Bless the Lord, O my soul (Psalm 103)

 This post is long overdue already.

I was thinking to write a Thanksgiving blog for my birthday and then for the Canadian Thanksgiving, but I wasn't able to.

So, here it is. But first, let me share to you one of my favorite Thanksgiving psalm.

 This is found in Psalm 103.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:

Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,

To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.

Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!


I have so many things to say, to thank the Lord for. But mainly the things that I really wanted to thank Him for my 35 years of existence are summarized on this beautiful psalm.

I thank Him for:
1. Forgiving me from all my sins. The depravity of my sins is too great, yet, Jesus Christ still died on the cross for my sins. I can't thank Him enough for what He did for me.

2. Healing me for my diseases. I know I still have some health issues and concerns but I believe that by His stripes I am healed.

3. He redeems my life from destruction. I can testify that His hedge of protection is seen in my life. There are a lot of times when He saved me from destructions.

4. His lovingkindness and tender mercies.
For all the times that I failed Him, he still doesn't deal with me according to my sins but instead He extended His grace and mercy to me. It's so amazing that His mercy is illustrated here as the distance from east and from the west. Because the distance is too far wide.

5. Satisfying my mouth with good things. Truly, He gave me not only what I need but sometimes He also give me what I want and more.

6. Being slow to anger. He is very merciful and doesn't keep His anger. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting.

Because of these and more, I praise and bless His name.

My Jehovah Jireh,
My Jehovah Rapha,

Psalm 37:4 Testimony

Last Thursday, I received a phone call.
I was hired permanent part-time in Emma's school. I am so ecstatic!

Some of you might know the struggles and the journey that I went through to get my teacher's license. It was tough. I started working on my teacher's license as soon as I came here in Canada. Finally, I got my interim license in November 2019. I started applying at schools in January 2020 but covid came. I'm starting to let go of my dream of becoming a teacher. I am already at peace. Then, I started as a substitute teacher in Emma's school last year. Now, I am a permanent part time teacher.

I'm so excited for the coming days. I am in awe of how the Lord worked through the years.

Psalm 37:4 says to delight yourself in the Lord and He will give our heart's desires. This verse is very dear to me because He truly gave my heart's desires. I told the Lord last year that I don't want to go back to my pre-covid busy life if I will not have enough time for him. I enjoyed my covid life because I have more free time to study the Bible, to pray and to reach out to others. I wouldn't trade it to my former pre-covid life.

Now I can truly testify to this verse. First, you delight, then your heart's desires will be given to you.

 

Korean Drama review part 2

Disclaimer: This post might have some spoilers.

If you haven't read the first part of my Korean drama review, you can check it here. 

On this post, I'll be sharing the next 6 Korean Drama or Kdrama that I've watched. The lists is on chronological order from the first series that I've watched to the latest.  

1. Reply 1994 (2013)

This is the second part of the Reply series.
I've watched this since I've watched Reply '88 and '97. All the Reply series focused on friendship. This one is about some college students living in the same boarding house in Sinchon, Seoul. The series showed themes like friendships, struggles in life, family and some romantic parts.

The main characters were Nanjung (played by Go Ara), her parents own the boarding house. She is funny and I've seen some posts that she was compared to Deukson of Reply 1988. Her brother/boyfriend Trash (played by Jung Woo) (it was revealed in the series that they were not really blood related siblings), is a medical student. The students living with them are Chilbong (played by Yoo Yeon Seok, he is also another love interest of Nanjung) 

Samcheonpo (played by Kim Sung Kyun, he is Mr. Kim in Reply 1988), Yoon-jin (played by Dohee), Haitai (played by Son, Hojun), Bingeure (played by Baro).

The students have different characteristics and personalities which makes this fun to watch. Their story developed overtime. I like this series because it reminds me of my college years and dormitory life. One thing that breaks my heart on this series is that I'm rooting for Chilbong. 😆 But in the early episodes, you will already be heart broken because Nanjung and Trash likes/love each other. So, it's game over for Chilbong.

