Greetings and Happy New Year Family!

As we step into 2025, let’s take a moment to thank God for the gift of 2024.  Through every high and low, we have grown stronger together as a church family.  (Can I get an AMEN?!!!)  The challenges we faced refined us, and the victories amassed reminded us of God’s unfailing faithfulness.

Seriously take a moment to reflect on His goodness and celebrate the ways He has carried us through. (Do it now…count your blessings and name them one by one!!!)

As we embrace this new year, I want to encourage you to fix your eyes on what the Lord has placed in front of you. To be clear, the past—its struggles and pain—is behind us.  Let’s turn the page together, trusting that God’s plans for us are good and filled with hope.  Whatever you faced in 2024, remember this truth: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" - 2 Corinthians 5:17.

In this new season, let’s take hold of Paul’s words in his letter to the early Church, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  - Philippians 3:13-14.  Let’s press forward with faith, leaving behind what holds us back and embracing the incredible future God has for us.

As a church, we are beginning the year with intentionality and focus through our 21-day Prayer and Fasting.  This time of seeking God’s presence is an opportunity to realign our hearts with Him and experience His power in our lives.  Personally, I was deeply blessed by Day 2’s reading, which reminded us of this incredible truth: “The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that is working in us.” - Romans 8:11 That same resurrection power is alive in you—let Him work mightily in your life!

I also want to encourage you to join us in person for the continuation of our powerful series: Turning the Page.  Each week, we will dive deeper into God’s Word to discover how to move beyond the past and step boldly into the future He has prepared for us.  Don’t miss this time of worship, growth, and encouragement—it won’t be the same without you!  If you didn’t join us for the first two sermons in the series, you can find them at the links below:

Turning the Page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWC8xicjpHY

Turning the Page-Right Priority: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgRTcuBqlF0

Last week, we were challenged to make Jesus our #1 priority in 2025.  Let’s face the truth, when Jesus is at the center, everything else falls into place.  Matthew 6:33 tells us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Isaiah 43:19 reminds us of God’s promise: “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Let’s live with this kind of faith and expectation.

Jewels and I love you all very much, and we are filled with hope and excitement for what the Lord will do in and through Freedom Pointe Church in 2025.  Together, let’s walk forward with faith, boldness, joy, and a renewed commitment to Jesus. (OK, I’m fired up!!!). The best is yet to come!  Who’s with me?!!!
 

Blessings,

PJ