​2020.
 
A new year is here. Now what?
 
Is New Years just a time to celebrate the turning of the calendar by counting down the clock with a crystal ball in New York City, setting off breathtaking, fantastic fireworks, making personal resolutions, sipping some bubbly and kissing someone you love, or could it possibly be a significant turning point in our life?
 
I believe what a new year brings is up to you and me.
 
One of the major truths throughout the Bible is that God is always doing something new.
 
From Genesis to Revelation, and everything in between, God is about the business of making things new. The Apostle John, the receiver of the revelation of things to come, wrote by the Holy Spirit “And He who sits on the throne, said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Revelation 21:5
 
God is a God of new. New is normal for the Sovereign Lord or the universe. It is in His holy nature to do new. God’s faithful, true word declares He does new things. Guess what? Our heavenly Father loves to do new for me and you!
 
One of my favorite verses in scripture is found in Isaiah 43:18-19a which reads “  
“Do not call to mind the former things, or dwell on the things of the past. Behold, I will do something new”. Numerous times throughout my faith journey the Lord used this verse to reassure me that He would do something new in me.
 
At one significant juncture in my journey, when I was deeply depressed, despairing of life, and uncertain about the future, the Lord lovingly overwhelmed me, a broken guy who was struggling to find his way back from a life setback.  Oh, how I needed to hear that God was going to do something new. God, not Steve or anyone else would deliver me from the “former things”, the hurtful “things of the past” that I was dwelling on.
 
“Behold” means to pay attention.  Listen up. The Holy Spirit spoke to me: Steve, yesterday is history. The old is past. The future is forward. Your Father in heaven is going to do something new. Note the word says “will do something new”, not might, or hope to do. What a promise from the Promise Keeper!
 
With His help, I focused on something new, not something old. Today, not yesterday. Over time, my attitude and life changed. The Lord brought me back from my setback. I am a comeback kid in Christ who knows the power of God doing something.!
 
Do you need something new in 2020? Are you tired of dwelling on yesterday? How is focusing on hurt, pain and heartache helping you to move forward? Do you really think the Lord wants you to drag negative baggage into your journey of faith in the New Year? Time to close out 2019 and open the door of 2020 with some new luggage!
 
Something New In You In The New Year
 
I don’t know what the something new in you should be in 2020. But you and God do. Here are a few suggestions that may apply to your life.
 

• Get things right with the Lord. You know what they are.
• Watch your words. Confess life, not death with your mouth.
• Clean up your language. Flush your potty mouth!
• Speak your confession of faith with confidence. 
• Overcome a bad habit
• Deal a death blow to secret sin.
• Restore a relationship that matters to you.
• Make right something you did wrong in 2019.
• Overcome something that has beaten you down for years.
• Stand up. Stand out. Stand boldly. Stand strong for Jesus Christ.
• Commit to be a positive influence for God’s Kingdom in 2020.

 
Resolutions, like gym memberships and diet plans, last about three weeks. Commitments to make significant changes in our life, with God’s help, can last a lifetime.
 
Write down what your something new in the New Year is going to be. ____________ _____________________________________________________________________.
 
 Could it be there is someone in your life that would love to see you do something new for you in 2020? Someone who genuinely cares about you is pulling for you to do better in an area of your life and hoping you will do something about it.
 
Why not surprise them with a new you in the New Year!
 
You might live a better life than I do. But I know this about me, I need something new all the time! I really do. Just ask my wife….I am sure she has an idea or two for me in 2020!
 
As Robert Schuler has said “It takes guts to leave the ruts” A rut is a grave with the ends kicked out. Doing the same old thing, the same old way is being stuck in a rut. Living in a rut is not God’s good, acceptable and perfect will for His followers.
 Refuse to stay stuck in an old rut.  Choose to do something new.  Get out of the rut you have been in before it becomes your grave.
 
Every day, not just New Year’s, is an opportunity to be and do something new in Christ.  
        
A new you in the New Year….why not? Look to the Lord to do something new in you in the New Year.
 
