TWO BEAUTIFUL HANDS

"Do you know why God created gaps between fingers?        So that someone who is special to you,         Comes and fills those gaps by holding your hands forever." Beautiful!  Even if we  know that holding hands forever is physically impossible!  Maybe a moment could just be enough to accomplish God's purpose.  I love these lines forwarded by a friend, whose friend has sent it, and whose friend has received and sent it, and so on and so forth.  What a long list of senders and receivers of quotes and nuggets of wisdom to lighten and brighten up our world!  And technology has been playing its part so well in the delivery process.   The message is perfectly loud and clear.  God purposely made gaps between fingers of our hand:    first,  for someone to fill those gaps; second, for someone to feel the warmth; third, for two distant hands to reach and meet;  fourth, for many hands to join and hold on.    When God created His masterpiece, He did'nt want him to be alone.  So He made a partner whose hand he could  hold as they  walked on, inside and outside of paradise!   Shall we raise our hands as we sing this unforgettable sonata?  "I have two hands, the left and the right, hold them up high so clean and bright!"  Oh thank God, we've got two beautiful hands.   Yet there may be some who may just have one,  or none at all.  Now, look closely at your hands.  Fill those gaps.  Feel the warmth?  Yes, our hands are filled with energy,  full of feelings!  As if the heart is there on each palm.   And look!  Each palm is covered with smoother skin, so delicate and soft,  very sensitive to release and catch emotions.   A hand's gentle touch could bring comfort, healing, blessing and love.  A friendly handshake brings joy and peace.  And like a compass, one hand could follow silent directions leading to its destination.  Watch a blind man walk and cross the streets holding on to only a piece of wood as his guide!   Hands can  multi-task!  Watch a beggar begging with his left hand, while his right dirty hand enjoys left-over burgers.  Switch on your TV, with your left hand on the remote control, and your right on the cellphone!    And yes, we've got  powerful hands!  They can make and destroy.  So many hands of slaves built the palaces and towers of kings.  Yet with the fierce hands of the enemies, they were torn down to rubbles!    Hands can invent and copy.  They can draw and write lines, notes and maps.  A painter's hand could write a book with each flawless stroke on canvas!  And even cute hands can make lifeless instruments create  wonderful sounds to  play romantic tunes!  Oh you can name so many things that our hands can do.   Why do we have such beautiful and powerful hands?  Because the Hands that made them have rightfully positioned the ten little fingers for greater works!  Why?  So His Hands could  work thru them to accomplish His purpose!  Well it's just too sad that no matter how gracious God is in equipping us with two mighty hands, we still fail to live life victoriously.   We ignore opportunities that we sometimes fail and fall.  We become blind!  We refuse to use the gifts.  We let go the miracles that our hands and  His hands could together create -- in our lives and in the lives of those around us!     Now, look at your hands once more.  Are they willing to fill the gaps in someone else's hands?  There may be lonely people near you needing their warmth.   See those smiling faces from a distance?   They may just be yearning for comfort and love.  Look a little farther.  Can you see those old and dirty faces dreaming to live better lives?  Oh your hands may just be the generous hands that will make them smile!   Take good care of your hands.  They can work miracles!  They can give love, not only on Christmas day!  And they can pray.    Two Hands that built the world Were the Hands that made you The Hands that carried the cross Were the Hands that saved you And the Hands that fed the hungry Healed the sick, cheered the lonely Were the Hands of a Carpenter from Galilee. And His Hands could be your hands rowing the boat Yes His Hands could be your hands guiding the lost Oh your hands could hold the hands of a lonely broken heart To fill the gaps, to give the warmth. Your gentle hands can wipe the tears in someone's eyes And paint some pretty colored rainbows in the skies Your little hands could write a song to fill the air And build a world of cheer, of love and care. Your hands are lovely, they can pray a simple pray'r Your hands are precious, they can share a thousand cares Your hands give power in the Name of the Lord Your hands bring life, in the presence of God! Caring hands that could make all dreams come true Strong mighty hands that could re-create anew They are the POTTER'S Hands  Working thru YOUR hands.

SALAMAT SA IYO, AMA

Here's a cute story of "How the Rose was Won"!


