For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
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Praise: You are Holy by Michael W Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCuaQCr0hws
This worship song has been my song of the Year, the most played on my computer on every Sunday morning. I will welcome any suggestion as far as the worship song for next year is concerned!
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Dear friends,
How are you? How have you been?
Yes, it is that time of the year where we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I feel like this past year has been really short. Anyway, I am writing to let you know what has been happening with me.
Relationship wise: Yes, I am still single –not married yet. I have not found the lady that captured my eyes and my heart. Yet I am faithful and confident that if God wants me to get married He will provide for that special one. I am content being single and I think that’s what matter most.
Friendship wise: I did lose some friends such as Anna and Hector. However, I am going to see them in Barcelona in February of next year. I also made new French speaking friends like Sebastien, Roland, Jerome and Tim. It is been a blessing to know other French speakers in Manhattan.
Financially: In November of this year, I purchased my first apartment. It is a simple brand new one bedroom located in Astoria, no bigger than 650 sq feet, very close to Astoria Park –but 13 minutes walk away from the subway. I am really thankful that God allowed me to get my first residence. I think the timing was perfect. I really got a good mortgage loan rate.
Spiritually: I feel like I have grown much more than last year. I am constantly blessed by my church Redeemer and its teaching. My church challenges me to be a better steward of all of what God has provided to me –that is proclaiming the Kingdom here and serving the marginalized of our city. I am glad and rejoice at the fact that the potter is molding me into a better person ready for the New Heaven and New Earth. This past year I was trained as a lay leader in a curriculum called “Gospel In Life” created by Tim Keller and Redeemer City to City. I also found a Mini Well group (where we mainly pray for our unsaved friends salvation) and a small group meeting on Friday night. A friend nominated me for deacon again. This time as opposed to last year, I submitted my paperwork to be in this process. However, I was told that I had the gift of mercy, but maybe the timing was not right for me to move forward with the training required at Redeemer. The deek who interviewed me asked me to reconsider reapplying next year. As such, I have decided that I should just read the required readings for deacons on my own as I don’t think I will have time to go through the training next year. Overall, I can be more than happy. I see God’s touch in my spiritual life here and there.
Intellectually: I have not done much on this matter and I am ashamed to say that. My goal is to get back to study for an MPA or Master in International Relations starting in Fall of next year. That’s a reason why I won’t seek to apply to pursue deaconship next year.
New Year’s resolution: I was able to almost keep a resolution I made at the beginning of last year. I am drinking less Diet Coke! I took a resolution I knew I would not keep - that is losing weight. I failed on this matter.
The resolution I am taking for next year is as follow:
1- Start cooking on the weekends especially pasta dishes. I have no reason why I can’t cook now that I have a regular kitchen.
2- Read at least 12 books for the year with the goal of reading one book a month. I spent too much time on the internet, Twitter and Facebook. I feel like it is now appropriate to balance things out. I am throwing this in because I was inspired by Martha Steward, our GSA administrator ( reading one book a week) and our regional commissioner
3- Eating healthy –avoiding red meats to lower my cholesterol level.
I am blessed to have you as friends. Please share with me what is going on in your life such as praises or prayer requests. May God continually help you to grow more into his likeness next year. May He bless you with a good health. I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel and Feliz Cumpleano!
In Him,
Sam
Prayer:
We come together humbly to the Lord of Glory and the Prince of Peace.
Lord Jesus Christ, Creator, Author, and Redeemer, we pray that our few concentrated minutes consciously in your presence would please you and humble us.
We acknowledge you as Creator, who precedes and sustains everything
- as Visitor in Bethlehem who is truly adorable
- as Author not of fairy tales but of reality
- as Redeemer who dies to make us whole
So, convince us that this Christmas news is the best news ever
- that though you are high yet you are lowly
- that though you are defined by eternity yet you are couched in humanity
- that though you are cramped in obscurity yet your glory is for all who have eyes to see
Convince us
- that our freedom is born in a stable and secured at the Cross
- that all other supposed solutions are false avenues in the light of your beauty and grace
- that our very life depends on you
Refresh our hearts in wonder and loose our tongues in songs of joy
We worship you afresh
Lord of Glory and Prince of Peace
Our living God is not remote, uncaring or idle
but who is engaging, outgoing and active
We, His people are called to be like Him
Let’s pray that we may reflect Him more accurately
Lead us your people to shine in the mess of the world
Lead us in humble service
Lead us in courageous abandonment of life and reputation
Strengthen our mission partners all over the world
We pray for all in danger or hardship that they may be renewed in courage, faith and hope.
And we pray for the multifaceted nature of our church here in London,
that we might be filled with His energy, His love and His humility.
So make the stable our context and the real world our activity centre.
Lord of Glory, Prince of Peace
Hear our prayers
Prayed in All Soul's Church in London England
Youtube:
Silent Monks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCFCeJTEzNU
I found this funny :o)
CHILDREN'S LETTERS TO GOD
Dear GOD, I read the Bible. What does begat mean? Nobody will tell me. Love, Alison
Dear GOD, Did you mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident? -Norma
Dear GOD, Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don't You just keep the ones You have now? -Jane
Dear GOD, I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that okay? -Neil
Dear GOD, Did you really mean "do unto others as they do unto you"? Because if you did, then I'm going to fix my brother. -Darla
Dear GOD, Thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy. -Joyce
Dear GOD, It rained for our whole vacation and is my father mad! He said some things about You that people are not supposed to say, but I hope You will not hurt him anyway. Your friend (But I am not going to tell you who I am)
Dear GOD, Why is Sunday school on Sunday? I thought it was supposed to be our day of rest. -Tom L.
Dear GOD, Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before, You can look it up. -Bruce
Dear GOD, If You give me a genie lamp like Aladdin, I will give you anything you want, except my money or my chess set. -Raphael
Dear GOD, Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother. -Larry
Dear GOD, You don't have to worry about me. I always look both ways. -Dean
Dear GOD, I think the stapler is one of your greatest inventions. -Ruth M.
Dear GOD, Of all the people who work for You I like Noah and David the best. -Rob
Dear GOD, My brother told me about being born but it doesn't sound right. They're just kidding, aren't they? -Marsha
Dear GOD, I would like to live 900 years like the guy in the Bible. Love, Chris
Dear GOD, We read Thomas Edison made light. But in school they said You did it. So I bet he stoled your idea. Sincerely, Donna
