Being Groomed by Christ

Just want to share a photo of our growth group. 

(L-R seated) Alex, Clark and Diane
(L-R standing) Gold, myself, Fhang and She

Connect-Being Groomed by Christ (B.G.C.) Taken last weekend when we had our Leader's Retreat at Mt. Makiling Recreation Center in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

I will probably have a separate entry for that.

For now, good night! 

I don’t feel pretty but I feel so blessed!

Hahaha! May ganun?! :p

Well, I don’t feel pretty because I still am wearing no makeup [foundation and concealer to be exact] due to some kind of rashes/dryness that I have in my face and so I’m letting it breathe for a while (Check Booo! from my photo-blog).

But yeah, I feel so blessed today… Well since last night I’ve already been ecstatic and overjoyed—I along with few members of my second GG (See Connect-Taguig) met for a dinner fellowship and then just a couple of hours ago, I had my first ever discipleship for the year! Oh yeah! How I miss having these kinds of date!

Sobrang nakaka-bless! And because of that, I would like to believe I still look okay [pretty] despite wearing no makeup! Bwahahaha! :)

Hope you’re having a good Thursday!

The Lord is good and His love endures forever! :)

Disclaimer: Joke lang yung I dont feel pretty not wearing makeup ha? I know naman na hindi outer appearance ang important.  The word of God said—Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and wearing gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. – 1 Peter 3:3-4

Why God doesn't want His people to worry

For the last two weeks, I had the privilege of studying Matthew 6:25-34 and I taught a lesson I entitled "Why God doesn't want His people to worry" in Connect Agents' of Change GG on January 21st and 28th.  It was a challenging study time as the passage was VERY VERY RICH but I thank the Lord for His grace is indeed sufficient and His wisdom is just amazing!

Now let me share the gist of what I learned about the passage...

The word worry pertains to being distracted from things to the point that it causes us (believers) to lose focus in God and to not have that attitude of worship in everything that we do (same as in Luke 10:40-41).

The passage was addressed to believers as it states- "your heavenly Father" (Matthew 6:26) and "O you of little faith!" (Matthew 6:30).  Not everyone can call Him Father, only those who have a personal and intimate relationship with Him through Christ Jesus (John 1:12) and then Jesus didn't say "O you of NO faith" but rather "little." Who are those whom have genuine faith in Him but those who belong to Him right?

God's children shouldn't worry because God is their Father, He knows what they need even before they ask Him (Matthew 6:8), God the Father being the Creator of all things provides for His creation (Matthew 5:45) how much more to His children? God's children shouldn't worry about basic things needed with the arrogant attitude as if God wouldn't be able to provide it, because in the first place He already gave up His best (Romans 8:32) what else can He not give to us? God's children shouldn't worry because it shows that they do not trust God enough and lack of trust in God is sin! And God calls His children to continually seek His kingdom (Romans 14:17) and his righteousness (Romans 3:9-24) rather than worry!

To just ponder on the passage- Matthew 6:25-34- gives encouragement to me! It's mind blowing to realize and learn of the things I learned from this passage and I really thank the Lord for allowing me to study this, for guiding me and opening my heart to His truths, and for giving me the opportunity to apply it even before I teach it to our growth group.

Praise His name! To Him be all the glory!

Btw, here are my GG members and attendees that night:



L-R: John, Kuya Anthon, Jane (John's Sis-inlaw), Mama Edith (John's mom)



R-L: Raya, Sai and Lheng

How about you? How was your weekend?

Connect - Taguig :)

I just realized I haven't shared this here.

One of the newest Growth Group (or GG) of GCF Connect is Connect-Taguig. We meet up every Saturday 7am in Bonifacio Global City. The group started meeting last year, July 9, 2011 and since then the Lord has been using the GG to be a venue where people get to know the Lord Jesus Christ on a deeper, personal and intimate level, and for believers to have fellowship and accountability to strengthen each other...

Last Saturday was our first meeting for this year and we conducted it in our new "home" because the original place we conduct our GG last year closed down already (we miss you Dunkin Donut Cafe! We really do!).

Our GG has been going through a study of the Parables.  And last Saturday, we studied Matthew 13:44-45 with John (my beloved) teaching... It was a divine appointment! And I was really encouraged and blessed by that encounter with the Lord and the fellowship that we had. Add to that two first timer guest came! Whom I am hoping and praying to attend regularly. Praise God talaga for that day!

Anyway, you know me, I love pictures... So here are few photos during our Growth group / Bible study fellowship.

