Manus Dei

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”                                                               - Joshua 1:9 The Cluster B joint Prayer Assembly last October 2nd was a day that both Chapters B1 and B2 have waited for with nervousness and anticipation. Change can be a scary thing. After all, it is easier to cling to the comfort of the familiar. Change can be invasive, uncomfortable and challenging: yet the Lord calls us to reach out and bring His good news to anyone and everyone, and all of that involves tremendous change in character and spirit. To do so, it also requires and attitude of obedience to the Lord's will, even if we do not understand His plans at the time. With the Lord's grace, the Chris...

2017 was not a good year for me, Last April 2017 I was diagnosed with Stage 1 NHL. My first reaction was why me? Of all people, why me? I am getting married! Which I think is a common response to all, questioning God “Bakit ako”? For me, it was very unfair, thinking that I am alone here in AUH and during that time I’m actually on a healthy lifestyle and doing my daily workout routines. It was an ordinary day to day living for me. But everything has changed. I had so much questions to God and I am in so much pain, emotionally. Then I realized, all that I am praying to God is to always keep my parents healthy, instead of them being sick, I am willing to shoulder all the burden. And I’m thankful because my parents are ok. Because I can’t imagine what I will do if they are the ones who are sick. When I started having my series of tests I wanted to keep it to myself  at first and not to involve anyone most especially those people who are really close to me and my family. As if w...

How does it feel to be “increasingly intense”?! Am I worthy of the Lord’s promise? Should I deserve God's relentless love? Will the Lord forgive me despite my imperfections and sins? or will God embrace me for who I am? These questions keeps running in my head and haunting me in the past. Restless nights, tensions and pressure attacks, stressful work environment, pleasing other people, and a series of negativity, depression, or even spiritual dryness are the triggering factors that the other side is working to pull you down. Perhaps our problem lies in our twisted notion that consistency is good and inconsistency is bad. Maybe, somewhere along the way, we bought into the myth that following Christ means being as perfect as He is and that stumbling is a reminder that we are nothing but sinful misfits. Maybe we do not think we deserve God's relentless love. Perhaps we subconsciously compare ourselves to God, feeling how relentlessly He loves us despite our faults and im...

I honestly had second thoughts about attending this year's SFC National Conference... when I saw the first teaser, I began to reflect on what I have learned in the last conference I attended (MERECON) and was troubled to realize that except for the gist of the workshop I joined, I don't remember the essence of the talks and sharings... for days I pondered about my reason and purpose for going and prayed for enlightenment... and just when I was finally leaning towards making the final decision of sitting it out that God sent people to help me decide otherwise... It was a very early morning for us that started with the Holy Mass and from the onset, my question was answered. During the homily the priest said "we are called to spread the word by living it '. It was further reiterated in Tito Noli Manuel's opening remarks saying "you are a blessed to be a blessing to others - go out and tell the world of the goodness of God". Indeed no question will ...

Is this a difficult reality to transition? Not really! After my 8.3 years tenure in the Singles for Christ Abu Dhabi, finally it is time to bask in my new home called S.O.L.D. (the Servants of the Lord).  But first let me quickly take you back to my journey in SFC. It was on the 2nd of December 2009 when I received the most important, valuable Certificate in my life.  A Certificate that can never be quantified by any amount that I earned after a 13-week, no-fee yet fulfilling Christian Life Program conducted by the Singles for Christ. A Certificate stamped and sealed by God ~ certifying me to be His ‘own’ and servant.  Life then was never tranquil as I expected. Joining a renewal community aimed to transform people’s lives does not offer absolute comfort. During my service life, I had so many falls, and though struggling, I have to stand up and walk my feet out, until one day I found myself kneeling before my God and convicted. Yes, I was convicted. I was tran...

 SFC Abu Dhabi was blessed to have a special teaching with sis Jen Umpad, full time missionary from Manila just days before the 17th SFC UAE National Conference. Brothers and sisters from all four chapters gathered at St. Therese Church at 7:30 pm to listen to this pre-Natcon teaching from our missionaries. Sis Jen started by stating that all who came to the teaching are in different stages of their journey with the Lord, thus all will have different expectations. She asked the state of everyone's heart, ranging from inspired, joyful, grateful, excited, burned out, carrying heavy baggages and curious: all these emotions and more described the state of the journey with the Lord for most of the attendees. Sis Jen likened each SFC member to a jar of clay which is being formed by the Lord, and there are many factors that He uses to form us: our community teachings, household prayer meetings, formations and conferences. He also uses trials and struggles to shape us, painfully if neede...

Growing up, I always hear and read that when one door closes for you, believe that another will open. It’s the same as saying that when you get rejected by an opportunity you really wanted; believe that another one is coming your way. I have no doubt about this and I firmly believe as I experienced this many times. When I first arrived in UAE, I am hopeful that I will get a job related to my profession in the Philippines. Yet after 2 months of searching and application, I found myself working in retail.  I asked God why it happened. This question stayed in my mind for quite some time until I was able to accept that there were really reasons why I am in that situation. As months and years passed by, I learned to love my job and acquired new learning and skills as well. The business was booming and every month we received commissions until one month our salary was delayed for few days. And another month the salary was delayed for a week and so and so forth. Fortunately, our g...