Wraping Up 2012

Sunset in Serengeti

The year 2012 is now fading away.

On the last day of 2012, I look back the first day of the year. New hope, new vision, new resolutions. They centered around "being more like Christ and living more a life worthy of His calling."

365 days have gone by and I have gained one additional year of age. Have I been more like Christ and living more a life worthy of His calling? Well...

A lot of things have happened in 2012.

• We continued enjoying the privilege of being used in the Lord's ministry. Preaching, teaching, memorizing, thinking, vision casting, implementing, planning, making decisions, leading, following, doing, praying, praising, worshiping, serving, achieving, launching, initiating, scaling up, controlling, reporting, approving, declining, presenting, etc. (no particular order)
• We also enjoyed traveling, laughing, giggling, playing, eating, drinking, seeing old friends, meeting new people, watching beautiful scenery, visiting historical landmarks. What a life!
• In the midst, we sense we have moved one step closer to the Lord in faith and His likeness. I know. I know. We are still far off, but trusting in His promise for completion of good work He began in us, we move forward. 

I remember George Bush Senior's statement in paraphrase.

"When you are at the deathbed, what will matter most will not be things or achievements, such as money, fame, degrees, awards, but relationships as represented by three "F's." Faith that defines our spiritual relationship with God Almighty. Family that defines your blood and covenant relationship. And friends that define your societal relationship. I should focus more on enhancing these relationships.

I also remember Jim Eliott's statement:

"He is no fool who gives away what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." 

Jim referred to giving away his physical life to gain a soul to Jesus, but it could also be used as giving away things you cannot keep, such as money, knowledge, skills, to gain relationships or souls to Jesus.

So another year is going away into the past. As I cross the timeline from 2012 to 2013, I reassure myself of the old hope, old vision and old resolution:

"I shall be more like Christ in 2013 and live more a life worthy of His calling."  

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16) 

"Thank you, Lord, for keeping us alive and using us for Your ministry in many capacities. I pray that You will lead us to be more like You and to live more a life worthy of Your calling in 2013." - Jeffrey