New Year Sentiments from the Past

As 2008 comes to a close, each of us will reflect on all of the things we shoulda,coulda,woulda done… and many will may resolutions (most unkept) to do better in 2009. I offer some prose for your consideration from 19th century poet William Cullen Bryant.

A Song for New Year’s Eve
by William Cullen Bryant

Stay yet, my friends, a moment stay—
Stay till the good old year,
So long companion of our way,
Shakes hands, and leaves us here.
Oh stay, oh stay,
One little hour, and then away.

The year, whose hopes were high and strong, Has now no hopes to wake; Yet one hour more of jest and song For his familiar sake.
Oh stay, oh stay,
One mirthful hour, and then away.

The kindly year, his liberal hands
Have lavished all his store.
And shall we turn from where he stands, Because he gives no more?
Oh stay, oh stay,
One grateful hour, and then away.

Days brightly came and calmly went,
While yet he was our guest;
How cheerfully the week was spent!
How sweet the seventh day’s rest!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One golden hour, and then away.

Dear friends were with us, some who sleep Beneath the coffin-lid:
What pleasant memories we keep
Of all they said and did!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One tender hour, and then away.

Even while we sing, he smiles his last, And leaves our sphere behind.
The good old year is with the past;
Oh be the new as kind!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One parting strain, and then away.

Enjoy and be safe.

New Year Sentiments from the Past

As 2008 comes to a close, each of us will reflect on all of the things we shoulda,coulda,woulda done… and many will may resolutions (most unkept) to do better in 2009. I offer some prose for your consideration from 19th century poet William Cullen Bryant.

A Song for New Year’s Eve
by William Cullen Bryant

Stay yet, my friends, a moment stay—
Stay till the good old year,
So long companion of our way,
Shakes hands, and leaves us here.
Oh stay, oh stay,
One little hour, and then away.

The year, whose hopes were high and strong, Has now no hopes to wake; Yet one hour more of jest and song For his familiar sake.
Oh stay, oh stay,
One mirthful hour, and then away.

The kindly year, his liberal hands
Have lavished all his store.
And shall we turn from where he stands, Because he gives no more?
Oh stay, oh stay,
One grateful hour, and then away.

Days brightly came and calmly went,
While yet he was our guest;
How cheerfully the week was spent!
How sweet the seventh day’s rest!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One golden hour, and then away.

Dear friends were with us, some who sleep Beneath the coffin-lid:
What pleasant memories we keep
Of all they said and did!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One tender hour, and then away.

Even while we sing, he smiles his last, And leaves our sphere behind.
The good old year is with the past;
Oh be the new as kind!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One parting strain, and then away.

Enjoy and be safe.

Thoughts from a Bibliophile

My husband and I are self proclaimed Bibliophiles! We each are generally reading two books and the Bible at one time. Most of what we read are related to The Bible but this varies. For instance my husband is currently reading Word Pictures of Thomas Watson and he just finished Fighting with The Screaming Eagles. Having confessed of our addiction, I offer the following words of Richard Baxter, from his Guide to the Value of a Book.
Make careful choice of the books which you read: let the Holy Scriptures ever have the preeminence.
Let Scripture be first and most in your hearts and hands and other books be used as subservient to it.
While reading ask yourself:
1. Could I spend this time no better?
2. Are there better books that would edify me more?
3. Are the lovers of such a book as this the greatest
lovers of the Book of God and of a holy life?
4. Does this book increase my love to the Word of God,
kill my sin, and prepare me for the life to come?
“The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.” Ecclesiastes 12:11-12
These are very wise words and a guide we should all follow. There are MANY great books out there and many that are worthy of our consideration, be on guard that you not fill your mind with that which is not God honoring.

His Love

Love of the Father

As we think about love this week may we look at four aspects
that directly relate to The advent season.

The Love of The Father to send His son to dwell among us;

The Love of The Father to send His son to die for us;

The Love of The Son to be obedient to die a most humiliating death for
us;

The Love of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit to keep us until the
Glorious reappearing of Christ !

