Sunshine&Citylights

Three years before I considered him as just a human statue that is praised and loved by everybody. I don’t really find any special about him; I go to Catholic Church but never prayed sincerely, I’m laughing at those people who talks randomly about God cause I find it really corny. I was always invited by my mom to have early Sunday mass and I hate that, I had to go because I will be scolded by her. I grew up with a mindset like that, I never asked Lord to help me in everyday because I thought I don’t need him, I thought I’m cool and I’m brave enough to face everything. I have sinned many times, I said to him that I’m sorry and afterwards I will commit sins again. I will repent because I know that’s part of church traditions. I didn’t really build sincere relationship with him because I consider him as just statue or anything that is there which is super famous.

Things just happened unexpectedly, I was invited by my boyfriend to his church. At first I rejected him, but then he asked me again and invited me to have a coffee after church, it took me hours before I said “Yes”.

27th of July last year was my first encounter with their church called “Victory”, it is a born-again Christian church wherein they worship and praise God. I was laughing that time because it was my first time to see people dancing and singing lively songs in a church. I was like “Really? Culture shock ako.” Yes, I was expecting the same ceremonies like in the church I have been before. After the church, I got these realizations that it was fun, the pastors were funny, the environment was so fun and I really felt the spirit of God in me.

Months have passed, I discovered myself going to Victory church regularly despite of not being with someone, I go to church alone because I feel so happy and complete whenever I hear and absorbed anything about the preaching every Sunday. My mom doesn’t want me to attend to that church maybe because we’re in a family that raised and lived a Catholic traditional teachings, until she noticed that I’m changing because I’m kind of “makulit na at matigas ang ulo girl na spoiled na pasaway pa”.

After a year, I built trust and stronger faith with God, I have been receiving more blessings from him and I feel so complete being with him. I can say that I’m a certified daughter of God; I have so many realizations towards where I am right now. I’m a consistent attendee of the church every Sunday and sometimes I go to youth service every Friday. Through my faith in Christ, I was able to face all the challenges in life, I feel more blessed and contented for what he has given me. I was also able to invite my Mom and friends to go to church with me, and I’m glad that I’m able to share God’s grace with them. I thought that was impossible, considering that my Mom doesn’t believe to any Christian church before and my friends took it funny while I’m talking about how God changed me.

August 29, 2015, I have decided to be baptized in a Victory Christian Church. That was the greatest gift I have received from God. I didn’t expect that I will be this dedicated and faithful to him. I have lots of testimonies in life proving how God changes me, my personality, my beliefs and more. It is really God’s grace that makes everything possible. He is my savior, my protector and my father. I have realized that my sins are not too deep with God because he has given me the chance to change for the better, he forgave me.

Now, I’m writing this to show and inspire other people how great our God is and how amazing he is. It’s just so fulfilling to be in God’s hands and to walk with him throughout your stay here in this world. God knows what’s best for us, and the best thing for us is to come with him and he wants everyone to be his child.You don’t need those material things to make yourself feel complete because God is there to give you genuine happiness in life.

I have received an early message from a friend, and I think this defines my life with God, “Maturity in life of a Christian is not defined being “sinless” but consists of everyday life “sinning less”. It’s not about “quantity” of knowledge but “quality” of living. It’s not about the length of years in faith but the number of seconds you lived for Christ.”

There’s never “too late” in walking with God because I believe that there is a calling to each and everyone of us, and I know that God has planned the perfect time for you and he has reasons for everything.

With Love,

Catherine Flores