Salt

My wife recently had old friends over to the house to celebrate the birthday of an old classmate of theirs.  Back in the day, they were a close knit band of rowdy friends hanging out not just in campus but around town as well… They’d go to bars, restaurants, regular hang-outs just to chit-chat the night away while drinking alcohol coupled with a handful (to put it mildly) of cigarettes on the side.

This was their old life.  Mine didn’t differ too much from theirs… sans the smoking and drinking of course.  I never was the drinking type… nor was I hooked on nicotine and tobacco.  But that doesn’t mean my old life was more righteous in any sense… it was just as regretful.

Though I didn’t participate in booze sessions within the confines of smoke filled bars and restaurants with friends, I did engage in conversations with them which promoted distasteful humor and gossip and reveled in others misfortunes just to name a few.  Who hasn’t at one time or another?

But now that my wife and I have entered community and renewed our personal relationship with the Lord, it has totally transformed us and completely overhauled our way of life.  It has changed the way we act, the way we speak, even the way we think.

But just as we get more and more comfortable being around folks who share the same zeal and faith in God, more and more also do we get uncomfortable with individuals who engage in immoral and ungodly activities which we once considered to be “okay”.

I remember when, a few months back, I was invited to go to an event out of community wherein it would expose me to the old crowd that I used to hang out with… I was, at first, eager to touch base with them and catch up on old times… but as soon as I was in the same room with them, everything seemed so different… it felt really weird… in front of me were people whom I used to be very very close with and yet it was as if the way we were conversing was that of one stranger talking to another… shooting the breeze, so to speak, took so much effort on my part… in fact, the usual gossiping  and worldly humor that could be seen (and heard) in every corner of the room made me want to bolt out and go home.

It was apparent that I have significantly detached myself from these worldly and unnecessary practices.

But I realized soon after that it wasn’t enough for me to just be satisfied with being in  and around community and to simply keep off the “outside” world and its false promises which I have so quickly grown out of.  In as much as I’d like to avoid being away from the company of people in community, so too must I be immersed in situations wherein I am put in the midst of individuals who are caught up in worldly matters.

It is our mission to bring the word of God to people who have not fully realized the impact it has in their lives.  The Word is not something to be kept only within yourself… The Word was meant to be shared in order to save everyone from eternal damnation.  We have the Word within us… and by being in the presence of those who have yet to encounter Christ in a more personal manner, it is through us and our witnessing that they may be able to gain knowledge and ultimately salvation.

The salt has to be in the soup, in a manner of speaking.

“You are the salt of the Earth…”, says Matthew 5:13… “salt”, the ingredient which effects preservation and prevents corruption…

Salt are we who have heard the Good News and incorporate it in our daily life.  Salt are those who have learned of Christ and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.

Not the apostles, not ministers only; but all of us who are thus holy, are the salt of the earth – are to season others.

Now, whenever I find myself in situations wherein I am in the company of those who aren’t part of community, I rejoice and give thanks.  I do so knowing for a fact that the Lord has given me another opportunity to spread the Good News… a new opportunity to testify and to witness to others…

…to truly live the life of one who is called a disciple of Christ…

…one who is a “fisher of men”.

Christmas in Hindsight… (A Post Christmas Reflection)

This particular Christmas of 2007 was probably one the least spent on in terms of money as far as I could remember.  Not by choice but by circumstance… and yet, it was THE best Christmas we, as a family, have ever had!

It gave us an opportunity to truly focus our hearts and minds to the true essence of this season… to reflect on the sole reason why we all celebrate this joyous occasion.  We went to our Catholic-Christian community around 6pm and had our Christmas Mass there.  Wonderful presentation!  The 1st and 2nd “readings” were performed… not just read aloud.  The Gospel and all the other parts of the mass were spectacularly executed…!  I’ll bet nowhere else in the metro could have probably topped the Christmas mass Elim prepared for us dwellers and family.

