The New Year

"You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.

The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness.

The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain;

they shout for joy and sing." - Psalm 65:11-13

The New Year has come with little good news on the television. Our hope, however, is in the Lord and it is He who provides the abundance that we have enjoyed. Psalm 65 describes the blessings from the Lord mostly through nature. The local hills have changed to green again and some of the springs which stopped flowing at the end of the summer now provide water again. Here is the beginning of this Psalm:

"Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled.

O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come.

When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.

Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!

We are filled with the good things of your house of your holy temple.

You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior,

the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,

who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength," - Psalm 65:1-6

This is a good Psalm to read through, especially for those who are feeling discouraged.

HIGHLIGHTED PRAYER

Give thanks to the Lord for the many blessings of the last year, and give thanks for what He will provide over the coming year. We don't know what we will receive from the Lord, but we should still look forward expectantly and with thanksgiving in our hearts. Our attitude of thanksgiving to the Lord should be something which sets us apart as Christians in these times. Pray that this would be the attitude of our congregation and that we would seek to encourage one another as we try to encourage those around us.

PRAY FOR OUR CONGREGATION

Please pray for those among us who are being negatively affected by the economic downturn. Pray that they will have faith in God and that God would provide for them. Please pray that they will be renewed and have a clear and common vision for the year.

Please pray for our Leadership Prayer Summit on 1/10 (this Saturday). Our leaders will be going up to the Newark Prayer Mountain (Coyote Hills) to pray for ourselves and to pray for our church as we go into the New Year.

Please pray that people will register for our Winter Retreat. Pray that it will be a catalyst for spiritual and community growth. Pray for more folks to register to be part of this work of God.

Our small group and youth group are startinng up again after the Holiday Break. Please pray that the community bond will be strengthened, people will grow to become more like Christ, and that God will add to their number...

PRAY FOR THE REST OF OUR CHURCH

The Mandarin group is working on a new Sunday School teaching curriculum and efforts are being made to train new teachers. Pray that God’s blessings and guidance would be with them as they choose materials. Pray that God would raise up teachers from among them who are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The Cantonese congregation is planning a neighborhood outreach/evangelism event for February 7th. Pray that the Lord's hand would be with them.

Time to plan for next year's Taiwan mission trip! Pray for the planning of this and that God would be preparing His mission field in Taiwan and our church to participate.

PRAY ABOUT HOW GOD IS LEADING YOU ON HIS MISSION

PRAY FOR THREE (3) OF YOUR UN-CHURCHED FRIENDS/FAMILY

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Amen