Page 359 of 365: YNWA

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This Christmas, let us be reminded that Jesus will never leave us.

This Christmas, I'm all by my lonesome. While my friends are out there eating, drinking, and putting some cash to their kids' socks and making the alibi that Santa Claus is the money-giver (Oops! Sorry kids for the spoiler alert.), here I am doing my work. But I'm pretty confident that I'm never alone.

I remember the time when Barclays Premier League club Liverpool honored those who braved the very crowded Hillsborough Arena in Sheffield, England just to watch the team's FA Cup Final Four battle against Nottingham in 1989, especially the 96 lives which was lost during what would be the most devastating soccer stampede ever. Until today, Liverpool (and so are other English and even other top European soccer squads) gives utmost respect to the Hillsborough Tragedy victims by adding the statement "You'll Never Walk Alone" in its logo. Even on social media, expect the hashtag #YNWA from Liverpool fans and other soccer analysts.

Just like how the soccer team continues to give moral support to the Hillsborough Crush victims and their relatives, God is still with us despite the troubles we had. In fact, He has already forgiven us of our sins. God showed that by coming to Earth, taking the form of a human and being the One who suffered the punishment for sin that we deserved. Until now, Jesus shows His love for us by not leaving us and overcoming our trials for us. (John 16:33) Yes, you might be alone physically this Yuletide season, but you'll never walk alone, because Christ is always with us. On His birthday, let us be reminded of this.

John 3:16 (NKJV)-For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus is No Genie!

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Do you tend to relegate Jesus to a genie? I admit to that
and it's wrong.

I was born in a Christian family, so I don't have any idea of what the Catholics feel if they complete the "Simbang Gabi" from December 16 to 24. But myths have it that if you make a "grand slam", then your wishes will be granted. However, I got inspired to do this article thanks to the latest installment of the Youtube series "Tales from the Friendzone". The latest webisode is about a girl who's in love with her bestfriend and wished that he would tell his feelings to her too. Looking for a sign, she completed the Simbang Gabi. Although she got what she wanted, the advice to her from the host Ramon Bautista is for me the key here. He said, "Grabe ka naman Cleverlyn (not the protagonist's real name)! Magsi-Simbang Gabi ka para humingi ka ng wish. GINAWA MO NAMANG GENIE SI JESUS."

Emphasizing on the sentence in all caps, it's a reality we're in right now. Even I am guilty of this. We sometimes relegate the Lord Jesus Christ to a wish-granter. I even remember what my pastor once said, "We tend to fit our big God to a small box." Let us remember that Jesus is definitely not a genie. He's our Lord, our Master. If He's a genie, he would grant all our wishes, even those that He doesn't like to be granted. That's where His Lordship comes. He knows what everyone REALLY needs. He sometimes says no to some of our prayers because He has a better thing in mind for you.

About Simbang Gabi, it's OK if you have a prayer request, or in this case a "wish", but Ramon is right about it. Simbang Gabi is not really meant to grant wishes. It's a channel to give thanks to the Lord for what He did to you the entire year. With even the Protestants like us also having our own Simbang Gabi, I make sure that I will be there to listen to what God has to say for the Yuletide.

In the end, Jesus is everything we want Him to be. He is the Almighty God, and He can do everything. But all He asks for us is to let Him take the driver's seat. Let's put Him at the center of our lives and we should not try to turn Him to a mere somebody. Let His bigness consume us, and you will experience something awesome. Merry Christmas again!

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)-For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Christmas is for Us!

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The Lord Jesus Christ is God's ultimate gift to us.

Although Pastor Robert Hern of Victory Pioneer was not feeling well voice-wise, he was still able to preach a short but powerful Word of God to us during the Christmas service last night. The summary of the preaching is in itself a preaching: Christmas is for us!

Christmas is one example of God's grace to us. We don't deserve this holiday, but God gave Christmas as a gift to us. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." He loves us so much that He will not allow us to stay under the curse of sin. That's why He sent His Son Jesus Christ to save us. As the angels told the shepherds in Luke 2:9, this is a good news of great joy. We should be happy that Jesus cleansed us from our sins.

It doesn't matter if you received gifts or not, but you should remember that Christmas is in itself a gift from God. In fact, Jesus is the greatest gift we have received.

Celebrate Christmas with a Smile

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After reading my high school friend's latest blog post, I can't help but observe how we should celebrate Christmas. A recent SWS survey showed that almost 60% of the respondents think Christmas this year is indifferent from last year. Only a third of the respondents find Christmas this year will be more festive, while rest think Christmas was better last year.

Nothing wrong with the majority who find this year to be as good (or bad) as last year, but the 30% who find optimism that this Christmas is something to celebrate is a testament of how we should look at the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. Regardless of the situation, whether your town was devastated by storms like the case of the Typhoon "Pablo" victims, you have a relatively not-so-good year (all of us had bad moments this year), or this year is a topsy-turvy one, we must celebrate Christmas (and Boxing Day too for the British readers) with a smile. God gave Christmas to us (more on this in another Christmas post) so that we could celebrate the coming of our one and only Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who would free us from the bondage of sin.

Luke 8:48 (NIV)-And Jesus said, "...your faith has made you well. Go in peace."