It provided for an air of hope and love for the coming of the Savior that evening.  The choir (music ministry) and their instruments (complete with timpani, strings… the works!) helped lift the spirits of everyone in the Auditorium… it gave me goosebumps all throughout the event.

And even though we didn’t really have much… it seemed as if there was actually more for all of us!  More gifts under the tree… blessings of food… provisions from the Lord who is never late.

Indeed… only when we are truly empty can the Lord our God fill us up entirely.  That is what exactly happened this Christmas… everything was made unto good once we surrendered everything to Him.

A little before Christmas eve, we went back to our community’s center since we were invited to celebrate with close friends and dwellers.  We had our “Noche Buena” (Midnight Dinner) there and a small program was prepared to the delight of everyone who attended.

Christmas never felt this good.  Christmas never had such real and deep meaning to me till this year when I renewed my faith.

I have a whole lot to be thankful for… and it’s all because of the Lord.  This new found personal relationship I have with Him has made me truly realize what is and isn’t important in life… what aspects of my life should take a backseat and which He desires that I put more importance to.

We may all know the Nativity story wherein Jesus was born in a manger during this most glorious night… and though I may have celebrated Christmas every single year of my entire existence… only this year has Christmas been truly born in my heart for Christ to rule and reign absolutely over my life.

May you experience the same revelations that the Lord has opened up to me…

May you develop a deep and personal relationship with our God… the kind of relationship that Jesus has so very much longed for from us…

And may everyone realize that the Christmas spirit is experienced not just in December, but each and everyday by those who truly embrace the Lord’s unconditional love.

May Christmas happen in your hearts now and for all eternity.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Kidz Life

I am blessed to have found God this early in life… just when my kids are still in their formation stages.  It’s easier to instill the values of faith in them rather than when they are much older and have lives of their own already.

I have been bringing my children to quite a number of “Kidz Life” gatherings already.  If you are not aware, “Kidz Life” is somewhat a kiddie version of Elim’s, “Team Revival” night.  The little ones are taught to praise God and to worship Him in a way that is fun, kiddie-friendly and enjoyable.

Games, stories and movie watching are just some of the things that they participate in during the event.  Lots of cool activities and interaction with other kid dwellers as well.

I actually took a short video clip during our most recent “Kidz Life” gathering.

Here’s a snippet of it…

Fun, huh?!  If you’ve got kids of your own and would like to take them to the next “Kidz Life” session, you can contact me by clicking here.  Or inquiring via Elim’s website.

A Prayer for a Friend…

Just heard from a friend over at WordPress Pinoys that another member of ours, Lex, is still in the hospital going through a grueling series of chemotherapy.  He’s been there for almost a month now and there is still no word as to when or how much longer he has to stay there.

I may not know how it feels to undergo such a painful procedure… but my wife and I had a friend once who had leukemia, the very same condition Lex currently has… and we’ve seen how she suffered which in turn affected everyone around her greatly…

So, right now… I’d like to offer a prayer for my friend knowing that God is the Lord of infinite possibilities.

I ask that you, my readers, friends, even strangers… to please spend some time with me by reading the prayer below…

Dear Lord,

You know my friend so much better than I do. You know his sickness and his need. You also know his heart.  Lord, I ask you to be with my friend now, working in his life. Let Your will be done in my friend’s life.

If there is a sin that needs to be confessed and forgiven, Lord, please help him to see his need and confess.

Lord, I pray for my friend because Your Word says I should pray for His healing.  I believe You hear this earnest prayer from my heart and that it is powerful because of Your promise.  I have faith in You to heal my friend, but I also trust in the plan you have for my friend’s life.

Lord, I don’t always understand Your ways, and why my friend has to suffer, but I trust You now.  May You be glorified in my friend’s life and also in mine.  In Jesus name, I pray…

Amen.

To those who spent a little time in prayer with me… thank you and may the Lord bless your lives as well.