Month: June 2017

I cannot pray Our, if my faith has no room for others and their needs.
I cannot pray Father, if I do not demonstrate this relationship to God in my daily living.
I cannot pray who art in heaven, if all of my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.
I cannot pray hallowed be thy name, if I am not striving, with God’s help, to be holy.
I cannot pray thy kingdom come, if I am unwilling to accept God’s rule in my life.
I cannot pray thy will be done, if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.
I cannot pray on earth as it is in Heaven, unless I am truly ready to give myself to God’s service here and now.
I cannot pray give us this day our daily bread, without expending honest effort for it, or if I would withhold from my neighbor the bread that I receive.
I cannot pray forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.
I cannot pray lead us not into temptation, if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.
I cannot pray deliver from evil, if I am not prepared to fight evil with my life and my prayer.
I cannot pray thine is the kingdom, if I am unwilling to obey the King.
I cannot pray thine is the power and the glory, if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.
I cannot pray forever and ever, if I am too anxious about each day’s affairs.
I cannot pray Amen, unless I honestly say, “Cost what it may, this is my prayer.”
-Anonymous

I came across this poem while I’m trying to reflect on my prayer time. Its been a week for me of struggling with my work and honestly, I’m coming to the end. I have been trying my best to reflect and pray for all the things that has been happening regarding my job. I always tell my self that this is what I need even though this is not what I want. But the stress and anxiety is getting deeper lately. They said, “Pray hard it works” but how can I pray hard if my body is not cooperating? How can I have a one on one relationship if my heart feels thirsty? I know it’s a test for my patience and I am sure that this wont last long.

A brother ask me today “How can you keep up with SFC and work life. Are you enjoying it right now?” My answer to him is “No its not a joyful life but I choose it because I discern for it and I have to keep up with it”. Yes, I discern for it and pray for it for over a year before I decide that I will apply for the MV program. If I did not decide to go for it then I would not see the difference that it would make for my life. I would not see the difference because I just stayed in my comfort zone and did not challenge my self to do extra mile of service. If I did not say yes, I would not understand the life and mission of CFC and SFC and I would still be questioning my self why did I join SFC.

Most of the stuff right now is a challenge. A challenge that I am enjoying because this reminds me why I said Yes to the mission. With this I CAN ONLY PRAY:

Glory to the Father, for of His unconditional love

and to the Son, for His redeeming love

and to the Holy Spirit, for His guiding love

As it was in the beginning, as His promise for us

and now, as His journey for us

and ever shall be, as His plan for us

world without end, as His forever for us

Amen, as His will be done

-Michael Cabahug

It is almost a year now since our first 3-day backpacking and camping trip to Yoho National Park. We were so excited planning and preparing as it was our first time doing it. We readied our hiker bags, tent, water bags, hiking poles, sleeping bags, food and drinks – you name it! We tried to pack all the necessary things that we will need in our 3 days journey.

There were 4 of us who went. We were all geared up with our appropriate hiking wear and tools. We had our hiking poles with us giving us a push when going up a steep climb and giving us support walking down the slope especially with the heavy loads we have on our back. We relied on map and signs on the trail to lead us to our destination. We had stops for snacks and water, bowel and bladder break, or quickly catch a breath from the steep hike. It was tiring but more so fun especially with the company that we had. The stories, insights about life, and just silly/non-sense conversations kept us going in our journey. When one of us is having difficulty with the load we carry, we took turns in helping out carry the heavy load or we all just rest for a moment. And we enjoyed, ate, played games, shared stories, and rested in preparation for the following day’s hike.

I thought I was all prepared. It turned out I forgot to bring multivitamins and some fruits that will help replenish potassium that I was losing from the hike but most especially because I was also taking a pill that is supposed to make me urinate a lot. On our 2nd day of hike with still about an hour to the peak, I was giving up. I was feeling very weak. I felt numb to my extremities. I knew something was wrong and I was not feeling very well. I stopped and literally just dropped my body to the ground and rested for a while. All that I needed in that moment was a miracle or I would have died. I prayed for strength to be able to make it to the next camp site. I prayed that hopefully we’ll meet hikers along the way who could help us. I prayed that when we reach the next destination our neighboring campers would have fruits or multivitamins that they could spare some to me. I was praying for a miracle.

My friends continued to encourage me to walk. They helped me carry some of my load. So I stood up and continued walking to the peak. The boost from my friends helped a lot for me to reach the peak. And behold, at the peak, was the site of a piece of banana on top of a stone pillar. We were all jumping for joy! It was a miracle! Along with our jumping and rejoicing was the snow falling from the skies. It reminded us of the scene from Exodus when the Israelites rejoiced when manna fell down from the heavens to satisfy their hunger! The banana was my manna from heaven. I slowly ate the banana and appreciated how precious that fruit was. I felt the difference in my body right away. I knew the potassium in my body got replenished. I was able to push till the end of our journey. I have experienced a miracle!

