Saturday, January 10, 2009

Year's End


"Year's End", a prayer from The Valley of Vision, is ideal to meditate on at the start of 2009.

O love beyond compare,
Thou art good when thou givest,
when thou takest away,
when the sun shines upon me,
when night gathers over me.
Thou has loved me before the foundation of the world,
and in love didst redeem my soul;
Thou dost love me still,
in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, distrust.
Thy goodness has been with me during another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.
Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead;
I hoist sail and draw up anchor,
With thee as the blessed pilot of my future as of my past.
I bless thee that thou has veiled my eyes to the waters ahead.
If thou has appointed storms of tribulation,
thou wilt be with me in them;
If I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation,
I shall not drown;
If I am to die,
I shall see thy face the sooner;
If a painful end is to be my lot,
grant me grace that my faith fail not;
If I am to be cast aside from the service I love,
I can make no stipulation;
Only glorify thyself in me whether in comfort or trial,
As a chosen vessel meet always for they use.

The start of 2009 is also the perfect time to decide on a new plan for spending time in God's word. Check out this impressive list of Bible reading plans. I'm still deciding what to do. I'm thinking of trying to read through the whole Bible before baby arrives, using the 90 day plan.

4 comments:

  1. I am looking for a Bible Reading Plan that is done chronologically. I know they are out there but I am having trouble finding one...any hints??

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  2. Hello Faith, I am not very knowledgeable about Bible reading plans. The blog post I link to is the most comprehensive list of them that I've come across. Do you mean chronologically in terms of the order the books are in the Bible, or in terms of when the parts of the Bible were written? The 90 day plan I am doing works through the Bible from beginning to end (Genesis to Revelation). Let me know what you come across!

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  3. Here's a site:

    http://www.ewordtoday.com/year/47/cjan01.htm

    You can choose what version you want to read and whether to read chronologically or straight through. It keeps track of what you've read by crossing it off the list.

    -Meg G

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  4. To anon: thanks for the link!
    To Sherrin: I meant reading it chronologically as to when the events took place. Like I know Job is usually put at some point after Genesis but before the Exodus, etc. I am going to check out the link this anon person left! Blessings to you!

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