TRANSFORMERS (Rise of the fallen)

Our thoughts …

TRANSFORMERS
“Rise of the fallen…”

Bro. Butsch & Sis. May Borja

During the recently concluded SFC Regional Conference last September 17-18, there was a sharer who opened up our thoughts and pushed us to realize the very essence of our being in community with God. A former lesbian who was forced to be one out of the need to raise their family together with her mother as their father abandoned them. The hard experience proved to be a vital factor in who she came to be being the partner of her mother all their lives. She realized that the main reason of her being a lesbian was her being a father to her family. One may say, “Pinatigas ang damdamin ng karanasan at panahon.” No wonder then that she came to know not of being a woman but more of being a strong and an able provider.

Here, we were reminded of how our environment and experiences can likewise affect our being. No doubt about it! However, let us not be so concern about what brought her to be a lesbian but rather focus ourselves at one of the greatest story of transformation brought about by a relationship with God. Such change came upon knowing God through the CFC Singles for Christ (SFC) after completing the Christian Life Program. Realizing the need to free herself from the bondage of lesbianism, she completely turned around to God and recommitted herself to be a woman that she was meant to be. She even brought her partner, ‘her ex-wife’, to the CLP. While others would doubt their being together under one roof, she declared before God and the entire conference that they are no longer what others think they are. In fact, she dreams that five years from now, she’ll be a wife with a family of her own and most of all, become Couples for Christ.

Again, while her story is truly amazing, we can’t help but be more amazed at the point that her passion includes that of being a CFC. We simply wish to put our hats off to those whole truly intend to continue transforming their lives in being part of our community. Our hearts beat for them the same way that our hearts went with a Youth for Christ (YFC) member in Los Banos whom we saw early this year as excited to become an SFC in joining its CLP. This brought us back to the time when we saw our children transformed from being Kids for Christ members to now leaders in YFC. With all these transformations at hand, we can dare say that this community that we have will be here in the next life time to the extent that we can truly expect the realization of our vision.

But all may not be well now as we may think it is. In our times spent across the ministries, we likewise witnessed some of our YFCs who do not intend to join SFC for reasons only they can accept. Along the way, we still can see SFCs not joining CFC after marriage or if ever they do, they could not commit to lead and serve the way they were. We also heard some KFCs who have not been to YFC despite their age. Can we then say, “ We gain some, we loose some?”

Realizing the very essence of our life in community with God, we just cannot settle this way. In fact, God would not be happy at all. For as we experience Christ this should be for life. Paul said, “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39). That is, if we truly experience Christ now, then we cannot afford to be left out. We need to hang on and transform our lives from one experience to another as we grow in His love for us. Our transformation is our being.

John Otberg pointed out in his book that transformation lies deep in every human heart. This is why people enter therapy, join health clubs, get into recovery groups, read self-help books, attend motivational seminars, and make New Year’s resolution. The possibility of transformation is the essence of hope. He further stated that the primary goal of our spiritual life is human transformation. First thing first. The first goal of spiritual life is the reclamation of human race.

The stories of the relationship between God and man reflect these observations. As man distance themselves from God, God reclaims such relationships as He did by sending His Son to redeem us. Nowadays, we ought to experience Christ in our lives and as we do, we shall become true witnesses to God’s unconditional love. Our transformed lives must definitely reflect our relationship with God. So eternal and worth the witnessing. If we are here for more than ten years now and still see ourselves in same way we were, then we ought to more than double our time now while it is not too late.

In essence, we should never get tired of instilling in our children, in our families, in our members the need to continuously transform our lives and become His worthy witnesses. We should ensure that the ministry that we are serving shall endeavor to further the experiences in Christ Jesus as they cross the different roads. There should be no soul among us shall vanish elsewhere. We should then continue to exert efforts to truly win the world for Christ and experience the Kingdom in the company of all our brethrens. We should never get tired of transforming our lives in order for us to really experience its Fullness in Christ.

