Happy New Year!  As we start another year here at New Life, I'm as enthusiastic as I've ever been about what God is going to do in us and through us in the new year.  2012, may seem like just another year to you.  After all, it's not the turn of a new century or millennium or even decade, it's just the start of a New Year.  Yet, here at New Life, we’re coming off the best year ever in so many ways.  We saw more people baptized in 2011, than in any single year!  More people attended worship each Sunday on average, and more people participated in LIFE groups than ever before!  Plans moved forward for our Mission Outpost at 127 Knoch road and we planted four churches in Cuba!  I believe God is going to do even more in 2012!

This morning in New Life's worship services, Pastor Brad is going to be introducing the year ahead as we always do on the first Sunday of a New Year.  The "line up" of series and messages God has laid on our hearts for 2012, will challenge us to new levels of commitment to Jesus and new levels of reaching out to others in His glorious name.  I hope you'll be there with us at 8:45 or 10:15 a.m. to get the New Year started right.

I want us to look at today's commitment right now.  (We have a "commitment" each Sunday at the end of the message to challenge us to act on what we've heard from God's word.)  Here's TODAY'S COMMITMENT:  I commit to being a part of God’s plan at New Life this year by committing my time and doing my part for His glory!  Notice the commitment is broad and general:  We commit to being PART of God's plan at New Life this year by COMMITTING OUR TIME and DOING OUR PART for His glory!  What that will mean will be different for each one of us.  Whatever it means, it will mean this:  you and I will grow in our faith in Jesus Christ, and we will share the new life He has given us with others!  Maybe you haven't trusted Jesus as your Savior and Lord yet.  Then today would be a great day to make that commitment, because you can't be part of God's plan at New Life, until you are part of God's overall plan that every man, woman and child will come to know Jesus, His Son, as Savior and Lord!

Please pray for God to work in us in ways that will amaze us, and will lead hundreds of people to trust Jesus as Savior and Lord and live in the power of His Holy Spirit in 2012!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, We give you thanks and praise for who You are and for all You do for us!  Thanks most of all for sending Jesus to save us from sin and death and to empower us to live lives filled with meaning and purpose.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit right now, that we may bring You glory and honor today and in every day You give us in 2012!