New Direction

The Velocity Volume takes a new direction in this new beginning of 2008. The daily devotional format is no longer a part of this writing. Those devotions, printed weekly and available in print, will be published in a separate web presence. If you want to receive the weekly mailing of these devotions, please send me a note to Paul@DCCfamily.net or Pwstebelton@bellsouth.net. I will build a distribution list to send out attachments each week for the devotions.

So, this web blog, Velocity Volume will focus on events, happenings and all things surrounding my relationship with the new church plant–Velocity Christian Church. I must thank the Lord above for the opportunity to be His servant. My vision is not mine alone, but is shared by many faithful friends, family and leadership of the Douglasville Christian Church. We are ready for God to use us in this great process of planting a new church from the generosity of DCC. Like the butterfly who emerges from the puppa, VCC will emerge from DCC. Our commitment to the missional directives found in the New Testament will guide our focus in ministry.

Pray for these faithful few who will travel to the promise land. So much must happen before our Launch Sunday in September–we need the prayers and the help of many people and the Lord.

Paul

Resolutions

Wednesday, January 02, 2008    Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)
¹⁹ 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. From the book “Lists to Live By”, written by Grav, Stephens, and Van Diest come several great lists of information. Since I am out of town now and taking a few days away, forgive me for quoting from this book valuable information for us all, at least for the next few days. 

How to Keep Your Resolutions in 2008 

1.         Write them down 

2.         Count the cost. 

3.         Make them meaningful. 

4.         Give them priority. 

5.         Be specific and practical. 

6.         Ask someone to keep you accountable. 

7.         Seek help if you struggle. 

8.         Break them into steps. 

9.         Reward yourself for each successful step. 

10.        Keep your eyes on the goal. 

11.        Do all you can to make them fun! 

12.  Pray

John Van Diest Prayer Points for the day 

1.         Seek God to help you stay motivated to your goals this year. 

2.         Thank Him for the strength to face each day and each resolution. 

Genesis 3:1-4:26; Matthew 2:13-3:6; Psalm 2:1-12; Proverbs 1:7-9

Day One

Tuesday, January 01, 2008            Isaiah 56:5 (NLT)
⁵ I will give them—within the walls of my house— a memorial and a name far greater than sons and daughters could give. For the name I give them is an everlasting one. It will never disappear!

Acts 11:26b (NLT)
²⁶ It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians. “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.” William Shakespeare Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Today is the first day of 2008. Today is a short day—probably because we stayed up way to late last night! Today is just about like any other day of the year. Maybe more football and more food are in abundance today. Perhaps this is a day off from work. But still, there are 24 hours; the sun has risen and it will set. The time will move at the same pace as any other day. Yet, this day marks a very special part in our calendar—for this is the first day.  If you resolved to read from God’s word this year—you need to begin today. If you resolved to watch your temper—you need to begin today. If this year, you want to seek God’s direction in your life—begin today. Start the habit of quiet time today. This is imperative to begin today, because—you guessed it already—tomorrow will never come. A task put off to another day is a task that rarely gets finished. Procrastination affects us all—and for some of us—it affects us a lot. Doing these devo’s has helped me face the nemesis of procrastination. My “to do” list is a constant reminder of the need to ge-ter-dun.  Yes, you have the entire year ahead of you. But only one day this year will be the first day of the year. Don’t waste this day—don’t waste any day—but live wholly and completely in the name of Lord each day of your life in 2008.  This year, God willing, I will include readings that if you complete them each day, you will have read the Bible through in one year.  

Prayer Points for the day 

1.         Praise the Lord for the new day ahead—and New Year.

2.         Pray God’s guidance in the upcoming year. 

Genesis 1:1-2:25; Matthew 1:1-2:12; Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 1:1-6

Memories

Monday, December 31, 2007    Hebrews 9:27-28 (NLT)
²⁷ And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,
²⁸ so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. “Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.” – Benjamin Franklin Memories are part of our past—in fact that’s what memories are—recall of our past. We learn from some memories. For instance, after you placed you hand on a hot stove, your memory guided you from that day forth not to ever, ever do that again—you remember. And there are other memories which go with us as well, that teach us the frailty of life. This past year, you probably lost a loved one. And your heart and life is being flooded with memories, especially this past holiday season. You remember good times and bad times—but mostly the good times will remain. You remember the touch of a loved one—the thoughts and feelings of loved ones and you are faced with two choices. Live in a world which longs for the past—always crying out for one more day in the past to say goodbye or one more moment to hold someone. This is normal and natural. But there is another choice. Hold tightly to the memory, but long to look forward in time.  Life must go on. We have no choice really. But it often takes an effort to make the decision to go on. And as we close out another year—we are faced with the same question of choice. Do we continue to long for the past—its events or activities or do we go on and face a future where God will use each of us to accomplish ministry in a great and glorious way. DCC will give way to VCC, our new church plant. Take the memories, cherish them, but don’t let them lead—allow God to lead.     Prayer Points for the day 1.         Thank the Lord for blessings of our past at DCC.2.         Pray for God to bless the new work at VCC later this year.3.         Pray for God to direct your role in making this new outreach effective