Tag: New Year

The missing lyrics…

photo credit and license: Computer Gremlin by Larry Wentzel

Aaarrgh…. I’m beginning to think there is a gremlin living in my laptop! The lyrics to “Thank You for This Year” by Elohim Songs that I thought had been in yesterday’s post somehow mysteriously disappeared from the email version that was sent. Two failed attempts… so here goes number three… but hopefully, as the saying goes, “the third time’s a charm.”

Thank You, thank You Lord

Thank You for this year.

For every morning that I woke

for every breath, for every hope

for all the blessings I could see

and those you gave invisibly

for answered prayers and those still held

for stories written, stories yet to tell

for laughter shared and tears You dried

thank You, Lord, for this year’s ride.

Through the highs and through the lows

through the joys and through the woes

You were there in every way

so I lift my voice today…

Thank You for this year

for every moment, every tear…

for holding me close, so near…

for blessings seen and unseen…

for everything it’s been

for friends who walked beside me here

for family held both far and near

for open doors and lessons learned

for every bridge that You have burned

for strength when I had none to give

for grace that taught me how to live

for second chances, fresh new starts

thank You, Lord, with all my heart.

You’ve been so good to me this year

Your faithfulness so crystal clear

I can’t keep silent anymore

my gratitude is overflowing more…

For trials that became my strength

for waiting seasons, perfect length

for disappointments turned to gold

for stories only You could mold

for healings, breakthroughs, victories won

for battles fought, for races run

for quiet mercies every day

thank You, Lord, in every way.

How can I thank You enough?

For all You’ve done, for all Your love?

My words fall short but still I say

Thank You, Lord, thank You today.

For January’s hope

for December’s grace

for every month between

I’ve seen Your faithful face

for Spring’s new life, for Summer’s warmth

for Autumn’s change, for Winter’s calm

every season bore Your mark.

You’ve been faithful from the start…

Thank You for three hundred sixty-five

Thank You for keeping me alive

for every sunrise

for every sunset

for every moment

I won’t forget

Thank You for all You’ve done!

My heart is full!

My cup runs over

with thanksgiving…

Thank You for Your presence

Thank You for Your guidance

Thank You for Your mercy

Thank You for Your love.

As this year comes to a gentle close

I count the blessings, everyone I know

not because my life was perfect,

free from pain

but because through it all, You remained.

Thank You for this year

every high and low

…. for helping me to grow

Thank You for this year

and for the year to come…

— lyrics from “Thank You for This Year” by Elohim Songs

Goodbye 2025… Hello 2026!!!

I happened upon a new song — released December 27th — that expresses a lot of what is on my heart these days…

Thank You, thank You Lord

Thank You for this year.

For every morning that I woke

for every breath, for every hope

for all the blessings I could see

and those you gave invisibly

for answered prayers and those still held

for stories written, stories yet to tell

for laughter shared and tears You dried

thank You, Lord, for this year’s ride.

Through the highs and through the lows

through the joys and through the woes

You were there in every way

so I lift my voice today…

Thank You for this year

for every moment, every tear…

for holding me close, so near…

for blessings seen and unseen…

for everything it’s been

for friends who walked beside me here

for family held both far and near

for open doors and lessons learned

for every bridge that You have burned

for strength when I had none to give

for grace that taught me how to live

for second chances, fresh new starts

thank You, Lord, with all my heart.

You’ve been so good to me this year

Your faithfulness so crystal clear

I can’t keep silent anymore

my gratitude is overflowing more…

For trials that became my strength

for waiting seasons, perfect length

for disappointments turned to gold

for stories only You could mold

for healings, breakthroughs, victories won

for battles fought, for races run

for quiet mercies every day

thank You, Lord, in every way.

How can I thank You enough?

For all You’ve done, for all Your love?

My words fall short but still I say

Thank You, Lord, thank You today.

For January’s hope

for December’s grace

for every month between

I’ve seen Your faithful face

for Spring’s new life, for Summer’s warmth

for Autumn’s change, for Winter’s calm

every season bore Your mark.

You’ve been faithful from the start…

Thank You for three hundred sixty-five

Thank You for keeping me alive

for every sunrise

for every sunset

for every moment

I won’t forget

Thank You for all You’ve done!

My heart is full!

My cup runs over

with thanksgiving…

Thank You for Your presence

Thank You for Your guidance

Thank You for Your mercy

Thank You for Your love.

As this year comes to a gentle close

I count the blessings, everyone I know

not because my life was perfect,

free from pain

but because through it all, You remained.

Thank You for this year

every high and low

…. for helping me to grow

Thank You for this year

and for the year to come…

— lyrics from “Thank You for This Year” by Elohim Songs

Yes, like the songwriter I have a lot to be thankful for as we say goodbye to 2025 and welcome 2026. In the joys and pains, the victories and failures, the straight paths and crooked ones God can be trusted. May you be encouraged as you reflect on what He has done in the past and look expectantly to what He will do in the future…. and together, we can have joy in the journey of this thing called “Life!”

Unfortunately, I was unable to embed this, but you can listen to the song on YouTube or Spotify.

