Lenten Series: The ransom (Holy Tuesday)

 

Greetings! Start of my holiday break! Wew! 

I woke up early this morning because our cat, Ruby, licked my eye and was so eager to have her breakfast. I forgot that she is already used eating early in the morning because of my early shifts, before I leave for work, I’m used to feed her as early as 5am. Hahaha! So a while ago, she jumped on me and wanted to be fed. So silly.

After I fed Ruby, I went back to sleep, I felt so drowsy and tired. I woke up with my legs aching and my back hurts. T_T

I woke up finally at around half nine when Paul opened the TV, the volume woke me up. Why does he can’t watch TV with a soft sound? I can’t open my eyes but I can hear the  TV, it annoyed me. I wanted to sleep more. My body felt like I am paralyzed but it’s painful. My mind was not ready to be awake. I’m on a holiday. I got hungry and finally decided to wake up and make some yogurt bowl. Paul is leaving for work. I needed to remind him that he needs to transfer the money he owe me last Saturday when he decided to get a takeaway. He gave me an exact 25GBP. Bro?! That was 25.27GBP !!! He owe me 27p. Anyway, he can’t be asked. That was my budget anyway. I don’t have any plans getting a takeaway this week. Besides, he almost ate all of them, I gave him all. Cos I can’t eat meat this week. Yesterday, I asked Paul to meet his mum this coming Saturday, and we’ll go up to London to have dinner. Like bro?! Why don’t you want to meet your family??? If Philippines is just a few hours away, I would go home like every 3 months. I miss them so much. Not now,  because I still have this little grouch to my dad. I was not even talking to him since Saturday even asking how he was. I know he’s ok. He’s fine with his chickens. He was also trying to call from our group chat and no one answered. My mum is still in Cebu, and my sister didn’t know I have this displeasure towards him and she was the only talking to him regarding the house title processing. My sister is better than me on that matter so she can help him. I just have this little “Don’t care” attitude today. I can’t be asked. 

Sometimes, it feels good to have this accursed attitude. Not being sweet, kind girl. After all, I don’t live at that house anymore. Before the end of the day, I will always feel guilt and trap.

Today my dear friends, we have this beautiful verse from Matthew. A verse declaring how selfless Jesus is. He came as a man here on earth, born to be a man but died as a King. It reminded us that Jesus is truly the son of God, not only the son but only begotten son who died for us and paid all our debts. Like yesterday’s verse, the lamb which is a symbol of purity and sacrifice. Today’s verse talks about that the lamb is not just an offering but a ransom. Ransom for humanity. God’s wrath from the beginning to the Israelites, being rude, always complaining, greedy, creating wars and conflicts, full of sins makes God hate humanity and tempted to destroy earth again. But because God is merciful and loving, always forgiving. He sent his son to deliver us from evil. Jesus was made not only for me but for everyone. All we need to do is accept him and let his love shine all over us. Share it to everyone and remind us that God will always be there for us even at dark times.

Problems and conflicts are always there in human life. We can’t erase that. I remember my mum when I was in high school, we had a conversation about problems coming in our lives. She was provoked when I told her that problems are always there. You can’t erase them. I was trying to say that God sometimes gives us trials because he knows we can overcome it. He never gives a problem we can’t solve. And my mum kicked me, she was so angry at me and shouted, “Kung pwde lang alisin yang problema, erase-in na dapat yan!!!” And she kicked me. I was surprised and told myself that my mum was never an open minded person. Her understanding that God never made problems for us is not broad. 

I want to quote a verse from the bible about problems, it’s from James, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (V1:2-4)

It’s true my dear friends, I encountered several trials in my life. Not just one, multiple times. Sometimes, it’s repetitive and I did it over repeat mistakes without realizing its lessons. Sometimes, mistakes are all lesson. We will never value life without life’s mistakes. It takes a lot of courage and God’s constant help to overcome trials. 

Also, this verse talks about Humbleness. The son of God did not come to be served. He was not even born in a deluxe hospital with fine robes and linen. He was born in a manger. A manger my dear friends is an open trough or box found in stables or barns, used for holding feed for livestock like horses and cattle. Pharisees and even Kings believed that he will be born King. With a bed made in fine carving, with jewels and embellishments but no. Jesus was born with a humble beginning to remind us that we humans should be humble as his. We don’t have nothing. We are just human, and it is right to serve the Lord with humbleness and righteousness because he is the son of God. It is our duty to serve him and to pay back all the ransom He had sacrificed for us.

I feel sometimes why is life so unfair? Why is it always me that needs to sacrifice and understand things? But I always thank Jesus for he taught me how to sacrifice and be humble. It should be me who cares and understands situations even when everyone doesn’t. Because that is true Christianity. Jesus humbles Himself  so I should be too.

God bless us all!

