Happy New Year!

For Western Christians, the new year of grace begins with the setting of the sun this evening. Advent is upon us! Can these days of grace in the Church mark a new beginning for us? I pray so. I pray that during these days we will give more time to the hearing of God's Word (most churches provide extra services in these days - usually midweek), more time for prayer and meditation, and more time for letting our homes become "little churches" where we read devotions, pray, and sing together to Him who, when He came among us, found no welcome in a home, but had to be born in a manger. Here's my first resolution for this shortly arriving new year of grace: By His grace, I will not allow the culture pressures of this time to divert me or my family from making true preparation for the Advent of the King. May His words and the songs of His church fill our home as we await with joy the celebration of His Nativity.

How blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ as ruler is confessed!
O peaceful hearts and happy homes
To whom this King in triumph comes!
The cloudless sun of joy is He
Who comes to set His people free.
To God the Spirit raise
Your happy shouts of praise!

Fling wide the portals of your heart;
Make it a temple set apart
From earthly use for heaven's employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy.
So shall Your Sov'reign enter in
And new and nobler life begin.
To God alone be praise
For word and deed and grace!

Redeemer, come, and open wide
My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide!
O enter with Thy grace divine;
Thy face of mercy on me shine.
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on
Until our glorious rest is won.
Eternal praise and fame
We offer to Thy name!
LSB 341:3-5