As the pressures of everyday life constantly increase in this dying world, it is becoming more and more difficult to stay grounded with a positive attitude. Unless we are anchored on the Rock Christ Jesus by spending time in prayer and claiming the precious promises of His Word every day, the enemy will find a way to bring us down. When things don’t go the way we would like, it is so easy to focus on the trouble and forget all the hundreds of blessings, large and small, that God showers upon us everyday. As the text says, in order to have the peace of God, we must “thank Him for what He has done”. That means a conscious choice to forget about our trouble, and remember what He has done! It is a change of focus which makes all the difference.

Everyone we are talking with seems to sense time slipping away, quicker and quicker each week seems to pass. Is this just a thing in the States, or do you notice it in your country as well? Could it be a fulfillment of prophecy—the final events will be rapid ones?

Last month, a junior high school graduation ceremony was held at the Special Education Center where we work. Only one student graduated this time, but he had been unable to attend regular school since he was 8 years old due to a mental illness and we provided him with various supports until he turned 15 years old.

Now he has remarkably recovered and is able to interact with others and has been attending a public high school since April.

The first two months of the new year have brought us all nearer the Lord’s return. We all see what is happening, not just in the world, but in God’s remnant church. It is truly exciting to be living in these times, on the one hand, but having received so much light as a people, it is very solemn and serious, on the other.

How quickly 2024 passed—out with the old, in with the new. Happy New Years to each. What God has in store for each of us individually, only time will tell. We are given a new clean slate. It should be our desire as we see the day approaching, to be more committed to the Lord’s word, more determined to gain the victory over sin, and seek to know Christ more intimately, that we can win more souls for heaven.