Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Today's Ash Wednesday

2:09 PM 4 Comments
Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Lent season. It's called that way because of the practice of placing ashes on the forehead as a sign of repentance. The ashes that will be used are from the burnt Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday. It will not only be a symbol of repentance but it will also a symbol that we are made from ashes and will return to ashes when we die.

During the Lent season we not only remember the sufferings of Jesus when He was slain so that our sins will be forgiven. We also do our best to repent and imagine our selves to be crucified with Him. We would also abstain from eating flesh during Wednesdays and Fridays as we approach the Holy Week and fast during the actual week.

Actually, we don't need a special day to start repenting and turning back to Him but I believe that special events like this can help motivate people. ^_^

I will be posting our foreheads later..ehehehe...

Btw, there are a lot of things that I would really love to share such as the plans for having a joined service of the Orthodox and Catholics, some news from our Pope, some positive changes that we can see in our church and a lot more... but I don't know how to put everything into words...T_T

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Happy Birthday Daddy!

4:56 PM 6 Comments




The things we did to celebrate my dad's birthday:

1. He cooked/prepared for our breakfast.
2. He ironed our clothes for church.
3. We attended the mass.
4. We had our lunch at the mall (so that he won't cook for our lunch anymore).
5. Mom bought him shoes.
6. We went home early so they can prepare for our dinner celebration with some friends.
7. Dad cooked and prepared for our dinner because mom experienced heartburn.
8. We ate dinner and now we are watching a movie.
9. I'm sure we will end this day with a prayer. ^_^

I know it sounds like dad did everything for his birthday but I guess it just comes out of him naturally. He never gets tired of serving our family. He never gets tired of serving mom. It seems like they are still in the courting stage. lol

My dad is really the best. I really appreciate how he make it up to mom now that he had already retired from the army. I really pray that I could marry someone like him.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Nothing Can Stop Me From Loving

3:05 PM 1 Comments
I don't know how to tell the story in details but all I know is that the evil will pull you away from your faith through your weaknesses or not exactly on your faith and not exactly through your weaknesses but sometimes it will just make things happen and that could give you the feeling that you would want to stop praying or having a relationship with God.

I guess the coming of Jesus is really really getting near because it seems like the enemy is already having a double time in leading people away from the right path and pulling Christians away from it.

Anyway, I'm really thankful to have my parents beside me during that time when something happened that neither do I can explain. I am also glad it was over. I nearly gave up following Jesus but my parents were really patient, understanding and helped me realize that I should never allow anything to hinder me from praising, worshiping, loving and following Him. Surely it is not easy but I know it will be worth it...I live to give Him praise. I live to be a child of God.

He had done something because of His great love that is very hard for us to do and it is allowing Jesus to suffer for our salvation. That is why I choose to keep on holding as tight as I can even if it is hard. Btw, I'm not talking about being weak with my faith because of my unanswered personal prayers or anything that I have mentioned before...it is something I couldn't really explain. I hope you can understand me even if I believe that I am not making sense but I know some of you will...^_^ lol

I am just glad I had won that battle and I really pray that it will be over...I feel so revived. I feel like a virtual page being refreshed. ehehe... I am also happy that the enemy failed because it just made me love God much more and made my grip even tighter than before...

Happy Valentines' Day everyone! Even though I had just been here at home the whole day, I know and I still feel loved.

Btw, it's my dad's birthday tomorrow...^_^

Friday, February 6, 2009

Prayers for Aden Harrington

6:38 PM 6 Comments
Aden is a beautiful 3-year old boy. He loves trains, his grandparents, reading, his half-day school and friends. He is smart, handsome and full of life.

Aden was diagnosed on January 6, 2009 with Stage 4 Kidney Cancer. It has already metastasized to his lungs.

He showed few signs of being sick, except for the fact that he was taking a bit too long to recover from a common cold. His parents noticed a little lump on his side just under Aden's ribcage. They took him to a pediatrician thinking he probably had mono.

Please include Aden in your prayers...

I got his story from The Lighthouse Prayer Line.

Read more about Aden's story and sign his guestbook:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/adenharrington

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Forgiven and Set Free

8:12 AM 1 Comments
Forgiven and Set Free
by Lori Laws

It seemed like the best decision back then…it was a quick solution…besides, my life was just getting started and my whole future was ahead of me. I had an abortion at sixteen years old. The whole teenage pregnancy problem was gone, and I resumed my life. Up until I became a born-again follower of Christ, I hid and suppressed any feelings or emotions from the abortion. It was out-of-sight, out-of-mind…so I thought
There is something very real that happens to you when you have an abortion…it’s called Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS). It may take years (in my case, it took almost 25 years), but most of us who have had abortions share feelings of sorrow, anger, denial, guilt…etc. Satan absolutely uses these feelings to keep us in bondage.

For years after having my abortion, I felt totally uncomfortable around anything pregnancy or baby related. I tried avoiding that stuff like the plague. Avoidance is another symptom of PAS. Let me take a minute and speak to anyone who has had an abortion (or even if you’ve been involved in the decision). Paul tells us something in scripture that gives us hope. He tells us to forget the past and press on towards the goal (Jesus)! We need to hear that, really hear and meditate on that. Yes, abortion is a terrible, terrible thing. But the Bible says…

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

God says that even though our sins are scarlet red, He can make us white as snow! How wonderful! I found an incredibly healing Bible Study specifically for PAS. It was life giving! The Book that was used is called Forgiven and Set Free. There were other women who also had PAS at the Bible study. One particular scripture God had used to minister and heal me was from the book of Ezekiel…

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart." Ezekiel 36:26

The Bible study helped me to be confident of God’s forgiveness. It allowed me to forgive myself and move forward with my life. If you have had an abortion, and you are having a tough time with all the crazy, negative feelings associated with PAS, please call your local Pregnancy center…they will help you to really get it deep down inside… you are forgiven and set free!


----
I had mentioned on my past entries about how much I hated abortion. I hate the sin but I don't hate the sinner. This entry is dedicated to all of us, sinners. Abortion is not the only sin that can build a barrier between us and God. We should always remember that if we repent, no matter how big our sin is, God will always accept us.

I want to thank Lori Laws for being my guest blogger. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and allowing my blog to borrow your words. Blessings to you my friend!