Sisters and Brothers,<\/p>\n
The cycle of time has gone around another circle, and we are in January again. I extend New Year Blessings to everyone!<\/p>\n
What should we do now that we have made it to another year?
\nOur prolific hymnist Charles Wesley put it poetically into words that we often start Covenant Services with.<\/p>\n
Sing to the great Jehovah\u2019s praise.
\nAll praise to him belongs,
\nwho kindly lengthens all our days,
\ndemands our choicest songs.
\nCharles Wesley (1707-1788)<\/p>\n
Indeed, it is God who gives us life- length of days- and for this we must be eternally grateful.7
\nAnd how better to show gratitude than through praise?<\/p>\n
Here, it is worth reminding ourselves that we praise with our lips and we praise with our lives. God wants the best for us, that our lives show forth God\u2019s abundance in all aspects. We may well seek to improve our lives as though we are the architects, without stopping to consider the Life Giver. If we are wise, however, we will use all the means available to us through God\u2019s grace to grow fully.<\/p>\n
It is incumbent on us to use all the opportunities provided to improve our lives holistically- spiritually, emotionally, mentally, socially, educationally, materially- in every dimension. What we do with the gift of life might be the best part of our worship, when we acknowledge the hand of God in blessing us with these improvements.<\/p>\n
So, go for it. Take hold of life. Improve on it, for God\u2019s sake. In 2026, seize the chance to become the better you that only God can help you to. And then, even if you may not have the sweetest singing voice, you will want to talk and sing God\u2019s praise for lifting you to a higher level.<\/p>\n
When we make the most of our opportunities, we close doors to regret and embrace opportunities to give thanks. Then we can praise God with our speech, with songs and music, and with our whole life.<\/p>\n
And so, for our New Year Prayer, I close with a stanza from another of our favourite writers.<\/p>\n
Fill thou my life, O Lord my God,
\nIn every part with praise
\nThat my whole being may proclaim
\nThy being and thy ways.
\nAmen.
\nHoratius Bonar (1808-1889)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-3369","pastors_corner","type-pastors_corner","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hollandmethodistchurch.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pastors_corner\/3369","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hollandmethodistchurch.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pastors_corner"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hollandmethodistchurch.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/pastors_corner"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hollandmethodistchurch.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}