Watch And Pray
How do you celebrate the New Year?
 The crowd in New York's Time Square roars with joy and adulation as the crystal ball drops to bring in the New Year. "Happy New Year" is cheered from the center of the square kicking off celebrations throughout the entire nation. Many partygoers celebrate New Year"s Eve with fireworks, music, noisemakers, and alcoholic beverages to enhance their celebration. While others use the approach of Luke 21:36, "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man".
Each year, many Christians gather in churches around the nation to pray as the New Year enters. The tradition of praying as the New Year enters dates back as far as the 1730"s from the Moravian"s of England. Today, a number of Protestant Christian groups continue this tradition with worship services on New Year"s Eve.
 For the African American communities, this tradition took on a slightly different meaning on New Year"s Eve 1862. Slaves anticipated the arrival of January 1, 1863 as the Emancipation Proclamation went into law. A portion of the proclamation read,
"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom."
Today, the tradition of praying on New Year"s Eve is known as "Watch Night". Saints gather in churches throughout the nation to watch and pray as the New Year enters. Singing, dancing, praying and testimonies are a part of the service as the saints celebrate the New Year in worship to God.
Today, saints, friends, and family members, continue to gather, watch and pray for God"s divine presence in our lives and in our nation throughout the year. We live in perilous times and prayer is what will take us through each year!
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Are you hungry for more inspirational scriptures with light music? Do you need Bible Study Resources for your weekly studies? Would you like to start a daily devotionals? Our web site will point you into the right direction with online resources that is available to every believer the has an internet connected computer. We are linked to some of the world's riches resources on the internet today. You can use these resources online or use them offline as downloaded software to your computer. Visit our web site here at Tim Hamner Ministries Learn more about this...
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Ready to Serve
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As a member of the body of Christ, I've learned a few things along the way that you may find interesting. This walk with Jesus Christ is a fascinating journey that is best shared with friends.
The articles presented on this site are just a small token of the enormity of God in my life. He has take me through many tests, trials, struggles, pains, heartaches, and tribulations.l However, I've found him to be true to his word. 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'
Please feel free to contact me if you need a prayer partner, a friend to speak with, or you just want to say hello.
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GodŐs word will endure forever. GodŐs word is true and every one of his righteous judgments endures forever. Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. When life throws you a curve ball and it affects your health, relationship or finances, remember that God is in control and His word is true. Romans 4:21 assures us that whatever God promised to perform in your life, he will see it through to fruition.
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