It’s December 26 here in MNL! I can’t believe Christmas is over! We just got home from visiting relatives and am so tired. The girls (my sisters) are asleep and Dad too…but Mom is busy preparing what to wear tomorrow. They’ll be leaving for Batangas in a few hours together with my aunt, uncle and sis.

Christmas this year has been busy and fun! Since my sisters and Dad had colds, Mom and I had to do all the cooking for Christmas eve dinner. There’s a service in church on Sunday morning and we went to visit relatives after. The day was filled with laughter and fun. My cousins and I had a great time joking around and talking about a lot of things. I was the noisiest. I think I’m the happiest “cousin” today. LOL :)

 

But amidst all the hype, all the carols and all the laughter…deep in my heart I’m searching for more. I know Christmas means so much more.

For the weeks that has passed, I desired in my heart for the Christmas eve dinner to be offered to Him. My heart broke at the thought that people—including me, of course--forget why they’re partying and cooking, and eating after all.:)

I wanted to cook for Him and prepare like how we prepare for family members who celebrate their birthdays. I wanted this year’s Christmas celebration to be different from all other celebrations we’ve had. I wanted to make “handa”  for Jesus and not for us.

 

So yesterday, when the salads were done and  I was making the last item on the menu, I was praying and I said “Lord, it’s already You’re birthday!” I was excited because it’s the first time I wanted to intentionally make food for Him. And since I never asked Jesus what He wanted for His birthday, I began to ask.

 

And then I realized the food I was making wasn’t what He desires. He wanted more than the celebration. He longed for more than my preparation and the party hat.

 

Because…

He wanted me. What He wanted was me.

 

I stopped right there to let the thought sink in and tried my best to hold back the tears. For while I was busy preparing, while I thought of bringing the most thoughtful offering… deep in His heart, Jesus just wanted to spend time with me. No other Christmas gift from me would matter to Him-- if my heart is busy,if I am far away.

 

And so today, I am humbled and my heart rejoices as I quiet my heart and pray. This is what my heart is longing for after all. I want to spend time with Him, too--on His birthday.

”Happy Birthday, Lord. Merry Christmas!”

Photo Source:

1,2,3

I saw this quote on Pastor Tim Dilena’s Facebook and I find it so funny!

 

When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings with toys at Christmastime. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs? —G. K. Chesterton

 

I really didn’t know Chesterton had this sense of humor. LOL But I was struck with the truth in this short word.

At Christmastime, we rejoice and celebrate. We delight in pretty lights and beautifully wrapped gifts. We are thankful to those who thought of us, those who remembered us to bake us a sweet treat or buy us a good toy. And sometimes we forget the God who has blessed us with the things we need the most, with what’s really essential.

 

It’s so sad because God fades in the background at Christmastime, when it’s supposed to be His day, when it’s suppose to be His celebration.

 

But we can change that, right? We can go back to basics of it all and rejoice because we have a God who loves us and takes care of us.

 

I may not have much on my Christmas stockings (well, I’m already 24 years old. lol) and it’s my tiurn to fill Christmas stockings for cousins, nephews and nieces but God has filled my life more than I have ever asked Him to. He has filled my life with love and hope and I am so, very grateful.

 

Merry Christmas!

Photo Source:

1,2

I can’t believe how time flies really quick… it’s 4 days till Christmas and the year is almost over! Wow!

Before I begin with my stories and updates, I would like to apologize (I’m really sorry) for being absent from the blog for so long and without notice. I know I should’ve dropped a note or something. Yay!

Honestly, early in the last quarter of the year, I was struggling in my heart (will tell you about it in another post), but it was also the time when God came so unexpectedly, and in an unbelievable way. He has done great miracles and renewed my hope and enlarged my faith. There were things I waited for a long, long time and for a while I even doubted that God would make it happen.

But now the waiting is over. I mean, there are still a lot of things I’m waiting and hoping for…but at this season of my life, I cannot doubt that God makes things beautiful in His own time.

Sometimes, that “time” seems like forever in coming, but when it’s here, when it’s “now”, you just can’t believe how God moves and He just surprises you. First because you know it’s undeserved, second because you know it’s out of His overflowing, passionate love. I feel so bad for the time I resented and doubted. He has never forgotten. When He denies something, it is always because He has something better—no, grander—in mind, or maybe it just isn’t time yet.



This Christmas, my family and I, we’re celebrating in a different  way, in a way we haven’t done before. We celebrate with bigger faith. With rejoicing. Because our hearts know that God keeps His promise to His people. We know that He is beauty. We know that He is faithful. We know that His promises are true.

I really got so much to tell you. And I’m also excited because I know the Lord will also do for you what me and my family has experienced before the year ends. We just have to hang on wherever situation we’re at because it’s true that the sun always shine in the morning. Rejoicing always comes in the morning.

How are you celebrating Christmas this year?

What are your holiday reflections? What could Jesus be telling you through the season?

Merry Christmas, my dear friends!