in which we are already vested was simply the result of a quality decision we made in our past.
Never underestimate the power of a quality decision. It will inspire, motivate, re-inspire, direct and guide you to the finish line.
What is it in your life that God has been preparing you to change?
· Financially
· Spiritually
· With your family
· Friends
· On the Job
· Your place of service at Church
· Perhaps in a relationship that needs to change …
God is encouraging each one of us to make at least one or two quality decisions and take advantage of this new year opportunity.
Decide which New Year’s Resolutions are best for you and your family and make the:
· Right Decision at the
· Right Time for the
· Right Reasons
In the future … it will pay off and you will be glad you did!
