looking back..

understanding.. knowledge.. to be affected.. changed as a person.. to have a deep sense of community.. to be stretched in faith.. there are many reasons why i did trek.. why i went to bible college. there's also many reasons why i've stayed.

looking back at the past three years of my life, a lot has happened. a lot of maturity.. growth has taken place. there's been victory, there's been defeat. there have been times of stagnant complacency where my soul was found in the midst of the dead of winter.. coupled with times of phenomenal growth where life was renewed, where life was abundant, where the flowers of cherry blossoms burst forth into a brilliantly vivid display of springtime life.

over these next few days, my desire is to share these stories.. stories of encouragement.. of conviction.. of joy.. of sorrow. stories that ultimately point to and reflect the glory, mercy, faithfulness, love, compassion and grace that is given by and embodied in Jesus Christ.. to share with you the mighty works of God, in my own life and experience, up to this point.

but before we go there, i wish to take us here. this week i was convicted. i was reminded of this.. the centrality of Christ. how so often i get caught up in the movements of life.. in the work of studying the spoken word of God that i forget who it speaks of. Jesus! Colossians 1:15-23 is an amazing passage that i've been brought back to time and time again. Jesus is God. He is before all things.. sustainer of all things.. creator, ruler of all.. preeminent. yet He is the head of the church.. He is forgiver, sanctifier, redeemer. our God.. yet our redeemer. our Lord.. yet the healer. our King.. yet our Saviour. He is everything.

let's remember this throughout the daily struggles of life. while we seemingly waste away the day participating in the mundane things of life. when we get the opportunity to share in something exciting.. encouraging.. life giving. amidst the suffering and hard times. let us always be reminded that Christ is everything. that the gospel is key. let us never forget the gospel.. the good news of who Jesus is and what he is to us.

"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him" Colossians 1:19-22