Clearing out for the new year

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and a have a great new year. I have been off from work since Dec. 14 with my surgery and all is healing well. I should be back to work at the end of next week. Thank you for all the prayers and words of encouragement.

I began thinking if there was anything that I needed to take care of to start the new year off right, whether it be sin, resentment, anger, etc. A good friend had hurt my wife's feelings involving a job last year, and I just still had some resentment. I met with him, told him I had this resentment, and forgave him. It just felt like I started the year with a clean slate, and I urge you to do the same. I should not have held that in for that long. Charles Swindoll once said in a sermon to keep short accounts with God, not let a lot of time pass between your confessions and prayer to Him. That way things don't build up to become barriers, and you don't let things wedge.

I pray that once again someday, I can lead worship on a regular basis. There is nothing more gratifying than to lead God's children into worship. The enemy will always present a constant fight to keep you from it, but the thorns must not be allowed to choke the rose...