A humble woman prays

On this last day of 2023, we may be want to take a moment and look back on the moments of treasure that we experienced in 2023 and before.

How should we leave 2023?

Running and laughing, dragging our worn out selves across the Midnight chime, partying with friends or enjoying the peace solitude and white lights that shine from our Christmas trees, candles or will you be a visitor in the wonderful world of dreams when that time comes? How will you “Ring out the old and Ring in the new?

What about a song or poem to close the year out? There are many to choose among:

When I was a young adult, it was a tradition after the count down , to sing Auld Lang Syne, the Scots-language poem written by Robert Burns in 1788, was set to a much older Scottish/Irish melody and is now sung all over the world to welcome the new year. Happy New Year from the west of Ireland! To hear this click here. Will you sing that tonight?

“Ring out, Wild bells” by Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) See the poem here.

“A song for New Year’s Eve” written by William Cullen Bryant. Click here to hear it.

Perhaps you will walk out of 2023 with a familiar old movie as your friend. There are so many old films, which would you choose? Hello Dolly, Gone with the Wind (like 2023?) or The Birds. Which movie is your favorite? Do tell us.

The year 2023 is coming to a close but a new one, 2024, is smiling as it comes our way.

The Lord’s Year of 2024 is a gift that we have been blessed with. It will have ups and downs, twists galore, happy surprises and perhaps some that you hope to never see again but the big question to you is what will 2024 be like for you. I pray that you do see, except for a few moments, the choice on how to live and how to react to others, in the new year, is yours. You can decide to have a peaceful, thriving year by not reacting to people who try to upset you. Yes misery loves company but you don’t have to accept the invitation.

Choose happiness, stay close to God.

Closing 2023, Starting 2024

In service today, a talented Reverend shared the “53 words that will change your life” not just a year.

But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

³⁵ Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

³⁶ Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

³⁷ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.

³⁹ And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! Matthew 22:37-40.

Let’s carry these words in our pocket for 2024. Let’s keep them close and reread it until it is in the forefront of our minds, our souls and our minds. May New Year’s Eve 2024 have us pulling out this scripture and our hearts, souls and minds saying “Let’s live by his word in 2025 as well.

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Almighty God, Please keep all who are sharing these words to feel safe, loved, comforted, heard, encouraged, forgiven, and all needs that reach you from the whispers of their heart. In the name of Jesus Christ we lift these needs and the needs that only you are aware of. Amen