2017

At the beginning of 2017, I would like to spend a brief moment looking back at my memories of God.

1998 - The year I came to Christ, having discovered by proxy how real His love for us is through college students who I had looked up to, crying in prayer for a God so loving, to touch their hearts.

1999 - The year I was wounded in my heart, and found that God can help me with that.

2000 - The year God told me that my life is His, and it is sacred. The year He told me He had a plan for me, it is a plan for good and will give me a hope and a future.

2002 - The year I met with brothers and sisters halfway across the world for the first time. He opened up my world, and showed me a love so rich, so colorful, and so exciting that I yearned to serve Him more. (Went to Germany and Switzerland on my first missions trip)

2002-2010 - The years God assured me that no matter where I am, or what I do, or how bad I do, He is always there for me, helping me in every way I let Him. The years I started to reach out to Him whenever I fell.

2010 - The year God said I have not forsaken you, I have been preparing your way for this. The year God continued to prepare my way for bigger and better things.

2011 - The year God assured me that His plan is perfect and wonderful, and He will reward my faith with more faith.

2012 - The year I lost my way, but God had not stopped working for my good. He continued to prepare my way for when I was to return, but also wept tears of sorrow knowing the pain that I will go through as the consequences of my actions and choices.

2013-2014 - The years God welcomed me back to His side, nursed me when I was down, carried me as I bore my sins.

2014 - The year God rescued me from the depths of my pain, and restored me to where I was before I lost my way, and continued to bless me and pour His knowledge into me as I was willing to hear.

2015-2016 - The years God doubled my portion, released in me gifts, and restored my soul. Blessed me abundantly in every area of my life, and prepared me for ministry.

2016 - The year God brought me back into ministry, but also the year God leveled my poppies, and brought my pride down 10 notches. The year God revealed to me more of my scars from before, and what I must go through to become an even better man of God.

And so.. this is where I find myself at the start of 2017, humbled.. still broken, but knowing that no matter how lost, how hurt, how broken, how far I leave His side, He will never leave mine, and He will nurse me, He will teach me, and He will restore me to even greater things than ever before, as long as I turn to Him.

2017 - The year God restores me to greater glory, closer relationship with Him, and brings me further along His uninterrupted plan for me. The year full of blessings, so much that I cannot count. The year full of joy, and peace, and hope because He is my Lord, He is my Shepherd.