Some words/notes for the New Year, January 1, 2019

Dear Friends

I hope you have been enjoying the Rose Parade and this year's theme,  "The Melody of Life". I don't know any of the 21st century songs or lyrics of this year's Grand Marshall, Chaka Khan, but I do know these 17th century Slovak words translated by Jaroslav J. Vajda from our hymnal, #250:

I especially like verses 2 and 3:

His love abundant far exceeds
the volume of a whole year's needs;
rejoice, rejoice with thanks embrace 
another year of grace

With such a Lord to lead our way
in hazard and prosperity,
what need we fear in earth or space
in this new year of grace?

I used this Celtic saying in a sermon on Christ the King Sunday a few weeks ago:

The King is knocking! If you would like your share of heaven on earth, open the door and let in the King!

I would now add these words by Henry David Thoreau which I found on my 2019 planning calendar this morning:

"Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads"

And those words made me think of these words by Isaac Watts from Hymn #398:

I especially like this line: 

Lord how thy wonders are displayed, 
where'ere I turn my eye
if I survey the ground I tread
or gaze upon the sky!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, wherever you look in 2019!

John