Let us now prepare. Be ready. It’s transforming time… God be praised!

thIS

thIS i DON'T KNOW

… in Running the Race to Win

Our thoughts …

… in Running the Race to Win

Bro. Butsch Borja

Consider our desires. The desires of our heart… the desires of our family… the desires of the community. Sometimes we just could not help but wonder if God is indeed watching over us or hearing all our prayers especially when we become so impatient to see the answers to our desires. One point, after all the efforts were exerted, after all the hardworks were done, we end up to remain at the bottom of what we wish to become in the corporate hierarchy. After all the caring and loving, sometimes, our children do not reach the level we want them to be. After all the needs and preparations were done, after all invitations were sent, when the right session came, we end up with less number than what we desire.

True enough, our faith directs us to expect tat God is always there to provide our needs and our prayers especially when we spend time to serve Him. And in His time, everything will be in order. But somehow, there are times the answers are either delayed or long-awaited.

According to Christian writer Elisabeth Eliot, “Heaven is not here, it’s there. If we were given all we wanted here, our hearts would settle on this world rather than the next. God is forever luring us up and away from this one, wooing us to Himself and His still invisible Kingdom, where we will certainly find what we so keenly long for.”

So acceptable isn’t it? God really has so many ways to bring out the best in us because He truly loves us despite our weaknesses and even lapses. Somehow it is simply right to think that if ever God did not answer our desire, He has His own ways to extend His love for us. Maybe, it is what we meant in “In His time.” Our role then is to continue being so prayerful and patient so as to just expect and wait as He wills.

Nonetheless, we need to develop an attitude that the Lord would want us to for reasons He does meant for us. Simply put, the Lord may just want to instill in us something before He gives what our heart desires. During our last gathering, three points were emphasized amidst the challenges left before us knowing the results of our evangelization efforts during the first half of 2009. As we continue to listen from God Himself, He spoke to us in various ways revealing to us what He wanted to remind all brethrens in our pursuits towards the last half of the year.

A Quiet Heart

The Lord wanted us to develop a quiet heart just us what His Son did. E. Elliot described Jesus’ heart as a quiet heart. And why not? In the midst of the storm, He slept in the calm assurance that His Father was in control. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return. And knowing His mission, he never deviated. In fact, He even sat at supper with one who would deny Him and another who would betray Him willing even to wash their feet. Truly, Jesus was in unbroken intimacy of His Father’s love.

As it is necessary for us to know Jesus personally, we should develop in us His character so that others will see in us no one but Jesus Himself. And as we relate to them, our neighbors will truly find Jesus is us His servants. That is why we need to have a quiet heart like that of Jesus. Amidst all the lapses, amidst all the limitations, amidst all the underachievements, as our annual theme goes, we should then forget what lies behind and set our foot forward to what is ahead in Christ Jesus. We always say that in planning ahead or dealing with concerns, our pattern is Christ bearing in mind how He would address matters at hand.

To have a quiet heart is to attain purity of heart. To this end, purity of heart means to will just one thing. Jesus focused on only one thing: His Father’s will and nothing else. As His reason for being is to save God’s people, while He could have chosen to evade being His Father’s Son, He elected to push ahead and as planned. As in Psalm 16:5, “Lord You have assigned my portion and my cup, and have made my lot secure.”

Elliot further stated that whatever happened is assigned and in the process, every assignment is measured and controlled for our eternal good. As we accept the given portion other options are cancelled. Decisions become much easier, directions much clearer, and heart becomes quieter.

As such, if it is clear to us what we really want in life then we can simply move forward. Just like David, “One thing have I desired in the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life…” (Ps27:4) Jesus even asserted to the rich young man, “One thing you lack. Go, sell everything.” (Mark 10:21) And as laid upon us this year thru the letter of Paul to the Philippians, “One thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13-14)

A quiet heart is content with what God gives. All is grace. Simply, the Father is in charge. Our role is to accept our portion while our response matters. We just need to think of the promise: “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” (Is. 66:13) The choice is ours and everything depends on our willingness to see everything in God. We must then receive all from His hands and accept with gratitude just the portion and the cup He offers. And if at present, we still think if God has misplaced us amidst the unfavorable results of our desires by our standards, then think again: God came down and as a man and He showed how to live in this world that we might be changed. The secret then is Christ in me, not me in our favored standards.

