Yesterday, Today, Forever

Like a Shepherd, Jesus leads.

O God, our Help of ages past

Our Hope for years to come,

Our Shelter from the stormy blast,

And our Eternal Home.

I love the words to this song. What can shake us? He’s been our help in the past. He’s our hope for the future. He’s in every storm we’ve been in, or are in, or will encounter. The next verse says more:

Under the shadow of Thy throne

Thy saints have dwelt secure;

Sufficient is Thine arm alone,

And our defense is sure.

What safer, more secure place than right here, underneath His throne? He provides just what we need, even small things that seem so earthly. Sometimes it’s an extra bit of money. Sometimes it’s someone that says, “I prayed for you today.” Sometimes, He paints us a beautiful picture in the sky, and we remember that He is bigger than anything we’re facing.

I’ve tried to cap 2025 into a word or two, but I can’t seem to find the right ones. “Learning” was a big part of this last year. Learning to love Jesus more, learning to adjust to this new home, cooking with some limitations, growing flowers in a new place, letting a boy run safe into Jesus’ arms, and our hearts feeling the pull to go too. “Growth” seems to have played right along with this all. It’s seemed imperfect and quite unnecessarily messy, at times. I’ve learned a deeper meaning to the power of prayer. And how much we as a church family hold each other up when we’re too weak to stand by ourselves. So maybe there’s not one word that fits it all. Maybe it’s just a bunch of things and the verses to that song express it best.

Reminders from 2025 that God was there, in big and small ways. (taken from my lists in my notebook) ((beware; it’s a bit lengthy)) —

January

1.6 - Ice and snow making a beautiful white world

1.11 - God’s grace

1.21 - *“I am not afraid, when You are with me.”

1.24 - It’s sunshiny. I sit in my chair, soaking it up.

1.28 - health

February

2.5 - **May my life be worship, my thoughts be praise, and my words bring honor to His name.

2.12 - School was canceled, so now I have time to catch up here. Thank You, God.

2.17 - a slow week (so far)

2.20 - hot lunch today at school

2.25 - God’s truth is greater than my feelings.

2.28 - apples and peanut butter

March

3.5 - home again

3.7 - God’s wonderful plan of salvation, and how the story is so beautiful.

3.12 - My happiness today is a choice. It does not depend on if circumstances line up correctly. It hangs solely on the One who is greater than the world.

3.14 - our little black dog

3.18 - God is faithful.

3.20 - sugar cookies and an extra good cup of coffee

3.27 - signs of green and growing things everywhere

April

4.2 - ferns, pansies, tulips

4.10 - good mental health

4.22 - my amazing husband and the life we’re building together

4.29 - Today I am thankful for the simple pleasures of home. We have it too good.

May

5.7 - energy, and a desire to work

5.11 - *“Lord, I thank Thee for Thy love, draw my heart to Thine above.”

5.13 - beautiful bird-singin’ morning

5.20 - summer break and slower days

5.28 - I am thankful for the times sun breaks through the clouds, and I’m thankful for rain.

June

6.3 - quiet time, especially in the morning

6.20 - belonging

July

7.2 - sweet tea

7.7 - fresh peaches

7.15 - God’s keeping hand over my family and friends

7.22 - time to relax and read my Bible and pray

7.29 - butterflies

August

8.7 - I’m thankful that perfection isn’t required for drawing. Turns out, perfection isn’t required for life, either.

8.12 - company planning to stop in for a bit

8.15 - hope for the busy days ahead

8.22 - a not quite so early morning

8.28 - blackberries

September

9.8 - good friends and Sunday evenings

9.25 - The rain we got was lovely. Now the sun is back, and that’s lovely.

9.30 - I’m thankful for changing seasons.

October

10.6 - little memories that pop into my head and make me smile

10.16 - being able to take days off when I’m sick

10.23 - I’m thankful God speaks to me and shows me the way of life.

10.30 - *“You are my only Hope for tomorrow, Strength for today.”

November

11.5 - hot tea

11.12 - God’s power to help me be positive

11.25 - watching the birds from my kitchen window and remembering, *“if He feeds the birds and clothes the flowers all by His decree, how much more will God take care of me?”

December -

12.9 - thank You for being the reason for Christmas.

12.16 - I am so grateful for answered prayers.

A whole year of God providing in small ways and big ways, seen and unseen. And so I’ll continue to sing:

O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Be Thou our Guard while life shall last,

And our Eternal Home.

“O God, Our Help in Ages Past” by Isaac Watts

*The writers of these lyrics deserve the credit for their talent in putting into words what resonates in my heart.

** Not the exact words of a song, but inspired by the song “Just For Today”.