staying on track

After three months, four modules, twelve talks and countless of hours in preparation our Christian Life Program has reached its culmination, it is but of course it is just the beginning of our chosen path towards God.

Looking back - perhaps the most poignant question a member of our discussion group asked me was "what makes you stay with the community?." Right off the bat I answered "I remained in service because the community has helped me (and continues to help me) grow as a person whom God aught me to be."  

I told Yolly, that I initially did not want to join Singles For Christ because I thought that being a part of a Christian community would restrict and stifle me but on the contrary - the community afforded me a conducive environment where I could get to more about what it means to be a Christian and how to be a true disciple of Jesus.

True I still am a work in progress, I still have issues, I still have shortcomings to overcome but by God's grace, slowly I am learning, slowly I am growing in Faith, slowly I am developing a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God and along the way I have found new friends; I am given the opportunity to experience new things and exciting events; I found an avenue that utilizes what talent God has given me...

... and for all of this I give back all the Praise, Glory and Thanksgiving to God!!!

Transformation in Christ - Christian Life Program Talk 12

In the course of three modules, the Christian Life Program has armed us with the knowledge and tools on how to be better Christians and now that we have made the choice to follow Christ. 

Transformation does not happen overnight and thus we humbly ask for God to purify our hearts and guide us in our journey.

uncomplicated

... days into our dedication day presentation practice - one of my discussion group member told me that she won't be able to participate anymore due to the increasing complexities of the dance steps. She was not confident that she could learn the steps in time. It saddened our group but we never lost hope and prayed for their rekindled enthusiasm... the next morning, our bible scripture guide had this message which I thought was very fitting in encouraging members to participate...

“ and He sent them” – Luke 9:2

Have you ever wondered what people meant when they talk about calling, vocation, or having a vision for your life. Sometimes we feel lost and confused, as though God didn’t want most people to know His will, all seems complicated doesn’t it? – but the truth is “If God calls us for a vocation, he will put the desire in us”.

Reflection:      Christian theologian and author Frederick Buechner once said, “the place God call you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunder meet.”

Prayer:     Dear Lord, please help me live out Your call for my life

I added this message and prayed for the best!

You might be wondering, why have we spent our Fridays seating and listening to people talk when we could have slept in or why we are sweating it out in a humid park, trying to learn dance steps that looks funny and complicated when we could have just gone out with our friends to dine out or watch movies.

 

My friends all of these events are not by accident, God has put the desire in your heart to be a part of a community – do not doubt, do not have second thoughts.

All your sacrifices, your cooperation and willingness is YOUR answer to God’s call and the fullfilment of your hearts desire – it is not complicated after all!!!

Let us serve God by means of our talent, time and treasure!!!  May our life reflect his greatness and glory!

 
... the next day our dear brothers and sisters came to practice with renewed enthusiasm and commitment...

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

... for you my child - yes

A few days ago I wrote an entry about pending travel plans and how sometimes the answer to our prayers is “no” – but time and again God has revealed his graciousness and for that I am so thankful and felt so blessed indeed.

Stressed out from the cancellation of all our bookings because of the change in the Eid holidays, I initially decided to cancel all my travel plans. I felt at peace with my choice but had a twinge of guilt as my friends were all excited and were counting on me - no begging me actually to make the trip possible and so I fervently prayed for the Lord to guide us. 

I lifted all our plans to God and called on our God of Order to map out everything for us,  which He did - in the last minute we were able to book reasonably priced airline tickets and hotels, print our documents with the help of a good Samaritan and reached the airport just I time for checking-in our baggage.

Truly God is most gracious - a father who could turn a probable "no" into a "yes" because of his limitless and boundless love for his child. 

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

growth

I have always thought that my maturity level is below average compared to people my age – I still watch cartoons; love ribbons and frilly headbands and often get excited about stuff like balloons and face painting.

Though I justify this trait by saying “I am adorably childlike”, it (being immature) was one of my biggest fear when I was tapped to be a Discussion Group Leader.  

Would I be able to usher them into the path of righteousness? Would I be a good example? Would I be a beacon of light, source of inspiration, good listener and helpful advisor like my own DGL? I didn’t know – what I only knew was that I will try and do my best to handle the task set upon me – asking for God’s grace, guidance and empowerment.

Meeting the Christian Life Program Participants in our discussion group was unnerving – I was older than all of them but the way they spoke showed their high maturity level. I was intimidated at first but as the discussion proceeded I got to find comfort in their presence – feeling as if we have known each other, far longer than the hour we have spent during the talk.

As the CLP progressed, so did our camaraderie and friendship. Despite me feeling inadequate and immature – they have given me their trust, began confiding in me and opening themselves up to me as I do with them.  

Their openness, acceptance and maturity is what pushes me to ‘grow’ as well and perhaps the most rewarding and sweetest words they have told me is that ‘I would someday be a good mother’. 

