The Greatest Love of All

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."' -1 John 4:10

Even prior to attending the Singles' Conference and more so after the event-- I have been pondering a lot about being consumed with the wonderful truth that: JESUS LOVES ME!

Allow me to share to you some of my random and personal notes on Love Matters: More Than Just Romance singles' conference retreat...

Remarks by Dr. Luis Pantoja
- Romans 13:8-10
- Love is more than just romance, it is indeed a command.

"Passionate Love for God" by Mr. Dennis Lim
- Matthew 22:37-40
- Commandment is a directive; it was given by God for the good of His people
- John 3:16
- 1 John 4:8
- 1 John 5:3
- For God to be your god, you must be close to Him.
- How much is being asked from me? The answer is: all my heart, soul and mind. Or in other words, ALL OF ME!
- The world tells us to love ourselves but the Bible tells us to die to ourselves.
- It is in knowing God that we can get to obey Him and enjoy it!
- Jesus prayed and so should we.

Message by Dra. Aurorita "Yoyit" Roldan
- Whole Person includes:
Self + Others + Work + Play + World + Spirituality = WELL BEING

"Live to Love, Love to Live" by Atty. Marc-Fabian Castrodes
- Joshua 1:8
- When Atty Marc asked few people what "success" is, I worte this: It is when I am doing or have done what God wants me to do. It is being at the center of His will.
- We all have different definition of "success".
- Love is the secret to prosperity and success.
Love and anger are extremes of the "same" feelings.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
- Lack of trust is when: you want to do it all. It shows that you don't trust the people you are working with.
- There is a difference between denial and overlooking: You are in denial when you cover the conflict/sin. You are overlooking when; there is conflict/sin and yet you choose to forgive.
- As much as possible, live at peace with everyone.
- Romans 5:8
- A life that is not lived with love is a life that you will not love to live.
- When it is hard to love, be patient! Be patient with God, with yourself and with others.
- There is love and stability in a life that is so secure in God.
- Be consumed with God's love!

Most of these thoughts I have shared to my Buzz Group members (see our picture below) and also with my Connect family and because nga I want to be just consumed with His love, I am sharing all of these now.

Grabe, I can't help but be amazed... Jesus loves me this much:

(I draw this while Pastor Lito Villoria was giving his message during the last day of the retreat)

And so as a commitment, by His grace, I will:

"Love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind and with my strength... And love my neighbor as myself."

And of course, here are some photos:


On the way to Rizal: Our bus ride picture


Day 1: With Christy


With Sai


My team mates finding marbles at the pool


With my daughter, Elise


With my beloved


Sai, power napping (LOL), kami po kasi ay mga puyat from our friday shift...


Eto pa isa si Kuya Abe (LOL ulet)


Day 2: during our free time


Now with Summer Parcon (who "interviewed" us)


My Buzz Group members: Bham. Lou, Karen, Faye and Devy


Supposedly, with P.Mau lang dapat, pero sumama sila Pajo and Joan oh!


No, I'm not in fornt of a mirror, Christy took this one (LOL)


Trip-trip lang namin!


But I see here a picture of oneness and unity in Him and for Him!


Poser mode ng mga Connect people


Kasalukuyang natutulog na nito si Lheng


Sweethearts: Lance and Elise


Day 3: John won the MVP award (super athletic love ko)


Eto kumpleto kami: Abe, Syrus (top), Lheng, Christy, John and Me (bottom)



With Lheng naman


If you're my multiply contact, I will post more pictures at rajshgalore.multiply.com some other time. You can also view our blogsite at: www.gcfconnect.blogspot.com for more pictures.

Fallible Men Writing an Infallible Bible?

An article/feedback I read from AnswersInGenesis.org.

Someone questioned the WORD of God and other interesting stuff:


Read the full article here.

Siguro kung hndi ko alam ang Bible ko I would say na-- may point etong taong nagtanong... But then, by God's mercy and grace, He has given me the privilege of discovering His truths... The wonderful-absolute-truth that is ALWAYS available for me in His Word, His love letter, His written instructions, His will-- and that is the Bible.

So, Praise Be To God! Ü

On My 25th Birthday...

Kamusta naman ang celebration?

Well, kagaya last year eto ang naging main event: NATULOG lang ako maghapon... Wahaha!

As in, patulog-tulog lang ako para bumawi ng pahinga at tamang nagigising lang ako dahil ng sa mga text bday greetings (*wink-wink*)... Thanks po sa lahat ng bumati! Again, you made my birthday very special... Di ko na kayo maiisa-isa, dami nyo eh! Lahat kayo ay blessing sa akin ni Lord!

Anyway, it was past 7pm na ata when beloved and I (together with his family) went out para pumunta sa Metrowalk and later for dinner sa isang Korean Restaurant in Ortigas. Treat ni Ate! Super thank you Ate, grabe, nasiyahan talaga kami ni John sa treat na 'yon... Sarap-sarap ng pagkain and enjoy yung time natin celebrating my birthday... Here's some of our pics:


Smiling


Si john at ang nagniningning nyang mga mata; natatakam sa pagkain!


