Ringing In The New

 

He will dwell with them,

and they will be His people,

and God Himself

          will be with them

          as their God.

He will wipe away

 every tear from their eyes,

and death shall be no more,

neither shall there be

   mourning, nor crying,

   nor pain anymore,

for the former things

              have passed away.

And He who is seated

on the throne said,

"Behold I am making

          all things new."

          Revelation 21. 3-5

(Hope is not wishful thinking,

nor delusion, nor conjuring up 

    the world's convenient fictions.

But hope in God is knowing

that there is something more.

This life is not all there is.

Hope in God

   is on what and on Whom

   we can stake our lives.

God does not just

  make the best He can

  from leftover broken pieces

              patched together.

God makes all things new.

                God redeems.

No more tears, nor death,

   nor sorrow, pain or nightmares.

That which every one desires.

God turns the world

               right side up,

the way He always intended.)

O LORD,

You do not just give us a new year,

    but a new life, fresh every day.

You make all things new.

Help us to follow You

           with faithfulness

and bring Your goodness

   every way we can

   to every wounded soul.

Please show us

   how to bring Your holy name

   into our circumstances,

   and to all those around us,

in word and deed and attitude.

May we not set goals this new year,

    but enlarge our lives

    by setting our hearts

                          on You.