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Dear Family in the Lord
It's that time of year again! We ponder the year that was - some with sadness at painful experiences, some with joy at wonderful experiences, but most of us with both! And, at midnight on the 31st of December, we enter the New Year - each with his or her own expectations, often born out of the year that was.
But whatever our memories and whatever our expectations, let's heed the words of the writer of the letter to the Hebrews as we continue into the future: "Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God's throne" (Hebrews 12:2 GNB).
And keeping that in mind, let's think about these words of Paul: "You haven't received the spirit of slaves that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the spirit of God's adopted children by which we call out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. If we are his children, we are also God's heirs. If we share in Christ's suffering in order to share his glory, we are heirs together with him. I consider our present sufferings insignificant compared to the glory that will soon be revealed to us" (Romans 8:16-18 GW). Abba, by the way, is an Aramaic word still in use today, which means "Daddy!"
So, "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before," as we enter that (to us) unknown realm called the future, let's "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13,14 KJV).
May 2006 be a wonderful, joy-filled, purposeful year for each and every one of you! Happy New Year, and, to our dear Russian friends, a blessed Christmas celebration on the 7th of January 2006!
God bless you all!
From the Mission Russia Team
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