2009 has come and gone, and yet, there are still so many things left unanswered, so many questions hanging and so many issues unresolved. It has passed me by in a blur and I can't hardly recollect any 'good' highlights of this year.

That said, there are still so many things to thank God for. The good things, of cos, as well as the not-so-good. I've seen God's hand upon me this year, and I've witnessed how He has brought me through the trials. This year, a oft-repeated cry has been 'Rock of Ages, cleft for me. Let me hide myself in Thee'. (and indeed, I foresee this will continue to be the cry of this year as well...)

I've done the list of resolutions, and I've added to that a list of wishes and dreams. I don't know if they are achievable - perhaps not, by a long shot. maybe the answer's no. maybe it'll be a wait, not this year. maybe, just maybe, it'll be a yes. but those are the dreams of my heart, and together with the resolution list, I'm committing them into His hands.

As Ps Simon preached today, how differently would we live our life in the now if we focused on the future? I know this, but I need the word to sink much deeper into me to force that paradigm shift. The name of this blog says it so aptly - Sojourner. How to translate that to my daily living then?

Romans 5:1-10 (ESV)
¹For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ²For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. ⁴For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

⁶So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷for we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. ¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

And so, for 2010, the sojourn continues. And perhaps this would be a good passage for the year ahead:

Romans 12:9-21

⁹ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

¹⁹Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." ²⁰To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Into His hands then...