Dear Praying Friends,

2010 has been rung in and a new chapter has started in each of our lives.  I hope your holdays have been happy and all you had hoped. 

The past few weeks at the Zilinski house have been busy and fun filled as the kids at school came home and we had all 5 kids at home for Christmas.  It was a lot of fun to watch them play together and quarrel together too.  We did our traditional Christmas Eve time. We read the Christmas story, sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and then dug in on the gifts all while eating finger foods prepared by Pookie.  What a great time.  Now the kids are back at school safely (thanks to all for praying them back), the house is undecorated and Monday the post holiday reality will set in on all of us. 

With this in mind I ask you to pray that 2010 will not be a typical year for you or our church.  Many of you have purchased the Bible long Bible to read through this year.  How are you doing?  It isn't hard and doesn't take much time each day and yet when December 31 comes around this year you will have finished reading the Bible through. This is more than an accomplishment, it is food for the soul.  Allow the words to change you as you read them.  Allow the Spirit of God to do His work in your heart. 

Also be asking God how you can serve Him in 2010.  What is it He is calling you to do?  Will you yield and obey or cast aside God's working inyour heart.  I believe that God has great things in store for FVBC this year, I know there are great challenges, but the opprotunities for God to bless our church are just as real and great!!  Be praying for our church.  Ask God to send us souls. 

Stay faithful friends.  Remember Paul's words to the Corinthian believers: "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Because of Him,
Pastor Phil Zilinski
Fox Valley Baptist Church