The 2013 Yearender Post

It is going to be hard to write this post, for one, I have not been writing my blog for quite some time. And two, there will be a lot of things trying to chunk into this little post. Sometimes, there will be some details or even moments worth mentioning would be left out.

But year in and year out, I would try to make an effort to write. And this time around, I am thinking of writing in a different manner: instead of recounting one by one, maybe I should write my year in general, then use those memorable moments as examples.

So here how it goes:

1. Time flies like an arrow. Seriously.
Yes, it is quite cliche to say this, but when remembering all that had happened in the past year, it all seems quite blurry and flurry. Foundation year ended, degree year started. Assignments given, assignments done. Exams came, exams gone. Week after week, it felt like time goes horribly quick.

2. It is well with my soul, for great is Thy faithfulness.
(Pulling two hymns together as my second point, nice one.) Really, if anything, this year is the year I saw and experience the richness of God's greatness and wonder. There were things that challenges the faith and trust I have in God. There was one time that I even broke down during a prayer meeting. And definitely, there were moments that made future outlook seemed so bleak and dark.

But the Lord who created the heaven and earth had the final say, and brought us through every tide of hardship. How can I forget that moment when everyone was in worry whether the CF's Alpha Trip can be conducted due to the haze condition, suddenly few hours prior to the supposed event the Lord answered the prayers and brought forth rain that washed away the haze, and stopped just in time to have the event? How can I forget those tough assignments that I have ploughed through by God's boundless grace? Verily, those moments are some things I could not stop ponder in awe and be thankful for.

3. The walk or journey of life (in Christ) is never an easy one, though it may appear that it is.
This is a harder part of the post to write about. I have never expressed my struggle in words like this (nor would I want to describe it too much), for it will be a seat-fidgeting one. But let's just say that I had a nice experience for the half year with a congregation, with things getting more serious (undeniably, my involvement with them increases, and start going for meetings beyond Sunday services and Friday cell group, like Saturday services, annual conferences, community works etc.).

However, things had a serious twist during the second half of the year, when I discover the principle of sola scriptura which led me to realise the assembly principles contained in the Scriptures, in which some of them are unfortunately being in loggerheads with how that congregation runs. Subsequently, I had to struggle with the predicament of leaving that congregation. But eventually, the faithful God led me through this dilemma, and that I had made a decision, albeit a tough one. Now, I am in an assembly that I am comfortable in, in which I realise I can learn and grow more spiritually, and that I can feel the love and encouragement by the members. Not to say that the previous congregation did not fare well, but the difference is significant.

4. Though the walk is tough, the Lord is still faithful and sends encouragement.
That pretty much sums up point 2 and 3. But yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

I think there are more to write, but I couldn't think of anymore to add on at this point of moment. Maybe I would continue in the next post, but maybe I would let it just as it is as the complete yearender post. Oh well.