Now that the bad and the ugly are just not-so-distant memories, it's time to celebrate God's blessings from last year.
First and foremost would be God's presence in my life. Yeah there were the raging battles with the enemy but despite all of that God never left my side. He was there and He was waging the battle. I was more like a willing spectator. Otherwise, if He weren't doing all the fighting, I would have lost every single one of them wars with the enemy, even those I was not involved in and that's a pretty sad and sorry state.
Then there's Keith. Eight glorious years, not without it's own set of battles, but still, all in all it's been wonderful and I wouldn't change anything for the world. Ask me again in another eight years and I'll probably feel the same way if not better.
One big highlight this year is SMC_83. After 23 years, I have at least 10 new girlfriends and a class full of other wonderful women who I can cry with, laugh with, exchange jokes with, sympathize with and minister to. God opened up this one-of-a-kind mission field for me to share His word, love and salvation with. What an answer to prayer!
And last but not least, Dustistan! I have no words to describe everything that God opened up to me during that time. The gamut of emotions and the sacrifice was something I've never experienced before. What I am most grateful for are the brothers and sisters - young and old - that I was blessed with. Man, what a privilege.
As I reflected back on that trip, all I could think of was if someone asked me 10 years ago where I would be, never in a million years would I say Dustistan. I was back in the streets of Samarkand, playing tourist, experiencing the sights and sounds of a world I had no idea existed, a world literally on the other side of home. Back then all I could think of was this is the reward of total submission to God. The opening of a brand new world. The witnessing of His everlasting glory through history. Man's foolishness in competing with the one true God and His grace, His forgiveness, His patience and His love. Again what a great privilege.
2006 was a banner year of ups and downs but through it all, God's love was there to comfort, His grace was there to give hope, His salvation was there to lean on and His peace was there to find rest in.
Glory and praise to you Almighty Father. Thank you.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Monday, January 01, 2007
Ctrl+Alt+Del (Part 1)
Finally, January 1, 2007!
2006 went into the history books as the "best of times and the worst of times". This year that just passed had more ups and downs than any other year in recent memory and hallelujah, praise the Lord it is now officially over!
To say that '06 was "weird" is an understatement. Don't get me wrong, God allowed many successes and accomplishments but at the same time, there were more trials and tribulations. Part 1 is all about the bad and the ugly. On any given occassion, I prefer to end on a high note so most, if not all of what's good about '06 will be in Part 2.
This year brought more than a fair share of tragedies than I'm accustomed to. Early in the year our church rallied and stormed the gates of heaven for the life of a little girl named Nicki. Diagnosed with some kind of rare disorder while in her mother's womb, doctors with the best intentions advised her parents to "abort" the child at about 7 months. Fortunately, her godly parents clung to God's grace and the world was gifted with a beautiful baby girl who survived for 60 hours after birth against all odds. Her death was devastating to everyone whose life she touched, but she was a gift from God. Through her short life, God displayed his almighty power, divine grace and everlasting providence. Through her, He was glorified.
Fast forward to the "dog days of summer" when another tragedy occured in our midst. This time it was the untimely demise of a young, lovely, girl who was full of life named Anais. Her mother has grown into one of our closest friends and it broke my heart to see this strong, faithful woman tested this way. And yet through it all Maria remained steadfast in her faith and trust in the Lord. For a rundown of the events and first hand reactions immediately following news of the accident go here. Arien's Corner, Sept. 01 .
And just as recently as November 2006, I received the news that a high school classmate of mine, whose also named Cecille and not yet 40, who passed away of a heart attack in the Philippines. I have not seen Cecille since I left the country in 1983 but felt a kinship with her not just because of the name we shared but because she, like 256 others, knew and understood the person that I was and where I came from. And though we had not spoken in 23 years, she was a friend and she would be missed.
Lastly, 2006 was the year that intense spiritual warfare came into our lives. Not that we don't experience spiritual warfare everyday, but this time around, it was - well - intense.
We had the usual laundry list of troubles, finances being depleted, unexpected repairs to our home and my car, a house guest who wore out the welcome we extended, employment pressures, disgruntled co-workers, not enough time to get everything done, etc. - the usual lists of things that we moan and groan about on a yearly basis. But it didn't stop there.
I suffer from diabetes and though I'm still graced that it's the Type B variety, I was completely out of control where my diet or my medication were concerned. My numbers (blood sugar levels) were all over the map from the high 300's! to 55! Both these areas are diabetic comas waiting to happen. And once again, as in many occassions in my life, God found ways to preserve me despite myself.
The biggest struggle I had this year was something completely and absolutely unexpected. This was the year I had to face temptations of the carnal variety. It was unexpected because, as everyone who knows me will attest, I am so truly, madly, and deeply in love with my husband that absolutely, positively, no other man exist except him. And that is still so very true to this day. I am so very in love with Keith and him with me that we just entered into our 8th year of being on our honeymoon. I won't bore you with the details but suffice to say, it was a fight I was totally unprepared for and all I could do was come to the foot of the cross and lay it at God's feet.
