Letter from Jon, January 2022 

 

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9:1,2


Dear Liberty Family
 
Happy New Year!  I took some time yesterday to go back through my journal for 2021, reviewing all the things to give thanks for, in what was a challenging year (that in itself is a very worthwhile exercise which I recommend!)  Anyway, in an entry from early January last year I was reflecting on the above verses from Psalm 9, and the fact that there is a determination as David, who wrote the psalm, begins each line with ‘I will..’ These are words of decision, of commitment, of a man who experienced the best and the worst of life, the highs and lows.  It is like he is saying that regardless of what comes my way, I make the choice.  I will give thanks to you, I will rejoice, I will tell of all that you have done, I will praise you.
 
As we begin this new year there is a sense of hesitation and uncertainty around us.  We want to launch in but we are not sure what we are launching in to.  After the year that has been we don’t know what this new year will bring for each of us.  Will there be joys?  Will there be sorrows?  Will there be both?  That is why I am choosing to join with David.  I am choosing to fix my eyes on Jesus.  I am choosing to worship him, regardless of what happens.  I am choosing to live gratefully for all I have.  I am choosing to rejoice.  I am choosing to witness to all God has done in my life.  I know that this will not always be easy, but I also know that the only thing that I have this year which is sure, is our God.  As we dive in (or perhaps tentatively dip our toe in) to 2022 I invite you to join me, to fix our eyes on Jesus and to live for him.
 
And now, may the Lord bless you and keep you.  May the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.  May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
 
Much love
 
Jon

 
Jon Farrimond, 06/01/2022