Ministries:
Adult | Teens | Children

Pastor's Pen's:
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

Sermon Series:
Following Jesus
Earthly Cross
His Name Is
Apostles Creed
Dealing with Feelings
Jonah
Get Real
Promised Land Living

Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

Email:
Pastor Scott Carson

Secretary Patti Hall

PASTOR'S PENS 2006

Grace Church of Burlington December 31, 2006 “An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.”  Bill Vaughan             As we think about the coming year, we do so with great anticipation for the opportunities that lie ahead. A year from now I hope you will look back on 2007 with few regrets. I ran across an article recently that reminded me of the sacredness of time and of the importance of using it wisely: Your book of life, volume 2007, contains 365 blank pages. Watch what you write. Volume 2006 is closed. You can't alter one word or change one deed. For your faults, there is God's forgiveness; for your grief there is God's grace. Don't worry over anything. That's like sawing sawdust. It does no good. Leave everything and everyone with the Lord. January 1 opens its first chapter. Don't be content to live an ordinary life. Live an extraordinary life. Don't be satisfied in doing your bit, do your best! Make every day count for the glory of God and the good of man; for the pages are still blank. Write right! So as we think about writing our "book of life" for 2007, we understand that our "writing" is really how we live. Every year at this time people make New Year's resolutions. They talk about what they are going to give up. Most of them are related to the physical aspect of life; dieting, smoking, getting out of debt. And while those things are good, you can be a non-smoking, skinny rich person and be a real rat. So let me suggest some other things that most of us would do well to give up in 2007: Give up grumbling and complaining. Instead, "In everything give thanks." Give up 15 minutes in bed in the morning. Instead, use that time in God’s Word and in prayer. Give up looking at other people's worst points. Instead, concentrate on their best ones. Give up speaking unkindly. Instead, let our speech be generous, gracious and understanding. Give up pettiness with your spouse and children. Instead, be more kind, caring and thoughtful. Give up that which is better left unsaid. Instead, say the things that you will be glad that you did. Give up your worries. Instead, trust God with them. Give up hatred or dislike of anyone. Instead, learn to love. Give up the fear which hinders your Christian witness. Instead, seek courage to speak of your faith to others. Give up spending so much time on the Internet or with newspapers and magazines. Instead, use some of that time to read something worthwhile that will aid you in your spiritual walk. Give up being cranky or angry. Instead, be the person that you would love to have as your best friend. Give up spending so much time serving your self. Instead, invest that time in His Kingdom. Give up gossip and repeating rumors. Instead, be a killer of bad news because you are a non-repeater. Give up TV one evening a week. Instead, invite someone over or visit some lonely or sick person. Give up buying extravagances and non-essentials. Instead, give that money to God's work or someone in need. Give up judging by appearances and by the standards of the world. Instead, learn to give up yourself to God. Happy New Year!  Make it a great one!