By Pastor Larry Stover

I’ve been enjoying talking with people since the beginning of the New Year. I enjoy listening to “resolutions” and hearing about how long they actually lasted. I guess most of us need a big dose of will-power. I’ve also heard stories of regrets for what happened in 2012.

There are a lot of things that bring regrets for the past. Making bad choices is still the number one cause of living with disappointment.

While some decisions bring little or no consequences, there are some that change your life and world forever.

The thrill of drugs, smoking, alcohol consumption, and promiscuous living are constantly being dangled in front of our youth.

The pressure to fit into the crowd or make a date happy can bring an overwhelming sense of failure to anyone who has been caught up in that trap.

Sometimes a cloud of self-pity envelops you. Failure begins to haunt you. Some are not even sure that God would forgive them for their actions.

If you have messed up lately; I mean, really messed up, I have some good news for you. Jesus Christ has always been the Lord of new beginnings.

Psalm 147:1 gives us hope. “The Lord delights in those …who put their hope in His unfailing love.

He loves you so much, He won’t give up on you. If He won’t give up on you, why should you keep living in fear with regrets when the Lord of New Beginnings wants to give you a fresh start.”

If you would take your Bible right now and read Psalms 103 and 139, you will realize that God knows everything about you. You cannot hide anything from Him. So, quit trying.

It’s time to get up, dust yourself off and get going again with the God of New Beginnings.

He can make something great out of your life if you will give Him a chance.

The choice is yours. You can keep wallowing in self-pity or sit under your cloud of regret. I believe that the year ahead should be a grand one for all who trust the Lord for great things.

This could be the most important decision you ever make in your life. If you need some help with that resolution, come on by my office and let’s talk about it.

I still believe that with God’s help, 2013 could really be your best year ever.

When our lives revolve around a relationship with Jesus Christ, life is “simply beautiful.”