2013: God's Sovereignty and Answered Prayers

Habakkuk 2:2

Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.

I remember someone telling me about this verse. There is nothing mystical about it. It's just plain and simple. Write it down so that we won't forget to pray for it and at the same to remind us of God's faithfulness and sovereignty. Answered or not, I hold on to this truth: 

Isaiah 55:9

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Answered Prayers:

Healing for my friend Levine (after falling from a platform (?))

Guidance in Levine's Thesis

Healing for Cesca

Successful Himigsikan 2013

Favour in Rehearsals (Himigsikan 2013)

Favour in Weather (Himigsikan 2013)

Favour in Papers (Himigsikan 2013)

Fresh Encounter/Rest during our Retreat

Go to Kyrgyzstan this October 2013

Patrick Bugarin to win as President in TPSF

Success in our Pol. Dynamics reporting

Win in Theater Arts

Favour from Professors this Senior Year

Provision for ABSC Projects

Favour from Sponsors

Kuya Jeffrouie and Ate Carmen to get married

Open doors to minister to AB Admin.

Venue for AB Leadership Training Seminar 2013

Attend Ignite 2013

Ptr. Dan Monterde to preach in Ignite 2013 (Guidance, Provisions, Blessing, Anointing)

Transportation for our Batangas Gig

Invite 15 to 20 NGOs for AB NGO Fair

Safe trip for Papa last May 2013

Kuya Nate to pass the Entrance Exam for UST Law

Healing for Eboy Siongco and their Dad from Dengue

Charger for my Dell Laptop

Win the ABSC Election 2013

Miyuki Morishita to win as President in UST-CSC

Ma'am Faye to decide whether she will take PhD or not

Hannah Barrantes to win as President of San Beda Student Council

Safe trip for Mama going back from Leyte

Success in Faculty Show

Healing for Jeff tinsay

Healing for my Throat

Successful Bacc. Mass

Successful Graduation

Success for AB LTS 2013

Speakers to be available on AB LTS 2013

Smooth flow of AB LTS

Kristi Banks to win in her contest outside UST

Urbandub to play in Himigsikan 2013

Healing for Kuya Gerald Pasion's skin

Reconciliation between Jenz, Kae, Kat, MJ

Guidance in our Theater Arts Finals

Healing for my right foot

Healing for Tots and for him to join us in our meeting

Provision for Kristi

Have Chinkee Tan as one of our speakers in our Leadership Training Seminar 2013

Fresh Encounter with God on Ignite 2013

Successful Campaign Week

CM to win as auditor

Good grades in my subjects

Mikee Argel and Alex Beltran to have a good grade on LRT, TOP and Labor Standards

Edmir Capuno to win in Karatulastasan 2013

Success for the CommDev Projects this September

Provision for WYAAPELC

Successful GA for DEKADA

Successful preaching on Sunday

Successful operation for Tita Carol

Smooth labor for Ate Iris

Provision for their baby, Emilio

Habagat to stop

Favourable weather on Himigsikan August 29, 2013

Safe trip for Ma'am Yanga

Favour in IMC

Get 1pm to 5pm reservation in Med Audi

Healing for Emilio

Healing for Mam Yanga

Success for Leanne's Class for their Thesis

Provision for overtime of venues (Himigsikan) 

CommDev of Eco to Push through

Raise support needed for Kyrgyzstan Mission trip in 2 weeks

Healing for Edmir

Healing for Cesca

Favourable Weather for Ma'am Leah's Wedding

Ardy Danganan to pass the ADMU Exam

DEKADA to be recognized this year

Healing for Joan Arenas, guidance in Dubai

Healing for Froilan

Healing for Yen, Third and CP from Chicken Pox

Healing for Alex Beltran

Healing for AJ Mercado

Healing for Abby Reynes

Favor on Monday 

Grace for IMC

Healing for Kat Ismail

Reconciliation beween Kristi and her father

Meeting with ABSC officers with complete attendance

AB NGO Fair 2013

Ceasefire in Zamboanga

UST to win against NU Bulldogs

Healing for Cesca delos Santos' Father

Healing for Cesca delos Santos' Mother

Successful operation for her parents

Healing for Rianne

Ate Ayen Legazpi to be in a relationship

Success in Leanne's thesis presentation

Success in Commdev Exhibit

UST Tigers to win today's game

My whole class passed in IMC

Provision for Ram Meria

No more exam tomorrow in IMC and no more presentations

Healing for Krisiti

Favour for Janica and Milcah's Studies

Healing for Sasha

Provision and sponsors for Insignia

Success in Advocacy Concert

Provision for Ate Che and Kuya Jerry's wedding

Smooth delivery if Ate Shalom's Baby

Algai to pass licensure exam

Favourable weather on Insignia's Runway Finale

Provision for Ate Rachel and Kuya Jonathan's wedding

Continuous provision for our family

I am sure that there are answered prayers that I am not aware. Answered prayers are God's reminder to us that He is faithful even though we are not. He is gracious and loving even though we do not deserve it. Let's leave 2013 with thanksgiving. 

What are your answered prayers? 

Proverbs 4:18

The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day

Anti-"I don't feel Christmas" Blog.

DISCLAIMER: This is not a hater post. This entry is for everyone. Whether you're having a "bad", a "good", a "great", a "sad", or an “incomplete" Christmas - this post is for all of us. 

I have been hearing from people that they do not really "feel" the Christmas Season this year. I am also guilty of this. After all that we have been through: Typhoon Maring, PDAF Scam, MNLF standoff, 7.2 earthquake in Bohol and of course, Super Typhoon Yolanda. Not to mention our personal struggles, our work issues, heartbreaks, loss of a family member (or complete loss of the entire family), financial lack, worries, insecurities, etc.