I haven't rewatched the series. Maybe I'll check it again some other time. :)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reply_1994

2. Hospital Playlist (2020)

This is a hospital drama series. The story revolves in the lives of the 5 doctor friends namely Ikjun (played by Jo, Jungsuk), Jungwon/ Andrea (played by Yoo Yeon-seok), Joonwan (played by Jung-Kyung ho), Songwa (played by Jeon Mido), Seok hyeong ( played by Daemyung). They were friends since they enterred medical school in 1999. They worked together in Yulje Medical Center when the opportunity came. The series has a little bit comedy, romance and more of drama. Some people says that they get bored of this because it's like purely drama. But I like this show because of the friendship, the good story and they have a band. :)

You heard it right. Almost every episode, they would play in their band. As a musically inclined person, I really appreciate and love this part.

Also, the five doctor friends have different characteristics and personality. Ikjun, doctor in General surgery, is the funniest among them. He likes to dance, sing and has a secret love interest to their friend Songwa. 

Songwa, doctor in neurosurgery department. She is kind, hardworking and helping to her friends and her patients.

Jeongwon, doctor in pediatric surgery, is struggling between being a doctor and a priest. But at the end of season 1, he already made a choice to stay and be a doctor. 

Junwan, doctor in cardio surgery, is a snobish doctor but it changes when he fell in love with Ikjun's sister.

Seuk hyeon, the Obgyne doctor, is the most introvert of them all.

Season 1 ends hanging. I'm waiting for season 2 to come. Season 1 ends with Ikjun confessing his love to Songwa while Songwa moving to a smaller hospital. Im looking forward for season 2 and see what will happen next.

Note: I've watched and rewatched this a couple of time while waiting for season 2..

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital_Playlist

Added note: Season 2 started already. The story is still the same about their friendship and the different struggles each one and their patients are experiencing. I only watched two episodes. 

3. Romance is a Bonus book (2019)

This is a romantic comedy in genre. I love this show. It's just very light show. It was starred by Lee Na-young ( as Kang Dan-i in the show) and Lee Jong- suk (as Cha Eun-ho, a successful writer in a company).

They were best friends and grew up together. The story focused at work, their life and their struggles. Kang Dan-i a divorcee had a hard time finding job after got separated from her husband. She applied at Cha Eun-ho's company. She was hired as a task support worker at the company but she perform her task above and beyond. On this part of their life, the two fell in love with each other. I will not be spoiling stories anymore. I love how the story is just a light drama. I also became a fan of Lee Jong-suk 😅. I also like the supporting actors and actresses in this tv show because they add to the fun and color of the show.

My husband and I watched this one and we both like it. If you like light romantic comedy and drama, I would recommend this.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_Is_a_Bonus_Book

4. Hi! Bye Mama! (2020)

This show was recommended to me.
This is purely fictional because it was a story of a mom who died. But she can't move on to her next life because she still wants to stay to her daughter. Soon, her daughter was able to see her so she wished to become a person again.

Well, first I'm not into this kind of show. The kind where somebody died and still the spirit stays on earth to visit their loved ones. I personally believe when a person died, they only have 2 destinations- heaven or hell. I know this is purely fictional, but it's just not my cup of tea.

Second, the other parts of the story like spirits, shamans, calling of the death doesn't really apeal to me much. As explained on my first point.

Third, the dilemma they gave at the almost ending when the mom should choose if she will stay or move forward. The same with his husband, if he will choose his present wife or former wife. It's so complicated, I don't like it. Because a death person is dead and will not come back anymore. So there should not be a choice between the two.

The only thing that I just appreciate in the story is the love of the mother to her child. That's the only it. Other than that, I don't recommend this show at all.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi_Bye,_Mama!

5. Prison Playbook (2017)

I didn't expect that I would watch this show. This is about the life in prison. It is about a popular baseball player  Kim Je Hyuk (played by Park Hae soo). He was convicted with assault after he saves his sister from attempted sexual assault.

The whole series showed his life in prison. The series is a mix of comedy, drama and some parts action.

Well, I have mixed emotions towards this series. The first few episodes was so stressful for me as I don't like the action part, the life in prison. But the later part was better. They developed the story line of the main character and the supporting characters. I also enjoyed it when some of the actors I am familiar with showed in the series.

Kim Je Hyeuk bestfriend in the series, Lee Joon Ho (played by Jung Kyung Ho) was the cardiologist doctor in the Hospital Playlist.

I think this show is really all star show. Sung Dong Il (in Reply series) played as a guard in the first few episodes.

Lee Kyu-hyung (the doctor in Hi Bye Mama), played a very different role here as a drug addict. He was called "Looney".