Pay forward and follow through

As we set our eyes towards the prize in Christ Jesus, we are indeed so blessed to expect God’s promise of comfort in His Kingdom. And along the way we experience His presence in communion with our brethren. We are in His grace that we feel the Lord’s abounding presence through our brothers and sisters thus extending our family and making us truly families in the Holy Spirit renewing the face of the earth. In our effort to renew the face of the earth, we see the need for transformation of each and everyone. And this should definitely start with our family, we should seek to do the best we could to really bring our family into God’s dominion and see to it they are really in the right place.

While we are all here in the community for a long time, it is just right to really have transformed into God’s ways. We should then push the mission forward. Two things to do…

First we should learn to “Pay forward.” Paying forward is extending to others the blessings we received in our lives. We do not just stop at the point that we have God in us. He should be shared. That’s the very meaning of evangelization. From the one being helped, we should really be the ones to help others move on. We then should not stop with what we have but to go forth and run the race to win the prize in Christ Jesus. Just imagine if verybody does pay forward.

And next, we should “Follow through!” That extra effort to ensure everything is within the way as God planned. We need to consistently listen to Him in various ways. While we have completed the CLP, we should not stop there but pursue the direction towards true transformation of our brethren; we never stop evangelizing, we never stop loving, even those whom are very difficult to love.

Once again, in running the race to win, let us develop in us a quiet heart. Then, try to pay forward and make a follow through. Run the race to win. God be praised!

Problem or challenges...

Problema o Hamon?
Bro. Butsch Borja

Madalas sa mga panahon ng mga pag-rereport ng mga naisagawa at isasagawa pa, naitatanong marahil natin kung ano pa kaya ang nalimutan at kailangang sangkap upang tuluyang makamit natin ang inaasam nating resulta ng ating evangelization thrusts. Matapos nating maihanda ang lahat… mga kapatid, mga kakayahan, mga yaman, mga imbitasyon, at mga pakikipag-usap sa mga kinauukulan, sa kabila ng may mga napapadagdag ay may mga nawawalay. Bagaman may patuloy na pagkilos sa mga Christian Life Programs at iba pang mga gawain, marami pa rin ang tila mga kakulangan.

Dahil dito, nasasabi nating maraming problema? Sa nakaraang planning session ng probinsya, tinutukan natin ang mga problema. Ito nga marahil ang nararapat upang makagawa pa tayo karampatang pagkilos nang ang mga layunin ay makamit hanggang sa pagtatapos ng taon. Lamang ang pag-unawa natin sa tunay na problema ay isang mahirap na bagay na nangangailangan ng masusing pag-aaral. Sabi nga, “identifying the right problem is part and parcel of its solution.” Ang tamang pagtukoy kung ano ang tunay na problema ay bahagi na ng solusyon nito. Kung kaya’t napakahalaga ang pag-aaral nito sa tamang pamamaraan. Kapag dito nagkamali, hindi ito mawawala. Patuloy na hahadlang sa mga layunin ng sino man.

Isang halimbawa, madalas na nating naririnig ang sinasabing “problema” ng kakulangan ng mga coordinators. Nabanggit pa nga na sa Central 2, apat lang daw ang nakikita sa mga monthly gatherings. Sana lang ay unawain natin ang bagay na ito. Una, ang problema kapag hindi nabigyan ng karampatang solusyon ay walang mapagtatagumpayan. Maaaring may magawa subali’t wala itong gaanong halaga. Kung ano lamang ang makamit ay tila hindi sapat sa mga naitalagang layunin. Sa gayon ay walang pagbabagong magaganap.

