Come Learn Rest Ministries

In the beginning and in the end of God’s Word we read about rainbows. Both Noah and the apostle John saw them in the sky God had created.

When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.
~Genesis 9:14-15

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. ~Revelation 10:1

This January, Northern California finally got the rain it desperately needed. And recently,I drove into the court where Quiet Oaks sits and saw this rainbow in the sky over our property. And I was reminded, as perhaps you are when you see a rainbow of God’s faithfulness to keeping his promises.

May this new year be filled with the many reminders of God’s faithful presence we need during each new day.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow;
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out false, ring in true.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
~Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Church bells may not be heard as much as they once were, but the words of this hymn still ring true. As I reflected on Tennyson’s words this week, I have been encouraged not to make new year’s resolutions but to focus on singing a new song to the Lord each new day of 2016.

I have asked the Lord to help me fully embrace the grace and peace that come from the very heart of God.  Also, I have prayed I would not waste my energy striving to be my best false self, but simply be the better true self God created me to be.  But more than anything, I have recognized my deepest longing to live in the light of Christ’s love even in my darkest hours.

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
~Psalm 89:1

In what ways do the words of this hymn ring true for you?
May God’s steadfast love and faithfulness be made known to us and through us in the year ahead.