Filed under: , , , , , | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
…Even if life brings me pain
I remain forever true
I’ll accept it just the same
If it brings glory to You…
An excerpt from a song I wrote for our community’s music ministry entitled, “My Prayer (A Love Song)”.
Filed under: , , , , , | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
There are times when the Lord leads you to do things which you just have to obediently follow and obey…
He pulls you away from one direction and leads you to another… and you just have to trust that He has your best interest at heart.
Earlier this afternoon, things have unraveled so fast that I kind of got lost in the flurry of how my life was turned upside down and inside out by the Lord… and only this evening have things started to sink in…
It kind of popped up in my mind already much earlier today but I kind of brushed it off during that moment… but it was once again triggered as I was talking with my wife over dinner.
I hurriedly sought advice and guidance which I badly needed to help me get over the depression that was building up inside of me… and the answer was clear: To rejoice and delight in God’s will… no matter what.
So now, though extremely saddened to part with people whom I have grown to love and care for, I faithfully submit to my Lord’s divine will as he opens a new chapter in my life.
I just praise and thank Him for the wonderful opportunity He has given me to serve in an area which has opened my eyes, my heart and soul… a place which will always be close to my heart… and for giving me the chance to meet people and kids whose strength and resilience through faith have greatly ministered back to me.
I look forward to the day when I shall once again be reunited with them.
To my Rosario family… I already miss all of you. You guys will always be in my heart and in my prayers.
Filed under: , , , | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
It’s such a pity to see people enslaved by their own insatiable love for money… the end all and be all of a good number of people I know.
I, myself, was brought up in an environment that believed that “money is king”… my old life was an endless pursuit of worldly wealth. It was all that mattered. It was everything to anyone I ever met within my own sphere. My lifestyle revolved around this vicious cycle of work-pay-splurge-work. It seemed great… or so I thought.
Looking back now, I realize that even though a huge part of my youth believed that money could fill the void inside me, the emptiness was just too much to satisfy. It was merely temporary comfort for the vast vacuum in my life.
It’s true… what you gain materially pales in comparison with what can be obtained through spiritual sustenance. An individual who truly knows God, loves God. And a person that loves God, needs nothing else but God.
And needing nothing else but the Lord leads to less disappointments, and loosens one’s grip on worldly expectations. Letting go of worldly expectations detaches you from the material…
Greed is “lust”… lust for money… and lust is never satisfied. That being the case, how can a person filled with greed, which is never content with anything, ever be happy?
You can acquire all the riches in the world and still feel empty. Your life will never be truly filled until you have surrendered everything to the Lord…
Ironic isn’t it? To be filled, you have to surrender everything… to empty yourself. The same way the Lord teaches that in order to be forgiven, you yourself have to forgive… that you should love your enemies, not just your friends. But it’s true. These are God’s divine ways… and His ways never fail nor do they ever disappoint.
All you have to do is to trust, believe and have faith that the Lord is ALL you need. Receive Him and let Him do wonders in your life… wonders that money and wealth can never be able to buy or measure up to.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? -Mark 8:36
Filed under: , , , , , , | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Last Wednesday… we headed back to Rosario, Cavite to resume our regular weekly Team Revival Nights. We didn’t hold one the previous Wednesday since it was Holy Week.
Well, I’m glad (and relieved) to see that a good amount of kids have started coming back to attend service. Seems like the “body organ snatching syndicate” (for lack of a better name) have died down a bit. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t around… they just probably wanted to lay low for the moment.
The syndicate have not been caught yet… but how could they if the authorities themselves are the ones who are first to ignore the cries of the helpless victims? The police and government agencies have quickly dismissed the issue as rumors and make believe.
I have already delved on that issue “in depth” on one of my previous posts so I won’t go another round at it for now… my story is about the kids who have come back.
It was like a breath of fresh air… seeing the little children playing all around the Marian Hall before the start of service. The noise that we were used to… the laughter and tiny happy shrieks of boys and girls all around the venue gave renewed hope to the dwellers of our that love ever abounds and that the Lord always triumphs over evil.
We pray that the horrible incidents of the past weeks are now over and behind us. And though some people may say that since our authorities have discounted these reports as nonsense… there is nothing we can do, I would be quick to disagree.
There is something we can do. Pray. True and effective prayer. In fact, it is the only effective means of battling and overcoming every form of affliction and adversity. It is something most people have taken for granted… a way of life that has now been degraded to some sort of ritual… a personal relationship with our Almighty God that has been traded for a life of uncertainty.
This is our wake up call. God is our first resort… not our last. If he isn’t first in your lives… then a reevaluation is in order.