Kung titingnan ang narating na natin lalo pa’t dumanas tayo ng mga pagsubok noong 2007, masasabi pa ba nating walang naging mabuting pagbabago? Sa nakaraang pagdiriwang ng taunang anibersaryo na halos mapuno ng Couples for Christ community ang Luneta, wala bang mabuting pagbabago? Marahil kung sa bilang, tila wala ngang pagbabago sapagka’t nanatili tayong marami subali’t hindi lang ito ang pamantayan. Ang mga naging pag-unlad ng mga pamilya ay siyang mahalagang pagbabagong naganap. Walang sinuman ang makakapagsabi na hindi tayo nagkaroon ng maunlad na pamumuhay kasama si Kristo.

Kung babalikan natin ang mga kabataan ng Central 2, kailan man ay hindi nangyari na walang delegasyon ang mga ito. Malayo man at malapit, hindi nawawalan ng partisipasyon. Minsan pa nga nang hindi makatutupad ang mga dapat na gumanap sa isang kumpetisyon, isang tawag lang ay hindi nag-atubili ang mga ito. Kung kaya’t bagaman hindi nakuha ang unang gantimpala ay nakamtan din naman nila ang respeto ng mga katunggali sa ipinamalas nilang talento. Magpahanggang sa ngayon ay hindi nahuhuli ang mga kabataan ng Central 2 sa malaking pagbabago. Saksi kami sa mga bawa’t gawain ng mga ito at hindi naging problema ang kakulangan ng coordinators. Dahil kung ito ay problema, walang maisasakatuparan ang mga kabataang ito. Maari ngang kulang ang mga coordinators subali’t hindi ito ang tunay na problema dahil patuloy ang pagganap ng mga kabataang nagsusumikap na maging mabuting Kristiyano. Dagdag pa rito, ang mga inayos na mga relasyon ng mga kabataan sa harap ng mga coordinators. Dito sila tunay na kahanga-hanga lalo na ang mga coordinators na maliban sa kanilang tungkuling ito ay may mga households at parokya pa silang pinaglilingkuran. Gayon din ang mga pakikipag-usap nila sa mga schools na may programa tayo. Ang mga kulang na coordinators na ito ang silang gumagabay sa mga paglilingkod ng mga kabataan umuugnay kay Kristo tungo sa hindi maging suliranin ng ating lipunan. Walang gawain na hindi natitingnan, walang impormasyon na hindi nakararating sa lahat g bahagi ng ministry na ito.

Kung ganito, hindi natin pwedeng masabi na problema ang kakulangan ng coordinators dahilan sa natutupad ang mga layunin nito. Kung hindi problema, ano ito? Kalugod-lugod ang mga presentasyon ng Social Ministries dahil sa pamamagitan nila ay may na-realize kami. Mas higit ang kanilang pangangailangan ng mga mga coordinators subali’t hindi namutawi sa kanila na ito ay problema kundi manapa ay bahagi ng hamon o “challenges” sa pagganap ng kanilang responsibilidad. Ano nga ba ang “hamon”?

Ang hamon ay mga limitasyon o kakulangan subali’t hindi nakapipigil sa pagtupad ng layunin. Maaaring mahihirapan subali’t may magagawang paraan tungo sa matupad ang mga ito. Hindi ito dahilan na mapigilan ang pag-ibig ng Panginoong Hesukristo na madama ng mga pinag-uukulan ng ating paglilingkod. May mga pagsubok at hirap sa daraanan subali’t naipagpapatuloy ang paglalakbay dahilan na rin sa gabay at patnubay ng Diyos. Hindi ba ito pa nga ang mas dakila? Kung saan tayo kulang ay doon tayo tinutulungan ng Diyos tungo sa lubusan Siyang makilala at madama. Subali’t hindi sa lahat nga pagkakataon ay aasa na lamang tayo sa Kanya. Sabi nga, sa kabila ng gabay ng Diyos, “we must run aground!” (Gawa 27:26) Kung may kakulangan, pinupunan ito ng mga may kakayanan ng walang pasubali kundi ng may kaligayahan.

