Reflection: 2009
Years from now, when I remember 2009, I hope I always remember it as a year filled with testimonials to God's grace. Below you will find some excerpts from my journal this past year (one for every month). Looking back, it's been a journey. It's had its highs and its lows. But I wouldn't trade the journey for anything; it's all served to bring me closer to Him.
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End of December/beginning of January:
“How many times have I cried out to Him for peace, faith, joy, love? Dozens of times, each day. I can’t imagine living my life without my faith in Jesus Christ. It’s no wonder non-believers are so caught up in other religions and/or immoral activity. They don’t know.”
02/23/09:
“My last class of the quarter was this morning. […] This quarter has flown by. Fiddler goes up in two weeks. It’s coming together. I can’t wait to see the completed picture. Will it be a Picasso? Or a Monet? […] God, please fill me with joy for this show!”
03/09/09:
“Yesterday I wrote about lacking vision. Today I got smacked in the face with it. It wasn’t a literal thunder crash/megaphone message. It was just a sweet reminder. A love letter from God. I couldn’t wipe a smile off my face all day. […] I came home to textbooks and an unwritten paper. And I just could not stop smiling. ‘What man, by worrying, can add an hour to his life?’ No man.
04/11/09:
“I simply cannot fathom the depth of eternity. It drives me crazy, just thinking about it. But Heaven is one of my favorite subjects to contemplate, so it comes up a lot. […] Will there be new colors in Heaven? Colors unseen by our earthly eyes. I’m almost positive the answer is yes. But I can’t grasp that yes. On earth we learn the color wheel in elementary school. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, repeat. What other colors could there possibly be?”
05/30/09:
“Dear Jesus… Please bless all those who have sharpened me throughout the years. I am so grateful. Truly, I am. Amen.”
06/06/09:
“You’re everything, Jesus. Mere words cannot contain You. And I love You. For everything, I thank You. I know you’re behind every earthly kindredship, every sunset, every blade of grass, every grain of sand. They’re all You. Thank you, Lord for the reflections of Your love that I see… everywhere. In everyone. Everything.”
07/31/09:
“Follow God. Cast idols aside. Die daily. Empty yourself that He may fill you. Don’t hold yourself back. Remember what you look like when you walk away from the mirror. LOVE well. LOVE big. LOVE LOUD.”
08/04/09:
“…His love is unconditional. ‘Infinity – that’s how You love me.’ Try to wrap your mind around that the next time you’re gazing at the galaxy.”
09/07/09:
“Jesus laid down His life to become the love of mine.”
10/02/09:
“I love how God sends me a message for one purpose, and then He has me pass it on to someone else, to whom it serves an entirely different purpose. His ways are so much higher than ours.”
11/24/09:
“God knows the number of hairs on my head. He knew me before I was even conceived. He knows me like no one knows me. And He loves me, all the same. I am His “friend.” Every friendship on earth is an echo of that friendship.”
12/02/09:
“Weaknesses teach us how it’s impossible to be independent. We always have to rely on something. We were created to rely on Someone. Why should we act like weakness is a bad thing? It’s not. Because… His strength is made perfect in our weakness. If it’s my strength or His, I’ll choose His strength every time.”
"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."(Numbers 6:24-26)
May the new year be filled with many more examples of God's grace and mercy. :).
Happy 2010, everyone!
Without wax,
Sarah.
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End of December/beginning of January:
“How many times have I cried out to Him for peace, faith, joy, love? Dozens of times, each day. I can’t imagine living my life without my faith in Jesus Christ. It’s no wonder non-believers are so caught up in other religions and/or immoral activity. They don’t know.”
02/23/09:
“My last class of the quarter was this morning. […] This quarter has flown by. Fiddler goes up in two weeks. It’s coming together. I can’t wait to see the completed picture. Will it be a Picasso? Or a Monet? […] God, please fill me with joy for this show!”
03/09/09:
“Yesterday I wrote about lacking vision. Today I got smacked in the face with it. It wasn’t a literal thunder crash/megaphone message. It was just a sweet reminder. A love letter from God. I couldn’t wipe a smile off my face all day. […] I came home to textbooks and an unwritten paper. And I just could not stop smiling. ‘What man, by worrying, can add an hour to his life?’ No man.
04/11/09:
“I simply cannot fathom the depth of eternity. It drives me crazy, just thinking about it. But Heaven is one of my favorite subjects to contemplate, so it comes up a lot. […] Will there be new colors in Heaven? Colors unseen by our earthly eyes. I’m almost positive the answer is yes. But I can’t grasp that yes. On earth we learn the color wheel in elementary school. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, repeat. What other colors could there possibly be?”
05/30/09:
“Dear Jesus… Please bless all those who have sharpened me throughout the years. I am so grateful. Truly, I am. Amen.”
06/06/09:
“You’re everything, Jesus. Mere words cannot contain You. And I love You. For everything, I thank You. I know you’re behind every earthly kindredship, every sunset, every blade of grass, every grain of sand. They’re all You. Thank you, Lord for the reflections of Your love that I see… everywhere. In everyone. Everything.”
07/31/09:
“Follow God. Cast idols aside. Die daily. Empty yourself that He may fill you. Don’t hold yourself back. Remember what you look like when you walk away from the mirror. LOVE well. LOVE big. LOVE LOUD.”
08/04/09:
“…His love is unconditional. ‘Infinity – that’s how You love me.’ Try to wrap your mind around that the next time you’re gazing at the galaxy.”
09/07/09:
“Jesus laid down His life to become the love of mine.”
10/02/09:
“I love how God sends me a message for one purpose, and then He has me pass it on to someone else, to whom it serves an entirely different purpose. His ways are so much higher than ours.”
11/24/09:
“God knows the number of hairs on my head. He knew me before I was even conceived. He knows me like no one knows me. And He loves me, all the same. I am His “friend.” Every friendship on earth is an echo of that friendship.”
12/02/09:
“Weaknesses teach us how it’s impossible to be independent. We always have to rely on something. We were created to rely on Someone. Why should we act like weakness is a bad thing? It’s not. Because… His strength is made perfect in our weakness. If it’s my strength or His, I’ll choose His strength every time.”
"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."(Numbers 6:24-26)
May the new year be filled with many more examples of God's grace and mercy. :).
Happy 2010, everyone!
Without wax,
Sarah.
Oh Sarah, such beautiful language and sentiment-inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Amber! I appreciate your kind words so much. :). Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThis is the most inspirational thing I have seen. Thank you! I shall be reading more! :)!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, so very much!
ReplyDelete