Road Trip.
Cast of Characters: One Pastor almost 40 years of age and his wife for 12 years; a 26 year old petite girl (a Pastor’s Kid, at that) who’s back from Australia with her husband who is 28 years old – both of whom are worship leaders in a church in Punchbowl, Australia; a mother in her mid-thirties who’s got six kids; and a twenty-one year old college student, also a Pastor’s Kid, who’s having her semestral break and has got nothing to do kaya napasama.

Imagine all six of these people, different ages and lifestyles, bound together for one day of road-trip to tagaytay – and for that, had bridged generations gaps, talked about anything from the most trivial stuff to complicated matters on family, love, and life.

They’re my cousins by the way. I’ve always been thankful that I was given such wonderful and closely-knitted relatives. More so, I’ve always been thankful I’m blessed with so many things. Yesterday was just another day to thank Him for.

Just One Confession.
I only got two hours of sleep the day before (slept at 5am, mind you). The shallowness of my sleep was abruptly interrupted by a wake call from my cousin as if to say, "Rise and Shine Riz, we have a long day ahead." Groggy, I got up, took a bath, got dressed. I was to wait for another phone call from the same cousin, a signal that she’s on her way out to pick me up. I still had several more minutes left, so I got my Bible out and hoped to hear something from Him to set my day ahead.

And there, halfway through a passage in James, I fell asleep. Hehe.

Anyway, as the phone rang once again, I woke up, my Bible still in my hands. Knowing full well He’s been watching, I gave God a sheepish smile, and whispered, “Oops. Sorry po. Hehe.” Anyway, I had a quick prayer and promised Him that I’m going to spend my whole day as if it was my Quiet Time. I asked Him to spend the day with me, and speak to me in whatever way He wills.

He did. :)

He’s Everywhere.
Lord it was You who created the heavens,
Lord it was Your hands that put the stars in their place.
Lord it was Your voice that commands the mornings
Even oceans and the seas bow at Your feet...

It wasn’t too hot, it wasn’t too rainy either. All six of us sat comfortably in my Ninong’s Land Cruiser, enjoying each other’s company. There were drizzles of rain once in a while, but every time we make a stop, the clouds will just brighten up as if on cue. And I knew it was God smiling down on us as sunrays touch our cheeks. I have seen the Taal Volcano many times before (what with all those postcards displayed at National Bookstore!), yet, cliché as it may sound, it seems to exude such beauty as if I haven’t seen it before. Like a lover courting his loved one, God was wooing us once again through His creation.

Lord who am I compared to Your glory,
Lord who am I compared to Your majesty?

I was overwhelmed I started to cry inside. What have we to experience such wonderful gifts from You, Lord? What good have we done that You allow us to experience all these things? It’s bad enough that most of us fail to appreciate Your blessings, it’s even more agonizing to know how stubborn You are, loving us still in spite of our unworthiness.

I’m Your beloved, Your creation, and You loved me as I am...
You have called me chosen for Your Kingdom,
Unashamed to call me Your own...

Today, He answered my prayer. I asked Him to spend the day with me, and He was right there the whole time – in His creations, in our conversations, in the warm fuzzy feeling brought about by the beauty of His love. And for me, that's in spite of falling asleep over my Quiet Time (hehe).

Tomorrow, I know He’ll continue fulfilling His promises, and answering prayers. And days will go on and on, and He will keep on overwhelming us with His blessings.. if ony we open our eyes to see their beauty.

Trully, we are His beloved. And His creation, and our happiness, are just few of His million proofs. c",)

Prayer Request.
Opportunity to go to Australia next year (sometime July) and join the annual Hillsongs week-long Praise & Worship Training. Please pray with me. :) Wah, Lord, I want this. :)

Riz Blabbered @ 4:06:00 AM.