God, thank You because You always have perfect timing. Thank You for not letting me miss the important parts of today’s meeting even when I was sooo late. And I know this really makes me feel uneasy, but thank You for making me feel guilty whenever I’m late. :P I just pray that You would change me for the better.

Lunch

Father, thank You because my Math teacher is just the best math teacher ever! Hihi. I know I’m not really putting a lot of effort in it, but she’s really taking the time to teach us, and even stay with me after class to get my class work right, even if she has somewhere else to go. No, I’m not used to people doing things for me just to help me *with all sincerity*. But I know You have been doing just that all along.

Dinner

I don’t know if I can ever stop thank You for this. Haha. Thank You for food, specifically Chinese food. I can finally eat rice after weeks or months of not doing so. It makes me feel at home in Asia. :D Thank You because I know it will only be a few months before I finally taste my mom’s cooking again. I missed that.

Lord, thank You for giving me a good memory. And for those funny moments when You just jolt me out of unconsciousness and remind me of my looming deadlines out of nowhere. Thank You for giving me the ability to remember, even though sometimes it memories are painful. I know I always see the things I have left behind, so please help me see what lies ahead, with the hope that I have in You. No matter what, You are still my Father, and that never changes.

Lunch

Thank You for letting me bear with boredom. I can’t even count the days when I’ve literally wasted my time doing nothing. It kills me. Sometimes life can just have that long, big stretch of nothingness… meaninglessness. Thank You for giving me a reason to live, and for making my days so much exciting. I know how it feels to be without You, and it kills me. God, thank You for always being there. May I always experience Your presence in my life.

Dinner

God, thank You for giving me awesome cramming skills. Hahaha. I know that’s not how You would have me do things, but it’s really a special talent to be able to work so fast and efficient (at times) when under pressure. I really love how You made me like this, though I know it has consequences. >.< I pray that You would give me the grace to really put in all my efforts in preparing for something. And thank You because You have always prepared for us something good, even before we were even born. :)

Thank You for Your mercy. I believe it takes so much to be able to forgive someone. It’s always at the cost of the forgiver. I would never deserve that considering a whole life of sin and mistakes. Thank You because when You forgave me, You don’t see my sin anymore. There’s no way in the world that I could ever start on a clean slate all over again, except in Your eyes. :)

Lunch

God, thank You for pursuing me. I know between the two of us, You’re always the one making a way, trying to get to me again. Would You break down the wall of sin that’s between us now? ‘Cause I can’t.

Dinner

Jesus, thank You for never condemning me, but for convicting me in love. Thank You because You always cheer me on to do the right things, those which will make me truly happy. Thank You for never giving up on me. I have hope because of You.

The sunset at Downtown Los Angeles.

Breakfast

God, thanks for giving me strength and perseverance when I feel sooo tired and wanting to give up. Thank You for creating laughter as well. I wonder if You ever laugh with us when something’s funny. I had an awesome time taping for the America’s Funniest Videos today. I feel like I lost all my energy there, so thank You for sustaining me.

Lunch

God, thank You for the gift of letting go. I’ve always felt bad about having to do that. I am usually the one who holds on to things, and the last to let go, especially in relationships that are drifting away. The more I don’t let go, the more it hurts, and healing hurts. I know You just want to heal my heart and give me better things than the one I’m holding on to. So thank You for the ability and the aftermath of letting go. It’s more of a gift than a burden, though it’s just plainly hard. And thank You for being the only exception, because You’ve never let go of me when I’m not holding on to You anymore.

Dinner

I saw an amazing sunset today on my way to Downtown LA. It was breathtaking. At that moment, I wished I had thousand more of those sunsets with You. Thank You for creating such a wonderful world for us at the beginning of time. Thank You because I was on Your mind when You did all Your wonderful creations. I know a lot has changed already, but Your beauty is still imprinted in human life, in the songs we sing, in nature, in the skies, and in everything good.

Thank You for chances. :) Thank You for being just and fair. I know I’ve had my share of terrible choices (in fact, all I’ve made are bad choices except for You), and yet you give me endless chances to make it right, to be restored, to be taken care of by You. Honestly, that’s not even fair on Your behalf, but I’m taking it and thanking You for it.

