Rhaine Danielle's Christening

Thanks to Pastor Ron De Guzman of Lighthouse Church Alabang for dedicating our little angel to our Lord Jesus Christ.

During the ceremony he taught as 4 things that we need as a REAL parents.

R - responsible
E - enduring
A - affriming
L - loving

He said parenting never stops. Even if our kids get married they would still come to us parents. I want to say thank you to everyone who celebrated this special event with us.

Ninong JJ

Ninang Bess

Ninang Keren

Ninang Mitch

Mamu

With my Ninong and Ninang who are present

Me, Robin, Rhaine, David with Ptr. Ron

D-Group

For 2 consecutive weeks now D-Group or discipleship group is being promoted in CCF. "Grow BIG in a Small Group" is their slogan. In a big congregation like CCF, people grows more spiritually through their smaller group or D-Group. D-Group are small group of people whom you meet everyweek to study the word of God and ofcourse to make friends and have some fun.

I was an active church member before I got married. I was part of the music ministry and was involve in different church activities. But now all I can do is go to church every Sunday. I know I've been missing a lot of things and actually spending more time with other things rather than God. I just got a text message from a D-Group inviting us couple to attend their group this coming Saturday. I hope we can attend and start refreshing our relationship with God.

Having Faith in Midst of the Impossible

Faith, believes in things that is unseen, like believing in God. We actually have faith on a lot of things that we maybe are not aware of. Example, sitting on chair believing that it can take our weight, riding a bus or jeep believing that it will bring us safe to our destination, eating food in restaurant believing that it's clean and would not cause any disease etc. How is your faith in God? Or do you have faith in Him? Do you only worship and give thanks to Him when everything is smooth in your life?

I think it is human nature to only pray when things are not doing right. We must change that attitude and learn to pray no matter what the situation is. Most of the time we pray more often when we are having difficulties in life. If everything is all right we just say "Thank you, Lord or forget about Him. We tend to relax and think that everything is under control.

How do you think we can improve our faith with God? Romans 10:17 (King James Version) says "So then faith cometh by hearing, hearing the word of God." If you don't know God's word or I would say God's promises how would claim it or believe in it. We should do our part as children of God. This is what I learned last Sunday service. We should KNOW God's word, BELIEVE in God, OBEY God and PRAY with thanks giving.

True faith is tested in times of trial. Let say you are praying for healing of your love one but instead God take him away, you are praying for financial help but it seems like its getting worst and you are losing more, you are praying for your husband or wife but instead they betray you and leave you for someone else. When God says no to your prayer, how do you react? Do you blame God or do you still continue worshipping and praising him?

"Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" this is Job's answered to his wife when he was told to curse God and die. Right now I am having financial problem. My husband doesn't have a job, I am thinking of hospital bills when I give birth this coming July, how will be able to survive for 2 months during my maternity leave when I don't have income, my credit card bills, enrollment of my son this coming June... etc. Though I am not getting enough sleep, sometimes I am not feeling well, my back hurts due to pregnancy I couldn't afford to absent because of our financial needs. A lot of times I wanted to give up but I know there is no escape and things will not get better if I will not be strong enough to face this trial. I also don't want my kid to suffer if I give up. After the service, it was then I realize I was having a very big burden because I am carrying all of these all by myself and forget about God. I walk on my own ways, look for my own solution and forget that there is a big God who is bigger than my problem.

I pray to God to forgive me for neglecting Him and I know we will be able to surpass this trial. No matter what happen I don't want to lose my relationship with Him. I know God's in control and He knows what is best for me.

3 Facts About Life

3 Facts About Life

1. You will be disappointed.

"Nobody is perfect " - its a very common quotation which is real.  No matter how good your child is, no matter how perfect your family is, you have a best friend for life, good stable job, very nice boss, lovable person surrounding you - expect they will disappoint you one time or another.  Its a fact, that's why we should love unconditionally and expect flaw from them.  And also remember no matter what you do people who loves and cares about you will get disappointed at you as well in some point. 

2. You will not always understand why things happens.

Isaiah 55:8-9 

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,"

declares the Lord.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Things happen for a reason.  If right now you have a problem like one of your love one has a very rare or incurable disease, financial issue, disobedient child, your job is at stake, your wife/spouse is unfaithful, death of a love one etc. you name it.  Don't blame God for what is happening.  God works in ways we will not be able to understand.  When we pray don't put God in a box like you are telling Him what to do.  He knows what is best for us. As long as you are following His ways he will lead you to the right direction. 

