Here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
I suppose I too was a victim of the busyness of the season. Sitting down to write a post was quite a challenge. And so, at the very end of the year, armed with my new iPad, and using free wifi of SMNorth, I write a quick post to leave you dear readers and followers of this blog a wish for a more active worship life both individual and corporate.
This afternoon, our community holds it's last Praise and Worship this year. A thanksgiving for the many blessings the Good Lord has accorded us. Come join us at 5pm at the Heritage. (www.lords flock.org). See you!
HAPPY NEW YEAR Worshipers!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
An Invitation
Christmas is fast approaching. In 23 days we will celebrate God's love and God's goodness to us by the birth of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son.
We will receive a lot of invitation to parties, get-togethers, reunions, etc. Getting an invitation makes you feel important and valued. Your presence is appreciated. The number of invitations swell at this time of the year. And one finds conflicts and even makes hard decisions on which invitations to accept.
Some invitations though are hard to resist especially if the host is one important person.
I remember the first time I was invited to our Mancom parties in the office. I could not believe it, I had to confirm with the Boss' secretary if she did not make a mistake of sending me an invite. Indeed I was invited. And so I went and even bagged the biggest prize that night, that is my first iPod. It was not the raffle that made me come but the feeling of belonging to a group of people who are valued for being part of the management team of the company. The prize was just a bonus.
Some invitations though need some thinking. When you don't know who are the guests, or when you don't know what to expect, or when you don't really know the host, or when you feel you don't have the right dress, or when you think you don't have the right gift, or some other reason. You may RSVP with outright regrets, or maybe next time.
In July 1999, I received this kind of invitation. The invitation was unclear, just a seminar, she said. But when she said, Lord's Flock, I knew it was something religious and I knew I wasn't ready. I was living sinfully with booze, barkada, smoking, and even had a crush on one guy. I said I wasn't ready to go 180 degrees. But the invitation was persistent in coming -- monthly. And there was something unique with this invitation because something was blocking my attendance. In early August, my Lolo died, I had to go home to the province. Come September, a strong storm came we could not get out of the building. October, Sis Yolly forgot to remind me, though I remembered the seminar was always the 2nd weekend. But came November, Sis Yolly reminded me the first week. And it was time to go. The excitement was so strong, I made the jeepney I was riding to stop a block away from the corner where I was supposed to go down. I came early enough, my ID was #001.
That party was the turning point in my life. The Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar or CLSS of the Lord's Flock, let me know the host of the party, our God, though I did not see him right away. There was an orientation on why I was invited, and even taught us how to sing and dance at the party. They told us there would be more preparatory parties after that and even promised the ultimate party wherein we will be clothed with white garments and come to face to face with the host.
And later I learned, that the ticket to these parties were paid with a great price: the blood of the host's Son, by the name of Jesus Christ. He died for us on the cross that all who believed in His Death and Resurrection may die and rise with Him.
And know what, I even received a gift. The Holy Spirit. He promised "you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you," (Acts 1:8 NAB). This gift He planted in my heart to start the work of salvation and transformation until I am made perfect for the ultimate party. The community also taught us to read the love letter of the host, a thick book called the Bible where all the instructions and promises of God are written that while here on earth and even before we are called to the ultimate party we may enjoy the benefits of being invitees to this great party.
Life was never the same again. Booze, barkada, smoking were all gone. Admiration for cute guys was still there like a thorn on the side like St.Paul's. But I knew my identity which was, that God made me male and so for a female. I embraced this and eight years after, the Lord gave me my partner, a beautiful sister dentist by the name of Peachy. And now we are awaiting our first child. I am proposing to my wife to call him Emmanuel, for truly God is with us.
I am extending you now the same invitation. Come join the Spirit Empowerment Seminar (formely Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar) at the Lords Flock Catholic Charismatic Community's Heritage Worship and Spiritual Formation Center, 5 Catanduanes St., (near corner Del Monte and West Ave), Quezon City. Dec 11 and 12, Saturday and Sunday, 1pm-9pm. Come as you are. Sinners welcome. Free Admission, your ticket has been paid.
Worship Song of the Day
The heavens declare
The glory of God
And all of the world
Will join the praise
His wonders proclaim
The oceans and skies
Lift up their voice
And all all He has made
Will rise to bless
The King of all kings.