  
Jung Hae In (in Something in the Rain), was one of the supporting character here as Captain Yoo.

Choi Moo Sung (in Reply 1988 as Taeki's dad) was one of the gang leader in the show.

I finished this once and convinced my husband to watch this with me. I thought he would like it because of the action part but he didn't.  He didn't like the comedy part. He thought that the comedy part was forced.

Overall, it's fine with me. Watch it if you dare. It's a mix of drama, action and comedy. It ends hanging though. Some people think that they should have atleast part 2.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_Playbook

6. Hymn of Death (2018)

This is a very short series that was based on a true events. It was only three 1-hour episode in Netflix. This is a historical romantic drama. The main reason why I watched this is because of Lee Jong Suk (He was also in Romance is a Bonus Book) 

Jong Suk played as Kim U jin, a playwrighter in the story. This is tragic love story. The first episode already gave away how the story would end. But I still watched it anyway.

As expected, it was tragic. It was like a hopeless situation during their time. The tv series is beautifully made because it affects me. My stomach hurts as I watched some parts.
Overall, I  loved this short series. If you want a little bit of romance and a good cry, watch this. ❤

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hymn_of_Death

God's goodness in Emma's life

Emma graduated from kindergarten today. They met face to face majority of the time and I think 3 weeks of online classes. We've seen how the Lord moves during the whole school year.

Before the school year started last year, there are a lot of concerns regarding covid  face to face classes, social distancing and stuff. We prayerfully chose to let Emma go to this christian school. That decision we didn't take lightly. Every time she went to school, we prayed with her. When she returned, we thank God for the protection for each and everyone. We are also being careful everytime she goes home. We make sure clothes are changed and she either washed up or take a bath.

We know that we are not invincible. We also know that this virus is real.

In the whole school year, the Lord kept them safe and protected them. Only in the last week of the school year that she became close contact to a student with covid. Yet, the Lord protected the whole class and everyone was out of quarantine already. And even Emma tested negative.

I'm writing this post not to brag or anything like that. I wrote this because this is a testimony of God's grace and mercy. It's not because we're good parents or being extra careful but because God is good.

We let Emma go to school because we trust in God's sovereign plan for her life and ours as well. We have this confidence that the Lord will take care of us and the things that will happen to us is predestined already. Everything is already in God's hand.

I don't take covid lightly. As you must know, some of our family members died because of it. But I have this confidence that the Lord allows the things that is happening to our life- good or bad.

We are just grateful to God because He is always good. He is always faithful. He is Sovereign. He is Immutable. He is Powerful. He is just wonderfully amazing. My heart is just glad that we survived this 1 year kindergarten of Emma. She'll be back again on September. We will continue to trust the Lord in all things.

 

Some truths that encourage me

More than a year has passed and covid is still here. Restrictions are going on and off. Vaccines are being delivered to people almost everyday. Scientist, researchers, doctors, nurses and all other people in medical fields are doing their best to find the "cure" for this virus.

When the first vaccine came, people are saying that that we are seeing the end of the tunnel. Yet, this virus has been mutating overtime and overnight.

These days, I've known people who have covid, exposed to it, close contact to those with it, isolating, in quarantine, died from it and others survived from it. In a span of one month, I have 2 family members who have died of covid. Covid is really getting close to home. It also really stole the headlines. It's in every news in every places.

It's really very disheartening and discouraging if we just focus on the news about it. The deaths and the pain is so real that it hurts. So where should we put our focus?


Focus on the facts/ truths
1. God is in control of everything. He does whatever He pleases. (Psalm 115:3) His thoughts and plans are different than what we are thinking and planning (Isaiah 55:8-9,). We want covid to stop, but He has His reasons why it's still persisting.

2. God is with us. He is the Immanuel. Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil because he is with me (Psalm 23:4). He is my good shepherd that will sustain me all the rest of my life. I know that He is good. I know that He will sustain me. He will be with me as I go through pain and sufferings.

3. He is the Resurrection and the Life. (John 11: 25).Since He is the Resurrection and the life, I have a hope that those who died in Christ will be resurrected someday. I have this hope that I will see my family again in heaven.

4. God is always good. He knows what's best for us. He works things together for our good. (Romans 8:28) He is our good Father who will not withhold good things for his children. (Matthew 7:9-11). Whatever is happening to me is because it is for my good.