Ang karanasan ni Pablo sa kanyang paglalakbay bilang isang bilanggo sa dagat ng Adriatico ay nagsasabi kung paano siya sinamahan ng isang anghel at sinabi sa kanya na huwag mabalisa sa kabila ng unos dahil ililigtas siya ng Diyos at ang mga kasama niya. Binati ni Pablo ang mga bantay at kapwa pasahero ng salitang ito, at matapos ito, aniya, “Datapuwa’t tayo ay kailangang mapadpad sa isang pulo.” (Gawa 27:26) Maaaring mahinto panandalian ang paglalakbay, subali’t ito marahil ang pagkakaton na binibigyan tayo ng kakayahang mapagmuni ang tunay na kahulugan ng ating paglalakbay. May mga limitasyon subali’t hindi nito mapipigilan ang kaganapan ng tagumpay ni Kristo sa mundo. Tumatabi man tayo dahilan sa ilang mga kakulangan subali’t hindi ito kailan man magpapatigil sa ating paglalakbay. Bagkus ay dito natin natututunan ang mga mas higit na mahahalagang bagay, ang mga bagay na hindi man natin nakikita ay umuugnay sa ating pananampalataya.

Ayon kay Elisabeth Elliot, ang langit ay hindi dito, kundi sa kabilang dako. Kung ang lahat ay ibibigay sa atin dito sa mundong ito, ang puso natin ay masasanay rito at hindi sa susunod na buhay. Patuloy tayong itinutulak ng Diyos sa malayo sa mundong ito. Itinutulak Niya tayo sa Kanya at sa Kaharian ng Diyos, kung saan natin makikita ang mga bagay na inaasam natin. Marahil ipinapakita Niya sa atin na hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay nasa ating tabi ang ating kailangan. Ito pa marahil ang sagot ng Diyos sa “Huwag Mo kaming ipahintulot sa tukso…” – ang tukso na magkasya na lamang sa mga bagay na nakikita o ninanais.

Problema ba o hamon? Ang kakulangan ng coordinators ay isang reflection marahil ng mas malalim na problema, subali’t hindi ito ang problema. Reflection ito ng kung ano ang nagaganap sa kabuuan ng komunidad ng CFC: ang kawalan ng ganap na pagsasanay ng mga lider o “leaders’ formation.” Bagaman meron tayong takdang gawain nito, lamang hindi marahil ito tunay at ganap na natutupad. Marahil pa nga ay ginagawa ito dahil lamang sa requirement ito at hindi dahil sa mahalaga itong bahagi ng ating komunidad kung kaya’t nawawala ang tunay na kahulugan ng mga ito. Dito marahil tayo dapat tumutok. At hindi ito suliranin ng mga evangelization sectors lamang kundi ng kabuuan ng komunidad. Saan ka man, sino ka man, may bahagi ka rito. Hindi ka dapat maghintay lamang. Kailangan nating balikan ang ating mga pagkilos upang sa gayon ay maging tunay na leaders ang lahat dahil patuloy ang ating pagkalap ng mga anak ng Diyos sa ating komunidad. Dito natin mahuhustuhan ang mga pangangailangang coordinators na tunay na mga servant leaders ni Kristo. May commitment at may inilalaang pagkilos para sa ikatutupad ng mga layunin.

Problema ba o hamon? Ani Bro. Mon de Leon, “At the end of the day, it’s not the numbers but the works that have been done (in Christ Jesus).” Hindi ang bilang kundi ang kaganapan ng mga layunin ng ating komunidad.

Sama-sama nating harapin ang hamon ng ating paglilingkod at hindi ang tukuyin ang isang kakulangan bilang isang problema gayong patuloy ang katuparan ng kaloob ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ni Kristo Hesus. Tanggapin natin ang mga hamon na ito. Papuri sa Diyos!

When God says…, just listen

When God says…, just listen
Bro. Butsch Borja

One Sunday during the Provincial Leaders Assembly of the CFC Singles for Christ in GK Los Banos Ville, the Lord inspired me to write this piece and be able to testify to His honor and glory.

