Time of Grace With Pastor Mike Novotny

January 7, 2018

A fresh start is possible for us because God's compassion is new every day--we are forgiven for past mistakes. As we stay close to him, we can go forward, trusting that he will use our struggles as platforms to carry out his will for our lives.

Christmas changes everything! Because of Jesus, you are God’s child and no longer a slave to sin and death. You are connected to your loving and merciful God through him.

Psalm 100 shows you the right kind of attitude and spirit to bring when you are in God’s presence in prayer or in worship. And then as you go out into your everyday life, you bring that attitude of thanksgiving and service to those around you.

You will have struggles, but like David, you can bring them all to God in prayer. You can put everything at his feet, and he promises to hear and answer you. In fact, the troubles in your life are ways that God strengthens you and brings you closer to him!

God connects with you through his Word and reveals his will for your life. It gives you hope when you read about his love and the gift of salvation you have through faith in Jesus. God’s Word is your most precious treasure because it contains all you need.

Do you ever feel like the psalmist in Psalm 43? Do you have questions, fears, and doubts and wonder why God isn't helping? When you look back in faith, you can know for certain that he is with you and his light shines into your darkness with his love and care.

Joseph was tested by Mary’s condition, yet he believed the dream and God’s plan for his life. He took Mary as his wife and was the stepfather to the Savior. We too can believe that God has a plan for us and that this same Jesus came to earth to save us and give us heaven.

Mary was given an unbelievable message from an angel that she would be the mother of God’s Son! And despite the hardship that would bring to her, she humbly accepted the job by faith.

God asked Elizabeth to believe the impossible—that she would be a new mother in her old age—and she did! She believed God’s promises and that God had come in human flesh to save the world.

Zechariah didn’t immediately believe that he and Elizabeth would have a child meant to be the forerunner of Christ. But after his time of being deaf and mute, he praised God, realizing that the entire rescue of the human race is about believing the word of a God we can’t see.