New Year Challenges

It's been another challenging week. Occasional health concerns.  Roller coastering. Trying times.

Not a chance to hear a favourite violin concerto of Mozart but Bach is beautiful too, gracing me with his Concerto in C minor for violin and oboe.

It's during the tough times that we rediscover the depths of our strength. It's then when we realize that a power has enabled us to do what we thought we could not.  I call my higher power God, always available, even at times when I feel he has abandoned me when I need him most.   "Perhaps love," says John Denver, "... It exists to give you comfort, It is there to keep you warm. And in those times of trouble, when you are most alone, the memory of love will bring you home."

One Single Star

The New Year's stunning fireworks display to welcome 2007 was more dazzling than the previous years. As ever, I'm blessed and proud to be a Sydneysider. The midnight fireworks exploded with abandon.

In awe of the midnight soaring lights' grandeur,  I couldn't help but reflect on one thought where all my senses revolved - that over Christmas, God lit a single Star to bring the gladdest news of all - Christ's birth.

Let's give thanks for the year past and for God's gift!  

As the theme of this Blogsite: '... then sings my soul,'  I take the opportunity to acknowledge a lifelong favourite song "How Great Thou Art" where it was taken from  ~ words and music by Carl G. Boberg and R.J. Hughes.

HOW GREAT THOU ART

(First stanza:)

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the works Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

(Refrain:)

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Courage to Face Changes

Reflection for the New Year

When are our best days, weeks or months of our lives? When we’re kids, growing up? In college? Or at some later stage in adult life?

What can we do when we feel trapped with trying times on and on? And on? Seemingly endless…

It’s probably not as bad as we think. There are always things we dislike and others we relish, some we may hold in our hearts forever. Once I heard the four-year-old lovely daughter of a friend say, “I don’t like school, but I might change my mind.”

I suppose it’s in the attitude we bring through… The week has been a bit exhausting, what with unforeseen disruptions from plans. But it's not that bad either. It depends really on how we take things. That element of patience, and cool.

I remember Lewis Carroll's words. He said, “The route you take depends a good deal upon where you want to go.” Well said, Mr. Carroll. No wonder, I’ve always loved Through the Looking Glass and the lovely Alice in wonderland. What keeps coming back are these bits and pieces —

Finding the courage to face change.
Mary in the world of Marthas …
When you are not the prize of what you think…Of love and passion.
Of friendship.
Of letting go.

Let go.

There are only diminishing things ahead.
I go back to where I started -
Finding the courage to face changes.

A happy and peaceful New Year.

New Year's Quotes and Sayings from the Bible

New Year's Quotes from Bible

Inspiring quotes and sayings can be reflected on for the new year, or it can be meaningfully integrated into the New Year’s resolutions. As the New Year begins, people pause for reflection, what can be done to make the coming year better. Resolutions are made and those who believe in God seek His guidance and help. Here are carefully chosen quotes and sayings from the Bible.

Sing New Songs of Praises to God

It is a wonderful feeling to start the New Year singing praises to almighty God for his wondrous creations and for all blessings. The psalmist puts it beautifully.

“Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” ~ Psalms 33:3

“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no-one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.” ~ Psalm 40:5

Read full article ---> New Year's Quotes from the Bible

St. Francis of Assissi's Prayer of Peace

 St. Francis Assissi and his Prayer of Peace

Yesterday, I found this short prayer writen anonymously that simply touches. I thought of so many people I haven't heard from for such a long time, and more so, supposed friends simply out of touch from each others'  busy lives.  I share it with warm thoughts:

"Lord, make old people tolerant,
Young folk sympathetic,
Great folk humble,
Busy folk patient,
Bad folk good,
And make me what I ought to be."

A great challenge, but put to practice our lives may run smoothly, and the world a beautiful place to be.