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Ii Corinthians 5:17
 
A Word For Your Week: Something new in you in 2020.

​Expectations matter.
 
There is a principle in life that simply says you get what you expect.
 
As Christmas approaches, what are your expectations of this holy day?
 
Did you know that loneliness, depression and boredom sharply increase during the holiday season? Have you ever wondered why? A major reason is because of  expectations. Unfortunately, many people are disappointed at Christmas because of misplaced, unrealistic, unrealized expectations.
 
Expectations based primarily on people and material things may be exciting, but they are seldom fulfilling. If we are honest, material things can be pretty shallow. Stuff, no matter if it is the latest trending fad, hottest fashion statement or the most recently upgraded techy device, has short shelf lives. Toys, including big boy toys, are not the source of joy! And not all of our relationships will be like the heart-warming fantasies played out in romance novels, big screen holiday blockbusters, and Hallmark movie specials. Sorry folks, the Lifetime channel is not real life! 
 
The “perfect” gift, the right relationship, childhood memories or holiday traditions can warm our heart. But none of these things in themselves can meet our greatest need….salvation.  
           
The Bible does you and me a favor in directing us as what to expect at Christmas. The true story of three wise men seeking the world’s Savior helps us focus on what really matters on December 25th.
 
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1-2
 
The magi (wise men) from the east expected (hoped with anticipation) to find someone very special. Reverencing, worshipping and adoring God’s Son born in Bethlehem was the magi’s agenda that first Christmas. Full of faith and excited anticipation, they journeyed for years, personally financing their trip, bearing gifts in honor of the world’s newborn Savior Jesus Christ.
 
“And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:10-11
 
Imagine the seemingly surreal, yet very real scene. Overwhelmed emotionally with exceeding joy, the worldly wise magi fell down and worshipped a child…..The Child.
 
Humbling themselves before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who was wrapped in swaddling clothes in an animal feeding trough, their deepest expectation was more than met. They personally witnessed an out of this world miracle. A supernatural, divine encounter. The magi saw the Son of God, the world’s Savior.     
 
The magi’s lives were forever changed. The world they lived in changed forever. Rejoicing, not depression, filled the hearts of the wise men who worshipped the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Their expectation was in the right place. 
 
Christmas 2019. I wonder what will happen in our lives this Christmas. And our world.  
 
The pages of the calendar are flipping forward. Christmas day is fast approaching. Expectations are running high. How about your expectations? Is your heart in the right place? Are you seeking real joy? Genuine joy that only God can give? The joy of the Lord that lasts for time and eternity?  
 
Maybe our expectation this Christmas should be like that of the Greek men recorded in John 12:20-21.
 
 “Now there were certain Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; these therefore came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him saying, Sir, we wish to see Jesus?”
 
How about you and your family? Do you wish to see Jesus this Christmas? In a fresh way? Maybe for the very first time?
 
I remember with fondness the bumper sticker my father-in-law, who is now worshipping Jesus in heaven, had on his old 1960’s Ford. It read “Wise men still seek Him.” Great advice for all of us at Christmas 2019.
 
Seeking to worship Jesus as Savior and Lord is an expectation that all of us can have. Celebrating the birth of Christ will fill our hearts with joy like nothing else ever will. 
 
Be wise like the magi. Seek the Lord with all your heart.  Focus your hope, faith and expectation on worshipping Jesus. Then expect God to bless you in a wonderful way!
 
May you and your loved ones have a very blessed and Merry Christmas!  
 
“And the angel said to them, “ Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”                                            Luke 2:10-11
 
A Word For Your Week: Worship the Christ Child this Christmas. 

