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A Prayer for the New Year:

A fellow prayer warrior sent me a note telling me of the vigil she will be holding this day:

"I wanted you also to know that I am joining you in prayer today with all those keeping vigil for our cities, ports, airports, planes, trains, amusement parks ~ for the interrogaters and other intel experts charged with watching/listening for our enemies plans on the net, phones, etc. ~ and for protection and vigilance for all of our troops, civilian support staff, Coalition allies and 'native' allies around the world today. "

I realized that indeed we do need to take a few moments out of our busy celebration to ask for intercession on this day of celebration and hope. Please join us in petitioning the Lord God, our Father, for blessings upon this nation and her people, and upon her allies, and all the oppressed people of the world this day and for the coming year.

Lord God, our Blessed Father,

We contemplate the year's end and we see that there have been many victories. Father, we ask that you will seal those victories and let not the Spoilers compromise them, but instead, allow them to be the fulcrum and the lever for bringing about more liberation and the blessings of freedom on our benighted planet.

FAther, we ask that in this time of hope for a new year and blank slate to write on, that you will grant us special blessings and dispensations of mercy for the coming new year.

We ask, FAther, that you will surround all who hold public office in the governments of the free nations. We ask that you will overshadow and communicate extraordinarily clearly with any and all of them who may chance to bow their head in sincere prayer. We ask that these who are elected representatives or appointed by representative governments will listen and have the strength and courage to be obedient to your directions. We ask that those who choose not to bow their heads in prayer, but who have no honor, and use their office for personal aggrandizement will have their negative actions and effect minimized and mitigated as much as your Great Law will allow.

Father, we lay upon your altar the issues of judicial abuse, any and all attacks against the Constitutional Freedoms of any kind, and the physical protection of our borders. FAther, we express our concerns about the vast numbers of people who are allowed to cross our borders with impunity. Reach into the hearts and minds of our leaders and representatives and guide them in the Way that is in accordance to your own Will and not ours in these and all other critical issues facing us in this coming year.

We ask you to overshadow all the electoral processes which will be happening in this nation and in all free nations this year. Enter into each race, from the smallest village in Afghanistan or Iraq up to and including the 2004 race for President of the United States of America. We ask that you will intercede and place into office ONLY those whom you deem to be your choice candidates for the working out of your Will and Plan.

Enter now into the governments of the nations which are headed up by tyrants and dictators. Clear and prepare the Way for your sons and daughters to overthrow their enslavers. Send forth and give growth to the seeds of your abundant mercy and freedom visions throughout the earth. Transform all darkness into Light! Banish ignorance! Banish greed! Banish lust for Power! Banish the lust to destroy and harm! Banish hatred and envy!

We ask you Father, to let us fulfill that admonition to "pray without ceasing." If it be according to your Will, please let some part of our minds and hearts be at your disposal 24/7 in the holding of the vigil for our cities, ports, airports, planes, trains, amusement parks ~ for the interrogaters and other intel experts charged with watching/listening for our enemies plans on the net, phones, etc. ~ and for protection and vigilance for all of our troops, civilian support staff, Coalition allies and 'native' allies around the world today. Continue to overshadow our Law Enforcement and public safety personnel at all levels. Bless them and grant them extraordinary wisdom, alertness, and discernment while they discharge their duties this day and in the days to come.

We are grateful, Father, for the many miracles you have granted us over our lives each and every day. We realize that we are blind to many of them, but we ask you to open our eyes to see how much you are in our lives and are our immediately present, loving Father. Help us to learn to be the face, and hands and feet of your Son, our Lord, and help us to be a blessing to all whom we meet.

We are grateful for this new slate of hope for a new year of Opportunity. We ask for blessings upon our families, loved ones, and our communities. We ask for blessings of Freedom to be preserved in this nation, and to be secured for other nations throughout the earth who have not breathed the sweet air of Liberty in living memory. We bring to you the fruits of victory from this past year, both personally and as a people. We bring to you our shortcomings from this past year as well, and ask that you will guide us into doing better in the coming year.

We remember the ones who are grieving their loved ones lost to the War on Terror throughout the earth. We remember the heroes who took to heart the words in our National Anthem and placed themselves between their loved homes and the war's desolation. We remember this day those who are Waiting for the return of their heroes who are fighting. We remember the families in Israel and other nations who have been destroyed by the suicide bombers. We remember our own countrymen who were killed by them in September 2001. Bless all of these, Lord, for they have paid or are paying more than their full measure. Bless them and comfort them abundantly.

Father, grant us Faith to enable us to see your Vision for our lives, personal and planetary. Grant us Courage and Peace and Wisdom to pursue that Vision. Take command of our lives and the governments of the world, blessed Father, and let only your divine Will be done, for we declare this day that the Earth Is the Lord's and the Fullness thereof!

Amen

I am praying and agreeing.
HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL
I will be praying and watching tonight.

Article published Dec 31, 2003
Town ready for bash
Kure Beach fireworks display to herald in brand new year

KURE BEACH - It should be good fireworks weather tonight for hundreds of celebrators expected to ring in the New Year at Kure Beach’s annual party – the only big, local celebration of the event.

DJ music and dancing begins at 10 p.m. at the base of K Avenue near the Kure Pier, said Frances Massey, president of the Island of Lights, the community group that plans the annual party.

Popcorn, hot chocolate and soft drinks will be sold at the event, as will noisemakers, but alcohol won’t, Ms. Massey said.

"It’s family-oriented," said Tim Fuller, a member of the Kure Beach council and the Island of Lights. "It’s like a big block party."

In the seconds before midnight, Kure Beach Mayor Betty Medlin and Carolina Beach Mayor Dennis Barbour will lead the countdown to the midnight drop of a large, lighted ball from the extended ladder of a Carolina Beach firetruck, Ms. Massey said.

Then the pyrotechnics begin, Mr. Fuller said. Lasting about 15 minutes and costing about $3,000, the fireworks will be shot from about 100 yards south of the pier over the ocean. Mr. Fuller said the pier would be open for spectators.

The view of the explosions should be a good one.

Light winds and mostly clear skies are forecast with temperatures in the low 40s or upper 30s around midnight, said Dave Loewenthal with the National Weather Service office in Wilmington.

The Island of Lights New Year’s celebration is about 12 years old, Ms. Massey said. It used to be held in Carolina Beach but moved to Pleasure Island’s smaller partner two years ago.