Dad's 75th birthday

Since last year we have been discussing about how to celebrate our Dad’s 75th birthday, which is today, 25 August. We were planning of going home again to Antique and holding a party with family and friends. He wouldn’t have any of it though and he told us not to hold a party for him. And now there is really no need for a party as he left us to go back to our Creator last April, four months short of his 75th birthday. We continue to grieve of his passing away, of his leaving us, of the times we wished we could still talk to him, laugh with him, discuss things with him. We miss him, his voice, his laughter, his concern, his sense of humor, his love – everything that a father is to his children. There are regrets, what ifs, and should have beens. And yet in the midst of these, there are things to thank God for. We thank God for giving us Dad as our father, who was responsible, did his role as a father diligently, provided for our needs, gave us security, taught us many things, led the family with authority, and many more, that helped us to be what we are today. Many times in the past, especially when we were still young, my Mom would tell us that we would be lucky if we could meet a man like our Dad to be our husband.



We think of him everyday, and especially today on his birthday. I continue to listen to the song With Hope. Today I read in 2 Samuel 1:17-27 the lament of David for his best friend Jonathan, a devotional in today’s Our Daily Bread. It says that in grieving for a loved one, it is important to bring to mind the “cherished details and shared experiences of our lives together.” We give time to remember, in a deeper sense, thanking God for specific things, the events that happened, the little and big things, the impact of a person’s whole life. Indeed, today and everyday, we give time to stop a while, remember and think of Dad, honor his memory by doing what is good and beneficial, and give thanks to God. The precious memories of Dad’s life and the truth of God’s love and hope of salvation to those who believe will comfort us in our sadness and heal the pain of our loss.


More photos here.

Traveling light & trusting

This Sunday’s preaching was very encouraging, enlightening and challenging. Pastor Jess talked about traveling light in this world and trusting our Lord.

Traveling light presents our dependence on God. Hebrews 12:1 tells us to throw away everything that hinders and sin that easily encumbers us to live lives that please God. A contrast between Jacob and David was made. With Jacob, Genesis 47:9 tells us that he had lived a sad, unpleasant and short life, despite living for 130 years. He was an example of a person who was overloaded with baggage to carry all throughout his life. He faced lots of problems and struggles, including his unhealed relationship with his sibling and deception.

In contrast David in Psalm 23 exemplified a person traveling light with God. He also had lots of troubles but he was able to leave them behind and go to God. He considered the Lord as his Shepherd, which meant that he considered himself as a sheep, the weakest of all animals. Sheep never worry about food, shelter and other provisions. They are dependent on their shepherd to provide and protect. By acknowledging the Lord as his shepherd, David was able to experience provision of needs spiritually and physically, restoration from his sins/baggage of sin and freedom from guilt and worries.

Thus like David we can start the year by declaring that the Lord is our Shepherd. I should not worry because the Lord is my Shepherd. In the midst of worries about the future and past failures, we can trust God to restore us to Him if we allow Him to. We can look to God as our guide as He never makes mistakes in leading us. We do not know what the future holds but we should not worry; we should live in the present.

We need to press on to reach the goal as encouraged by Paul in Philippians 3:13-14. Our goal is to invest in heaven, whatever we do on earth. To know Jesus more, to love Him more, to serve Him more. If we let our baggages weigh us down we will never be able to do what God asks or wants us to do.

Psalm 55:22 reminds us that we can cast our burdens on the Lord, which means to completely lay it at His feet. It takes trust to do this.

Let us travel light with the Lord and trust Him at all times.