Let us adore Him
Let us adore Him
Jeus Christ is the Lord
Come and behold Him
Bow down before Him
Jesus Christ is the Lord
Eternity's King
Is coming again
Though all of the earth
Will fade away
His truth will remain
(Let us Adore Him - Hillsong United)
We will receive a lot of invitation to parties, get-togethers, reunions, etc. Getting an invitation makes you feel important and valued. Your presence is appreciated. The number of invitations swell at this time of the year. And one finds conflicts and even makes hard decisions on which invitations to accept.
Some invitations though are hard to resist especially if the host is one important person.
I remember the first time I was invited to our Mancom parties in the office. I could not believe it, I had to confirm with the Boss' secretary if she did not make a mistake of sending me an invite. Indeed I was invited. And so I went and even bagged the biggest prize that night, that is my first iPod. It was not the raffle that made me come but the feeling of belonging to a group of people who are valued for being part of the management team of the company. The prize was just a bonus.
Some invitations though need some thinking. When you don't know who are the guests, or when you don't know what to expect, or when you don't really know the host, or when you feel you don't have the right dress, or when you think you don't have the right gift, or some other reason. You may RSVP with outright regrets, or maybe next time.
In July 1999, I received this kind of invitation. The invitation was unclear, just a seminar, she said. But when she said, Lord's Flock, I knew it was something religious and I knew I wasn't ready. I was living sinfully with booze, barkada, smoking, and even had a crush on one guy. I said I wasn't ready to go 180 degrees. But the invitation was persistent in coming -- monthly. And there was something unique with this invitation because something was blocking my attendance. In early August, my Lolo died, I had to go home to the province. Come September, a strong storm came we could not get out of the building. October, Sis Yolly forgot to remind me, though I remembered the seminar was always the 2nd weekend. But came November, Sis Yolly reminded me the first week. And it was time to go. The excitement was so strong, I made the jeepney I was riding to stop a block away from the corner where I was supposed to go down. I came early enough, my ID was #001.
That party was the turning point in my life. The Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar or CLSS of the Lord's Flock, let me know the host of the party, our God, though I did not see him right away. There was an orientation on why I was invited, and even taught us how to sing and dance at the party. They told us there would be more preparatory parties after that and even promised the ultimate party wherein we will be clothed with white garments and come to face to face with the host.
And later I learned, that the ticket to these parties were paid with a great price: the blood of the host's Son, by the name of Jesus Christ. He died for us on the cross that all who believed in His Death and Resurrection may die and rise with Him.
And know what, I even received a gift. The Holy Spirit. He promised "you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you," (Acts 1:8 NAB). This gift He planted in my heart to start the work of salvation and transformation until I am made perfect for the ultimate party. The community also taught us to read the love letter of the host, a thick book called the Bible where all the instructions and promises of God are written that while here on earth and even before we are called to the ultimate party we may enjoy the benefits of being invitees to this great party.
Life was never the same again. Booze, barkada, smoking were all gone. Admiration for cute guys was still there like a thorn on the side like St.Paul's. But I knew my identity which was, that God made me male and so for a female. I embraced this and eight years after, the Lord gave me my partner, a beautiful sister dentist by the name of Peachy. And now we are awaiting our first child. I am proposing to my wife to call him Emmanuel, for truly God is with us.
I am extending you now the same invitation. Come join the Spirit Empowerment Seminar (formely Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar) at the Lords Flock Catholic Charismatic Community's Heritage Worship and Spiritual Formation Center, 5 Catanduanes St., (near corner Del Monte and West Ave), Quezon City. Dec 11 and 12, Saturday and Sunday, 1pm-9pm. Come as you are. Sinners welcome. Free Admission, your ticket has been paid.
Worship Song of the Day
The heavens declare
The glory of God
And all of the world
Will join the praise
His wonders proclaim
The oceans and skies
Lift up their voice
And all all He has made
Will rise to bless
The King of all kings.
Let us adore Him
Let us adore Him
Jeus Christ is the Lord
Come and behold Him
Bow down before Him
Jesus Christ is the Lord
Eternity's King
Is coming again
Though all of the earth
Will fade away
His truth will remain
(Let us Adore Him - Hillsong United)
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