Lunch

Dear God, thank You for giving us the power and freedom to think. And on a more personal note, thank You for giving me an IQ of 140. Hahaha. I may not be the smartest person, but I like how You have given me so much more when it comes to really thinking about You and tackling Your truth. But I know it’s not really me, but the wisdom You have freely given me. And I know you can give that to anyone no matter the IQ. Thank You because You have planned how I am going to be. I never really liked myself so much, but now I see what You’re seeing in me. I am made in Your image, and I am beautiful as I can ever be.

Dinner

Father, thank You for the friends and the family You have given me. Even though I’m far from my biological family, I have my spiritual family. Thank You, God, because we are able to love truly and accept one another because of Your grace. I would have strayed a very long time ago if it wasn’t for the family You’ve given me. And I would have strayed today if You didn’t use them to pray for me and reach out to me today (literally). It’s true, I do need a family. So thank You for providing me just that.

God, thanks for making it rain again. I haven’t seen rain since who knows when. It’s been too long, and I haven’t felt normal for too long. Thank you for the smell of the pine trees when it’s raining. It reminds me of beautiful memories with You.

Lunch

Thank You so, so, much, God! My crush just talked to me for the first time. Haha!  And I do not understand why everything goes wrong when it’s one step to being perfect. I also don’t understand why I can be angry at You and even demand answers from You. I don’t understand why You let me get away with that. But for the ability to trust You, and for the peace that You give that I would never have the right to earn, thank You.

Dinner

Father, thank You for creating “kilig” in the Filipino culture. Thank You for that unique feeling. The experience of all these kinds of emotions is a wonderful gift. Thank You for being the Truth no matter what we feel, and for choosing to love us no matter how You feel. I love You, even when I don’t feel like it. I do.

God, thanks for waking me up today. :) You always wake me up when I need to, with or without alarm. Though I’m sorry ’cause I always sleep again. Haha.

Lunch

Thank Youuuu so much for never letting me go hungry. I just left my food in the house ’cause I was running late. And today’s class was until 10 PM. I thought I had to starve but You always provide. :D

Dinner

God, thank You for giving me a choice, even when You know my choices would break Your heart. I got to talk to random strangers who were agnostics and atheists for hours! I know I wanted to share the gospel, but I wanted to build a relationship with them, too. Thank You for using me and letting me reach out to them, even if all I did was to suggest to them to give it another thought. I pray that You would pursue them with Your Holy Spirit and Your love — and the same thing with me.

This is what I call beautiful. The sunrise I wake up to every morning at Baja, Mexico.

Breakfast

God, thank You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am beautiful the way I am because I am made from Your image. What could be better than that? Thank You for looking at and caring for my heart more than my physical appearance. And thank You for giving justice to the basis of Beauty. Haha! It comforts me to know that what is truly beautiful is being more like Your son, Jesus. :D

Lunch

Lord, I’m not exactly sure if this is what you would have me thank you for, but thanks anyway. :DD I just developed a new crush. Hihi. It’s another form of inspiration, so I’m happy about it. Hahahaha! <3

Dinner

Thank you, God, for bringing me home safely. I know I always go home late, and yet I’m always safe. I mean, what are the chances? I know you’re protecting and watching over me, and your angels are standing guard over me. :)

Thanks for helping me on my exams. For real, God. :D I know You were the reason why I remembered that Math formula, or why I got 99/100 on an exam I didn’t review for, or just being able to answer 3 essays though I was 30 minutes late for it. You know how important this is for me, even when I’m not working hard on it. I really don’t deserve it. T_T Thanks. :)

Lunch

My teacher just gave out free Hershey’s chocolate today! Haha. You always know what I want. God, I know I was so frustrated that I only got 12 units this semester due to class shortage and all that. But thank You because I realized that You gave me the subjects I need, plus the best teachers I can have. Seriously, I’ve never enjoyed Math like this. :))

Dinner

God, thank You because things don’t always go my way. If it did, You wouldn’t have been God in my life, and I would never have learned to trust You or to be patient, etc. Thank You that when things go wrong in my life, You use it to bless other people, or You just amaze me at how You turn things around. :D

I thank God for using me to make a difference even when I don’t deserve to be used by Him. I shared the gospel with my friend Bert, at the time when I was struggling with my own relationship with God. And now he came to church with me for the first time. Awesome!

Lunch

God, thank you for provision. Haha. I just had free lunch today, my friend’s treat. You always know what to do when I’m hungry and broke.

Dinner

Thank you for giving me the gift of writing — that itch that won’t let me sleep at night unless I write something. My writing has taken me to greater heights, especially when it comes to knowing You more.