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"He ran to me,
He took me in His arms,
Held my head to His chest,
Said "My son's come home again!"
Lifted my face,
Wiped the tears from my eyes,
With forgiveness in His voice He said
"Son, do you know I still love You?""

A powerful assurance than God loves us no matter or whoever we are!

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When God Ran Animated Music Video - Phillips, Craig and Dean

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Be a child when you pray; saying all what the heart feels and the mind thinks :) Let Jesus teach your mind, tame your mouth and touch your heart! :)

#InnocenceOfAChild
#IAmAChildOfGod
#PrayLikeAChild

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#SpeakOutYourFaith

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Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross for us. I believe that the least that we can do is praise Him and glorify His name. I was trying to figure out how I can use my talents to give Him the praise that He deserves. I actually sing and play the guitar, and I figured out that I can actually use this God-given talent to praise Him. I joined the Christ Commission Fellowship Elevate band and performed praise and worship!

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1 John 4:19 is my favorite Bible verse because it is so simple. It says "We love, because He first loved us." This verse means so much to me because before I got baptized, I did not know how to love. But when I learned about Jesus Christ, God showed us the best form of love, which is by sacrificing His only Son, to die for us. It reminds me everyday to be a good Christian and Samaritan for other people! :-)

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The Lord has always been there for me since day 1. I know that I have anxieties and fears but knowing that He is always there believing in me, just gives me strength. I will continue, O my God to do all my actions for the love of You.

#Blessed
#GodIsMyStrength
#NeverGiveUpForHeTrustsInYou

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I would just like to share a song that I really like when I was  young. During our Sunday’s school before, I have sang and danced to this song countless of times.

I hope you’ll like it!

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Every Move I Make - Hillsong Kids with lyrics

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Aside from sharing my reflection on Padlet about the story of Zacchaeus and God, I wanted to share my favorite Bible Verse, too, as a motivation for all of us.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
Philippians 4:13

This has been one the greatest thing I have read that empowers me in a lot of ways.

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For God is my Lord and saviour and everyday is too surreal to live.
#LifewithGod
#LivingLifetotheFullest

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The video about Zacchaeus is a story that people are well-versed of. In my life, it was a story that I have heard and read about since I was a child. However, unlike those times, the video was creatively and clearly presented enough to send forth a deeper message, especially to the people who have held their heads too high. Through the video, two characters were introduced and reflected upon to be of great significance towards what an image of Jesus really is. Those characters were Zacchaeus and the blind man, who both were sinners and who both had lack something; however, those shortcomings didn’t hinder them from seeking out for Jesus. By the time they embraced themselves and realized that someone was greater than their flaws, Jesus, the humble accepter, encircled His light and blessing upon them, lifting them up without the insulting gesture of looking down on others.

As a young as I am, I can say that I can relate to the story of Zacchaeus. There came a point in my life that I thought so highly of myself. During my 7th and 8th grade as a junior high school student, I became too proud of my achievements. I had higher grades than most of my classmates and I felt authoritative because of the praises of fellow students and teachers. I overly believed in myself that it didn’t come out as love for oneself anymore rather, it came out as a boastful banter. I would shout at others and I would belittle them to the point that they would be embarrassed in front of other people only for me to prove a point – that I was right and they were wrong. Everything became so out of hand that I don’t feel the respect from them anymore. There was only plain fear and anxiety from them; nonetheless, it boosted my ego back then. However, one situation proved me wrong. With all the pride I fed myself, I became too comfortable with my studies that in return, I got a disappointing grade in my Math class, cutting me off from the honor roll. It was a situation that crushed my arrogance. It was an academic failure that has went below the standards I have set for myself. It was so embarrassing to project myself in front of the class as a person who no longer flies with colors but as a person who has lost her shine. I truly felt that a hole was embedded in me sinking me further to be a complete failure as my academic record is the only thing I hold to be proud of. In my head, it wasn’t just myself who I have let down but also the people who have put their trust in my work. However, despite this downfall, it made me turn back to God. It was a situation that taught me various lessons in a hard and painful way. I found myself crawling back at His mercy, asking forgiveness for lifting myself too much, for taking Him for granted, for not making time for Him, for forgetting Him once I have tasted success. I confess that I had bitten more than I can chew and I now go back to the One who has helped me to reach the stars that were once being watched from the ground.

Yes, It was difficult to swallow my pride and to cry for grades in front of the altar but after all the emotional turmoil and after all the anxieties that has eaten me up, I have felt the arms of Jesus around me and His hands patting me on my back, telling me to stop crying, to open my heart to Him and to try again with Him by my side. He has accepted me. He has humbled me. He was there once again reminding me that there is more to life than myself and my achievements. He was there as a humble accepter to my flaws which I just cover up with pride. In the end, I learned through Jesus that those flaws will always be there. They would always be recognized, but the most important thing is to never let those shortcomings get to you. Never shower yourself with too much pride and always remember that humility shall always be by your side.

