crumbs from His table: All New Same Old

Monday, January 2, 2012

All New Same Old

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Col. 3:17, HCSB).

Yesterday, the new year began as it ought, with worship. The preacher spoke of a "Land of New Beginnings." We prayed in song for open eyes, "We want to see Jesus." I hung a beautiful new calendar on the wall, appended a new number to the date in my journal, began a new list of books to read this year.

Today, though, the same old established routine resumes. The dryer buzzes, "Done!" The dishwasher churns loudly, grumbling of yet another load of plates and mugs and cereal bowls. Ebony ~~drags~~ walks me around the park. The grocery list lengthens. The physical therapy equipment beckons. The list of remaining chores seems longer than the remaining hours.

I worship by offering my body again as a living sacrifice, a poor one though it is, but one God commands and deems acceptable through the blood of Christ.

And I offer thanks to the Ancient of Days, whose mercies are wondrously new every new year, who remains the same from of old. The words of Octavius Winslow call me to renew the same old gratitude habit in an all new year:

My soul! seek from God the spirit of thankfulness, and cultivate habitually the grace of praise. It is a soul-purifying and a God-glorifying grace. It keeps the heart in perpetual bloom, and converts the life into a daily psalm.

Resuming the list, then, let's worship God through gratitude for His many gifts:
~Himself, the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow cast by turning
~"Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies"
~the grace of Christmas and New Year's with family
~a few days off for Allen
~lovely new tea things from Allen