I can't think of a better way to start off the new year than in God's house! Pastor Butler's morning sermon was on "Having a Faith Lift" and how our faith determines what God can do in our Christian lives. He said that faith is to a Christian what fuel is to a fire. Faith can solve impossible problems, Matthew 17:20. Faith is the key to answered prayer. Faith is the secret to achievement, Mark 9:23, and it is the basis for all miracles. God never changes and our salvation alone is a miracle in it of itself! He also warned that whatever is not of faith is sin, Hebrews 11:16. God uses faith to stretch our imagination, Ephesians 3:20, and faith sometimes takes initiative, Luke 8:43-48. Our decisions for the new year should not be based on the circumstances in our life - they should be based on the Word of God!

Sunday night we studied from Colossians 2:8-10, how everything is found in the person of Christ. He taught how the prodigal son made the worst decision of his life in the best place that he could have been and how he made the best decision of his life in the worst place he could have been in. He found everything that he was looking for in the far country back at his father's house! What a perfect picture of how sometimes we live frustrated Christian lives when we have Christ right here with us to help and to guide us in everything that we do.

I've never been more excited about serving the Lord than this year in 2012! Thank you Lord for all Your many blessing of family and friends and for Your promises to us in Your Word!