Well, can you all believe that we're almost half way through January, 2013 already?  It's almost the middle of the month.  LeeAnn and I, before the new year begins… We know God's year begins in the spring. I'm aware of that. We know the holy day season – the sacred calendar – is in the spring, but for planning purposes we use the Roman calendar. Peter Eddington is sitting here  and he's always passing out to various of us all of these planning calendars so we can be planning for not only this year but years ahead.  What I'd like to share with you today is a little bit of what LeeAnn and I like to do – that we're working on when we get our new calendar.  I know many of you may do it digitally. You may have your computer and your calendar comes up and you get everything planned there.  I still like this book.  I know we have some who even look up all the scriptures on line or digitally on their computers. I'm aware of that – their planning calendars.  But, LeeAnn and I, when we get our new calendar for each year – you may do something similar – we look the whole year ahead and the first thing we do is write in all of God's holy days for that year. So we've got them in there marked – top priority – weekly Sabbaths – they're already there – the Saturdays.  Then we start filling in for that year, other set meetings – General Conference of Elders, conferences – various things that we have scheduled to attend, personal  family things that will be taking place that we need to get back home to Seattle, connect with our own family when we are going to do that, but schedule that in. And this year one of our grandchildren (Kennedy, our daughter's daughter) Kennedy Gibson is graduating from college and says, "Grandma and Grandpa, you've got to come back for my graduation."  So that's in June. We have that scheduled in.  So we start looking at the year and we start realizing, "Wow! It's going to go fast this year. It's getting full already."  All of these things that are going on in God's church….  So LeeAnn and I like to set new goals for each year.  Any time we have an opportunity…again when Passover comes we do the same thing.  But at the beginning of our planning – calendar year – we like to discuss and talk about new goals for ourselves.  I don't know if you're a goal setter or not – if you like to plan. You've heard the old saying, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. And there's some truth to that.

So what I'd like to share with you are seven questions that deserve an answer – that LeeAnn and I are using to ask ourselves, and to share that with you, and maybe get you to thinking about what new goals or plans – what progress would you like to make this coming year – so that by the end of the year 2013, you can look back and say, "Well we've accomplished that goal. This one we need to do more work on. We didn't accomplish it yet."  So, if you're asking seven important questions, I'd like you to think about at least one answer to each of these questions that maybe you're going to do this coming year. 

Maybe you've heard this little help in goal setting. Those who do strategic planning came up with this and it's this little acronym. Remember that goals need to be SMART.  I know the ladies have been using that in developing the strategic plan for the women's issues and women serving in the church – working on that together – having a strategic plan and setting goals so that as we develop a subject of spiritual gifts in the church, that includes every man, woman and child. But everyone has gifts from God.  So remember, when you set goals, your goals should be SMART.  And some of you know what that means.  SMART is just an acronym.  The S means make your goals specific. And M means make them measurable.  A means make them attainable.  R means make them realistic. And T make them timely.

I'll show you an example, because you may say, "Well, 2013. I'm going to lose some weight." And that's your goal. That's it. That's not enough. Be specific. Say, "I'm going to lose 50 pounds this next year" – whatever you decide to loose – 25 pounds. You set a specific amount in your goal.

Measurable. Can it be measured? We’ll let's just use the weight. We're going to work on our weight this next year. Yes you can step on a scale. You've got a weight scale. Every day you can test your weight. Every week or every month you can measure how much weight you're losing. So, goals need to be measurable.

Attainable. Did you set a goal that can be attained? Can it be done?  So you have to ask it.  Somebody may say, "Oh this year I'm going to loose 100 pounds," and they're really not being realistic, unless they have a lot of help doing that. It needs to be truly attainable.

And then it needs to be Realistic. That means it needs to be possible for you. Is this goal realistic for me to attain?

The final one, the T is for Timely. Set a time limit. You're going to achieve that, because as human beings, we tend to procrastinate and make excuses and put things off, don't we? 

So that's always been helpful to LeeAnn and me, that when we set our goals, they need to be SMART, if we're going to achieve them.

