2011 Christmas!

Singapore, Dec 25 2011


It’s Christmas again!

I reflect on the day God sent His only son to die for our sins and how Mother Mary carried Jesus and gave birth to Him.

Only all mothers will be able to understand why and how Mother Mary will go through such extent to risk her life to protect her son!

She was self-sacrificing not only as a mother but also as an obedient child of God.

Thank you God for giving us our Savior so that the world can rejoice and celebrate this beautiful day of Christmas!

I am glad to be home this time especially with Christy. She has stayed with me in Manila for about two weeks during her holidays. Despite her rude attitude and behavior, I always look forward to having her with me. No matter how hurtful her behavior is towards me, I will always forgive her as she is my child. The day before we return to Singapore, I was surprised when she apologized for her rude behavior. I have not expected it and that’s the best Christmas present I have this year.

Now I can understand how God can be so forgiving of us no matter how sinful we are as long as we ask Him to forgive us.

I know it will take a while for Christy to go through this adolescence stage and I believe our God is merciful and that He will guide and watch over her both now and forevermore.

I wish I have all the time in this world to write but somehow I just cannot manage to spare the time. Having Blackberry (BB) is like a 24-hour work life. I only logged out from BB when I hit the bed at night. I am so caught up with work that I again felt the distance from God especially the last quarter of the year.

There’s so much to write about my time in Philippines but somehow, I am just so occupied here. People usually ask what I do during weekends. My usual reply would be going out on Saturday with friends or colleagues, and on Sundays, going to church followed by lunch and tea with some friends, then home.

As I only have part-time helper when she is available, my home is quite messy most of the times especially living in a condo-unit where all hanging of clothes can only be done inside the unit and not in the balcony. People only go for outward beauty and not the practical side of life when making such rules. I don’t see why hanging of clothes in balcony can be an eye-sore. In fact, if they see from another perspective, they can be colorful and interesting!

This year, I finally found an artist to paint the "Visions of Christ” and am so glad that I managed to post the painting in my blog. Last year, I dreamt of “End of the World” sign and the artist also painted it. I am still trying to get a better photo of it to post it in my blog.

Philippines is indeed another eye-opener. There are so many talented people especially with artistic and music talents but they don’t make enough to support their families. Most of these talented people also struggle especially to send their children to university. They tend to depend on their family members working overseas (Overseas Fiilipino Workers – OFW) to support their children’s education. The rich and poor gap is widening but unfortunately, it’s true in most countries, where money makes money.

This country is majority Catholics. They believe in Christ yet there are so many single parents here. In Singapore, if you are a single unmarried parent, it’s rare but here it’s common. It seems that God has placed me in the right country to really understand how a single parent’s life can be.

Pinoys graduate earlier by at least two years compared to most countries as they go to University after Year 10 instead of after Year 12 or in some cases, Year 13. Most of them go to University at age 16 and in some cases, 15 if they start school early. The government is not rich to extend studying to Years 11 & 12. Due to this, they start work early in their life.

I am wondering if one of the contributing factors of them marrying young could also be due to the young age of going to University. The ladies here tend to marry in their early 20s. They would become pregnant immediately and become parents soon after as Catholic teachings here forbid artificial contraception. I heard that in the provinces, the ladies become mothers even younger before 20s.

No wonder this place is also sprouted with many Non-government Organizations (NGO) as there are so many orphaned children and abused women in shelters here.

This country also has a lot of history, and many varied cultures, ranging from Spanish, American, Filipino, Malay, etc. There are many beautiful ancient churches and nice beaches like Boracay and Palawan. Unfortunately the country is situated along the ring of fire and has suffered many earthquake disasters yet the people here are generally happy go lucky as they have faith in God which gives them a hope.

This is the only country I heard that Christmas is celebrated from the “ber” months, i.e. from September. I’m glad God placed me here to refresh my spiritual life.

I had made a resolution beginning this year to read the whole Bible again in a year and it’s about another week that I will finish reading the Bible.

I had written an article a day before Easter this year and have also attached here.

May I wish all of you, “ A Merry Christmas & A Blessed New Year!”

With warmest regards,

Regine







Manila, Philippines, Apr 23, 2011

Tomorrow will be Easter Sunday, the anniversary of the resurrection of Christ.

I’ve been in Manila for 15 months now. Work wise is more problematic than my other years.

Not sure if it’s because I’m getting older in age? I kept asking God why He opens the door here for me and my separation from Christy. Now I know why? Our gracious God is giving me another chance to repent and return.

When I came here last year, I start worshipping at Victory Fort. It’s a dynamic vibrant church.

On my 1st visit to the church, the music was too loud for me but it was the Bible-centered message that kept me going back. Now I am totally immersed with the music and the worship.

This church believes in volunteers – same like Grace Baptist but they have hundreds of volunteers; some serving since the church was founded in the early 80s. There is never short of volunteers that my ushering service is only required on 1 service on Sunday and on even months.

I have also completed a few seminars organized by the church: “One to One”; “Victory Weekend”; and “Making Disciples” and am in a small group meeting Monday evenings.

After “Victory Weekend” seminar, I came home to do the homework on “The Purple Book” Biblical Foundations for Building Strong Disciples. It was then that I read Genesis again.

I thought I know Genesis all the time but it was only while doing the homework, I read it in a different light. I shared with a number of Catholics and Christians here but those I shared with do not interpret it the same light as me until I pointed to them.

I thought there was only one light all the time but there is more than one light.

Genesis 1 vs 1 to 14

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Is this the heavenly light? I believe it is.

I saw following "Visions of Christ" - 7 visions at hospital when I was 5 weeks pregnant and almost died.

(1) Christ standing with open arms;
(2) Christ standing in the water;
(3) Christ climbing the mountain;
(4) Christ squatting down and flocks of white sheep going towards Him
(5) Lady carrying an infant;
(6) Angels with wings flying;
(7) Christ came back and slowly faded.

All these visions are in bright white light and I could gaze at them unlike sunlight. After the visions, I have this peace which saves Christy and my life. I felt totally born again. My mind was so clear and my 39.5 degree fever for 5 days suddenly subsided and I was healed.

All the time, I thought we only have one light, the sunlight but there is another light, the Heavenly Light.

6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

It’s true there is water in heaven as I saw the water in the 2nd vision.

9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. 14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.

16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

The 4th day is the creation of the universe with sunlight, stars, etc.

I find that I am reading the Bible with a different light now after I re-commit my life back to Him.

Our God is so gracious. His plan is perfect for me to repent and return to Him! Thank you God for your grace and mercy!