Looking Back

This week has been an emotional one as I traced back and saw how far God has brought hubby and I (and our children too!) these past 12 months. You see, this week marks exactly one year since God started to jolt us out of our comfort zone in order to send us into an unfamiliar territory --- church planting work! This morning, it felt good to go back into my blog archives and read about how God showed us the way. Some of those entries can be found here, here, here, here and here! 

At this one year mark, I can say for certain that church planting work is definitely not easy, but I definitely wouldn't trade this experience for anything else! Hubby and I have definitely felt God stretch us, mold us, change us and grow us in ways that were unimaginable to us just one year ago. 

You see... 

Once we thought we were already giving more than what's required of our time, energy, effort, talents and finances to God. Through this journey HE has shown us what it means to totally give ourselves away. 

Once we thought we had faith. Through this journey HE has taught us to see how faith can indeed move mountains. 

Once we thought we loved enough. Through this journey HE has shown us to love beyond our boundaries, to love unconditionally, to have our hearts be broken with the same things that break HIS heart. 

Once we thought we had it all figured out. Through this journey HE has shown us how to follow Him without reservation. 

This one year mark represents only the beginning. There are still many chapters to be written in the story of this journey. I said before: I think this is going to be ONE WILD RIDE. It sure has already been! 

Great is Thy faithfulness, 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. 

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest; 

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above 

Join with all nature in manifold witness 

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. 

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth; 

Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide. 

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow; 

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! 

---Great Is Thy Faithfulness Words by: Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923.