May 16, 1988
It was lunch break.     I came from a meeting and was heading back to work when I was halted by an ongoing activity at the open space fronting our office.  It was a "Life in the Spirit" seminar.  I decided to wait till the speaker finished her talk.  I saw that most of the participants were our NASECO service employees.  I was impressed by the eloquence of the speaker. She was talking about God's love.   But as she continued, the message became so powerful that I felt something different  going on inside my heart.  Then she sang a beautiful song.  She shed tears and I couldn't help letting mine flow.  There was conviction deep within me.   I became so ashamed of myself.  Yet there was such an awesome feeling of being comforted and loved!  When she asked the audience to raise their hands in prayer,  I slowly raised mine, shyly and not too high.  And with my hands raised, eyes closed, lips whispering a prayer, I surrendered my life to God!  The first session saw me stucked to my seat, thirsting for more.  It was a week-long, noon-time seminar.  And you know what?  I was always present even without anyone inviting nor reminding me.   Oh yes, finally, the  "Hide and Seek" was over.  Now it was Jesus Himself that I heard calling my name.    I heeded the call.  That simple encounter started it all.  And that is how the Rose was won!   That also gave birth to this song, Rosalinda's very first lines:  "Salamat sa 'Yo, Ama".  And the lines continue to flow from my heart.  


Life was still the same after that encounter.   But living it became totally different!  

I want to thank God for not giving up on me.  Thank you, dear Father for Your love.  

Sino ako, kung wala ka,

Sino ako kung mag-iisa

Ako’y lupa lamang, binigyan Mo ng buhay

Winangis sa Iyong kaanyuan....

Sino ba akong dapat Mong mahalin

Sino ba akong binigyan Mo ng pansin

Ako’y makasalanan, nabuhay sa dilim

Minahal Mo’t tunay na inangkin....

O may pag-ibig pa kayang 

Hihigit sa pag-ibig Mo

May pag-ibig pa kayang

Tulad ng sa ‘YO

Wala na nga, wala na nga,

O Diyos, Ika’y dakila

Salamat sa Iyo...salamat sa Iyo

Salamat sa Iyo, Ama...

OUR GOD OF NEW THINGS

I attended a debut last Friday night and I was amazed to see the traditional 18 Candles and Roses ceremonies differently but creatively performed.  Instead of giving simple birthday wishes while lighting their candles, the eighteen girlfriends romped on stage with their beautiful gowns.  And to my surprise, the eighteen guys did not waltz with the lady when each gave his rose.  Each danced difficult modern steps for the debutante to follow!  And you could see the fun on all faces as cameras clicked from the audience' seats.  And it was good!


Then I began recalling some cute scenarios, comparing the old with the  new ways of doing things:

• THEN, in college, we would copy the lengthy lecture of our professor as he would write them down on two big blackboards.  Then we would start covering our eyes and nose to screen the  chalk mess when  a student erases the board for a second round of handwritten lecture.  Then...k r i i n n g g!! End of class session!  NOW, as a lecturer myself, my lesson would be flashed on white board from a computer installed in the room.  The students would  have their laptops on their desks to take down additional notes during  discussions.  Oh yes, same lessons but with new methodology.  That's time-saving!
• THEN, love letters sent thru the mails would reach their destination at a time when both the man and the woman would have found new "apples of their eyes"!  NOW, your thoughts and feelings could be delivered right at the moment you want to release them.  And then again delivered at the moment when they're gone! Same feelings yet easier way now to let go and get back!  That's magic!
• THEN, the Wedded Hearts couple ministry used to conduct a marriage renewal seminar for 2 1/2 days.  NOW, a seminar is completed within a day and a half for a regular MR and just a day for a special.  And that's counting only 15 years from it's birth in 1996.  That's cost-cutting!

and many many more.  Technology has made it so easy for man to do research and  accomplish things. Solutions are on the tip of his fingers.  Economy on the other hand, pushed man to gain more with lesser resources.   So, old systems and programs are regularly evaluated, re-designed and enhanced for better and more effective results.  Yet despite the new things that are available to deliver whatever you wish to deliver, the old could still block and pull down the score.  And same holds true in our spiritual journey.  Spiritual Maturity seems to be far from being reached with the old self hanging around to  drag and keep itself away from what God has really meant it to be.  Old sins renewed, failures magnified, forgiveness denied, joys delayed, dreams lost, hope gone, love refused and many more on and off  irritants that destroy, continue to haunt and linger.  Oftentimes, they reign and win!

