YOU stand at the gate of 2004. In four days' time you'll walk through it with only an inkling of what's in store.

To be sure, you'll join the rest of us dreading more rumours of war and terrorism. We'll all continue to wonder how much longer our Western culture with its shrinking values and few rights and wrongs can carry on.

But, of course, you're more concerned with the personal highs and lows of 2004. You've your own rumours of wars in relationships, maybe even a little terror or fear and you too wonder how life will hold together.

On my study wall is the best advice of all. Minnie Louise Haskins gave it and King George V1 made it famous amid world war fears.

"I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.' And he replied: 'Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!'"

Both the poet and king knew the God of Christmas. He is the one who loves you and I so much that he sends his only son into our world so that those who believe in him, who walk hand in hand with him, should not perish but have abundant life stretching everlastingly beyond 2004.

I pray that all Saturday Messages will be richly blessed as you take the hand of such a great Father.