NO LOOKING BACK

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead…” (Philippians 3:13, ESV)

Dear NLC family,

Greetings and Shalom! Although Lunar New Year has passed quietly, I would like to wish you all a fresh start and a better year ahead. May the Lord bless us all to GROW as we know Him better.

The year 2020 had been a challenging year for every believer, and it had forced us to slow down and rethink our life journeys.

The Circuit Breaker period had disrupted our lives. Office workers struggled with separating work life from home life; more people felt stressed and overwhelmed being stuck at home; many frontline healthcare workers even risked their lives daily to combat the virus. This pandemic has prompted us to reflect: what is really important in life. May we cherish our loved ones and place our trust in God.

Now, we have entered 2021 (the Year of the Xin-Chou Ox), I am sure that every one of us has many dreams and aspirations. The apostle Paul reminded the Philippian church and the churches today that the past shouldn’t limit our desires for the future and stop us from improving our lives. Indeed, our past successes or weaknesses can easily become psychological burdens, causing physical and mental exhaustion, and even prevent us from achieving anything. Thus, as we move forward, we must let go of anything that may hinder our spiritual growth, and focus on pursuing the Will of Christ.

The apostle Paul pursued the things ahead, which is to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. Let us also resolve to grow in the knowledge of Christ and His power. The more the world changes, the more we have to focus and press on toward the goal. In this new year, may God renew our minds to strive for the ultimate goal of knowing Christ.

Growing together,
Pastor Frank Mok