| Looking to the new year...
1. First and foremost, spend more time in prayer and in reading God's
Word, and continuing to remember how Great His faithfulness is to me.
2. Become more selfless, and more available to meeting the needs of others.
3. Be a better manager of my time.
4. Find holy in the common place, and beauty in the simple.
5. Begin teaching piano lessons.
6. Bring my cello back from the dead.
7. Keep my room clean.
8. Make Mrs. Rayner's dip.
9. Purchase an ipod.
10. Continue with the college search.
11. Remain dedicated with my piano studies.
12. Spend more quality time with my sisters.
13. Write more poetry.
14. Visit NYC.
Herein is wonder of wonders:
he came below to raise me above,
was born like me that I might become like him.
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And as we end 2005:
1. What did you do in 2005 that you've never done before? got AIM, wore sequins, helped to demolish a kitchen, witnessed death, went backpacking, sang a solo, drove by myself...
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolution and will you make one for next year? i don't remember one from last year. as for this year, see the above list.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? no.
4. Did anyone close to you die? yes.
5. What countries did you visit? the one i live in.
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? better discernment.
7. What date from 2005 will remained etched upon your memory, and why? july 6th, the day my grandfather died.
8. What's your biggest achievement of the year? maybe my license. but more importantly, learning the importance of friendship, especially during times of struggle.
9. What was your biggest failure? thinking i could get through difficult times alone.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? not anything serious.
11. What was the best thing you bought? oh dear...um...maybe my cord jacket, or my plum dress.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? my family and friends who have surrounded me with their love and care.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? to copy hallie, my own.
14. Where did most of your money go? hmm...starbucks hot caramel apple ciders? clothes? cd's?...i'm not sure. it could have been spent more wisely, though.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? the waltz, my birthday, autumn in general, christmas...
16. What song will always remind you of 2005? Homesick (MercyMe), Swallowed in the Sea, and Going Home (Sara Groves).
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder? happier. although it's been a rough road getting here.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? communicating.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? frivolous, meaningless things, pointless daydreaming.
20. What was your favorite TV program? there wasn't one.
21. What was the best book you read? Valley of Vision, although maybe that doesn't really count.
22. What was your greatest musical discovery? piano is truly one of my passions.
23. What did you want and got? a digital camera, contacts, black pants...but also a greater love for the piano, and a greater appreciation for the people around me.
24. What movies did you see in the cinema this year? cinderella man (twice), charlie and the chocolate factory (fun times hallie), phantom of the opera (three times), and narnia (twice).
25. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you? 17...went to school. lunch at applebees with dad, and then church for dinner. no big party or anything, but it was still special.
26. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? i don't think there is one.
27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? oh dear... beautifully simplistic....black is always a classic...i don't know. it's what i like.
28. What kept you sane? communicating. talking to people who really listened.
29. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? i don't know.
30. What political issue stirred you the most? can't think of one specifically.
31. Who/what did you miss? Granddad. Hallie leaving for college. Half of Worldview.
32. Who was the best new person you met? alyssa, one of my great uncles, andrea (hal's roommate)...
33. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005: Struggles in life will come, but even when the end looks forever faraway, God will give you more than enough to get through and He will teach you much more than you ever dreamed that He would. This year has been difficult for me, as some of you know, but I can see how God has guided, and continues to guide me through.
Great is Thy faithfulnees, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided -
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
- - - - - - -
I apologize for the increasing length of this post., but I don't want to end this one yet.
I was reminded in church yesterday morning, while we sang this incredible song, of the focus we place on the future, especially at this time of year. And as I looked out at the congregation, tears streaming down many of their faces, it was hard for me to continue leading them. May it be a reminder to you, as it was for me, of the blessings God has given us, and the true hope that we have in Christ.
My Destiny:
All I was I lay aside, now dead to sin, to God alive,
born again into a new identity.
Once asleep to God in sin, now wakened by the blood and cleansed,
born again to be who He called me to be.
All I have I lay aside, run the race to gain the prize
for the sake of knowing Jesus Christ in me.
I cannot yet fully see all I'm truly called to be,
but knowing Christ reveals my hope and destiny.
He calls me child, He calls me to His side eternally,
He calls what once was lost now found, Once bound to sin now free.
He calls me holy, calls me righteous, by the blood redeemed.
He calls me overcomer, crowned with victory - This is my destiny.
What once bound me is no more, what was stolen is restored
by the resurrection power of my King.
What was old has been made new, lies and doubts replaced by truth
What was silent now resounds, "I am redeemed."
He calls me child, He calls me to His side eternally,
He calls what once was lost now found, Once bound to sin now free.
He calls me holy, calls me righteous, by the blood redeemed.
He calls me overcomer, crowned with victory - This is my destiny.
He calls me servant, calls me warrior, calls me royalty.
He calls me resurrected one, He calls me His redeemed.
He calls me higher, calls me far beyond my wildest dream.
He calls my heart to come and be all He can see - This is my destiny.
He calls me "Chosen, new creation, Trophy of His grace."
He gives me strength to fight the fight, and run to win the race.
He tells me He delights in me while singing over me,
Accepting me as His beloved bride-to-be - This is my destiny.
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