HAPPY BLESSED NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!
May 2009 be a GREAT year of ABUNDANT LIVING for you all!!! and may you receive a BREAKTHROUGH in your life this year.
Well, for me though, i think that 2009 will be more of a year of jubilee than of abundant living. I already long claimed 2009 as the year of jubilee for myself, even before 2008.
except for year 2008, where the year's outlook was given and received through the church's declaration, the past few years have significant been what i have declared for myself.
2006 was the year of growth, and indeed it was a year of GREAT growth for me, in terms of my character, my walk with God, my relations with my family in Christ, and my involvement in church.
2007 was the year of trials, and indeed i faced many trials that year, many challenges and stuffs, like my O levels, my extra school commitments, my struggles in studies, as an SP, away from my very close and comfortable friends in church who happened to be at Adam while I in PL, etc.
and indeed, as claimed and proclaimed by Pastor Dom last watchnight, 2008 will be a year of New Beginnings, and indeed it was for me, GREATLY!!
Let's see what are some of the New Beginnings I've experienced throughout 2008...
1. NEW Zone in Ignyte (from upper sec to Zone2)
2. NEW cell group
3. NEW structure (from FUEL to cells)
4. NEW adult leaders
5. NEW school/environment (from PHS to NYJC)
6. NEW class
7. NEW CCA (from GB[UG] to AVA & Drama[Arts])
8. NEW friends
9. NEW spritual struggle like never before (really bad struggle that spiralled my life downwards and draged everything else down too.)
10. NEW method of school system (from classrooms setting to lectures & tutorials seeting)
11. NEW way of studying - Night Studying
12. NEW sets of friends (really see the more 'worldly' folks, different type of people that i'm not very exposed to in pri/sec school.)
13. NEW friendship challenges (last time i never really had friendship probs. 2008 i met a lot of them and i myself had some friendship prob, kinda.. but it's kinda within myself so pple dun really know)
14. NEW abundant growth in Ignyte @ PL - Multiplication to 2services, sat and sun (losing my 1st SBs and feeling insecure becoz i dun have them to occupy my attention after just having multiplied into 2 centres in 20007)
15. NEW growth in worshipping God through the guitar - Believer Music (Worship Dynamics 1&2, Advanced Worship Dynamics 1&2)
16. NEW self-default mode - Run away and hide
17. NEW me - lost determination, lost focus of God, lost discipline, lost principles, lost self-confidence, lost self-esteem
18. NEW choices - Church visiting every now and then (skip ignyte services to purposely visit other churches)
19. NEW quarrels and impatience - in jan i blew up at my closest friends
20. NEW blog - Alone In The Rain (as the posts were no longer honoring God, so i chose to find a new avenue to vent things out)
21. NEW emotional struggles (due to transitions)
22. NEW me around guys in school (i'm able to make friends with guys and have guy friends... becoz FYI i'm awkward around guys and dun really make friends with guys in school)
23. NEW accountability partner - ed.
24. NEW reminder source/help - Sis Gwen, EC
25. NEW way of doing TAWG - Our Daily Bread
26. NEW composing heart for songs
27. NEW sport take-up & sport buddy - Badminton (after not playing like for eon years) & Bliss
28. NEW relaxation & fellowship - Friday Fun Time!!!
29. NEW skills - Magic Tricks
30. NEW experience of performing Magic Tricks to bring 'magic' (happiness, ice-breaker) into pple's lives
31. NEW method of running away - going overseas ALONE with my dad (Vietnam trip)
32. NEW growth in mom's cell - Multiplication (and having to say tata to some of the comfortable, known for years members)
33. NEW experience by going to Nepal
34. NEW experience in real mountain trekking in Nepal
35. NEW craft idea - making magnets as gifts!
36. NEW way of God touching & speaking to me - through the stillness (in & from camp onwards)
37. NEW revival/person - through SURGE camp, where God turned me back up-right.
38. NEW-found joy and freedom, from having at last being at peace with God. (chains were also broken at camp)
39. NEW-found values to hold dear to - Determination, Commitment, Faithfulness, Perseverance!
40. NEW outlook and arrangement for my desk and drawers
yup. and i'm sure there's more... just that i cant remember. Definitely NOT ALL of these new things are enjoyable. Rather, most of them were painful and struggles. And although these were all new beginnings for me in the year 2008, i pray that some of them will just be the first and last times! i dun want them to be the beginning of many such things to come in the next few years, like 9, 13, 16, 17, 19...
Well, whatever the case, all i can say now is 2008 IS OVER!!! SO LONG 2008, AND WELCOME 2009!!! THE YEAR OF JUBILEE!!!!!
I give thanks to the Lord for 2008, that although majority were heartaches and pains and despair, it was through it all that i emerge a champion and surging for God at the end of the year. I give thanks becoz God saw me through EVERYTHING in 2008!!!
and this year, i'm gonna REJOICE in Him!!!
The Year of Jubilee has begun, and i'm already rejoicing that I'm starting the year with my heart, mind, and soul right with God, with my focus right and clear, with principles and goals that God has directed me to enforce this year, with a cell of whom i'm quite comfortable with the cell leaders and most of my cell members. =D
and becoz i'm reminded, through this song, and can proclaim that the Lord has been there throughout and He NEVER GAVE UP ON ME!!!
Never Give Up by Josh Bates
Time after time you’ve been left behind
like the sun when it’s starting to rain
Time after time you’ve been forgotten
like a picture that’s faded with age
Time after time you ran after me
when I was still running away
Chorus:
You never give up on me
No, You never give up on me
Though I’m weak you are strong
You told me I still belong
No, you never, never give up on me
Time after time I’ve used your grace
as a way to do what I please
I’ve taken for granted prayers that you answered
never been all I could be
You are holding out your hands
and now I clearly see
Chorus
You always erase all my mistakes
You lift me up when I'm down
Through all the ages, Your love never changes
You welcome me just as I am
Chorus
Never give up, never give up on me...
indeed Lord, in 2008, time after time you've been left behind, when i started walking alone in the rain, running away from you. indeed i've taken for granted your grace and my answered prayers. i've been so blind, but now i clearly see that you are holding out your hands to me. Out of the fullness of your grace, you erase my mistakes, forgiven me, lift me up when i'm down. your love for me has never changed, and you welcome me back, just as i am, a sinner, an unfaithful servant. and now i can sing and proclaim that through it all you never gave up on me, and you told me, and remind me that i still belong, bringing tears to my eyes, and my heart sobbed being so overwhelmed by your love and grace for me. your relentless love.
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