2005: NEW YEAR with NEW PERSPECTIVE

Hi everyone! Forgive me for not updating my blog for a very, very long time. I was busy with lots of things and if ever I do have time, it will only last for minutes or hours. It could also be a reason that I do not manage my time well...which happens most of the time. I'm nearing graduation yet I still cannot do my plans accordingly! Only by God's grace am I only able to handle these matters with courage, strength, and somehow with order. Haha! Listening right now with worship songs - never fail to calm my thoughts and emotions; makes me realize on numerous things that God has done in my life and how He works in the midst of all troubles and confusion. The current song is Magnificent by Hillsongs, "You are magnificent, eternally wonderful, glorious, Jesus - no one ever will compare to you Jesus…" Isn't He awesome?! The Heavenly Father always amazes me in every single part of my life - both in conspicuously and inconspicuously ways. I could never agree more with that.

Another year is yet to come and I have thought as well of so many realizations as I look onto things. First off, we should thank our Lord and Savior for every blessing and yes, trials that He has put as through. Without this we could never see the Lord in a deeper perspective. This made us know Him more, surely our faith has made large increments upon experiencing it, and we have become living testimonies to other people and serve as encouragement to them - even to ourselves. Next thing I want to point out with you is maybe in tune with resolutions. Rubbish, you might say. I admit I have written a couple of things or so and as fast as the wind blows, I have forgotten it already. Still went with my own ways and before I was not that aware of acknowledging everything to the Lord. Spiritually speaking, I may consider myself carnal...well, that was earlier this year. By the grace of God He changed my tremendously and in a snap He has renewed my mind and began to see things in a different way. So to pick up what I have left off saying awhile ago, all we gotta do is begin the year by praying to God; and I mean doing it sincerely because we cannot get through the whole year with Him as we encounter different experiences that make us more mature, knowledgeable and see things in multi-faceted approaches. Perhaps starting the year by entrusting everything of us unto the Lord is a huge step of declaring that we’re truly dependent and vulnerable sons of God.

I want to share with you guys how my family and I celebrated our New Year. I think this was a different one because usually we go to Laguna with my grandparents (mom's side). Since I have a terrible cough that I acquired in our province last Christmas, we decided to just stay here in Manila cuz the temperature there might worsen my condition.

So anyway, we had dinner at Alavar's at Timog. Dad was really craving for Chabacano delicacy ever since he had his trip at Zamboanga when he was still working at a company. Gosh, it's seafoods galore! It was indeed delectable but my taste buds just seemed to get bored easily. Hehe! Thank God for his provision! After that, we went ahead to The Fort. There we're gonna experience the countdown and observe the splendid fireworks display. We were already in the vicinity around 8:30pm. The security guard informed us that there’s going to be a fireworks display at 9:00pm and 12:00mn at separate places. Wow! That's cool. The first one was really near to where we've parked our van. It was like embracing the little people of Makati as we saw the vibrant colors and mouth-opening fireworks. See how God made the minds of each man intelligent and bright to invent such things! After that 10-minute display, we hung-out at the back of our van, munched on chips, sipped coffee, had warming talk with dad (since my sister and mom were asleep), felt the cool breeze of air and appreciated the music from the concert hundred meters away from where we parked. Around 12:00mn, the countdown started and certainly the fireworks once again proved itself to amaze the people.

As our family watched that breath-taking moment, we began praying to our Almighty Father the coming year and that it may be more wonderful, abundant, prosperous and may we continually bless other people by being living testimonies. We never overlooked thanking the Lord for the past year. At first, we were all expressing this personally and it seemed to be a communion between myself and God. After the 30-minute (yes, it was a neck-stiffening moment as well!) fireworks display, my family went inside the van and officially started 2005 with a collective, touching prayer. Daddy and mommy lead and my sister and I whole heartedly agreed unto it, in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

Moving on as our family ended the prayer, I suggested if we could jump to another place – Eastwood City! We were still wide awake and daddy never had a second thought about it. As we arrived at Libis, we quickly scanned through the places and different establishments and finally stopped at Gloria Jean’s coffees. We had our orders to go since there's no enough space to comfortably accommodate us. Whoa, we were all stuffed! We got home at around 2:00am; watched a couple of shows (I was surprised FRIENDS has a re-run early in the morning) then finally slumbered.

I'd have to say it was an indeed meaningful celebration of welcoming 2005. I was able to talk to some people close to my heart while observing the fireworks, renewed our relationship with the Lord, lifted unto Him all my worries and troubles about my internship, and prayed for more fire and desire on serving Jesus Christ.

May God's grace be upon our lives! A blessed new year to all of you!