“He heard my cry… He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”  Psalm 40:1-3

A new year 2025 begins! Who knows how many more God will give us? A couple of days before this Christmas my father, Peter Nunn, went to be with the Lord. On Christmas day, the mother of a close friend also passed into God’s presence. On the Sunday after my father’s passing, I noticed behind the table on which stood the bread and wine, symbols of Christ’s death, was a manger, symbol of his birth. Life and death, close together. Jesus experienced both, just as we do. The question is, are we ready to pass from this life to the next? They were both trusting Jesus as their Saviour, so we know they are now seeing Him face to face. Will you? Are you ready to give an account of your life to Him?

Not long before my father passed, we were sharing about the three verses above. He said God had taken him “from the mire to the choir”, by which he meant God had saved him from his sin, put his feet on the solid rock, which is Jesus, and given him a new song to sing and a new life to live, one that would praise God. He did not consider himself a great man, but he knew he trusted in a great God, and that made all the difference.

And so, as we face another year, with its uncertainties, with our hopes and fears, may we also trust in the Lord Jesus, for salvation yes, but also for guidance and strength to sing and live for Him. Perhaps God is calling you to come to Beacon as a camper, or perhaps as a volunteer. Be encouraged to step out in faith! We serve a great Master, who delights to use weak and fallible servants such as you and me, so only He gets the glory.

May the Lord bless you and yours this year!

On behalf of all the Beacon Staff,
Andrew ‘Monk’ Nunn