CHRISTIAN LIFE PROGRAM - SINGLES FOR CHRIST

Last Saturday, I was invited by my best friend to attend a Christian Life Program Orientation for SFC (Singles for Christ) community, Talamban chapter. I wanted not to attend the orientation as I don't desire to join the community but I do not want to offend my bf so I attend instead. The weather was bad at that time, I could have a very valid reason not to pursue aside from telling that i live very far from Talamban but sayang ang free snacks (just kidding). As i arrive at the place I was greeted warmly by the SFC brothers and sisters. They seemed very nice,well of course because my best friend was one of them. Then my bf brought me to the orientation room. I was asked to find a comfortable seat. Then the music ministry team leader ask the group to sing with him three christian songs. The songs were not really familiar to me except for one entitled "I GIVE YOU MY HEART". The orientation started with an opening prayer and the the singing of the songs practiced beforehand. Then the speaker was introduce to the group. His first statement was WHY ARE YOU HERE? Then he proceeded to the main subject of his talk. He had many adlibs mostly jokes to awaken the crowd. His talk lasted for an hour with series of testimonies from SFC members in between. Of course the orientation ended with the camaraderie of eating the snacks while chatting with the people around. A game was also given then early attendees where rewarded. I was suppose to receive a reward as i was the first person to write my name on the attendance sheet however my conscience dictated me that the other woman came earlier so i gave my reward to her. She deserves it naman. Next Saturday will be the start of the Christian Life Program series. I will have to sacrifice my 12 Saturday nights for that activity. I hope I will be able to make it in Gods grace even if i don't really have to be a member for a lifetime. I hope ill grow spiritually also.

So for those who like to join the Christian Life Program of SFC (12 series of Saturday evening) I am inviting all single men and women out there to come out on Saturday evenings and join us. The first talk will be on April 25, 2009 at 7:30-9:30pm. It will be held at Talamban Parish Pastoral Center. Just contact my bf Abigail Laurente at 639274247726 or you may ym her at biging18@yahoo.com

See you there

MY LENTEN SEASON WAS PERFECT?

I feel that my Lenten season was somehow perfect. My reasons for this are quite shallow but this year I had my Lenten season celebrated uniquely ever since. I tried practicing no meat on Fridays but I failed once. On a palm Sunday I attended a Lenten recollection at the pink sister's chapel. It was a very light but thought provoking recollection led by Fr. Jerome Cayetano, SVD. On holy Monday I had my good confession at Lourdes Parish church. That was the longest sacrifice I made as I was there at 3:30 lining up for confession but I only receive my contrition at 6:30pm. That was three hours of waiting to for my turn. On a Holy Wednesday that was my time to go home. On a Holy Thursday I was together with my family praying the rosary. On a Holy Friday the whole family went to church and we made our via cruses. Then on Saturday we went to the beach and had side adventure at an islet. On a Sunday, it was a time for rejoicing and merrying as we commemorate Jesus' resurrection, the whole family attended holy mass. Wow! i did have a lot of activities for the whole Lenten season and I thought that it was really perfect however, i realized that although I was able to attend recollection for my own spiritual growth and somehow receive the sacrament of penance it was still too shallow because I failed to evangelize. I also realized that I was not able to make a personal apology to people whom I might have hurt or whom I dislike. Should I? well my inner pride says why should I? Why assume on things that might not be true? My insensitivity to other people's feelings might hinder my growth and commitment to God. Clearly I am often trap by the sin of omission. So help me God.

KERYGMA FEAST SCHEDULE FOR CEBU CITY

I am inviting all of you to attend the Kerygma Feast here in Cebu which is every first monday and third monday of the month. Bo Sanchez, Catholic lay preacher will inspire, touch and bless your lives. Receive great miracles and experience the love of Jesus. Bo will be preaching through video. Learn that you are not alone in your journey with this life's circumstances, you are embedded with the grace of healing and mercy from God.

Kerygma Feast Cebu City Chapter venue is at St. Joseph Parish Church, Mabolo Cebu City.

Contact 273-6138 or +639174709071 for more information.


SEE YOU ...............