So let's begin with the first question that LeeAnn and I are talking about and plan to work on this month. We haven't achieved this yet, but we're working on it together. And maybe you can be thinking about something similar. I hope it will be helpful to you.

Here's the first question. 

What can I do to improve my relationship with God? 

We know we can always improve, can't we?   That's the first question LeeAnn and I are asking ourselves and we want to answer. Let's look at a few scriptures to see why this is always number one and the most important.

I John 1: 3-4  That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship  (What is fellowship?  Fellowship is fun, fellowship is what we're going to be doing – getting together and having a good time and getting to know one another.  It's an enjoyable thing.)  with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full – or complete.

So the most important thing in our lives is, we want a better relationship with God.  We want to be closer to God and feel His presence in our life, feel His joy, His love, His blessings. That's important and so what are you going to do to improve your relationship with God?  Let's look at another scripture that maybe will get you thinking about what you can do to make that your first goal. 

John 14:22-23  Judas, not Iscariot, said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest" – or reveal –  "Yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him" – and this is the part I wanted to emphasize – that is so important to me –  that I have underlined and marked – "and we will come to Him and make our home with Him."

God wants to live with us in our homes and in our lives and be there with us always, every day and everything that we do. We will come and make our home with Him. We'll live with you and be a part of your life.

One final scripture on this one.  When LeeAnn and I are planning, how can we improve our relationship with God – draw closer to God?

One day I was doing word studies and you know that in the bible it says love, but there are different Greek words for love. And most of the time it's agape love – God's unconditional love for everybody including those who hate Him. God loves even His enemies. He wants everyone to be in His kingdom if they will repent. Now and then the Greek word is phileo, or friendship love, and this is one of those verses.

John 16:27 "For the Father Himself loves you – now they wouldn't say with an agape love –  we're thankful for that, but Jesus is saying the Father also loves you in a friendship way – a  fellowship. God loves even His enemies – and we're supposed to do that – but some God has a special friendship with. We know He did with Abraham and others in the bible, He called them friends.  God doesn't want a distance relationship, He wants a close friendship with us. And Jesus revealed that God Himself loves you –  phileo love – because you have loved Me – phileo love –  and have believed that I came forth from God."

Christ had told His disciples, "I have called you friends." And so this coming year, you and I have the opportunity to develop a closer friendship with God – where we know that He is not only the God who created and made us, but God wants to be our best friend. It takes seeking God – "Draw near to me and I will draw near to you." Seek God and He will be found of you. So it takes quality time to seek God. Like any relationship you would want to build, you have to dedicate quality time to that relationship. So I hope all of us this coming year…. Because remember, spiritually speaking, we can never say, "I don't need to grow anymore, I don't need to be any closer to God. I don't need to have a closer relationship with God."  We know there's always room to develop a closer relationship with God. 

Second question. 

What can I do to improve my relationship with others, especially family and friends this coming year?

What am I going to do? What will I do? What SMART goal will I set? Or will I just let some of these relationships be just the way they've always been? What can I do to improve my relationship with others, especially family and friends? What does God want us to do?  Let's look at a few scriptures.

God's word always gives us guidelines we need and here's where Jesus said what we call the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

So you and I have to ask ourselves – all of us do – "Am I a peacemaker? Do I at least work at it?" Sometimes we fail – we know that – but you can do your very best, and sometimes it doesn't always work out in certain situations in relationships. But that doesn't mean stop trying, does it?  God's word emphasizes the importance of being a peacemaker. So I know that I have certain relationships with my own family that I need to work on this next year and do much better than I did this last year.  It's too easy for me to get busy – and other things that I do – and neglect some of my own family members. Our son Steve grew up in the church, and our daughter Leah in Seattle – she's part of United. Our son Steve is not a part of any church of God right now. But we love him, and he loves us, and I need to work harder on that relationship. Notice Matthew 5:44, when He went on to say – and for me this is one of the most challenging scriptures in the Bible to actually practice and do regularly – do what Jesus said:

Matthew 5:44  "But I say to you, love your enemies – that's hard to do – bless those who curse you, - that's sure hard to do when they're on the internet, right? – they'll be calling you all kinds of names – do good to those who hate you – that's really hard to do – and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." – that's real hard to do.

