Frances Ridley Havergal, a poet and hymnwriter (“Take My Life and Let It Be”), published this book of devotions in 1879, shortly before her death. I do not know what edition I have, but it looks and feels like an early one.
A note written on an inside page reads, “With pleasant memories of Bible School, Summer of 1945, G. S. Montgomery.”
As I was thinking about loved ones, the state of the world, life, death, and the upcoming new year, these words came to me.
Another year, so full of grace
Forgiveness, love, and peace
Of gifts that come from God the Father
And sent for you to keep
If only you would seek.
Another year of joyful triumph
And sudden grim defeat
You smile, embrace, you cry and tremble
The world and all it brings
If only you would seek.
Another year, come be His child
Beloved of the King
A year that flows with promises
And blessings you will reap
If only you would seek.
Another year, could be your last
And then eternity
There will only be one question
What will your answer be?
If only you would seek.
Another year to share with friends
With loving family
But if your heart would open further
He waits so patiently
If only you would seek.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Matthew 6:33
I’ve been able to read through the entire Bible every year using the Five Day Bible Reading Plan.
The mix of Old Testament and New Testament readings each day is the most enjoyable part of the plan for me. The chronological order is another plus.
You can download and print the reading plan, but I have the app linked to the ESV Study Bible app on my iPhone. With a touch, the app takes me to the passages for the day, and I use the supplied checklist to monitor my reading.
The weekends are “free” with this plan, giving you two days to dig deeper, catch up, focus on your church’s readings for Sunday, or do anything else that helps you grow in the knowledge of God through reading his Word.
Whichever Bible reading plan you choose, I hope you are successful this new year with your worthy goal.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
In 1894, Scottish evangelist Henry Drummond shared a message — The Greatest Thing in the World — based on 1 Corinthians 13. His little talk on the Bible passage was soon published, and it’s never been out of print. My copy is from the 1950’s, and written inside is “Janet, My love, Aunt Ruth.”
I remember when I first read the passage in the Bible and saw that the words describing true Love are all action words, not emotions. That was a lightbulb moment for me. Take time to read 1 Corinthians 13. Maybe what it says will give you a new idea about love, like it did for me.
Most of the time my dreams are made up of disconnected scenes that don’t make sense and weird, sometimes scary, situations. I usually wake up and (1) am thankful that it was just a dream, and (2) wonder about those people in my dream whom I’ve never met. Fascinating. This dream “stars” my brother and me, and is another quirky one. This time, though, most of it had a meaning that was clear and wonderful to me.
The car would not start, and they were in the middle of a street that was full of men and women walking in all directions.
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Darla McDavid 