A woman walked into her bathroom at home. As she did, she saw her husband weighing himself on the bathroom scales, sucking in his stomach. The woman thought to herself, "He thinks that he will weigh less by sucking in his stomach." So, the woman rather sarcastically said to her husband, "That’s not going to help!" Her husband said, "Sure it will. It’s the only way I can see the numbers."

I am sure resolutions galore have been broken already

A New Year always brings with it certain fears. We do not know what sort of a year we will have and what lies ahead.

When you fear that the worst will happen, your own thoughts may help to bring it about.

Someone once wrote, "Fear is the wrong use of imagination. It is anticipating the worst, not the best that can happen."

A salesman, driving on a lonely country road one dark and rainy night, had a flat tyre. He opened the boot and discovered he had no wrench. The light from a farmhouse could be seen dimly up the road. He set out on foot through the driving rain.

Surely the farmer would have a wrench he could borrow, he thought. Of course, it was late at night, the farmer would be asleep in his warm, dry bed. Maybe he wouldn't answer the door. And even if he did, he'd be angry at being awakened in the middle of the night.

The salesman, picking his way blindly in the dark, stumbled on. By now his shoes and clothing were soaked. Even if the farmer did answer his knock, he would probably shout something like, "what's the big idea waking me up at this hour?"

This thought made the salesman angry. What right did that farmer have to refuse him the loan of a wrench? After all, here he was stranded in the middle of nowhere, soaked to the skin. The farmer was a selfish man. No doubt about that! The salesman finally reached the house and banged loudly on the door. A light went on inside, and a window opened above. A voice called out, "Who is it?" His face white with anger, the salesman called out, "You know right well who it is. It’s me! And you can keep your aul wrench. I wouldn't borrow it now if you had the last one on earth!"

That illustration is so true of all of us, we worry so much about things, that at times, we cause them to happen in our minds.

What fears are gripping you in 2002?

One worry is that you will be left alone in the future. That you will be abandoned, deserted, by yourself and having to face the future on your own. That’s a legitimate worry that many people have.

Another worry is that you won’t know what to do when you get to the future because it will be new and different. You won’t know what to do in the uncharted waters.

A third worry is that you won’t have what you need in the future. You may lack the resources or the talent or whatever. You won’t have what you need in the future.

Another is the fear that you will be hurt somehow by someone or something in the future and you won’t be able to handle that pain and you worry.

And then there’s simply the worry that you may not make it to the future, that it will be too tough, too rough. That you won’t have the strength to make it.

The good news is that worry is an optional misery. You don’t have to worry. It’s not forced on you. Every time you worry, you’re choosing to do it. This is one area where we, who are believers in Jesus Christ, have a distinct and definite advantage over unbelievers. When you know God and his word, you know you don’t need to worry.

I hope as we look into our motto text it may help us over come our fears and worries for 2002

As we look at this for the next twelve months may it help us to over come hurdles that we will no doubt encounter this year.

I want to hone in on just one little part of our motto text but let me break it down first of all

• Look at the Salvation.

"I have redeemed thee." Just in case we would doubt the sincerity of the speaker, just in case we would question his genuineness, the Lord says, "I have redeemed thee."

The Lord was speaking to Israel and they would remember how they were redeemed from Egypt by the blood of that Passover lamb. They would rejoice in the great deliverance that God had wrought for them through his servant Moses.

How much more should we rejoice bearing in mind the following.

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

This story illustrates something of the truth of redemption.

One of the old favourites is the story of the father and son who worked for months to build a toy sailboat. Every night when he came home from work the man and his boy would disappear into the garage for hours. It was a labour of love, love for each other and for the thing they were creating. The wooden hull was painted bright red and it was trimmed with gleaming white sails. When it was finished, they travelled to a nearby lake for the boat's trial run. Before launching it the father tied a string to its stern to keep it from sailing too far. The boat performed beautifully, but before long a motorboat crossing the lake cut the string and the sailboat drifted out of sight on the large lake. Attempts to find it were fruitless, and both father and son wept over its loss.

A few weeks later as the boy was walking home from school he passed his favourite toy store and was amazed to see a toy sailboat in the window--his sailboat!

He ran inside to claim the boat, telling the proprietor about his experience on the lake. The storeowner explained that he had found the boat while on a fishing trip.

"You may be its maker," he said, "but as a finder I am its legal owner. You may have it back--for fifty dollars."

The boy was stunned at how much it would cost him to regain his boat, but since it was so precious to him he quickly set about earning the money to buy it back. Months later he joyfully walked into the toy store and handed the owner fifty dollars in exchange for his sailboat. It was the happiest day of his life.

As he left the store he held the boat up to the sunlight. Its colours gleamed as though newly painted. "I made you, but I lost you," he said. "Now I’ve bought you back. That makes you twice mine, and twice mine is mine forever."

If you are not saved as you consider this motto text, every time you see the words, "I have redeemed thee," you should worry, you should be concerned.

Christ has died on that cruel cross so he could say to you, "I have redeemed you." But still you want to stay with the devil. Still you are taking your chances with eternity.

I hope our motto text challenges you if you don’t know Christ.

• See the Salvation.

• See the Invitation.

The Lord had personally set aside the nation of Israel for a special purpose.

Every child of God can remember that time in our experience when Christ called us. I wonder as you read this has Christ been speaking to you lately?

Have you heard his voice calling you as the gospel is preached?

As you look at events in the world and as you lay your head on the pillow at night has that still small voice been working in your heart?

