(To the tune of Auld Lang Syne) “Should nothing of our efforts stand, no legacy survive. Unless the Lord does raise the house in vain its builders strive. To you who boast tomorrow’s gain, tell me what is your life? A midst that vanishes at dawn. All glory be to Christ! All glory be to Christ, our King! All glory be to Christ. His rule and reign will ever sing. All glory be to Christ.” (lyrics by Dustin Kensrue)
As we wrap up this year of Creed and look forward to a new beginning, I am reminded of our ultimate beginning. What is the root of everything in our lives? Why are we who we are and how do we even exist? When we dig to the bottom where everything began, there we find our Father in Heaven. We can only do what we do and believe what we believe because of Him.
“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4, ESV)
… for “In him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28a, ESV)
When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up – for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground – then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (Genesis 2:5-7, ESV)
We are who we are because of our loving Creator. Do you believe that? If so, how does that knowledge affect your future?
In this year’s theme of Creed, we have examined our beliefs on money, faith, thankfulness, service, patriotism, legacy, words, and many other topics. It is awesome to realize we would not have the ability to believe anything if it were not for the handiwork of a loving Creator.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13, ESV)
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5, ESV)
If you are a Christ-follower, you want your life to be a living sacrifice for Him. You want to make a difference for God’s kingdom. We believe having a creed can help you carry out those desires which were placed in you by the Holy Spirit.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6, ESV)
As you get ready to count down to 2020 and kiss your special someone, consider these seven ways your creeds – personal creed and couple’s creed (which we’ve worked with you all year on building… if you’re just finding this, there are many posts to explore!) – will influence your future!
Seven Ways Your Creeds Will Impact Your Future
- Your creeds can serve as a compass for you and for your relationship. Which decisions should we make? Where should we move? Which church should we attend? What should we teach our children? Going back to your creeds and your Bible can help direct the decisions of your life. Will making this decision violate my beliefs?
- Your creeds will impact your children. My mom and dad did not read a creed to me daily, but their consistent decisions showed me an unwritten creed. They did not spend more than they made and refused to go into debt for Christmas or other unnecessary reasons. They went to church faithfully. They were both home every night except for those rare occasions when they traveled. What they believed and lived out affected me and shaped my views of right and wrong. As an adult, I wish they had created a couple’s creed and personal creeds because I would treasure those documents forever!
- Your creeds can inspire you to spend more time growing spiritually. As you grow, your creeds will likely change. You will learn more and your beliefs will expand; some beliefs may even significantly change. As you review your creeds, notice how they line up with Scripture. Keeping a copy of your creeds in your Bible can help you regularly compare them with Scripture to verify that your beliefs are aligning with Biblical truth.
- Your creeds can help you stay the course. Declaring your beliefs, reading and rereading your declaration, and weighing your decisions against your stated beliefs can keep you on course when you feel the urge to deviate or give up.
- Your creeds can help you be a light to others who need direction. Those who know what they believe and live accordingly attract others. What does that person have? Whatever it is, I want it! Though my spiritual mentor, Miss Betty, and her husband did not have a written creed, they knew what they believed and their lives reflected it. I loved sitting with them and soaking up their wisdom and positive attitudes. Knowing and living what you believe can be a beacon to a directionless, listless, and hurting world.
- Your creeds will help remind you of the why. After fourteen years of marriage and twenty years of adulthood, I often look back on my life and ask, “Why did I make that decision again? At the time it seemed like the right path to take, but now I am not so sure.” Returning to a creed, (written from a sound mind after much study and soul-searching), can serve as a reminder of why you chose your paths. It can offer peace to us when we wonder, “Did I do the right thing?” As V. Raymond Edman said, “Don’t question in the dark what God showed you in the light.” We all have valley experiences where we question our decisions; but, a well-thought out, well-written creed can serve as a peaceful blanket over your doubtful and turbulent moments.
- Your creeds – especially your couple’s creed – will help your marital bond stay strong in future years. Perhaps one of the reasons couples write their own vows is so they can have something which is special and unique to them as a couple. Your couple’s creed is also something in which no one else takes part. Reading it together and updating it together aids in continued bonding throughout your marriage.
Happy New Year!!!
I do not know about you, but I can hardly believe we are staring the year 2020 in the face. I can vividly remember the clock striking midnight on January 1, 2000. The young lady next to me asked, “Weren’t the lights supposed to go out or something?” Many of you may not remember those days, but there was a huge Y2K scare. Millions worried that computers would go haywire at the turn of the century and throw us back into the dark ages. Thankfully, a lot of people much smarter than me figured out how to make most everything Y2K compliant {Eric was actually part of that effort!}; and, as a result, our televisions, radios, electricity, vehicles, and all other computerized gadgets made it safely into the year 2000.
Thinking back on those days now, I smile. It seems funny that we were so worried. And, still I look ahead another twenty years and I find myself worrying again. What is going to come of our political climate? What if our economy tanks? What if there is a catastrophe which requires us to flee the nation? There will always be something to worry about if we look, but the truth remains – God wins. We may have to go through some stuff, but God wins in the end. Those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ for salvation have this blessed hope. God wins.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33, ESV)
We want to send you into the new year with that bit of encouragement. We may not know what is coming in the years ahead, but we know Who is ultimately coming. Are you on the winning side?
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27-28, ESV)
Happy New Year to you all! We look forward to seeing you in 2020. If you are planning to move forward in your relationship next year, we would love to work with you! Contact us and we will set up a time to speak with you!
Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. ? Mother Theresa
How will you use your creeds to influence you in the upcoming year?
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