It's not normal to do those things humanly. It's godly. But Jesus Christ did it, and He tells us we're supposed to do it, and so I want to set a goal, with LeeAnn and I together, to learn to do that better this year then we did this past year. One final scripture on this goal. One more scripture, as we think about this goal.

Romans 12:18  If it is possible – and with God's help, all things are possible – as much as depends on you – here's God's word to each of us – live peaceably with all men. So I have to ask myself, as you do, "Am I doing everything within my power that is possible to live peaceably with others?"  That's a question we're asking ourselves.

Verse 19:  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.

So there's a very important goal for this coming year. If you don't have goals, you can just kind of drift on just like you are, and not really make SMART choices, and not really make real significant progress in some of these areas.

Let's go to question number 3. 

What can I do to improve my physical and emotional health?

How many of you would like to do that? Now we know we can't control everything that happens to us in life. It can be accidents. It can be illnesses. We know that and that's why we hear that there are people we need to pray for every Sabbath, or during the week, and hopefully, we do that. We send cards of encouragement to people and call them and we pray for them. Still, all of us should be willing to ask ourselves, rather than just saying, "You know, my physical health, there's nothing I can do about it. Or the way I think or feel emotionally, there's nothing I can do about it."

Let's see what God says. And so I have to ask myself…if I'm going to continue to serve God most effectively, I have to have a certain level of physical and emotional health.  Let's go to I Corinthians chapter 6 where Paul wrote:

I Corinthians 6:19  Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit – it should be, as you know, translated from the Greek – which is in you, whom you have from God and you are not your own?

This is one of those scriptures, that can hit you right between the eyes, in the Bible that, when those of us who are baptized and gave our lives to God – that means all of us – every part of us, and all of our struggles, and all of our battles, things we have to struggle with in our lives.  You can't say, "Well, I'll do what I want to do. I'll eat what I want to eat. It's my life and my body." That is not true. Any member who says that to me, I realize, they don't get it. They haven't made the connection between their body and their spirit or their attitude. You do not belong to yourself any longer. Notice:

Verse 20: For you were bought at a price – and that is death and suffering of Jesus Christ, who was sacrificed. God died for you and for me. He gave His life for me and I gave my life to Him. That's what you did when you made that commitment to God. We belong to Him now – bought and paid for and as a result Paul said – therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit – or  in mind and attitude, or emotions – which belong to God. 

So that's one of the scriptures in the Bible that helps me to fight the battle of this flesh and try to keep it in control, so that I can better serve God and, hopefully, glorify Him in those ways.  Nobody is perfect in it, but we are to work on it. And so questions to ask on this one, this coming year, is that you may not be planning to make any changes in your diet, your exercise or anything. I don't know. I hope you are. I hope you're thinking, "Am I getting healthier to the best of my ability or am I getting worse?"  Remember, I qualified this, there are certain things we can't control. I'm not talking about those things. I'm talking about things we can control. Are you willing to seek help and advice from others when you struggle with something that you need help with?  There's always somebody else who has overcome a problem, no matter what it is in God's church.  There's always somebody else who has overcome a problem, and is there to help you, if you're humble enough to seek that help, and pray, about it, and set a goal, and say:  "God I need help in order to grow and improve in this way in my life this year."

