Dear Saints,
Four years into the 21st
century has wakened us all to the fact that our world is aimlessly
heading to its end (2
Peter 3:10). The evidence to this fact abounds in our environment,
economy, society, and on the political terrain. Individually we react
to this reality in the different ways we express ourselves. We do so
in self-love, boastfulness, abusiveness, ungratefulness, unholy
living, material pursuit, and mean spiritedness. Collectively we are
alarmed, panicky, and helpless (2
Timothy 3:2-5).
Christmas has reminded us
that there is hope because our God, the Creator before whom nothing is
impossible (Luke
1:37), has sent His Son with a solution (Matthew
1:21), a solution that will keep us from the destruction that is
imminent before us (Leviticus
18:24,25). This Son laid in the manger is the guarantor and safe
place for all to be in times like this. Hence, the angels sang
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men in whom His
favor rests” (Luke
2:14).
Sin is the chain that
ties us to the destruction that is aimed at the earth. In the Son this
chain is broken, and we are provided a safe place to land. The earth
may be coming to an end, but we who are in the beloved Son are united
in Him in His endless life, and we will not end (I
Thessalonians 5:9,10). We will not end because sin, which enslaves
us and corrupts our world, is robbed of its power and authority, and
we are free.
Sin, therefore, can no
longer take us further than we want to go or keep us longer than we
want to stay or cost us more that we can truly afford. May we take
hold of our gentle Father’s hand and walk in His Son’s footsteps,
for they will never lead us astray. Whatever your dreams, whatever
your hopes, may they come true for you in the new year through God’s
leading and His loving grace.
Cyprian has stayed home
to see Joy through the health crises that challenged us greatly in
2004. Joy was twice hospitalized and then months of visits to
hospital, doctors and clinics marked our daily routine. As God
provides, he will travel back to Nigeria to continue serving in the
work. Many have written expressing disappointment that he has not been
seen this past year and are expecting his arrival.
Leaders of various
aspects of the work kept close touch with us. They gave us several
opportunities to participate in absentia in the decisions they make
regarding their growth and the Lord’s work. May the Lord Himself
cause us to surrender our own will and give it up completely to Him.
Our vision of Him and His doings has been enlarged. So we are now
passionately committed to the raising of the next generation of
leaders through training and disciple-making.
Prayer items 2005:
1. that we will pursue
the rare legacies of lives lived in virtue
2. that we will not look
for peace and joy in the false glitter of things that can be seen
3. that we will not allow
success or failure to turn us from the Presence of God
4. that we will be
content to serve our blessed Savior as obscure soldiers of the cross
5. that we will enjoy
wholeness and health, vigor and strength.
We remain ever in
Emmanuel,
Cyprian and Joy
