The Road Goes Ever On and On

"Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; and to You the vow shall be performed. O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come...You crown the year with Your goodness, and your paths drip with abundance. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys are covered with grain; they shout for joy, they also sing." (Psalm 65: 1-2, 11-13 NKJV)

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HAPPY NEW YEAR, dear friends! I can't believe it's 2015 already! This past year just went by so fast! So many things have happened. Many blessings and joys to be thankful for! Many challenges faced and conquered by His mercy and grace! However, new ones have also come that are still being faced and challenged back and others might show up in this coming year. I walk forward, though, confidently knowing that what He began He will finish. He is there holding my hand. Sometimes I may not 'feel' Him there beside me, the mists hanging low and obscuring the light, fear and doubt making me falter, but He is there all the same, ready to pick me up when I fall, ready to forgive, ready to heal.

"For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not; I will help you.'" Isaiah 41: 15

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My prayer is that I He will give me His grace and strength to hold onto Him more firmly; to learn to trust Him fully and without fear; to always commit my hopes and dreams to Him, knowing that only in His hands can they become something really beautiful for His glory; o love Him more who loved me first and unconditionally; to serve Him in everything I do, make or think; to do wholeheartedly and conscientiously anything He wants me to do; to be faithful and diligent in my duties; to learn to love and serve others better and unselfishly;  to be always thankful and contented; to pray and seek Him more wholeheartedly.

I don't know what this year will be like, but it is enough knowing the One who knows and that this One is my Father in heaven! It's a great comfort! Because of this I know it will be good!

So...

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...knowing He is holding my hand!

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I love how this picture portrays our journey going straight to the glory of the horizon - where our Lord is! Everyday takes us one step closer to the Celestial City! 

Merry Christmas! Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men!

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (ST. LUKE 2: 8-14)

I'd like to share  with you a beautiful Christmas Carol that I just noticed the other day. It's words are simple but very relevant. Sometimes it's hard to celebrate when so much darkness is around us. Here in Australia, for example, we've recently had that dreadful terror tragedy in Sydney that took the life of Katrina and Tori, two ordinary people in the prime of their lives. Just turn on the news on TV or read online or the newspaper and stories of violence and darkness just flood us. Many people around us are suffering in one way or another. Often we are going through our own sorrows and pains. Have you ever wondered at the words, 'Peace on Earth', 'Goodwill to men'. The words seem to mock what we see with our eyes and what we experience. However, even when the world around us is turbulent, our God is still there in the darkness and silence. He is Emmanuel - God With Us. Sharing our suffering, weaknesses, and pain. He bore the punishment of sin for us. He chose to be born in this sin-sick world for us, to redeem us. He is our Peace. He is our Hope. One day all will be put to right. Everything will fall into place. Every tear will be wiped away. All because He came. All because He lived among us. All because He died. All because He rose again from the dead. That is why the angels rejoiced that day! Yes, we can say with the angels who sang on that first Christmas night,  "Peace on Earth and Goodwill to men!!" Amen! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Peace to you! 

"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" 

Lyrics by

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), 1867

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along the unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:

"There is no peace on earth," I said,

"For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men!

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!