Every time I look back on that backpacking at Yoho, I am reminded of Session 10 of the Christian Life Program of CFC Singles for Christ, which is the talk about “Growing in the Holy Spirit.” I am reminded of the 5 spokes of the wheel, which are the tools to help us truly live a Spirit-filled Christian life.

Prayer. Scripture. Sacraments. Fellowship. Service.

Prayers are hiking poles giving us a push when things are getting difficult and giving us support when we feel pressed by the heavy loads we carry. Scripture is the map and signs on the trail that gives us the right direction in our journey towards life with Christ. Fellowship is the presence of our friends, brothers and sisters, family and the community that support us and journey with us. Service is when we help our brothers and sisters carry their loads when times get overwhelming. Sacraments are the food for our soul. The Holy Eucharist is the living body and blood of Christ that will sustain us as we journey towards life eternal in heaven.

To me personally, the miracle of the banana from heaven will be a constant reminder to partake of my most essential need – The Holy Eucharist.

“Tantum Ergo”

Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred Host we hail,
Lo! oe’r ancient forms departing
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith for all defects supplying,
Where the feeble senses fail.

To the everlasting Father,
And the Son Who reigns on high
With the Holy Spirit proceeding
Forth from each eternally,
Be salvation, honor, blessing,
Might and endless majesty.
Amen.

R. Thou hast given them bread from heaven.
V. Having within it all sweetness.

Let us pray: O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament left us a memorial of Thy Passion: grant, we implore Thee, that we may so venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood, as always to be conscious of the fruit of Thy Redemption. Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever.

Amen.

I realized from my past experiences that sometimes we suffer because we want people who cannot reciprocate how we feel, who don’t love us as much as we love them or we chase after things that we cannot get or aren’t for us; things that cannot satisfy us. We sometimes put these first. We’ve associated these to what complete happiness means. But don’t we realize that we have a God who loves us unconditionally and who loves us with everything He can give?

So why don’t we, first, put as much energy, value, love, and finally embrace God as much as we do these earthly things? How much greater joy can He give more than these?

Why do we keep running away from a perfect love?

Alodia

Come to me and surrender

Offer yourself and render

Value the gifts and blessing

Elevate yourself in serving

Never go back to the old way

Always follow the One way

No one will be lost

Together we will last

This week was another victorious week for the Lord in my area, as a new set of Singles for Christ finished their Christian Life Program. I was so excited for this week to see the new brothers and sisters say yes to the Lord and received their covenant with God.

Before the dedication ceremony on my South Chapter I was asked to give the talk 11- The Life and Mission of Singles for Christ to the North Chapter of Calgary. It was for me a refresher of what my life and mission should be as an SFC. As I was preparing for my talk it makes me go back to the time that I had some question on the Philosophy and the Covenant of SFC. I remember that before I became SFC I had a different point of view regarding some of the points that was listed of them. That is the reason why I did not sign my covenant right away. I was scared that time that if I signed the covenant I will be tied up to an agreement that I would probably break in the future. My thinking that time is that this covenant not just with SFC but my covenant with God. I’m worried because I don’t want to fail Him again if I wasn’t able to do all the things listed. It took me a while until I finally signed the covenant and try as much as I could to follow and fulfill my covenant. And until now I always try my best to lived with that covenant.

That covenant always reminded me of the YES that I made when I became an SFC. Every time that I’m starting to feel dry and lost with what I’m doing I always look back on to it as my reminder and my guide that this what my agreement with God and that no matter what I’m going thru God is always with me on my journey.

“and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh” Genesis 9:15

            I work as an Electronics Technician at a laser manufacturing company. One of my responsibility is to make sure that the laser stays at the center when it is rotated. In order to do that there are 3 screws I have to turn carefully.

            Every turn makes the light go down or up until I reached the center meaning all 3 screws are equally adjusted to its tightness. Sometimes it is easy to do it because the light is visible or in some cases I encounter infrared light wherein I can only see the light with a camera which makes centering it a bit difficult.

Here’s the final product where the light is completely centered. But there are a lot of light reflecting, it is because the lens of the laser is dirty. A good laser light should be centered and has a clean dot.

Reflecting about it, God is with me even at my workplace. The three screws represents the Holy Trinity wherein The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit should equally be present in my life in order for me to have a Christ- Centered life. If one of them is missing, the light might look like it is centered but once the laser is turned it will not stay where it is.

The light is visible or sometimes invisible but it is there. God can be visible through my family, friends, workplace, counterpart etc. and most of the time he is invisible which I can only feel him through prayers. He always reminds me that he is there no matter what.

Lastly, in some cases the light has some reflection or dirt around the lens of the laser. I am a sinner and that what makes my light dirty. Dirty laser light reminds me  to go to confession to cleanse myself. Sometimes I feel that I am completely centered and I can always see the light but at the same time my light is dirty. Going to confession cleanses my light and helps me to be a clear dot.

As I continue to strive to have a Christ-centered life I am assured that God will always remind me to stay in the center wherever I may be and this time he reminded me at my workplace 🙂