Looking back at 2013

In this past year, great and small things happened. And even the small things somehow seem great too. I’m taking the time to take a glimpse back at the things that challenged me, excited me, thrilled me and even scared me (in a good way). This is to remind me that this year wasn’t all pain and misery, but also filled with great stuff. So, as i’m bright-eyed, waiting eagerly for the new year (a couple of days away. ;), i take a look back at this year, not one of regret, but one of a great sense of accomplishment and fulfilment.

This year,

I moved my lil blog from wordpress to blogger. Why? Well, i was finding my voice as a personal blogger and realized blogger was more for that. Hey, in my humble opinion.

I went for my first local missions trip.

I hiked and made it to the top of the highest mountain in the country. heck yes! & went to see the wli falls for the first time. Pretty sweet.

I faced my stage fright-ness and performed one of my poems.

I discovered soul soothing songs like this one.

God made a way and took me to South Africa & Swaziland for missions. How He made this happen still blows my mind. He’s just awesome!

I attended the annual Singles' Summit my church holds.

I started serving as a steward in church.

I graduated from UG after my undergrad studies. yea, i know i don't look it. *shrugs*

I joined the ‘I Write’ video campaign. Long braids, green top. yea, that’s me.

I got baptised by immersion. The real deal, people.

I’ve been a consistent blogger. C’mon, i blogged at least once a month. That should count for something, right? Right.

I’ve learned to wait, really wait in hope, & letting the valley teach me how to sing.

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Oh, and two of my favourite musicians of allll time tweeted me! Moriah Peters & Jason Gray. So, in honor of their total coolness, i would like to share my fav songs by them. You should totally listen to them!

Moriah Peters:

I choose Jesus

Well done

Bloom

Miracle

Waves of love

Know us by our love.

Jason Gray:

Nothing is wasted (this song has seen me through a whole awful lot!)

I am new

Remind me who i am

Good to be alive

Fear is easy, love is hard

More like falling in love.

For alllll of these things that happened to me this year, I’m thankful. For both the good and bad, I’m thankful. Cause i sure know God’s working it all together for my good.

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So, though i couldn’t do all the things on my vision board for the year, I’m glad i did do some, plus others that God sweetly surprised me with but wasn’t initially part of the plan. He's good like that. :)

There are many awesome adventures and challenges up ahead that’ll grow me up the more in Him in the coming year, and I can say I’m ready for it all.  Bring it on, 2014! ;)

How was this year for you, and what did you end up accomplishing? Do share!

xoxo

Delali.

My baptism and good tidings!

During the weekend, I took a great step of obedience publicly. I got baptised. :)

Well, I was baptised by sprinkling when i was only a baby but on Saturday, i did the real thing Jesus did when He walked this earth. Baptism by full immersion. Lemme share a lil info from my baptism class. ;)

 Inside the baptistry in my church

This is a physical act expressing a spiritual truth. Baptism is derived from the Greek word 'baptizo' which means 'I wash'. 

Baptism has four spiritual significance:

1. Christ died, and I died in Him ''Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.'' Romans 6:6,7 

2. Christ was buried and I was buried with Him ''Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.'' Romans 6:3,4  

**You don't bury by sprinkling dirt on a casket lying on the ground, you bury by putting the casket fully into the belly of the earth. That's the same way real baptism is to be done by fully being immersed in water.**

3. Christ was raised from the dead and I was raised with Him and I have a new life in Him. ''For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.'' Romans 6:5

4. Christ ascended to Heaven and I ascended into Heaven with Him. ''But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.'' Ephesians 2:4-6

So, there you have it. I hope you've learned a thing or two.

 And, have yourself a merry little  meaningful Christmas!!! Remember that it's not about the shiny lights or the trees. Jesus Christ is the reason for our joyous celebration!

 I'm oh, so thankful that my sweet Jesus came to this earth to save me from my sins. :)

 

Merry Christmas!

xoxo

Delali

My to read list

Books. Oh, how I love ‘em! The swirl & twirl of words and emotions.

So, today I’m sharing my to read list. Cool huh. ;) I’m dying to get hold of these books and happily indulge!  

 

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In no particular order...my 25 most-wanted-can’t-wait-to-read-and-be-totally-swoon-and wrecked-in-a-good-kinda-way books *drum rollssss* :D

1.    A thousand miles in a million years- Donald Miller

2.      Crazy love- Francis Chan

3.      Pink lips & empty hearts- Heather Lindsey

4.      Not a fan- Kyle Idleman

5.      Boy meets girl- Joshua Harris

6.      The in-between- Jeff Goins

7.      You are a writer- Jeff Goins

8.      I kissed dating goodbye- Joshua Harris

9.      Blue like jazz- Donald Miller

10.  The five love languages- Gary Chapman

11.  Wrecked- Jeff Goins

12.  Searching for God knows what- Donald Miller

13.  In the garden of thoughts- Dodinsky

14.  Angry conversations with God- Susan E. Isaacs

15.  It’s called a breakup because it’s broken- Greg Behrendt

16.  The one: a single ladies guide- Jereme L. Ford

17.  Passion and purity- Elisabeth Elliot

18.  Daring greatly- Brene Brown

19. Bittersweet- Shauna Niequist

20.  Love does- Bob Goff

21.  The single woman: life, love and a dash of sass- Mandy Hale

22.  Packing light- Ann Vesterfelt 

23.  Boundaries in dating- Henry Cloud & John Townsend

24.  Lady in waiting: becoming God’s best while waiting for Mr. Right- Jackie Kendall

25.  Praying for your future husband- Robin Jones Gunn & Tricia Goyer

 

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I seriously can’t wait to read these books cause I believe they’re filled with so much truth that’ll do my soul tonsss of good.

 Donald Miller happens to be the only author on the list whose book I’ve read, urm listened to before. *the audio book of Through painted deserts, and boy, was it good! I blogged/reviewed it here. 

The good ole Bible says:

“Get wisdom; get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honour, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you.” Proverbs 4:5-9

What are your favourite Godly, wisdom filled reads and which books are on your to read list? Share! :)

xoxo Delali.