Our God is a "God of New Things".  He fills our lives with big and small surprises.  He gives new hope.  He dreams new dreams;  all rooted from the passion of His great love for each one of us.  It's the same love that made Him create the world.  The same love that made Him send His Son to live with us to understand us better.  The same love that saves and redeems us.  The same love that holds eternity safe for us; that we may all be with Him.  The same love that creates and re-creates us; to be transformed and become new each day!  Yes, our God is a God of new and better things.  And He makes all things beautiful!  

     From nowhere, He packed the heavens

     From nothing, He built a world

     And from the dust, He formed His masterpiece

     To fill the earth with lasting peace.

     His creation, tempted and fallen

     Paradise lost, so quickly stolen

     But in His mercy, sent forth a Savior

     New dreams, new hopes, salvation for the lost.

     Our God is a God of mercy and love

     Our destiny He holds so dear

     As we journey thru, He’ll surely bring

     Bigger and better and greater things!  

     Let’s join our hands and sing praises together

     As we enjoy His presence forever

     Lift up our hearts and minds and souls to Him

     The Giver of blessings, our God of new things!


I am not finished yet with the melody.  Let me share this beautiful song  from Steve Curtis Chapman, "God Makes All Things New".

     

GOD IS REAL, NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL

Famine, riots, recession, floods, earthquakes, wars, freak accidents, break-ups and corruption are now regular features in our morning dailies.  What is surprising is that they don't shock anymore!  They  become routine.  Just like four seasons, each episode goes thru the cycle, one after the other, from generation to generation.  The worst scenario in a decade may have been forgotten.  Yet a mark remains that connects the present to its past.   And life goes on, the victims damaged and torn to pieces.  Just like Humpty Dumpty who sat on a wall, each had a great fall! I was not spared of great falls. Sometimes they came in pairs.  Let me just highlight a pair.  And these were the lighter falls:

• When PNB and its congenerics were privatized 1n 1991, I was forced to retire from government service.  We bought an AUV from my separation pay to help sustain our growing family needs. In one of its provincial trips via the north expressway,  the van overturned when one of its wheels loosed fit and pitched itself away from the van!  It was a second-hand unit and insurance just covered minimal costs of repair.  One passenger sustained injuries that required clutches for years for a damaged leg.  With the initial loss on the van operations,  I wondered whether we had  chosen the right business or not.  I was thankful still cause Ernie was unharmed.
• We were just recuperating from cash shortfalls when one day while cleaning the van, Ernie showed signs of pain on his chest.  We brought him to the hospital where he was rushed to the ICU.  He had a heart  attack and they called it myocardial infarction.  They said it could have been fatal had we been delayed for a few minutes.  Thank God Ernie survived.  But there were so many "don't's". That meant lots of adjustments in everything.  We did cost cutting on some budgets to allow more on priorities like medicines.  That also meant more ways to earn. Sacrifices were made.  We could no longer afford private schools for all my children so the rest were transferred to public schools.    

With God's grace, I passed the tests.  There were all sorts of  healing:  physical, emotional, relational and spiritual. His grace was more than sufficient to bring back together the broken pieces. My faith grew as God showed me He was in full control all the time.  With all my tears,  I knew God was so near that  I could still smile.  Yes, GOD IS REAL, NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL!!




Never mind all the troubles around you

Just wear a smile when your eyes are in tears

Just remember God is always beside you

God is real….no matter how you feel.

Don’t be alarmed when your friends desert you

Don’t be afraid when the dark clouds appear

Don’t forget God will never abandon you

God is real….no matter how you feel.

God may seem so distant

God may seem to turn his back on you

God may seem to be deaf to your cries

But all these, all these are untrue.

God is here, He knows everything about you

God is near, He knows your doubts and your fears

God is real, He knows what is best for you

God is real, no matter how you feel.

SAFE IN HIS HANDS

"We never get what we want, we never want what we get,
  We never have what we like, we never like what we have.
And still we live & love.   That's life."