​Having served in the military, I understand strongholds.
Thankful to God that I did not experience combat firsthand, I was still trained by the Navy and Marine Corps concerning the priority and utter necessity to take out enemy strongholds.
To win a decisive military battle, enemy strongholds have to be taken. The enemy’s fortresses must be destroyed. Wiped out. Obliterated. Never to rise again.
The Bible addresses strongholds in our lives. Particularly spiritual ones.
In II Corinthians 10:3-5, The Apostle Paul instructs us how to destroy strongholds (fortresses) that have taken hold of our minds and heart.
“For though we walk in the flesh we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses (strongholds). We are destroying speculations and every lofty thought raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every though captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Have you ever wondered why you keep struggling with the same sin, the same negative, troubling, tormenting thoughts,  the same sabotaging of relationships, destructive habits and the self-defeating, never ending battle  to overcome something that is sucking the life out or you?
Maybe, just maybe, you are struggling with a stronghold. 
All of us, if we are honest, battle spiritual, mental, and emotional strongholds.  
Paul lays out for you and me practical pointers for destroying strongholds.

1. Destroying strongholds isn’t about our flesh. Spiritual warfare is about faith in Christ and waring a good warfare in His holy, powerful, stronghold destroying name.
2. Our weapons are spiritual, not carnal. The whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) is our arsenal for defeating strongholds that attack our thoughts and subsequent behavior. A soldier without his weapons will be destroyed.
3. Our spiritual weapons are powered by God. “Divinely powerful” means its not about Steve destroying fortress by himself. It is about Almighty God doing it through me.
4. Christians are to destroy every lofty thought raised up against the knowledge of God. Note destroy, not entertain or dwell upon!
5. The key to victory over thoughts based on strongholds is obedience to Christ. Disobedience to the Lord and His Word sets up the probability of a stronghold.
6. Christ followers are to capture their thoughts, not be captured by them. Take control of our thinking instead of our thoughts controlling us.

Solomon said in Proverbs 23:7 “As a man thinks, so he is.” Bottom line: What we think is who we are. A spiritual stronghold captures our thoughts so we think wrongly and act accordingly.
As I have ministered God’s Word to people for over forty years, I have found that many, if not most folks experiencing a life crisis, are unsuccessfully struggling with a stronghold. The spiritual, mental, and emotional fortress that has captured their thoughts is dictating how they live their lives.
Strongholds imprison people, drain the life out of us, take the wind out of our sails, and will discourage, depress and disillusion us if they are not confronted.  
People can get stuck in the rut of a stronghold that they have refused to deal with.
Destroying Spiritual And Emotional Strongholds

• Acknowledge that you are being beaten by a stronghold. Admit it. Call your stronghold what it is. Self-pity? Low self-esteem? Inferiority complex? Fear of failure? Rejection? Abandonment? Addiction? Immorality? Name it what it is. How can you take it down if you don’t locate it?
• Face the fortress head on with faith.  Determine to take it out. Boldly confront and conquer in Christ what has been conquering you. Refuse to be pushed around anymore by pain. Push pain back because Jesus took your pain for you!  
• Know the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit. Study your Bible from cover to cover. Memorize scripture. Think God’s thoughts. You have the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16). Renew you mind with God’s Word (romans 12:1-2). Confess God’s truth over your situation. Purposely take your thoughts captive. Never surrender your thinking to Satan’s strongholds.  
• When battling a stronghold enlist mature, seasoned, trustworthy, battle tested Christians to help you fight in the name of the Lord to conquer the stronghold that has a foothold in your life. Isolation is not your friend. Solitary confinement in a stronghold’s prison will destroy you!
• Rebuke the devil who is behind spiritual strongholds sent to confuse and destroy faith. Take the evil one out in the name of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
• Stand courageously with firm, unwavering faith that leaves no room for a stronghold to re-appear. Every single day be strong in Christ. Build your faith. Be unshakable, immovable in Jesus Christ.  

Over the past forty-seven years as a Christian, I have battled my share of strongholds. Some of them beat me up for longer than I should have tolerated. I have not always destroyed strongholds in the way that would have delivered me. But I have learned to identify a potential stronghold, surrender it to the Lod, and then resist it in His name.  
 It has been a life-altering revelation for me in my Christian journey that God is stronger than any stronghold. So simple. So true. So necessary to build a stronghold (fortress) in my mind based on God’s Word. 
My friend and fellow believer in Christ, join with me daily in thanking God that He is our fortress, our stronghold, our defender, our refuge, our deliverer, our shelter and our strength!   
 “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10
“I love Thee, O Lord my strength. The Lord is my rock and my deliverer, my God, my rock in Whom I take refuge.; my shield and the horn of my salvation, MY STRONGHOLD.” Psalm 18:1-2
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
A Word For Your Week: Tear down that stronghold that has been tearing up your life. 

