The Season of Meaningful Change

Nelson Plasencia, Elder (and Family)

As I look around on my travels during this season, I can’t help but notice that change is in the air; change is everywhere. The leaves falling, the grass drying, and the occasional (here in North-Central Florida) temperature drops all indicate that a new season is upon us. It is very easy to grow accustomed to such changes to the point where we stop noticing and miss the wonder of it all! Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to help us recapture that wonder. Recently I was having a conversation with one of my nephews who having lived in South Florida all of his life had never personally experienced the seasonal changes. Yes, he had seen it in pictures and in TV but seeing the trees shed their leaves up close and personal was a whole new experience for him!

Creator: Meinolf Wewel

It’s been said that times change and experience tells us that it is true. Yet, we who have put our trust in Jesus Christ, can confidently state that while times change, the time changer does not! And that is because the Bible assures us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb 13:8 NASB) And it was this same Jesus who split the calendar in two when he broke through into our world to bring salvation to mankind; to reconcile us back to God; and to show us a new way of life! During this season which we call Christmas, we recount the Nativity story and fondly remember that magical night when salvation was first proclaimed to all by angelic voices.

As the clock winds down on this year and we prepare to turn the page of the calendar we are likely to have bouts of nostalgia. Some of us may have had a good year and become sad at the thought of having to start over. For others, though, the year that is coming to an end has not been very kind. The struggles of life seem to have been magnified: financial, emotional or spiritual issues; relational problems; sicknesses. All these cause us to want to leave our past struggles behind and long for a fresh start. During his season of trial Job exclaimed “all the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes.” (Job 14:14 NASB)  Jesus the Messiah brought meaningful change into the world. He brought love, joy, peace, hope, healing, forgiveness, restoration, reconciliation! At Fellowship Church we want to embrace Real Change; meaningful change, and thus we look forward with anticipation to a new year and in faith each proclaim “I’m Starting New”!