CONSIDER THE LILIES
A New Beginning
May this year bring all the special things your heart is hoping for, and may His blessings and love be yours for evermore.
January closes the pages on last year, with its heartaches, trials and sorrows, as well as its pleasures and joys. The Christian can say "Hitherto hath the Lord led me," and rejoice, for "all things work together for good to them that love God." (Romans 8:28)
In Japan, New Year's Day is the big day of the year. All debts should have been paid (although the installment plan is changing this), and everyone automatically becomes one year older. At every street corner are special decorations of three large bamboo poles, wrapped around with pine branches and straw rope. The Japanese have a saying which means "Oh! It's good and it's bad. It's good to see the holiday season again, but it also means I'm one year nearer hell!"
The greatest event in your life this coming year (if you have not been "born again") would be your becoming a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, for "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!"
It takes a new You to make a New Year
JANUARY
Place two needle-point holders in the vase: one in the back section, the other in the left-front corner.
Place branch 1 in center-back of the first holder; branch 2 goes left-front of branch 1, and is pulled to 45° (see p. 97). Put branch 3 in the front holder, and pull to right-front down over the vase.
Helpers A and B are placed behind branch 3, bringing the two sections together.
Place carnations as shown.
Materials used:
Juniper pine
Red carnations
A New Beginning
Seeing an unused Bible in his home, a small boy asked his mother whose book it was. "It is God's book," she said. "Well," replied the boy, "don't you think we should return it? Nobody seems to read it."
This year may we have fewer dusty Bibles.
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you."
—I Peter 5:7
This year remember—it matters to Him about you.
Be not troubled with thought of the morrow,
Of duties you surely must do,
On the Lord cast thy burden of sorrow,
It matters to Him about you!
Be not weary when trials are given,
But trust Him to carry you through,
He will make all a pathway to Heaven,
It matters to Him about you!
Be patient until his appearing,
'Tis dawn almost now, on your view.
The mists of this dark age are clearing,
He is planning in love about you!
And thus the year I now begin
A happy one will be,
If I am seeking just to do
The thing that pleaseth Thee!
JANUARY
Place branch 1 in holder and pull to 45°. Branch 2, a peeled-root, should hang over the rim of the vase.
A cluster of lilies, 3, is placed to go through the root openings, facing in different directions. Add helper A at 75°.
Materials used:
Magnolia
Peeled root
Lilies
A New Beginning
The present moment flies,
And bears our life away;
Oh, make Thy servants truly wise,
That they may live today!
The New Year lies before you
Like a spotless tract of snow.
Be careful how you tread it,
For every mark will show.
He who provides for his life, but takes no care for eternity, is wise for a moment, but a fool forever.
JANUARY
