Never in a million years would I have ever thought I'd publicly make such statements, given that I religiously disapprove of mainstream music and fervently attempt to abstain from it at all costs, although such efforts are often withheld by exposure to Top 40 tracks played in public places, namely in the mall and on campus grounds. But I digress.
While such an ungodly hour might be best utilized to give a detailed account of how life has been in the past week, I've decided against it. I personally feel that I spend far too much time harboring over the past and romanticizing the slightly out-of-the-ordinary occurrences in my life to the extent that I've created this facade of a self-glorifying persona, with an ever prevalent superiority complex. Therefore, I find that there is a need for myth busting before inaccurate postulations evolve into timely truths, paving the way to self-destruction.
Melodrama aside, this post is a post of appreciation; not one that deifies the role of inanimate objects in providing convenience to my increasingly hectic schedule, but one that expresses my gratitude towards the real, tangible individuals who have contributed to shaping it into what it is today, both in times of anguish and ecstasy.
It's hard to imagine that it has been 3 years since I began this journey of pursuing godliness and an intimate relationship with the Heavenly Father, first as a regular attendee at Pulse and then as a youth leader in Uth. I can recall my initial fears when I agreed to step up as a leader, uninformed and anxious about the plans He had for me. I can recall the countless times I doubted my authority and ability in Christ, leaving me on the brink of wanting to give up altogether on being a leader. I remember when I was first called to play for the worship team at youth camp two years ago, and how I ended up setting the keyboard on mute, ceasing to play because I couldn't remember the chords for the song. I remember struggling to retain a balance between school and my duties as a leader, and how it gave room for ungodliness and fear to settle within my psyche.
And these are just the few accounts I've retrieved from my memories throughout the entirety of my service at youth. If I were to list them all, this blog post would not suffice and will do no justice in recreating and portraying the various encounters and occurrences of my journey with Christ.
Nevertheless, after three youth camps, two all-girls camps, two Christmas musicals, countless youth worship rallies as well as leadership meetings and over a year of attending cell, I deem it pretty safe to say that I've grown and have assimilated well into my family in Christ. The hostility I was once encumbered with in the early phases of my involvement in the youth group has undoubtedly faded. Instead, similar interests in a myriad of relevant fields and a common love for Jesus have come to take it's place, drawing us closer as a family. Also, I've grown closer to the girls leadership team as well, having undertaken a role in planning the Girls Camp two years ago and this year's Girls Conference. It really is a blessing to be able to work with such an amazing and talented bunch. Technicalities aside, these ladies have been a strong source of encouragement in my life. Their gestures of friendship, especially in terms of prayer and word of advice have upheld me both in joy and distress and for that, I am forever grateful to God.
One of the things I've been educated on in youth is the importance of honoring one another. It's funny h-ow I have this propensity to admire those who've contributed the least in my life and have brought me more pain than anything else, and totally take for granted those who've been there for me time and time again. Today, I want to end this cycle. I shall cease from seeking attention from the insincere and afflicting, and focus my attention on those who genuinely exude love and concern towards me. To my fellow comrades, I honor all of you as soldiers of the light, and thank you for fighting by my side for this worthwhile cause.
On a personal note, I pray earnestly that as I usher in a new season, in which I have undertaken a new role as a committee member in my university's Christian Fellowship group, I will continue to grow more into the likeness of Christ. I am well aware that I've been thrust into sin, which has become iniquity, for time and time again I fail, but I will not give up in pursuing godliness. After all, if God will not stop until the work He began in me comes into completion, why should I? Jesus went through many trials and tribulations, even as a sinless man and He made it through, so why do I deserve to live in affluence? These struggles are bound to surface and I should take pleasure in suffering for Christ.
For to live is Christ, to die is gain.
And who can I accredit this to, if not my family in Christ?
It's hard to imagine that it has been 3 years since I began this journey of pursuing godliness and an intimate relationship with the Heavenly Father, first as a regular attendee at Pulse and then as a youth leader in Uth. I can recall my initial fears when I agreed to step up as a leader, uninformed and anxious about the plans He had for me. I can recall the countless times I doubted my authority and ability in Christ, leaving me on the brink of wanting to give up altogether on being a leader. I remember when I was first called to play for the worship team at youth camp two years ago, and how I ended up setting the keyboard on mute, ceasing to play because I couldn't remember the chords for the song. I remember struggling to retain a balance between school and my duties as a leader, and how it gave room for ungodliness and fear to settle within my psyche.
And these are just the few accounts I've retrieved from my memories throughout the entirety of my service at youth. If I were to list them all, this blog post would not suffice and will do no justice in recreating and portraying the various encounters and occurrences of my journey with Christ.
Nevertheless, after three youth camps, two all-girls camps, two Christmas musicals, countless youth worship rallies as well as leadership meetings and over a year of attending cell, I deem it pretty safe to say that I've grown and have assimilated well into my family in Christ. The hostility I was once encumbered with in the early phases of my involvement in the youth group has undoubtedly faded. Instead, similar interests in a myriad of relevant fields and a common love for Jesus have come to take it's place, drawing us closer as a family. Also, I've grown closer to the girls leadership team as well, having undertaken a role in planning the Girls Camp two years ago and this year's Girls Conference. It really is a blessing to be able to work with such an amazing and talented bunch. Technicalities aside, these ladies have been a strong source of encouragement in my life. Their gestures of friendship, especially in terms of prayer and word of advice have upheld me both in joy and distress and for that, I am forever grateful to God.
One of the things I've been educated on in youth is the importance of honoring one another. It's funny h-ow I have this propensity to admire those who've contributed the least in my life and have brought me more pain than anything else, and totally take for granted those who've been there for me time and time again. Today, I want to end this cycle. I shall cease from seeking attention from the insincere and afflicting, and focus my attention on those who genuinely exude love and concern towards me. To my fellow comrades, I honor all of you as soldiers of the light, and thank you for fighting by my side for this worthwhile cause.
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1 : 26-31
On a personal note, I pray earnestly that as I usher in a new season, in which I have undertaken a new role as a committee member in my university's Christian Fellowship group, I will continue to grow more into the likeness of Christ. I am well aware that I've been thrust into sin, which has become iniquity, for time and time again I fail, but I will not give up in pursuing godliness. After all, if God will not stop until the work He began in me comes into completion, why should I? Jesus went through many trials and tribulations, even as a sinless man and He made it through, so why do I deserve to live in affluence? These struggles are bound to surface and I should take pleasure in suffering for Christ.
For to live is Christ, to die is gain.
No comments:
Post a Comment