Save your pence, ladies and gents

Greetings Indexers,
I hope you all have had a Christ-centred Christmas and are looking forward to the new year. We've missed having all of you around, though a week of quiet has been nice! A few things for your attention here.

1. Don't forget Jason and Lindsay who leave for India in a day or two to build houses with Leprosy Mission.

2. Make sure your ready to sign-up for the weekend away when you get back (which means having £50). if this means selling your Christmas gifts on ebay then I say go for it, it will definitely be worth it.

In closing, let me encourage you, as we enter another new year, by God's grace to consider what is most important for your life. Here are a few thoughts from missionary Henry Martyn on what he saw as priorities. Probably something to learn here.

I see by this, how great are the temptations of a missionary to neglect his own soul. Apparently outwardly employed for God, my heart has been growing more hard and proud. Let me be taught that the first great business on earth is to obtain the sanctification of my own soul; so shall I be rendered more capable also of performing the duties of the ministry, whether amongst the European or heathen, in a holy and solemn manner.

May the Lord, in mercy to my soul, save me from setting up an idol of any sort in his place; as I do by preferring even a work professedly done for Him, to communion with Him. How obstinate is the reluctance of the natural heart to love God! But, O my soul, be not deceived; thy chief work upon earth is to obtain sanctification, and to walk with God. ‘To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.’ Let me learn from this, that to follow the direct injunctions of God, as to my own soul, is more my duty than to be engaged in other works, under pretence of doing Him service.

May we be holy, as God is holy. And may we pursue Christ more than ever this new year.