Filed under: Faith, Friends, Prayer, Random Thoughts | Tags: brokenman, chemotherapy, Faith, friend, God, health, hospital, ill, leukemia, lex, Lord, Prayer, religion, savior, sickness, trust
Just heard from a friend over at WordPress Pinoys that another member of ours, Lex, is still in the hospital going through a grueling series of chemotherapy. He’s been there for almost a month now and there is still no word as to when or how much longer he has to stay there.
I may not know how it feels to undergo such a painful procedure… but my wife and I had a friend once who had leukemia, the very same condition Lex currently has… and we’ve seen how she suffered which in turn affected everyone around her greatly…
So, right now… I’d like to offer a prayer for my friend knowing that God is the Lord of infinite possibilities.
I ask that you, my readers, friends, even strangers… to please spend some time with me by reading the prayer below…
Dear Lord,
You know my friend so much better than I do. You know his sickness and his need. You also know his heart. Lord, I ask you to be with my friend now, working in his life. Let Your will be done in my friend’s life.
If there is a sin that needs to be confessed and forgiven, Lord, please help him to see his need and confess.
Lord, I pray for my friend because Your Word says I should pray for His healing. I believe You hear this earnest prayer from my heart and that it is powerful because of Your promise. I have faith in You to heal my friend, but I also trust in the plan you have for my friend’s life.
Lord, I don’t always understand Your ways, and why my friend has to suffer, but I trust You now. May You be glorified in my friend’s life and also in mine. In Jesus name, I pray…
Amen.
To those who spent a little time in prayer with me… thank you and may the Lord bless your lives as well.
Filed under: Community, Faith, Random Thoughts, Reflection | Tags: ablaze, book, duewel, Faith, God, group, Jesus, koinonia, Lord, reading, Reflection, religion, thirst, unquenchable, wesley
I am currently reading a book called, “Ablaze for God”, authored by Wesley L. Duewel. Only recently have I started reading it and I’m practically glued to it.
To tell you honestly, I’m not much of a book person. Really. I mean, I read a few stories compiled in “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and the like… but only to that extent. I seem to have a pretty short attention span when it comes to novels and such.
That was then, I guess. Because I’m actually starting to enjoy deep reading and reflecting after every few paragraphs. I notice myself staring into a blank wall or into nothingness just letting the words sink in… letting my whole being absorb the teachings on each chapter.
I believe the Holy Spirit has somehow ignited my inner desire to learn more about God. It’s as if I thirst and quench for more teachings… it’s like I thrive in discussions about the Lord.
This book is currently the topic of the next two weeks of our KG (Koinonia Group) gatherings. And though we are only supposed to tackle certain chapters from it, it looks like I’ll be going through it from cover to cover.
I pray for more of this unquenchable desire to know more about the Lord.
Filed under: Community, Faith, Family, Ramblings, Random Thoughts, Reflection, films, marriage | Tags: God, Jesus, Faith, Love, elim, couple, marriage, Family, the climb, fim, movie, dinner
Me and my wife had the privilege of being able to join our very first “Junior Couples Night” yesterday which was held in one of our Elim Community member’s houses.
It was pretty exciting, being that it was new to me and that I always look forward to gatherings that talk about Christ and faith.
We had dinner with about 8 other couples… it was pot luck so we brought our share of dibs. Food was splendid! Dessert was wonderful! Everyone was so friendly and I had the pleasure of meeting other couples whom I have only seen from afar during Team Revival nights over at the Elim Homebase.
After, two trips to the buffet table and 3 trips to the dessert cake… we had a film viewing. The movie of the night was entitled, “The Climb”, a full length feature produced by Billy Graham. And may I say that, considering how cheesy most Christian films are, the production values of this particular film was superb. Cinematography, scoring… the works!
I knew my wife would have a hard time staying awake during the entire time since she has this habit of ALWAYS falling asleep in the middle of shows and films. But, with the help of my constant nudging, she stayed awake… hehe!
After the movie, we grouped ourselves into two. The husbands in one room and the wives in another. We discussed how the lessons of the film could be connected to married life… reflecting on struggles and constant challenges that come with family life. It was a very vivid and active exciting exchange of ideas through each others past experiences.
My wife and I look forward to more of these gatherings in the future.
Filed under: Community, Faith, Music | Tags: Community, composition, elim, Faith, glory, God, Jesus, Love, Music, song, spirit, worship
I’ve been inspired so much recently as I have been attending Team Revival and Koinonia Group sessions. So inspired in fact that I have easily completed 2 new compositions which I am giving to my community. What better way to help and give back than by helping inspire others and bringing them closer to God by means of music.
I have always written songs for other record companies… secular material… but never did I really put my heart into creating music for my Lord and Savior… until now.
I felt this sense of overflowing and overwhelming love and inspiration which I haven’t experienced before… and so, I spent time considerable time praying, asking the Lord for guidance as I created these musical works.
I ended up finishing 2 contrasting songs. Both professing love and faith but in different approaches.
The first one sings of thanksgiving. Written in tagalog, the song is entitled, “Munting Awit” (in English, “Little Song”). The melody is easy to follow. A song that could probably be used during worship.
The second is upbeat and free-flowing. Entitled, “From Now On”, It talks about discovering God and the transformation it has brought about after living a meaningless life of worldly matters. Very contemporary in arrangement and melody. Something a non-practicing Christian-Catholic could easily pickup and listen to.
I thank my community, Elim, their elders and facilitators, for all the guidance and spiritual sustenance they have provided… I yearn more and more to know my Savior and to offer everything I have and all that I am.
The more I surrender… the more I am filled up.
To God be the Glory.
Filed under: Faith, Reflection | Tags: catholic, challenge, christian, Faith, God, Jesus, Life, obstacle, path, religion, road, savior, Struggle, travel
Most people I get into conversations with normally say that the path towards righteousness is easy…
I say, “If the path of faith on which you are taking towards purity is considered ‘light’ and ‘easygoing’, then most likely the way that you have been traversing has been riddled with compromise.”
I am still at what I consider to be, the “infant stages” of my journey towards God’s finish line. I know very well what lies ahead… the struggles and challenges that must be overcome along the way… yet the rewards of obedience are far greater than anyone’s imagination could fathom.
I look forward to this journey… I am excited. I happily anticipate each obstacle… for these hurdles further prove my resolve and conviction to follow my Savior.
To walk forward with the Lord… no compromise.
