Happy
New Year! Hard to believe it is 2014. It is quite amazing when you
think about it that another year is in the history books and you
contributed to the greater story. That's right, your every action has
an outcome that impacts potentially generations to come. It is not
our story but HIS story we are blessed to be a part of - "For I
know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans
to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future" (Jeremiah 29:11). I am especially blessed to know that
God directs our path and every day is purposeful and strategic
despite myself. He takes my mistakes and my successes, my aspirations
and my trials and each are building materials in the Architects
hands: "A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord
directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9).
It
has certainly been a year of trials and tribulation both at home and
abroad. The economic and spiritual decay of our nation has impacted
every home and has left non unscathed. Yet we find our hope in God
and it is through Him that we stand boldly at front line seeing
victory and not defeat. You have preserved in prayer - day and night
you have given the enemy no joy in your countless words of petition
on behalf of our nation, accompanied with powerful expressions of
praise that are a sweet aroma to the nostrils of the Most High. Many
of you have taken blow after blow yet you have demonstrated
unwavering faith and determination to hold the standard high. In your
presence I am often reminded of the words of Theodore Roosevelt who
said:
It
is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the
strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them
better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives
valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows great
enthusiasms, great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring
greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who
know neither victory nor defeat.
This
year, the theme for the National
Day of Prayer is
"One Voice, United in Prayer" and what a powerful statement
to make - a beacon to this lost and wavering society that we must
return to the God of our fathers in humble intercession. Abraham
Lincoln said it best, "I know that the Lord is always on the
side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I
and this nation should be on the Lord's side." For we are given
power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in
the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of that which He has
given us, and it is to advance His will. May we always remember that
it is not our will but Thy will be done.
The
Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave
us or forsake us; so that He may incline our hearts to Him, to walk
in all His ways... that all peoples of the earth may know that the
Lord is God; there is no other.
Blessings!
John
Bornschein
Vice
Chairman, NDP Task Force
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