Ivy Sue and You

New year, New you. Probably one of the most common phrases uttered in the first week of January. We are all thinking about what new things lie ahead this year, resolutions are being made and goals are being jot down. Change is good and goals are important but the truth is, we can't change on our own, if we really want true change, we must commit ourselves to Christ, He and only He can create change in us. Several scriptures speak to this point, here are a few: "Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3 and "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" 2 Corinthians 5:17. Both of these scriptures illustrate for us the need for Jesus to achieve the change and goals we desire. When we follow Christ, our goals and plans change to align with his plans for our lives, things we previously desired, no longer seem as enticing, plans we once had no longer appeal to us. Not only does trusting Christ help us to achieve our goals but our goals change after trusting Christ.

Out with the old, in with the new. Many new things going on in the youth room, but to make way for the new things, the old things must go. Change can be hard sometimes, we get used to the way things are, we are comfortable, we have memories and sometimes struggle with letting go. We have had this furniture from the beginning and all our previous kids have sat on them. Letting the couches go kinda feels like letting them go all over again. In reality getting rid of these couches isn't getting rid of anyone but rather transforming our space into a new, fresh and inviting place for the current and future groups to come learn about Christ. We can get comfortable in our sin and old selfish ways, and find it hard to let go for fear of losing friends or having to give something up but Scripture speaks of a change Christ makes in us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." Truly out with the old, in with the New! He will take the old but he will give us new, beautiful lives that will bring with it glory and blessings as a child of the King!