​Today many people feel hopeless, helpless and powerless.
I understand why. Our spiritually lost, morally bankrupt world is heading full speed toward hell in a hurry.
Sad, bad, maddening news is the order of the day in a world that willfully and arrogantly rejects the God of the Bible. Even Christians can become discouraged with what is happening in our culture.  If you and I as Christ’s followers  are not careful and discerning, humanity’s bad news can obscure and overshadow the fact of God’s good news that JESUS IS COMING BACK!  
My friend, if you are disillusioned, discouraged or depressed over the state of affairs in the nation and world, take heart. Everything that is happening is forecast in Scripture, is coming to pass on God’s timetable, and points to the glorious return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
How do we know that Jesus is coming back? The Word of God says so.
“For just as the lightning comes from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matthew 24:27
“And if I go to prepare a place for you, I (Jesus) will come again, and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also.” John 14:3
And they said also, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go to into heaven.” Acts 1:11
“And then they will see the Son of Man coning in a cloud with great power and glory.” Luke 21:27
“Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself, nevertheless, I tell you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the cloud of heaven.” Matthew 26:64
“So Christ also, who having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await him.” Hebrews 9:28
‘For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. THEREFORE, COMFORT AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.” I Thessalonians 4:16-18
Just writing these promises from God about Christ’s imminent, glorious second coming thrills my spirit beyond expressions! Indeed, Jesus is coming back for all those who love Him and His appearing. Praise His holy name!
A young Christian was preparing his taxes on the evening of April 14th. Exasperated, he raised his hands to heaven and asked, “Tonight Lord?’. I get it and so do you.
Numerous times throughout my life I have looked to the skies and said “Today would be a good time to come back Jesus.” Still here. Still waiting with intense, excited anticipation to see the Lord.  
So what should you and I who follow Christ by faith do while awaiting His glorious return? Glad you asked.
What To Do While Awaiting Christ’s Second Coming

• Do not be surprised or discouraged by the events happening in our world. Bad news is never good. Our lost, brokenhearted world is suffering, despairing and feeling hopeless. But the world’s bad news points to the return of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
• Study Matthew 24, Luke 21, Romans 8:18-26, II Timothy 3:1-15, II Peter 2, the book of Jude and other passages that predict what must precede Christs coming. These ominous, prophetic signs are happening in our time, right before our eyes, in an accelerated manner and mean that Jesus’ glorious return is closer and closer every day!
• Keep your heart fixed on God’s eternal Kingdom, not this temporal, perishing world. This world is not home for believers in Christ. Jesus is getting everything ready for all who put their faith in Him and will take them to our heavenly home soon. Hallelujah!
• Pray for lost souls. Christians are light and salt in a dark, tasteless world. People need the Lord. They will be lost for eternity if they don’t receive Christ as their Savior and Lord. Awaken body of Christ to our prime directive of soul-winning and disciple making.
• Ask the Lord to help you be a winning witness for Him in these last days. People searching for truth need to hear about your personal relationship with Jesus. Shine brightly where God has placed you as you joyfully wait for Jesus to come back.

Encourage brothers and sisters in Christ that Jesus is coming back soon!!! Cheerlead fellow believers. Remind them of the big picture. Jesus is coming back!
You and I, as Christians, should start our day on the right spiritual foot by declaring “This is the day the Lord has made, therefore, I will rejoice in it.” (Psalm 118:24).  And Lord, maybe, just maybe You will return today. Talk about getting off to an awesome beginning every day!
Beloved in Christ, keep your heart and eyes fixed on the eastern sky. Jesus’ return is promised and will come to pass.  
The last two verses of the Bible encourage my heart.
“He who testifies of these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. Amen.”
My prayer and desire every day is for Jesus to come quickly. Is that your prayer? Are you expecting Jesus to return soon to take you to heaven?
A Word For Your Week: It is a fact Jesus is coming back! 