And for this May God Be Praised!!

The Life and Mission of CFC Singles for Christ - Christian Life Program Talk 11

CFC Singles for Christ (SFC) is a part of the “Family Ministries” of Couples for Christ, which was formally launched in June 18, 1993 during the CFC Leaders’ Conference held at Xavier School in San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines. II. 

Our call is to bring single men and women back to a life with God according to His plan.  SFC is one in the mission of CFC to renew, strengthen and support Christian families.

Dare to be

June 6, 2014 was indeed a day of affirmation as SFC Abu Dhabi Cluster A gathered and listened to the very engaging Tito Nolan Dalapo talk about what it means to be 100% PURE. 

From a very young age our values and morals were instilled in us by our parents, our school and the church – as tito Nolan said “we are all basically good” but society has that nasty habit of corrupting us under the pretense of ‘keeping up with modernization’ which affects our decisions and actions. 

What was once righteous, ethical and taboo became the norm – chivalry died; promiscuity became an indication of the modern woman; smoking, drinking and drugs became cool. 

As society progressed our sense of godliness regressed.

Dare to be

What does it mean to be 100% PURE? Being pure inside and out means living Christ-like lives. By being the face of Christ to others we are another step closer to the realization of this particular SFC assembly’s vision of being the difference in society by setting the standards that the world will live by and emulate. 

We as children of God are challenged to put into heart and action the following principles:

Drunk free. Drinking destroys not only our body but our good judgement as well, in being intoxicated we loose our sensibilities that lead to rash decisions and actions. Our bodies are the temple of our soul, we should take care of it and not desecrate it.

Smoke free. Like drinking, smoking destroys our bodies and adversely affects the (health of the) people around us.

Zero Drugs. Drug abuse ravages the mind and body resulting in bizarre, out of character behavior that separates the abuser from their loved ones.

Say no to pornography. Pornographic materials poisons the mind by planting impure thoughts that lead to impure actions. Pornography perverts the act of intimacy between spouses by turning it into a commodity to be bought and sold.

No to masturbation. Bro. Kiko Manese could not have put it any clearly by posing the thought provoking question: “can we stomach using the hands we accept the Eucharist with in fueling our impure fantasies and satisfying our guilty pleasures?”

No to gay lifestyle. Gay lifestyle constitutes acts that are immoral and are contrary to God’s natural design.

True love waits. Intimacy should not be treated as a way to demonstrate or prove love but a pure and wholesome act between man and wife in which the two express their love for and commitment to each other after they have made their wedding vows.

Virgin and proud. Virginity is a virtue that has become a social stigma, women are branded prudish and old fashioned if they don’t exercise the so called “sexual freedom”, but the true identifying quality of a woman is one who conducts herself as pleasing in the eyes of God rather than in the eyes of men.

Pro-life. Life begins at conception.

Pure inside and out. To be pure in our actions, our thoughts and our words.

When conformity is the norm, do we dare to stand up for our morals and hold on to our conviction of embodying Christ? 

We Dare

In the second half of the assembly, sharers Sis. Joan Rico, Sis. Goldie Maybuena, Bro. Ellwin Jose and Bro. Cris Madarcos shared their personal struggles with the dictates and temptations presented by society.

By making the conscious choice, they have resolved to break free of the sins that have kept them in bondage.

The path is not easy with all the temptations that the world presents but by seeking God’s Grace to help them in their dedication and commitment, working towards it and reaffirming their conviction that they are closer to their goal of becoming 100% PURE.

Growing up sheltered with parents who were strict – I identified with sharer Sis Joan Rico. My routine throughout high school and college was home-school-home, if I came home late it would be like facing a grand jury with all the questions and reprimands.  

There were times that I felt resentful. I felt stifled and deprived of opportunities as I missed out on things I wanted to do like joining clubs, going on immersion programs or World Youth Day camps. But God is truly great to have given me parents who protected me and taught me integrity and honor which I held onto despite the freedom that working abroad afforded and for all the things I missed during my formative years God gave me the opportunity to fulfill all those dreams thru the SFC community which is a thousand times better because not only am I doing it for myself but I am doing it for his greater glory.

After hearing admirable testimonies from our brothers and sisters, we are led to prayer by tito Nolan as we solemnly and most graciously asked for God’s mercy and guidance as we signed our 100% PURE Covenant cards and determinedly choose to be Pure in Mind, Body and Heart.

Concluding the day was a simple activity wherein we are asked to concretely proclaim our conviction of renouncing our ungodly habits. Writing our names on those sign-up sheets  seemed like an effortless act but was it was powerfully significant in all its simplicity because signing those sheets meant stepping up to the challenge and daring to be 100% PURE.

All for all of this may God be Praised