Happy New Year! Each year seems to pass quicker than the previous. I once heard it’s because as you age, the same period is relatively shorter compared to your total years lived (hence it felt shorter).

There’s so much that happens in a year and a lot that can be said. In the interest of time, today I’ll write a dot-point list of things I’ve added to the whiteboard on my fridge as 2023 progressed. They’re basically things I have been reminded of that I find useful to pin down to help me recall them.

Each morning, as part of my routine as I walk into my kitchen, I would read the first one (on Mon), second (on Tue) and so on. So it’s a kind of intentional reminding myself of what’s helpful to keep in mind for the day. As the year went along, the list grew longer than 7 points, so I switch to read the first one (on dates that ends with a ‘1’), the second one (on dates that ends with a ‘2’), and so on. By Dec 2023, I have 12 in my list, so that kinda overflow 😅.

Anyhow, here you go:

1. Humans are fallen – Expect it, accustom yourself to unreasonableness.

2. God is above all – Calm down.

3. Noone owes you anything, and you already have everything – Never give in to self-pity.

4. It is a privilege to serve – never grumble in service.

5. Life is simple if you just live for one Audience.

6. Strive to make God the reason behind everything you do – then the outcome does not matter.

7. Godliness is expected at all times – just because the circumstance is difficult, doesn’t excuse you to be ungodly.

8. It doesn’t matter how the world values you – what matters is whether you are useful in the kingdom of God.

9. In conflict, before anything else – firstly speak to God, secondly speak to the person directly.

10. Fighting sin is more than a matter of discipline, it is a warfare – get ready to fight.

11. Your goal in life is not to be significant or important to somebody, but actually to make yourself nothing so you can serve others.

12. Grieve, but don’t grumble. Weep, but don’t whine.