Christmas Eve 2013
Every day, when I wake up, I thank God for the opportunity of experiencing His blessings – blessings of life, provision, protection, and family…..
Blessing of life - I am already 68 years old, which means that in two years’ time I will be 100% compliant and obedient to the first portion of PSALM 90:10 – The days of our years are three score years and ten.
Blessing of provision - For the past 8 years, God has been showing me that even though I have already retired from my job, His provision never ceases.
Blessing of protection - Oftentimes, we take this blessing for granted. It is only when we hear about accidents and calamities that we become conscious of God's protection for us because we were spared from the pain of going through them.
Blessing of family – I appreciate my husband who is a hard working person. I love my children who are married to two good men, and of course, my only grandson, who I will always enjoy being around with. Jen, who in spite of being feisty, is a very responsible and loving wife to her husband and a loving mother to her son. Rose, my daughter loves and cares for my youngest brother who is differently-abled. This is a new word coined by the DSWD to describe people with disability. Thank you, Rose and Ted, for letting my brother stay in your house. I used to be worried because I am now in the twilight years of my life, and I know that sooner or later, I will leave my brother behind. But now, since I can see that you are treating Gilbert with compassion, I am comforted that he is in very good hands. You have very kind hearts. And I know God will bless you for this. Thank you very much. My sister Pet will retire after six years and will take Gilbert with her, so I think by that time, you will be relieved from this responsibility.
This year, I thank God for the privilege of joining in hospital visitations. It felt good to be able to give comfort to the sick, sharing God’s love through the Word of God, and praying for them. Usually I am in a group of three, my part was to read some Bible verses and the others would pray.
I know I have many shortcomings as a wife and as a mother. I have so many blunders in life. Things that I did and said that I should not have done and said; and things that I did not do and say that I should have done and said. I hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive me.
Before, it was easy for me to condemn people who did wrong. But as I read the Word of God, I become more aware of God's love and grace.
Our God is a gracious God. God knows that people are naturally stubborn. So He is not only a God of second chances; He is the God of another chance, and another chance, and another chance, ad infinitum.
Mark 11:26 says: But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.
Just as God is patient and forgiving, He wants His children to be patient with, and forgiving of, others.
The most familiar and most quoted verse in the Bible is John 3:16, and because it is the most familiar, and easily memorized and quoted, it is not meditated anymore. But if you really think about it, it is so wonderful. God does not want us to perish. He loves us so much that He gave His only Son to pay the penalty of our sins.
This is the essence of Christmas - love and forgiveness. God sent His only Son to die on the cross to pay for the penalty of our sins.
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