"Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for the revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory to your people Israel."
-Luke 2: 28-32

A New Beginning

This is the first Hello From Maple Grove of the new year and I want to wish you a Happy and Blessed New Year. A new year is a time in which many people make resolutions and vow to be a better person throughout the coming year. It is true that the beginning of a new year is a time to begin again. Isn't that appropriate for that is the opportunity that God gave to us all with the birth of His Son, Jesus. The chance to begin again. In the Book of Luke we meet a man named Simeon. He had been promised by God that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ. He recognized the fulfillment of God's promise in Jesus: "...For my eyes have seen salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for the revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory to your people Israel." (see Luke 2: 28-32 above). Simeon knew that Jesus was the salvation for all and that through Him we all are given the opportunity for a new beginning.

Jesus' birth in our world gives all people a new hope. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1: 14). Did you catch that? "Full of grace and truth." God's grace is given freely to us all. With His grace you can be forgiven (pray for His grace in your life) and can start anew! With His truth you can take your new beginning and make the most of your life for Him! What does His truth offer you? Here are several examples, take some time and read the verses that describe them. Jesus offers you 'peace' (read John 14: 27), 'love' (read John 3: 16), 'hope' (read Colossians 1: 27), 'light' (read John 8: 12), 'life' (read John 6: 35), and 'salvation' (read Acts 4: 12). Peace, love, hope, light, life, and salvation; don't you want all of those things in your life? You can find them in God's truth! You can find them in God's grace! A new year is a time for new beginnings. I pray that you will make your new beginning with the acceptance of God's gift to us all, His Son, Jesus.

I pray that all is well with you. Please let me know if you have any prayer concerns or praises. Have a good week and remember to smile :), the Lord loves you!

In Christ,

Shan D. Hartsough

"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not recognize him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
-John 1: 10-14

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