From Dan Beedell, Communications at east to west:
“2019 will have begun with the natural sense of looking ahead to the year before us, pondering what the year might bring…hopes, fears, excitement and sadness. Melancholy aside, starting a new year always reminds me of one thing that never changes: God.
As I reflected on 2018, I saw the words of the ‘Footprints’ poem lived out:
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed you the most, you would leave me."
He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."
I recognise these moments in my past twelve months: moments when my human endeavours weren’t enough, and God endured; situations where my own strength failed and I was lifted and carried; times when I had enough and couldn’t go any further, and God encouraged, emboldened and showed me the way.
Looking back, these times were more often than I’d like! This shows my human failing and desire/need to hold control (the TV remote at home is a perfect illustration of this!), but thankfully God continues to give me opportunities to relinquish this to his Glory.
As I head into 2019, I haven’t made any outlandish, unachievable resolutions. I’ve simply chosen to try to give up more of myself and take on more of God… Now who said that wasn’t unachievable?”
Please pray for Dan: personally (in his marriage, family and ministry at Church) and his work for east to west (meeting the fundraising target and his growing role in Communications which he describes as a steep learning curve).