I was at the SFC Leaders Assembly as the concurrent Cluster Couple Head of Central 2 Singles for Christ following the migration of our previous couple leaders to the USA (apart from being the sector leader). In the middle of the worship as I opened my eyes, and saw the beauty of the place with its green surroundings and colorful houses built through the sweat of the GK stake holders both from CFC Global Mission Foundation and the FFL, their benefactors and partners. What is so unique in GK LB Ville is that despite the split, the group that pursued for the realization of the Los Baños Ville continue to work together and this collaboration radiated into the Parish of St. Therese of Child Jesus.

Chapter empowerment: Call for greater coordination and leaders’ formation

I realized then how the place had changed from a bare area to a beautiful GK village today. Truly, as an SFC puts it, when you are in GK, you are in God’s Kingdom. The beauty of the surroundings made me think of the joy of our service in the community that we treasure a lot. After the much awaited Sector Evangelization Walk and Praise held in San Pablo City last February 1, 2009 where a large number of brethren attended and proclaim God’s Word in public, we remained truly inspired to serve the sector the best way we can. Through our Evangelization Walk and Praise, we called for greater coordination in our evangelization thrust among CFC members and its family ministries. The event, empowered the chapters to start our evangelization assured of full coordination among our brethren in the community. At the moment, we are faced with scarcity of leaders who are willing to serve to the fullest. We realized that our posture must be to form leaders who could be instruments in maintaining members. With the volume of work at hand, we cannot afford to have leaders up the ladder while membership is dwindling in the chapters. During the evangelization praise, this is the strong message of the Lord to us, “to empower the chapters and form new leaders for my work that I have entrusted to you! This is how you can move forward in Me!”

We chose to concurrently serve as Cluster Leaders of the SFC rather than assign a couple from the lower service level in order for us to facilitate the direction of the “near-future” of this community that we love. When we were asked why we have not chosen a replacement for our SFC Coordinator, our reply was, “we wish to give priority to leaders in the chapters in line with their true empowerment.” We believe that it is disadvantageous to the Chapters if we keep on fast tracking leaders to higher level of service leaving the chapters lacking with truly committed leaders from whom our members can draw inspiration from There may be leaders in the provincial level who are underutilized while they can be effectively tapped to serve as evangelization head in the chapter level. In the sector, one will find family ministry coordinators who are likewise evangelization leaders in the chapters. Also, evangelization leaders in the clusters/chapters serving in GK, music ministry and parishes (in particular to pre-cana seminars and other PPC functions). Extending the love of Christ without compromising our respective families as we serve.

Chapter empowerment: Call for greater witnessing

We seek God as to what He truly means of chapter empowerment in the furtherance of His work before us. The Lord affirms our understanding and directions of giving the best leaders in the chapter who can inspire members and imitate them. Chapter leaders are to set examples to all members how to be servant leader themselves, that is, members seeing Christ in them. The challenge therefore for us leaders is to exemplify the true meaning of servant leadership as Christ has shown to us. This challenge radiates even to our families as we serve others. Having witnessed the love of God, our lives and families are transformed as we well.
An empowered chapter redounds to empowered families. Our families define our chapters and even our church. Evangelization then should commence and continue in our own family. Greater witnessing requires empowerment of our respective families. We can only do this by bringing them into our community and forming them to be the kind of servant leaders that Christ truly desires.

It is my conviction to strengthen the community at the Chapter level by providing committed leaders, thus prioritizing Chapter assignments over provincial level assignment (at least in the near future). One may argue but we opt to listen to the affirmation given by God.

Listening to God’s call and understanding His affirmations

Back in 2007, in the midst of the split, the sector chose to journey with Christ rather than take side. While this meant to stay in the CFCGMFI, we chose to seek Christ as our goal. We journeyed, “From crisis to where Christ is…” (adapted from a book of same title). After we’ve prayed deeply, we choose to bank on our love relationships with God and to each other as our guiding principles into our journey. Our inspirational phrase, “Sa Central 2, close tayo!”
Little did we know that towards latter part of that year, the community shall adopt a theme in the incoming 2008 “Love one another as I have loved you…” (John 13:34-35). The theme affirmed road we took. During our evangelization rally in January of 2008, we labored to deepen the meaning of that love. We realized that next to the love felt from God is the love for self the right way so that we may be able to extend the same love for others. Simply stated, we can only give what we do have. So we again listen to God to give us the direction to make the year as meaningful to all of us as it should be. He led us to “mend loose ends in our relationships with Him, with our spouses, with our families, with our brethren.” This led us to run the 1st Family Enrichment Retreat in the sector starting from the sector household. The experience gave us opportunities to mend relationship problems in our families thus making each of us a better person in Christ Jesus.

