A happy blessed prayerful 2009 to one and all!

Whenever anything new dawns upon us, there is always the fear, the anxiety about what will happen next. But then again, we can reverse the view and welcome the new with hope and with trust that all will be well, that all things happen for God's purpose for us all. And because God knows best, we can be sure, all will work out best for us as well!

Welcome to a Happy Happy 2009 then, even as 2008 saw a lot of challenges and difficulties for many nations and peoples.

Recession, that came just when the old year was about to leave, saw many workers, ours included, here and abroad, displaced and unemployed. The hardest hit among these were those left homeless and penniless. In countries with snow and winter, being homeless and hungry become more difficult to bear. Let us start the year by praying that these people, including some of our overseas Filipinos, be spared another day of cold and hunger and that they can proceed with the rest of the New Year in better circumstances.

Let us pray as well that we can share whatever we can with those who are in need. Let us pray that we can avail of all the opportunities given by the Lord for us to share what we can with whoever He sends our way.

Let us also pray that we all pray together, united, as a nation. Oh, there is so much more to pray for this country. There are the officials to pray for, that they realize that this nation' wealth is not their private property nor that of their families and cronies but is for the millions who are hungry, homeless, and jobless.

Will the new year and the following years bless us with no Congress or with genuine public servants finally? If those hopes are too high to wish for, can we pray instead that the next elections be truly honest and clean and that our people will finally vote for the true leaders that this country desperately need? Let our prayers include no cha-cha till after 2010 and no one else, except the Filipino people allowed to benefit from all the resources in this country…

Let us include as well a sincere prayer of forgiveness for all officials lost in corruption and abuse of their power. May such prayer lead them to see the light and to follow the right path of truth and honesty for the Lord and for those they were originally intended to serve, the people. May transparency and honest accountability be in every official's agenda, including those in the local governments.

Let us continue to pray that we do not give up on our hope for a better, happier world where essential needs of all are met, and where all can pursue a more humane and God-led life.

Let us pray that we do not all cease to pray together as a nation and as a world community for God's grace, love and peace for one and all!

With all of us praying together, united as one nation, one people, one world, nothing will be impossible because God can make all things possible.

Let us all then welcome wholeheartedly this next new year with the firm and full trust that 2009 is God-sent and it will truly be a happier, more blessed, God-filled new year for one and all!

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