Be like the kids in Rosario… learn from them… See their faith. Feel their faith.
It is what brings them back to service… back to the Lord… again and again. No matter what the cost…
…even their lives.
“The best place any Christian can ever be in is to be totally destitute and totally dependent upon God, and know it.” - Alan Redpath
Filed under: , , , , , , , | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Can’t imagine that another year has passed… it seemed just like yesterday when my wife and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary.
All of a sudden it’s March 24 again and we’re chalking up another year of togetherness with all the ups and downs that come with it. But this particular anniversary is extra special for us, because we are not just simply celebrating our life together as husband and wife as we always do every year… this is the first anniversary we are observing with the Lord at the center of our relationship!
Though it’s been 7 years now, our marriage seems to have been jump-started anew ever since we entered … because only now have we really engaged in a relationship with God taking the driver’s seat.
Happy Anniversary, honey! This day is more meaningful to me because our Lord takes the lead and we simply follow in faith. Our marriage is not in our hands anymore, but in His. Tests and trials are to be expected as usual but I know that this time each hurdle brings us closer to God and further strengthens our bond with one another.
Praise God for you… for us… and for the anniversaries that are yet to come. I love you very much. Hamwah!
Filed under: , , , , , | Tags: , , , ,
I came from a recollection earlier today held at our Catholic community’s headquarters… and coming out of it was just refreshing! What better way to spend Good Friday than to spend it on a short retreat.
So, likewise I share this to you… something to think about for the rest of the Holy Week…
We can only fully comprehend how much God loved us when we learn of His passion.
May we all reflect on Christ’s sufferings… as he was mocked, scourged, crowned with thorns, beaten and bloodied and ultimately crucified. May we realize that Jesus not only took on our sins and infirmities but also all our sufferings.
Glory to the Lord… Creator of the Universe… the Alpha and Omega… Ruler of everything seen and unseen.
Filed under: , , , , | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Earlier this evening, I came from the hospital where my grandfather was admitted. He was in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and was pretty much in bad shape when I came to see him. Most of his immediate family were there to get word on his condition… some offered prayers and made sure the doctors were tending to him competently.
You see, my grandfather has been suffering from Cancer for quite some time now… Cancer… the Big “C” (as some would call it). What’s interesting to note, however, was that my grandfather was still talkative and in high spirits just last week when he was also admitted to the hospital but for a different reason… (hernia surgery).
Now he’s back in the same hospital… but this time, doctors say he might not be able to leave that place anymore. His entire body just isn’t responding to any of the medications that are being given to him anymore. He was given a plasma treatment which he so desperately needs to recover but was ordered by doctors to immediately suspend treatment since his body couldn’t take it any longer and was just damaging his heart all the more. His kidneys have already shut down just yesterday and has completely deteriorated. His dialysis costs roughly P50,000.00 (equivalent to about $1,250.00) per session.
As I entered his ICU room, I could see my grandmother and my mother crying… I touched my grandfather and spoke to him. He heard my voice… nodded… murmured something I couldn’t understand (because of the tubes inserted into his mouth)… and tried to open his eyes to see me.
It crushed me.
I didn’t know what to do. All of a sudden, I heard a voice whisper to me… “Pray now. Pray for your grandfather.” I knew it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me… compelling me to engage in prayer and to lift up to the Lord my grandfather’s well-being.
And so I did. I prayed over him… I asked the Lord to send forth the Spirit… to give my grandfather the inspiration to pray and seek forgiveness from God for everything that he believes should still be confessed. I prayed for healing… not just for physical healing… but for the healing of hearts and of relationships between him and family members… healing of emotions.
Though I trust that the Lord can heal my grandfather if He so wills it, I trust God all the more with the plan that He has for his life. I have so much faith in my Lord… regardless of the outcome. I praise and glorify His name for His will is divine.
The Big “C” has no power over my Big “G” (God). Though it seems that Cancer has taken its toll on my grandpa’s body… it has no effect over his spirit. His body may be broken, but his soul is made whole by the Lord…
…and that’s all that really matters. Hah! Take THAT, Cancer!
My God wins.
Filed under: , , , , | Tags: , , , , , ,
For those who may have hurt us in any way, past or present… I forgive you.
For those who may have spoken ill of us at any given time… I forgive you.
For those whom we once thought to be friends… I forgive you.
For those who indirectly inflicted pain to us… I forgive you.
For those who hold grudges and cannot let go… I forgive you.
For those who have selfishly placed themselves ahead of others… I forgive you.
For those who are consciously inconsiderate to every concern… I forgive you.
