New Year Reflection looking back on a great year left behind

2017 was a year of redemption, in school, at work, my emotional well being, and most especially my relationship with Jesus. The beginning of last year was a little tough because my spring semester grades were lower than what I wanted and where I needed to be, I was moving from one job to another so I was working 12-16 hours a day, I was also going through a bad relationship. So there it was, I thought my year was going to be crappy....BUMMER. BUT HERE IS A BIG TURN AROUND. GOD HEARD MY PRAYERS! So I was praying to end a relationship that was very intoxicating, and God answered it even before spring semester ended. I dont want to sound like a jerk, but it was an amazing feeling. to be free from my shackles that is holding me back to praise God, and to do His will. HERE IS A BONUS. I got to know Jesus more, and walked with Him further than I expected.

So over the summer, I did alot of local hikes, and running (with or without company), which was liberating because I was able to reflect and talk to Jesus gradually. I was able to fix my schedule at work just so I can start attending church again on Sundays (which I haven't done during the duration of the relationship). I made friends that are actually genuine (which is rare now a days). I decided to join the children's ministry, but to my surprise God wanted me to start at the greeter's ministry (have to greet each person and pray for them when they need a prayer before service starts). It is such a blessing to be in that ministry, and humbling at the same time. I later started my Children's Ministry Orientation while my semester was on going. I honestly had a hard time managing my time, but then God worked out my schedule for me since my classes are hard, at the same time I work (@5am for most of my week). Honestly, I was drained, and cried to God (why am i doing this?) But He was so faithful that He answered that cry of mine, and it was for a greater glory not for me but for JESUS. So here is what happened, I came across a group of people in a workshop that I went to, and they invited me to the young adult's bible study, which was friday nights. I hesitantly attended, but later on it was just mindblowiningly amazing how much people my age have the passion for Jesus. I was inspired. In one of the bible studies sometime in October, we were asked if we wanted to help out at ALIVE which was an alternative to Halloween, So i did. I helped out at the prayer table, and witnessed how God is just helping and being faithful to the people that approaches us. I got to know more people in the Missions team. Just when I thought it was all over, I was actually  wrong! IT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING. So I was invited and encouraged to join the Missions Outreach team of our church because of the Santa Monica Outreach during Christmas. Without any hesitations, I said yes. I joined the Missions Christmas Choir team. We had to sing infront of strangers to bless them, at the same time glorify God. What was amazing about it is we got to use our gifts to show people in Santa Monica that our God is the God of Miracles especially over the holiday season where some feels so alone. After weeks of preparations, we headed out to 3rd Street Promenade on December 2 to do what God has called us to do in that place.

 We sang christmas carols, prayed for people, and talked to them about the Joy that God brings. At that moment, there was a personal miracle that happened. Remember this event was not about me, but   I did get to know God in a much deeper way through this event (although I was part of the team). It is during these events that it would just strengthen your Faith in God, as He unfolds his miracles in front of other people right before your eyes. I couldnt say much more how I felt about this event because it is not enough words to describe how beautiful and amazing this experience was. Anyways, as believers we were called by the Lord in different ways, we are the chosen ones to be the salt and light to this world as Jesus said in one of his sermons in Matthew 5:13-16.

So it was a great joy, and just blessing. God was glorified in this place, and the place was just filled by the Holy Spirit. It made me realize that I have to decrease in order for Him to increase as John 3:30 would say. This is true. In this selfish world, we have to constantly decrease as so we can experience God's fullness, and get to know him a little deeper everyday. 

On Decemeber 22, we had another opportunity to go out, and light a place called MLK community hospital. There is a wing in that hospital where in they help heal the homeless people, let them stay as long as they needed to, then help them find a home. WHOOOOAAA! I was blown away when I found out what they were doing. This is a God given establishment, that blesses people, and serve them. Oh my you just see how much the staff loves the clients over there i mean words cannot even describe it. But anyways, we were invited to celebrate their Christmas Party, and we had the honor to just sing in front of them, which gave them joy, at the same time we were able to individually laid hands on them and prayed over for their needs, and just having the Lord sit with us over lunch. We had the opportunity to talk to them and got to know some of them. 

you can see so much hope in these people. So there are some of them who has been waiting for a home, some of them have one, yet needed some preparations before they move, and some just needed more time to heal due to their physical conditions. These moments are worth living for.

The Bible says in Psalm 34:18, the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. God is near to everyone. God is near not only to us as believers but to these clients. you see Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings came down to this earth not to be served but to serve. This is what makes Jesus great. He is just full of love for us. For someone who takes such a small space in this trillions of light years of universe worth. He would leave the 99 to be with 1 who needs Him, who is crushed, hopeless, and broken. He has a relentless, crazy love for each one. HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT? We cannot reciprocate the amount of love he has as much as we think that we do. 

I'll be switching gears here for a little bit. At school, I met amazing people, who became my support system academic wise. We helped each other study, and gave ideas on what we were studying about. Here was the take away I was humbled and filled with joy to study with each of these girls because God had a purpose. So as I studied with each of them, They opened up about their lives, and discouragements (I AM NOT GOING INTO MUCH DETAILS FOR PRIVACY). But God used that one on one study group, and used me to minister and encourage them in their personal way. MIND BLOWN. I saw how stressed they were but I try to encourage them, although I was stressed out myself (LOL) -- these are all science classes. But after praying for them, and encouraging them, we all got good grades at the end of the semester (where we need to be and want to be). God of wonders right?