Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

You know, Lord, a new year has dawned and as we flick the calendar to the new year, we come face to face with the fact that our days on earth are numbered. As we turn to this clean, fresh, new page on the calendar we're also aware that we have a new day, a new year, in our lives. It is up to us to fill in those pages. Please help us to choose wisely, Lord, as we forget about the past and begin to look forward to what You have in store for us.

Your Word is full of promises for us, all-be-it, we are Your wayward, stubborn, stiff-necked children, but if You wrote out a wish list for us for the New Year, would it look something like this?

New Year's Wishes for You

Enough happiness to keep you sweet.

Enough trials to keep you strong.

Enough sorrow to keep you human.

Enough hope to keep you happy.

Enough failure to keep you humble.

Enough success to keep you eager.

Enough friends to give you comfort.

Enough enthusiasm to look forward.

Enough determination to make each day better.

We're not robots, Lord, help us learn to take time to discover the secret of a happy home and its family members; help us take time to be pleasant, to smile, to learn how to give and how to receive love.

From the Living Bible we find these promises which we can claim for this New Year. (Romans 8:28) "And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into His plans." (Hebrews 13:5) "I will never, never fail you nor forsake you;" that's You, Lord, speaking to us! What a great promise that You give us - that You will never forsake us!

Love, Mara