Skip to main content

A new year - a "fresh start"

The New Year is here! What a year it's been. And I'm really glad to be starting a New Year.
Looking back, 2010 was a busy year. I started a new job at the beginning of the year. Launched my blog (Treasures In Darkness) and started writing. I volunteer weekly as co-host for a radio prayer ministry to the Samoan community and the nations. The ministry celebrated it's first birthday last year. The month of April saw the start of an outreach ministry "Treasures of Hope" to local women in the community. Then in November/December, I attended the 50th Jubilee of Youth With A Mission in Kona, Hawaii. The year closed with the passing away of my father on Christmas day. That year is behind me now. It's time to look ahead!

One of the values I had learned from my late father's life was that of 'perseverance.' He believed in hard work ("if you don't work you don't eat... you become poor"). As a fisherman, he was well known for bringing big fish home. (please read my "Tribute... the skilled fisherman" on facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?v=info&edit_info=all
To achieve, we must have hope. Hope is a choice. When I was saying goodbye to my mother in Samoa, she seemed so frail, so lost. Now that my father is gone, I sensed her grief; loneliness... But I talked about hope, about seeing her again, about a whole lot of positive things to keep her hopes alive.

It's time to stop listening to the stories of poor leadership, recession..., Don't let the behavior of our children set us back, nor the condition of our environment. We become defeated when these things hinder our progress.  Make it a point to choose to be around those people who will support you to further your career, ministry etc. This year belongs to us. It is our time, our day, and it is passing.
"... The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights"  (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

  
You can do it. So go for it! 


Comments

  1. SPEAK TO THE DARKNESSJanuary 12, 2011 at 2:04 PM

    Linda & Gary Palmer wrote:
    Thanks so much, Lome, for this good word of perseverance and hope for the New Year! What you said really encouraged me and I thank you so much, for sharing it. . I'll share it with Gary, too!

    Any specific prayer requests, please send them, so I can be praying with you dear sis!

    Love you, Linda & Gary
    Philippians 3:7-14

    ReplyDelete
  2. SPEAK TO THE DARKNESSJanuary 13, 2011 at 9:30 PM

    Thank you Linda! Your comments are always encouraging. Please pray that I will have more time to keep up my writing this year!
    God bless you,
    Lome

    ReplyDelete
  3. SPEAK TO THE DARKNESSJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:30 PM

    Julia wrote:

    Good evening Salome
    Well done for putting time and thought in encouraging us all from your journey.
    Love you Julia

    ReplyDelete
  4. SPEAK TO THE DARKNESSJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:33 PM

    Thank you Julia. To God be the glory!
    Lots of love, Salome

    ReplyDelete
  5. SPEAK TO THE DARKNESSJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:36 PM

    Margaret Young wrote:
    So true.When God has placed a special ministry call on your life it is easy to see the giants in the land.Having the encouragers around you helps you to focus on what God is doing.Fa'afetai,Salome

    ReplyDelete
  6. SPEAK TO THE DARKNESSJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:38 PM

    Pastor Ane Ponifasio wrote:
    awesome blog lome, i like "this year belongs to us"...awesome, welcome back, will catch up soon

    ReplyDelete
  7. SPEAK TO THE DARKNESSJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:39 PM

    Ioana Whittaker wrote:
    so excited for whats in store for us! Been thinkng and praying for lots lately! Love you lome xo

    ReplyDelete
  8. Veronica Schultz - The Soul WhispererMarch 2, 2011 at 11:42 PM

    Salome, beautifully written and encouraging! I love several of your points, HOPE is important, be around those who will encourage you in HOPE and direction. You are an incredible Woman. I'd love to hear more about your Ministry. I sent a facebook friends request... we can have longer conversations there. Blessings my sister!
    love you. xoxo
    V

    ReplyDelete
  9. SPEAK TO THE DARKNESSMarch 3, 2011 at 2:21 PM

    Thank you Veronica! You've encouraged me since we met on twitter! I'm reminded of my blog that has been neglected. God has been speaking some amazing truths into my life. I want to honour Him with my writing and will pick up writing soon. God bless! Catch you soon on twitter/fb. Salome

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Launch of Blog - "Treasures in Darkness"

Treasures in Darkness Today, I am launching my new blog - 'Treasures in Darkness." Praise God for technology!  God gives us the desires of our hearts. The blog is an open door of opportunities towards making a dream come true. Blogging is an opportunity to start writing! I feel like I own a million dollars.  God is exceedingly good!    " And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness - secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord God of Israel, the God who calls you by name'" (Isaiah 45:3). The world is full of treasures that are buried or hidden until it is discovered! When we face loss, pain and disappointment, God desires that we find the valuable lessons hidden in our times of affliction. It is all very well when our days are full of sunshine and the blessings of God are so evident. But the treasures in times of affliction are not easy to see. Our hearts must have eyes to seek Him in the darkness of our suffering - and...
4 comments
Read more

The courage of love

Against the dark background of much despair, the message of Easter, of the resurrection brings to us a bright light of hope. It is a message about the courage of love that sets the Christian faith apart from all other beliefs. It is about a loving God who relentlessly pursues us (Ezekiel 34:12) despite the sin in our lives. During our reflection time at work this week – I was led to read the following scripture: Jesus said to [Martha] “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die" (John 11:25-16). Sometimes we don’t think much about the daily acts of courage as we live out our Christian values. It takes courage to speak God's Word in places where you know there are unbelievers who are resistant to the message of he Gospel. I believe this is no time to be satisfied with the status quo in our lives. We should take every opportunity that come and turn them ...
9 comments
Read more

It’s A New Season!

It’s A New Season - and  Moving Right Along... ”I worship you I worship You The reason I live is to worship You!” I thank God for my journey and for bringing me to a new milestone, a new era of my life, WOW!    Glory be to God!   I celebrated my 70th birthday a week ago with my family and it was a lovely beautiful time.     I thank God that I got to celebrate this milestone with the people I love the most; that Corvus 19 lock down happened while we’re all together as a family.    I’m ever so grateful to you Lord! And now, moving on to face this age thing “head on”.     The world talks a lot about 70 being the new 60, 50 being the new 40 and so on.    Whatever that mean, I think for me it is time to call a “spade a spade”. What does turning 70 mean for me?    Is it time to give up on living life like I used to?    Is it time to lose interest in the things that I have ...
2 comments
Read more