THE ADVENT SEASON

Advent Season!! For many years in my life I was missing the significance and the excitement of this season in my life as a Christian. Thank God today, It’s different!! It’s started in February 2002 when Fr. Peter gave us a teaching on the “Eschatology”, The Second coming of Jesus. ”. It was a very revolutionary experience for me because I’d been seeing the End Times or the Second Coming of Jesus as a scary picture with Jesus just as only the Judge. But Fr. Peter shared it in a very different perspective. Instead of fear and trembling I felt that my spirit was drawn with longing and excitement for this Second Coming of Jesus, when the Church, His Bride will be wed to Jesus Himself, the Groom. Then His Kingdom will be restored and will never be shaken again. When only love speaks. I felt I touched heaven. Words are limited to describe how I felt that time. This Truth has been giving me hope each day and by God’s sustaining grace, this Truth that I’ve found will keep me till the day when I will meet my Beloved.

Today is the first day of “Advent” which means ‘the arrival or the coming”
As Christians especially those who celebrate advent season do we know what we are celebrating?
The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent (coming), secondly The anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent.

Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate.
Scripture reading for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life.

In this double focus on past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and a congregation, as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power. That acknowledgment provides a basis for Kingdom ethics, for holy living arising from a profound sense that we live "between the times" and are called to be faithful stewards of what is entrusted to us as God’s people. So, as the church celebrates God’s in breaking into history in the Incarnation, and anticipates a future consummation to that history for which "all creation is groaning awaiting its redemption," it also confesses its own responsibility as a people commissioned to "love the Lord your God with all your heart" and to "love your neighbor as yourself."

Many of us are missing the importance of this season in our Christian life. Today is the time to wake up. It is the time to divert our focus from simply material and temporary into spiritual and eternal. May we be reminded that God created us not only to live a life here on earth but to inherit God’s kingdom and live eternally starting NOW and HERE. Let us then prepare our selves for the coming of the Messiah, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us repent for our sins and strive to be holy. Let’s prepare our hearts to let Jesus in when He comes. Let the spirit of HOPE penetrate our hearts and the LONGING for the Kingdom of God to come.

May you have a blessed Advent Season.

BALIKATAN MINISTRY UPDATE

After our series of teachings on the Sacraments, we are happy and privileged to witness one couple who responded to the invitation of receiving the Sacrament of Marriage. Though we are in a Catholic country, there are many couples here who don’t give importance to this sacrament and take only the civil wedding. One big factor why they don’t give importance to this sacrament is because they don’t have enough understanding of the grace and significance of this Sacrament.

Sharing with you the couple’s testimony:

MARICOR & VER’S TESTIMONY

Our family thank and praise God for all the graces He has given us. We also thank the ICPE for through their prayers and support, we have finally received the Sacrament of Marriage.

We now feel as a couple that our relationship is complete and we are happy that we can receive now the Body of Christ in the Eucharist. This is a great gift for us.

The reason why we finally decided to receive the Sacrament of marriage is because of the ICPE community who taught us the importance and the grace of this Sacrament for us Catholics.

We believe that this is the beginning of our new life as a couple. We believe that God will not abandon us especially in times of trials and that He will strengthen our bond as a couple now that we have received the Sacrament of Marriage.

We hope to become a good example for our group and other brothers and sisters in faith.
For ICPE, we hope that many more will be able to listen to your teachings.

May God bless you all.

Grace and monique

Grace and Monique playing in the Roofdeck.

TWO YEARS OF GOD'S GRACE

Days and months has gone by very quickly. Now, we don't call our precious daughters, Grace and Monique babies because they don't act like one.They will be turning two this December 15 and we can imagine that soon they will go and play with our neighbors. We are full of gratitude to God for His gift of health and joy to our daughters. We have heard that usually twins are prone to health problem but so far, our children have not been hospitalized or experienced serious illness. We believe that God's hand is upon them.

