God is doing a new thing in 2023

As we think about the New Year with new possibilities and new opportunities to learn and grow, here is my heart’s desire for those who read Dr. J’s Apothecary Shoppe:

As the New Year unfolds in beauty in 2023,

May we rise to become all God has called us to be.

We explore the exceeding great and precious promises that God has in store for us, reminded of who He is and what He alone can do:

Isaiah 43:16, 18-19:

Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Each New Year represents a new beginning, as God reminds us once again that He makes all things new.  As I considered deeply the concept of a new beginning or a fresh start, I happened to think of this poetic expression:

All Things New

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth;

shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness,

and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:19                                                                                                                                     

Behold, I am the Lord God who makes all things new.

Trust me and you will see. You will never be the same.

As you look to me, it is no secret what I can do.

I am God–I do not lie, I am faithful and true.

Almighty, God of the impossible is my name.

Behold, I am the Lord God who makes all things new.

Some thought it was over, but I am by no means through.

I cover and restore to remove all guilt and shame.

As you look to me, it is no secret what I can do.

Never forget what I have already brought you through.

You have a divine purpose; your life is not a game.

Behold, I am the Lord God who makes all things new.

In me you overcome—I am Lord of the breakthrough

Who offers boundless promises that you can now claim.

As you look to me, it is no secret what I can do.

Trust me, obey and see what I have in store for you.

With your life you will make known my goodness and proclaim:

Behold, I am the Lord God who makes all things new.

As you look to me, it is no secret what I can do.

As we embark further into the New Year, we may encounter challenges and demanding situations that seem impossible to resolve on our own. The Bible reminds us of God’s unfailing power and strength to turn seemingly impossible situations into triumphant victories. We must never forget the message of Isaiah 43:19.

As Lara Martin reminds us, “God is Doing a New Thing”:

New Year: New you–no limits

The Verse of the Day for January 1, 2016 comes from 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT):

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

This verse also reinforces the Verse of the Day for yesterday, the last day of the old year, where God reminded us, “Behold, I will do a new thing. . .”

The Verse of the Day on the first day of the New Year also brings to mind the message delivered on New Year’s Eve by Bishop Charles Mellette of Christian Provision Ministries entitled “New Year: New—No Limits.” The objective of the teaching session was to help listeners to confess, believe and act on the Word of God, laying a foundation with Luke 1:37:

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

The American Standard Version offers this rendering:

For no word from God shall be void of power.

As we embark upon the next leg of our remarkable journey of discovery and forge ahead toward our destiny in God, Bishop Mellette reminded us that “There are no limits on our lives except for the limits that we place there when we choose not to believe the Word of God.” As believers, we are reminded that we must confess or to come into agreement with the Word of God. Jeremiah 1:12 in the New King James declares:

Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”

The Amplified Bible puts it this way:

12 Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am [actively] watching over My word to fulfill it.”

In addition, we must commit to and act on the Word of God despite the most challenging circumstances that may confront us. The living illustration of Abraham and Sarah found in Genesis 18:9-14 provides great encouragement.

When God sends a message to Abraham and Sarah that they will have a son in their old age, when Abraham is about a hundred years old and his wife “was long past the age of having children,” they are confronted with a seemingly impossible situation. In response to these circumstances, the Lord responds with a question that is really a statement: Is anything too hard for the LORD? (verse 14)

Abraham, the “father of faith,” overcame these incredible odds, and as Romans 4:20-21 (NLT) clearly reveals that Abraham’s faith increased:

19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

The motivating message for the New Year ended with these two words of encouragement to remind us:

Nothing, nobody can stop us from reaching our destiny this year.

What we are seeking to find in God will be finding us all year long.

We end with this reminder from Israel Houghton with the refrain:

You make all things new

Yes, You make all things new

And I will follow you forward

 

Behold, I am doing a new thing

On December 31, 2014 as we reflect upon the bountiful blessings of the past year with gratitude and anticipate even more abundant blessings awaiting us in 2015, the Verse of the Day reminds us of who God is and what He alone can do:

Isaiah 43:16, 18-19 (New Living Translation):

I am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea. “But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

The passage from Isaiah also brought to mind this poetic expression:

God is constant, never changing.

Yet God is fluid, ever changing.

Like the ocean and horizon at sunset and sunrise,

Always the same yet never quite the same,

Infinitely wise, ruler of earth and skies,

We humbly recognize our savior and creator,

Who makes all things new.

Marvelous are your works;

Righteous are your ways.

Worthy of the glory,

We give our highest praise.

Never changing, yet ever changing,

Who is like unto our God?

There is no one like Him.

Who is like unto our God?

Each New Year represents a new beginning, as God reminds us once again that He makes all things new. As I considered deeply the concept of a new beginning or a fresh start, I happened to think of the lyrics to a little song composed based on the words, “Behold, I make all things new.”:

Behold, I make all things new.

Behold, I make all things new.

Behold, I make all things new, brand new.

Things will never be the same.

 

Behold, I am making you new.

Behold, I am making you new.

Behold, I am making you new, brand new.

You will never be the same.

The same expression is also the title of another poem with the same message.

All Things New

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth;

shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness,

and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:19                    

                                                                             

Behold, I am the Lord God who makes all things new.

Trust me and you will see. You will never be the same.

As you look to me, it is no secret what I can do.

 

I am God–I do not lie, I am faithful and true.

Almighty, God of the impossible is my name.

Behold, I am the Lord God who makes all things new.

 

Some thought it was over, but I am by no means through.

I cover and restore to remove all guilt and shame.

As you look to me, it is no secret what I can do.

 

Never forget what I have already brought you through.

You have a divine purpose; your life is not a game.

Behold, I am the Lord God who makes all things new.

 

In me you overcome—I am Lord of the breakthrough

Who offers boundless promises that you can now claim.

As you look to me, it is no secret what I can do.

 

Trust me, obey and see what I have in store for you.

With your life you will make known my goodness and proclaim:

Behold, I am the Lord God who makes all things new.

As you look to me, it is no secret what I can do.

As we embark further into the New Year, we may encounter challenges and difficult situations that seem impossible to resolve on our own. The Bible reminds us of God’s unfailing power and strength to turn a seemingly impossible situation into a triumphant victory. We must never forget the message of Isaiah 43:19.

This particular verse and the tragic death of his nephew became the inspiration for one of Don Moen’s signature musical compositions, “God Will Make a Way,” offered here by Hosanna! Music.

What a wonderful reminder and source of encouragement as we close out 2014 with a grateful heart and enter 2015 with great expectancy.