Happy New Year dear readers! Thank you for being part of my 2018 and hopefully in the years to come!
As what my custom for the past two years, I'm listing down my 2018 highlights. Before I wrote this, I backread my previous years' highlights and it just blesses me to see different milestones of our family for the past years. It brought memories of the past that is dear to me. This is a good way to be reminded of these things since these only displays God's faithfulness in our family.
Let's get started:
1. The gift of a better vision.
Last 2018, my eldest son, Gabi was diagnosed as nearsighted with astigmatism. He was advised to wear glasses too just like his younger brother. This may not seem like a piece of good news, nonetheless, we rejoiced in the fact that there are access and a way to have a better vision. There is hope and we owe that to God and on what technology has to offer to improve lives.
More about this story
here.
Another one was the success of Gael's IOL surgery. We've seen how the Lord moved and orchestrated everything before and after the operation. He uses different people to make it happen. When we allowed God to do the work, we stand in awe because everything fell into its rightful places. What an amazing God!
More of that
here.
His operation has been part of our prayer list and as we do our Prayer and Fasting this week, I'm grateful that it will now be different. God is really a God who answers prayers if it's according to His will (1 John 5:14). Gael's vision is completely different now and we witnessed how it helps him in many ways. He is more confident outdoor and with people. Every time we observe him, we couldn't help but Praise the Lord.
At this moment, he is in continuous eye drops and eye patch to address his lazy eye.
2. Working at home
This year, hubby was granted to work at home for three days in a week. It was a favor from God and men which he doesn't deserve. It was a great relief in his travel time which also entails more time with us and with his woodworking hobby.
3. Bigger Small Group
From three couples, we are now discipling nine. The new addition was a product of a merging happened between our uplines and downlines. Our small group leader needs to take care of family matters that led them to let go of our small group. The Lord gave us a bigger assignment when we took over.
It was a big challenge for us and seemingly an impossible task since we were the youngest couple in our upline and we felt incapable to handle it. During one of my quiet time, the Lord comforted me thru the story of Solomon.
“7 Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” ~ 1 Kings 3:7-9 NIV
When God gives an assignment, it is no longer an impossibility but rather it is an absolute certainty. He is the one who will empower us to do the work, all He requires us is our obedience. I've learned that we just have to be obedient in making the effort to teach them, even though we still have plenty to learn ourselves.
4. Ministry Involvement
2018 opened more doors for us to serve using our God-given skills and talents. Last March, I joined Saints Dance Ministry which was my come back to dancing after 10 years. It all started when a friend asked me to join an Open Dance Class in our church.
In this ministry, I've seen different talented people and I am so blessed being surrounded by young and very enthusiastic people. I saw them balance school, work, and family while being active in the ministry. I witnessed how they persevere even if they are sick, lack sleep, or even with injuries. These things can be a valid excuse but nothing can stop them to give their very best to God. Even if they are fighting their own battles and crying inside, yet they dance full of joy.
I had my first dance worship and my first Praise Dance Concert with them and I am so privileged!
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| Photo Credit to Saints Dance Ministry |
We also served in the
Glorious Hope Program on weekends for more or less seven months. We had the privilege to share our testimony of hope and restoration before the run in CCF Bay Area on their Second Year Anniversary.
We served at CCF Bay Area for the entire run on Saturday afternoons. Hubby in the Praise and Worship Team and Logistics while I served as a Life Coach. On Sundays, we both served as Life Coaches in our upline small group.
Serving in GH allowed us to see things from a different perspective. We've heard painful stories and experiences from our participants and witnessed them understand where their personal issues are coming from, learned how to process their emotions and found new hope in Christ. I have so many takeaways from them as a wife and as a parent.
5. Marriage
Our marriage was again put to a test this year. We had a major storm (I hope to put that in detail, Lord willing and with my husband's permission) but by God's grace, we were able to surpass it and learned valuable lessons. Although we know that the battle doesn't end, the Lord is with us and He will never leave us nor forsake us.
All of these happenings and life moments we had were unexpected. This new year, there will be more surprising events, but it will surely bring out the glory of God. Because He is sovereign, I can rest that He is in control.
Though we are in changing times, we have an unchanging God who remains faithful and loving.
