twenty-five.

25 years ago was the beginning of the beginning of my life. one year ago was the beginning of the beginning of the rest of my life. and today is my 25th birthday.

confused?

what i mean to say is, i was brought into this world 25 years ago. on march 2, 1985, my life began. some years down the road, after a little bit of living and lot of screwing up, jesus gave me another beginning. and another. and another. i was caught in a cycle that has been familiar to God since the fall of man:

sin-consequence-repentance-forgiveness.

...over and over until i became so complacent, i had nearly dropped the repentance right out of my life. but instead of giving up on me, He shipped me off to new zealand to begin a journey during which i couldn't help but encounter the LOVE of my God face-to-face. a journey He used to change my perspective, my desires...my whole life.

a journey that started a year ago TODAY.

God's timing is impeccable, His wit is sharp, and His love is never-ending. i showed up in oxford, new zealand as a lost, bitter, and hardened 23 year-old. these are the verses jesus gave my leaders to share with me as i stepped skeptically into my 24th year of life:

i will betroth you to me forever, i will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. i will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord. 

i will show my love to the one called, 'not my loved one.' i will say to those called, 'not my people,' 'you ARE my people.' and they will say, 'you are my God.'  hosea 2:19-20, 23

i was not able to fully appreciate the significance of this verse on my 24th birthday. it was a promise from the Lord; a promise of faithfulness to one that had abandoned Him. looking back on the past year, i can see so clearly the fulfillment of this promise. God has been good to me. He chased me down, even after i had rejected Him--when i was still in the process of rejecting Him--until i finally acknowledged His Lordship over my life. in the meantime, He never stopped loving or pursuing me. the message version of hosea 23 says:

i'll say to Nobody, 'you're my dear Somebody.' 

and she'll say, 'you are my God!' 

i am nobody. and yet, the all-powerful, awesomely majestic King of the Universe loves me dearly! enough to come after me when i had all but spit in His beautiful face.

24 was the birthday when He caught up with me...and 25 has been a birthday overflowing with blessings and thanksgiving.

all praise to my Savior, the giver and sustainer of life!