3. What ever happens to your life will either cause you to become bitter or better. 

We don't have control of what is happening or going to happen.  But we have control or choice on how you will react on the situation.  Example your child broke your favorite figurine, you have a choice on how you will react.  You can get mad, spunk him, and let him feel your anger or you can tell your child how important the figurine is but let him feel he is more important and next time he should be careful so that mommy will not get sad.  If you do the first option you prefer to become bitter and the second option helps you to become better.  In every situation don't let your feelings take over but instead take a pause and ask God what would be the best thing to do. 

- this 3 Facts was mention on last sunday service by Ptr. Joby Soriano.

What I learned on March 1 Sunday Service

We as a grown ups spend much of our time in the work place.  5 days a week are spent at work and some have 6 working days.  Do you go to work just to earn money?  How do you to treat your boss, co-employees and people under you? What do you think God wants us to do in the work place?

After the service it come to my realization that I should value my job so much , it is God's blessing to me.  Now a days there were a lot of lay offs everywhere and I should be thankful that I do have a good stable job. I should show respect and obedience to my boss since God put him there for a reason.  

We should be good steward, use our job for God's glory.  Change our focus, instead of thinking that you are working for your boss, look at it as you were working for God.  Since God gave us this job then we should know how to cultivate it.  Do not be hypocrites by doing your job well when your boss or someone is looking at you.  We should be doing our best at all time and always remember that there is God who sees all our hardwork. 

As good christian we should have integrity.  We should have integrity in our private life and in the work place as well.  Having this we will gain trust and respect from our co-employess , our boss and the company.  Most of all God will be glorified because we are doing the right thing. 

In short, we should be different and everybody would see that we are exceptional.  It is because we are working for God and not for men. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

For more info about this sermon Click on the link below.

Sermon by: Ptr. JP Masakayan (CCF Alabang)<---- (Click here to access the sermon)

Why Does God Allow Evil?

"Why Does God Allow Evil?" - This is a common question asked by everyone and even me I have that question. While browsing the web I found this article by Rick Warren, famous author of Purpose Driven Life and it enlightens me about Why Does God Allow Evil. Read the Article Below and hope you learn from it too.

Why Does God Allow Evil?
by Rick Warren

The horrific mass murder of innocent Americans leaves all rational people shocked, angry, grief-stricken and numb. Our tears flow freely and our hearts carry a deep ache. How could this happen in our nation?

As mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, neighbors and coworkers begin to share their stories of the horror, this tragedy will become even more personal. As it becomes more personal, it will become more painful, and as our pain deepens, so will the questions. Why does God allow evil to happen? If God is so great and so good, why does he allow human beings to hurt each other?

The answer lies in both our greatest blessing and our worst curse: our capacity to make choices. God has given us a free will. Made in God's image, he has given us the freedom to decide how we will act and the ability to make moral choices. This is one asset that sets us apart from animals, but it also is the source of so much pain in our world. People, and that includes all of us, often make selfish, self-centered and evil choices. Whenever that happens, people get hurt.

Sin is ultimately selfishness. I want to do what I want, not what God tells me to do. Unfortunately, sin always hurts others, not just ourselves.

God could have eliminated all evil from our world by simply removing our ability to choose it. He could have made us puppets, or marionettes on strings that he pulls. By taking away our ability to choose it, evil would vanish. But God doesn't want us to be puppets. He wants to be loved and obeyed by creatures who voluntarily choose to do so. Love is not genuine if there is no other option.

Yes, God could have kept the terrorists from completing their suicidal missions by removing their ability to choose their own will instead of his. But to be fair, God also would have to do that to all of us. You and I are not terrorists, but we do harm and hurt others with our own selfish decisions and actions.

You may hear misguided minds say, "This must have been God's will." Nonsense!

In a world of free choices, God's will is rarely done! Doing our own will is much more common. Don't blame God for this tragedy. Blame people who ignored what God has told us to do: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

In heaven, God's will is done perfectly. That's why there is no sorrow, pain or evil there. But this is earth, a fallen, imperfect place. We must choose to do God's will everyday. It isn't automatic. This is why Jesus told us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."

The Bible explains the root of evil: "This is the crisis we're in: God's light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness ... because they were not really interested in pleasing God" (John 3:19, Message Translation). We're far more interested in pleasing ourselves.

There are many other questions that race through our minds during dark days. But the answers will not come from pollsters, pundits or politicians. We must look to God and his Word. We must humble ourselves and admit that each of us often choose to ignore what God wants us to do.

No doubt houses of worship across America will be packed in the coming days. In a crisis we cry out for a connection with our Creator. This is a deep-seated, universal urge. The first words uttered by millions on Sept. 11 were "Oh God!"

We were made for a relationship with God, but he waits for us to choose him. He is ready to comfort, guide and direct us through our grief. But it's your choice.

Churches and ministries may reprint this article with the following attribution: Used by permission of Pastors.com, c. 2001.