(D-29) A New Year's Prayer...

Father God, what a beautiful morning you have given us today! It is a brand new one under a brand new sun, the year of 2009, which never existed before. It is the morning sun of January 1, 2009.

Father God, thank you very much for your unfailing faithfulness not only in carrying out your story (History of Grand Salvation) for the humanity but also in guiding us in our daily lives, step by step, to help us complete the sanctification by the truth.

Father God, thank you for letting us put the past behind and look forward to the future You are laying out before us. We do not see it clearly so somewhat uncertain, but we put our trust in You more than ever before so that our steps will be firm and solid. It is a great feeling of security in You, Father.

Father God, thank you for the ministry opportunity that you have allowed us to have in Rwanda this year, serving the underprivileged people to help overcome their poverty, see the Light, experience the love of God, and transform their financial, economic, social, and spiritual lives to be living witnesses of Jesus to others.

Father God, thank you for getting us excited about the ministry opportunity and getting us prepared, logistically, mentally and spiritually, little by little, but surely. How comforting it is to know and sense your presence in this process!

Father God, You already know that there is some nervousness in me, not because I am afraid of the new environments or the challenges that I will face, but beause I may fall short of the high expectations that the board and the management have on me. You know high expectations will naturally result in disappointments.

But... Father God, even this I put down before You... with an understanding that it is not I who chose Rwanda and this ministry but You who has chosen and placed us into this ministry. Thank you, God, for this assurance. I remember Your words in Phil. 4:6,7. "Do not be anxious about anything... And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." What a comfort... Thank you, my Lord... Thank you...

My Lord, Jesus, I pray for our daughters whom we leave behind in the states. Amanda will be busy finishing her intelligence training in Texas at the same time preparing for the wedding they plan to have in May. Logistically it is quite challenging, but with your guidance we trust she will handle it well. Help her come to You on her knees for guidance, wisdom and strength. Joyce will be finishing up her last semester at U Penn for graduation in May. You know she is pursuing two bachelor's degrees to be completed in four years at one of the most challenging schools in the world. I know it is not easy. But she has been doing remarkably well and I thank You for enabling her to do it. At the same time, she is applying for a job opportunity to many workplaces, which is a hassle. Besides, the job market is not that favorable because of the global crisis. Lord, I trust You will lead Her to the most appropriate job opportunity in Your eyes in Your time. I pray that You will teach her to be more dependent on You on all things.

Lord, I also pray for James Hansen, my son to be, when he marries Amanda in May. He is going through the pilot training in Oklahoma and this training is pretty intensive, I heard. May James have peace in his heart in handling multiple tasks and in the process of making numerous decisions with Amanda. I pray that James and Amanda will have stronger bonding and stronger commitment in and through this preparation process under logistical challenges of getting married in Colorado while everyone is scattered around. May your divine wisdom and godliness overflow in James so that he may be a solid leader not only as a military officer but also as the husband of the new bride.

Lord, I pray that this year many Christians around the world may be truly integral in their lives so that their lifestyles may proclaim the gospel, not just in words. It is sad to see many people turn away from the gospel and the church, criticizing the lack of integrity in the lives of Christians. So it is a constant concern for me not to fall into this trap myself. So, Lord, I pray for Your wilful intervention in the lives of all Christians, particularly Christian leaders to be truthful and integral in their lives. Oh... indeed. I believe that is the way Your Kingdom should advance further on earth.

May Your love and peace may unite peoples and nations again in 2009, reducing the conflicts around the world. Just too many people are dying innocently, Lord. May the new President of the U.S. be blessed by You with wisdom and courage so that not only the U.S. but the rest of the world may see some hope of improvement in the midst of the global crisis. May Your justice prevail in the ocean of injustice and dishonesty. May we learn to be content with what Your have entrusted with us, resisting the greed for more. May we pursue a life focussed more on 'being' than 'doing' in 2009. May we also pursue more 'significance' than 'success' in 2009. May we make the most of the days that You told us to number in our remaining lives in 2009.

Thank you, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, for the brand New Year that has just begun and for the wonderful things that You will do throughout the year. May we be somehow part of your wonderful works in Your way and in Your time. It will be our privilege and Your blessing to us. It is my prayer that You will be honored and glorified in all things.

I pray all things in the name of our Lord Jesus, Your Son. Amen. - Jeffrey