Hello...

I loved hearing about a young dog that was rescued from a rabbit hole.

She had been running through the woods in early December and went missing. What happened was that she got stuck down a rabbit hole. Some weeks later, after losing a lot of weight, the dog was able to be maneuvered out of the hole with the assistance of a kind helper, and she is now safe at home with her owner.

Maybe this story is like a fable for our time. Financially in 2011, both globally and personally, we have all found ourselves stuck in some dark hole. Now we have to shed many pounds in weight so that gradually we can climb out of it.

There is also a spiritual analogy here. Trapped by the consequences of our own actions, we need help to get out of the pit into which we have fallen. This is where Jesus comes in. Whether we try to help ourselves or not, he rescues us in our weakness. The Bible explains that the Lord lifts us "out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire" (Psalm 40:2 NIV UK).

Whatever crisis you face as you enter 2012, whatever hole any of us may have fallen into or will fall into, let God do his rescue work.

Let Jesus help you have a happy new year.

JAMES.