I’ve probably told this story on here before, but I’ll tell it again. In maybe 2008, I started attending a Redeemed church here in Baltimore. It was my first time ever regularly attending a church that wasn’t Catholic. I was born and raised Catholic. That year, the Pastor declared the next year the year of Joy Unspeakable. So 2009 came, and naturally, I expected joy unspeakable, but I got anything but that. That was my year of graduation, but I thought I wouldn’t make it because I didn’t have the money. That was also the year my mom lost her job. \u00a0And that was the year we had to give up our apartment because we couldn’t afford it anymore. And that was the year that I, too, was jobless for some months after the job I had went out of business. By the end of 2009, I was devastated. \u00a0But you couldn’t tell it from this blog though; I never brought my problems to Verastic. I still don’t.<\/p>\n
I am not under the impression that I have lived the hardest life ever. I know I haven’t. And I know that there are many people who had it worse than me that year. At least, I was alive. And I was healthy. But I was so disappointed. I had put all my eggs into the basket of Joy Unspeakable, and I had no backup. But how could I not have joy unspeakable, when my Pastor clearly said that I would?<\/p>\n
Lesson learned. From that year on, I started making my own declarations for my own life, based on what I felt deep within me (after praying about it). I did not care what the Pastor declared. I did not care who stood on that pulpit and made a declaration. I always said Amen, of course, but I also always went back home and talked with God one-on-one. Just to be clear, the problem was not with the Pastor, it was with me. I hung on to his words and forgot that he was just the messenger, and that I should be looking on to God. Salvation has always been and continues to be personal: between me (you) and God.<\/p>\n
2013 was tough. \u00a0It was so difficult, and so stressful, and so expensive. 2014 also started out stressful, though it was now a different kind of stress. \u00a0Again, I didn’t mention on here that I was going through a tough time. It was bad. \u00a0But in spite of everything, I got nothing less than pure joy every time I came to Verastic and read the comments. Some of you leave the most outlandish comments (yes, you, Fad!), but it makes me giggle every time. Keep them coming.\u00a0\u00a0To God be all the glory. I do not take for granted every single time that you read this blog. \u00a0And every time you leave a comment, I sleep better at night. Thank you.<\/p>\n
So at the end of 2013, we prayed for favor. Divine favor. And we got it. Things have drastically changed between 2013 and 2014. Sometimes we sit down and reminisce on how hard things were at some point. I haven’t even gotten used to it being so different. But by His grace, this is only the beginning. 2015 will be even bigger. By the time 2015 is over, 2014 will look like practice.<\/p>\n
I thank you for riding with me, not just for 2014, but for the past 9 years. Verastic will be 9 years old on January 26th 2015, and I am humbled. I don’t know what your story is, but I pray that 2015 will be your best year yet (and mine, too). Above all else, I pray for life and health and peace and joy. Amen.<\/p>\n