The Joy of the Lord in 2009

Well, after a nice holiday break I am back in Hiroshima feeling refreshed. I am looking forward to what the Lord has in store for 2009. My prayer for the new year is that the Lord would always "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." (Psalm 51:12) Just as Nehemiah encouraged the people when he said, "...for the joy of the LORD is your strength..." (Neh. 8:10). Only the Lord can provide true joy, and in that joy we are strong.