Parenting is becoming more challenging too. We can see that they are now in the stage of adventure and curiosity.They imitate whatever they see thats why we have to be careful with our words and actions. One amazing thing is that they already express thier choices on clothes, that they can distinguish whats nice and not so nice. They are growing fast.

We realised more and more our need for God's grace to be able to become responsible and loving parents. Our own strength is too little to be the parents that God called us to be.

We thank God for His faithfulness and His unwavering love for us. We thank Him for He has the best plan for each one of us and as a family. And we continue to entrust our lives to Him for He is trustworthy and All -Knowing One.

Blessed Hope

I(Joy) want to share with you this song that speaks deeply in my heart..
It is a song that the Holy Spirit inpired.

There is a place prepared for me by Him
And there I will go to be with Him
There in heaven, thats my home
A place of love, joy nad peace
forever.

For I'm not meant to be here in the world
I'm not meant to suffer and die
I am meant to be in heaven
With all the saints and angels
in the glory of my God

There I have a Father who loves me so
Jesus, my Savior, my way to go
Holy Spirit my gentle guide
My loving God, my destiny
Forever

Marriage

If we see the world...one thing that is very evident is the destruction of families..which begins with the destruction of marriages.

we are married for three years and we got some ideas of probable reasons why many marriages do not last "till death do us part" as we promised before the altar.

Man as an effect of original sin tends to be selfish. First of all man thinks and approaches life very different from woman, then in marriage the couple are supposed to share and move in unity which takes sacrifices, commitment, humility, trust and courage- these are not easy to do.

In our different experiences for the span of three years, we can testify that if we journey in this path of life without the third person(God) we will for sure give up very easily. We are very grateful that we have our individual personal relationship with our living God. It enables us to forgive, to sacrifice, to hope, to strive in fulfilling our commitmant,to grow in unconditional love.We believe that without the love of God flowing in us, nourishing our love tank,we will find ourselves exhausted and hopeless especially when difficulties and trials comes our way.

To our fellow couples: allow God to middle in your relationship, its the only way.
We are not called in marriage just to be together but to live together the fulness of life.

Christian Community Bible commented:
Marriage contains a mystery, that is a divine treasure which can not be understood before the second coming of Christ.When it is said that marriage is a sacrament, that does not mean primarily that there is a Church ceremony. It signifies that through marriage and the couples who live a life of LOVE according to Christ, the mystery of the love of God is manifested among humankind.

What a noble call...don't you think?

Life is tough...but we are all called to be WINNERS!

I think life here on earth is tough.Either you are rich or poor, single or married, young or old,simple or intellectual...name it.Each one is experincing different chalenges, sufferings and trials.The good news is we are all called to be winners...to be overcomers!

We just need some tools to make it ...

first: FAITH- without faith in God(The Trinity) who has the highest power, we will not survive because our power is easily exhausted.

Second: VISION- without vision people perish.A vision will take us up...it will fuel us when we are down...it gives us a goal to pursue, a direction to follow.

Third: STRONG, PERSEVERING WILL-if there's a will,there's a way.I think this is very true.

Forth: A FAITHFUL FRIEND AND GUIDE, THE GOOD SHEPHERD - we need help..we can not make it by our own.

So if you are suffering right now, just keep in mind that you are not the only one and I assure you that victory will follow.Grab these tools and you will make it.

Noralyn's Testimony

We want to share with you a testimony of one of the members of our Balikatan Ministry in Montalban.Here it is.....

I am Noralyn Gacias. I live in Sub-Urban, Montalban with husband and five children.I’m very happy that I belong to the Balikatan Ministry. Through our Saturday meetings, I’ve gained a lot of friends and support and I’ve learned a lot about our God who created the heavens and the earth and I believe that He has called me by name. I thank God that I was given the chance to put right the wrong images that I have about Him. I believed now that God is the most important above all and that He is worthy to be worship and to be praised. I pray that I will continue to know Him deeper, to understand His Words and to live it with the help of the Holy Spirit.I thank God that He is always with me.

