Great Faithfulness

Before I start, it's hard to believe, but this is my 100th post on Crossing Paths. It all started on July 8 when I announced I was moving from San Jose to Rocklin. Wow, a lot has happened in 4 months, hasn't it?

In less than a week, we celebrate Thanksgiving. Like most holidays with any kind of Christian origins, it has been reduced by our culture to a time of feasting on great food, taking naps and watching football.

You can't read or watch the news these days without being bombarded with the uneasy truths of the economy and international turmoil. We keep hearing how things haven't been this bad in X number of years. We hear comparisons to the Great Depression. Depression. Such a fitting term. You know, if you focus on how depressing everyone's talk and focus is, yeah...you're going to get depressed.

I read a quote yesterday by Aldous Huxley. He said, "experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."

How profound. How simple.

Yesterday, my friend Keri wrote the following on my Facebook page:

Jesus is the same Yesterday Today and Always, He is faithful. He is glorious, victorious, Timeless, Alpha Omega, He is God. Be encouraged by Him today in your Life.

Times are tough. But these powerful words from my friend are where I choose to put my focus. Life is cyclical. Whether we're talking about the weather, fashions or economic trends. In a world where the only constant is change, I'm leaning on the everlasting arms of the One who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Sunday evening is a special Thanksgiving service at my church. I am blessed to be part of the worship team. One of the songs I will be leading is one of my very favorites. The lyrics are below. Many of you know the song, and I would encourage you to read these words and think about them. Then through the course of your day, recite these words. If you know the song, sing it. Listen to it. In these times, the song is especially meaningful to me.

Be someone like my friend Keri. Be someone who is an encourager in times when we're having negativity crammed down our collective throats. We have so much more for which to be thankful.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!