I could start this letter for the year, and how we have finished, in many ways. I could talk about the year, listing the blessings and struggles and lessons learnt, but I would prefer to let that flow out of this message as I speak from my heart, and also share some of the glimpses of where God is taking us in this coming prophetic year. So let me start it with one of the scriptures that has been laid on my heart.

Joel 2:22-25 MSG "Fear not, the fields and meadows are greening up. The trees are bearing fruit again: a bumper crop of fig trees and vines! Children of Zion, celebrate! Be glad in your GOD. God's giving you a teacher to train you how to live right-- Teaching, like rain out of heaven, showers of words to refresh and nourish your soul, And plenty of food for your body--silos full of grain..."I'll make up for the years of the locust, the great locust devastation"

We are coming to the end of yet another year, 2010. It is a time when we re-assess the year and begin to formulate “strategies” for the following year, from New Year’s Resolutions, to other promises we make to ourselves, that, all too often, we don’t seem to get to finishing what we started. I want to quote some points from an article and share these with you, as you will find them to be confirmation of much of what I have been teaching during the last few months.

Recently, Dr. John Maxwell wrote an article about finishing strong. Here is an excerpt from that article:

“I once heard that 91 million Americans make New Year's Resolutions, but that 70 million Americans break those commitments within a week! Going to a health club seems to confirm the stats. During the first week of January, gyms are packed. All of the treadmills are in use, people are lining up for a turn on the exercise equipment, and it's hard even to find a parking space. Yet, by about the third week of January, you can park in the space nearest the front door and exercise on any machine that suits your preference.

What happens between January 1st and January 21st? People demonstrate their unwillingness to finish.

Character, discipline, sacrifice, tenacity-these qualities aren't stylish, but they are sure-fire ingredients for any leader who wishes to finish strong. As we enter the final month of the calendar year, I encourage you to make the most of the remaining weeks in 2010. Live and lead in December so that you'll end this year on a high note and cruise into the New Year with positive momentum.”

I doubt the stats are too different from country to country, and all of us can identify with what he is saying here. We are often strong starters, but when we are challenged in the race of life, dodging obstacles, being emotionally drained and not coming to Jesus to replenish us, it can overwhelm us and blur our view of the finish line, and we are often left feeling like we haven’t accomplished half of what we set out to do.

John Maxwell talks about 3 qualities that are essential to help us finish strong. These are:

Character
Emotions are unreliable allies. One moment they propel us forward, while the next minute they impede our progress. People guided primarily by emotion must feel good before doing right. They make popular choices, choosing whichever route is most convenient. They are concerned about protecting their rights instead of taking care of responsibilities, and they are easily discouraged by adversity.

Emotion might drive us to make a decision, but character, or discipline, is what keeps us going when the journey gets tough.

A person with character makes decisions on principle, not on the basis of what is popular. He or she honours commitments instead of catering to convenience. High-character, disciplined individuals work steadily regardless of circumstance, creating their own momentum by dint of a steady work ethic.

Sacrifice
Being a finisher requires recurring instalments of sacrifice, not a one-time payment. Sacrifice is especially important as we lead people as Christians & as leaders. It’s a leader's constant companion. As influencers, we must give up to go up, ever exchanging our rights for greater responsibility.

I believe most people expect to pay a price to achieve their goals. Yet, many people seem to have a vague concept of sacrifice, viewing it as something distant or far-off. Consequently, when their goals demand a significant investment, people are bewildered and resist giving up anything. If you desire to finish strong, you will need to sacrifice earlier than expected and to give up more than is comfortable.

Tenacity
Pierre and Marie Curie had made 487 experiments to try to separate radium from pitchblende. All had failed. "It can't be done; it can't be done," Pierre Curie lamented. "Maybe in a hundred years it can be done, but never in our lifetime." Madame Curie replied, "If it takes a hundred years it will be a pity, but I dare not do less than work for it so long as I have life." Madame Curie's tenacity goaded the scientists into making another attempt and opened the door to new scientific discovery.

Tenacity means quitting only when the job is done, not when you're tired. Much of life is spent labouring in the trenches.

To reach the finish line, you must wade through tedious details, take care of thankless tasks, and tie up thousands of loose ends. Most people tire along the way, settle for second-best, and stop before reaching their goals. However, a select few push on, refusing to stop until they've taken hold of their dreams.”

Keep your vision alive for 2011

As you prepare to enter the next season, remember that the year might be 2011, however the prophetic season of bringing your vision to fruition isn’t necessarily worked by our calendar years, but with God’s timetable, which could be over several years. So don’t feel like God has forsaken you; see the timing as being in sync with God’s timing for everything in your life. Even the valleys are sometimes experiences that we have to work through, to prepare us for the next level in the assignment God has for us, which forms part of the picture of that vision for our lives.

Be persistent, hold on to the dreams God has given you. Dreams are what will keep your vision alive for the future, for the next season!

Most of you might be aware that 2010 was an exceptionally difficult year for us as a church family. A spirit of deception fell on the church.

