January 2007
Greetings,

The start of every new year always brings high expectations for me. I anticipate certain things will happen just as they have last year and the year before that and so on. I have learned that what I anticipate doesn’t always happen. I have also experienced the unexpected, like the recent small fire we had in the sanctuary.

What the fire does remind me of is that God does not guarantee that everything that will happen in 2007 will be good. He does however promise that “all things will work for good with those who love Him.”

I trust that God will be true to His promise. I know this doesn’t guarantee that He will fulfill all our desires. More importantly though God does give us many wonderful assurances that provide us with great hope for 2007.

He is with us.
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” – Hebrews 13.5

He understands us.
“O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways.” – Ps. 139:1-3

He considers our sorrows.
“You have taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?” – Ps. 56.8

He forgives us.
“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow.” – Ps. 51:7

He sustains us.
“Because you are my help, I sing in the shadows of Your wings. My soul clings to you; Your right hand upholds me.” – Ps. 63:7-8

He calms our fears.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life life-of whom shall I be afraid?” – Ps 27:1

He guides us
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Ps 32:8

He loves us abundantly
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Ps. 103:8

He is completely trustworthy.
“Trust in the lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Prov. 3:5,6

He will not fail us.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. – Lam 3:22,23

In Christ