new season

February 24, 2006

new: different from the former or the old, changed for the better; rejuvenated (dictionary.com)

two months ago, we entered into the new year. some people make a big deal about the new year. they make resolutions, set goals, dream big and anticipate the future. i'm not that type. i don't make resolutions nor do i have any expectations. to me, the new year is much like any other day in the year. all that changes is one number.

yet, without me realizing it, things did change. i can't pinpoint what caused it, but things have been different, very different. it's like my entire life has been given fresh perspective and energy, in the area of my health, school and church.

my health
early in january, my neck was in a lot of pain. the muscles were really tight and i could barely move it. prior to that, i had become sick. what i've noticed over the course of the last two years, is that my health seems to go in pairs. it would always be something with my fm and another sickness coupled with it. when it happened, i'd always feel really low. questions would surface. my emotions would be all over the place. i'd think to myself "woe is me, why this again? why me? why can't i ever be healed from my fm and just live a normal life?"

but this time, i didn't think that at all. instead, i knew that the pain was a result of my fm and that it would be better the next day. my train of thought was: "yeah it sucks, but it'll be better tomorrow." the funny thing is, i've known this for a long time. i know that the pain is a result of the muscles being tight. yet, i never incorporated this knowledge into my life. i was very surprised to have such a positive outlook/perspective in this instant.

school
when was the last time you got excited to do school work? at the beginning of the term, i found myself very excited for some of the assignments that i was going to do. the courses looked to have some really good material and it was material i was very interested in. i'm taking three very interesting classes: spiritual formation, leadership in youth ministry and biblical interpretation. the assignments are super practical.

church
i stepped into a new role in 2006. we revamped some of the structuring for our english ministry. i became the head of our creative team department. i became the person in charge of planning and arranging the creative material that happened in our services (with my team of course). i was extremely excited for the possibilities that could come in 2006 and all that God would do through these creative services.

other
we also started up our men's group in 2006. jon and i had been planning to do it ever since september, but things didn't work out. things have been going great so far. we've been able to establish a deep level of trust much sooner than i anticipated. i'm looking forward to growing together with these guys in the time to come.

at our first men's group meeting, jon asked us to describe where we are in life at the present moment. i was sharing with them all the things i mentioned above. jon said something that struck me. he was like, leo, i haven't heard you this excited in a long time! i thought about that for a while and i realized how true his statement was.

for the past three years, my life has been marked by pain, suffering, trials, hardship. job has been my Biblical character that i sought wisdom from through these years. i have often wondered when my life would turn around, the way his did at the end of his book. i somehow always imagined that my turn around would be getting healed from my fibromyalgia. i never thought it could be something else, nor did i ever expect it. yet, without my knowing it, a new season had come.

on the drive home that night, i turned up "new season" by israel houghton LOUD. it totally expressed what was in my heart.

[chorus]
it's a new season
it's a new day
fresh anointing is comin' my way
it's a season of power
and prosperity
it's a new season
coming to me

the devil's time is up
no longer can He bother me
cuz the Creator of the universe He fathers me
and it's transferable
my children's children's shalll be free
it's a new season

if you don't know but now
you need to know it's jubillee
but debts are cancelled
and your children walk in victory
it's unavailable to you and me
but i'll just taste and see
it's a new season

the new millennium presents a new horizon
no greater time for us to make a choice and take a stand
all that we need is restin in His hands
it's a new season

all that was stolen is returned to you
a hundred fold
tried in the fire
but you're coming out gold

Posted by Leo Chan at February 24, 2006 7:46 PM