A Brand New Year
By Jeremy Glaze
Another year has come and gone. And like all the years before, this one seemed to fly by way too fast. 2009 was a great year for me and my family. But more specifically, this Christmas has been an amazing one. I am excited to approach a brand new year, but I hate to see this Holiday Season come to an end. Christmas is the season of giving, and this year, that seemed more prevalent than ever.
One of my favorite things that we got to do this season was spend some time in the 4th Ward projects in Atlanta. This is a section of the city that is strickened with poverty, drugs, violence, prostitution, etc… Before we set out to walk in these project homes, we gathered outside in front of the Dream Center house to pray and sing. One of the several things that happened that day that I will never forget is when we sang God of This City. I have heard this song several times before, but I rarely paid much attention to it until then. This time it hit me hard. It finally clicked. We were standing by the street in the projects on a cold December morning singing God of This City at the top of our lungs. We were not singing just another song. It was as if we were proclaiming this city. Or better yet, reclaiming this city. From there we split into small groups and carried large trash bags full of toys into the apartment buildings. We knocked on each door in the building to hand out toys to the children and pray with the families. I do not know if I have ever been more inspired. I was just volunteering one Saturday. There were people here that did this every weekend. There is a staff that does this every day. This made me reevaluate the way I attempt to follow God.
It was great to do various things to give back this Christmas, but I started to wonder why this is my focus just during the Holiday season.
So I have come up with a challenge for myself and I will offer the same challenge to you. As we come upon a brand new year, let’s make this the “year of giving” instead of waiting for the “season of giving”. I am not just talking about giving financially. The economy stinks so most of us do not have the funds we would like to have to give. But we have all the time in the world to give. If we do not think we have the time, we need to make the time. Let’s change our priorities.
Secondly, I believe every social conscience person would say they would like to change the world if they could. Well, I believe we can. But we need to start in our community, our city. If you stop to look, I will bet that God is drastically moving somewhere in the city you live in. Find it, and become apart of it.
In Matthew 5, Jesus tells us, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden”. Yes, YOU! You are the light of the world. He goes on to say “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven“. (Matthew 5: 14 & 16).
Let’s shine. Let’s take back our city.
God is moving, join the movement.
Greater things have yet to come,
Greater things are still to be done in this city.
(God of This City by Chris Tomlin)
Jeremy Glaze
Your exactly right Jeremy. Good post. We are so glad that we were all able to experience God’s Love together with you in the city. We have really loved getting to know you guys, can’t wait for what else is still to come.
Thanks Kim!