Daming food, at ang sarap-sarap talaga! Nyum-nyum-nyum


Likot ni John oh!


Animated mode ang mag-ina


Korean Pose (nasa korean resto kasi eh)


Gaya-gaya sya sa akin. Hehe


Mama Edith, Jane, John, Mae, Rajsh and Ate Lynn

So WOW, I am 25 na!

Thank You Lord God for the past 24 years of Your faithfulness and another year na naman for me to face! And yeah, I am excited to see more of Your faithfulness!

Here's a part of my birthday prayer:

"The past year has really been a roller coaster ride for me... I've experienced things I never experienced before. I've committed mistake I never thought I'd commit. I've felt emotions I never thought I'd felt...

And yeah, things are just getting BIGGER and bigger as I get older! Be it good or 'bad.' Pero Lord, I know that You remain in control..."

(I got this email, was sent sa buong department namin sa office)

(I will post more birthday reflection soon! Sorry kung installment basis. Hehe)

I'm so excited!

Indeed, indeed... I am!

LOL

I am excited for the Singles' Conference - LOVE MATTERS: More Than Just Romance that's on August 21-23. This is my 3rd year joining and also my 3rd year serving as one of the facilitators for small groups. Honored and privileged pa rin ako, syempre! This is the first time John will be joining and I'm so happy! Last year kasi wala pa syang leave credits. Hehe.

I am excited because August 21 is one special day for us ni John and yeah, we are still together! 11 months and counting... Thank You Lord Jesus!

I am excited for my birthday, as in! I have been thinking a lot about things I want to thank God for, as in sooobrang dami! Tapos another year na naman for me! Yehay! (Here's some old post from last year and last - last year bday celbration).

I am excited for our new series study in our growth group. I have entitled it "WALK THE TALK" based on the Book of James. The group's really looking forward to it, and sobrang nakaka-affirm yung prayer and fellowship namin last week (August 15) when I presented it to them that they all agreed na it's okay we go through it after our Gospel of John series. We will begin on August 29. Same time: 6pm and same place: GCF Ortigas Rm BM04.

Ayun lang... I am really, really, so excited! And thanking God for all the good things He has blessed me with...

"Every blessing You pour out I turn back to praise..."

August Birthday Celebrants

Our family had a wonderful time celebrating our -Strong (pero absent sya kasi nasa Laguna sya nun), Iya, Diko and Myself- birthdays yesterday at the Fun Ranch. We had our lunch at Teryaki Boy (yum-yum ang food at kahit medyo naging mabagal ang service, bumawi sa assistance yung isang manager, so keri lang. LOL). After eating, nagpatuloy silang ipasyal ang mga chikiting and nakakatuwa na sobrang happy si Iya na natupad ang promise ng daddy nya na bday gift. Hehe.

Super enjoy kasama ang family dahil minsan lang naman eto mangyari na magsalu-salo ang malaki naming pamilya:

Lola
Papa and Mama
Kuya, Grae, Diwa and Dayaw
Diko, Aque, Iya, Nonggie and Kajel
Myself, Raya, Vishnu and Majar
Kuya Eric (sabit daw sya kasi di sya Sabio. LOL)

Grae posted some photos at her multiply (though you can only view it if you're her contact).

++ I will update this post with pictures some other time. ++

Nagtatampo (daw)

Wala namang masama sa pagbili ng P9,000.00 worth na sapatos....

Ang masama lang (para sa akin) ay sana iniisip mo muna yung pangangailangan ng pamilya mo at hindi lang ang sarili mong "kaligayahan". Habang nagugutom at nangangailangan sila ng pambaon sa eskwela, ikaw ay napaka-kumportable sa sapatos mo.

Wala rin namanng masama sa dinner na worth P1M sa New York.

Ang masama lang ay (para sa akin) sana naisip mo rin muna na maraming nagugutom, maraming walang hanap-buhay, maraming mga naghihirap na mamamayan sa ating bansa... Habang ikaw/kayo ay nagpapaka-"saya" lamang sa isang bonggang-bonggang piging...


Haaaayyy... Ayun lang, nagkakalungkot lang... Hindi naman ako galit...

Few Articles Related:
Click here and here.

An encouragement

Just want to share this... An encouragement for the family of believers... For all the faithful servants of the Lord...

I shared this with the volunteers and leaders of Connect during our Prayer Meeting (August 9, 2009).

DEVOTION: 1 Corinthians 15:58

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”

I’m sure we all experience being discouraged; when we feel we are not appreciated, when we feel we are unimportant and when we feel that what we do is insignificant. I’m sure we all experience being disappointed when people fail to recognize our work, our efforts, sacrifices, and all that.

Question: Why do you think we feel that way?
Answer: Because we want to hear something good about ourselves (or a feedback), we want to be affirmed that we're doing a great job, etc...

Kahit ano pa ang maisip natin na reason, it is clear in our passage na dapat steady lang tayo- stand firm at walang anuman o sinuman ang may karapatan na i-distract tayo sa ating work- Let nothing move you.

Bakit kaya sinabi ni Paul yon?

