A prayer for the New Year

As we come to the end of 2011 we are enjoying some quiet days on a beautiful beach in South Thailand. It has been good to rest, to play together as a family and to have time for reflection.

These words from The Valley of Vision (a collection of Puritan prayers) seems to sum up so much of our past year as a family.

O Love beyond Compare,
Thou art good when thou givest,
when thou takest away,
when the sun shines upon me,
when night gathers over me.
Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world,
and in love didst redeem my soul;
Thou dost love me still,
in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, distrust.
Thy goodness has been with me another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.
Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead;
I hoist sail and draw up anchor,
With thee as the blessed pilot of my future as of my past.
I bless thee that thou hast veiled my eyes to the waters ahead.
If thou hast appointed storms of tribulation,
thou wilt be with me in them;
If I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation,
I shall not drown;
If I am to die,
I shall see thy face the sooner;
If a painful end is to be my lot,
grant me grace that my faith fail not;
If I am to be cast aside from the service I love,
I can make no stipulation;
Only glorify thyself in me whether in comfort or trial,
as a chosen vessel meet always for thy use.

As we look forward to the year ahead our prayer is that God will indeed be ‘glorified in [our whole family] whether in comfort or trial’

With our love and thanks for your partnership with us through another year.

Johnny, Ann, Matthew, Bethan and Joshua

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