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For me, Jesus Christ depicted two images in the movie. First, He is a true Friend. He knows Zacchaeus and still approached him even though he has flaws and is a sinner. He accepts Zacchaeus for who he truly is. By acknowledging and recognizing Zacchaeus, Jesus changed him for the better. Second, Christ is a Shepherd. He seeks those who are lost like a shepherd that seeks for his lost sheep. I remember the Parable of the Lost Sheep wherein the shepherd left 99 of his sheep to look for the one sheep that is missing.

Zacchaeus and I are similar in a way. We both experience being alone and no one wants to be alone. No one really wants to be by himself or herself all their lives.  All of us want some company—may it be a family member, a friend, a relative, or lover. We want someone to spend our time with, someone to share our memories with. We want someone to recognize and acknowlodge us—to deem us important.

Before, there was a time that I had no one. I was very shy and timid.  I lack the courage and confidence to make friends—to approach others and initiate a conversation. I was very thankful that someone reached out and talked to me even though I was very quiet. We became friends and since then we became important part of each other’s lives. We accept each other’s craziness, weirdness and flaws. My friends always pushed me to be a better version of myself and I do the same. My friends pushed me to be more confident. I am still in the process. Nevertheless, I know, I can do it. I can be better. I just needed someone to push and guide me on the right path and someone to recognize that I can.

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In the time of Jesus, tax collectors are looked down on and everyone hate on them because the people see tax collectors as sinners and corrupt beings. Despite all of these discriminations, Jesus did not see Zacchaeus as a lower being than a normal person because He is a fair and forgiving God. He chose to save Zacchaeus and that shows how Jesus came down to the Earth so seek and save those who are lost.

Jesus is a symbol of love and forgiveness, He is the proof that we are all human beings and we all make mistakes but He is here to guide us and accepts us for who we are. I've already seen Him work in a lot of people. I also was once lost but now I am found. Since I got baptized months ago, I am living blindly by faith because I have left all my trust in Him. Even though when things go wrong, I always believe that He is around and He always has a plan. He will not give us situations that we are not able to handle.

Since I got baptized, I looked for a verse that I can rely on whenever my faith is being moved by the deceivers. I found 1 John 5:5, which states "Who is that overcomes the world? Only the one that believes that Jesus is Son of God." This verse reminds me that we believers of Christ should always trust in the Lord because we are by His side and He will always continue to guide us.

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Way back 2013 I was in grade 8 and I was in the lowest point of my life. I think that is what high school is all about – to encounter things you never had imagined, experiencing failure and rejections, to cope up with a diverse environment. There are circumstances that really triggered my depression. It all started when my parents got separated. At first it seems easy for me to get used to it but the next thing I knew my grades were falling out of track, I was so devastated that time, I got lost. It is not because of my parents but because of the people who surrounded me -- I was too pressured on my family’s expectations then my friends left me. Little did they know that they made my life a living hell. My family, instead of encouraging and inspiring me they belittle me and made me feel like a disappointment. But still I always convinced myself that those are just little things and I am better than that but half of me always said that those little things made me who I am and it is important. Every day I cry myself to sleep, my mind is a war zone and its killing me.

Those were the days that I see no God; I see no light or even the slightest possibility to feel genuinely happy or proud. But just like Zacchaeus who had no idea that Jesus knew him and will recognize him I myself found a set of friends who appreciated and recognized me and that is all I ever need to cope up with the Napoleonic Syndrome that I am facing. That kind of friendship saved me and it made me realize that I may feel anxious due to my problems but I am better than my giants. Just like Jesus my friends really rooted for me and despite of my situation they nurtured and accepted me as who I am.

In life you will face different kinds of giants that will turn your life upside down but always keep in mind that it is important to seek and accept Jesus in your life to be able to face your giants. But for those who are just like me that is lost and emotionally dying, Jesus is there and will seek you for your salvation and when that time comes learn to accept it wholeheartedly as for what Jesus said to Zacchaeus in Luke 19:9-10 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  Never be afraid of your giants, keep in mind that life with Jesus is a life worth living for.

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The image of Jesus in the movie that resonates to me is that He is a personal God. I say so because despite the crowd, He calls Zaccheus by his name. Also, in the movie, I see Jesus as a very loving God, the God who knows our sins yet loves us unconditionally.

