On the Threshold

 

 

Standing on the threshold

Of a brand-new year,

Lord, we offer up to you, thanks

In this prayer.

 

It is because of you

That we are not consumed,

Daily we receive of your mercies

And daily we bloom.

 

Many have passed on

During this current year

And we thank you for their mark

Though no longer here.

 

Their legacy remains

Upon which we can draw

But their passing reminds us all

We are but straw.

 

Unstable in the wind

But for your mighty hand

And your constant revelation

Regarding your plan.

 

 

 

The bigger picture

Regarding all the called

And all those that trust in you

As their God.

 

Thank you, Lord

For such assurances

And for imputing to your children

Christ’s righteousness.

 

For ‘tis in you we live,

Move and have our being

And without the Spirit’s guidance

None would be seeing.

 

 

 

Thank you for your care

In this closing year,

And for reminding us in our peril

We need not fear. 

  

 Just as in this year

So, in the one to come,

Teach us Lord to number our days

And not before you run.

 

Thanks for marking

The way we should go

And for the light of your Word

That makes it glow.

 

And as we close out

This remarkable year,

We thank you again dear Father

For your Divine care.

 

Stewart Russell © December 31, 2025

 

 

It Wasn’t Meant to Be

 

No doubt you have said repeatedly

“It wasn’t meant to be”

When you had tried and tried and tried

And success you did not see.

 

A “fox and grapes scenario”

In which the grapes were probably sour,

Hence, no sense in trying any more

I won’t waste another hour.

 

So often we have striven

To achieve some endeavour in life

Only to be terribly disappointed

As we engage this earthly strife.

 

 

“It wasn’t meant to be”

Becomes our source of comfort

As we try to get over the disappointment

And ourselves with dignity comport.

 

Ofttimes after much prayer

When that loved one still passes away

With resignation to the call of death,

“It wasn’t meant to be” is what we say.

 

For some it becomes a cop-out

And greatly impedes their effort

Fostering a pity party attitude

As they attempt to garner support.

 

One can argue that what happens

Is what it was meant to be

But we can only know that for a fact

When the actual event we see.

 

 

Prior to the outcome, however,

We must be positive in our approach,

“It wasn’t meant to be”

Should never obliterate all hope.

 

Optimism must be our way of life

Especially for the one that is born-again

For our times are in the hands of God

Whether it be sun or rain.

 

“It wasn’t meant to be”

Regarding the future we do not know

But if we have the Lord’s assurance

All lights should indicate, “Go!”

 

For it is only by a walk in the Spirit

That such can be revealed,

Do not walk like the powerless fatalist

But as a child of God, only believe.

  

Stewart Russell © February 15, 2021

 

 

Hope So and Certain Hope

 

 

It is not uncommon my friend

To go through a perilous situation

And to utter an “I hope so”

As wishful consolation.

 

“I hope so” is simply a case

Where there is no genuine hope:

A word of sympathetic encouragement

Just to help someone cope.

 

It is almost with resignation

That “I hope so” comes into play

But there is no assurance for better

As one nears the end of day.

 

“Tell me, this advice that you give,

Will it really work?”

“I hope so” comes the reply

Sometimes even from experts.

 

Imagine the woman in the Bible

That had the issue of blood!

Think of the “I hope so’s” she had:

More than anyone should.

 

 

From Doctor A to Doctor B

Consultant C and Consultant D

Specialist E and Specialist F

“I hope so” and more money.

 

I trust you have gotten the point

That I am at pains to make:

There is no hope in “I hope so”

So, do not make this mistake.

 

Certain hope on the other hand

Is a different kettle of fish,

It carries a definite assurance

That means far more than a wish.

 

Like God’s promise of salvation

Guaranteed by God himself

As opposed to some conman’s offer

With lots of ill-gotten wealth.

 

Titus 1:2

In hope of eternal life,

Which God, that cannot lie,

Promised before the world began;

 

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope,

And the glorious appearing of the great God

And our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

Titus 3:7

That being justified by his grace,

We should be made heirs

According to the hope of eternal life.

 

These references are not consecutive

But they read as though they are,

Not “I hope so” but certain hope

Guaranteed and not marred.

 

Not a Lotto hope as in the lottery

Where only a relative few will win

But a certain hope that’s in Christ Jesus

Now that we are saved from sin.

 

It is not a hit or miss scenario:

Not a shot fired off in the dark,

It’s a Holy Spirit guaranteed assurance

That is settled in a believer’s heart.

 

Some teach we cannot know:

Theirs is most definitely, “I hope so”

But here and now we can definitely know

And make our calling and election sure.

 

Stewart Russell © May 15, 2021

 

 

Psalm 118:24

 

 

“This is the day,”

How we so lustily sing!

“We will rejoice and be glad in it”

And O what joy it brings!

 

It’s truly a lift

From our sunken depths

Especially after an experience

That brought regret.

 

“This is the day,”

And it doesn’t matter what,

There’s no such thing as a bad day;

God created the whole lot.

 

That’s how I viewed it

Until someone shared with me

This entire chapter

And then I began to see.

 

We sing it and enjoy it

But we miss its context,

The Psalmist saw a lot more

In this significant text.

 

We think of creation

And that God made each day,

Nothing’s wrong with that

But David had more to say.

 

 

David had a preview

Of God’s amazing grace

When the Messiah would come

And take his place.

 

And so, in God’s assurance

He could confidently say,

This is the day, prophetically speaking

Of Christ’s coming day.

 

The day of atonement!

The day of so great salvation!

Twenty-eight generations before,

David saw his redemption.

 

 

He rejoiced back then

As though the time was nigh,

“This is the Lord’s doing,” he says,

It is marvelous in our eyes.

 

More than a thousand years

To come before Christ’s time

But the glorious Gospel of salvation

Was on David’s mind.

 

“The stone the builders refused

Is become the headstone,”

“This is the day,” David said,

And in this he was not alone.

 

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

 

Stewart Russell © August 12, 2021