Post by JasonPensa on Jan 2, 2004 2:37:14 GMT -5
Happy New Year!! 
Can you believe it, it's already 2004!! As the old year rolls out and the new one rolls in, I take time to reflect upon this past year and the new year to come. This past year has been a great year. God has really grown me. In my two and a half years of really being serious about Jesus Christ and my faith, I can defiantly see God’s hand this past year, even though it's been in different ways from the previous year. Through trials, hardship, and the great unknown I have learned to trust God more. God keeps bringing me back to the truth that He is all that I will ever need. This past January was when I got involved in the NCFCA (speech and debate league). It caused my life to be more hectic, but the timing couldn’t have been better. I’m reminded that God’s timing is perfect. I’m really loving speech and debate… despite that it has been a great challenge and often a real struggle. Once again though, I am reminded that which stretches me, and kicks me out of my comfort zone and that which causes me pain… is the best thing for me. For in weakness, He makes me strong. (II Corinthians 12:9-10) Even in the long dry spells, which I had this past year, times when I didn’t feel God’s presence... were times of testing, times of building my faith.
Here, I find myself… at the end of the this past year. As Pippen says in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, “I didn’t think it would end this way.” And to be honest, 365 days ago, I had no idea the year would end this way. But I like Gandalf’s response to Pippen. With a twinkle in his eye he turns to Pippen and says, “End?? No, the journey doesn’t end here…”
Speaking of endings and beginnings… I like to look forward into the new year. As I look forward, I see many things… I see beginnings and I see endings. This next year will bring the end of many things, and the beginnings of some new ones--in other words, it will bring a great amount of change. This year, is the year I graduate from high school and it will also be the last year I can compete in NCFCA speech and debate. However, I will be going on and going to college or perhaps some other new opportunity for the next year. This path in the journey is coming to an end, the next part is about to begin. As this chapter of my life draws to a close, I sit here and think about the things which are most important to me. My relationship with Jesus Christ, the One who brings meaning to life, and gives me my every breath. My friends, whom--without, life would be so lonely. This journey of life truly is an adventure. God is working an amazing masterpiece in my life. I sit here and think... what will God do in this coming year? What unseen paths will I travel? As I grow and move forward in life... as I feel the uncertainty of the changing world around me, I cling closer to that which I know--the cross of Jesus Christ--the One who will never change. The One who's love for me will never fade. His reign of this universe will never come to an end. I pray that my life can be used for Him. (II Corinthians 5:14-15)
Every day is a journal page
Every man holds a quill and ink
And there's plenty of room for writing in
All we do and believe and think
So will you compose a cures
Or will today bring the blessings
Fill the page with rhyming verse
Or some random sketching
Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
Somehow our souls forgot
Life Means so Much
Has anybody lived who knew the value of a life
And didn't He give His own to show the worth of yours and mine?
Everyday is a gift you've been given, Make the most of the time every minute you're livin.
(Life Means so Much by Chris Rice)
Godis4u! – Romans 8:28, 31
His Servant,
Jason
Can you believe it, it's already 2004!! As the old year rolls out and the new one rolls in, I take time to reflect upon this past year and the new year to come. This past year has been a great year. God has really grown me. In my two and a half years of really being serious about Jesus Christ and my faith, I can defiantly see God’s hand this past year, even though it's been in different ways from the previous year. Through trials, hardship, and the great unknown I have learned to trust God more. God keeps bringing me back to the truth that He is all that I will ever need. This past January was when I got involved in the NCFCA (speech and debate league). It caused my life to be more hectic, but the timing couldn’t have been better. I’m reminded that God’s timing is perfect. I’m really loving speech and debate… despite that it has been a great challenge and often a real struggle. Once again though, I am reminded that which stretches me, and kicks me out of my comfort zone and that which causes me pain… is the best thing for me. For in weakness, He makes me strong. (II Corinthians 12:9-10) Even in the long dry spells, which I had this past year, times when I didn’t feel God’s presence... were times of testing, times of building my faith.Here, I find myself… at the end of the this past year. As Pippen says in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, “I didn’t think it would end this way.” And to be honest, 365 days ago, I had no idea the year would end this way. But I like Gandalf’s response to Pippen. With a twinkle in his eye he turns to Pippen and says, “End?? No, the journey doesn’t end here…”
Speaking of endings and beginnings… I like to look forward into the new year. As I look forward, I see many things… I see beginnings and I see endings. This next year will bring the end of many things, and the beginnings of some new ones--in other words, it will bring a great amount of change. This year, is the year I graduate from high school and it will also be the last year I can compete in NCFCA speech and debate. However, I will be going on and going to college or perhaps some other new opportunity for the next year. This path in the journey is coming to an end, the next part is about to begin. As this chapter of my life draws to a close, I sit here and think about the things which are most important to me. My relationship with Jesus Christ, the One who brings meaning to life, and gives me my every breath. My friends, whom--without, life would be so lonely. This journey of life truly is an adventure. God is working an amazing masterpiece in my life. I sit here and think... what will God do in this coming year? What unseen paths will I travel? As I grow and move forward in life... as I feel the uncertainty of the changing world around me, I cling closer to that which I know--the cross of Jesus Christ--the One who will never change. The One who's love for me will never fade. His reign of this universe will never come to an end. I pray that my life can be used for Him. (II Corinthians 5:14-15)
Every day is a journal page
Every man holds a quill and ink
And there's plenty of room for writing in
All we do and believe and think
So will you compose a cures
Or will today bring the blessings
Fill the page with rhyming verse
Or some random sketching
Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
Somehow our souls forgot
Life Means so Much
Has anybody lived who knew the value of a life
And didn't He give His own to show the worth of yours and mine?
Everyday is a gift you've been given, Make the most of the time every minute you're livin.
(Life Means so Much by Chris Rice)
Godis4u! – Romans 8:28, 31
His Servant,
Jason
