wait, lemme change the title:
Christmas and the Parable of the Lost Son Daughter
Ok, this blog is different from what I've wrote previously, but it has a purpose. I'm not going all "religious" on ya'll. I just want to share something that matters the most to me- this belief of mine has a huge impact on my life and created who I am today. I wouldn't call it a religion because I think the term, "religion" over-statemented while it is entirely about me and my relationship with my Father, whom have been there for me and love me unconditionally all throughout my life.
Last year, I've had a pretty tough Christmas and vowed that I wouldn't return to home for the next Christmas. I wanted to travel in Europe and experience their holidays as I do some volunteering at some agency or school. Due to finances, I decided it would be best to stay home, plus, I haven't been home much this past year (school, and a summer job in Minnesota). It was extremely nice to be home, to spend some time with my family and my friend. A close friend of mine, Sabra spent Christmas with us as well. We decided to go to a Christmas Eve service at Lancaster County Bible Church in the city of Lancaster (there are three LCBC locations) with my sister, her husband and her brother-in-law. I haven't not gone to a church service for a pretty while, so, I was really looking forward to this service and see how God can work in my heart this time. I have not been a best daughter for God lately, probably not for the past five years or so. Yeah, a long time... Anyways, I've always had a small voice in my heart, calling me to turn to the Lord again over the years.
This time, during the Christmas Eve service... That voice was VERY loud- like a lion's fierce roar that I could NOT ignore. The sermon was about the parable of the lost son, and I've heard this parable countless times. Here's the parable:
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Luke 15:11-32
However, this time it was like I was hearing the parable for the very first time and the hidden message pretty much hit me hard in my heart.
"I am the Lost Daughter," my heart kept saying over and over again.
I then decided it is time for me to go home.
I've already started my journey to go home. I'm still scared, although, I already know with my entire heart that He will embrace back fully with His biggest loving hug. I don't want to be alone on this journey.
a new goal on my list for the trip to Italy: to get close with God all over again and learn so much more about Jesus as I embark on this new adventure.
I have a favor to ask all of you: please pray for me and for my trip.
My mom have always believed that prayer does work. I still do strongly believe that it is effective, regardless what others said. I've witnessed it first-hand through my mom and her life.
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