Are you willing to join a support group if necessary? Talk to Myrna if you get a chance. She's grown up in the church her whole life with her struggle. It took a family intervention, but when she got that help, she stuck with it and completely gave up drinking – gave up alcohol – began to attend Alcoholics Anonymous, and found that kind of non-judgmental, non-condemning support that was there in that group of people who want to stay sober, and she covered that yesterday in her presentation. We know some people think that's worldly to go to AA. I'm sorry people feel that way. God loves people in this world today, and He's given them things like AA and other support groups to help people who need that help that have not been able to find some of this kind of help sometimes in God's church. Now I've been in God's church now for 54 years, and over the years we've had very few ministers and members who really understood any kind of addictions. In fact, and I don't mean this in a wrong way, I hope you understand looking back, I hope that we're learning and growing in this way. But there was a time – and I know not every pastor or minister did this – I'm aware of that as well – but if somebody had a serious problem, whether it was alcohol or drugs or struggling with a sex addition, some would say, "Well, you stay out of the church, and when you overcome that problem, and you let me know, I'll invite you to church," when what they really needed was the love and support of the congregation of people where we don't compromise with sin, but we understand we all are sinners who are strugglers striving to overcome – where you come into an environment of love and support and encouragement and help from God that helps you to overcome things you could not overcome on your own by yourself.  I've know people who have struggled with homosexuality – same sex attraction – that God is calling out of the world into His church, so they can become people who can help others that God may be calling with that problem.  Sometimes it's hard for them to find the support they need. So my question is – and I realize it can be very controversial – I know there are people who are black and white – letter of the law – and say, "I'm not going to the world for any kind of help."  Well, I don't mean going to become worldly. I'm talking about the fact there are good people in this world who have expertise, and experience, and knowledge, and understanding in areas like alcoholism, and drug addiction, and homosexuality, any kind of thing you want to bring up, that are very highly qualified people – that really can help and make a difference in our lives.

So are you willing to seek professional counseling, if needed, from those with special expertise in specific issues? I hope you are.

One more scripture and then we'll move on to the next one. But this is still, what can I do to improve my physical and emotional health?  Let's go to Matthew, chapter 9 and read something Christ said. Some people think Christ didn't mingle much with the world. He did all the time –  constantly – and this is what He said and did here.

Matthew 9:10-12  And so it was, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, - remember they're the self righteous ones, right? –  they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" What is He doing mingling with these unconverted tax collectors and sinners? "But when Jesus heard that, He said to them: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick."

We all know Luke was a literal doctor – Dr. Luke, beloved physician in the Bible.  He traveled with Paul a lot – who had various afflictions. So it is not wrong to seek appropriate help.

It's not wrong to mingle and be with people in the world – not to be of the world or the ways of the world – but so that God's Spirit in us and His light that we can influence their lives instead of their lives maybe pulling us down. So that's another question that LeeAnn and I are asking ourselves, "What can we do to improve our physical, emotional health for this coming year so that we can have the strength and energy and the right attitude that we need. Do we need special help in any area?" Myrna is one of those, who whenever she's part of our focus education team, and if somebody calls me about an addiction – alcohol or drug addiction – I usually refer them to Myrna. She's the expert in that area. So, think about that in your own life, and pray about it, and ask God to help you, even if one SMART goal on each of these questions that can be a help, not overwhelming.  It doesn't have to be a long list of goals, but just one thing, maybe, you're already doing something like this.

Let's go on to question number 4. 

What can I do to be better organized and use my time wisely?

Our time, literally, is our life.  For some of us that hourglass is running out.  Some of you are very young and you're not as worried about that as much right now. But still, no matter how old you are, how young you are, your time is your life and how you use it is very important to God. And it should be to each of us. Again, let's look at what the Bible says. And we'll see that there's balance, or I'll be talking about finding balance in your life, so that you can endure it to the end. 

It's not balance to work all the time and be a workaholic. That's the way I tend to be. That's my nature. And being a first born – my wife is a first born – and at least, we tend to be that way – and we have trouble having fun, and we appreciate those with the other personalities who are fun loving, and know how to have fun, and get us to lighten up, loosen up and laugh and have fun.  We find that hard to do. Well, we'll look at each other sometimes – LeeAnn and I – and say, "Let's go do something and have some fun." And we look at each other and say "What"? You know what I mean, when somebody whose got that dominate otter personality, they seem to have fun. Life is fun for them. We appreciate them very much.

We're talking about balance here. And taking time for yourself is very important. Rejuvenation, relaxation, fun, a good movie – those kinds of things are important. But let's look at the biblical principle of evaluating how we're using our time, and is it a godly wise way?  We all have so much time that God is going to give us and then our time is going to run out.

