All of us have seen how wonderful (or possibly tragic) the year 2007 has been. It is always that when we begin the new year, our expectations for ourselves are set a bar higher, because we desire and aspire to better ourselves in the coming year; trusting that we won't repeat the mistakes we made in the past year.

While 2008 offers many new opportunities, challenges and events, we must never forget how 2007 has built us to be more mature people, and wiser. It will always be that one of our greatest teachers is "time". Only time can show us that the experiences we have gone through has built us to be more durable, versatile and mature. We cannot be who we are without the past as a foundation in building our character.

Hence, beginning this new year, we must not just thrust forward without reflecting back on how God has been faithful. Attending the watchnight service was excellent, we saw so many people testifying of how good God truly is. Indeed, if it hadn't been for Him, we'd probably be suffering, or even died. But surely because of His mercies we are not consumed, for great is His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22, 23).

2008 promises even greater challenges, maybe corporately for larger groups, or personally/individually, aspirations and ambitions to reach higher. Maybe we are seeking to reach higher in our spiritual walk, or even in our career line, or a deeper journey into education, etc... they all are good things, good intentions, good goals to reach for, but must be grounded by lots of prayer. Perhaps one of the greatest tool we have available to us is the resource of heaven, the Person of the Holy Spirit. John 15 promises that He will be our "parakletos", our Counsellor and Helper, to lead us and guide us into all truth. We can be sure that He will never leave us nor forsake us, but will teach us and fill us.

Some of us may have entered into 2008 with broken dreams, shattered hopes, fears and disappointments that have broken our spirits or passion for the new year. Some of us are not certain if the new year is gonna be a good year, because of the expectations that we built, into ourselves or others on us. We may not be zealous about the year, maybe thoughts of taking a back seat have set in because of major setbacks we had in the past year. Can I encourage you, not everything that has gone bad will continue to stay bad, or repeat itself. You can change that, you don't have to subject yourself to being a victim of mistakes and misery, you can be a victor, because of Him who lives in you. He promises to be your strength, and His grace is always sufficient.

We are at the threshold of something great God is doing. We cannot be at the wayside, just watching as an audience. We have to jump into the bandwagon and take a leap of faith into what God is doing. This could mean that we may have to throw the reservations aside and let God be God. We need to dare believe, because our God is far greater, and nothing is impossible for Him. If you believe that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, far and above beyond all that we can ask or even imagine, according to the power at work within us (Ephesians 3:20), we don't need to be so reserved, because our God can do leaps and bounds beyond our imagination. We can take Him at His word.

God never fails. Though we may go through difficult times this year, though we may face opposition, though we may face some giants, God is still faithful. Yes, reality will have us nailed down at times, maybe we have to look at things differently (not all spiritual things all the time), but remember God is a practical God. We can't over-spiritualize things, we must be naturally relevant with the context of our environment. This means, we cannot be heavenly focused with no earthly good. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are His workmanship, created to do good works. Only then, can the people around us know that we are a people of earthly good.

I'm confident that 2008 will be an exciting year. After all, it's new, and God is in it. Since God already lived in 2008, He knows the end from the beginning, let's trust Him with our lives, our everything. He knows best.

I pray that you will come and encounter Him in a very special way this year. May you be filled with God's wonderful presence, and His blessings to follow you, and overtake you this year.

God bless our year 2008!