Happy New Year!

As we ring in a joyous and glorious 2008, let’s do our part to become better people, better citizens, better neighbors, better friends.

One of my goals for this year is to become more like Jesus. Impossible for a sinner like myself, who only a day ago threw scissors across a room and knocked down a child’s block tower in a sophomoric show of temper. Impossible for a selfish blighter like myself, who would choose to read than do her chores, or tend her children. Impossible for me, but completely feasible and totally reachable because God’s power is incomparably great.

Totally possible for Him. And therefore truly, possible for me.

I signed up for Elisabeth Elliot’s daily devotional a few weeks ago and am learning so much. She has an amazing way of viewing the world, of opening my eyes to a better perspective. You can read her daily or sign up here. In today’s writing, she closed with this prayer, written by Amy Carmichael. You can pray it for your children and my children, any child.

Father, hear us, we are praying,
Hear the words our hearts are saying,
We are praying for our children.

Keep them from the powers of evil
From the secret, hidden peril,
From the whirlpool that would suck them,
From the treacherous quicksand pluck them,
Holy Father, save our children.

From the worldling's hollow gladness,
From the sting of faithless sadness,
Through life's troubled waters steer them,
Through life's bitter battle cheer them,
Father, Father, be Thou near them.

Read the language of our longing,
Read the wordless pleadings thronging,
Holy Father, for our children.

And wherever they may bide,
Lead them Home at eventide.