"Wise Counsel for the New Year"

It's really fortunate that I didn't miss today's service @ VICC because I enjoyed it. More so, during the Praise & Worship segment, I realized that I've never really love going to church until then, which is surprising, considering how I've been growing up. Not that I hated it or any related term, I wasn't just used to such an environment. Plus, Pastor Allan G. is--for a lack of a better term--cool. Yes, that's right. Cool. Whenever he takes the podium and speaks God's message, it's never monotone. And instead of merely teaching us God's word, he uses heartwarming and humurous stories to make his points across. The Message segments are always interesting and englightening, because he makes it incredibly easy for his audience to relate to.

Today's church service was not different--except maybe for one: today's service corresponds with the spirit of New Year.

"What is New Year? Why is it called New Year?" Pastor Allan asks the audience for his opening. Then he continues to tell us that "the word new brings about the meaning of welcome." And that, "as we journey through life, the new things change and vary. For Christians, new things, by grace and faith, means new birth, new life, provided for the new covenant." Pastor Allan, then pauses, to allow his words to create the effect it should, eagerness and anticipation. "New," he goes on, "is a big word. New possibilities. New hopes. New opportunities! There are 52 new weeks, 365 new days, 8760 hours, 525 000 minutes, and every second is God's gift!!!"

All I could do was smile, because what he said is true. While I was sitting there on the second row, next to my younger brother, I knew I was one of those people who felt lucky to be there in that moment. I was one of those people who felt extremely grateful to be still here today, witnessing God's beautiful creation, experiencing the path He has planned for me, and feeling His love.

"We have a lot of goals we have not yet achieved, and instead of making resolutions to attain them, we should set goals by God's plan," Pastor Allan said.

But as I sat there, I became aware of the fact that I was losing him. How can we set up our goals if we don't even know what God's plan is?

It wouldn't take too long for me to answer the my own question because he answers it himself. Without even hearing it, he answers it. And that characteristic is another great quality of Pastor Allan's. He's clear, and he always clarifies for us.

"Discover God's plan instead of coming up with new resolutions," because according to him, "resolutions are doomed to fail." In the beginning, we are determined to follow through, but somewhere sometime, our own determinations fail us, therefore, failing in our attempts altogether. Then, Pastor Allan finishes his opening remark with "God's plan has no timetable."

Isn't that amazing? For someone like me, who's always been a time-conscious freak, Pastor Allan's declaration calmed me. It was just so reassuring to hear it because despite the actual time that God will use--whether it's tomorrow, the next day, next week, in five years, 25 years--it wouldn't matter. It will come, when it comes. Therefore, we should have nothing to worry about. And if we worry still, we should let go of the anxiety, allow Lord to carry it for us, and trust in Him completely.

Also, the thing about Pastor Allan's proclamation is, it holds true for why we shouldn't have resolutions. Aside from the fact that it wouldn't work out, following through our resolutions can be frustrating. We don't want to add further frustrations into our lives. And if we are to make changes within our lives, it should be by God's word.

And in the spirit of New Year, King Solomon has a wise advice for us to follow in Proverbs 3:1-35.

1. LET LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS NEVER LEAVE YOU. (PROVERBS 3:3-4)
2. TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART. (PROVERBS 3:5-6)
3. DO NOT BE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES. (PROVERBS 3:7-8)
4. HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR WEALTH. (PROVERBS 3:9-10)
5. DO NOT DESPITE THE LORD'S DISCIPLINE. (PROVERBS 3:11-12)
6. SEARCH DILIGENTLY FOR WISDOM AND FIND IT. (PROVERBS 3:13-24)
7. DO NOT BE AFRAID. (PROVERBS 3:25-26)
8. DO NOT WITHHOLD GOOD FROM THOSE WHO DESERVE IT. (PROVERBS 3:27-28)
9. DO NOT PLOT HARM AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR (PROVERBS 3:31-32)
10. DO NOT ENVY A VIOLENT MAN OR CHOOSE ANY OF HIS WAYS. (PROVERBS 3:31-32)

ADDITIONAL PROMISES AND COMMANDS: "The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame." (PROVERBS 3:33-35)

Pastor Allan ends his message with, "Though two thousand and nine looks dark, dim, and difficult, it is a new year full of opportunities to seek God, to rebuild our relationship with him, and to follow the wise counsel of King Solomon."