During my younger years, I often visit the sunday school. Now that I am a teenager, I am beyond grateful and happy that I was able to continue to strengthen my relationship with Him where in fact I always attend the youth ministry. I consider myself having an on fire relationship with Jesus. I often find myself talking to Him to bountifully feed my in-depth soul with His words. Not only that I read further what the Bible speaks, I worship Him by dedicating everything that I do to Him. However, there are these inevitable circumstances in which I realize my relationship towards Him seems gradually diminishing. I once became a lukewarm Christian. There was a point in time wherein I left a day with the absence of His words. During Sundays, going to church wasn't as enthusiastic as it should be and instead, I feel like my presence is of complete obligation alone. The longing and hunger for His words was nowhere to be reached. There were also these days in which from the moment I wake up to the period I sleep, I say no prayers.  When it comes to sharing His words and expanding His Kingdom, I sure am a bold Christian who does every little way I can to fulfill this responsibility. But due to these timely society full hasty and untrue judgments, I deprived myself from being a daring Christian from the fear of receiving words such as overly religious. As a member of the Christian community, my eyes were strongly struck as I clearly saw the undeniable fact that I made a huge difference. I convinced myself that He loves me unconditionally, that He would always understand my shortcomings and I have thousands more of days to get back to Him. This made me undo things I do before with utter sincerity. I took Him for granted; I got eaten up with this world I am enjoying. Still and all, He is always the last person to leave me, and who never will. Those moments when I became ignorant of this world that isn't ideal to begin with, my brother fought between the ends of life and death. From there, He proves me that He is a real God. I firmly believe it was Him who ceaselessly granted our prayers by the means of doing miracles. We spent hundreds of thousands just to fight with what my brother was experiencing. My grandfather died, who happened to be the person who sends me to school. Yet, He never did neglect us. He provided everything we need despite my irresponsibilities. What He gave was more than comfort. Up to these days, we are able to manage and survive the day-by-day challenges. Even without the physical presence of my grandfather, we are financially stable. To support that, I was able to be a part of the ever prestigious and the highly majestic educational institution in the name of University of Santo Tomas. Moreover, His everyday guidance like keeping me safe from my house-to-school travel, making me focused in my school activities, and being a member of the UST community is more than what anyone could ever ask for. He continuously flaunts His greatness through showing his absolute love not only to me but in my entire family. That no matter how cold the flakes trying to frost my blazing passion towards Him, His love never fails. Indeed, He is that shepherd who can leave the ninety nine sheep just to find me.

As I reflect, these images of Jesus in the movie gives me confidence that He also knows me and that He knows what is best for me and so He will call me according to His purpose in my life. It also gives me an assurance that despite my sinful nature, He loves me unconditionally and as He promised if we confess our sins He will be faithful and just to forgive us.

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Years ago, I did not believe in any of endless life among us, humans –neither the fact of resurrection and the life-after-death. It was too surreal for me to swallow that I choked. Upon that time, my faith was as thin as the string you tapped on guitar even though I was raised by my Religious and God-loving parents. I valued myself more than others, I was just 12 years young back then but I have lots of questions thrown at the universe. Imagine, just 12 years old girl pondering over life’s existence and people inability to explain our origin. I was not suffering any problems back then –from my family to the people who surrounded me, it was all perfect. Then, when I started asking if He’s real or not –dead silence become an agonizing sound.

I was going to my grandmother’s home, her cooking was one of our favourite smell whenever we visit her. She’s energized and welcoming as always –how I missed her so much. She asked me to go to the Church with her and I was like a young Sheldon asking how sure she was that God is existing. She patted my shoulder and told me –not all you see are true, what you feel is. She hugged me tightly after the mass as I crave for the popped corns and cotton candies I see. She asked me if I feel her warmth and love during the time she hugged me, I nodded agreeing. She asked me if I see the large letter L-O-V-E popping around us, I disagreed. And that very time, I feel God within her. Through her. All His and Her. That what you see is far from what you feel, and so does Truth. Like Zacchaeus, when I’m looking down to myself, to the world and to the universe –God will look up to these. Jesus is within every heart appearing when we need them so much. God initiates our meeting –in right time and in right place, with the right people. The day Zacchaeus opt to surrender all of himself to God, sharing all of his Earthly needs for the sake of helping others, I found myself in him. After the day my grandmother told me that, I changed –I never bother asking if He’s true or not because I can feel he’s existing in everyone who has been doing good and protecting people. That he lives more than any of His creations and that He is presently existing to uplift all the heavy pain. On 2016, I can tell myself that I was suffering from Napoleonic Syndrome where I felt all my frustrations in life –I was too perfectionist, I require myself to be one. Back then, my parents embrace me when they saw me breaking down in my room. They said it’s okay, I don’t have to be the best always –sometimes being good is okay, that sometimes being good means being the best because we have a heart that beats for everything we do. On that time, God is my parents telling me that when things get rough –never quit but rest. That we should not exhaust ourselves so much and give everything until none is left for us anymore. In the short film we have watched, Jesus is the Good in all Pain, Evil and that He is the Divine Grace that save us years ago until now through giving us the salvation.

I thank my Lola, for helping me believe in God, to my parents –who still sees the best in me, always. Most importantly, I have been thankful that I devoted myself to God fully because these people have become His instruments in pulling me up. Now I know, like Zacchaeus, I have learnt to give God the supreme Value among anything else because he too, gives himself to us, to cleanse us and give us the salvation we need even if we don’t deserve it. God resonates as the people who love me at my worst version of myself. God becomes the one who tuck me at night saying everything will be alright. And even If I, someday, become one of the most successful persons on Earth –I’ll tell them that to be successful, one does not have to be financially richest, we just need to be the one that is rich in faith, beliefs and has the purest intentions to help.