A friend forwarded the above quotes and I just couldn’t  help but smile at this mystery called “life".  To affirm  these truths would mean rewinding portions of my past to get a clearer picture of what I wanted but did not get. Yet I must also examine and  review what I got that I never wanted.  Then maybe to provide a stronger evidence, I should make a list of what I  liked but did not have.  And to offset, maybe a longer list of  those  I had that I did’nt   like.  Confusing?  Ha ha..  But wait.  The quotes concluded with:  ”And still we live & love. That's life.”   Well, I just could sigh "ah love....ah life!"  And my hands just couldn't stop  writing some funny honest thoughts on this:

                 ah love . . . ah life . . .

                  love’s a strange old feeling deep inside

                   that lingers on and on but chose to hide

                   yet time could just create a tiny space 

                   where one day it could somehow link and trace.

                    life is full of big and small surprises

                   dreams of long ago inspire old faces

                   life moves on with all its twists and turns

                   clock ticks fast and slow till time still lends.

                    letting go is simply saying “i accept”

                   accepting is just giving up what “i expect”

                   expecting is leaving up to destiny

                   what and when and how my life would be.

                    ah life, love was your beginning

                   ah love, you make this life worth living.

Our lives have been perfectly planned by a Master Builder and Architect.  In other words, "we have been set up".    Let's look at these scenarios:

• Review the qualities of your ideal man.    Do they pretty much describe the guy you married? Take my case.  Should I marry, I wanted my man to be tall, dark and handsome.  Well,  my partner was handsome and dark.   But short! 
• I liked then to be a doctor.  I became a CPA!  Then I thought I wanted to stay single and become a nun...but I married and became a mother.
• I wanted to land a job at Colgate or Nestle.  I was never given a chance even for an interview in any.
• When I decided to transfer to PNOC in 1994 for a better opportunity, my feet led me back to my former office.    
• When I retired in 2003 after 35 years in the corporate world,  I was prepared to invest in a  sari-sari store.  Here at least I could still practice my profession in auditing all the canned goods and soft drinks!  But from nowhere I was offered a teaching job in a transnational school!     

and many more.  The truth is:  We have even been positioned for tasks we have never dreamed of doing.  Our Maker Who gave us our gifts will lead us to people and places for a special mission.  So, there  is nothing to worry if we are bogged down with irritants and inconsistencies. Our God is the Author of Life.  He knows how to begin and end each life story.  And remember, He is a God of Love.  He is in full control  and therefore our lives are always safe in His Hands.    

I once had my dreams 
And my dreams were beautiful

And I offered them all 
To my God whom I adore

And when my dreams were realized

I was amazed, I was surprised

God made them more beautiful 
And better than mine

I once had my plans

And my plans were wonderful

And I offered them all

To my God whom I adore

And when  my plans were realized

I was amazed, I was surprised

God made them more wonderful

And better than mine

Oh yes my God is wiser

And His thoughts are higher

And His ways are better and He loves me

Oh what a beautiful Savior

Oh what a wonderful Friend

What a loving God and Father till the end.

I still have my dreams
And I still have my plans

Safe in His Hands.

AM I WORTH IT?

"Repent!  The Kingdom of God is at hand!"  That was the call of John the Baptist.  He was like a broken record proclaiming this warning over and over again.  He did not mind who would get the ax.  His was an urgent task to boldly expose the  sins even of kings that they may seek God's forgiveness.   And this caused his death.


In your life, who was, or is,  your John the Baptist?  If ever you had one before or having one now, I tell you he/she surely is your true friend.  Mine?  Her name is Angelina Mendoza Go.

                                                              Angie is on the far left.


Angie, (others call her Lina) has been my best friend since my college days in Arellano.  But our friendship had limits then.  She would not let me copy during examinations!  She would cover well her paper and would never ever allow my wandering eyes  get a glimpse of her answers.  And she would  angrily look at me straight in the eye as if saying "Di ka ba nag-aral?" She was the best in accounting among our batch and always the favorite of our professors.  When we had afternoon classes, I would eat my lunch and spend my waiting hours with her in their house which was just across Arellano University in Legarda.   During floods which  at times  were waistline deep, their house would be my refuge.


