Merry Christmas

It has been nearly three months since my last blog post. There is no possible way I could adequately report everything that has occurred in the past three months. One thing is certain though, God is so good. Often people encourage me to record more of God's faithfulness in my life in written form and perhaps as I continue to grow I will, but right now I am just trusting that there truly is new manna to be had ever single day. I don't want to get hung up on old glories but trust that He who is in me is a living God that never grows weary, and I will always wait on Him (Isaiah 40: 28-31) I also take heart in the following verse:

"For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joys of his heart" Ecclesiastes 5: 20

This past three months can be neatly summarized into the above verse from Ecclesiastes. I have been unable to focus on the wondrous things that have been occurring or, indeed, the echoes of a wounded past long enough to turn my sight from the prize that is the knowledge of Jesus Christ; for this I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father as I pray that the transformative work that He has begun this year will continue by His gracious hand well unto the Lord's second coming. For this there is also a promise I confidently hold on to:

"...for your fellowship in the gospel form the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, the He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ..." Phillipians 1: 6

I began my fellowship with the gospel this year in March and now in December as my eyes well up with tears as I think about the true meaning of Christmas, I collapse to my knees in gratefulness and humility before our God for taking a broken individual like myself and making me feel again. God's kneading of my heart has been done gently and effectively in the past nine months and I am excited to continue growing in Him to become a man who can read the following verse and not become indignant with pride but humbly realize the continuous work that is in me by the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus:

"As in water face reflects face, So a man's heart reveals the man" Proverbs 27: 19

One year ago, I wouldn't dare look into my heart, for fear of my own reflection, as a man with a disfigured face looking into the water, indignantly splashing away the reflection to return to his mask where darkness conceals his true identity and light is stubbornly avoided in fear of those around him seeing him for what he is. I was such a man a year ago; a sliver of what I could be. However, when I took off my mask and looked into that water, I met my Creator. He saw me for everything I really was, every secret thing whether good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14), and embraced me. He hasn't let me go since, and I trust He never will. Now when I look at that water, I can see more and more of the face that God originally intended for me when He first created me. I look into my heart and I no longer shudder at the abomination I had become, but weep genuine globs of joy as I marvel at the mercy of our God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. This Christmas, I just want to thank God for the greatest gift of all, a Saviour for all people to be reconciled to Him, Immanuel, "God is with us". This has been the most special Christmas season for me, so I pray the same for all of you; may all of you rejoice wherever you are during this Christmas season.

Soon, I will put up a recap of the past three months. Thank you for reading. God Bless you all. Merry Christmas

Christian