Ladies and gentlemen, presenting, Connect-Taguig:

beautiful day. great place. nice weather.

The Word of God is our main and special "dish"
Burp!

Salvation is as precious and as hard to discover as the hidden treasure and pearl of great worth in the parable...
True! :))

Tree of life. Hehe. :)

John explained the parable and shared the Gospel.

Praise God for ministry opportunities like this! All for His glory! :)

Photo credits: Jonas Acorda and yours truly. :)

Have I mentioned?

That I love surprises?

1...

2...

3...

Di nga? Hehe.

Well, here's [another] one for my dear Ann.  A simple surprise birthday bash during our growth group session last Saturday (May 14):

I love you dear! I hope you had fun and that you were surprised. Hehe! God bless you!

See also, her birthday celebration last year... She wore the same polo shirt. Hehe. :)

We love because...

...God first loved us!

+ July 21, 2010 +

Sharing with you how we (John and I) spent our 22nd month:

Bible Study with the SITEL Core Group Leaders

For the love of God and His people... John has been teaching them on how to do inductive Bible study.



My role is to support him as an intercessor...
Kahit antok na:
I look badtrip dito ah! Wahaha! But no, I was just sleepy, mga galing sa shift kasi...

Fellowship of four

Yesterday was quite a wacky fellowship! Kahit na apat lang kami nagkasama-sama for our Bible study meeting ang saya at glorious pa rin!

* Nakaka-busog ang pansit at biko na dala ni Anne (bday treat nya sa amin). Special thanks to her mom who cooked it for us.


* Super encouraging and humbling sharing time... Na once again, ramdam na ramdam ko na buhay na buhay ang Panginoon sa buhay ng bawat isa. ;-)

* Nakaka-bless yung study and discussion time namin sa James 4:13-17, and praise God for Mich sa pagfacilitate for the first time! Glory to God! Next time uli Mich ha? Hehe.

* The three of us (Kuya Ron, Mich and I) prayed for Anne for her birthday and gave her a birthday note/wish (she is holding it here. Parang gift checks lang! hehe).


* At ang adik mode na photo-opt namin... (more pictures in my multiply).
this was mich's idea

eto rin!

eto mine and kuya ron's idea

okay, normal mode na!

Ayun lang. Just want to share kung gaano kasaya sa growth group namin. Hehe.

FYI: Matatapos na kami sa 'Walk d Talk' series namin, based on the book of James. Do join us in praying what would the next study series we'll take... Baka mag-Colossians naman kami... Still discerning God's leading for the group.

I am blessed

I thank you all for praying for me... Nakaka-bless ang aming Bible study yesterday! Praise His name and to Him be all the glory!

As the members were sharing insights and God's revelation to them sobrang ramdam na ramdam ko na buhay na buhay ang Panginoon sa life ng bawat isa... As in , WOW! It leaves me in awe and leaves me praising Him more and more...

I'm overwhelmed. I'm blessed.

Anyway, share ko na rin uli kung ano etong updates ng aming "Walk the Talk" Series study, from the Book of James:

1. James 1:1-4—consider it pure joy, let perseverance finish its work.
2. James 1:5-8—ask God for wisdom, when you ask you must believe and not doubt.
3. James 1:9-12—take pride in your high or low position.
4. James 1:13-18—we are tempted by our own evil desires, every good and perfect gift comes from God (so don’t blame God when you fall).
5. James 1:19-21—receive the Word of God; grab every opportunity to study the Word, do not be hasty to teach the Word if you don’t understand it, let it correct you.
6. James 1:22-25—do what the Word of God says; study the Word with the intention to obey.
7. James 1:26-27—abide in the Word of God; be consistent… live by the Word.
8. James 2:1-4—do not hold the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s glory, with any kind of partiality.
9. James 2:5-7—why favoritism contradicts the Christian faith.
10. James 2:8-11—taking partiality/favoritism seriously; it is a sin (illustration with adultery and murder), love you neighbor as yourself (your neighbor is someone that God brought in your path that is in need).
11. James 2:12-13—show mercy and compassion as we (Christians) are recipients of His compassion and mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
12. James 2:14-19—Trusting Christ as Savior + Following Christ as Lord = Faith that Works (genuine faith).

See also my previous posts...

I need Your wisdom

I will be leading our group in our 12th Walk-d-Talk (James series study) lesson this coming Saturday, January 30, 2010.

Do pray for me, I have not finished the lesson yet.

Here's the assigned passage for me, James 2:14-19--

   
¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.


¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! (James 2:14-19, New King James Version)

"I am your servant
And I am listening
Speak to me Lord, speak to me
I need your wisdom
And truth and comfort
Speak to me Lord, speak to me

Speak to me
Speak to me
Through your word
Through your spirit
Speak your words of life
Speak to me
Speak to me
I am listening
I am waiting
Speak to me

I am your servant
And I am listening
Speak to me Lord, speak to me
My heart is silent
My soul is longing
Speak to me Lord, speak to me"

Walk the talk! Ü

Our Bible study group ( Connect's Agents of Change ) meeting resumed last Saturday, January 9, 2010.

It has been an exciting 2009 for all us and we are all so eager to see how God will continue to reveal Himself to us as we go through the study of His Holy Word.

I have mentioned before that we our going through a series study entitled "Walk the Talk" based on the Book of James. Here's what we have studied so far:

1. James 1:1-4—consider it pure joy, let perseverance finish its work.
2. James 1:5-8—ask God for wisdom, must believe and not doubt.
3. James 1:9-12—take pride in your high or low position.
4. James 1:13-18—we are tempted by our own evil desires, every good and perfect gift comes from God so don’t blame God when you fall.
5. James 1:19-21—receive the Word of God, grab every opportunity to study the Word, do not be hasty to teach the Word if you don’t understand it, let it correct you.
6. James 1:22-25—do what the Word of God says, study the Word with the intention to obey.
7. James 1:26-27—abide in the Word of God, be consistent.. live by the Word.
8. James 2:1-4—do not hold your faith by showing favoritism. Do not hold the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ; God’s glory, with any kind of partiality.
9. James 2:5-7—why favoritism/partiality contradicts the Christian faith.

This coming Saturday, we will study James 2:8-11. If you happen to be available then, feel free to join us at 6pm, GCF Ortigas , room BM04.

what a wednesday! i just can't wait for thursday...

i got off from work the normal 9am logout time. but surprise-surprise came when i got out of our building... IT WAS RAINING SO HARD! i can hear na yung kulog at kidlat an hour earlier but i never thought that it was that heavy pala. pero good thing i have my payong with me naman... so ayun! expected ko na yung travel time ko from ayala to boni would be really long. another surprise-surpirse came to my face when i got to rob-pioneer; shocks, walang jeep na bumabyahe! kasi daw lubog sa baha ang circle (near city hall of mandaluyong) eh doon lang naman ang route ng mga byahe so kamusta naman di ba? tumambay muna ako for a few minutes kasi i didn't want to be annoyed by it. afterwards i thought of walking accross edsa (thru MRT, para makatawid) then dun ako sa kabilang jeep station nagbaka-sakali... well, what do i expect? haha! ayun wala ring bumabyahe. nagtanong yung barker ng tricycle kung san daw ako, sabi ko sa may sikap sa katarungan street ang sabo ba naman sa akin-- "naku baha yun! yun yung lubog, malabo pumayag mga tricycle nyan!" hell i care! sa loob-loob ko... hahaha! (in fairness, hndi pa din ako naiinis sa mga oras na ito) so cge, wait pa ako... it took after an hour ata before a jeep with a sign board SIKAP came... so ayun mega nakipagsiksikan ako sa mga tao para maka-sakay... wohoo! finally makakauwi na ako! gusto ko yung isigaw... but wait, when i thought surprises are over... hindi pala! kasi naman, since hanggang SIKAP nga lang yung jeep dahil andun yung lubog area, at akala ko ay carry ng powers ko na lusungin na (thinking it wasn't that malalim pero ayun maling akala strike 4 ako! haha) so what i did was i called majar... i asked him to get a pedicab at sunduin ako. it took another 30mins before sya nakarating... baha dun sa may kanto namin na abangan ng jeep eh!

sa sobrang kainiipan ko nakuha ko pang-ivedoe ang ilang pangyayari (i'll post the video in http://rajshgalore.multiply.com) at haayyy... after 30yrs ayun na nga! pass 12nonn na ako nakarating sa aking apartmen... my gosh! was so tired and was so sleepy and was so hungry... pagdating ko pa sunog yung sinaing ni raya! naku naman oh...

kaya ayun I CAN'T WAIT FOR THURSDAY!! PARA OFF KO NA... i will surely treasure and cherich my last thurs off, dahil next week 8/5 na ulet ako!

tpos may this afternoon meeting kami sa callcenter ministry and then in the evening will have iyacies bible study... haaayyy i just can't wait for my thursday!