FEBRUARY 23, 2009

My neice and I went to Simala Sibonga last Monday, February 23, 2009. It was a planned visit to Mama Mary. I actually was suppose to visit her last January; however it took a month before I could fulfill my plan for various reasons aside from financial constraints. We chose to ride a trycicle instead of the usual motorcycle and on the way to the place the driver of another trycicle run after our vehicle and overtake us then blocked our way. He shouted at our driver in a very angry manner. The reason why he got mad at our driver was that it was supposedly his turn to take the passengers to the shrine but he was outsmarted by our driver. Before their quarrel heightened I decided to get out of the vehicle and take my neice for a walk. So we walked the long way going to the marian monks' place and reach their by 12:00 noon. I did not really mind walking going to the place, it was sort of a sacrifice. My legs did not even feel the pain, the longer it takes to reach the place the more exciting was our journey. Despite that we were wet having to soak ourselves with our sweat we still were able to wear a smile. Perhaps it was only me who feel the joy but somehow I was able to share it with my neice who was at that time complaining we ought to find a ride instead of walking. Nevertheless I noted that day as one of the most beautiful day. It was my mother's 61irst birthday. I was thier offering a sacrifice and prayer for her.

TOP FIVE TV PROGRAM I LIKE TO WATCH

Sunday

1. Chef to Go - Q27 ( Hosted by Chef Roberto Pengson ) i just like to watch how Chef Rob prepare the food, the garnishing is really creative and colorful.

2. Shall We Dance - TV5 ( hosted by Lucy Torres Gomez ) i just like the art of dancing.The interaction of body language and emotion. I am delighted at seeing the moves of the pairs dancing with so much grace.

Monday

none

Tuesday

3. Prison Break - CS9 ( main actor : Wenthworth Miller ) i appreciate how the writer wrote the story of this tv series. i find it very intellectually made, the characters are also very good. the depth and message wasn't really about trying to break from a prison cell but trying to break oneself from being imprisoned to hatred, revenge, chaos.


Wednesday

None


Thursday

None

Friday

None

Saturday

4. Jessica Suho - GMA 7 I appreciate Jessica's effort of digging and researching information from every cornser of the Philippine archipelago. She is a very good, intellectual and active researcher-reporter.

5. Imbistigador -GMA 7 ( Hosted by Mike Enriquez) I just like this segment in GMA tv7. This has brought awareness of the real picture of our society.

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK

I was talking to a former classmate in the phone last week and our quite long conversation headed to her four-year marriage and still not having a child. Perhaps it is true that most married women will unlikely feel marital success if they will not become a mother. Too bad I failed to emphatized and comfort her but instead I quickly suggested that she would ask Sñr. Sto. Niño to give her a child. However, she was not appreciative of the suggestion. She believe that asking might result to her family experiencing many challenges and tests from God. That was her belief and I respect that. Honestly, I have not been afraid to ask God what I need. I do not think that He would allow circumstances beyond what I can handle. I trust Him and I will continue asking and begging for His help. I will never think that He will set a condition in lieu of the favor He will grant me. Daniel, Jabez, the Isreali, prayed with humility and were very bold,direct and specific in asking God of thier needs. Jesus taught us how to pray and asking was part of it.

Let us not be afraid to ask God what we need even if He already know what we desire.


Daniel's Prayer

"We are prayieng to You because You are merciful, not because we have done right. Lord, hear us, and act! In order that everyone will know that you are God, do not delay! This city and these people are yours"
(Daniel 9: 18b-19)

Prayer of Jabez

"Bless me, God, and give me much land. Be with me and keep me from anything evil that might cause me pain"
(1Chronicles 4:10)

Psalm 91 GOD OUR PROTECTOR

OUR FATHER
(Matthew 6:9b-13)


Daniel, Jabez and the people in Isreal were blessed by God tremendously, their prayers are reflective of the kind of relationship they have with GOD. They fully trust the Lord and humbly acknowledge thier nothingness. Jesus on the otherhand taught us how to pray. The OUR FATHER is the simplest and yet the best prayer written in the Holy Bible. Prayer should include acknowledgement of God as our Father greater than anything else and so we glorify him and acknowledge Him as our God, we are also taught to ask forgiveness for all our faults, and to forgive those who wrong us, lastly Jesus taught us that we have to ask for deliverance from evil and ask for anything we need. So we should not be afraid to pray right.

MY TOP THREE REASONS WHY WE OUGHT TO LIVE

1. God loves us - no matter how ugly the lives we've choose right now we cannot decrease the love that God has for us. He will always remain loyal and faithful to us.
2. Life is a gift - life is beautiful, it is a gift coming from a genuinely in love God and He expects us to develop an intimate relationship with Him. He expects men to be satisfied of that.
3. Many people love us - Although God's love is enough, He still provides bonuses, which is the love from the people around us. You might be discourage of the people who are indifferent, unreal or who ignore you but be grateful for the people who truly care and love you are too many to count.

There are more reasons why we ought to live but those three were the top three reasons why my life here on earth is so meaningful and beautiful.