Christmas and New Years have come and gone; 2010 is upon us!  Looking back over the past year, what was the greatest thing God did in your life?  Maybe you have the time right now to stop, thing and make a list of 10.  10 of God’s greatest doings this past year.  I am taking my own advice and stopping to write my own list. 

If you want to see my list, come and find me….I might share a few.

Has God been faithful to carry you through another year?  Has he brought hard things, good things, new things?  And through it all, has God ever left your side?  What a thing to think about.  God has carried us through 365 days that some would say this about:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going directly to Heaven, we were all going the other way.”

Charles Dickens wrote that as the beginning of one of his books (A Tale Of Two Cities).  And God begins something new with us as well.  We can look back and reflect about the year in the past.  It may have been for some….a season of darkness, or a winter of despair.  Yet for others it might have been a season of light, and a time of great hope.  As we reflect, may our hearts be near to the burning fire that is our God.  He is knowable, and wants to guide our hearts and minds to a greater understanding of himself.  How does your year bring you closer to an understanding of who God is, who you are, who others are? 

I took a hike.

A few weeks ago, I went on a hike with a friend to one of my favorite places around.  I was reflecting in the car how crazy this place was for me.  It is the place where my life changed, where I may have skipped school to find rest in (sorry mom and dad), where I go rock climbing, where I got engaged, where God continually wraps me in himself and whispers through creation….

Mike.  I am here. 

I don’t know what your year (2009) has been like, where you year (2010) is headed, but I do know this.  That when we pause from the busyness of life and strain to hear the voice of God, he whispers…..I am here. 

A few months ago, some youth leader’s rallied together with the idea that bringing our students to the Lord in honest, persistent prayer is important.  We began meeting on Wednesday mornings at 6:00 am.  Sometimes there have only been a few, and other times a number of people.  But God has done, and is doing something great among our youth leaders and students.

Is our generation important enough?
Is losing sleep worth it?
Does prayer matter?

My hope is that you answered yes to those questions.  A number of youth leader’s have been answering yes for a while, and now its your turn.  Reader…..come and join us.  This time of prayer is not just for parents, not just for staff, not just for youth leaders, doesn’t exclude singles, or parents with no kids, grandparents are welcome, but kids in the youth groups must remain at home.  Come and join us, as we bring our students before the Lord in prayer.  May every youth that walks in our doors, that lives in our area, that needs Jesus (which is all of them), be prayed for by the body of Christ.

Join us!

PM (Pastor Mike)