signs

I often wondered about God-sent signs manifested in everyday things, objects or events. I have often heard people say "it's a sign" and base important decisions on these signs. I often envy people who say they have been given clear cut signs which meant they are making the right decisions or find comfort in suffering.

 

 

 

I had a friend who based the fate of the guy courting her by asking for white flowers at the altar in church - white flowers meant that yes - he was the one. I often ask for signs to point me in the right direction but somehow I don't seem to get any that is why I kind of envy people who do.

 

Since joining the SFC community, I have heard people ask "what was the message that God wants you to hear?" or say "... the message was revealed to me clearly..." and a year into the community, I can honestly say that I have experienced receiving God's message twice - first was thru a song, and the second on bible verse written on a piece of paper.

 

Still there are times when I don't seem to get the message - I don't seem to fathom what God wants me to learn from heart aches, pains and problems among other things. I was pondering about this one day and it hit me that I have been looking at things from a wrong point of view.

 

I guess I was asking for a kind of voice over to point me in the right direction, I was looking for some sort of blinding neon light to tell me the message behind all things - when the signs and messages are in that bible verse, in my scripture guide, in my friends' message board... the signs are everywhere I was just too blind to see it...

 

... Dear Lord I pray for you to give me the grace, open my heart and eyes, and teach me how to listen to your messages that I may make sense of all the things unfolding in my life that I may learn to put my full faith in you because you alone are sufficient, you alone are all I need and may I find my peace in you...

 

... and for all of this May God Be Praised...

 

to mommy

My mom was my first role model. When I was a kid, I remember being amazed at how my mom juggles work and taking care of the family while still looking fabulous in trendy clothes and a dab of make-up. She was Supermom no doubt.

 

As I grew older, I began to learn about her past pains and struggles, there are times that these past pains get to her, making her undermine herself and doubt her capabilities but her strength of spirit  shines and pushes through and she is able to come out of these struggles although not unscathed but a better version of herself - it made me admire her more. My mom is not perfect, but she tried her best to raise and instill in us good values and morals.

This mother's day I pray to God to give my mom a long and healthy life that she may enjoy the fruits of her hard labor. I pray for her continuous healing from her past pains. I pray for peace and love to reign in her heart. I wish for her bright and sunny days ahead and if rain should fall, I pray to God to walk with her under an umbrella of faith and hope.

 

I love you mommy - more that I can say and show. We are who we are now because of you and we hope to make you proud!!!

... for all of this May God be Praised!!!

Dearest Mother

Happy Mother's Day to our dear Mother Mary!!!

 

Mama Mary thank you for the selfless love that you have shown and given us all, may your sacred heart continue to shine upon us and cover us with your grace.

 

lead us

... we desire freedom but long for leadership... let the gentle voice of the good shepherd guide us to green pastures and fresh water...

 

We are ONE in you Lord

“Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” Philippians 2:2

 

Never have I been amazed by technology as I was a few days ago.

Having had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the frenzied activity at the hub of operations at CFC-SFC Abu Dhabi Center 1, studio hosts bro. Earl Cres Balolong and sis Weng Barros echoed my amazement at how technology bridged the gap between land and sea, bringing together as one in God all the faithful in a night of prayer, thanksgiving and worship thru online video streaming and various social media platforms like facebook, zoom and twitter using metadata tags #meunited2014 and #journeybeyond.

 

Recognizing technology as a powerful tool in evangelization, Sis. Arce Quizo who handled SFC Dubai Cluster B, stated that the experience of being a social media correspondent was "really a great opportunity, my first ME United service made me feel "I belong"...to HIM, with Him and for Him!"

In line with the theme  Behold and Ponder Journey Beyond, this year’s ME United held last 27^th of March hosted by SFC Abu Dhabi in UAE was participated not only by countries in the Middle East but by several countries in Asia, Africa and America as well.

Initiated in 2010, ME United aims to strengthen unity in the region by giving everyone, especially those who face the constant challenge of practicing their faith in this part of the world a channel wherein they could freely commune with our great God in unity with the whole of the CFC-SFC community.

As Bro Noli Manuel, our former CFC Fulltime Pastoral worker for the Middle East said during the 2012 ME United  “…We wanted strengthen unity in the region and the best way to do this is through praying together. Prayer is most powerful when we pray together. Though far from each other, prayer brings us closer to each other and praying together affirms our being one family…” and as each country went live and was acknowledged one by one, we truly felt connected – blessed and bound by our one Great God.

 

 

Led by Bro. Jojerry Mercado the worship had us singing praises at the top of our lungs with all our heart.

Taken over by every lyric and every note, Bro. Lloyd Arleigh Pangan affirmed how spiritually moving it was, saying “it made me forgot all of my fears and problems in life at the same time it reminded me about Gods unfailing love for us, most special part was the worship song "Our God" it reminds us on How beautiful God is and how He will work His plans for us.”. Truly, as we bowed our heads and came before the Lord in all solemnity; asking for forgiveness, healing, grace, providence, peace and love within our families, our community and our country, we felt humbled and comforted, knowing that we as a  whole community was praying with and for one another.  Indeed, affirmations of God’s grace and faithfulness came almost instantly as in the case of bro JM Comia who was at loss for words and simply said “serve and be blessed.”

Days after the successful ME United I was informed that there were 816 SFC and 22 SFC plus participants across all regions and other parts of the world, with 1702 Ustream viewers and 7 connecting via Zoom.

Breaking barriers, empowering leaders and service teams, making everything possible for all of us to come together as one in the unity and love of our Lord, God indeed has conquered all and as we reveled in a different kind of high and feeling of togetherness, Sis Grace Adel summed the experience up in not so many words saying “ME United 2014 was uplifting, empowering and refreshing. The best ME United I attended so far since I joined SFC”.

We truly are One In You Lord and for all of this May God Be Praised!!!

 

a cup of kindness

aawwww... such a nice office boy we have!!!

seeing how busy I was - and most probably looking frazzled, our office boy voluntarily made me a cup of special tea with fresh mint leaves!!!! ambait!!!

thank God for random acts of kindness!!! hopefully I can pay it forward!!!!

 

walk on

"don't dwell in the past, walk on and look forward to tomorrow... we all have a bright future, have faith for God is with us..."