The Poetical Works of Frances Ridley Havergal :: :: University of Virginia Library

New Year Mottoes.

[‘From this day’]

‘From this day will I bless you.’— Hag. ii. 19.

‘From this day’
He shall bless thee!
What shall then distress thee?
‘From this day’
He will never leave thee;
What shall grieve thee?
Christ, thy mighty Friend,
Loveth to the end
‘From this day!’

[The Lord hath done great things for thee!]

‘Be glad and rejoice, for the Lord will do great things.’— Joel ii. 21.

The Lord hath done great things for thee!
All through the fleeted days
Jehovah hath dealt wondrously;
Lift up thy heart and praise!
For greater things thine eyes shall see,
Child of His loving choice!
The Lord will do great things for thee;
Fear not, be glad, rejoice!

391

Wondrously
The Lord hath dealt with thee!
Wondrous mercy all the way,
Wondrous patience every day,
Wondrous pardon, wondrous feeling,
Wondrous help and wondrous leading
Through the bygone year.

Wondrously
The Lord shall deal with thee!
Wondrous tenderness and grace,
Wondrous shining of His face,
Wondrous faithfulness and power,
Wondrous love, shall twine each bower
Through the coming year!

[Crown the year with Thy goodness, Lord!]

Crown the year with Thy goodness, Lord!
And make every hour a gem
In the living diadem,
That sparkles to Thy praise.

Crown the year with Thy grace, O Lord!
Be Thy fresh anointings shed
On Thy waiting servant's head,
Who treads Thy royal ways.

Crown the year with Thy glory, Lord!
Let the brightness and the glow
Of its heavenly overflow
Crown Thy beloved's days!

392

[Strong and loving is thy Friend!]

Strong and loving is thy Friend!
Trust Him for the untried year!
He shall lead thee to the end,
Ever gracious, ever near.
As the everlasting hills
Thou shalt find His faithfulness;
As the crystal mountain-rills.

[Toward the rising of the sun]

‘And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.’— Num. ii. 3.

Toward the rising of the sun
Now thy standard raise!
Let thy New Year's halt be one
In the Camp of Praise.
Then the wilderness shall be
Fruitful, fair, and glad for thee.

[Another year of patient toil]

Another year of patient toil,
A few sheaves won from rocky soil,
May seem not much to thee;
But all thy work is with the Lord,
And thine exceeding great reward
Thy God Himself shall be.

[Praising together for all the way]

Praising together for all the way,
Now let us welcome our New Year's Day,
Rejoicing together in faith and love,
Hoping together for rest above.

393

[Eternity with Jesus]

Eternity with Jesus
Is long enough for rest;
Thank God that we are spared to work
For Him whom we love best!

[The threefold blessing Israel heard]

‘The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.’— Num. vi. 24-26.

The threefold blessing Israel heard
Three thousand years ago,
God grant it may on thee to-day
In power and fulness flow;
That Light and Peace in grand increase
All through the year may glow.

[Lord Jesus, keep our dear one]

Lord Jesus, keep our dear one
All through the year;
By day and night Thy presence bright
Be ever near;
And Thy sweet word be always heard
To guide and cheer.

[One year less]

‘I will sing of mercy and judgment.’— Ps. ci. 1.

One year less
Of wisely-ordered loss,
Of sorrow and of weariness,
Conflict and cross.

394

One year more
Of mercies ever new,
Of love in never-failing store,
Faithful and true.

[The Lord thy God!]

‘He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee.’— Deut. xxxi. 8.

The Lord thy God!
He it is that goes before thee,
His the banner waving o'er thee,
Bright and broad!
When the fiercest foes assail thee,
He it is that will not fail thee,
The Lord thy God!

[The future! who may lift the veil]

‘The righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God.’ —Eccles, ix. 1.

The future! who may lift the veil
And read its yet unwritten tale?
But sorrow and joy alike we leave
In the Hand that doeth all things well,
And calmly from that Hand receive
All that each coming year may tell.
We would not ask of life or death,
It shall be as the Master saith.

[Now Thy loving Spirit]

Now Thy loving Spirit
On our lives outpour;
Make us know Thee better,
Make us love Thee more.

395

Take us now, we pray Thee,
Make us all Thine own;
Keep us Thine for ever,
Keep us Thine alone!

[‘Not as the world giveth]

‘Not as the world giveth
Give I to you!’
Saith the Redeemer,
Faithful and True.
May He enrich thee,
This New Year's Day,
With gifts from His treasure
That pass not away.

[This New Year Thou givest me]

This New Year Thou givest me,
Lord, I consecrate to Thee,
With all its nights and days:
Fill my hand with service blest,
Fill my heart with holy rest,
And fill my life with praise.

[A bright New Year, and a sunny track]

A bright New Year, and a sunny track
Along an upward way,
And a song of praise on looking back,
When the year has passed away,
And golden sheaves nor small nor few!
This is my New Year's wish for you!

[Another year for Jesus!]

Another year for Jesus!
How can I wish for you
A greater joy or blessing,
O fellow-worker true?

396

[Is the work difficult?]

Is the work difficult?
Jesus directs thee.
Is the path dangerous?
Jesus protects thee.
Fear not, and falter not,—
Let the word cheer thee!—
All through the coming year
He will be with thee!

[Happy, because He loves thee!]

Happy, because He loves thee!
Happy, because He lives!
Bright with that deepest gladness
Which only Jesus gives.
Happy, because He guides thee,
Because He cares for thee;
Happy, ever so happy,
Thus may thy New Year be!

[For the weariest day]

For the weariest day
May Christ be thy stay!
For the darkest night
May Christ be thy light!
For the weakest hour
May Christ be thy power!
For each moment's fall
May Christ be thy All!