Towards the second half of 2008, having extended to our members deepened appreciation of what love really is and having declared that the sector is ‘moving forward,’ we received God’s instruction during one of our household meetings to focus on the community vision. We responded by extending to our members the six-part nourishment materials in English and Filipino (..topic? )to deepen once again our resolve to the new expanded CFC Vision Statement. As we completed the same sometime in October of the same year, we then received our 2009 theme; “FORWARD in CHRIST” in Phil. 3:13-14.

Hence, this brought us to drumbeat the present year after having received God’s directions during the Leader’s Conference by way of our Evangelization Walk and Praise.

Listening: our strength, our empowerment

God’s affirmation gives us so much joy in our service, and the same joy manifested in our children serving in the KFC and YFC, the same joy empowered our mother in her service through Handmaids of the Lord.

Realizing once again the joy of our service, we’re not content with what we know and with what we want to do. The joy that comes from Christ Himself was the source of our empowerment,. We longed to listen to His words and directions through various means.

We need to listen by way of our contemplative prayers. Let us then bring back a meaningful household meeting so that after the meeting we go home with so much to give to our families and brethren. We need to listen through the wisdom of our leaders and through the testimonies of our brothers and sisters in the community. Let us then strengthen our regular chapter assemblies so that all members look forward to attend to and be fed. We are to listen through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst and through our hearts as touched by God. Let us make our teaching tracks inspiring and life-transforming by addressing the real needs of our chapters and not merely doing it because it is required.

Only then can we say that what had been done are God’s, and not ours. Psalm 18:32-33 rightly puts it, “it is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to stand on the heights.” Not ours but His. We just have to listen and let God. On to our journey. May God be praised. (butschmayborja)

Whatever I do, I do it because I love you!

Whatever I do, I do it because I love you!

… with the Fullness of God's Transforming Love.

What better words can we receive from somebody than, “Whatever I do, I do it because I love you!”? It gives us an assurance that the person will never abandon us even if at times we neglect them; even if we fail to recognize his/her efforts in giving the best for us. He could be our parents, our spouse, our children, or anybody around us. Moreso, if the same words will come from God who’s always there for us, guiding us and providing for us every bit of our lives. The truth is God has done it before when He sent His Son to redeem us.

Indeed, God is so great that He never abandons us though at times we distance ourselves from Him. While men often neglect His presence, He always does everything to bring us back to Him. He is always there for us while we never really felt His physical presence in our midst. I then remember what my mother used to tell me during my elementary days that God uses people or opportunities to give us what we prayed for. Whenever one ask God for something, He never gave it outright but rather an opportunity to lead one to have it. If we ask for faith, He creates opportunity to lead us to practice faith. If we ask for patience, He brings us opportunity to develop patience. If we ask Him to empower us, He never gave it at a click of his fingers even if He could for He is God. Instead, He always leads us either to be tapped to testify or to be mere listeners to His word or to witness the empowerment of others. Likewise, just as when we eagerly wanted to serve Him, He does not readily lead us to it but gives us time to focus on establishing relationship with Him first.

Remember the story of sisters Martha and Mary? (Luke 10:40) Martha as she loved Jesus dearly, she spent so much time serving Him leaving her no time to enjoy Jesus’ company and get to know Him better. The harder Martha worked the more frustrated she became with her sister, Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus. Martha’s service though started with gladness deteriorated into resentment and envy. It is good to want to serve Christ as an expression of love for what He has done for us but when we consume our time and energies leaving no time for Him, we are too busy. Martha might have thought the work won’t get done if she won’t do it. But Jesus taught that our highest priority must be our relationship with Him so that if anything distracts us from it then that activity is not from God.

