Month: January 2016

My Favorite Birthday Greetings

I celebrated my 28th birthday quietly.

Though I know that I’m not going anywhere on my birthday, I still decided to file a leave and celebrate it at home to spend my day in the presence of God. So on the morning of my birthday, I sat down and do my usual quiet time with God and spent some more hours meditating on God’s faithfulness for the past 28 years of my life. I thanked God for all the blessings He has showered upon me and recalled all the promises He’s given me two years ago. I also spent some hours recalling  all my frustrations, disappointment, failures and sin I have committed against God and laid it all at the Lord’s feet, trusting and believing that God’s grace is always greater than all these failures combined. The most comforting words I received from God during that day is this:

..But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” – Luke 7:47b

I praised and thanked God for the forgiveness and even for allowing me to undergo a series of disappointments and frustrations to humble me and so I will be able to love Him all the more. I also claimed Psalm 80 as my personal prayer to God.

As I’ve always expected, birthday greetings have started to pour out the moment I woke up. What surprised me the most are the greetings from people I haven’t seen or heard for so long. I was so delighted to get an update from them even for a short while. But what I love most are the birthdays greetings I received with prayers and God’s promises in it. For me, these greetings are tangible declaration of God’s blessings in my life that’s why I’m always looking forward to it on my birthday.  Now I want to keep a record of it so I can look back and say that God  has indeed been true to His Word and promises.

Acts 20:24 (NIV)

24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Micah 4Micah

Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)

4 Even to your old age and gray hairs
    I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

And my most favorite of all, from my beloved bible study leader…..

Isaiah 43:4 (NIV)

4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.

To tell you honestly, I spent my birthday physically alone but I didn’t feel loneliness even for a second because of these promises and all the heartwarming greetings I received. Truly, spending my birthday in the presence of the Lord is the best way to celebrate it.

 Thank you, Lord for all these thoughtful friends! 😀

My Wedding Song Playlist

Hello there! Because today’s my birthday and I’m celebrating my 28th birthday, I thought of writing about something women of my age are starting to  get anxious about.  Yeah, I’m referring to wedding or marriage or everything about finding your true  love. Not that I’ve already found my true love or I’m getting married soon. I’ve been wanting to write about the songs I want to play on my wedding day (Lord willing!) and I thought today’s the best day to write it. 😀 Who knows, it might come in handy. 😀

So…. here you go!

  1. Praying for You by Mandisa
  2. Marry your Daughter by Brian Mcknight
  3. Commitment by Sanctur Real
  4. Other Guys by Jonny Diaz
  5. Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts
  6. When did You Fall by Chris Rice
  7. How to Fall by Josh Wilson
  8. Love is Not a Fight
  9. To be With You
  10. Love is Waiting

I just find these songs sweet so I thought it would be good if I would hear them playing on my wedding. 🙂

Do Not Be Afraid

I just finished meditating on Matthew 28 yesterday and then  skipped to Luke 1 today. I’ve already meditated on these chapters during my quiet time before but one of the new and fresh thing I discovered from my meditation recently are the common words in the messages from God delivered by Angel Gabriel to the three of Lord’s servants namely, Mary Magdalene (together with the other Mary), the priest Zechariah and Mary, the mother of Jesus.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. (Matthew 28:5 NIV)

But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. (Luke 1:13 NIV)

“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. (Luke 1:30 NIV)

I noticed that the common phrase used by Angel Gabriel in delivering God’s message was ‘do not be afraid’. And I wonder, why is it that the God’s messenger often use these words when he knows for a fact that he’s delivering a good news to these people?

Then I realized that experiencing God’s miracle as an answer to our prayer can sometimes be overwhelming. Our finite minds often see it as too good to be true and our omnipotent God understands it that’s why He has to give us these four words of caution: do not be afraid.

This is a very timely message for me as well for I am claiming this year as a year of great harvest. I know that this year will be a year when I will see God’s glory in my life more than I have ever imagined or experienced but deep in my heart, I know that I’m scared at the same time. I’m afraid that I’m not ready yet to handle the great things that God will entrust to me this year. I’m afraid that I will fail God, again.

Three Responses
As I continue to meditate on the encounter of the Lord’s servants with the angel, I noticed the different responses of these group of people to the Lord’s calling.

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.(Matthew 28:8 NIV)

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
(Luke 1:18 NIV)

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38 NIV)

The women who met the angel at Jesus’ tomb hurried away to tell the good news to other disciples, and along the way, they met Jesus Himself. Zechariah responded in unbelief so the Lord made him mute until all the things that the angel had told him came to pass. And Mary embraced her God-given role of becoming the mother of the one and only Savior to fulfill God’s plan of salvation.

Different responses, different results. One responded in unbelief so the Lord has to teach him a lesson the hard way until he finally believes. And the sad truth is I can identify myself more with Zechariah. I often make excuses and doubt if God will really fulfill in my life what He has promised even though God has already said it for so many times…
For no word from God will ever fail. (Luke 1:37 NIV)

So now I want to respond differently. I want to be like Mary who will respond courageously and say ‘I am the Lord’s servant, may the word of God be fulfilled in my life.’ I want to be like the other Marys who will respond immediately and not delay at God’s command. I want to respond in faith and not be afraid.

Lord, I want to believe. Help me with my unbelief.