​Thanksgiving comes and goes in a hurry.
 
Savory, sumptuous Butterball turkey and all the fixins have been happily consumed.  Delicious desserts have been dutifully devoured. Thanksgiving Day football games are in the books. Memories have been made. Family members have packed up and returned home. The holiday has passed. The house is empty.
 
 Now what?
 
What about the day after Thanksgiving? And the days after gathering together as family to give thanks to God for His abundant blessings?
 
How about giving thanks to God every day? What a great idea!
 
In the Bible, the Psalmist declares that it is good to give God thanks. “It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Thy name, O most High.’ Psalm 92:10. Christians, above all people, should sing praises to the Lord from thankful hearts.
 
 It is a good thing for God’s people to be grateful.
 
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul instructs and encourages us to give thanks in everything. “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:18. Why should Christ’s followers give God thanks in everything?
 
Because giving thanks to God is His will for those who call themselves by the name of Jesus Christ. If you are wondering what God’s will is for your life, start giving thanks in everything. Then you will be doing His will.
 
It is God’s will for His people to be grateful.
 
 I want to be dead center in God’s will. I believe you do too. So what would happen in our lives if we celebrated Thanksgiving every single day?
 
I know we can’t bake a turkey everyday. In all honesty, I don’t know how many days in a row I can stomach turkey! Sleepiness would overcome me for sure! The family can’t come home every day. But what if giving thanks became our daily habit? What if thanksgiving became thanksliving?
 
Christians should be the most thankful people on earth.
Just stop and realize what Jesus Christ has done for you by dying on the cross for your sins. Having purchased eternal life for us through the shedding of His precious blood, how can we not be thankful?
 
But too often we aren’t. Like an ungrateful world, we get caught up in grumbling, groaning and griping about what we don’t have instead of giving God praise for what we do have from His good, gracious, and generous hand. I admit, to my embarrassment and shame, to being guilty of ingratitude and most likely, you have too.
 
I heard a new phrase today that shook my spirit. Steve Whitaker, director of the John 3:16 Mission in downtown Tulsa shared on a Christian radio talk show about the need of hungry people in our city. He said many people around us are “food insecure.” That simply means they don’t have enough to feel secure about how to feed their family. The state of Oklahoma is the fourth hungriest state in our union. Reverend Whitaker shared real life stories about people and families who are suffering from food insecurity. 
 
He discussed how one single mother told him she decided on Monday that she wouldn’t eat until Thursday when the Mission fed hungry families so that Tuesday through Thursday her kids could eat the little food they had. Mom wasn’t going to eat for three days so her children would have some meager meals.  
 
Her story shredded my heart. Suddenly, the Ding Dong I was eating didn’t taste so good.
 
Today, my family is food secure because of God’s gracious and bountiful provision. I am very thankful for that….and am and will be every day.
 
When I stop to give God thanks, here some things that happen in my life.
 

• I realize that I am a blessed man. I really am.
• I am humbled and driven to repent for ingratitude.
• I loathe the times when I have grumbled and griped before the Lord.
• When I give God thanks, my issues and problems aren’t as big as I thought they were. Matter of fact, they are pretty small compared to so many people’s life situations. 
• I become aware of the needs of others around me.
• I am moved to reach out to others and bless them with the blessing I have received from the Lord.
• I remind myself to remember to thank God the next time I am tempted to be ungrateful.
• I commit myself to encourage others to be grateful to God for blessing their lives.

 
Giving thanks to God lightens the loads and brightens the day.
 
Oh Lord, may Steve Roll be found to be grateful everyday of his life. May my thankfulness bring You glory and inspire others to be thankful too. 
           
A Word For Your Week: Begin today to give God thanks in everything every day.