5. Whatever is happening to me, is because He allows it. (Job 1:12). Everything that happened and will happen to me is already predestined. Before the foundation of the world, my future is already secured (Ephesians 1:4-5). My life is in God's hand (psalm 73:23).

So, these are some the facts that I am holding to. I know pain and suffering is real. I cried a lot when my cousin died a month ago. I cried again like few minutes ago when I heard my uncle died. Pain is so real it hurts.

I can't wait to go to heaven where there is no more pain, sufferings, sickness, and death. (Revelations 21:4). I can't wait to see my Savior and be there. 

My thoughts on Life and Death

 Recently, my cousin Kurt succumbed to Covid. It was very sad and painful not only to his immediate family but also to us relatives and his friends. Before he died, he battled covid for atleast 10 days. He experienced all of the symptoms of the disease. I messaged him a couple of times and told him to get better because he will still go here in Canada. But he didn't get better... or so I thought.

When he got covid, families, friends, colleagues and churchmates prayed for his healing. We prayed for a miracle. We prayed for his complete healing. We prayed and prayed, begged to God to heal him.  We didn't realize and expect that this is God's way of his healing.

But this is not something new to God. 

I remember the story of Lazarus in John 11. Jesus knew Lazarus, whom He loved, was sick. Yet, He stayed 2 more days where He is before going to Judea. When he arrived, Lazarus was already dead.

We might ask in our humanistic mind, why did Jesus delayed coming to see Lazarus. He should have come immediately to heal him. That's the same concern of Mary and Martha when Jesus came. They said "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died..." They're also hoping that Jesus would have come early to heal him.

Yet, when we continue reading the chapter, we can see Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus declared on this chapter that He is the Resurrection and the Life. He said that those who believe in Him though they die shall live. He even asked Martha "Do you believe this?"

The same question He is asking to us "Do you believe that I (Jesus) is the resurrection and the life?

Do I really believe it with all my heart?

DEATH

Sometimes, it's hard and painful when a relative, a family member or a friend died. Especially when someone young or close to you died. I remember I was in grade 4 when my classmate died. We visited her before she died. She was so young. She died from sickness. She was not a very close friend but I feel sad when she died.

There were also some more family members who died when I was young. Since, they were not in my immediate family, I feel sad for few days but the feelings didn't last long.

I also had a roommate in PNU who died when I was in first year college (2004). She died of an accident. I remember I talked to her about Jesus two weeks before she died. I even told her about the gospel, the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus. I know she made a decision on that day.

I also remember in December 2010, my grandfather died because of sickness. He was in and out of the hospital for months. We prayed for his healing and miracle but God has other plan. Then, Mama Loida died in 2014, I was already here in Canada. I was so sad during that time because I can't go home to Philippines because I just came here.

Then, lastly, Kurt died last week.

Is death the end of one's life?
Is death the end?

LIFE

As a believer, I have this sweet assurance that when a person who put their faith in Jesus Christ died, I will still see them again in heaven. Since Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, He will be resurrecting those people who believed in Him. Death is not the end of those people who put their trust in God. We have this eternal life with Him.

Kurt didn't get healed from covid. But does it mean that Jesus didn't heal him? He was healed beyond our imagination. He was completely healed not only from sickness but from all the pain and sufferings he had experienced through all his life. He is now in a better place free from covid, any sickness, pain and suffering. 


Now, how will I end this long blog post of mine? Well, this is one verse I would like to leave to you...

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
John 11:25 NKJV

My Lolo Dad, Mama Loida, Kurt and my roommate made that decision before. I am assured that they are in heaven. I am longing, hoping and waiting on that day when I'll be seeing them again face to face. Right now, I will just have to trust the Lord with all of my life and wait for Him patiently until He comes back. 

Sunday Thoughts

 Jesus has risen from the death!

Hallelujah! 

Today, almost majority of people around the world celebrated Easter or as Christians, we should call it Resurrection Sunday. It is because, today is the day we remember Jesus' resurrection from the death.

So, what does it really mean for us? Is this day to celebrate it with eggs, bunnies, chocolates and candies? Well, I love those and sometimes would give Emma chocolate eggs and candies. But is  this the center of today's event?

Well, today we commemorate Jesus conquering death. His death is not an easy one. He died on the cross between criminals. He, on His Omniscience, knows exactly what He will go through. He knows exactly the pain and suffering, He will experience. He even prayed to the Father and asking if it's his will, to take the sufferings away (Luke 22:42). Yet, in His humility, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8). He endured all of the pain and sufferings to obey the Father and to bring salvation to us all. 

