Dear friends
Can you believe we find ourselves racing towards the end of
another year? With the Christmas season upon us and the holiday makers starting
to flock to our shores, I find my attention constantly being pulled back to the
words of Jeremiah when he was speaking to Israel:
"Also, seek the peace and
prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord
for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." - Jeremiah 29:7
My prayer for our city over this season is that we would
know the peace of God. As people come for holiday and perhaps drop their guard,
or as family comes to visit and perhaps places a strain on you, I ask that
peace would be your governor and peace would reign over our city.
I also pray that those businesses who rely on holiday
seasons would experience incredible prosperity, and that those businesses who
struggle over the holiday season would find the sustaining hand of our loving
God over them.
And I pray that both the peace of God and the favour of God
over us at this time would be for his glory.
May I encourage you friends to use this holiday season
wisely. If this is your busy business time, work hard and influence people for
the Kingdom of God. If this is your rest time, rest well and give God the time
to reassign you so that you come back running and full of purpose. And always
see people as God sees them, as his creation who he is busy redeeming back to
himself.
Have a good couple of days and I look forward to seeing you
this coming Sunday as we share some big Southcity family news.
Much love
Rich