At times, serving God by His mission is the best way to know and experience God. At other times, it is more important to sit quietly at His feet and listen to what He is saying. We are not called to continually sit at the feet of Jesus, otherwise our service for Him would cease. Neither are we called to serve Him incessantly without taking time to find restoration in His presence. The idea then is to achieve perfect balance so that we will experience the fullness of God’s love, truly showing that whatever He does, He does it because He loves us. Being with Jesus as the greatest manifestation of God’s love leads us to be truly transformed into ways God wanted us to.
--------------------------

Have you been serving God so diligently that you have not had time to spend with Him?

What could be the greatest transformation in yourself that you have achieved so far? Are there more to work for?

Act of Random Kindness!

Act of Random Kindness!

… that Sets the World on Fire

Having watched once again the movie, “Evan, the Almighty!” brought us back to the story of Noah’s Ark only this time it has a modern setting in the midst of politics in Washington D.C. The movie is all about a neophyte Congressman who prayed to God on his first day in Congress to help him change the world that had gone so wild. The Lord then thru a man’s image appeared before him and instructed him to build an ark together with his two son right in the village where they live. And so just like what Noah experienced, he and his family suffered ridicules and persecutions but later persevered to build the ark. Right when so many animals toured to the ark and consequently threatened by government representatives to destroy it, the dam that contain huge body of water collapsed and the stream pushed the ark right in the doorstep of congress exposing the weak construction materials used in the dam project of a senior representative to the Congress.

When everything is settled, the family of Evan went on a hiking tour that took them quite a long time to pursue due to his busy schedule in the congress and there he met again God. Evan then told God, “nothing much had changed!” But God replied, “Haven’t you considered spending time with your family a huge change in your life?” Evan asked God how can the world change, and God continued saying, “an ACT of RANDOM KINDNESS at a time!”

In the story, Evan for a moment was distracted by the lures of politics as he attempted to undermine his assignment from God. But when he realized that indeed it was a calling from God, he and his family persisted and focused on their directions: that of creating change in the world through the ark. Truly, as what Noah experienced.

Similar situation was experienced by Elijah (1 Kings 17:1) in knowing his primary assignment to announce the end of drought that the people underwent as an act of judgment for those who worshipped idols rather than God. In the process, he witnessed the most awesome display of God’s power in the Scripture defeating the prophets of Baal and fire falling from heaven. Elijah could have been easily distracted by such spectacular happening but he likewise focused on obeying the will of God by delivering his primary message.

A lot among us could easily be sidetracked by successes we experienced and totally forget the original plan of God. In the same way, most of us wanted change in the world but when we witness extravagance brought by technology and big events, we dare not do the littlest thing that we ought to since we simply see ourselves as nothing among the many whom do not care for the world. The worst of it all is sometimes we just refuse to do good simply because greater number are doing the converse and since this is so, we tend to right what is entirely wrong. As if no matter what we do, in our smallness, we cannot effect change.

But in our smallness comes the greatness of God. When nothing could be done, as human as we are, there the Lord shall make the big difference to accomplish such a huge task so that He will be the one to be known and not anybody else. The experience of a community reflects where too much admiration was given to few leaders and the successes it attained in 25 years so that when the leaders quarreled, the community suffered and threatened the very work of God. Perhaps the Lord wanted it to refocus on Him.

Setting the world on fire… is to change the world into what the Lord originally planned it to be… to be focused on God. And this will have to start from us… in our smallness… in our hurts… in our littlest efforts… so that these can make known what great God we have. All these will have to start in a simple decision to do something… to focus on something… to persevere on something that the Lord wanted us to do… even if this can mean just a simple little thing. We should not be afraid to do a small thing even if it will affect just us for as the stories were told, the Lord is just seeking from us… a simple act of random kindness at a time. (bourghams)

--------------------------------------

Will your success today cause you to disobey tomorrow?

Decide on what act of random kindness will you do in tomorrow and each day to come.