My New Life in Christ

I've just graduated in my Christian Life Program today and I feel so happy, blessed and overwhelmed.

I learned a lot of lessons I hope I could help impart to people and be a blessing...
It is hard but yes, very much POSSIBLE.

This is one of the most meaningful or perhaps the best Christmas gift I had in my life right now.
As I rejoice in this new life, which is one in Christ, let me share to you some of the things that touched me during the CLP.

Talk 1: God's Love
I don't know anyone there since  I wasn't able to attend the orientation but Gibo, my friend from Engineering Department, invited me to attend. With God's grace I was able to work on my sched, which during that time was 12nn-9pm and the CLP starts at 7pm. It is such a blessing from God that my Shift Leader allowed me to participate. :)

So going back, there was this 'merienda' time or when the service team feed you (this doesn't sound right!haha)  and all of us were having a nice time eating... I was alone because I don't know anyone of the participants. Across from me is a guy from the Radio Department and we were not talking. I was holding my cup of water while eating pancit and then a guy, named Zeus, offered to hold the cup for me. I was really surprised and weirded out. Why would he hold the cup for me, he was also eating? And then I realize it was what the community was all about--my first lesson in SFC: We are each other's support system. So matter how trivial that is, it shows care and concern and forgoing your own comfort to provide assistance to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Just like what Zeus did, though I graciously declined, it has meant a lot that time. :)


Talk 9: Baptism by the Holy Spirit
This is perhaps the best session I had in CLP. I felt like a heavy burden has been lifted off my shoulders after the session... It really gave me a renewed sense of hope and trust in the Lord. It is a rare experience and one I will treasure in my lifetime. It might be hard to believe that one can experience such rebirth, but that was what it felt like during that time and after that session, there was really no going back---because it feels like the Holy Spirit has literally baptized you into being one of the chosen children of God.

"I am home (back into Your arms)
I am home (in the warmth of Your love)
I lose my hold and You reached my hand
You held me up I'm truly home"

That is the closing song on our Baptism session and I feel like shouting because such words have never been truer to me. I feel like dancing, I was very happy. You could just imagine me raising my hands and singing like a was alone in the bathroom (awkward imaginings #2. haha)... that kind of freedom, no holds barred... no reservations worship. It was very liberating. I was not used to such passionate show of worship but there, it felt like all the chains have been removed from me that I could not care the least as long I am giving glory to the Lord. 

Talk 12: Transformation in Christ, Graduation

This is the last session in CLP and I didn't know what to expect. I thought it was just an ordinary session and I was at ease when the service team prayed over us. When the speaker said "Welcome to SFC!", kinilabutan talaga ako (i had goosebumps) and I was so overwhelmed I cried like a lunatic. I don't know but such words really hit me, I have passed the test. All the weeks of going home late, riding a cab with a sleepy driver in EDSA, killing time in the malls because I end my shift early and had to wait 4 hours for the session or perhaps oversleeping because I am on a night shift and arriving late--it all was worth it and I did it! Praise the Lord! I feel very thankful and blessed... because the Lord has called me and when I responded, He took care of me, every single time... from making sure I get home safe or giving me the strength not to miss any of the talk (yeah!!) to surprising me a glimpse of opportunity that has been my long time dream. There has been delays but the Lord made sure I catch messages from Him, that will remind me that He loves me and He has great plans for me. 

So there, Happy SFC to me! And so it begins... for a life in Christ is a lifetime commitment, I'm just glad I took the initial steps. So to those of you who have in their hearts the desire to heed the calling of the Lord, it's just a leap of faith. The reward is incomparable, I promise you. Your problems won't go away, yes, but the manner in which you look at it, the way you handle it, will be guided by the Holy Spirit and it will all be easier to bear. 

I have already started downloading the worship songs and included them in my playlist. It gives me peace to know that I am slowly but surely following in His path, so I think this is a start to my new life in Jesus Christ!

Praise God!

God is good all the time and all the time, God is good.

You've given me this brand new day to serve you and follow you
You took my tears and made me smile you lifted me up
You gave me all the reasons Lord to see things as gift from You
I'll go out and testify and shout to the world

I will lift your name on high...
I'll forever worship You...
I will serve you with all of my heart...
Coz You are my God...
I'll forever be grateful

When trouble comes my way you were there to stay
And everything will be alright
Now I know its true that this Love is You
And I will live each day and say....

I will lift your name on high...
I'll forever worship You...
I will serve you with all of my heart...
Coz You are my God...
I'll forever be grateful

"Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you."