1111 — Happy New Year

September 2, 2011
My eager expectation and hope [is] that I shall never have reason to feel ashamed, but that by my perfect freedom of speech Christ will be glorified in me …  –Phil. 1:20 (NTIMS)
It seems like just yesterday that all the geeks were warning us about Y2K and all the problems that would certainly be associated with that.  Now we stand at 1111 — the first day of a new decade.  This is a day of new beginnings and fresh starts.
On this first day of January many people are making resolutions for the coming year.
Throughout this year of “ones” I pray that Jesus will certainly be your #1 priority in all that you do!
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 
Ephesians 1:4-7 (ESV)
Let me share with you what God has put in my heart for this year:
  1. I am determined, by His grace, to walk in a manner which includes humility, gentleness, patience, love, unity, and peace.  I am praying that God will allow us to share the Gospel with more people than ever before.  I am resolved to speak a word of faith and grace to someone every day.
  2. I hope that GEM will be completely faithful in our calling.  May God give us the opportunity to share the Gospel with more people this year than ever before and may we be willing to walk humbly through the doors that God opens. I pray that we will be fruitful, but more importantly that we will be faithful.
  3. I trust that GF will move beyond words and launch into witness.  I pray that God will give us ears to hear and a heart to receive His Word.  I hope that we will surrender ourselves to His will.  I pray that we will impact our community and our world with the Kingdom of God!
Now I pray for you.  May this be your most productive year ever in service to the King of Kings.  May His grace be so overwhelming in you that you constantly remind others that He is first and foremost in your life.  May every day be a fresh start and a new beginning for the glory of the Gospel.