Angie knew me well.  And I could not hide from her.  To seal the friendship, I made her the godmother of my eldest even if she was in the far-flung PNB Abra at that time.  Yet God allowed  us to renew our connections in 1987 when she  finally was assigned in Makati.  Her stay with the PNB Buendia branch  saw her treading a different course.  She started on her spiritual journey becoming an active member of the  Flames of Fire for Jesus, a Catholic charismatic community, having its roots at PNB Escolta.  That made her a "John the Baptist" to all of her friends.  But I was hard to get.  I was wallowing then in my sin of unforgiveness and I enjoyed it.  She would visit me during lunch time to start a bible study in our office but  I would close all lights to prevent them from entering.  Yet she never grew tired inviting me to different seminars and I would always find  reasons not to attend.  Now I know.  It  was God using Angie, trying hard to introduce Himself to me in another angle....not only as my Creator.  And the process was quite long.  Yet God never gave up on me.  He sought all routes for me to notice Him.  He made great advertisements.  He offered me beautiful roses.  Yet he also allowed the thorns to prick me...and all because of His immense love.  Who am I for a great God to think of?  to be worried about?  to love that much? Am I worth it?  


But as in all stories, there's got to be a beginning and an ending.  And finally I was caught.  And this is another beautiful story.
  

Each time I see Your face soaked in blood

I see the wretchedness, the pains of the world

Each time I see Your hands torn with nails

I see the sins of the Father’s creation

And each time I see Your body

Pierced with a lance

Your feet carried the weight on the cross

I see Your love, Your great great love

I see Your love, Your wonderful love

Then I’d say to myself, "Am I worth it"?

And as I see you rise up from the grave

I see the promise, I see the promise fulfilled

And as I see you rise up to the clouds

I see the angels praising Your glory!

I see Your love, Your great great love

I see Your love, Your wonderful love

Then I’d say to myself, "oh yes He loves me".
He truly loves me!


Thank you Lord for using my friend Angie to let me know more of You and myself.

OH WHAT A JOY!

In the  70's, you would wait for almost half a year to get the results of a CPA board exam.  Now I think it would only take two to three weeks for examinees to either jump for joy or cry out loud.  So, you could just imagine the agony of a long long wait.  I remember I had so many novenas recited begging all those saints for a miracle.  I knew well I needed one that time.  Why? Because I knew I would fail.  The exam in Auditing required adjusting entries, worksheet and the formal statements.  I thought then that all items for adjustment were on the page I was working on and I was so glad I balanced the worksheet.  There were no calculators then and just adding all those figures would eat your time and effort.   I had a certain feeling of relief having presented the statements well without erasures and with even strokes of my fountain pen.  But I got the shock of my life finding there was still one page of items waiting to be analyzed, journalized and posted.  I closed my eyes,  bit my lips and sighed.  I refused to panic.  I calmed myself  knowing that was the only option available.  Time would be up in a couple of minutes and revising my work would create a great mess on my paper.   Now, could you blame me for pestering and bombarding  all those saints in heaven?  But I remember that as the final verdict drew near, my prayers changed.  I just asked God to give me  courage to accept this kind of failure.  I have gone thru all sorts of defeat and this would just be one of those I could handle.  One thing more, I knew I could have a re-take.   I also prayed that I may not be ashamed to face the world  and be myself again with my circle of relations.  Then came the day.  I wanted to be absent from work but maybe my prayers were answered so I was ready for a sad news.  A friend called up before 2 o'clock and broke a good news that she saw my name on the list submitted for press release.  But I needed confirmation.  It could still be a false alarm.  Then came the delivery boy of the Daily Mirror for the GM's office. After a few minutes, I saw the secretary with all smiles going near my desk.  My heart was pumping so fast I could not contain the happiness that very moment.  "Oh my, she would be congratulating me," I said to myself.  "Rose! congratulations, you passed the board!",!  Then everybody in the office shared the joy.


That was one milestone!  I earned one title that could not be snatched.  It was one accomplishment that I could be proud of.  One event that exuded real overwhelming joy!  Yet there was that inexplicable joy that surpassed all the other joys in my life.  And I did not work for it!  SOMEONE did and I just opened my heart when I heard Him knocking.  But He waited long.  I wonder how He must have felt when I finally opened the door.   He must have worn a big smile when I let Him in.  And the joy of letting Him reign brought special joy with lasting peace in my heart.  It's the peace that the world cannot give and  understand.  It's the peace that one should have; the kind of peace  one we should share.  Need this  peace?  Receive the joy first!  You'll give a special joy to the Giver too!!