We ask ourselves:

Is Christmas still worth celebrating? 

If your answer is a cold, stiff "NO", I hope that after reading this I would be able to convince you that Christmas is still worth celebrating for. If your answer is a doubtful and hesitant "YES", I hope these insights will convince you that there is no reason for you to doubt and hesitate. 

We all know the origin of Christmas. A Saviour being born. God sent His Son. A virgin became His mother and was fathered by a carpenter named Joseph. He was then visited by the Magi or the Wise Men (take note, not kings but wise men - they're not even three). Jesus' birth was witnessed by Angels, shepherds, random town people and animals. Jesus' first crib was a manger. 

I wanted to remember what happened during the first Christmas celebration so I went to read some texts and took note of some of the details. Here are the things that I found:

1.) Giving is an act to celebrate Christmas but giving is not the main cause of Christmas - This is not contradictory to what we believe. Yes, God gave His Son to us but it was intentional and deliberate. God has a clear purpose in His mind why He gave Jesus to us. Yes, this is to teach us how to give but God's goal is not merely to teach us how to give but to save us from our sins. Anyone can teach us how to give but only Jesus can save us from our sins. God wants to save us first before teaching us because He knew that when we are saved - we can learn the real importance of giving. Knowing the reason why Jesus came is essential in enjoying Christmas Day. 

Matthew 1:21

New International Version (NIV)

21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[a] because he will save his people from their sins.”

Luke 2:38

New International Version (NIV)

38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

2.) There are people who fought for the First Christmas Celebration. - When I used the word "fought" I am referring to all efforts of defending and fighting back whether by physical, mental, emotional or spiritual means. 

Magi - according to Matthew 2:12, they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod. The Magi knew that their lives were on the line. They were faced with the decision whether to go back and report to Herod and return to their country with their heads on or go back to their country in a different route still having their heads on but being included on Herod's "To Kill List". The Magi fought for Christmas by choosing not to go back to Herod and return to their country in a different route. 

Mary - according to Bible scholars, Mary was about 12, 13 or 14 years old when she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Just imagine all kinds of pressure she went through while having Jesus in her tummy. The culture during their time dictated that women were second rate citizens. Just imagine if society would know that you got pregnant before getting married and the person you are engaged to (Joseph) is not even the father of the child you are carrying. There they were. Expecting a child but there was no inn to stay to wait for the baby. You heard stories of babies being born in a car, house, bahay-kubo, etc. but nothing is more dramatic than a baby being placed in a manger with shepherds, Magi and animals as your company to celebrate with you. Mary could have quitted along the way. She could have complained to God: If He is the King of Kings and the Saviour of Mankind then why would you allow Him to be born in a manger? But she refused to quit and chose to fight for the First Christmas. Scriptures says that she treasured all these in her heart (Luke 2:19). She treasured all these. 

This Christmas, what do you treasure the most? 

Joseph - the Son of David, a carpenter who released the Son of God into the fallen world. Not much has been said about Joseph but we are sure that he is a righteous man (Matthew 1:19) and he has King David's blood running through his veins (Matthew 1:20). So how did he fight for the First Christmas? Simple, by choosing to be the father of God's only Son. I was joking when I said "Simple" but I was serious when I said "by choosing to be the father of God's only Son". The Scriptures did not record any words that he spoke but whenever the Scriptures would describe Joseph, he was always in action or in the act of obeying what God wanted him to do. From deciding to take Mary as his wife, to their escape to Egypt and bringing them to Nazareth - no words were recorded but a lot of actions were seen. He fought for the First Christmas by obeying what God wanted him to do. Probably he had other issues. Like Mary, maybe he also had doubts about what is going on. He could have questioned God about what is happening. Lies may have started to creep towards his heart. Doubts may have started to rise when he cannot find a decent room or place for God's Son to be born. This moment could have been a slap to his face as a father. We do not know what was in his heart but we are sure after their hide and seek with Herod, he decided to stay and be the earthly father of Jesus (Luke 2:51)

Are you fighting for Christmas or you just allow your troubles, problems and emotions get the best of you? 

3.) Christmas is not about us. - This is my personal favourite because it reminds me of my place when I stand before God and at the same time, this truth frees me from the mindset brought by a commercialized Christmas. Every Christmas season we have our own Christmas wishes. There is nothing wrong with that but when that particular wish of ours becomes that standard of a memorable Christmas celebration, something is wrong. When this happens, we replace "Christ" in Christmas with "I"."Imas". Let me use it in a sentence.

Imas go to _______ this Christmas

Imas have this _____ this Christmas

Our hearts always forget that Christ must be the center of Christmas. 

When we start to drift away from the mindset that Christmas is about us, it will be uncomfortable because we are so used to celebrating it for our own personal reasons. This truth frees us from the idea that in order for our Christmas celebration to be perfect we must receive something that we are hoping for or experience something that we are longing for. We always say that Jesus is the reason for the season but when Christmas season starts, what is the first thing that goes into our minds? 

The wonderful thing about Christmas is that even if it is about Jesus and Him saving us from our sins - He made it for us. Christmas is for us but it is not about us. 

Celebrating Christmas is very important because it reminds us that there is still hope and there are infinite reasons why we should celebrate. This year has been rough for all of us but it will only get rougher if there is no Christmas. Christmas is a reminder that amidst all the corruptions, anomalies, catastrophes, devastation, lost lives, shattered homes - there is Someone up there who gave His all for us and never gave up on us. 

Merry Christmas!