Thoughts On The New Year

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

                              "Remember me, O my God, for good."  Nehemiah  13:31

     Nehemiah's prayer might well be ours as we treat upon the threshold of another year.  As we pause reflectively at the close of one segment of time, and hopefully look ahead to the unfolding promise of another, it is well that our thoughts turn to Him who holds our future in His loving hands.  Trial, disappointment, yes, even death may face us in the coming months, but with His grace to keep us, and His rod and staff to comfort us, we need not fear.  As we look trustingly to Him and ask the Saviour to remember and keep us, we may be sure that all things will work together for our good  (Romans  8:28)!

                                                         Thou standest and thou asketh,
                                                             "What have the days in store?"
                                                         He answereth thee,  "Blessing!
                                                             What form that blessing taketh
                                                         Thou mayest not yet know,
                                                              But blessing upon blessing
                                                         He waiteth to bestow.


     It is comforting to know that each footfall into the new year ahead will lead us a step closer to the city of God!  Yes, shout, a trumpet voice, a cloud of glory, and we all may be gathered Home!  If the One who always remembers us should suddenly appear, will He find that we too have remembered His command - "occupy till I come"?

                    It may be the last of the years swiftly flying,
                       It may be the year when the Master will come;
                    When the land of the holy, for which we are sighing,
                       Will burst into view - the Father's glad Home!
                     It may be the last! when all mystery ending
                        In radiant light from the sunshine of God!
                    And, O, what a welcome, as we are ascending!
                       'Twill more than make up for the difficult road!
                                                                        - M. I. Reich

"Bread For Each Day"

Wise Discerners Of Time

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

                ".... a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment."  Ecclesiastes  8:5

     It is said that the great cathedral of Milan has a beautiful triple-doored entrance.  All three doorways are crowned by splendid arches, artistically carved with thought-provoking inscriptions.  Over one is a wreath of roses etched in stone with the legend:  "All that which pleases is but for a moment."  Over another is sculptured a cross accompanied by the words:  "All that which troubles is but for a moment."  On the largest doorway of all, however - the great central entrance to the main circle - there is this most telling of all the inscriptions:  "That only is important which is eternal!"  Indeed, as life moves inexorably onward there will come both passing pleasures and bruising sorrows.  Only the spiritually wise recognize that all these experiences must be trustfully woven together so that the texture of life which results is well pleasing to God and worthy of being exhibited in His eternal "Gallery of Rewards."

     Harleigh M. Rosenberger has written most poetically,  "Life is like a fine piece of Oriental tapestry, put together with many exquisite strands.  It has the gold of success, the crimson of suffering, and the somber hues of sorrow.  Through the grace of God, all of these are made into a pattern of beauty.  Through every experience, God can help the person weave a fabric of loveliness and wisdom."

     The year ahead is untried - it is a beckoning tomorrow fraught with new experiences and possibilities.  The wise in heart will enter it with faith, hope, and Scriptural optimism, determine to take advantage of every God-given opportunity.

But once I pass this way, and then - and then,
    The silent door swings on its hinges - opens - closes -
And no more I pass this way.
    So while I may, with all my might,
I will assay sweet comfort and delight
    To all I meet upon the Pilgrim Way,
For no man travels twice the Great Highway
    That climbs through darkness up to light,
Through night - to day!
                                           - John Oxenham

"Bread For Each Day"