OVERFLOWING

Overflowing.. I’m bracing myself for busy days this December with preparations for celebrations and gift giving, actual reunions and heavy traffic, on top of teaching, research, and service responsibilities.

Overflowing.. I’m preparing myself to every kind of emotion with the stress and pressure that go with anticipation of and actual work in hopeful expectation of finishing well in these activities and endeavors. More joy than sadness, fear, or anger please! (Pray Ninang!)

But I’m overflowing.. With the love that this Christmas season brings as most, if not all, are in the mode of festive giving to at least one person– an act of gratitude, remembrance..possibly a peace offering.. or a move to reconciliation (c’mon now!).

God’s love is overflowing.. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 Ninang! “Yup!”). It is God’s love for us that Christmas, the celebration of the birth of the Messiah, our Lord and Savior Jesus, came to be. Nothing less and nothing more can give significance to these busy days. This is why we love, and can give out of love –the overflowing love of God. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19 Ninang!) A love that when received, should overflow to others through giving (of time, talent, and money). Remember you are loved by a mighty God who is an inexhaustible source of everything good (Bottomless Ninang! “Good analogy!). Anyone who loves, knows God for “God is Love” (yup 1 John 4:8!). You are loved.. Remember! Receive (open your mind, heart and hand!) and overflow yourself.

God’s grace is overflowing.. This is where my hope is in these hectic times of teaching (which I actually enjoy esp. when students are wide-eyed, prepared and participative!), making rounds with service patients (Lord, can I do faith healing instead?), buying and wrapping gifts (how about just rapping? Yo give me a beat Ninang!) , hosting parties (looking forward though!), welcoming guests (please feel at home! Even if I’m not home..yet. Traffic!) and completing research requirements (you have an RA Ninang! Oh yeah! She’s the one completing the last submissions. Thank you!). Just writing these down make me realize the grace of God overflowing in and through me in these endeavors! (No need to be anxious Ninang!)

Overflowing thoughts.. I realize being occupied with things to do make people less creative. But the overflowing prompting of the Holy Spirit cannot be denied. And that’s why in the hours of work I took time to write. I didn’t really know what to write initially.. Just had that word in mind.. “Overflowing”. And I cannot help but overflow with words.. (Is this is getting too long?).. And love.

Overflowing.. I don’t know what that word may mean to you personally, but one thing I know, God’s love overflows for you. I hope and pray you will experience this love through Christ Jesus our Lord, and overflow yourself (at least once in a while.. Or frequently.. Maybe always.. Why Not Ninang?) Through the many questions and challenges you might have, through your weaknesses and imperfection, God remains the same. He is loving. He is Love. He loves you. Receive (open your mind, heart and hand!) and overflow for others.
– Ninang thoughts overflowing to you
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8)

P.S. (after my lecture on Pediatric Electrocardiogram)

Me: Are you overwhelmed by my lecture? (I shouldn’t have asked!😬)
Class: Yes!
Me: Do you want me to stop?
Class: Yes!
Me (with a bit of chest pain and speaking to myself inside my head): Aaaggghhh! It hurts! Where is the overflowing love? (Kasi overflowing info Ninang! “Ok..let’s scrap that Arrhythmia part of my lecture!”)… I still feel your overflowing love Lord.. 😋