Wednesday, January 1st, 2014
Psalm 139:16
“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.”
On this cold New Year’s morning, I am sitting beside Lin and I have just watched a gorgeous sunrise that has quickly dimmed as slowly building clouds pass between Sun and earth. This seems to be an appropriate metaphor for the most recent of God’s gifts to me: 2014.
Every day is a gift from God. As I learn more and more clearly with each passing day, we are not promised this or any additional days of life. As the Psalmist writes in Psalms 139, God knows the number of our days; but, we do not. HE knows them because HE has decreed them. Our days come to us from HIS hand. We will have no less and no more than HE has assigned to us.
God is sovereign over the “quality” of our days as well as the “quantity” of them. We live out our days in the hands of a Loving God.
In John 10:27-30 Jesus tells us, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
We live, more and more each day, leaning on the promises of God. None comes to mind more often than Romans 8:28-31 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Slow down a moment and think about this sentence: God is for us and HE is for us because HE has chosen to be for us. He has chosen to love us; therefore, HE both desires and promises that HE is working all things together for our good!
So, we have today a new day and a New Year.
365 Days; 8,706 Hours; (although as I write this nine of those hours are already past) 525,600 Minutes. Some wonderful, some good, some not-so-good, and some that will break our hearts. I know this is true because this has been true for all of my sixty-three and one-half years of life. Every year taught me this lesson and 2013 was no exception.
2013 was a mixture of wonderful, good, not-so-good, and heart-breaking days. Along with many undeserved joys, including many new friends and members at our happy Church; 2013 was a year of great sorrow and loss for me. This past year I lost my last surviving Uncle; my 1st Cousin Lois lost her son and then her own life; My 1st Cousin Faye lost her daughter and her sister; my 1st Cousin Billy Dean’s son also passed away; yesterday, my sister Patty’s children lost their Dad; and, one of my dearest friends, Ralph Buckley, lost his beloved wife, Faye.
Among the wonderful people God allows me to serve, Kenny Hug, Sue Hahn, and Mildred Bennett passed away this year. I also conducted funerals or Memorial Services for several former members and others in 2013. Our prayer list at Church continues to be filled with the names of far too many beloved people who are hurting terribly.
Lin’s illness continues to be the deepest and darkest valley of my life. While her prognosis is thankfully encouraging, there are many difficult days ahead for her. Both of us appreciate your love, support, and prayers beyond our ability to express.
Life is unsure and 2014 will not be an exception to this truth. This New Year will bring us both unspeakable joys and heart-breaking sorrows.
It is my sincere prayer for my family, Church family and friends; and, for you and your family and friends that this New Year will a wonderful year followed by many more even more wonderful years!
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
I love you and thank God upon every thought of you.
LANNYFAULKNER.COM 