"I said to the man at the Gate of the Year,

"Give me a light so that I may walk safely into the unknown."

He said to me, "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.

It shall be to you safer than the light and better than a known way."

Many were rather glad when last year finished... it contained tragedies that tore at the heart strings.  And even worse, in the case of Christchurch, it didn't stop, and even to this day there is uncertainty in that city.  What did stand out though were the extraordinary acts of kindness and banding together as New Zealanders and foreigners rallied round.  Just to let you know, the churches pitched in not only with thousands of food parcels but also with chaplaincy, professional counselling, prayer and continued follow-up. 

Lately, of course, the Rugby World Cup has brought an exciting buzz  and achieved something no other event in New Zealand has... the ability to extend hospitality internationally on a very big scale.  It also gave us a breather from focusing on natural disasters and monetary woes. 

So... the wording at the beginning of this article... is it still just as believable when things like earthquakes and mining disasters happen?  Is it still something you'd want to say at the beginning of, say, 2012?

God, as written in the Bible, has never pretended to be an 'insurance policy'; He has also never pretended that this earth is as heaven and will not suffer.  There's reasons for what happens 'down here' and He gives them, but you need to know one thing, and that is that God does truly care for each person; He wants to restore relationship with you, and He has the long-term plan in mind. 

Christianity is available for all.  It is without price, it does not need a certain intellect, nor require a level of physical ability, but Christ can reach us, and understands to the uttermost where we are at.  And regardless of what happens, He will help you stay afloat; He will get you through it.

It is far better to depend on the Lord who made the whole earth, you, and everything in it, than to depend on your wealth, health, family, country.  He says 'there is no shadow of turning with Him'.  In other words, when things become affected by externals, He Himself does not change from who He is, and who He can be, in His availability to you.

Take courage - God is nearer than you think.  Do not fear to reach out to Him.  Ask... give Him your request... establish a connection - you will find Him there.