Into the New Year!

31 Dec Into the New Year!

31 December 2025

Well…this is it…2025 ends tonight so that God can usher us into a new year as the clock strikes midnight. How will you greet 2026? Oh…I don’t mean at exactly midnight. I suspect most of us will be asleep, but when you open your eyes & your front door in a new year tomorrow; how will you greet 2026?

We played around with that some on Sunday as I asked you to think of the “worst & best” that could happen in 2026. Many of you didn’t enjoy that exercise at all. You didn’t want to allow yourself room to think negatively…and it was hard to then shift gears & go dreaming of the positive. Let me assure you, the rest of the world, even that part of the world that reads the Bible knows life is hard & could get alot worse. Most folks around you have become adept at thinking that bad things could get worse.

How do I know this? Guess which Bible verse was (again) the most searched for & read in 2025, according to YouVersion, the wonderful Bible reading application downloaded & used by millions upon millions of people around the world…Go on…Guess! It’s one that has topped their search tally before: 

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

And on the online Bible Search tool that I use regularly (BibleGateway.com), this year’s top-most searched & read verse was an old favourite:

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” – Psalm 23:4

Our world is no stranger to fear, darkness, anxious times & uncertain living. As much as we try to tell ourselves otherwise…we also find ourselves in fearful, uncertain, stress-filled, anxious & dark moments. I say it often…Life is sometimes just a hard slog. That isn’t always bad…we need to work hard to grow & develop certain skills; but hard is hard. And for many of us, a new calendar year doesn’t mean our lives will be any different, but some of us will face significant changes in life…and some of us perhaps ought to consider making some big changes. I’m happy to talk with you if you’re thinking that might be you.

But I also know this…When life gets more difficult than you like it to be…those two Bible verses are most certainly true. Read them often. Meditate on them regularly. Pray that you experience them as true daily. AND…hold tight to this one: “Here on earth you will have many trials & sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33b Jesus assures us that in every day of every year we, by baptism into death & new life with him, are heirs of his victory over every enemy. We really have nothing to fear…He’s got us & not turning loose.

I read this verse this morning: “But you, dear friends, as you build each other up in your most holy faith, praying in the power of the Holy Spirit; await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you to eternal life keeping you safe in God’s love.” – Jude 1:20-21 

It struck me that this is how our assurance can be made real in our lives every day of 2026, come what may. We have an ongoing necessity to engage with the fellowship of disciples of Jesus (worship, fellowship, study, prayer, support, & generosity are not optional). The language used here is present continuous…it assumes faithfulness as a lifestyle beyond the walls of our homes in patient perseverance as Jesus keeps us safe in God’s love & leads us to eternal life.

A few notes as we move into these first weeks of 2026…don’t miss a minute!

• Sunday 4th January 2026 – New Year’s Morning Tea! AND a worship series just right for the New Year: Where’s Jesus… We’ll learn together how to see what Jesus is doing in our world right before our eyes, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY to join him in his work! Don’t miss a Sunday!
• Sue will have January calendars for you. We’ll be printing less each week as we try to reduce our costs in line with my & Sue’s reduced hours, so more of our resources will be online & in once-a-month materials rather than weekly. We’re trying to work in accord with the budget we approved at our AGM. We need to demonstrate that we are financially sustainable, and quickly in the new year. Embrace that growing challenge in 2026. I’m happy to chat with you about that too.
• We’ll also have some Bible reading plans available for you over the next few weeks. Please do what you can to read more & larger sections of the Bible on a daily basis. I’m happy to offer some suggestions & there are more options than we’ll have printed…but Leonie & I can help you! Please ask.

Thank you to everyone who serves in some capacity on Sunday mornings in worship. Liz is about to ask for helpers for the next roster. Put your hand up often…try something new. Find joy in adding your gifts to our family worship.

I’m looking forward to our becoming teenagers together this year! Imagine…Living Water is 13 years old in its ministry as a family of disciples…God’s been good and you’ve been faithful.

Peace,

John