LSS_3 picture 5

Introducing the Balikatan Ministry Team, Joy and Jeanny(right end),Esther and Joan(Left end) amd Jitka (middle back)with LSS_3 participants:Dominga,Janice,Fedelina,Christina,Marjorie, Bing,Rose, Erlinda, Marissa, Tere and thier children.

LSS_3 picture 4

Coming to Jesus, the fountain of life, the Redeemer

LSS_3 picture 3

Desiring and receiving God's love

LSS_3 Picture 2

Understanding our Wrong images of God and putting it right

Life in the Spirit Seminar 3

God is indeed faithful. He draws people to His heart.

We have heard testimonies on how the Holy Spirit captivated the hearts of our 10 participants who attended our third batch of LSS given to friends from Balikatan Ministry on Sept. 29-30,07. After the LSS, they said that during the seminar, thier hearts were burning to know God more and when we prayed for them, they asked us to pray that God will give them grace to live a new life.A life that testifies they are children of God.Even our two young particiapants amazed us hearing their sharing that they experienced God and they are choosing to live a new life.

Its a privelege to hear and see how God changes lives in the power of His Spirit.
We have seen joy and hunger to know God more after we met our friends the saturday after the LSS.

Its also a joy and blessing for me(Joy) to be given the chance to lead this event and to share with them the effect of Sin and the Salvation that Jesus won for us. As a couple we also prayed with them to receive the paternal and maternal love of God.

To God be the glory!!

You Belong to God

A song to share with you..hope it will speak to your heart.....

All you people, raise your eyes to the heaven
All you people, raise your heart to God
Raise your eyes and you will see
Raise your heart and you will hear
For you are from heaven, and there you will go
You are from heaven and there you will go
For you belong to God
Yes you belong to God

If it speaks to your heart, you can make it as a personal prayer:

Yes, I will raise my eyes to the heaven
Yes, I will raise my heart to God
I'll raise my eyes and I will see
I'll raise my heart and I will hear
For I am from heaven, and there I will go
I am from heaven and there I will go
For I belong to God
Yes I belong to God

Emmaus Experience

A two weeks dedicated to journey with the Lord.

It’s been a blessed two weeks to share our lives and journey with 12 participants from Philippines, Korea, US, Singapore and Indonesia. We had the privilege to minister to each one of them in praying for “Father’s blessing”, representing Father’s heart with its paternal and maternal love.

The aim of this course is for each one of the participants to experience God in a deeper and personal way ,His love, His healing and His faithful companionship in their journey of life.

They had the privilege to reach out to the people in the rubbish dump site, to the prison, to the high schools, and to university students.

SIN

Let me share with you my meditation on the 19th of April 2007.
Hope it can bless you. JOY


SIN veiled paradise- a place created by God where there is harmony, peace, joy, sharing, freedom. Above all, love and communion with God and fellowmen. A place intended by God for man to live for eternity. A beautiful place where there is no suffering.
SIN veiled the heart of man, the image of God in man. It destroyed the relationship
of man to God and to his fellowmen. It destroyed the unity and harmony of man with others, with God, with creation and with himself.
SIN veiled the spiritual eyes of man. He can not see anymore the glory of God. It became focused on the things below (physical, temporary). He lost his heavenly vision.
SIN numbed the heart of man that it ceased to hear the voice of God. That it ceased to see others as part of him- a sister/ brother.
MAN became a beast, devouring everything including himself. He is hopeless, no one can help him….

But God is mindful of His creation, of His masterpiece who abused and misused his God given freewill. God needed to intervene so that man will not forever perish!!
And GOD once again unveiled Paradise for man through His Son Jesus Christ who, in His obedience opened the heaven to those who believe.
Now the paradise is opened but we need to journey towards that place. And the road is not easy- a narrow path. Yet if we persevere we will see paradise!! Its real!! And this is the real world.

Indeed we are in a journey. Our stay in this world is but temporary. Let us then fix our eyes, our dreams and visions to our final destination. This place is not our home. Our home is where we truly belong…IN HEAVEN!! A place of love and perfect union. A place of harmony with God , others and all creation.

