2017: NEW BEGINNINGS, UNITED IN

CHRIST
In whatever form or packaging, 2016 has brought us victories upon victories
upon victorieswhat with the many feats and accomplishments God has
bestowed upon us.

Even so, we know, God has prepared more.

That is why this 2017, we claim NEW BEGINNINGS: blessings beyond

anything we have ever received, breakthroughs beyond anything we have
ever experienced, and successes beyond anything we have ever imagined.
All these and more IF we are UNITED IN CHRIST. For, are not all blessings,
breakthroughs, and successes from God?

Let us focus, then, on hearing the very heart of God, as echoed in the very
words of Jesus Christ Himself

JANUARY: Take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

As He was about to return to the Fathers side and leave the disciples behind,
Jesus left them with a two-word advice: take heart. Take heart, for there will
be sufferings and persecutions. Take heart, for your faith will be tested. Take
heart, for, despite all these, you will overcome. Because I have overcome the
world.

The same advice He gives us as we face this new year: take heart. The future
may be uncertainit may even be batted with struggles and challengesbut
we can be assured: we WILL experience the new. New blessings, new
promotions, new miracles, new breakthroughs, new beginnings. Because
with Jesus Christ on our side, we will not lose, only overcome. Just as He had.

FEBRUARY: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37)
L-O-V-E. These four letters echo around us: in the heart decors that adorn
almost every shop, in the songs being played in radio stations, and in the
eyes of couples eating in restaurants.

As love overtakes our hearts this month, may we not forget that other kind of
lovethat which is the first, the greatest: loving God. For, has not God told
the Pharisees that it is the hinge from which all other loves spring?

This love month, therefore, let us offer to God not just heart decors, love
songs, or, even, our longing stares. Let us offer to Him our heart, our soul,
our mindour all. This is what it means to be united in Christ.

MARCH: Believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
(Mark 11:24)

Shocked. Such was Peters reaction when he saw that the fig tree Jesus
cursed has actually witheredas if it were the most impossible thing to
happen. After witnessing the blind see and the lame walk and the leprous
made clean, Peter was still shocked.

But, arent we like Peter sometimes? Even after receiving countless answered
prayers from God, we still jump at our feet in amazement when the
promotion weve been praying for is granted or when the medical test result
weve been fasting for goes negativeas if we never expected God to
answer our prayers; as if we never thought God can answer our prayers.

This month, let us not forget that our God spoke the world into existence
and because He is such a God, of course, that which we have been praying
for will be answered; of course we will experience new beginnings. If only we
will believe that we have already received it, it will be ours.

APRIL: It is finished. (John 19:30)

Itthe descent from heaven, the virgin conception, the birth in a manger,
the attempt of Herod to have Him killed, the simple life as a carpenters son,
the unbelief of the Jews despite the many miracles He performed, the
persecution of the Pharisees, the betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter, the
whips and lashes, the crown of thorns, the crucifixionis finished.

Jesus Christ successfully went through all those without hesitation or

complaint, only with love, so that our sins might be forgiven, our filth might
be cleansed, and our lives might be saved. Therefore, in view of the task He
finished, let us decide to also finish the enemys grip in us by giving and
uniting our lives to Jesus Christwithout hesitation or complaint, only with
love.

MAY: As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. (John 20:21)

Jesus ministry did not end in His resurrection, not even in His ascension. It
continuedno, continues up to this day. Because there were men and
women who took on the commission, men and women who said, Yes, Lord,
send us.

Today, hear those same words they answered to; hear Jesus saying, I am
sending you. Would you resist or would you respond?
JUNE: I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew
28:20)

With every assignment comes the promise, the enablement. Having given
the disciples the task to carry on the Great Commission, Jesus concludes by
saying, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Notice that He did not say I will be with you, but I am with you. Neither did
He say for some time, but alwaysan always that does not only mean until
they are alive, but until the very end of the age. This is Jesus promise to His
disciples.

