January 2007
“Another Year is Dawning - Beginning Again”
The year was 1874 when Francis Ridley Havergal decided to send her friends a new years card in England. As a poet she loved to share her gift of words and thought with those closest to her. These words speak to my heart as we begin a new year together.
Another year is dawning, Dear Father let it be,
in working or in waiting, another year with thee;
another year of progress, another year of praise,
another year of proving thy presence all the days.
Another year of mercies. Of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness in the shining of thy face;
Another year of leaning upon thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet happy rest.
Another year of Service, of witness for thy love;
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year of dawning: dear Father, let it be
on earth or else in heaven, another year for thee.
In the poem, the key words make the basis for my prayer of each of us this new year. Trusting and leaning are foundational to all we do this year.
What a wonderful blessing that God has given each of us, another year. We have the opportunity to begin again. We all make those wonderful resolutions to lose weight, be more organized, exercise once, clean our rooms, study more, read more, watch less TV and of course eat healthier. The list gets longer and longer as the years go by and the percentage of actual change is smaller and smaller. But take heart, we have opportunity to begin again and again.
God's grace welcomes us and encourages us to grow. God is our cheering section, yelling for us to get up and keep going. Paul said it best, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)
As we are a part of the body of Christ, I want to encourage you to work together. Help each other grow in the areas that God is calling you to grow in. This year at Community I want to begin by encouraging you to begin again and follow the call of God to :
Committed Prayer
Renewed Faith
Personal Holiness
Love the World
May God give to us his wisdom as we move forward in His work.
Pastor Craig |
