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Fresh starts and new beginnings
Pastor Hayes
Richard Hayes - photo by Photo provided.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17


This year has gotten off to a great start, for many of us. We have high expectations for things to be different from years past, with new resolutions and promises to be a better person. However, as the days begin to progress and we experience the realities of life, we realize that the journey we’re on is not easy. 

Through the Bible, in Deuteronomy 31:6, God makes a promise to us that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. So, the progress we desire is obtainable if we put on Christ. With Him we become a new creation and we can leave past hurts, disappointments, and despair behind us as we chose to move forward, pressing closer and closer to Him. 

There was a song that told a story of an old farmer who found out that his mule had fell into a deep dried up well. As he pondered on what he could do, he concluded that he could kill two birds with one stone, and fill the well with dirt, while burying the old mule at the same time. Well, the old mule had other plans. The farmer called his neighbors over and they began to shovel dirt over into the old well, but every time they threw dirt on the old mule, he would just shake it off and pack it under his feet. Eventually the old mule had packed enough dirt under him, that he was able to step out of the well and walk past the farmers that were throwing the dirt on his back. 

Life has a way of throwing a lot at you fast enough to make your head spin, but Christ gives us the strength to shake it off and pack it under our feet. You deserve a fresh start and God desires to give it to you. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that God can make everything new in our life, if we can put our trust in Him. 

I’m thankful for what God is doing in my life and I’m trusting Him to turn some situations around in my favor, but in the meantime, I will continue to share His Love and worship His sovereignty. In 2019, Christ remains to be King of Kings and Lord of Lord. Let’s have a great year together in unity. 



Richard D. Hayes is the Pastor of New Day Community Church and President of the United Ministerial Alliance. 


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