For those who refuse to understand… I forgive you.
For those who take pleasure in other people’s suffering… I forgive you.
For those who just simply refuse to cooperate… I forgive you.
For those who can make a difference but refuse to do so… I forgive you.
For those who won’t take responsibility… I forgive you.
For those who simply point at others… I forgive you.
For those who find it difficult to look in the mirror… I forgive you.
For those who simply won’t do anything… I forgive you.
For those who won’t forgive… I forgive you.
For those whose lives are riddled with compromise… I forgive you.
For those who politicize everything… I forgive you.
For those who always expect something in return… I forgive you.
For those who deceive others… I forgive you.
For those who just don’t care… I forgive you.
In forgiveness there is peace.
In forgiving… I, too, am forgiven by my Lord.
May those whom I have forgiven be able to find inner and spiritual peace as well as they ultimately learn to forgive themselves as well as others.
Filed under: , , , , , | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Having a personal relationship with God is great… it’s probably the best feeling there is… but you shouldn’t think that your life serving God stops there. Praying to the Lord and cultivating a productive and effective prayer time IS NOT enough… remember, it isn’t ever about YOU… it never should be. It’s all about HIM. What does He desire for all of us? It is for us to strive hard to become disciples… followers… to become instruments of blessing and to be fishers of men.
Our mission here on Earth is not just to know God… not just to understand His word… not just to connect with our Creator… it is to be a part of something far far greater than ourselves… to be able to spread the Good News to every corner of the world. To let Christ be known everywhere. In our own little way, we can minister and share God’s love to others… be it your neighbor, your classmate, your friend, officemates, even your enemy.
Has God touched you in a special way? Has he performed miracles in your life? Perhaps, a blessing or provisions that he has showered upon you? If so, don’t keep it to yourself… share your story, chronicle it and testify as to how the Lord has changed your life… let every event in your life serve as a means to glorify God… every event… everything. Yes, everything… including your struggles.
How you may ask?
By overcoming these difficulties through God’s grace and power, people can see how the Lord works in your life… ultimately, it is the Lord who is lifted up and glorified. Through every achievement, every recognition… praise Him. Praise God for everything that comes your way… fade into the shadows and let Him be the one to take center stage.
Serve Him with all your heart. Put Him ahead of everything else… regardless of how important other matters may be to you… nothing but nothing comes first BUT the Lord. Especially when he calls upon you to serve… or to act upon something. You’ll never know when He’ll seek to use you but when He does… we should all be ready to drop everything and respond faithfully. This is where we are tested. Can you actually do it? Really? What if you’re supposed to work on something that client requires which is supposed to merit you a substantial financial gain in return? Can you forego something like that to heed God’s call?
Worldly thinking would consider this to be stupid. What if I desperately need the cash? What if client gets mad? What if my boss doesn’t understand? What if…? What if…?
Don’t expect them to understand… just simply follow the Lord. Blind faith. Total surrender. Godly surrender. Respond.
As the Good News says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all else shall be given you besides”. Nothing… nothing else comes first. Do not allow anyone to tell you otherwise. Individuals inclined to worldly thinking would be quick to disagree… naturally. Worldly ideals… matters and crooked morals that have been embedded into our culture and materialistic way of life would be quick to question how one can sustain a life of true discipleship.
But it IS more than possible. It is life’s best reality. And it is only ultimately comprehended once you actually engage in the practice of this kind of surrender.
The first step is always the hardest… but the Lord asks this of us all.
To blindly surrender all worldly norms… and live under the norms of true Godly spirituality.
The norm under which the Lord intended for all of us to live by.
Filed under: , , , , , , , | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Ama… a tagalog word meaning “Father” in English. This was the title of the song I wrote just a few days ago for the Lord and which I performed for my community () just this evening.
It was a Valentine’s celebration for the Lord and the theme of the entire show was “Love for God”. So I composed a song just a few days ago which spoke of my awe and devotion to my Heavenly Father.
I prayed that through my song, God would bless each and everyone seated and listening… that they would feel the lyrics and relate to the emotions conveyed by the music.
The musical work talks about surrender… it speaks of overwhelming love… of following God’s will and his divine plan… of trusting the Father at all times.
I praise the Lord for he has blessed me with the gift of song… that he has entrusted to me a voice that can sing out loud to Him… to glorify, praise and worship Him.
My achievements are not for me… they are a testament to how the Lord works through people and individuals in order to bless others. May the Lord be glorified all the more through my music. For I am merely a willing instrument to be used by my Saviour anytime he so chooses.
Praise be to God forever.