Ephesians 5:15  See then that you walk circumspectly – the margin in my bible says, carefully –  not as fools – don't be a fool – but as wise – pray for wisdom – "God, help me this coming year to use my time more wisely – redeeming the time – the Amplified Bible says, "making the most of your time – using your time wisely – because the days are evil. We certainly see that, don't we?  Evil is increasing, getting worse and the time is fast approaching. We don't know how long. We don't set dates, but we certainly see what's happening.

Verse 17:  Therefore do not be unwise – it's talking about redeeming our time – but understand what the will of the Lord is.

So we should say, "Father, help me to understand Your will and the use of my time."  It's not wrong to watch television at all. LeeAnn and I love television, if it's a good movie and worth watching, but that can become addictive. For some people it's computer games. It can be okay, but it can become addictive. And it's a matter of evaluating it, and saying, "God, is there something else I should be doing that is using my life, my time, more wisely?" 

Let's go to Psalm 90 where we see the same principle brought out, where Moses wrote:

Psalm 90:10   The days of our lives are seventy years – King David lived 70 years and it says he lived to a ripe old age – and if by reason of strength they are eighty years – so some of you are in your 80's, so maybe it will be 90 or above 100 – yet their boast is only labor and sorrow – so he's saying this life – the life we live today in this world – there's a lot of trouble and sorrow in this present world. And that's pretty true, isn't it? To watch the news any more, it's bad news most of the time – latest trouble – and problems can be discouraging and depressing – for it is soon cut off and we fly away – that is, we die. Our spirit returns to God who gave it.

So Moses kind of sums it up here in one sense about  your time, so he is saying:

Verse 12:  So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

So this is one of our goals for this year.  Can we do better – LeeAnn and I?  Can we do better in a godly wise use of our time, so that we're not wasting our life.  A lot of that is very personal, too, for people to work out – what works for them and what is important for them. That's an important question and deserves an answer. 

Question number five: 

What can I do to improve my financial life and the way I use money? 

You might say, "There's nothing I can do. I don't have enough money." Let's just take a look at the biblical principle regardless of the amount of money that any of us have or make. We know that in today's economic times, it's very difficult and challenging. There are many situations again that are out of people's control. Some have lost homes and all kinds of things happened; health issues, various things along that line. Many people are under financial stress and pressure.  Let's take a look at the biblical principles involved here. Regardless of the amount of money, the question is, what can I do to improve my financial life and the way I use money? Let's go first to Luke chapter 16. So what we're seeking are the biblical, spiritual principles to guide us as we apply them to our own lives and specific situations.

Luke 16:10  "He who is faithful in what is least – let's say that you just have a small amount of income or a little low salary, and this whole chapter – that I'm not going to read the whole thing – but it's about money. It's about being a good steward of money – is faithful also in much, and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much."

So if we learn to carefully use what God gives us to the best of our ability…. You probably know – and I have too – I sometimes notice that people who don't have a lot, usually – and I'm not talking about anybody specifically – I don't have anybody in mind – but I remember, maybe it was in our own family, struggling, and yet they have every electric gadget there is – big TV, the latest cell phone, just everything, computer, they got it, you name it, and they really can't afford it all.

Verse 11:  "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon – that means money – who will commit to your trust the true riches?"

So our money and how we use it, Christ brings out, is one way God sees how faithful we are in doing the best we can with it. Whatever it is that He provides or gives, you do the best that you can with it.  Of course, sometimes people do need help because of what they're going through in their situation. Let's go to Matthew 6 and see what He added here.  I'm not going to go to verse 19, but almost the whole rest of this chapter is about money and our physical needs.  Christ picks it up and says:

Matthew 6:25-31  "Therefore I say to you" – that's to me and you, because no matter how much money we have, we tend to fret and worry about the future. We're human aren't we? What's going to happen in the future? What's going to happen to our economy and America? Is it going to collapse? Look at our debt. You can worry your head off every day, but here's what Jesus said not to do. Now He did say you should budget. You should do your best to control your spending, and if you have to use credit cards, to pay off debts and bills and everything. And all counselors say do your best to start striving to get out of debt. Take it to God. It may take a long time, but that's a goal that you set. Let's just read and be reminded what Christ said about the true source of security. "…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? – make yourself taller. So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear?"

