Happy New Year, dear fellow pilgrim!

Let’s start 2012 by listening what God has to say to us:

Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have called you by name;
   you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
   when through the rivers,
   they won’t sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you won’t be scorched
   and flame won’t burn you.
I am the LORD your God,
   the holy one of Israel, your savior.
(Isaiah 43: 1-3, CEB)

Our God is indeed an awesome God! With God anywhere, without God nowhere! God also encourages us to look forward. The end of our journey gives meaning and purpose for the whole journey. We are on our way home to heaven. God is in action in your life. Don’t you recognize it?

Don’t remember the prior things;
   don’t ponder ancient history.
Look! I’m doing a new thing;
   now it sprouts up;
   don’t you recognize it?
I’m making a way in the desert,
   paths in the wilderness.
(Isaiah 43: 18-19, CEB)

God truly loves you and he knows what he is doing in your life. Trust him. Dwell in him!
This new year is all grace. Treat is as such. Embrace grace, share grace. Live in grace!

A New Year

Another fresh new year is here …
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest …
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!
(William Arthur Ward)

Seize this year! Surrender it to God and watch what God will do with it. He will equip and empower you to live according to his plan for you. Rest in God’s grace while boldly moving on as the Spirit is leading you.

Here’s a beautiful New Year’s prayer circulating on the web. I ask God to bless each of you this way:

May God make your year a happy one!
Not by shielding you from all sorrows & pain,
But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making your path easy,
But by making you sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you,
But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making your life always pleasant,
But by showing you when people and their causes need you most,
& by making you anxious to be there to help.
God’s love, peace, hope & joy to you for the year ahead.
(anonymous)

Let’s start this new year by asking God to go with us and bless us!

Gracious God,
Thank you for this new day and new year!
Be praised forever and ever!
We come to you, Lord,
to ask you to go with us.
Without you we are nothing.
But with you we go anywhere!
We want to lay down our lives
and this new year to you.
Guide us, protect us, bless us.
May your will be done in everything.
May you shine through us.
Thank you for being active and alive!
Be strongly present in our lives.
Keep us focused on you!
We love you, we adore you!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What are your prayers and hopes for 2012?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you boldly go wherever God leads you!

Image courtesy of Joe Cavazos.