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TRANSFORMED BY TROUBLE AND TRIAL

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 05:57:48 +0100

TRANSFORMED BY TROUBLE AND TRIAL

Cian Barros Mas

It was the worst pain I have ever felt. I was pulling my hair off my head and pounding on the floor. I didn’t want to move, I didn’t know what to do and so did the people around me.

It was the middle of the third quarter. Even if this was just a friendly game of basketball, I was giving all my best. I was going for the shot…then it happened. Everyone was waiting for me to stand up but I couldn’t. A spectator came to me and said, “I’m a nurse, what’s wrong?” I said, “I felt my knee move.” They rushed me to the hospital.

But despite the excruciating pain, I didn’t blame anyone. I did not blame myself for playing and for giving my all, I did not blame the guy who bumped me in the air, and most of all, I didn’t question God. Instead I prayed, “O Lord, be with me, just please be with me.”

With the Lord near, I knew I will be strong to face whatever is ahead. When the doctor said I suffered an infrapatelar tendon rupture and they had to open up my knee, the thought of that just made me say to myself, “ayoko na, just take me home.” But I had to face the music. On the day of surgery, I was so scared, I kept on saying, “Lord be with me, just please be with me.” Finally, after three hours of surgery, I woke up and immediately thanked the Lord for being with me, calming my fears. I thanked Him for a successful operation, and for the presence of family and friends.

While recovering, I took more time to read the Bible and the Purpose Driven Life book. Two chapters hit me most. The sentence, “The Lord has made everything for His purposes” in chapter 7 caught my eye. But it was chapter 25 that comforted me. “God could have kept Joseph out of jail, Daniel out of the Lion’s den, Jeremiah from being tossed in the pit, but He didn’t. He let those problems happen, and every one of those persons was drawn closer to God as a result.”

HOW TO CARE FOR OUR PASTORS

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:46:34 +0100

FRANCIS SAWI SAMDAO JR.

As a seminary student I found out that being a pastor is not easy: a pastor teaches though he must solicit his own classes. He heals, though without pills or knife. He visits the sick, marries people, buries the dead, labors to console those who sorrow, and to admonish those who sin, and tries to stay sweet when persecuted by his members.

I think it is time that members should learn how to love, and properly care for God’s servant. Let me suggest some simple ways on how to properly care for our pastors:

1. Accept them as precious gifts from God. Our pastor’s lives are fully devoted to believing for the success and growth of their flocks. They care for us, and I am a living testimony on how my pastor patiently teaches me. God gave them the responsibility to watch over us.

2. Submit to their authority. God commanded us in Hebrews 13:17 “obey your leaders and submit to their authority.”

3. Pray for them. Let us faithfully remember them in our prayers. Their sermon preparation takes more than one hour. They don’t just show up on Sunday with a scripture passage they found an hour before the service. I still remember what Pastor Francis Javier told me that sermon preparation takes many hours of exegesis, meditation and prayer. As soon as this Sunday’s sermon is over, I believe they start praying and preparing for the next sermon. They walk in state of prayer all week long for us ad our families. They sacrifice much to look after the needs of their flocks. In return, it is our responsibility to take good care of them.

4. Be involved in ministries. Let is not allow them to become over-committed and exhausted. Now, the question is how? Let us commit to our church ministries such as facilitating small groups, mentoring the young, ushering the visitors, and etc.

5. Be faithful in attendance. Let us faithfully attend church services, prayer meetings, etc. as I have said, our pastor s have been praying for us all week long and it would be a shame to miss the Word of God just because we decided to sleep or go to SM.

6. Flow with our pastor’s vision. A vision God gave to them. Together let us work to be BIG and STRONG

Caring for our pastors is indeed honoring and pleasing to God, it opens the door of heaven’s blessings and locks the enemy’s door. I remember my classmate at he seminary said, if we bless the pastor God will bless the church abundantly!

SUNDAY WORSHIP CELEBRATIONS

Pines City Lion’s Club, Governor Pack Road Baguio City

9:00am

PRAYER MEETINGS

Tuesday, Cian Mas’ residence # 30 Fil-Am Baguio City

Purpose Driven Life

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:29:19 +0100

Jenelyn Junio
Life on earth is a test:

You’re not here to take a rest.

But to make your very best,

For our God to be impressed.

Your stay here is temporary,

So don’t be enslaved by money;

Be contented and be happy,

And prepare for eternity.

You are planned for God’s pleasure,

And not for your own pleasure.

You are formed for God’s family,

And not to make your own party.

You are created to become like Christ,

And not to become useless flies.

You are shaped to serve God,

And not to make your own god.

You are made for a mission,

So share His salvation.

Introduce Christ to other men,

And together enjoy your stay in heaven.