A New Year

And we are off to the start of another new year. Are you the kind of person who enjoys making New Year's Resolutions or goals for the year ahead? Do you prefer to make goals throughout the year? Or do you avoid making resolutions at all costs? :) I usually like to reflect on the year newly passed and think about what I would like to see for the year to come, but usually I don't set too many goals. I like to set goals throughout the year as things come up and I am inspired to do so. :) Maybe this year I should resolve to use fewer smiley faces, "..." and exclamation points in my written communication...but really! Those 3 things are so much fun! And I feel like if I were talking to a friend face-to-face I would be saying things with a smile and exclamation points and I wouldn't want the conversation to end... So maybe I need to find other goals to set and leave the punctuation for another year. I'm just not ready to let those go yet.

Yesterday in church we sang a hymn that for me set the tone to this new year. I wrote the verses in the first page of my journal and thought I would share these verses with you. Here's to a New Year, led by our Great Shepherd and Savior: "For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end." Ps 48:24

All The Way My Savior Leads Me

by Fanny Crosby

All the way my Savior leads me,

What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy,

Who through life has been my Guide?

Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,

Here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know, whate’er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well;

All the way my Savior leads me,

Cheers each winding path I tread,

Gives me grace for every trial,

Feeds me with the living Bread.

Though my weary steps may falter

And my soul athirst may be,

Gushing from the Rock before me,

Lo! A spring of joy I see;

All the way my Savior leads me,

Oh, the fullness of His love!

Perfect rest to me is promised

In my Father’s house above.

When my spirit, clothed immortal,

Wings its flight to realms of day

This my song through endless ages:

Jesus led me all the way;

Whatever this year holds for us - good and bad - may we know and rely on the love God has for us.