JESUS is the way, the Truth and the Life. He will guide us to our eternal home where everything is bliss and joy. Let us then focus our vision to Him so we won’t lost the way. He made it possible for us, to once again live in paradise.

A Mother's Reflection

Being a mom is very challenging physically, emotionally and psychologically….does it sounds that I’m regretting my being a mom? Definitely not!! Though honestly its difficult because I have to give up many things like study ( I was planning to study Theology before I got pregnant, I also wanted to enroll in a musical play course as I feel to have passion for it. Then I have to stop going to ministries for a year then slowly involving myself but not as active as before… and now I am home bound to take care of my twin daughters- very exhausting)

But there are treasures that I’ve found in being a mom. First, I have two precious daughters who are reflection of God’s beautiful creating power. When I look and observe them, I am always in awe how intelligent they are, and how naturally life develops in them ….I can see how God sustains His creation. Secondly, I believe that I am a better person now in terms of loving, in terms of sacrifice. I came to know personally that True love involves sacrifice and I can define sacrifice with deeper conviction that it is a willing and peacefully giving up of something that I really desire for the good of the others.

I was asking myself before if I really have a genuine love for others and I found myself doubting, but now, at least I can say, “I have grown in loving genuinely”

Motherhood is indeed a gift, a way to perfection, an instrument for having sweet and joyous revelation and reflection. It makes one holier and more prayerful( I learned to pray many times for protection and love for God for our children)

If you are a mother, pause for a while and reflect…may you find your self thanking the Lord for His gift of Motherhood to you. Rejoice!!! YOU ARE BLESSED!!

Life in the Spirit Seminar 2

Another Life in The Spirit was held on the 12th-13th of May.
There were five participants( two men and three women) from "Balikatan",- a ministry to the poor near the rubbish dumpsite.

It was very enriching to see them come "alive". We have witnessed during our follow up meetings what change the Holy Spirit had done in them.The new joy and enthusiasm,their eagerness to read the Bible and to share thier new discoveries and experiences with this new found relationship with the Lord.They also shared thier desire to live new life.

we praise god for His beautiful works in the lives of our friends.
We pray that god will sustain and help them grow deeper in thier relationship with Him.

We thank God for using us as His instruments to reach out His poeple. During the LSS, I(joy) gave the talk on New Life, did the Translations from Emglish to Tagalog. Raymond shared testimony and as a couple we prayed over them, and led men's cell group.

Our Holiday in Mountain Province

Before The Holy week start, we as a family had a holiday for 10 days, we visit our family in Mountain Province ( Otucan...where Joy Born ), The view...the weather...and the invironment...make us really relax and enjoyed our holiday. Grace and Monique, they like to walk, play in the specious field. The presence and the hospitality of Joy's Family also make me (Raymond) more welcome and feel that i'm part of their family. Thank's God, i have a good in laws

CHILDREN in Montalban

More and more children are gathering every Saturday. It’s always rewarding to experience their joy and purity through it’s tiring. But we see fruit of our meetings. Not only growth spiritually but also in good manners and behaviors.

We had a christmas party with them...it was a joyfull time, see the children was really happy after we gave them small gift.

Singing...Dancing...games...playing together...it was really blessed time we had with them and as we celebrate the born of Jesus, we also shared to them about the meaning of Christmas and amazingly..they can understood well...of course we have somebody to translate...Joy Tedjaindra

BALIKATAN MINISTRY

A ministry to the poor family near Payatas,Othe major dumsite in Quezon City, Manila.

It is attended mostly by the mothers. The goal of Balikatan Ministry to build and empower these parents to reach thier highest potentials and to be of support to each other.

Our first step is to help them in thier spiritual journey, alongside this we also channel some of thier children for education sponsorship.

We are always blessed to hear and see them grow in thier faith and also to hear from them different encounters and experiences of the Living God as they continue to struggle in thier daily life. The difference is now they know they are not alone, that God is working in different ways in thier lives.

Blessed are they for they found God in thier material poverty, though they seem to be poor, they are rich for they found the true Treasure- GOD!

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