Greetings Friends and a Blessed New Year!

A New Year has begun and most of us are excited about that. There's a hope that things will be better! It's a fresh start and many New Years' resolutions are made. I was reading from Chuck Swindoll's "Five Meaningful Minutes a Day" and it said that with God, there isn't a new or old year. He is "the same" regardless of how things are. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" - Hebrews 13:8. We can have confidence that God is always consistent and always there for us.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that Jesus was your focus! My husband Jake and I had the opportunity to spend it in Denver, Colorado, at a family reunion with our son Mike and his wife Danielle. We had a wonderful time and the highlight was visiting "Focus on the Family" in Colorado Springs, Colorado!

Since my husband Jake's retirement, we have been spending time together traveling and drawing closer to Christ and to each other. It's been wonderful! I know that God is consistently at work in us, changing and shaping us for His glory. He has a perfect plan for our lives.

Since my last newsletter and in the last six months, I have been earnestly seeking God and what His plans are for me and my music ministry. It's been like a sabbatical. I have had some wonderful times with the Lord, as He has been speaking to me through His written Word, he has revealed Himself to me while praying, and through the Holy Spirit's Promptings, Providential Circumstances and through godly people. I can be confident in the realization that God has created me uniquely and for a fulfilling purpose. The "Dream Giver" video series, by Bruce Wilkinson, is beneficial in confirming that.

This last year, God opened up a number of opportunities for me, to serve in my church as well as in the community, and in another country. A women's worship choir and team has developed at my home church, which I've been leading and directing. We have sung at the women's fashion show, retreat and conference, as well as for a Pastor's farewell. I have done a few solo concerts at fundraisers in the local area, for a women's conference and at a church in Mexico. We saw how God touched many hearts and how a few people gave their lives to Christ! To God be the glory!

In the last while, I have been updating addresses and e-mails, so some of you who are receiving this newsletter may not have heard from me for some time and some may be hearing from me for the first time! You are important to me and I enjoy keeping in touch!

As I have laid my ministry before the Lord and waited on Him to show me His thoughts and ways, I received an interesting call from a fine Christian woman, who said that God had put it on her heart to help me. As I have gotten to know her and her heart, I have seen that she has a gift of communication and so I have asked Sherry to be my Booking Assistant. Plans are to start with local bookings for the spring. I also have a heart to go back to Quebec, so Lord willing, we will begin to book that tour for the fall. As well, there's a Television Station in Alberta that has shown an interest in having me as one of their special guests, so that may be in the plans as well. God has also planted a desire in my heart to go to the Philippines. This has come about through a number of different people and events, so that may take place next year, as the Lord leads! There's a verse that say's, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9. This verse means more to me now than it ever has before, because God has reminded me that He is in control and that "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" - Isaiah 55:8. God sometimes brings us "tough stuff" in our lives, so that we will seek Him more than anything else and be more like Christ.

I ask that you to pray for me and this ministry. It will be a tough going, as we begin this journey of booking and looking at planning future opportunities and projects. Pray for wisdom and clarity of vision, like I've never before experienced. That there would be dignity and honor and a sure sense of purpose that can only come from our Lord Jesus Christ. That there would be an abundance of work for service in the Kingdom and that there would be peace in my life that comes from knowing my instructions come straight from the Lord. This has also been shared with me as a blessing from Christian friends. So I look to the Lord with anticipation!

I would love to hear from Pastor's, Music Pastor's and leaders, as you plan your yearly events and outreaches. I would also welcome any encouragement or prayer requests.

For more information about this ministry, music or scheduling, please check out my website at http://jeannettepetkau.com

May the Lord bless you and may you have a Happy New Year! In Christ,

       Jeannette Petkau