And true to His word, God worked with and for me to overcome this struggle. God's love and His forgiveness, through Keith, allowed Keith and I to strengthen our friendship and our relationship and forge ahead, more in love with each other than at any other time in our eight years together.
Keith's love for me, His forgiveness of my trespasses is the embodiment in our marriage of Christ's love for the church. He is my best friend, my equal partner, the love of my life and my gift from an ever loving father. My relationship with the Lord has also flourished and God is opening doors for both Keith and I to expand our ministry and give back what God has given us tenfold.
2006 was a difficult year and I'm so glad it is behind us. But there were very good things too this past year and just as any 'puter freezes, let me reboot to the best of 2006. On that note, Ctrl + Alt + Del
Happy New Year Everyone!
2006 went into the history books as the "best of times and the worst of times". This year that just passed had more ups and downs than any other year in recent memory and hallelujah, praise the Lord it is now officially over!
To say that '06 was "weird" is an understatement. Don't get me wrong, God allowed many successes and accomplishments but at the same time, there were more trials and tribulations. Part 1 is all about the bad and the ugly. On any given occassion, I prefer to end on a high note so most, if not all of what's good about '06 will be in Part 2.
This year brought more than a fair share of tragedies than I'm accustomed to. Early in the year our church rallied and stormed the gates of heaven for the life of a little girl named Nicki. Diagnosed with some kind of rare disorder while in her mother's womb, doctors with the best intentions advised her parents to "abort" the child at about 7 months. Fortunately, her godly parents clung to God's grace and the world was gifted with a beautiful baby girl who survived for 60 hours after birth against all odds. Her death was devastating to everyone whose life she touched, but she was a gift from God. Through her short life, God displayed his almighty power, divine grace and everlasting providence. Through her, He was glorified.
Fast forward to the "dog days of summer" when another tragedy occured in our midst. This time it was the untimely demise of a young, lovely, girl who was full of life named Anais. Her mother has grown into one of our closest friends and it broke my heart to see this strong, faithful woman tested this way. And yet through it all Maria remained steadfast in her faith and trust in the Lord. For a rundown of the events and first hand reactions immediately following news of the accident go here. Arien's Corner, Sept. 01 .
And just as recently as November 2006, I received the news that a high school classmate of mine, whose also named Cecille and not yet 40, who passed away of a heart attack in the Philippines. I have not seen Cecille since I left the country in 1983 but felt a kinship with her not just because of the name we shared but because she, like 256 others, knew and understood the person that I was and where I came from. And though we had not spoken in 23 years, she was a friend and she would be missed.
Lastly, 2006 was the year that intense spiritual warfare came into our lives. Not that we don't experience spiritual warfare everyday, but this time around, it was - well - intense.
We had the usual laundry list of troubles, finances being depleted, unexpected repairs to our home and my car, a house guest who wore out the welcome we extended, employment pressures, disgruntled co-workers, not enough time to get everything done, etc. - the usual lists of things that we moan and groan about on a yearly basis. But it didn't stop there.
I suffer from diabetes and though I'm still graced that it's the Type B variety, I was completely out of control where my diet or my medication were concerned. My numbers (blood sugar levels) were all over the map from the high 300's! to 55! Both these areas are diabetic comas waiting to happen. And once again, as in many occassions in my life, God found ways to preserve me despite myself.
The biggest struggle I had this year was something completely and absolutely unexpected. This was the year I had to face temptations of the carnal variety. It was unexpected because, as everyone who knows me will attest, I am so truly, madly, and deeply in love with my husband that absolutely, positively, no other man exist except him. And that is still so very true to this day. I am so very in love with Keith and him with me that we just entered into our 8th year of being on our honeymoon. I won't bore you with the details but suffice to say, it was a fight I was totally unprepared for and all I could do was come to the foot of the cross and lay it at God's feet.
And true to His word, God worked with and for me to overcome this struggle. God's love and His forgiveness, through Keith, allowed Keith and I to strengthen our friendship and our relationship and forge ahead, more in love with each other than at any other time in our eight years together.
Keith's love for me, His forgiveness of my trespasses is the embodiment in our marriage of Christ's love for the church. He is my best friend, my equal partner, the love of my life and my gift from an ever loving father. My relationship with the Lord has also flourished and God is opening doors for both Keith and I to expand our ministry and give back what God has given us tenfold.
2006 was a difficult year and I'm so glad it is behind us. But there were very good things too this past year and just as any 'puter freezes, let me reboot to the best of 2006. On that note, Ctrl + Alt + Del
Happy New Year Everyone!
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