We had struggles within our leadership, much of the congregation suffered through this transition; but many people held onto the vision of what God has promised us; and that has kept us in alignment and grounded to God’s Word, in spite of the deep turmoil that many of us have experienced during this time.

Standing firm faithfully
Staying faithful, even when we don’t understand everything that is happening in our lives, no matter how distracting, is showing we trust God. It is God’s faithfulness, and our faithfulness to obey God, no matter what it costs us individually, that leads us into Christ’s truth and will for our lives. We trust God enough to bring breakthrough. The trust relationship is always linked to faithfulness, and faithfulness is always linked to obedience.

The gate is narrow but I am glad I have found it!
The gate might seem narrow as many of you have been travailing in prayer, struggling through deep things this year, but God is planting afresh and breakthrough is coming. As you trust God wholeheartedly, you will reap the fruit of your labour in the coming season. God is bringing a fresh word in this time that will nourish your soul, and prepare you for the season ahead.

A Word for 2011 & 2012
Here is a word that I believe is the start of the vision God has laid on my heart: No matter how barren a place you have come from this year, take joy, as this is the word God has given us, a new identity to take us to the next level. There is no doubt, that there is a BIG move of God about to break through in the coming year. All those who are hungry, and those who seek God’s face, are those that will be in it.

You will conceive out of a barren place because GOD DELIGHTS IN YOU!

Whenever God was about to take people in the Scriptures to the next phase or the next level of their assignment, God would often give people a new name, that represented the way they would be identified and known in that coming season, synonymous with their growth.

For example: Abram (which means "exalted father"), became Abraham ("father of many" or "father of the multitudes"). This name (Abraham) was in keeping with the covenant that God had made with Abraham in Genesis 12, concerning the promises for his life and the nations he would lead and produce, along with Sarah, in spite of her barrenness. Yet she conceived and gave birth to Isaac.

If we remain faithful, out of that barren place will come a new day. Out of things that have died (spiritually / emotionally), the greatest day is about to dawn, and you will conceive out of a barren place! God is about to give you a new name; a name that will identify you with the new level God is moving you to.

Isa 62:2-4 MSG “Foreign countries will see your righteousness, and world leaders your glory. You'll get a brand-new name straight from the mouth of GOD.
You'll be a stunning crown in the palm of GOD's hand, a jewelled gold cup held high in the hand of your God. No more will anyone call you Rejected, and your country will no more be called Ruined. You'll be called Hephzibah (My Delight), and your land Beulah (Married), because GOD delights in you and your land will be like a wedding celebration.”

God will turn the barren land into a prosperous land! God will turn that which was dead inside you, into a place of resurrection and life. Just as Sarah's womb was opened, so God will open doors that were sealed shut, and bring you into the fullness of Christ's promise. In essence, God is about to take you to the next level of your assignment, so, get ready for a name change. Remember that the sacrifice of obedience brings us to the next level of blessing. You may have to struggle with some challenges, before you get there; you may have to sacrifice things that satisfy your flesh, but not your soul, to get there, even perhaps friendships that were not what you thought they were, but it is those that finish strong that will stand

Some practical & logistical stuff
Most of you will know that God has been speaking to us deeply during the course of the last two years about physically relocating. We started sharing about this at the beginning of 2010, and by July we started looking for a facility. We have spent much time in prayer and discussing this with the Board, and whilst we were hoping to secure a commercial facility to rent a lot sooner, many of our plans were put on hold due to the struggles, challenges and distractions we faced in the last half of this year in dealing with some leadership issues, of which naturally spilled over into the congregation. Due to these difficulties, we have had to relook carefully at affordability, and so the specifications have changed a bit, but we are still on track, hindered but going! God has our hands, and will guide us to the right thing at the right time! It’s those that build on God’s truth that will endure through the struggles.

I am confident that God will provide us with the finances we need to pursue this, as this is part of the vision and word God has given us regarding our identity as a church.

So please continue to pray with us towards this, and to contribute to our finances for the facility as God leads you. We have much to do in the new facility: eg. lighting, stage, chairs to purchase, additional equipment and installation, podium and carpeting to cater for, so any gift of love you can sow into this project for our new facility will be appreciated.

We are excited about what 2011 holds in store for us; as the storm has passed, we are expecting God to move in power, and moving into our new facility is all a part of our new identity.

Ultimately, we must finish strong to start the New Year strong! If you are not in alignment with God, now is the time to get back on track and finish strong!

On behalf of the Ministry Board and the Executive Board, I would like to wish you a very blessed, merry Christmas and compliments of the season for 2011, as God fills you with the promises that are yours! Enjoy it, as you spend time with your families over the season.

Remember: You are God’s delight! Sometimes it has to rain before the new shoots spring up and new things are able to grow. Get ready, Zion! Get ready, people of God; the fields and meadows are greening up and the trees are bearing fruit again!

Blessings and all my love

Rev. Deborah Bell
Senior Pastor
Deo Gloria Family Church