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!

Greetings in Christ! After the January march into a new year, preparing for an annual meeting, electing new Council members, setting and approving a new spending guide, planning for Lent and Easter, as well as a host of other goings on at the church, February feels like a resting place before the heightened activities of Lent and Easter. Much of that activity is necessary for good order, however, I’m afraid that at least part of it is due to the fear we won’t have enough, so we just have to work every harder, worry more, and somehow make it all happen.

The same is true for many of us at home. Rushing from dawn to well beyond dusk to make sure all of the bases of life are covered. Within the rushing there is a poverty of spirit which somehow says we or I just don’t have enough to get through life. This Great is Thy Faithfulness is a hymn I’ve grown to love while moving through life. Over and over again in time of great challenge, whether the obstacle is financial, material, relational, or something else, the hymn calls us to sing the truth:

all that is needed thy hand hath provided…

So, why am I, why are we so quick to forget God’s faithfulness whenever facing a new challenge? As we move ever further into this new year of God’s grace, let us do so with the conviction that however God is calling us to follow Him in life, there will always be enough gifts for whatever journey God is calling us to embark on. So, let’s get to it!

Here’s to celebrating the abundant gifts of our gracious God in this new year.

Your servant in Christ,

John