"He rejoices over you in love" (Zephaniah 3:17)

This is surely one of my favourite verses in the Bible, that God himself rejoices over His people with love. One translation has the last clause of the verse as "he shouts over you with you" CJB. This has been happening over the year especially in the past two weeks. The Lord knows how to celebrate over His servants who serve Him faithfully. Sometimes He makes the stars align even as Scripture says, "all the days are ordained for me before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139). How remarkable. I have passed several milestones this year. The Lord seems to know and He celebrates. On my birthday I attended a church meeting at night in our HQ's main hall and when I gave two of my books to one pastor who had requested for me to bring them several times, they broke out in song, singing Happy Birthday to their colleague and friend! Surely I did not plan or anticipate that but when she wanted to pay me for the books, somewhat I told her, "this time is free as it is my birthday!" My 60th birthday coincides with the start of the Olympics in Paris and even the love song sung by Celine Dion at the end has the word, "God" in it, over all the secular and irreligious parts of the opening ceremony. Then, in the past fortnight, it has been a whirlwind.

I preached all weeks in November except 24th, might as well since I had to preach three times on 30th Nov, and twice the next day on 1st December 2024 my 30th anniversary thanksgiving service. I thought I would be disappointed  if less than 10 of my friends came and at the end, 25 of them came out of 30 people invited. There were not enough chairs for them downstairs in the fellowship hall. But the Lord gave me this verse that will sustain me over the next 12 months, how to rebuild the tabernacle of David that had fallen and rebuild its ruins. I preached it Taginambur and preached in my new church that I am pastoring since 1st Dec. 

One sister in Singapore sent a congratulatory message "A New Beginning". Indeed, it was a new beginning. I had completed 30 years in the Lord's service and I am starting again in a new church with new people. I only know the two elders who were strongly in support of my appointment. Even last Sunday, I sensed the church's support. One women's leader said before she prayed for the church collection how glad she was to have me as their pastor. It was a great start. My politician friend also turned up last Sunday which was icing on the cake and I could see how blessed the members were when the assistant minister turned up. For the indigenous community, elected representatives are held in high regard. I could see a few of the young people asking the politician how to apply for scholarship and other assistance. Now I am preparing to preach two sermons this weekend which is our Christmas celebrations for the church. Then, on Christmas Eve I am driving to Keningau about 2 and a half hours away to preach another two sermons on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day itself.