how do i summarize 2009? what were the highlights?
one way to summarize... God is good and faithful. throughout all our highlights... moving into a new house in the beginning of the year... trip after trip - LA, florida, kansas,... moving around the world... healing in new ways... earthquakes... working... discovering God's plan, one step at a time, one day at a time...
what do i look forward to in 2010??
nothing more than what has happen this year. i want to continue to see God's goodness and faithfulness each step of the way throughout 2010. i continually want to see more of Jesus in me and less of me. i want more than anything, people who do not have a relationship with Jesus, to come before Him and start an amazingly great relationship. people to be set free in the same of Jesus from bondage that are enslaving them. i also want to learn daily to be a better parent... loving, patient and encouraging... there are some other things i am looking forward to in 2010... but these are some big things in my heart.
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those were just some thoughts i had. but this is actually why i started this blog... matthew 20:16. everyone i think memorizes this verse... "So the last will be first and the first will be last." this week as i read it, i was shocked that the NKJV had something the NIV did not at the end... "So the last will be first and the first will be last, For many are called, but few are chosen." that last part of the verse has thrown me for a loop. what does it mean? anyone?
the context this verse comes from is the parable of the workers in the vineyard, which is describing what heaven is like. all of the workers got to work, but all of them worked different amount of hours, but they all got the same wage... so i get the whole first will be last and last shall be first stuff, but what's it mean that many are called, but few are chosen? this is what i am pondering these days.
we are all called, then what does it mean to be chosen? apparently they were all in the vineyard which represents heaven right?
i love getting stumped like this. i get into good discussions with people and learn a lot about the word.
a few weeks ago, i was in an intense text message with AB about another verse i had questions on. it was good to learn the culture and stuff that i didn't know that goes into understanding the Word. it's pretty cool stuff reading the bible... especially when you are stuck. i feel that's when you learn the most. one word could make such a difference in understanding the word or making it just a little unclear. the thing that i love the most is when i learn how in the original language the word has more than one meaning where english just uses one word for the multiple words, which are similar enough, but could make things so much more clearer and more meaningful.
anyway... i just wanted to put out there something i've been thinking about.
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this year was a great year i have to say. i've learned so much, grown so much and come so far... it's exciting to see what next year will bring... you can't stop learning... you keep growing and although you've come far, you could always go a little further...
praying for a great year for many of you!!! come on 2010!!!
