It's a new day, and a new year. It's amazing what can happen in a year. Whenever a new year starts, many folks look forward with commitments and resolutions (mostly of the weight concerning kind =) ). The more I think about it, the more I realize that in times of reflection, like New Year's Day, we should look in three directions; forward, back and up.
As we begin the year, we look at back at what God has done for us and we look back with much gratefulness. We look back joyfully at our one year anniversary celebration and how we went from one EMC to five EMC churches! How we have grown in one year! And as we look back we remember those who have gone home before us to Christ-Sam and Ate Weng. We reminisce at their memories with both tears and smiles and are grateful that in Christ, we will see them again. The road that we have travelled together has been filled with many ups and downs but God has been there through it all.
And as the new year dawns on us, we look forward. We look forward to what God has in store for us and we await with excitement for what He will do in our lives. And in particular, EMC NY is gearing up for our mission to the Philippines this July 2012. As the new year begins, we continue to diligently prepare, practice and pray for the upcoming mission. I can only imagine how God will move when we return home!
And lastly, but most importantly, as the new year starts, we must look up. We look up with to God for His guidance. We look up with gratefulness for faithfulness this past year. And we lift our hands in praise to the God who holds every day in His hands. We can make plans for everything, but ultimately, we must look up to Christ for whatever comes our way.
So as we begin this new year together, let us look in all three directions. Let us trust God in everything we do. The EMC ministry belongs to Christ and we are His children. We can do nothing without Him. God has shown that He is always faithful and always loving.
"Thus far the Lord has helped us." 1 Samuel 7:12
-Melissa M.
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