Can you believe it’s New Year’s Eve?!
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to "Joni and Friends" and welcome to the threshold of another New Year. Yikes! It got here so fast and now, here we are on the edge of 2014 saying goodbye and sealing with our prayers all that God did in us and through us in 2013. But you know I’ve always liked this day; it’s so unique, one of its kind, it is, the only day in the year where you’ve got your foot in one era, all ready to take a step into the future, all bright and brimming with possibilities. Speaking of which, I came across this beautiful poem by Phyllis Michael and I thought it was appropriate to share on New Year’s Eve. This is how it goes:
“Another New Year – what shall I make of it? God gave it to me as a loan. Shall I search for earth’s cheer with its pretense and take it – not bread for my soul, but a stone? Another New Year – what shall I gather, Earth’s tinsel, her glitter to show? Another New Year – what would I rather, a flash or a deep inner glow? A year full of getting or a year full of giving, And the best thing that I have to give? A year full of fretting or a year full of living The way God wants me to live? Another New Year – what shall I make of it? God gave me the privilege to choose. Another New Year, God helping, I’ll take it and give it to Him to use.”
Thank you, Phyllis, for giving us that rhyme and, friend, if you’d like a copy, you can download it on my radio page at joniandfriends.org. You know, the Bible is full of insight on how we should use our days, our New Year, our time. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 90, verse 12 that says, “… teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” And you know what it means to number your days? It’s to wake up and recognize each day as a gift; your 24-hour slice of time is a gift from God. This is the day the Lord has made, we are going to rejoice and be glad in it. We are not going to rush out the front door on automatic cruise control, but we are going to do what the Bible tells us to do: humbly approach the throne of God's grace to receive help for each hour of our morning, noon and evening. Galatians chapter 5 tells us to keep in step with the Spirit. In other words, don’t move ahead of the Lord, and don’t lag behind, but lean on His strength every moment. This is the kind of wisdom God wants us to have as it concerns our days.
And this is how I’m praying for you as we embark on a New Year. And if you’d like to join me in keeping in step with the Spirit in 2014, then my husband Ken and I invite you to read the Bible through in a year with us this year. We’ve been doing this for many years, and lots of you have joined us. So go to my radio page today at joniandfriends.org, download your chronological reading schedule, and sign up to receive my monthly email commentaries on what we’re reading. Because when we dig deep in God's Word, when we spend time listening to His voice, we are numbering our days and applying our hearts to His wisdom. Oh, and one more thing, next year Joni and Friends will be celebrating 35 years of ministry in the disability community—35 years, I can’t believe it! So follow Joni and Friends on Facebook to see all that we’ve got going on in the New Year and drop us a line of congratulations on our Joni and Friends’ wall. We’d love to hear how you’ve been encouraged by our ministry over the years. And finally, from all of us here at the Joni and Friends International Disability Center, have a blessed and safe New Year. See you in 2014!
© Joni and Friends, 2013
Compliments of Joni and Friends
PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376