GOODBYE 2017 - HELLO 2018

As the year 2017 comes to a close and 2018 knocks, my thoughts go to what lies ahead in the new year. I reflect with much excitement as I anticipate the blessings God has bestowed upon me and my family.

I am excited at the prospect of Taonga growing in her career and finding her place in this world. 

The year has been full of drama including moving to Sydney to work on the NorthConnex tunneling project connecting the M1 and M2 Motorways in Sydney. How exciting that, forever it shall be that my daughter worked on one of the largest underground tunneling projects in Australia. 

 I am also excited about her spiritual growth, praying that the Lord will continue to draw her to Himself. 

I am excited as I look forward to being a Grandfather to twin boys. In this regards I am excited for my daughter Lusungu and her partner Hartley as they navigate the last few weeks before the babies are ushered into their lives. 

My prayer is that it shall go well with them  and with us

I am excited at the prospect of Elizabeth growing and achieving her academic goals in the new year. She seems to have settled well in Melbourne and enjoying the University experience. Oh, how quickly they grow!

I am also excited that she will continue to be preserved and drawn closer to the Lord. 

Amidst all this excitement and a touch of anxious thoughts - I am conscious of the fact that our times are in God's hands. Whatever will come our way,  "Jesus doeth all things well..."  

And this is the hope I am taking into the new year.  

The famous poem by Minnie Louise Haskins sums it all up for me.

"The Gate of the Year"

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:

“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”

And he replied:

“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.

That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.

And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

So heart be still:
What need our little life

Our human life to know,

If God hath comprehension?

In all the dizzy strife

Of things both high and low,

God hideth His intention.

God knows. His will

Is best. The stretch of years

Which wind ahead, so dim

To our imperfect vision,

Are clear to God. Our fears

Are premature; In Him,

All time hath full provision.

Then rest: until

God moves to lift the veil

From our impatient eyes,

When, as the sweeter features

Of Life’s stern face we hail,

Fair beyond all surmise

God’s thought around His creatures

Our mind shall fill

By Minnie Louise Haskins (1875 – 1957)