This year had been difficult. There is not much of a chance to write and pen down my thoughts often. Parenting had been hard, no matter how much effort you pour into it. It will never be viewed as enough, nor can it satisfy anyone. Finding the time to update a blog had become a luxury that is hard to come by.

But somehow, we arrived at the end of the year. It is about time to think and reflect. A time to give thanks and to resolve.

Be thankful For All God Had Provided 

Indeed, I believe that many of us received a fair amount of blessing, even those in the midst of trouble also received some help from the Lord. Perhaps some of us may even received a good abundance and have much to thank God for. In the midst of these blessings, let us remember the Lord God. Let us continue to keep his commandments and follow his path

Just as God through Moses once reminded the children of Israel

“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God
  by not keeping His commandments, His judgments,
  and His statutes which I command you today, 
   lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have
  built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 
   and when your herds and your flocks multiply,
  and your silver and your gold are multiplied,
   and all that you have is multiplied; 
  when your heart is lifted up, and you forget
  the Lord your God who brought you out of the
  land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; ……..
  then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might
  of my hand have gained me this wealth.’”"- Moses (Deut 8:11-14)

Indeed, in days of peace and abundance, there is a risk for us to think that we are the reasons for our success. Especially in a world where we are taught to believe in our own strength and to fight. We tend to forget this simple reminder from the Psalm

“Unless the Lord builds the house,
  They labor in vain who build it;
  Unless the Lord guards the city,
  The watchman stays awake in vain.”- Solomon (Ps 127:1)

I do think that human being need to work hard for success. God had never condoned laziness. In fact even when God rain manna to feed the children of Israel. They are required to get up early before the sun rise to gather manna for their daily bread. God did not rain it once a week and tell the children of Israel to work all at once and rest the entire week. In fact they are only allowed to gather what they need for the day for 6 days. The only exception is on the Friday where they are allowed to gather two portions so that they can keep the Sabbath.

But we need to remind ourselves that our effort by itself is never enough to gain such success. The work of our hands still require the guidance and opportunities given by God in order to achieve success. Therefore as we enjoy these fruit of success, we need to remember God and to be thankful for all he had provided.

We should also be thankful for the friends, and the good people that he had put around us. As well as the many troubles and trials we need to go through. For all these are given by God so that we can better ourselves and build up our faith for the next year.

Be Mindful That The End Of All Things Is At Hand

As the year draws to the close, we draw ever closer to the second coming of God. It is indeed true if we compare the state of the world and how society had change. The modern world no longer persecute the believers of God by throwing them into prisons and lion dens. For those had never successfully deterred Christians from following God.

The modern world now hide under the flag of progressiveness and human rights. Where the rights of certain individuals can supersede the rights of many others who just wanted to lead normal lives. They insist that they were being attacked, bullied by Christians holding on to Victorian era morality.

Indeed, the bible warn us of this time long ago.

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 
  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters,
  proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 
  unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal,
  despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure,
  rather than lovers of God,  having a form of godliness but denying its
  power. And from such people turn away!”-Paul (2 Tim 3:1-5)

As Paul told Timothy his son.

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus 
  will suffer persecution.” (2 Tim 3:12)

Interestingly, the modern form of persecution now comes in the form of repeating the narrative that what is wrong is right, and repeating it so often that what is incorrect is now regarded as normal. Those who dare speak against that are now demonised to be un-progressive, phobic and bullies.

Sometimes the persecution can even arise from within the church. For many will be deceived by what the word teaches/

This was also mentioned by Paul as well
" But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving
  and being deceived.”(2 Tim 3:13)

Sometimes the challenge for Christians in the last days is more about trying their best to keep their own faith in the midst of these difficulty surrounding. That is why Paul continue to remind Timothy, as well as us

“But you must continue in the things which
  you have learned and been assured of, knowing
  from whom you have learned them, and that from
  childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures,
  which are able to make you wise for salvation through 
   faith which is in Christ Jesus.” – Paul (2 Tim 3:14-15)

In this new year. Let us continue to hold on to this faith. The world is going to scream louder against us year after year. But we must strive to be learned and assured of what we believed in. For the end will come. and only those who endure to the end will be saved.

We should also take heed of the advice of Peter

“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be
  serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all
  things have fervent love for one another, for 
  “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
   Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 
  As each one has received a gift, minister it to one 
  another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”-Peter (1 Pet 4:7-10)

Let us be even closer to God, be focus in prayers and be serious in Faith. Let us resolve to love one another, for love cover a multitude of sin. Let us continue to serve God seizing every chance, for we know that the time is short. Let us learn to be hospitable to one another despite our differences, and be good stewards of the grace of God.

Rededication 

How is our service like, have we met with much difficulties and much pain? How is our walk with God like? Is it full of thorns and thistles?

Sometimes when difficulties strikes us. It makes following God a big challenge. For we feel that we no longer feels the abidance of God with us. We feel that God had left us to fend for ourselves. In the very beginning of my faith, i was pretty touched with the poem on footprints. This is a poem where God told his child that when he saw a single set of foot prints, that was because God carried him in the period of difficulties.

but interestingly as I move on in faith. I noticed that God doesn’t always carry us n this way. There are times he let us undergo trials and tribulations so that we can make the resolve to follow him even in the midst of trouble. This is true especially to those who need to serve in Church. The path of serving God is never easy 

That is why the Author of Hebrew remind us

“Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down,
   and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for
  your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated,
   but rather be healed.”- Author of Hebrews (Heb 12:12-13)

Nothing illustrates this better than the diary of David Livingston. Livingston is a British doctor who spend most of his life serving in Africa. He visited Africa during it darkest history. He served there and died of malaria and dysentery about May 4th 1873.

His field diary recorded much of his life. throughout the diary there were many instances where he wrote and “Lord, I offer myself to you once again”.

Indeed, whenever we encounter problems in life where our faith is being challenge, that is when we need to reconsider and make the decision to follow God once again. Such move will strengthen our resolve, give us the additional strength we need to continue to follow God.

To achieve this in the coming year,  we need to constantly remind ourselves of the blessing that we received from God. That we are his children and it is an honour that is not easily attained.

Conclusion

There is quite a lot shared here regarding the things we need to consider during this new year. Let us also be willing to make resolves for the Lord. Let us resolve to make changes to ourselves, try to walk closer to God.

Let us resolve to forgive each other and let go of the old hurt that we receive last year.

Let us resolve to learn to manage our sadness, our emotions even when other hurt us badly.

Let us resolve to build our family altar and to lead our children to learn about God and serve God. For the world our children will grow up in will be harder than our world. The challenge that they will face while keeping the faith will be much stronger.

Recently a friend shared about a video that our next generation is finding it harder to follow God. This is something that we ought to worry about as parents .Therefore in this coming year let us remember to make the resolve to teach this faith to our next generation.

May God continue to guide each and everyone of us in the  new year.