Thursday, September 17, 2009
MISSIONS CONFERENCE 2009
It seemed that the day started wrong--rain was falling hard and there was a threat of storm according to the morning news. “God is in control,” my husband Dan and I kept rehearsing the words, and true enough as we got close to church the rain started abating. By lunch time God allowed the sun to peek through the dark clouds.
It was a blessing to get reacquainted with our existing missionaries and to get to know the new ones, be personally updated with their ministry, hear of their triumphs in Christ and learn of their needs. Since the church is now supporting about 40 missionaries, we are only able to have them for the Missions Conference once every five years.
From the “mouth of babes” our children’s choir, we heard different verses and missionary quotes that warmed and convicted our hearts. Regarding the importance of missions, the Singles’ Group dramatized the life of Pastor Eric Garcia as a missionary in Kalinga and the risks he went through to present the word of God to the mountain tribes. The choir reinforced the challenges from the pulpit through the songs they sang: Bring Them In, Give Me a Heart, and Christ for the World We Sing. We were blest by Sister Murillo’s testimony and were exhorted by God’s word during the preaching services by Pastor Castillo who preached on “The Vastness and Abundance of Harvest” expounding on Matthew 9:35-38 and Pastor Espinol’s “A Heart for Ministry” focusing on Romans 10. Later through the week, the blessings kept pouring in as Pastor Balila spoke on “Whatsoever Ye Do” (1 Cor.10:31); Pastor Arana on “I Am not Ashamed” (Rom.1:16); Pastor Cayat “An Effective Voluntary Ministry” (1 Cor. 9:15-27); Pastor Fabro “Paul’s Triumphant Testimony” (2 Tim. 4:4-6); tonight we will hear Pastor Elupre speak on “Volunteers must be people of priority” (Matthew 28:16-20) and Pastor Dinampo “The People had the mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6).
“A VOLUNTEER FOR JESUS” is this year’s Missions Conference theme. I appreciated the way Pastor Gilbert opened the service, he emphasized that there are those who are “called,” and yet God also accepts and cherishes those who VOLUNTEER. Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Words that are not so easy to say considering the difficulties involved. I praise the Lord for all missionaries who have heeded the call and have gone where I could not. I thank God that somehow we can become partakers of their fruit when we pray for them and share what little we can give.
As we stood, sometimes served, sang, and occasionally sat to rest— Dan and I couldn’t help but thank the Lord as well, for those in GLBC who volunteered time, talent and treasure for our missionaries. What we could no longer do, someone else in church has volunteered and lovingly done. It was an extra treat to behold all of these. Yes Lord, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace” and how beautiful also were the hands of thy people I thought, as they served these men and women of beautiful feet!
Let me end with excerpts from Sunday’s choir specials:
“Who’ll go and help this Shepherd kind, Help Him the wandering ones to find:
Who’ll bring the lost ones to the fold? Where they’ll be sheltered from the cold.”
Give me a heart that is tender; Give me a heart that will pray
Give me a heart that will give, will go-- Give me a heart that will humbly obey.
“Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring”
May the Lord continue to give His word free course and may we freely allow Him to course it through us.
It was a blessing to get reacquainted with our existing missionaries and to get to know the new ones, be personally updated with their ministry, hear of their triumphs in Christ and learn of their needs. Since the church is now supporting about 40 missionaries, we are only able to have them for the Missions Conference once every five years.
From the “mouth of babes” our children’s choir, we heard different verses and missionary quotes that warmed and convicted our hearts. Regarding the importance of missions, the Singles’ Group dramatized the life of Pastor Eric Garcia as a missionary in Kalinga and the risks he went through to present the word of God to the mountain tribes. The choir reinforced the challenges from the pulpit through the songs they sang: Bring Them In, Give Me a Heart, and Christ for the World We Sing. We were blest by Sister Murillo’s testimony and were exhorted by God’s word during the preaching services by Pastor Castillo who preached on “The Vastness and Abundance of Harvest” expounding on Matthew 9:35-38 and Pastor Espinol’s “A Heart for Ministry” focusing on Romans 10. Later through the week, the blessings kept pouring in as Pastor Balila spoke on “Whatsoever Ye Do” (1 Cor.10:31); Pastor Arana on “I Am not Ashamed” (Rom.1:16); Pastor Cayat “An Effective Voluntary Ministry” (1 Cor. 9:15-27); Pastor Fabro “Paul’s Triumphant Testimony” (2 Tim. 4:4-6); tonight we will hear Pastor Elupre speak on “Volunteers must be people of priority” (Matthew 28:16-20) and Pastor Dinampo “The People had the mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6).
