Another Year is Dawning

Hello Friends!  We are quickly transitioning into a new year, and I'm excited to share with you a hymn I just recently became acquainted with.  The hymn is written by Francis Ridley Havergal; she wrote this as a poem to put on her New Year's cards one year.  I hope you enjoy the lyrics as much as I did and that it will give you encouragement in thinking through priorities for a new year.

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 is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

  You may be reading this and wondering, "Who is Francis Ridley Havergal?"  According to http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/h/a/v/havergal_fr.htm she was born on December 14, 1836 and was reading by age four.  The website explains that she, "Learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and memorized the Psalms, the book of Isaiah, and most of the New Testament."  Wow! That is a bio I would love to be by my name.  Isn't that amazing that she committed herself so faithfully to the memorization of the Word of God?  That really puts me to shame, and I find that kind of dedication very inspiring.  What it tells me about her is that she highly esteemed the Word of God.  She would otherwise never devote herself to memorizing such a large chunk of Scripture.  As we enter a new year, I feel a strong desire to cherish the Word of God more, to dwell in it more, and to allow the Lord to use it to transform me more into His likeness.  In addition to all this Scripture memory, Francis also penned many hymns in her short life.  No doubt her inspiration came by having the Word of God dwell in her richly.

In Working or in Waiting, Another Year with Thee

  Verse one of this hymn talks about dwelling with the Lord whether in working on in waiting.  Life is full of changing seasons, and sometimes we are faithful in simply waiting upon the Lord.   At other times our faithfulness will include much forward motion and progress.  Whether this year is a year of working or waiting, may we be faithful to spend our moments with the Lord and put all our trust in Him.  Are you in a season of clear marching orders or are you in a season where He is saying, "Be still and know that I am God?"  

  Another Year of Trusting, Quiet, Happy Rest

  The Bible has many instructions for us concerning not worrying, about trusting in the Lord, and about walking in faith.  This is God's will for us that we will trust and be at rest in Him.  Oh, Ladies, this is so much easier said than done, don't you think?  I want to encourage you and me that we can ask the Lord to grow us into women of great faith.  We might not naturally be inclined to a peaceful, restful, trusting heart, but our Lord, Who is at work within us, can increase our faith as we are are conformed more to His image.  Here are some verses that apply:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." - Philippians 4:6

"Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God." - Psalm 42:11 

"Fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10 

  Are there some specific areas where the Lord is asking you to trust this year?  Isn't it interesting how readily we trust the Lord for our eternal salvation and yet we often struggle to trust Him in the challenges of our daily lives?  Can you think of two or three areas where the Lord is calling you to quiet your heart and trust Him as you walk into this new year?  

Another Year of Service, of Witness for Thy Love

  It is such a beautiful privilege to be able to be busy about kingdom work.  Our Lord has called us all to be serving Him in one capacity or another.  He has given us special giftings so that we can build up the body of Christ in unique ways.  If you are a busy mother at home this may be a season where you are fully engaged in kingdom work in your home.  The world will not applaud you for pouring your heart and life into the discipleship of your children, but this is a vitally important role in building the kingdom of God.  I want to encourage you that we Mamas are furthering the kingdom of God when we are being faithful in the mission field of our homes.  Charles Spurgeon has a powerful quote that is hugely encouraging to a Mother's heart.  Think on this and be encouraged that your sacrifices in your home really do count for eternity when they are done for the glory of God.  

Ladies, let that sink in.  Isn't that encouraging?  Some days working at home feels so mundane and hard, but keeping our perspectives right is so helpful.  We are not just washing clothes, changing diapers, picking up toys, educating children, etc.  We are doing all of this as a part of God's overall plan for us to raise up our children to know and love and follow Christ.  Nothing could be more important!  

  Perhaps you are not a mother working at home.  I have many friends who are single and serving the Lord in their local churches, through ministry opportunities, and by loving and serving their families.  These friends touch my heart as I see them pouring their lives into the sacrificial kingdom work God has given them for this season of their lives.  I well remember my season of singleness, and I am thankful for the unique ministry opportunities I had back then that I no longer am involved in now.  Singleness can be a beautiful season of serving the Lord with more free time and the energy of youth.

  Then perhaps you are past the seasons of singleness and the season of raising children in your home.  I think older ladies have such a beautiful opportunity to impact younger generations to follow the Lord Jesus.  I think our culture is starving for the older, godly ladies who will be an example and disciple the younger generations.  I pray that when my time is freed up again, once my children are grown, that I will be able to pour my life into encouraging younger ladies to be women of the Word, to love their husbands and children, and to live in light of eternity.

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." - Titus 2:3-5

In closing, I want us to remember that truly we are moving through the seasons of life on an earthly pilgrimage leading us to our true home.  Remember that old song, "This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through?"  When we remember this it bolsters our resolve to live intentionally.  May we all, by God's grace, work, wait, trust, rest, and serve our Lord Jesus with great devotion in 2019.  May this be our prayer as another year is dawning.