If you are not saved, each time you consider this motto text remember you are lost and without Christ.

An elderly gentleman was out walking with his young grandson. "How far are we from home?" he asked the grandson.

The boy answered, "Grandpa, I don't know." The grandfather asked, "Well, where are you?" Again the boy answered, "I don't know." then the grandfather said good naturedly, "Sounds to me as if you are lost." The young boy looked up at his grandfather and said, "Nope, I can't be lost. I’m with you." Ultimately, that is the answer to our lostness, too.

We can't be lost if he is with us.

Have you taken up the invitation yet? Or will you walk alone?

The Christian will never walk alone.

Oh dear child of God look at our Salvation. "I have redeemed thee."

Look at our Invitation, "I have called the by thy name."

• Look at the Possession.

Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

For Christ to say of us, "Thou art mine." Could anything be more blessed? Could anything thrill our souls more for 2002?

Song 2:16 My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

There are three simple, thoughts I want us to consider regarding this part of our motto text.

1. When we look at the words, "Thou art mine." It should cause thoughts of humility.

If you ever listen to famous people being interviewed they always try and convince others that they are just ordinary people who have made it big.

And no doubt that is true. When it comes to Christianity. We know how debase and how ungodly we were. We know how unworthy we are of even the least of his mercies. And yet in spite of this what have we read?

God says of us, "Thou art mine."

I hope we don’t have to be convinced of the need for humility in our lives. We are only sinners saved by grace.

Think of some of the, "Thou arts," that could have been written about us.

What did God say to the serpent that was used of Satan?

While Satan had the use of us we too were cursed of God. We were under his condemnation. Praise God for our Saviour.

• We were cursed.

• We also faced a certainty.

"Dust thou art," that means that man was going back to the dust. He would face death.

What a situation we were in. We were cursed and facing certain death.

• The consequences, again we have another, "thou art."

Praise God now it is no longer, "Thou art tormented," but "Thou art mine."

How humble this should cause us to feel.

If you are reading this and you are not a Christian I want to give you another, "Thou art," from scripture.

"Thou art in the same condemnation."

You are cursed and you are facing certain death. You are facing eternal consequences. You are in the same condemnation as we once were but look at our text again.

Belonging to God brings certain responsibilities with it. Being part of the Royal Family has problems as many of the young Royals have discovered at their cost. Being a member of your own family brings responsibilities. Parents must provide for their children. Children have to honour their fathers and mothers. Husbands and wives have responsibilities towards each other.

When I say to my children, "Thou art mine," it involves responsibilities.

As we look at this text, "Thou art mine." What responsibilities are we reminded of?

• Service.

We see from the above verse that ownership and service go hand in hand.

What about your service for the Lord?

When you look at the words, "Thou art mine." Does it compel you to want to do more for the Saviour?

• Sin.

This text should be a barrier to sin in our lives. Consider the following scriptures.

T Jefferson said of USA two centuries ago, "Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just."

If we belong to Him, we would not want to sin against such a great and Holy God.

"During the nine years that I was his wife," says the wife of the great artist Opie, "I never saw him satisfied with one of his productions, and often, very often, have I seen him enter my sitting room and, throwing himself in an agony of despondence on the sofa exclaiming, 'I never, never shall be a painter as long as I live!'"

It was a noble despair, such as is never felt by the self- complacent daubers of signboards, and it bore the panting aspirant up to one of the highest niches in the artistic annals of his country.

The same dissatisfaction with present attainments is a potent force to bear the Christian onward to the most eminent degree of spirituality and holiness.

• Steadfastness.

We are considering the responsibilities that arise from belonging to God.

The Lord made them His own. What did they do in response?

They turned their back on God. How could they when God had been so good to them?

How could we be unfaithful when we realise he has made us his very own?

"Thou art mine." Oh how steadfast and unmoveable we should be. How faithful it should cause us to be.

Do you see the responsibility this text brings upon us?

• Separation.

God’s children are "above all people."

When we see the words, "Thou art mine," it should cause us to live separated lives.

"Thou art mine." This text should cause us to realise the need for; humility and responsibility.

• This text should also causes us to see the futility.

The words, "thou art mine," should cause us to see the futility of fear and worry for the New Year which we have just entered.

Look again at Isaiah 43.

We are redeemed, we are called and we are His. And because of this there are certain assurances given here in Isaiah 43. Will you take these promises onboard for 2002?

We will not drown in a sea of turmoil for He is with us.

We will not burn in a fiery furnace of opposition for He will be with us.

Do you see the futility of fear and worry? His presence is guaranteed.

He is our saviour. He protects and looks after us at whatever it might cost.

Look at the words used to describe His own, precious and honourable. Best of all look at His passion for us; "I have loved thee."

He loves us. Can anything better accompany us into the New Year?

We are created for His glory. God’s purpose and plan for us will not be thwarted whatever we may face in 2002. It will be for His glory.

Do you see the futility of fear and worry?

"Thou art mine"

It’s like this: have you ever been driving on a curvy road, and you get stuck behind a slow car for miles, going 15 miles an hour? You think you’d like to pass but you can’t see around the corner. If you could just see around the curve, then you’d know if it was safe to pass.

I’ve often thought, if there would just be a police helicopter there, hovering on the edge of the mountain and could see all the curves from the larger perspective and they could radio down to me and say, "It’s okay. There’s no traffic coming from the other way for the next half-mile."

Then I could feel confident and pass on curves when I couldn’t see. That’s perspective. God can navigate you through the curves of life.

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