Pastor's Blog: FRESH START, NEW HEART

Submitted by Pastor Kevin on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 16:29

 

From the Pastor’s Pen
 
 
I want to begin to write to my church family, expressing thoughts from my heart that are biblically based but not necessarily expositional in nature. I hope that my ramblings will be beneficial and practical. It is likely that from time to time they will be simply my opinion. However, I pray that these thoughts will always be biblically based and will be received by my church family as instruction bathed in love.
 
Recently, I introduced a plan for a fresh start for our Church. Since we all are a work in progress, I anticipate that the new era we are about to embark upon will also be a work in progress. By that, I mean that there will be flexibility, adaptation and new developments as we move through this period of time where God is going to do great things among us.
 
Since our corporate meeting I’ve been thinking a great deal about our church family. I’ve thought about the personalities, the character traits, and the dynamics each brings to our fellowship. I’ve thought about the problems of the past, the conflicts of the present and the hopes of the future.
 
As I was praying this morning for the ministry of the church, the potential for the future and the people, I realized that the best moniker for this period of transition ahead of us is, “Fresh Start, New Heart.” None of us like to be labeled. We like to think that we’re the same person we were many years ago but we have the right to change. Nevertheless, I think a good label for what lies ahead is, a “Fresh Start, New Heart.”
 
“Fresh Start, New Heart.”
 
There is no doubt in my mind that our Church needs a Fresh Start. However, I am convinced that the fresh start cannot exist without a new heart. We need a new heart for the Lord. (We need to love him like we loved our first sweetheart, and more. Remember how it (love or puppy love) used to consume your time and your thoughts?) We need a new heart for our fellow believers. (We need to love them with a biblical love, respecting that they too are children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.) We need to have a new heart for our community. (We need to have a new and greater concern for the spiritual condition of our neighbors, our friends, our government and our city.) We need to have a new heart for the lost. (We need to have a new and greater concern for those individuals we come in contact with who are going to go into the lostness of eternity unless they find Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.)
 
Therefore, I would like to begin these writings with a series of thoughts focused on having a “Fresh Start, New Heart.”
 
Do you agree with me that without a new heart, a fresh start is impossible? Please join with me in prayer and increased participation and support of the work of the ministry of our Church in order to make the new start happen. That fresh start must begin by allowing God to put a new heart in you!
 
No one likes change any less than I do. I guarantee you that if you will commit to the future of a “Fresh Start, New Heart” we will see change in many areas of our lives. Trust the Lord with me that as painful as those changes will be, the result will be worth it.
 
Until next time,              Pastor Kevin





From the Pastor’s Pen
Volume 1
Fresh Start, Fresh Heart
 
What does it mean to have a fresh heart? 
 
In a lot of ways, “fresh” means the same or something similar to “new.” But that is not always true. “Fresh” can mean: not previously known or used, different, recently made or obtained, not preserved, not stated or impaired. Speaking of water, “fresh” can mean not salty. Speaking of wind, “fresh” can mean cool and strong, pleasant, clean and invigorating. “ Fresh” can mean full of energy and vigor. And speaking of behavior,” fresh” can mean presumptuous or impudent or, in the vernacular, smart mouthed.
 
“ Fresh” seems to always have the sense of pleasantness and refreshing. That is, of course, unless you’re talking about freshly cleaned fish waiting for delivery from the pier, or a disrespectful person.
 
What is pleasant and refreshing about your heart? Is there anything new and exciting going on in the Center of your heart? There should be! 
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV)
Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
 
If God is so faithful so as to not consume us with his wrath because of his mercy and that mercy is new and fresh every single morning how can we move through life without having something new and exciting going on in our hearts? God is so compassionate that He refreshes His compassion every morning when He looks upon you and allows you to start another day. Why is that? Because the previous day resulted in new sins of omission and commission which, without His compassion would consume us.
 
There should be a new song in your heart because of what he has done. (Psalm 40:3) There should be new instruction in your heart because of what you have read. (Deuteronomy 4:29) 
1 Chronicles 16:10 (NKJV)
Glory in His holy name;
 Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
 
According to the dictionary, “fresh” originated in the old English meaning “not salty, fit for drinking”. So for us to have a fresh heart, we must have a heart that is not preserved by salt, hardened, crusty, and unconcerned but rather a heart that is “fit for drinking,” tender/sweet and sensitive. Drinking water is refreshing and attractive. It is enjoyable and enticing. It is worth having. In fact we crave it! Likewise, so our heart must be fresh. Yes, it must be new, full of energy and vigor but it must be also enticing to those who look in upon it. You’ve heard the old accusation, “he wears his heart on his sleeve.” Whether we like it or not our heart is on our sleeve. What we do with our hands, feet and mouth, directly reflects the heart. Is yours fresh and appealing?
 
Until next time,              Pastor Kevin

Please do not copy these blog entries in any way without permission from Pastor Kevin Chapman

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