There will always be prophets of doom and gloom. They have always existed.

We have a mandate from heaven to "prophesy" (speak by inspiration) to our path for the future, life – health – prosperity!

But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared] – Proverbs 4:18 (AMP)

Decide to change.

Change is not automatic, it comes as a result of a decision.

If you continue to do what you have always done, you will only have what you’ve always had.

Out with the old and in with the new! Goodbye 2005, hello 2006.

Take a minute (or two) and write down the things that you need to change.

If you have difficulty (and are really serious about change) ask the Lord to show you the areas that you need to change. (after all, He knows us better than we know ourselves)

Arrange the areas that need to change in order of priority. (i.e., relationship with God, family, church, job, etc.)

Be specific. Assign each change measurable small goals and completion dates.

Don’t attempt to change everything at one time…even though you would like to.

Start with something small and work your way up!

Resolve.

A few days from now we will change the calendars on our refrigerators and desks but will we do the more important task of leaving the past in the past?

In dealing with a number of people we have seen that one of the greatest hinderances to a persons’ future is that persons’ past.

To go forward you must turn loose of what is holding you back. The past.

Even past accomplishments can hold us back if we rest on our "laurels" of success. Sure, it’s great that we accomplished some goals last year but we must be cautious about patting ourselves on the back too long.

Do what the accountants do at years’ end…close out the books, total up gains and losses, put it all in a binder and file it away. Then get moving toward 2006.

We have everything to gain and nothing to lose! Yesterday is gone.

I’ve decided…Happy New Year!

The big question after Christmas is…

"What did you get for Christmas?" or "Was Santa good to you?"

We Christians can complain about the human secularists trying to take Christ out of Christmas but we need to look at our own personal celebration of Christmas.

Did we place Jesus at the very center of our celebration? Or did we read the Christmas story only as a precursor (better yet,…obligation) to "opening our gifts"?

Did we spend as much time asking God to give us a clearer revelation of who Jesus is as we did shopping for gifts for people just because we knew that we were going to get a gift from them?

Jesus did not come to earth so that we could go out each year and buy things and stuff to make ourselves and others "feel better". Giving is great but without a relationship with THE Giver of Life it is worthless.

My sincere prayer is that this Christmas we received a greater and deeper revelation of who Jesus is and what He did for us, so that we can be more effective for Him in 2006!

God help us to see Jesus more clearly than all the stuff around us!

The message of Christmas is…Jesus is born!

People will continue to argue that Jesus was not born on Dec. 25th…but He was born! He did die and He did rise from the dead!

He had to be born in order to die. He had to die in order to conquer death, hell and the grave!

Luke 2:17 – Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

Just tell what you know. Point people to Jesus.

The Lord doesn’t expect us to preach a sermon but just to say something.

Tell one person today that the reason for the season is Jesus!