January, 2007 Here’s My Heart... Monday, January 1, 2007, signals the beginning of a new year, a fresh start, and there will likely be no shortage of those famous “'New Year’s Resolutions”. Some will resolve to be more health-conscious, some to be more involved in church, some to read the Bible more, and some to take up a new hobby, etc., etc. You may be one of those who will resolve to PRAY more this coming year. If so, let me share some thoughts with you Anita and I have discovered lately about PRAYING. Max Lucado, in his book, “Grace For The Moment”, asks, “Do you want to know how to deepen your prayer life? PRAY. Don’t prepare to pray. Just PRAY. Don’t read about prayer. Just PRAY. Don’t attend a lecture or engage in discussion about prayer. Just PRAY. Don’t be so concerned about wrapping the gift that you never give it. Better to pray awkwardly than not at all!” Elizabeth Crews, who writes devotionals for “First Place”, says, “It has occurred to me that the disciples didn’t ask Jesus to teach them HOW to pray, they asked Him to teach them TO pray. The sheer number of books on the subject is a sad testimony to the fact that God’s people had rather read about how to pray than to just get down on their knees and do it! Great prayers do not come from knowing HOW to pray. Prayer has great power because the God of heaven and earth commands us to pray, and promises to draw near to us when we draw near to Him in prayer.” PRAYING. Now there’s a “'New Year’s Resolution” that is never out-of-date. From Anita and me, HAPPY NEW YEAR! May it be one of your best ever. Blessings. Jim Clayton - Senior Pastor