Lenten series: The Lamb of God (Holy Monday)

 

Greetings! Oh it’s Monday! It’s the first day of the week! Should I be celebrating, grateful or feeling lazy today? I was a little bit excited because after Monday, it’s going to be my 3-day holiday. How I wish it will extend until Easter Monday. Yehey!!! My shift was not that busy but it was fast. It was breezy today. 

After my shift, I went home and changed to my workout clothes. I was decided to do a 10 km this afternoon but it was so breezy, cold and windy. The gust was 27mph! So I just ran a 3km easy run. I went home and did a 25 minute dance workout. Wow! The sweat came down! I am still undecided whether to wake up early morning tomorrow to do a long distance run. I saw the weather forecast, it’s going to be cloudy. Not sure if it’s going to be sunny.

I made my vegetable salad for dinner tonight. Lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, cucumber and crab sticks. Dressing was from a little left over of my french dressing, ground black pepper, greet yogurt and light mayo. Wow! Heaven! It’s so perfect. I ate the whole bowl. I felt so detoxified hahaha. While I baked some pork bell slices with rice and beans for Paul.

Today my dear brothers and sisters, we have a beautiful verse from John declaring that Jesus is the lamb of God. The redeemer, our saviour, the only begotten son whom God sacrificed for all humanity. 

I remember a clip from a series at Amazon it’s called “The Chosen”, back from the old times when you want to offer a burnt sacrifice to God, a clean lamb with no spot or dirt is only accepted as a symbol of purity, forgiveness and redemption. People showing their lambs to Pharisees are slowly and thoroughly checked. If you can’t present a clean lamb, you can’t offer your burnt sacrifice and your sins are never forgiven. And this man from that scene, saw Jesus coming from the crowd. An aura of cleanliness, purity and spotless. Jesus is the “perfect lamb”. 

God’s gift to humanity. His only son, whom he offered and sacrificed. The lamb who’s taking away all our sins. Because we can’t present any perfect lamb as perfect as Jesus. He presented himself. He submitted himself to His Father’s will. No complaints or doubts. He obeyed.

And here we are, dirty. Undeserving to be called sons and daughters. But it is never too late. Following Him, His ways, His laws, all His teachings. All we need to do is accept him. Surrendering everything to Him, be thankful for He paid all our debts. Jesus is the only way through the Father. 

We don’t need any burnt offerings, valuables or treasures to offer. We only need to accept Jesus and testify that he redeemed everything. He redeemed all our sins. He is our saviour, our Messiah. 

Jesus, the perfect lamb of God.

God bless us all!

Lenten Series: King of kings, Lord of lords (Palm Sunday)

 

Greetings! Happy Palm Sunday and Happy British Summer times! Wew! That was a wrap! 

Today I woke up literally so late! OMG! My smart watch did not sync to my phone! I woke up from my colleagues phone calls! That was so embarrassing! Also a big mistake. I should have set up my wake up call from my phone, not on my watch! Hahaha! So funny! So today, the British time goes back 1 hour. And my watch clock did not sync! Wow! Hahaha! I literally threw my watch. Useless! Hahaha. Good thing, I booked a taxi so quick. I arrived 27 minutes late. Hahaha! And when Hani, my colleague told me everyone came in late today. That was hilarious. 

Today is Palm Sunday. We have this beautiful verse from Luke. This verse features the crowd’s joyful acclamation during Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem. They were all shouting, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord”, affirming Jesus’ divine authorization and recognizing him as the promised King from PSALM 118:26.

The phrase, “Peace is the heaven and glory in the highest” echoes the angelic announcement at Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:14, signaling that Jesus’ arrival brings a reconciliation between God and humanity. 

This verse is so powerful and humbling, because it’s like a battlecry. A cry emphasizing the Jesus is the only one and true king. Our messiah. Our saviour. A cry telling everyone that no one will ever hurt us because He will protect us from all enemies. A cry telling everyone that He is the only begotten son that whoever believes Him will not perish but have everlasting life. A cry telling that we only proclaim Him as one true God. 

Also, this Palm Sunday reminds us that we are like the crowd. The same crowd that shouts glory to the highest, but at the same time the same crowd who shouted “CRUCIFY HIM!”. We are like the crowd who denied him. We were one of those crowd that rejected him, and abandoned him. 

It’s the beginning of holy week. This Sunday is the start. Acknowledging him and accepting him is one way how to follow him. Jesus is the only way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. Let us try to do our best to follow his ways. 

Some people take this time to book holidays and do enjoyment to themselves. Time is changing now. Well, I can’t blame them that’s why here in the UK, it’s called Easter break. But who are we to judge. But back in the Philippines, people especially average families, attend church activities. I remember we did processions during Good Friday, and do easter vigils. I literally miss home because of this activities. Now, I am trying to fast and not to eat meat this week. Avoiding desserts, sweets, social media, online shopping even intimate moment. These are my ways to honour and glorify the Lord. Because Holy week for me is so special, I exercise it properly because this is my devotion. Jesus is my Lord and my companion.

Have a blessed Palm Sunday to all! And have a meaningful holy week to everyone!