A New Slate... Reflection # 1, 2008

I started the day (or the year) quite early. Since it's Tuesday, dawnwatch day, my alarm started to go off at 4:00 in the morning. Of course, I kept on hitting the snooze button until I have fully awaken at 6:30am. Wow. what a way to start the year! Waking up early!

I would love to say that the first thing I did was spend time with God. But I didn't. I think I checked on my laptop first for new messages. Oh well, I'm not perfect. :)

But anyway, I did get on with my quiet time. Using the Daily Bread book I got from Jean, I started to read... And guess what the topic is? Slow Down And Live.

As I began to reflect, it dawned on me that 2007 was indeed a roller-coaster journey for me. I hit the rock bottom this year but ended it at the peak. In the process, I was like a very busy bee that couldn't stand still. I can't remember a weekend when I spent it at home... I was just out doing stuff all the time!

And so I realized, 2008 should be a little quieter for me. As much as I love to travel, I resolve to limit it this year and just spend more time relaxing at home.

So for day 1 of 2008 - I only did 4 things:
    1. Eat
    2. Sleep
    3. Watch japanese drama via the internet
    4. Worked on my transcribing assignment from the church

So my 24 hours was divided doing those four things. I have two invitations today to go out and hang out with friends but in the end, I chose to decline and just relax.

It's already 3:00 in the morning, Jan 2, but my day 1 is just about to end. But before I do, let me share with you something first...

Frankly when the clock hit 12:00 last night, I was a little depress. Yes, that's right. No matter how I rave on how God is faithful and how He has pulled me out of the darkest pit, there are still times when I just succumb to loneliness and last night I got it bad. I did not cry myself to sleep or anything like that. But I just felt a heaviness in my heart. It also didn't help all that my brothers decided to spend the new year's eve elsewhere. Only me and my mom welcomed 2008.

And so I'm thankful that I decided to finish the transcription assignment. I realized Satan is just doing his best to discourage me. And I almost believed it too but I refuse to end the first day of the year with that thought.

Back in December, I told Ate Rona I will try to volunteer in transcribing CCF's sunday messages. Since it was my first time, I was given one of the sessions of Honest Sex Series to do first. I started it but didn't have a chance to finish, with all my cantata practices. It's just today that I finally finished it. The session that I was given is a message from my favorite pastor, Vince Burke, about Homosexuality. I didn't get to attend the actual session and so it's my first time to hear that message as well. It's a very enlightening message and I wish I could just post here the entire 18 pages I just finished. :)

But let me just share with you my greatest take away from that:

There is no sin too strong, there is no sin too tough, there is no sin too bad that cannot be abolished by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So as the year starts, I am once again renewed, recharged. With the thought of starting a new year, even a new day... the heaviness in my heart started to lift up. I'm thinking, this is gonna be a great year with the Lord! And finishing the transcription couldn't have been more on time.

So I decided to start this year afresh, a new slate, claiming one of God's greatest promises:

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’

- Jeremiah 29:11