I spent the evening immersed in the 08/09 student yearbook. The before and after shots are a great reminder that God is weaving together countless precious individual journeys which intertwine to form something beautiful …
This year has formed me from a boy to a man
Once in the shadows, now in the light
It was about what I said, now its about who I am
I thought I was my own man but it is God who owns me
Before: self hatred and guilt
After: found freedom in Christ
Before: searching for purpose
After: his gift of breath and life makes me serve him with pure joy
Before: insecure about the opinions of others
After: secure in God’s love and Fatherhood
Before: lacking in confidence and questioning my ability
After: knowing the authority in leadership that I have in Christ
Before: I can’t, I can’t, I can’t
After: Erm, actually … I can!
I’ve learned to learn
Searching … found in the arms of my Father
God has challenged my pride and perspective and grown my heart
I’ve learnt who God is, who I am and if I put God first, everything else follows
Challenged not to be closed-minded; envisioned for community
Before: withdrawn, frustrated and dispirited
After: vulnerable, at peace and ready to go
I now know the meaning of life more fully; what it means to be human!
Before: lukewarm, uncommitted and indifferent
After: ruined by God’s goodness, indifference isn’t an option
Before I wanted maturity and heart knowledge of God. I have found both and also my calling – to be David preparing for Solomon to build the temple
Before: hard hearted, unloved, no purpose in life
After: enlarged heart with passion of Christ
Before: self sufficient
After: broken, but growing strong through dependence on God
I was trapped, now I am free. I’m God’s daughter.
I was searching, but now the searching is over
I didn’t know God as a Father, now I do
I used to be driven by fear, now I am driven by joy
God unwound me and taught me about resting in him
Before: aging 80s rocker, a loose cannon
After: ten years younger, full of peace, calm with a zest for life
Before: held back by fear and insecurity whilst trying to do everything in my own strength
After: secure in my identity in Christ, with a renewed trust in a faithful God who is strong in my weakness and whose perfect love casts out all fear
This year has formed me from a boy to a man
Once in the shadows, now in the light
It was about what I said, now its about who I am
I thought I was my own man but it is God who owns me
Before: self hatred and guilt
After: found freedom in Christ
Before: searching for purpose
After: his gift of breath and life makes me serve him with pure joy
Before: insecure about the opinions of others
After: secure in God’s love and Fatherhood
Before: lacking in confidence and questioning my ability
After: knowing the authority in leadership that I have in Christ
Before: I can’t, I can’t, I can’t
After: Erm, actually … I can!
I’ve learned to learn
Searching … found in the arms of my Father
God has challenged my pride and perspective and grown my heart
I’ve learnt who God is, who I am and if I put God first, everything else follows
Challenged not to be closed-minded; envisioned for community
Before: withdrawn, frustrated and dispirited
After: vulnerable, at peace and ready to go
I now know the meaning of life more fully; what it means to be human!
Before: lukewarm, uncommitted and indifferent
After: ruined by God’s goodness, indifference isn’t an option
Before I wanted maturity and heart knowledge of God. I have found both and also my calling – to be David preparing for Solomon to build the temple
Before: hard hearted, unloved, no purpose in life
After: enlarged heart with passion of Christ
Before: self sufficient
After: broken, but growing strong through dependence on God
I was trapped, now I am free. I’m God’s daughter.
I was searching, but now the searching is over
I didn’t know God as a Father, now I do
I used to be driven by fear, now I am driven by joy
God unwound me and taught me about resting in him
Before: aging 80s rocker, a loose cannon
After: ten years younger, full of peace, calm with a zest for life
Before: held back by fear and insecurity whilst trying to do everything in my own strength
After: secure in my identity in Christ, with a renewed trust in a faithful God who is strong in my weakness and whose perfect love casts out all fear
We walk on holy ground.