Winslow, “The Disciple Washing Christ’s Feet”

“A certain immoral woman heard Jesus was there
and brought a beautiful jar filled with expensive
perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet,
weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped
them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his
feet and putting perfume on them.” Luke 7:37-38

She washed Christ’s feet with the tears of grateful
love. Jesus had pardoned all her sins, had absolved
her from their guilt, and had released her from their
power. How natural was the feeling of gratitude,
how appropriate this service of love!

The most genuine contrition for sin flows from a
sense of its forgiveness. Nothing breaks the heart
so thoroughly as the experience of God’s pardoning
love, love flowing from a sight of the cross!

May we purpose to give our ALL to Christ. A very small price for the ALL
HE has given to us.

Prayers for a Joyous Soul

As you may have heard, in the past few weeks, Joni  Eareckson Tada has been dealing with pain. After
testing, doctors have discovered that she has a small fracture in her sacrum, a bone at the
base of the spine. For someone like Joni in a wheelchair, part of the healing process
means that she must limit her ‘sitting up hours’ until the bone is repaired, but Joni has
been given every assurance that it will, indeed, heal.
She would very much appreciate your prayers that God would speed the healing and
cause this area of her back to be stronger than ever before. Ask the Lord to protect Joni
from further harm or injury. We would also be grateful if you would pray for Joni’s
husband, Ken, and her friends who have been assisting her through this difficult time—
Joni would assure you they have been wonderfully supportive and so helpful! She
appreciates you joining her in asking God to shower His grace and blessing on them.
Thank you for your care and concern.

Joy to the World

My grandaughter Bailey (she is three) has been practicing Joy to the World for her pre school Christmas Pageant. I am excited to go see her next week and hear all  of  the children raise there voices in praise to the Lord.

This got me to thinking, how often we gleefully sing Christmas carols without “listening ” to the message. How many of your friends who may or may not go to church sing Christmas Carols? Are they really Joyful about the “coming of the Lord” do they really think it represents a “Holy Night”  Is their heart preparing Him room? How often do we sing any hymn with a heart so inclined to the message? May you in your celebration of the Incarnation of the Lord not lose sight of the words you are singing and may our hearts hear the words and may we truly worship Him through the carols we sing.

Joy to the World…The Lord HAS come and I for one am VERY thankful.

Fear and Wrath or Grace and Hope?

 

The law works fear and wrath; grace works hope and mercy.  Martin Luther

You’re driving down the road. You are exceeding the speed limit. In your rearview mirror you see a police car. You can’t slow down now, he’s too close! You see the reds lights start flashing… your heart is pounding, you ready yourself for the worst…The Law…a ticket…points on your license…escalated insurance premiuims. Well you got caught and the wrath of the Law is going to visit you shortly. In seconds, a shorter time than it took me to type the words, you have run through the worst case scenario in your mind. The consequences of breaking the law. You have been pulled before, you know the drill. You will be respectful and MAYBE you will get off with a warning. You dare not HOPE! Do you think the trooper will let me off? He’s getting closer! He passes you? What? I knew he was after me I was guilty. I was going 15 miles over the speed limit. Wreckless driving and he just drove by! Wow and you weren’t even going to HOPE! 

Have you ever found yourself in circumstances like these? Have you broken the law, known you were guilty and hoped you would get off without punishment? We all have and do every day. From the time we were children breaking our parents laws and all the way to adulthood and the laws of the land. 

As the quote at the beginning illustrates, the Law brings fear into our lives as we KNOW we are unable to obey the law, but Grace, God’s free gift provides us the ultimate Hope. A hope that we can live without fear, a hope that brings us peace, and joy. An eternal and abiding Hope. The Hope we have in Jesus Christ.  

As you begin this first week of Advent may you be mindful of the Hope we have in Jesus Christ. Hope purchased at the price of His life as he paid the price for all our broken laws (SIN). Be prayerful that this week as we near the celebration of the First Coming, that we prepare ourselves for the Second Coming.

If you have children, may I suggest that you talk with them about the commandments that God gave and how He knew we could not obey and thus he sent His son Jesus. Share with them the Hope they have in the knowledge that as children of God they share in this hope.