Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Trusting in a Faithful God

As the final hours of 2008 dwindle away and we prepare to welcome the new year, my heart is full. Like so many others, this has been a year of great blessings, challenging difficulties, heartbreaking losses, surprising victories and certainly a few unexpected twists and turns. That being said, I feel blessed. My grateful heart has chosen thanks for each and every situation orchestrated by my loving Father this year. Do I understand them all? No. Do I still have questions? Many. Am I free of all worry and concern? In all honesty… no. But through these things has my faith grown stronger? Yes. Has my dependence on Him increased? Without question. Has He provided for every need? Undoubtedly. Can I trust in His grace and faithfulness to carry me through whatever lay ahead in 2009? Most assuredly.

Regardless of the highs and lows of any given year, my ultimate hope rests in Christ. Though momentary circumstances may at times threaten my calm, there is peace at the very core of my soul that comes from the knowing…I am His, and He is mine. There is no greater assurance we can have.

I read a beautiful passage this morning:

Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!” ~ Lamentations 3:21-24

What a precious promise for the coming year! Not surprisingly, it brings to mind the words to a favorite hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” -- a beautiful blend of worship, thanksgiving and continuing trust in He who is most faithful. As you reflect on the passage and the words to this hymn, consider His goodness, grace, love and faithfulness to you this year. May we then fully rest with renewed hope in Him for the year to come.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father!
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not:
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Chorus: Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided--
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow—
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

I pray God's greatest blessings for you and yours in the new year. I count your friendships among my sweetest gifts of 2008.


Much love,
Tracy

18 comments:

Kristi said...

This is so cool! My devotion time with the Lord this morning was so similar. God is faithful. May He bless you and your family in the new year!

Julie said...

Thanks for sharing your heart....

Sunday as I was reflecting and even again last night as I sat.... I turned on my ipod to "Faithful One" by Selah... The tears would not stop coursing down my cheeks, taking me to sobs. He has been the Faithful One and will be the Faithful One....

Great is His Faithfulness!

Happy New Year Friend,
Julie

Sarah@Life in the Parsonage said...

You said it so well my bloggy friend...so well.

And I am head over heels for your new layout :)

Laurie Ann said...

Tracy, the ponderings of your heart shared with us this morning really resonated within me. I feel the same way about so many of the things you mentioned. I have truly enjoyed reading your blog and getting to know you this year. May God bless you and your dear family in the upcoming year!

LisaShaw said...

Tracy, this is beautiful and really spoke to my heart. I also love singing Great is Thy Faithfulness.

GOD has many names and one is Faithful. He indeed is that and worth our remembrance at all times.

Thank you for this message as well.

Joyful said...

Oh Tracy, it's because of the assurance of the promise of His faithfulness that we can look ahead to the new year, and all that it will bring, and know that we do not face the unknown alone. Thank you for directing my thoughts to His faithfulness today.

Happy New Year,
Joy

Susannah said...

Wonderfully encouraging, Tracy. Thank you! Happy New Year. :~D

Paula V said...

Aahh...you stopped short one verse. I'll provide it for you. I found it 18 months ago when the trial of my life began. Lamentations 3:25. I'll recite from my heart but don't know the translation. Maybe ESV. The Lord is good to those who wait on Him, to the soul who seeks Him.

I guess it's always pricked my heart as I trust that the Lord will be good to me or rather make things good (in His way) while I wait on Him. Even after all this time, I still have to believe there's purpose in not selling my house in 18 months nor seeing any morsel of sign of reconciliation. But, it could ALL happen tomorrow. I could have a signed deal tomorrow. I could not need a signed deal. I could see beloved walk in the door...more likely it would be a slower process so maybe a phone call or email...but it all could be suddenly.

Waiting for my suddenly.
Love you,
Paula

Kim@Seasons of My Heart said...

Hey Friend~
FIRST...I love the look of your blog

SECOND...I love the music

THIRD...I love your heartfelt post. I too...have been encouraged by Lam. and I posted about it too.

Thinking of you...and praying you have a BLESSED New Year.

Kim~

Pat Thacker said...

I loved and enjoyed your post Tracy,yes Great is His Faithfulness.I hope 2009 will find you being used in even greater ways,for God has promised to do Great & Wonderful things through us & for us.Praise God

Love in Christ

Tricia said...

Amen and amen! I praise God for His faithfulness to me and my family this year, He has never let us down! And Great is Thy Faithfulness is one of our favorite hymns...

Happy New Year!

Becky said...

Beautifully said, Tracy.

Happy New Year!

Connie Barris said...

I am so with you on this...

I could just copy and paste your words and they would be so fitting of my life as well..

especially the blessed part...

The best part is that of HOPE...

blessings,
Connie

Kristen said...

One of my favorite Hymns!
As the arms of the Faithful One wrap aroung you, may many blessings be yours in the New Year & beyond!

Amydeanne said...

great post!

Happy New year my friend!

and hey, i need your address so I can send you the homemade thingy! lol

btw, love the new header! very cute

Just a little something from Judy said...

I love the song "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"! I especially like the lines of "strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow- Blessings all min, with ten thousand beside!" What precious promises as we face this new year. What peace and calm assurance. Thank you for blessing my heart today.

Susannah said...

What a marvellous hymn... one of my all-time favorites! Thanks for posting it here. I'm humming the tuen as I read the words. :~D

LisaShaw said...

Tracy stopping by to ask, please come on over to my Speak on it with LisaS to receive an AWARD that I'd like to present to you.