Sunday, April 24, 2011

a blessed weekend

It's been a long time since I spent my birthday with my family. Since I moved to Manila, I've been celebrating my birthday with different people. As much as I want to spend it with my family, distance just doesn't make it possible. But I'm still grateful that I was able to spend it with people whom I have considered family here in Canada.

Yesterday was our team building activity (with the GCP peeps) and it was a good treat for my birthday. :D We spent the whole day in Victoria which is a ferry ride from Vancouver and did some sight seeing. We went to Butchart Garden, Inner Harbor, Parliament Building, Craigdarroch Castle and Fisherman's Warf. I'm just waiting for our pictures to be uploaded...hehe. I wanted to have a birthday cake but we were not able to get one. Instead, on our way home, we stopped by Krispy Kreme and bought 2 dozens of donuts. When we got home, before my birthday ended, the guys converted the donuts into a sort-of-cake and I got some birthday candles from the stock room.  A birthday song from the guys concluded the day. :D

My 27th year has been one of the most life changing years in my life. And, I can never take any credit for what I have accomplished or given.  All the credit belongs to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Starting today, I'll just keep looking UP. Just as the message from the worship service this morning was all about - Jesus was lifted UP on His resurrection. I pray that in my 28th year, I will have a deeper and more intimate relationship with God. That I will continue to walk with Him as I take this journey of re-discovering myself in the eyes of God.

And as you read this, I just want you to know that I praise and thank God that He has put you in my life.

All glory to Jesus Christ, my God and my King!

Friday, April 22, 2011

what are you celebrating for?



This is the only birthday I could recall that I would celebrate it on a holy week. But as much as I want to really enjoy my birthday, I just want to celebrate more on the day after my birthday. The Resurrection Day!


But just a simple fact...Do you know that we actually celebrate Resurrection Day every week? That's the reason why we go to church every Sunday. We celebrate the risen Lord. And this Easter Sunday shouldn't be different on those other Sundays or even on other days.  Or I must say, this holy week should be no different. For me, these days are more like of an opportunity and a blessing that we Christ believers were given (not just because we get a long weekend :)  ).


Why? Because...


When do we really take the time to reflect on the important things in our lives?
When do we really take a rest and just focus on God?
When do we really give thought of our sins and on what Christ did for us?
When do we really read about the death and resurrection of Jesus in the Bible?


It is only during holy week that we see people walking on the street and carrying a heavy wooden cross. I don't judge these people. That's how they want to do it.  They actually serve as a reminder that we all should be carrying our cross though not the physical cross that they have. Not just during holy week, but daily.


And for me, I want to take this holy week too as an opportunity to start anew. There have been so many things in my life which I really don't share much to people but God knows that I just want to change. As Jesus who lives in me had overcome death, what else could He not overcome in my life? 


As I'm turning 27, I am marking this holy week as a door for the life changing days to come. 


I want to leave you with one of Jesus' last words in John 19:30.
    When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.


Jesus completed everything for us in the cross. There is nothing we can do more to add up to that. The only thing we need to do is to respond to what He did for us.  How? By putting our faith and trust in Him that would lead us to repentance and changed life.


 "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Eph 2: 8-10)


Have a meaningful Resurrection Sunday everyone!