Thank You!

If you have seen a group of Kangaroos running (and hopping) in one direction it is an awesome sight to behold and you would be able to shout, like an Australian linggo: “What a marvellous mob.” So I would like to say to you all, as new Australians in this land we have adopted as our new home: “You are a marvellous mob of people who helped celebrate my wife’s 65th birthday.”

It has been a while since I wrote a “Blessing” because I was so busy with other things. I would like to thank everyone who greeted, contributed and participated in my wife’s 65th birthday. It was an awesome evening. You made the young man (at heart) from Mindanao incredibly happy. That evening was a masterpiece created by many artists and planners of our church.

The delicious variety of food, with Mediterranean style, was artistically designed and prepared by Edward Ocampo, our very own, who won the Northern Territory Master Chef Award a few months back.

I had it in my mind to create something awesome to celebrate my beautiful wife’s birth anniversary, but I did not know how to do it, in a manner that is memorable and beautiful. Cynthia our program specialist, did a marvellous job; and I was able to concentrate writing my weekly sermons. She carried the heavy load of “thinking” and “organising” instead of me. Hallelujah!

Ramil and Ann thank you for your artistic and creative brain for doing the decoration and background. To all those who cooked and made special deserts, especially our beautiful ladies, please accept my gratitude from the bottom of my heart. You are all fantastic! Such a demonstration of agape-love is so amazing! To the Elders and Deacons and Men and Women and Children of our Church your positive response and faith to be a part of this celebration is something my wife and I would cherish eternally in our hearts.

Since I was a young man I always delegated some responsibilities to those who are uniquely gifted in various areas. The blending of talents in our church and your loving presence during Annie’s birthday is something that will never be forgotten in the pages of my mind and in the memory of my family. Thank you for the many gifts. My wife said: “I have never received so many gifts in my life, thank you so much.”

It was Tina who succinctly said during the “symbolic gift” presentation: ‘This reminds me of the story of Ruth and Naomi. Ruth said to her mother-in-law Naomi: “your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” Annie has adopted and loved us Filipinos.’ “Bless the Lord oh my soul for such a wife,” My heart echoes and my feet jump for joy! As I flash back what took place that wonderful evening, I could recap it in these few words: Our Heavenly Father has been good to us all. That could bring tears of joy to our eyes. Is it not wonderful that we have a God who loves and sustains us by His grace all the time? We are all under the umbrella of His grace. Every event in our lives whether great or small is sustained by His powerful loving hands.

The Bible says in Colossians 1:15-17, 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or [a]principalities or [b]powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. The sweetness and sometimes the ‘sourness’ of the events of life are all gifts of His grace. All He asks from us is: Trust and Obey. All by grace and by grace alone.