Treasures in our heart

Gospel for the day: Luke 2:16-21

 

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
 

Cheers for a blessed and happy new year! Thank you Lord that I am still here!

Wow!!! It was only yesterday when 2016 had just began but I can’t believe that now 2017 has come. As we say hello to another amazing year, let us remind our own selves like what we read in the gospel to glorify and praise God for all the blessings, graces, experiences and the not so wonderful happenings we went through for all these years. Let us have a heart full of thanksgiving and give our praise to God for he deserves all of it and by doing so, he transforms each one of us to be like his son, Jesus.

 

For me, 2016 was a struggling year for my family but somehow we had learn to work and help one another in our own ways. It was not an easy start since oftentimes we would fight or misunderstand each other. It was also very hard to obey but because they knew better, we/I have to follow. Each of us had our own struggles too but then we tried to manage. Me and my siblings wanted to give up as it’s very difficult and it is impossible but our parents kept on holding on. They were trying their hardest to find ways for our existing problem. There were situations when I don’t know where to stand or to whom shall I go? Indeed God is a great provider because he has given our family enough resources to survive and maybe He is teaching each of us a lesson in life. Well the family struggle is still there, though at times we lose hope that it will be fixed but only God knows what’s in store for us.

 

This year our CFC community is proclaiming that we should stand firm in our faith for we will be facing a lot of trials, tested with struggles and of course achieving victories for our God is always with us in our journey. Through this verse maybe God is telling my family to stand firm and believe that He can do wonders for us in the midst of all impossibilities and human limitations. He is reminding us to have faith and believe that good things will still come.

 

Also in the gospel, Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. Like Mary, let us start to store up treasures in heaven for life here on earth is temporary. Let us learn to value our relationships more than the earthly possessions and trends of this world. Let us ponder deeply first before we speak or act for we may never return back the wasted opportunity because of our recklessness. Let us invest our time wisely and work productively in God’s vineyard as he is commanding us to do. May we find joy in serving God and his people even if it is very hard and challenging but through that, it is the most fulfilling thing we can achieve that makes our life worth living.

 

And for all of these, may God be praised!

Sis Sarah Lauren Lim 

Chapter 3B3 ~ CLP Batch 43

Household Head 

SFC Dubai 

Funny convo of Me and God

A funny convo with God that's a bit melodramatic yet somehow was an eye opener for me and hit me with a big realization. I was praying for something to happen and I was doubting if it was really meant for me. Truly He answers us in ways we couldn't see but in circumstances we can really feel. He hears our every cry and no silence escapes Him. You are indeed a great God. Thank you for your confrontation and for making me see the blindness I refuse to unveil and discover the lies that held me captive. Allow me to break free and to stand up slowly but surely. In your name, I trust. May your will be done. AMEN.
(written last year when I was discerning to go for RECON but failed to do so)

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AKO: Ano bang gusto mong gawin ko?

SIYA: Ano ba ang kaya mong gawin para sa akin?

AKO: Aaaahhh…. Ummm **isip** Hindi ko alam? Marami?!? **duda mode**

SIYA: Bakit naman? Pinagdududahan mo ba ako o ang sarili mo?

AKO: Nagdududa ako kasi alam ko capasidad ko. Basta ang gulo kasi!

SIYA: Isa lang naman ang pipiliin mo at ako na bahala sa ano pang kailangan mo. Manalig ka sa akin!

AKO: Paano eto……. Kasi may ganito……. Tapos ayun….. Haaaay buhay napaka complikado…. Puro na lang problema. Nakaka stress na!

SIYA: Ikaw lang naman nagpapa complikado ng usapang ito. Oo o hindi lang ang isasagot mo pero nagdadahilan ka pa ng kung ano ano. Oh kay tigas nga naman ng ulo mo.

AKO: Kasi naman takot ako… tsaka maraming duda sa kung ano ano.. hmmm maraming iniisip na d naman kelangan.. haay napaka advance pa ng utak ko… kasi maraming dinadala at kinakarga....tsaka maraming inaalala at alam kong nakaka abala na talaga.. Haaay napaka worry freak lang ng peg ko.. Grrrrr kainisssssss!

SIYA: Sumasakit na nga tenga ko sa kakapakinig sa lahat ng litanya mo kahit na paulit ulit na lang ganyan. Wala ka bang tiwala man lang? Nasaan na ba ang dating “ikaw” na walang takot hinaharap ang mga bagay bagay, ung dating “ikaw” na di basta basta sumusuko kahit lubog na lubog na, ung dating “ikaw” na malakas ang loob at may tiwala sa akin, ung dating “ikaw” na hindi ng aalala sa mangyayari bukas, ung dating “ikaw” na wagas ang ngiti kahit may pinoproblema, ung dating “ikaw” na kung makapagsabi ng OO/YES ay papanindigan kahit gaano kahirap, ung dating “ikaw” na may disiplina at hindi pabaya tsaka ung dating “ikaw” na kilalang kilala ko mula noon. Anyare at bigla kang nagbago at lumayo???

AKO: .......................................................... Alam ko..

SIYA: Anyare?

AKO: Nagpadala kasi ako sa kahinaan ko, sa pagiging makasarili ko, sa kalungkutan ko, sa pangungulila ko, sa kakaibang emosyon ko, sa sari saring iniisip ko at sa kung ano pang nararamdaman ng puso ko. Akala ko tama ung ginagawa ko pero nakakalimutan ko na at sa mga yun dun nagsimula ang unti unti kong paglayo. Hinanap ko ang mga bagay na mgpapacompleto sa akin and magbibigay saya sa akin. Kaya nakalimot ako at dun nawala na ang lahat. Kaya eto ako ngayon, hirap na hirap bumangon ulit. Ung mahinang ako na nauubusan na ng lakas ng loob at laging takot. Ung ako na d ko inaasahan na bibigat at lalapad ng ganito. Ung ako na mahina, mapagduda, makasarili at ngpadala sa temptasyon. Nagsisisi ako at ngayon gusto ko ng itama ang mga mali ko. Gusto ko ng bumalik sa dati kaso ang hiraaaaaaaaaaap pala.

SIYA: Magiging maayos rin ang lahat Anak. Tandaan mo na ang mga nangyayaring ito ay may rason. Kapit ka lang. Pagdaanan mo lang kasi ito ang magtuturo sayo ng tama kesa sa mali. Matututo ka Anak. Wag kang matakot. Tumayo kang muli. Mag-umpisa ka sa sarili mo, sa dasal, sa tiwala at isipin na makakayanan mo rin ito. Kasama mo ko at d magtatagal ay magtatagumpay ka din.

AKO: Panginoon, turuan mo akong maniwala sa di kapanipaniwalang bagay. Alam kong walang imposible sa iyo at alam kong malalampasan ko rin ito. Itinataas ko na ang lahat sa inyo. Oh Diyos, kayo na po ang bahala sa akin. Kailangan kita at maraming salamat sa lahat. In Jesus' name, Amen.

SIYA: AMEN!

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God speaks in different ways. Are we listening when he speaks?

Or are we busy talking the whole time in prayer?

Reflect and listen well.

Are you?