Goodbye 2025… Hello 2026!!!

I happened upon a new song — released December 27th — that expresses a lot of what is on my heart these days…

Thank You, thank You Lord

Thank You for this year.

For every morning that I woke

for every breath, for every hope

for all the blessings I could see

and those you gave invisibly

for answered prayers and those still held

for stories written, stories yet to tell

for laughter shared and tears You dried

thank You, Lord, for this year’s ride.

Through the highs and through the lows

through the joys and through the woes

You were there in every way

so I lift my voice today…

Thank You for this year

for every moment, every tear…

for holding me close, so near…

for blessings seen and unseen…

for everything it’s been

for friends who walked beside me here

for family held both far and near

for open doors and lessons learned

for every bridge that You have burned

for strength when I had none to give

for grace that taught me how to live

for second chances, fresh new starts

thank You, Lord, with all my heart.

You’ve been so good to me this year

Your faithfulness so crystal clear

I can’t keep silent anymore

my gratitude is overflowing more…

For trials that became my strength

for waiting seasons, perfect length

for disappointments turned to gold

for stories only You could mold

for healings, breakthroughs, victories won

for battles fought, for races run

for quiet mercies every day

thank You, Lord, in every way.

How can I thank You enough?

For all You’ve done, for all Your love?

My words fall short but still I say

Thank You, Lord, thank You today.

For January’s hope

for December’s grace

for every month between

I’ve seen Your faithful face

for Spring’s new life, for Summer’s warmth

for Autumn’s change, for Winter’s calm

every season bore Your mark.

You’ve been faithful from the start…

Thank You for three hundred sixty-five

Thank You for keeping me alive

for every sunrise

for every sunset

for every moment

I won’t forget

Thank You for all You’ve done!

My heart is full!

My cup runs over

with thanksgiving…

Thank You for Your presence

Thank You for Your guidance

Thank You for Your mercy

Thank You for Your love.

As this year comes to a gentle close

I count the blessings, everyone I know

not because my life was perfect,

free from pain

but because through it all, You remained.

Thank You for this year

every high and low

…. for helping me to grow

Thank You for this year

and for the year to come…

— lyrics from “Thank You for This Year” by Elohim Songs

Yes, like the songwriter I have a lot to be thankful for as we say goodbye to 2025 and welcome 2026. In the joys and pains, the victories and failures, the straight paths and crooked ones God can be trusted. May you be encouraged as you reflect on what He has done in the past and look expectantly to what He will do in the future…. and together, we can have joy in the journey of this thing called “Life!”

Unfortunately, I was unable to embed this, but you can listen to the song on YouTube or Spotify.

Dress rehearsal…

My poor husband… every year, at the beginning of the New Year, I subject him to a year-end evaluation. We ask ourselves a series of questions that we reflect on individually and then discuss together:

  • In general, how would you rate this past year on a scale from 1-10?
  • What are some things we did well as a couple that we want to continue? What are some things we can improve on?
  • What were some of the most important lessons you learned this past year? How might you incorporate what you learned this next year?
  • Looking back over the past year, how would you say we did using our time, talents, and resources? Is there anything we can do in this new year to improve?
  • How are you different this year from the previous year?
  • Who and/or what are you especially grateful for in 2024?
  • How can I best support you to help you achieve your personal goals in the New Year?

I say “my poor husband” because this exercise has not always been met with enthusiastic support! And we haven’t done it every year. Nevertheless, it has proved to be something that helps both of us be more in sync with one another. Something that helps us to continue learning about one another. Something that helps us set priorities for how we use our time, talents, and resources.

Rehearsing the past year helps us be more focused and productive in the new year.

The great thing about rehearsals
is that they show you where your weaknesses are,
where your preparation was faulty;
and they leave you time to
change before the real play
in front of a real audience.

John Piper in “Solid Joys” December 31, 2024

Ten days before Christmas my father-in-law passed away. Yeah, the timing wasn’t the greatest. Death is one of those things we all know we’ll face someday, but it still comes as a shock. A gut-wrenching reality. Interestingly enough, however, the writer of one of the Wisdom Books in the Old Testament of the Bible says

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this [death] is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart [solemnly ponder its meaning]. Ecclesiastes 7:2

So… what’s all this have to do with rehearsing the past year???

John Piper, in the above quote, went on to say that “There are few things more revolutionizing for my life than a periodic pondering of my own death.”

Sounds kind of morbid, right?! But another Wisdom Book encourages us…

… teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom [live wisely and well]. Psalm 90:12

Numbering our days. Intentionally rehearsing the past so as to be more on target in the future. Making any necessary changes before the “real play in front of a real audience.”

Someday, EACH of us will stand before a holy God and give an account for our life. He’s the “real audience.” He’s a loving Father who wants to have a relationship with us, a relationship that hinges on our acceptance or rejection of His Son, Jesus Christ.

As we embark on this New Year, may I encourage you to rehearse this past year, evaluating where there were weaknesses, where your preparation may have been faulty, what changes need to be made. And as we do this, may we together have joy in the journey of this thing called “Life!”