We know God is the provider and He blesses us and, if we apply these principles, God can send help and money and support and food and clothing and anything that is needed from many, many different sources, can't He? – no matter how bad it gets in the future. And we all know that, especially if we are close to family and close to one another – like in the book of Acts, when the brethren stuck together and helped one another, no matter how hard it got, or how bad it got.  So don't think in an isolated and lonely way – that I'm just always going to have to be totally self sufficient.  If you can find…God provides that, but we need to think as a family, to help pray for one another, support one another, encourage one another.  If we know somebody has a great financial need, we can sometimes help somebody without them even knowing about it.  But Jesus kept saying – and I don't know about you, but this chapter I've got it circled every place He says – "Do not worry, do not worry, do not worry," and it jumps out at me. "Denny, don't worry, God will provide and take care of the future, even the hard times."

Verse 32-33:  "For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you." – God will provide. He will keep His promises. He will do it.

Verse 34:  "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow" – now it doesn't say "Don't be concerned." It doesn't say, "Don't plan. It doesn't say, "You don't need a raise, or you need blessings, or whatever," but what Jesus said, "Bring it to Me. Leave it to Me and do not worry about it."  "…for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

So, what can I do to improve my financial life and the way I use money?  Sit down and, if you're with your husband, or wife, or children, or family, and talk about it. LeeAnn, this year for us,  picked out a new budget book, where everything – and she's started to write it in – every day, every week, every month, every penny we spend, she's going to write it down. And we're going to see where our money goes, and how we're spending it, and how we should be spending it.  Maybe we can make some changes in this and that in our lives and in the work.  So ask God to help you. And there definitely will always be decisions that can be made to improve in this area of your life and our lives.

Question number six:

What can I do to be a better servant of others, following Christ's example?

We all want that, He set the example for us, so that's just one of those questions that you can ask yourself anytime, but beginning of a new year, setting a goal, this year I'm going to become a better servant of God of others – and this one is serving others – following Christ's example.

Turn to Matthew, chapter 20.  I'm not the example. The ministers are not the example. We should be, but what I mean by that is that Jesus Christ is the example. He is our Lord, our leader, the head of the church. He told His disciples, "Yes, I am your Lord and Master. And if I am your Lord and Master, then follow this example." So He is the example. Notice He set the example here for all of us. And many of you I know are wonderful servants – you really, truly are – and have been this way very faithfully for decades of your life and I thank you for that.  I'm just bringing this up for LeeAnn and I to apply it to ourselves. How can we do better – be a better servant of others this coming year?

Matthew 20: 25-28  "But Jesus called them to Himself and said: "You know that the rulers of the gentiles lord it over them and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to be come great among you. let him be your servant.   And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many."

So, if we're going to follow His example, we're all going to be able to do better with God's help. And the only way we can do better is say, "God, this is a goal I have. Humanly, I know I cannot achieve it. I need your strength and your blessing – more of your Spirit and your help to do this."

Matthew 25. What can I do to be a better servant of others following Christ's example? Christ  emphasized this so clearly, didn't He? Matthew 25:21, where the parable of the talents and some did bear fruit and grew, He said:

Matthew 25:21  "His Lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful; over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord."

So, that's what we all want to hear, isn't it?  So we have time now in our lives to learn how to become better servants of others. Again, thank you all. I certainly want to acknowledge the incredible attitudes and service of many of you faithful, humble servants of God. Thank you for that. I hope we can all continue to grow in that regard. Christ repeats in verse 23.

Verse 23:  "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your Lord."

So, let's set that as a goal and ask God to help us to do better. United Church of God, as we say over and over and I repeat – I want people to know that our approach is – we recognize that in the United Church of God, we are part of God's church. We are part of God's work on earth and we want to do our best to serve God, and do His work, and be peacemakers.  I look forward to that day that will come in the future – however God brings it about – and He will. So, my heart guiding thing is knowing that all of God's people – whoever and wherever they are – we're all going to come back together and be one body, one group, one church, one Bride of Christ – someday. That is coming. That is the end result. We don't know when and how exactly, but it will come. And we are part of God's people and we want to do the work that God has for us to do in United – to accomplish His purpose for us – and we will not quit until that is done.