And to usto all of us who would tread the path of obeying Him, of serving
Him, of abiding in Him; to all of us who would dare say Jesus words back to
Him: Lord, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

JULY: My yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)

Imagine carrying a 50-kilo sack on your shoulders. It would have been

impossible. But then a man of colossal size and gargantuan biceps takes the
other end of the sack. The burden is eased, because the man, far stronger
than you are, carries most of the weight.

Such is the case when Jesus said, My yoke is easy and my burden is light.
We are not alone in carrying our burdens. Jesus is with us, carrying our
burdens with us.

AUGUST: Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.
(John 4:14)
She came at a most unusual time, when she knew there would be no one to
see her, judge her, condemn her. It must have surprised her to find a man
thereand not just any man, but a man who knew her past (she has had five
husbands) and her present (she is having a relationship with someone she is
not wedded to). A man who, despite knowing this, did not laugh at her, did
not insult her. Instead, He offered her a drink that would satisfy all her
hearts desires!

If you are in a situation similar to that womanescaping a painful past, a

disintegrating relationship, or an impossible situationdo not be surprised if
you find Jesus. Hes been waiting for you, waiting for you to allow Him to
quench all your thirst, longing, and ache away, waiting for you to accept the
new beginning He has since been offering to you. The question now is,
Would you drink it?

SEPTEMBER: With God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)

That Jesus compared being saved to getting through the eye of a needle had
the disciples asking, Who could be saved?

By our own efforts, we could never attain salvation, but because Jesus went
through the eye of the needleleft heaven and came down to earth stripped
of all majestysalvation is possible. Everything is possible. Because there is
nothing Jesus would not do, especially if it is for us.

In this season of new beginnings, claim it. That victory, that healing, that
miracle is yours through Christ.

OCTOBER: Let your light shine before others. (Matthew 5:16)

In the dark, light willno, is meant totwinkle, glow, shine. Its purpose is to
guide, to make people see through the darkness.

In the same way, we, Christians, are little lights in this dark worldlights that
should point people to the Source, the Light of the world, Jesus Christ.

This month, therefore, coinciding with our anniversary, let us join our little
lights and show the world that Jesus IS Lord!
NOVEMBER: In my Fathers house has many rooms I am going
there to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

What awaits us after this life? Be it a literal or a figurative house, we know it

to be a place where the Father is, and with Him is the best place we could
ever be.

Therefore, this month, as we remember our departed loved ones, may we be

comforted by the truth that they are in the best place they could ever be and
that, one day, we would be with them, forever.

DECEMBER: I have come that you might have life, and have it to the
full. (John 10:10)

Just like any good shepherd who loves the sheep he owns, Jesus Christ
demonstrated His love for us, His sheep, when He came down from heaven
and dwelt among usyes, He was even born amongst (actual, literal) sheep
and other beasts!

The reason? That we may have lifeand not just any kind of life, but life to
the full. A life of full of His grace, mercy, forgiveness, love, peace, joy,
blessings, and much, much more.

So, amidst all the shopping, gift giving, and partying this season, let us not
forget the reason behind it all: the Good Shepherd came for His sheep. In
other words: Christmas is, because Christ came.

With His words guiding us all throughout the year, we can be sure that 2017
IS the year of NEW BEGINNINGS.

Welcome, 2017! Welcome, new beginnings!

2017 DECLARATION
2017 is the YEAR OF NEW BEGINNINGS!

This year, we CLAIM:

- BLESSINGS beyond anything we have ever received;
- BREAKTHROUGHS beyond anything we have ever experienced;
- And VICTORIES beyond anything we have ever imagined.

All these and more because we are UNITED IN CHRIST.

Indeed, 2017 IS the year of NEW BEGINNINGSthe year when:

- Our church experiences Gods MIGHTY PRESENCE through signs,
wonders, and miracles;
- Christians all over the globe experience SPIRITUAL GROWTH,
BREAKTHROUGHS, and REVIVALS;
- Our nation experiences HEALINGS, PEACE, UNITY, and PROSPERITY;
- And, finally, You and I experience BLESSINGS, FAVORS, and
ANOINTING!

2017 is the YEAR OF NEW BEGINNINGS!

In Jesus' Mighty Name, AMEN.