“A VOLUNTEER FOR JESUS” is this year’s Missions Conference theme. I appreciated the way Pastor Gilbert opened the service, he emphasized that there are those who are “called,” and yet God also accepts and cherishes those who VOLUNTEER. Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Words that are not so easy to say considering the difficulties involved. I praise the Lord for all missionaries who have heeded the call and have gone where I could not. I thank God that somehow we can become partakers of their fruit when we pray for them and share what little we can give.
As we stood, sometimes served, sang, and occasionally sat to rest— Dan and I couldn’t help but thank the Lord as well, for those in GLBC who volunteered time, talent and treasure for our missionaries. What we could no longer do, someone else in church has volunteered and lovingly done. It was an extra treat to behold all of these. Yes Lord, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace” and how beautiful also were the hands of thy people I thought, as they served these men and women of beautiful feet!
Let me end with excerpts from Sunday’s choir specials:
“Who’ll go and help this Shepherd kind, Help Him the wandering ones to find:
Who’ll bring the lost ones to the fold? Where they’ll be sheltered from the cold.”
Give me a heart that is tender; Give me a heart that will pray
Give me a heart that will give, will go-- Give me a heart that will humbly obey.
“Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring”
May the Lord continue to give His word free course and may we freely allow Him to course it through us.
Monday, April 13, 2009
MAX
We called him Max, short for a famous coffee brand Maxwell, because Dan and I loved coffee and Max was as black as a freshly made brew. He was a rottweiller, just a month old when we got him from a friend. As he grew older and bigger, it was evident that although people feared him, he truly was just a ‘puppy at heart’ that got a little older every year. He can be tough and ferocious when he wanted to, his booming bark scaring the wits out of the garbage collector one time when he escaped and causing the bill collector to miss a step or two, when given a Max surprise attack. With us however, a long “Maaaxiii” call will send him scurrying to our feet, hurriedly sitting, lying down and rolling over so he could get a pat and a tummy rub. It wasn’t hard to give.
We called him Max, short for a famous coffee brand Maxwell, because Dan and I loved coffee and Max was as black as a freshly made brew. He was a rottweiller, just a month old when we got him from a friend. As he grew older and bigger, it was evident that although people feared him, he truly was just a ‘puppy at heart’ that got a little older every year. He can be tough and ferocious when he wanted to, his booming bark scaring the wits out of the garbage collector one time when he escaped and causing the bill collector to miss a step or two, when given a Max surprise attack. With us however, a long “Maaaxiii” call will send him scurrying to our feet, hurriedly sitting, lying down and rolling over so he could get a pat and a tummy rub. It wasn’t hard to give.
It was the Easter holiday and no business establishments were open so that when we noticed Max looking kinda sick, I was hoping that he would shake it off like any other illness he got. It was the morning after Easter when I noticed his heavy and fast breathing that was usually a sign of acid building up from a generalized infection. He tried to get up when I patted and called him and when he finally did, it turned out that he used up his last ounce of energy. I tried to give a little bit of first aid, a little oral hydration and medication, but it was too late. He succumbed too fast. I watched him helplessly as he took his last breath. We eventually had to wrap him up, and as we did, I couldn’t help but cry over poor Max. I grieved at how he suffered and I cried over my neglect, but my cries were too late. I should have done what I could while he was still alive. I had lost my chance.
It was then at that moment the thought came: How many of my loved ones, my family and friends, have I known to be aching and needing comfort and care? How many of them are in need of God’s Word yet I haven’t shared it with them enough and as often as I could? The Lord spoke to my heart-- if I could cry like so over my poor dog, how about my loved ones—my family and friends that I care so much more about and love so deeply?
Man is plagued by a spiritual illness to which I have found a cure, a cure that has brought me joys untold but have I done my best to impart it? Have I really tried? How long do I wait before I tell them? I pray I won’t wait ‘til it’s too late.
“How many are the lost that I have lifted
How many are the chained I’ve helped to free
I wonder have I done my best for Jesus
When he has done so much for me.”
Act 4:29 “And now, Lord … grant unto thy servant, that with all boldness (I) may speak thy word”
Phil 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
These notes came from a message I taught at a ladies seminar a couple of years ago, may it be a blessing to all:
FINDING YOURSELF FEELING LOW?? HAVE A PLAN! NIP & THANK & SING! Nip the unhappy thought in the bud and start counting your blessings… then next thing you know, you'll be SINGING!
Learn to GO BACK TO THE BASICS. If medicine has its ABC's of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) the Bible has what I call the ABCs of SPIRITUAL RESUSCITATION. May your souls be revived through this plan.