What a joy to know that He loves me

What a joy to know that He truly cares

What a joy to know that He’ll always be

My father, my savior, my friend.

What a joy to be His creation

What a joy to sing His great salvation

What a joy to let the whole world know

His peace and love will always overflow.

What a joy to know, what a joy to see

What a joy to feel His love for me

What a joy to live, what a joy to be

A child of God, right from the very start.

What a joy to sing Him praises

What a joy to thank Him for all graces

What a joy to know, what a joy to be

A part of God’s great family!

HUMAYO KA

My childhood memories included moments when I dreamed I were  a nun!  I would cover my entire body with a white blanket, with only my big eyes peeping thru a curtain-like trimming around my thin face.  And then with my hands packed inside the blanket-turned-robe, I would slowly and reverently walk, only to be mocked and shouted at  by my irritated mom with her hostile remarks:  “Santa Rosa, don’t try too hard!  Take that off!  You would just be a big disgrace to the vocation!  Are you crazy?  What a nerve to even think of becoming a nun?  What have you eaten up lately?”  Those notorious ugly truths would instantly wake me up!   I would forget about it till I would  hear my playmates shout “negra” again in our never-ending quarrels.  I knew mom was perfectly right.  How could I be a religious figure when I could never be silenced in one corner.  I loved to run and run just like Forest Gump.  I would play and play  till there’s no more game to play.  I did enjoy quarrels and would only stop till I get even.  And she was right!  There was not  a trace of becoming a nun in me.   I just wanted only to cover my dark skin to get away with the “negra” brand tossed on me then.   See how  I would find solution to cover a disgrace?   Yet the funny thing here is that my brand name even became a famous jingle when my classmates started singing “puputi si Aki, kahit hindi ikula”.  And I could not escape anymore.   Had glutathione been discovered then, maybe I would have taken double dosages for faster results.  

Reflecting on this now, I would see how big an insult I hurled at our Maker,  questioning the distinct features of His great masterpiece.  And it was a real big turnaround for me to accept and believe I was special, uniquely chiseled and painted by a perfect artist.   So I ended my wish to be a nun and just became obsessed with becoming a doctor!    Reasons?  I liked the uniform!  Ha ha ha!  And I liked the title too!  But I became a CPA.  Why and how is a long story! 

 God’s love saw me through all these years  even with my changing moods and ambitions.  He understood and comforted me with all my doubts and fears, pains and discouragements, failures and imperfections. He chastised me yet He forgave and got stuck on me.   Until now, He continues to  watch carefully my every step.  That is how good my Good Shepherd is as He leads me to the right path, back to His original plan, even before I knew Him!  EVEN WHEN I WAS YET IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB.

Alam mo bang pinili na kita

Kahit na ang mundo ay di mo pa nakikita

Alam mo bang pangarap ko sa ‘yo ay kay ganda

Kahit noong Ako’y di mo kilala pa.

Ngayong alam mo nang kaibigan mo Ako

At kailanma’y di lalayo sa piling mo

Matatakot ka pa ba…o kaya’y mangangamba

Ngayong alam mo nang di ka na mag-iisa.

Humayo ka, ipakilala mo Ako

Humayo ka, ibahagi ang pag-ibig Ko

Gawin mo na ngayon habang may panahon

Humayo ka!  Ako ay lagi mong kasama.

PAG-IBIG MO'Y SAPAT NA

Seb, a friend, recently introduced Warren Buffet to me.  And I was blessed knowing that the second richest man in the world continues to live a modest life, but extravagantly donating billions to charity!   What a wonderful creature!  What a concrete and perfect way to love and care!  What a great honor given to God,  thanking Him  by giving back what rightfully belongs to Him.  This gentleman truly has known the secret of happiness.  He surely has heard God's voice and heeded His call.  His riches are now stored in heaven where moths and thieves could not destroy.  


Blessings come and go.  Sometimes they are in disguise so often times could become opportunities lost when left unnoticed.  Sometimes they are wrapped in crumpled newspaper that you would resist them   They come in different colors and sizes, height and depth, width and length.  They can even come in pairs.  Is success a blessing?  Are riches blessings? Are mission areas blessings?  Are street children blessings?   Oh yes, the greatest blessing is to be entrusted with souls by our God! And are you ready for this kind of blessing?  Rember, blessings not properly handled could turn to curses in the end.  


