Bright Hope for Tomorow

Why do we have a special time to review a year? I've never been one to celebrate New Years, not because I refuse, just because I don't get it. Why so much emphasis on renewal and re- commitment at only one special time of the year? Obviously my resolutions were non-existent. Not that that is a brag. Probably should be ashamed of myself. But lately....

Could it be that God Himself gives us a date because He knows us so well. We humans who live by clocks and calendars, now phones and laptops that tell us what day it is and remind of us of all things that require our attention. Set on paths of frantic accomplishment. Carry us to places we are obliged to attend or participate. Guess I'm still living in cave-time. If the sun comes up, it's time to get up. If the sun goes down, it's time to start crawling into the cave. If I'm hungry, it's time to eat (all the time if necessary). If I'm sleepy, I want a nap. If I'm in a celebratory mood, I celebrate, no date or time required.

But really...what if this calendar that is certainly only date reliable because we deem it so, is becoming more and more to me God's allowance of human computation to bring us to a place we need to be?
Thanksgiving....Gratitude and family....,
Christmas...concentration on God's Gift to the World, Jesus, (or just a message of love, as some would desire it to be..not me)where we give gifts and sing beautiful music, songs laden with admiration , joy , peace, worship....
If it were not for the calendar..would we take time to do these fine and fitting things.
New Year, would we know to toast your newness? Would we review your bright hope for a beginning -again?

I've thought about my rejoicings..New grandson, Xavier. After concerns for a new grandson waiting to arrive and our two moms in the hospital...family well, job status for the Italian changes for the better, new big red dog is someones new best friend, weddings with joy, book writing now finished now for the rewrite and edit, a son-in-law's movie made, lives changed "God's power throughout the universe displayed", all I have in my heart and cannot even share. What a sweet year...what an
AMAZING GOD.

Still amazing is walking the valleys, and the knowing that He is there. Still "grace for today and bright hope for tomorrow, great is Thy faithfulness, Oh, Lord, unto me." Today I renew my determination "to trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." Now that's my plan, even though I'm not able to see how many things are going to ever work out,
people are ever going to change,
how I'm ever going to change,
how the nation and our world will change,
how we can all be hopeful in this new calendar.
But I still know, beyond a doubt,
the World( me, people, things) Changer,
and He is totally able.

Look at the stars, my greatest visual comfort,
they are still in place.
The world is still turning.
The breezes are still blowing.
The sun comes up in the morning.
The moon keeps it's schedule.
All without knowing what the date or time is....
because God's universe is where the calendar came from....human calculations from
God's creation.

I still get up with the sun...I'm ever so thankful for my life, I still have things that try to put fear in my heart and tears on my cheeks, my wondering has to be kept in check, my faith needs daily nutrition, My Savior is still on the throne.

"Oh, how marvelous,
Oh, how wonderful,
and my song shall ever be,
How marvelous,
How wonderful
is my Savior's love for me."

Praying right now for great hope for your new year and all that means to you, my friend.





(all quoted hymns are written by others)