Here we are at the end of one year and the beginning of a new one. God has much to say about newness: “Behold! He makes ALL things new!”

On a daily basis, He calls us to “put off the old man” and the old ways of selfishness, laziness, and sin and to “put on”—like a garment—the “new man,” which is the life of Christ and the attitude of a cheerful servant.

God tells us that we should put “new wine into new bottles.” We must be flexible and willing to adjust our thinking. Of course, we want to walk in and honour the old paths of righteousness and duty but we also want to do our work with new, fresh joy each day. We don’t want to become weary in our well-doing, going through our daily tasks in a tired, mechanical manner. No, we want to face each task and challenge with the ever-renewing joy of the Lord, full of expectation and hope.

God tells us that His mercies are “new every morning.” We’ve all had days where we’ve been disappointed, unsuccessful, injured, lonely or discouraged but after we’ve had a good night’s sleep, we see that God is able to restore, renew, rebuild, and replenish our hope and our resolve. God is not limited by human understanding or human weakness. God is able to make the crooked straight, the lame to walk, and the blind to see.

God is able to deliver us from evil, to fill the empty places in our hearts, and to make a way for us through the wilderness because His mercies are new every morning.

So here we are at the beginning of a brand new year. Some of us have been through the grinder in 2015. Some of us may have lost a job, a house or an election. Some of us have lost a dear friend or a family member. Some may have even lost their hope. But 2016 is a brand new year!

2016 is dawning bright and clear. Because it is a Leap Year, it has for us 366 brand new days filled with God’s brand new mercies and compassions. Each day is like a blank page inviting us to be guided by God’s gentle hands as we fill those pages and those new chapters in our lives and in the unfolding history of Canada. Each page is like fresh-fallen snow waiting for our footprints as we make paths, breaking trail for others to follow.

For CHP members and candidates, the election of 2015 was an exciting and well-fought battle but that campaign ended abruptly for many of us with a surprising overturn of a government we had grown used to. Since then, many of us have been shocked to see the sweeping changes instituted by the new government—changes to Canada’s Justice system and to our alliances and commitments around the world.

As the new government has emerged from the shrouding mists of partisan electoral wrangling, we see looming before us massive deficits and unreasonable commitments to new carbon taxes. We see life itself threatened by expanded access to abortion, open support for assisted suicide and euthanasia, restricted conscience rights for doctors and other health care professionals, and the imposition of an unhealthy approach to sexuality in our schools. Can we still step into 2016 with faith, hope, and joy?

Yes, we can. We can have confidence because God’s mercies will be new every morning in 2016. No matter what happens, no matter who occupies 24 Sussex. No matter who owns the newspapers. No matter who writes the op-eds…God is still in control. He has the last word and He has the last laugh. Psalm 2 tells us that “He who sits in the heavens laughs.”

God tells us to count it all joy when we face various trials. He is not surprised by developments. He knows the end from the beginning. People may try to hurt us but God is able to make that work out for our benefit—if we love and trust Him.

In 2016, God has work for us to do. He has already given us everything that pertains to life and godliness. He has plans for you and plans for me—plans for good and not for evil—plans to give us a future filled with hope.

His mercies are new every morning. In 2016, whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your heart.

We at the national board of the Christian Heritage Party are planning to move mountains this year, to build bridges, to open doors, and to plant seeds. We expect an exciting year of opportunity and growth and we hope you’ll be growing with us. As we stand on the threshold of 2016, my wife Elaine and I would like to wish you and your loved ones a tremendously exciting and satisfying year of activity and accomplishment. Thank you for sharing this journey with us. The story is not over yet. God is still in control and he has our best interests at heart. Have a happy New Year!

Comment on this Communiqué