Again, the secret of abundance is sharing and letting go a part of what we are receiving.  But how could you share what you don't have?  Or let's put it this way:  how could you share Jesus if you haven't received Him yet in your heart?  The truth is:   God is the  REAL TREASURE.  And concluding:  God is enough.  In fact, HE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH!

Di ko kailangan ang yaman sa mundo

Ito’y pansamantala lamang na katulad ko

Ang nais ko’y Ikaw Hesus, manahan sa puso ko

Tunay na ligaya ang matatamo.

Di ko rin kailangan kapangyarihan at tagumpay

Ito’y panandalian lamang katulad ng buhay

Ang nais ko’y Ikaw Hesus wala nang iba pa

Tanging kaligtasan ng aking kalul’wa.

Wala nang kailangan, Ikaw ang tangi kong yaman

Wala nang hahanapin pa, Pag-ibig Mo sa ‘kin ay sapat na.

NOW IS OUR TIME

Many times we would wonder what life is all about.  Do we really have to dream about it?  Plan for it?  Work for it?  Do we have to amass and store wealth?  For what?  Life is temporary.  And the sooner we know that  it would be time to go is a sad reality.  And realizing further that we even won't have a bite on its fruit is exceedingly disgusting!  These unhealthy thoughts always kill a dream.  Why?  We have selfish motives  dreaming for  this world's goods only for ourselves. 

Dreaming while sleeping  and day-dreaming are two distinct actions of the mind.  The former we can't control, the latter we can.  The former may harm our senses, the latter soothes.  Yet both still end as dreams.   But there is one dream that touches not only the heart and the mind.  It reaches the soul.  It satisfies the innermost being.  

The question is:  Do we still have enough time for another dream?  The answer could be a "yes" or a "no".  Yet no matter how long or short would the available time be,  NOW is the time to move on!  NOW is the time to dream another dream!  NOW is the time to be part of  a revival for a greater harvest!   Yes, we may not see the fruits so soon but surely we are leaving a lasting legacy.

When we talk of our dreams

We would say someday

Though it may seem so slow

It surely would come

And that someday is near

And that someday is here

And that someday, that someday is NOW!

      

Chorus

Now is our time to move on

Now is our time to move fast

Now is the time to prove to our God

We can read the signs

And we know how to listen.

Now is our time to harvest

Now is our time to conquer

Not by our might,

Nor by our power

But by the spirit of God.

Look at the sea, the fish are jumpin’

Just look around you, the trees  are growin’

The flowers are bloomin’, the meadow is green

Now is the time for reaping!

        (Repeat Chorus)

Let’s move our mountains, let’s cross the ocean

Let’s build our bridges, let’s go overseas

God has blessed us and loved us

And now is the time for us.

        (Repeat Chorus_

WEDDED HEARTS FOR JESUS

It was God's dream for the Flames of Fire for Jesus (FOFJ) to organize its own couples' ministry.  That gave birth to the Wedded Hearts for Jesus in 1996, with its vision to bring couples closer to God and to each other and be role models for their children and the community.  Work was tough but God  graciously poured out His blessings, sending couple workers to the vineyard to accomplish  its mission.  Now on its 15th year of  bringing good news to couples and their families, the ministry sees new flocks to shepherd, seeks double annointing for healing and miracles, takes better positioning for greater harvest.  All for God's glory!!!  


            

Wedded hearts for Jesus, you and me

The best of friends forever we will be

Nothing can change nor break our hearts

No one can tear us apart

For Jesus made us one right from the start.

Wedded hearts for Jesus strong and true

You can depend on me I can count on you

Hand in hand we’ll build our dreams

With faith in God we’ll cast all fears

We’ll sing our song and face the world with cheer.

One in Christ, that’s what we’re meant to be

One in Christ, that’s what we’ll always be

We will build a family, together you and me

A family that God wants us to be.

Wedded hearts for Jesus, me and you

We’ll tell the world that Jesus loves them so

We’ll share our hopes, our joys and dreams

And in the end we will remain

Loving hearts, caring hearts, 
Wedded hearts for Jesus, 
You and me

You and me.