“If there is anything you own that you cannot give away, you don’t own it; it owns you.” – Albert Schweitzer
Interesting. Think about it for a minute. What couldn’t you give away?
What a faithful God have I April 21, 2008
It was a confirmation service at our church last night. For those who don’t know, this is a service basically designed for people who were baptised as babies. The bible says that those who decide to accept Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins and the salvation that his death and resurrection bring should be baptised. It is a symbol of the new life that we are born into when we begin following Jesus, and a public proclaimation of faith. However many people today (myself included) are baptised as babies, when obviously we really have no idea what is going on. I think infant baptism is more a sign of a promise from the parents that they will bring up their child to know and love Jesus as they do. Which is obviously no bad thing. Confirmation is an opportunity for those of us who have been baptised as babies to confirm our faith in Jesus and our relationship with him as our own.
Anyway, last night got me thinking about my own confirmation, which I realised was now 8 years ago. That’s the best part of a decade! In some ways I can’t believe it’s been that long. I thought about where I was in my relationship with God all those years ago. I was excited, but I now realise that really I had no idea just how excited I ought to be! I have been through a lot in the last 8 years. I went through some incredibly dark times, and God was there with me every step of the way and brought me through them. I have strayed away so many times, in small ways and big ways, yet every time my God has forgiven me and has brought me back to himself. In all the uncertainty I have faced He has provided answers, given me wonderful experiences and so many good things which I do not deserve. He will never abandon me and He will never cease to love me. No matter what I do or how many times I mess up. I have the most amazing, wonderful heavenly father who will see me through this life and greet me in the next with open arms!
How can I ever forget this? I find myself now once again facing a lot of uncertainty about the future. Questions crowding into my mind - what is right? where should I be? what should I do? what can I manage? And I worry. Yet I have no need to worry! God who created me, who looked after me so much in the past and who loves me so dearly that he allows me to call him father… is he about to up and leave me? Forget about me? No! My God is faithful to the last, and He is watching over me. He cares for me and with Him by my side, although life will not always be easy, He will guide me through it.
“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:3
