Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada and I hope you had a blessed Christmas. And here we are the last week of the year with a new one coming up.
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
You know, now that the Christmas season is waning, we’re looking forward to the New Year. And you know what? I really do mean it – I am really looking forward to 2012 and all that God has in store. Of course, I pray that God will grant both Ken and me good health in the months to come, and fresh energy to tackle the new things He’s called us to do. Because the older I get, the more I'm aware how important friendships are; how important the example of other Christians are to me. People who inspire and spur me on. To this day, I still ask myself when I get in a tough situation, “What would Steve Estes do in this situation?” (Steve was my spiritual mentor when I was in the hospital years ago). And I want to inspire you, I want to encourage you, and cheer you on alongside me as together we head into the future.
So as we go, as we turn the corner into this New Year, let’s remember… well, I can’t say it any better than the way it’s said in this remarkable little poem by Mrs. Charles Cowman… the same woman who wrote “Streams in the Desert.” This is what she writes: She says, “If you have gone a little way ahead of me, call back - 'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track. And if, perchance, Faith's light is dim, because the oil is low, Your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go. Call back, and tell me that He went with you into the storm; Call back, and say He kept you when the forest's roots were torn; That, when the heavens' thunder and the earthquake shook the hill, He bore you up and held you where the very air was still. Oh, friend, call back, and tell me for I cannot see your face; They say it glows with triumph, and your feet bound in the race; But there are mists between us and my spirit eyes are dim, And I cannot see the glory, though I long for word of Him. But if you'll say He heard you when your prayer was but a cry, And you'll say He saw you through the night's sin-darkened sky- If you have gone a little way ahead, oh, friend, call back- 'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track.”
Now that is an encouraging poem. And you know something? That friend I mentioned, Steve Estes? He still keeps in touch, even after all these years. He is calling back. Always sending an e-mail, lifting my spirits, maybe an occasional letter, a poem, like this poem I just shared. In fact, I'm going to ask the team here to make sure the transcript is posted on my radio page, in case you want a copy. That’s at joniandfriends.org. As you head into the New Year, think of those people who are looking at you, and watching you, think of them, remember them… and call back.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
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