One final question, question number seven:

What can I do to develop my talents and abilities to better serve God and help do His work?

A little different than question six – How can I be a better servant to others following Christ's example? 

What can I do to develop my talents and abilities – the gifts God has given me – to better serve Him and help do His work? There maybe some who think the work is done and it's all over.  Let's look at John chapter 4.  I feel it is wise to follow what Christ said here.

John 4:34  Jesus said to them, "My food – He loved to eat. He would love the chili social that you're having here and He would enjoy that, but He said what was really important to Him.  He said, "My food" – because they were encouraging Him to take time to eat – "is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work."

We, as God's people want to do the will of God in our lives and to finish what He's called us to do, don't we?  That's our hearts desire. 

Verse 35:  "Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest?’  Behold, I say to you, ‘Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!’"

So He's telling His disciples there's work to be done. And it's surely that way today. There are lots of people out there in this world that need help and our job is to take the seed – the word of God – and to scatter it. Only God can call people. Only He can lead them to repentance and conversion. But our job is to keep taking the precious word of God and the truth of God and getting it out there as long as we have breath and work. That's what Jesus said.

Verse 36:  "And he who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life…." What we're doing is so important, isn't it brethren?  It's not only for this life. It's eternal life in God's kingdom, "…that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together."

So there is a work to do and – LeeAnn and I – our heart's desire is to finish the work that God has given us to do. We don't always know what God wants us to do – where You're going to take United. We want to be a more loving church. We want to be less judgmental. We want to be a church where anyone with any problem…that you could call them, and they would learn, yes, that's a sinful lifestyle or a sinful habit, but look, God has called you, and Christ died for you, and He will help you, and we will support you, and pray for you, and encourage you, and love you, and God will help you overcome and grow, and we will help one another. We're striving to be a church that can help in any way possible. I know there are others out there that feel that way as well.

Let's notice, in closing, I Peter, chapter 4 – my last scripture and this last question: What can I do to develop my talents and abilities to better serve God and help do His work? Because God can use every single one of you brethren  The next theme for the General Conference of Elders in May – we always have a theme – a subject – it's going to be on spiritual gifts. I don't remember the church ever having a study paper on this subject. In my past years, there were times when…well, spiritual gifts, they were mainly for the ministry. But no, that is not what the Bible says. The spiritual gifts are for everyone in the church. Yes, the ministers for sure – so they can do their job, and their work, and their calling, but for every single member. Paul wrote, "I do not want you to be ignorant brethren concerning spiritual gifts" (I Corinthians 12).  May God guide us to come to understand His word and the subject of spiritual gifts that He gives to humble people – not people who are saying, "I'm God's apostle, I'm God's new prophet. I'm one of the two witnesses." Usually when somebody is declaring themselves as those things, its self-appointed. And I don't mean to get off base here on something along that line, but we're talking about people who are humble before God.  "God, if you can use me, I'm willing.  I'm not seeking position, recognition. I don't need to be exalted. I just want to serve. I want to help in your church and in your work – anywhere you want to use me."

Let's close with this scripture, asking this final question, number seven -

What can I do to develop my talents and gifts to better serve God and help do His work? 

I hope you will ask yourself that and not assume that your spiritual growth is over, and that God can't give you more of His Spirit and gifts to serve.

I Peter 4:10-11  As each one has received a gift – and those gifts come from God – minister it to one another – and so the purpose of the gifts that God gives us – our own talents and abilities that he enhances – is to serve others – as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks – and they have that gift and that calling – let him speak as the oracles of God – the truth of God. If anyone ministers – and it just means if anyone serves in any capacity – let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified – and what is the purpose, then, of gifts and talents and abilities? To glorify God, to serve in the church and in the work of God, and to glorify God. That's the purpose of them – through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.

So brethren, we're half-way through January, this year is going to go quick – very fast. It's amazing. So get out your calendar and set some SMART goals.