As This Year Is Starting
Lord, as this year is starting
I give myself to You
To honor Christ my Savior
In all I say and do.
I’ll trust Your kind provision
For all the things You’ve planned;
I’ll look for how You’re working
And watch Your guiding hand.
I’ll follow where you’re leading
Because You know the way,
And even in the valley
My heart won’t doubt or stray.
I’ll keep your good commandments
And guard my heart and soul
To please my Lord and Savior
And yield to His control.
I’ll turn from sin and evil,
Confess when I’ve been wrong,
And build up godly habits
Through Christ who makes me strong.
I’ll daily search the Scriptures
And talk with You in prayer;
I’ll seek to know You better
And give You every care.
I’ll show Your love to others
And bear the gospel light
Of life and free salvation
For heaven’s just in sight.
I’ll love my Christian brothers
And sisters day by day
In fellowship and service
To bless them on their way.
I’ll help the weak and weary
And lift the ones who fall
Like Jesus whose compassion
Reached down to save us all.
I’ll keep my eye on heaven
That place where I belong
Where treasures last forever
And nothing dims the song.
I’ll praise Your Name with gladness
And thank You for Your love;
I’ll tell about Your glory
Until I’m home above.
Lord, fill me with Your Spirit,
And help me walk with You
In holy love and service
As Jesus Christ would do.
Christina Joy Hommes
The Waiting Year
I step into the waiting year
With confidence because
I know Whose hand I’m holding to
And what His goodness does
I will not fear its unknown paths
Or seek to change God’s plan
Because He started loving me
Before the world began
I’ll trust my needs and wants to Him
Without a worried care
Because I’ve seen Him work before
And know He hears my prayer
I’ll praise Him now for what He’ll do
Throughout the year ahead
Because I know He’s always good
And does just what He’s said
In faith and hope with joy and peace
I’ll greet the waiting year
Because I know Whose hand I hold
And Jesus will be near
Christina Joy Hommes
A Childhood Memory
I saw those old Brach’s peppermints
This Christmas at the store –
The tears began and took me back
Through recollection’s door.
I seemed to see dear farmer Hann
In boots and coveralls
Come walking up beside me there
As in the old church halls.
Where every week he’d search me out
And say these words I hear:
Just, “Jesus loves you, I do too.”
So simple yet so clear.
He’d search that big, deep pocket through
To find a mint for me –
His words were etched in red and white
Upon my heart, you see.
You never know how God can use
A simple act of love
To touch a heart, to shape a life,
To point a soul above.
Christina Joy Hommes
Based on a true story I heard
Lord, Thank You
Lord, when I try to thank You
For all You’ve done for me,
There’s so much I could mention
And more I cannot see.
You made the world around me
So beautiful and bright,
To show Your love and power
And echo heaven’s light.
You send such loving blessings
To show me day by day
How well You know and love me
And guide me all the way.
You give me home and loved ones
Where I can feel Your love
With friends and church that show me
What life must be above.
You speak to me through Scriptures
So I can walk with You
To light my path and teach me
The things I ought to do.
You came to be my Savior
And wash my sins away;
You died and rose to save me,
And hear me when I pray.
You call me to a purpose –
To walk with You below,
To testify of Jesus
And share the love I know.
You tell me of the glory
That waits on heaven’s shore
Where soon I’ll see my Savior
And live forevermore.
I think of all these blessings
With thousands more beside –
Your favor and Your presence,
The way that You provide.
Lord, thank You for Your mercy
And pardon full and free,
For words to praise and bless You
For all You’ve done for me!
Christina Joy Hommes
The Lord of Harvest
God sends the rain and sunshine
And makes the breezes blow;
He sends the warmth of summer
To make the harvest grow.
He takes the seeds we’ve planted
Across a ready field
And makes them grow and flourish
To give a hearty yield.
Then in the time of harvest,
He sends our daily bread,
Providing in His goodness
For all the days ahead.
We celebrate with gladness
As thankful hearts we raise
To bless the Lord of harvest
In songs of grateful praise.
Christina Joy Hommes