A - ALLOW God to speak to you through READING and MEDITATING on His word.
*To have a HEALTHY HAPPY HEART: EAT & DRINK
(O taste and see, God's word IS GOOD!) & REST RIGHT (on the Lord)!
B - BELIEVING His Word to be true (taking God at his Word!!)
My dearest Godly, level headed husband Dan, once gave me a poster that read
"Worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do – but it doesn't get you anywhere!" How true!
*To have a HEALTHY HAPPY HEART: THINK RIGHT! "
C - COMMUNICATING with Him through PRAYER at all times, making sure to CONFESS SINS.
*To have a HEALTHY HAPPY HEART: PRAY RIGHT!
We of course need to also D - DO what His Word says!
*To have a HEALTHY HAPPY HEART: DO RIGHT!
E - EXALT Him (doing all for his Glory!).
F - FELLOWSHIP WITH BELIEVERS and G - GO
The Bible is our Spiritual Life Policy, we will know and get our BENEFITS as we regularly read and study it carefully. (Joshua 1:8)
"Although precariously perched
Atop life's turbulent seas
My heart sits calm and is at rest.
Life's alarms and terrors cease
Not a thing my peace can seize--
I'm safe, within my Father's breast!" ~ipb
"That the trial of your faith… might be found unto the praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ… whom having not seen, ye love… YE REJOICE WITH JOY UNSPEAKABLE and full of glory." (1Peter 1:7 – 8)
MY NEVER AGAIN LIST
It was August 1, 1989 and I was succumbing to unhappy thoughts. I was in the last leg of my Medical Board Exam review and was getting insecure of classmates who seem to be far advanced in their studies and I was also getting anxious at the thought of the exam that loomed ahead; I was also beset by personal problems. The Lord brought great comfort through this list that a dear friend and prayer warrior, Ms. Brenda Garren, gave me months before that day. May it do the same for you.
MY NEVER AGAIN LIST…
1st : Never again will I confess I CAN'T for
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Philippians 4:13
2nd : Never again will I confess I LACK, for
"My God shall supply all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19
3rd : Never again will I confess FEAR, for
"God hath not given me the spirit of fear, but of love and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7
4th : Never again will I confess DOUBT and lack of faith, for
"God hath given to every man the measure of faith."
Romans 12:3
5th : Never again will I confess WEAKNESS, for
"the Lord is the strength of my life…"Psalm 27:1… and
"the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits."
Daniel 11:32
6TH : Never again will I confess DEFEAT, for
"God always causeth me to triumph in Christ Jesus."
2 Corinthians 2:14
7th : Never again will I confess WORRIES and FRUSTRATIONS, for I am
"Casting all my cares upon Him for He careth for me." 1 Peter 5:7
In Christ I am "CARE-FREE"
Thursday, January 8, 2009
If I may borrow some of J. Elliot's words:
"Only ONE LIFE, 'twil soon be past
and it's not WHO I have become BUT
ONLY WHAT'S DONE for CHRIST
that truly satisfies and LASTS!
It's been a blessed Christmas and I hope to find the time to write dear friends a decent letter. Am so thankful for those who have kept in touch throughout the year via updates and forwarded helpful emails. I truly look forward to them and have enjoyed reading it all.
"Only ONE LIFE, 'twil soon be past
and it's not WHO I have become BUT
ONLY WHAT'S DONE for CHRIST
that truly satisfies and LASTS!
It's been a blessed Christmas and I hope to find the time to write dear friends a decent letter. Am so thankful for those who have kept in touch throughout the year via updates and forwarded helpful emails. I truly look forward to them and have enjoyed reading it all.
It's my prayer that Christmas celebration was blest by the love of family and friends as ours was. I sincerely wish all a familiar yet very true, blessings from God this coming year:
"success and prosperity" and "great peace"
These are wishes that I know will come true for those who:
~love God's word and have not allowed God's law to depart from their mouth,
~whose meditated in His word day and night,
~and have been, and are careful, to do all that is written therein!
John 8:29 is one of the special verses that challenged me at the beginning of this year: "For I do always those things that please Him"
May we continue our new walk in Christ, doing all that pleases Him.
"success and prosperity" and "great peace"
These are wishes that I know will come true for those who:
~love God's word and have not allowed God's law to depart from their mouth,
~whose meditated in His word day and night,
~and have been, and are careful, to do all that is written therein!
John 8:29 is one of the special verses that challenged me at the beginning of this year: "For I do always those things that please Him"
May we continue our new walk in Christ, doing all that pleases Him.
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