As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Friday, January 6, 2017

Happy New Year?


In the past week or so, I have bid a "Happy New Year" to many of my friends and family, for that is what I wish for them. I want all of my loved ones to be happy and for all of their hopes and dreams to come true this year.

But the fact of the matter is that no one knows what a year will bring. 

We live here, on Planet Earth, in a sin-cursed world and we all know that every day of the year will not be "happy." There will be times of discouragement, sickness, confusion, discord, sorrow, weariness, uncertainty, and maybe even death.

So then . . . what with all that? Do we dread the days ahead? Stay in bed with the covers over our heads? Do we live in fear of what the future will bring?

On the Sea of Galilee
~ photo by our son Ryan ~

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”


I have shared this poem before; it is one of my favorites. And I thought of it as I looked at Ryan's pictures at the Sea of Galilee and as I mused on the account of the storm on the sea.

The Age-Long Minute
Amy Carmichael
Thou art the Lord who slept upon the pillow,
Thou art the Lord who soothed the furious sea,
What matter beating wind and tossing billow
If only we are in the boat with Thee. 
Hold us in quiet through the age-long minute
While Thou art silent, and the wind is shrill:
Can the boat sink while Thou, dear Lord, art in it?
Can the heart faint that waiteth on Thy will? 


That is the secret to living in the New Year.

The knowledge that, if we are His, He is in the boat.

A quiet trust that He is there, no matter the storm, no matter the wind, no matter the waves.

Even if He is silent.

Even if it appears that He is sleeping.

He is there. 

And He is lovingly in control.

Sea of Galilee
~ photo by Ryan ~


So let us be strong of heart. Let us be resolute! Let us meet the easy and the challenging, the happiness and the sorrow, the calm and the storm of the new year, with quiet confidence in the One who is the ruler of the wind and the waves.


16 comments:

  1. Thank you for this very encouraging and uplifting post about trusting Jesus, the One who is ruler of all, who loves us dearly and is working all things out.

    Love & hugs ~ FlowerLady

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  2. Amen! What a wonderful poem! What great encouragement and truth to strengthen our hearts!

    Elisabeth Elliot's book "A Chance To Die," is on my list to read this year!

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  3. AMEN~ Such wisdom and truth here. All we really need to do is get in the boat...Jesus does the rest. Have a good day!

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  4. A wonderful post full of hope and encouragement. Thank you.

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  5. "Quiet Confidence" now that's going to be my ponder for the day.

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  6. Yes, let's meet it *all* with quiet confidence. I like that, Cheryl. Oh and I enjoyed your comment on Vee's blog about your having to be careful with your throwaways because Ron might come along and un-throw them! :D

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  7. Amen! Thank you for this encouraging post!

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  8. Beautiful words of encouragement, Cheryl. "Let us be strong of heart"-- "if we're only in the boat with Thee"....When I picture the Sea of Galilee, I now have a better image to recall. Thank you. ♥

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  9. Beautiful post, Cheryl. And I love Amy's poem and your son's wonderful photos.

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  10. Beautiful writing, and the poem.. We always stay positive..

    Happy new year..

    Please visit: http://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com

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  11. Love this and thank you for this great encouragement to me. I really love the photos, too. Absolutely, no one knows what the year will bring except for our loving Father. In a week we will be traveling to Southern California and I will attend a wedding, a baby shower and a memorial service. Such a contrast of joy and sorrow but this is life on this earth. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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  12. I love this. I wrote a post a year ago Christmas called Say It Anyway. It spoke about how hard it is to wish someone a Merry Christmas when their world seems to be falling apart. It's the same for wishing someone Happy New Year. We know these times can happen to any of us at any time...but you say it anyway because having a "merry" or a "happy" anything isn't just about happy-happy, joy-joy everyday. It's knowing that God is in control and when we rely on Him, he can give that peace to face any situation that comes our way, no matter what it is. It's that peace that passes ALL understanding...and that is something to be happy about! Awesome poem and photos...awesome post!

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  13. I love this. I wrote a post a year ago Christmas called Say It Anyway. It spoke about how hard it is to wish someone a Merry Christmas when their world seems to be falling apart. We know these times can happen to any of us at any time...but you say it anyway! It's the same for wishing someone Happy New Year. Awesome poem and photos...awesome post!

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  14. Just found your blog and read this. Just what I needed right now. God is good.

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