Sunday, May 1, 2016

Sing a New Song in the Morning


The other morning I woke up before the alarm clock - for God sent me a living, singing alarm. There was a bird outside the open doors, singing away in joy for the dawn of a new day. Her song was beautiful and so joyful. And why not be joyful? The new day had come, the light followed the darkness, the world was waking to all the possibilities.

And I woke with the bird song in my heart and thankfulness to God for this day he has given me. A day where I can try (again) to live the life I am called to live. A day when I can let the past go and move forward. And this Hymn came to mind immediately. I sang this for years before I truly understood that in each new day, each new morning, God is there; with his love and his grace. All we need to do is to listen... and walk with Him.

New every morning is the love
our waking and uprising prove;
through sleep and darkness safely brought,
restored to life and power and thought. 

New mercies each returning day,
hover around us while we pray;
new perils past, new sins forgiven,
new thoughts of God, new hope of heaven.

If on our daily course our mind
be set to hallow all we find,
new treasures still, of countless price,
God will provide for sacrifice.

Old friends, old scenes will lovelier be
as more of heaven in each we see;
some softening gleam of love and prayer
shall dawn on every cross and care.

The trivial round, the common task, 
will furnish all we need to ask;
room to deny ourselves: a road
to bring us daily nearer God.

Only, O Lord, in thy dear love,
fit us for perfect rest above; 
and help us this and every day,
to live more nearly as we pray. 

     John Keble (1822)

I look forward to what this, and every day, will bring. I can only hope and pray for another glimpse of God in the little (or big) things.

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