(This Will Probably Be My) Last Post for 2011

It’s 4 days away from the New Year. Although I usually start recollecting highlights of the year on its last day, I found myself starting to look back this morning. I browsed through my photos on Facebook. There were several shots that made me smile as I remembered the details that went behind the shot. Still there were those that made me flipped through the next immediately, almost cringing to remember the accompanying moments.

The LORD has (always) been good. Year 2011 was not an easy year, but it stands as one of those richly peppered with learning. Hard yes, but I wouldn’t trade the lessons for anything.

On January 1, 2011, I remember posting on Facebook, “Hello, 2011! I’m excited to see how you will display God’s glory!” And so as the year is about to end, this is my attempt to encapsulate the displays of the LORD’s glory in the past months of 2011.

• From Cosmo to GCF. The move was difficult but God proved Himself faithful amidst this big change.

• First anniversary with Aleks. How beautiful it is to see God’s unmistakable work of love in us, as He weaves 2 different lives together. It is not without pain, but it is always cushioned with grace.

• Leaving LGI. Probably the toughest decision I had to make this year. One of the comforts of serving a living and personal God is that He will make sure that you understand when a season has already served His purpose and when it is already over. Not only that, He will enable you to do what has to be done. I am thankful for the things I’ve learned there and for the people I’ve met through my work there. They are precious.

• The wait for the next assignment. This was the time when I discovered what kind of heart and faith I really have and how much I needed the Master to mend them. The season when I understood more how good a shepherd Jesus is.

• The call to work in Compassion International. From the application to the immersion, I realized how certain God’s call for me here is. How I am being made to understand the mission, the ministry and the work is all God’s doing and my heart is just too delighted to yield. The past 7 months were a smorgasbord of joyful/frustrating/high/low/steady moments but I realize that I’m embracing them all. I’m glad God called me here. I pray He is honored through the works of my hands.

• The lessons on forgiveness. They were many and they were not easy. By God’s grace, I was forgiven and was able to forgive.

• Two dear friends found the love of their lives! One was last June, the other one just this December. C’mon, 2011!

• Friends in and out of season. I had major misunderstanding with one of my closest friends this year. I was afraid our friendship would never be mended. Thankfully, differences were patched up and after a few months, we are okay again. Whew!

• My family and Aleks. We were praying that he would be well integrated in our family this year. Around June, we started seeing this prayer being answered. Amazing.

• Aleks’ family and I. Last November, I finally met his sister–the only member of his immediate family I had not met. It was such a fun time of feasting and window shopping

• I turned 3-0. Pre-birthday dinner and theatre experience (The Sound of Music!) with family. Asalto and whole day celebration with Aleks. I cried listening (for the first time) to Sara Grove’s “He’s Always Been Faithful to Me” because I thought it perfectly articulates the gratitude I have for the Faithful One. The day was capped with dessert time with KF’s. I don’t fear 30 anymore. Haha!

• The Word. God is making so many ways for His Word to come alive to me. Bible studies with Ate Grace & Gladys, the KF’s and the Hungry Ones. God’s Word is alive.

• Triple date last December 7. Aleks & I, RAR & Ate Grace, JL & Gladys. Who would have thought things such as this could be possible? Not the date per se, but the fact that Gladys and I were given our heart’s prayers for a partner. And that we have a godly couple to constantly pray for us. Awesome.

There’s more, but I guess I’ll end here. I stand in awe before the living and faithful God for His marvelous works in my life, not only in Year 2011, but all throughout. He is indeed faithful.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ~Lamentations 3:22-23

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