I think, alam kasi nya na natural sa tao ang tumingin sa tao at ma-disappoint. He knows that we will be disappointed when we focus on people instead of God.

As we read in our passage- Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. Ano po ba yung “work of the Lord”? I hope we are not thinking exclusively that the “work for the Lord” ay ministry lang.

See the following passages:
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." -Colossians 3:17

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." -Colossians 3:23-24


"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." -1 Corinthians 10:31

We read that hindi lang ang pag-serve sa church/ministry ang “work for/of the Lord” kasama rin dun yung: work natin (office), mga gawin sa bahay, and also yung service natin for other people (relationships).

Let's say sa office- If your boss, immediate supervisor or even your colleague fail to notice a job well done, or probably your employer is mistreating you, go lang! So long as you are doing things right, continue doing so because the Lord is pleased! Work as if working for the Lord. I can still remember yung sinabi ni Rick Warren sa PDL- Work becomes worship when we dedicate it to God and perform it with an awareness of His presence.
Sa bahay- if your parent, kapatid, or board mate fail to appreciate you (or let’s say fail to voice out their appreciation to you) and all you do, go lang! Do it as if you are doing it for the Lord.
Sa ibang tao (relationship with ministry partners, friends, loved one, etc)- when they fail to say “thank you” or “I am blessed by you” or “I love you”, when they fail to make you feel important or when they fail to notice what you do (may it be something big or small), go lang! Continue serving them as if you are serving God. And again, yung application ng consider others better than yourself - do not be selfish and self-centered preaching ni Pstr BJ Yu.

When we do that, yung we are always, as in all the time aware and consumed by His presence- nothing could go wrong as we will be walking humbly and in accordance with His will and grace. We will sin less, we will have peace and enjoy the comfort being very close to Him. When that happens, people will see the difference in us, being a child of God, they will probably be curious about the power working in us. Tapos God will be pleased; He will be honored and glorified with our lives and with what we do. And like what Pstr Jojo Lacanilao always say- When God is pleased/glorified, things happen!

As what Paul said--
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." -Galatians 6:9-10

Same with what our passage tells us today- because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain, we have the assurance that what we do here on earth does not (and will not, ever) go unnoticed by God and at the proper time He will reward us!

If we truly believe that Christ has won ultimate victory (at the Cross) that must affect the way we live right now...


Let us not be discouraged over an apparent lack of results or positve feedbacks that we will stop doing what we do (as a group/ministry or as individuals).

Do good that we have the opportunity to do, knowing that our work will have eternal results.

Her Death: An Eye Opener

"Ngayon ganap ang hirap sa mundo
Unawa ang kailangan ng tao
Ang pagmamahal sa kapwa'y ilaan
Isa lang ang ugat na ating pinagmulan
Tayong lahat ay magkakalahi
Sa unos at agos ay huwag padadala

Panahon na (may pag-asa kang matatanaw)
Ng pagkakaisa (bagong umaga, bagong araw)
Kahit ito (sa atin Siya'y nagmamahal)
Ay hirap at dusa
Magkaisa (may pag-asa kang matatanaw)
At magsama (bagong umaga, bagong araw)
Kapit-kamay (sa atin Siya'y nagmamahal)
Sa bagong pag-asa

Ngayon may pag-asang natatanaw
May bagong araw, bagong umaga
Pagmamahal ng Diyos, isipin mo tuwina

Magkaisa (may pag-asa kang matatanaw)
At magsama (bagong umaga, bagong araw)
Kapit-kamay (sa atin Siya'y nagmamahal)
Sa bagong pag-asa"

Nailibing na si Tita Cory...

I just want to say-- her death indeed has been an eye opener and a wake up call for me... And probably sa lahat, I just don't know kung sa anong paraan yung sa iba pero para sa akin binuhay ng pagkamatay ni Tita Cory yung pagka-Pilipino ko na pilit binubura ng kultura na nasa harapan ko -partikular sa pinagtatrabahuhan ko (please note though that I have nothing against my employer and I'm proud to be a part this company, ibang issue naman ito). Simula nang magtrabaho ako sa call center, na pang-gabi ang schedule, para bang nawalan na ako ng paki-alam sa nangyayari sa bansa, yes I find myself praying for my country sometimes pero iba ang "binuhay" sa akin ni Tita Cory-- yung spirit of nationalism.

I realized na para akong bini-brainwash ng "culture" na kinalalagyan ko when I had my first day of training at work; na ang nakapresent sa amin ay kultura ng Amerika-- how they live, their history, what the people are like sa iba-ibang part ng States, and all that... And it seems nagkaroon ng Americanized effect sa akin yon.

At nahihiya akong aminin ang mga bagay na ito... Sobrang nakakahiya bilang isang Pilipino na Kristyano na naging wapakels ako nitong mga nakalipas na ilang taon... Nakakalungkot ang pangyayari, na kailangan pang may mamatay bago ako (tayo) matauhan but I believe it is never too late... And so I really thank God for this wake up call.

So I will make it a point to be more involved; in a sense that I would spend time reading and listening to the news and what's going on around me/us and most importantly pray for my country... The Lord remains in control and faithful!

"... If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." -2 Chronicles 7:14