On the day Jesus died, the veil of the temple was cut in two from top to bottom (Mark 15:38). It signifies that we don't have a barrier anymore to go to God. Because of what He did on the cross, we can go directly to God. We have easy access on Him. We just need to come. We come to Him. He is calling us.

But His story doesn't end at the cross...

On the third day, He rose again. The tomb was empty. He is alive!

He conquered death! 

He conquered sin!
He is victorious!
The devil thought he won at the cross, but he was mistaken.
Jesus once and for all, conquered everything; sin, pain, darkness, and death. 

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow." Sounds cliche because it came from an old hymn. But it is still true. 

Because He lives, I can really face tomorrow. Because my hope is in Him. I will get through of everything because He already holds my future, my life and my plans.

I know whatever struggles I have or will have, I can get through it it because the Lord is going to help me.
What He did on the cross, was the hardest He could have done. So, the rest will be easy for Him if He wills.

The resurrection sunday is a day of joyful celebration. Jesus proved once and for all that He is God and He is powerful. He is powerful to save me from my sins and powerful to conquer death.

This day, we should be celebrating, worshipping, praising, honoring and thanking Him for everything He has done for us.

Thank you Jesus for everything you've done for me. 

Sunrise Service 2021

How am I?

 I'm back! The first quarter of 2021 is almost done. I've not written any blogs here for almost 3 months. I've been busy.

Well, the year started with me dealing with health issues. The year 2020 ended with me dealing with health issues too. It seems that eventhough it's a new year, I've been dealing with the same struggles that I've had last year.

Since second week of January, I've been on and off hospital and doctor visits, laboratory tests, ECGs, ultrasound and MRI. So, what is this I am dealing with? For full disclosure, I am experiencing imbalance. I was diagnosed with vertigo and anemia. 

Anemia is very common to me as I've struggle with it maybe my whole life. But vertigo is new to me. It is so hard to be doing the normal day to day routines. Believe it or not, since January I've been dizzy/ having imbalance. I'm kinda stressed about my health. I've been very vulnerable about this too. I've been asking people to pray for me and with me. To be honest, it's tough and exhausting.

I've been following doctor's advice, taking my iron supplements and doing my exercises. But the imbalance is still here. I've been cleared with MRI, no ear infection and such. They just told me that I've had migraines. But I'm still struggling with my dizziness. You might still see me make vlogs, go out in the park but I've been pushing myself to be back to normal but I'm struggling and it's so hard. 

Now what?

This year, I've also started studying Psalms. Do you know that in the 150 chapters of Psalms, 48 are lament psalms. When we say lament psalms, these are psalms that are crying out for help to the Lord. 

Some of these psalms were written by King David when He was running away from Absalom (Psalm 3), Saul (Psalm 52) or the time when he was betrayed (Psalm 54). The man after God's own heart wrote alot of lament psalms. He even penned these words: 

"Why do you stand afar off O Lord, why do you hide jn times of trouble? (Psalms 10:1)"

"How long O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (Psalms 13)"

"My God, my God why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me? And from the words of my groaning? O My God, i cry in the daytime, but you do not hear. And in the night season and am not silent. (Psalm 22:1-2)

Sometimes these are also my feelings to the Lord. 

"Lord, for how long will I suffer?"

"For how long I have to wait?"

"Don't hide from me and hear my prayers Lord. "

Reading these psalms give me a little bit of a glimpse of King David's struggles and sufferings. But one thing that really encourages me is that after these words, He often declares God's goodness at the middle or the end of the chapter. 

"But I have trusted in your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord because He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalms 13:5-6. "

He is confident that the Lord will deliver Him in times of trouble. He only just need to wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 40:1, 37:7). I've read these verses a lot of times. I think it's the same calling God is giving me. To rest in Him and wait patiently for Him (psalm 37:7). They said patience is a virtue. This is something that I am struggling with. I think this is the right time that God is really telling me to stop... stop worrying, rest upon Him and wait patiently.

For those who have been praying with me and for me, thank you so much. I pray that the Lord will bless you and give you joy and strength for day to day. Please continue to pray for my health and please add patience to wait upon the Lord.

Thank you for reading. God bless