Fill Up Your Tank

We were driving on our way back home from our recent mission from Fort McMurray. With 2 hours more to drive at around 10:30 at night, the gas gauge showed only 3 bars left of our gasoline. I was pushing and trying to stay positive that our gas will last us to Red Deer, which is 30 minutes away.

I was rushing. I was trying to stay cool and calm but deep within me I was worried. I knew I was running out of fuel. I kept pushing. Then suddenly, a deer appeared trying to cross the road. It was a near miss. I thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest! Praise God, we were safe!

We continued driving and very timely, when the gauge flashed only a bar left of our gas, there was a gasoline station 5 minutes away. It was on the exit just right after where we nearly collided with a deer. We proceeded and filled up our tank. It was such a relief! We prayed the Holy Rosary as we headed our way back to Calgary.

“That was a God moment!,” the two of us agreed. The deer that we almost hit was a sign of God telling: “Slow down. There is a station near. Go and fill up your tank. Relax. I am taking care of everything.”

In our busy lives, we tend to always rush and try to accomplish things in such a short span of time. We are always on the go. We always push ourselves to keep up with time – this world’s time.

We push ourselves to the limits, at times to an extreme that we have nothing really left to give. We have emptied our tanks.

In our pursuit of Christ, there are pit stops where we can stop for a while and re-fuel ourselves.

There is a lot of work to do for God, that is a reality. But the ultimate truth is that: there is God that does pretty much everything of this work that was entrusted to us!

So relax, take time, and savor every encounter of God while we pursue Him. We have to remind ourselves again that before we even started pursuing Him, He has pursued us first and He will keep pursuing us.

God created us. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. He knows everything! He knows that we get tired too. That is why He keeps providing us with a resting place to return to whenever we are tired and weary. That resting place is in His loving arms!

Whenever we run out of fuel, let us return to Him, who is our unlimited source of strength. He is the Living Water that will quench our deepest thirst. He is the Living Bread that will forever satisfy our hunger.

He is God.

Here is an inspiring song from Himig Heswita entitled: “How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place.”

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord mighty God, Lord of all
___
Even the lowly sparrow finds a home for her brood
And the swallow a nest for herself
Where she may lay here young
In your altars my king and my God
___
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord mighty God, Lord of all
___
Blessed are they whose dwelling Is Your own Lord of peace
Blest are they refreshed by springs and by rain
When dryness daunts and scathes
Behold my shield My king and my God!
___
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord mighty God, Lord of all
___
I would forsake a thousand other days anywhere
If I could spend one day in Your courts
Belong to you alone
My strength are You alone
My glory, my king and my God!
___
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord mighty God, Lord of all

Lately, have you filled up your tank?

 

The Road to Vocation

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” -John15:16

This weekend was a blessed one for me as I was able to go for my first mission trip together with my fellow SFC mission volunteer here in Alberta to Fort McMurray. I serve in their Knight Tales Retreat. It was only a two day stay there but it feels like a lot had happened during the weekend. From our travel to our retreat up to the attending a mass for the ordination of a deacon.

The Travel- From my place in Claresholm Alberta the travel was supposedly more than 8 hours non-stop but I had to do some stops to pick up the other co-MV in Calgary and Edmonton, Mark, Gem and Vince, that will also serve on the KT/PD Retreat. I started my travel at 4 pm. The drive was good until we got to a road block due to an accident and had to go to a detour that makes the travel longer. We had to travel around and unfortunately the GPS and cellphone signal was not on our side- in short, we got lost a few times and missed some of our turns. The paved road ended and we started to drive on a gravel road. That is the time that I started to get worried but I believed God has a better plan. I know that even though we were worried we just decided to just enjoy the company of one another in the car and started to interact and have fun. Our travel got extended to 3 more hours as we arrived around 4:40am in Fort McMurray. But I was happy because we were able to make new friends and share stories.

The Retreat- The Knight’s Tale Retreat is part of the first-year formation for a brother in SFC. It talks about Manhood and I was so blessed to able to share my journey together with all my brother Knights and participants in Fort McMurray. I was assigned to cook with Mark and give a talk. I was also able to explore my musicality to do percussion instrument (the cajon). This retreat had really push me to do the extra mile service for my brothers in SFC. Sharing my journey and stories to the younger brothers. We did a lot of activities and it really give me a better perspective about my mission and journey here at SFC. It made me refresh all the learning that I got when I attended my Knights tale retreat. I really enjoy the walk to Emmaus activity because it made me recommit again 2 people that I want to bring back to God.  Being with the brothers for the whole weekend makes me look forward and be excited for the vocation that I want to choose from. They say SFC is a transitory ministry under the Couple for Christ. This is where we decide if we are for the married life, single blessedness or for the holy orders. And whatever vocation we choose God will always be the center of it.

 

The Northern Lights- Just a bonus for our mission, I was able to see the Nothern Lights once again. It reminded me of God’s Love and His magnificent with all of its creation.

The Ordination- On our last day in Fort McMurray we attended a mass for the ordination of a new deacon of the church. Although I don’t know personally the new Deacon Jestoni Porras, I was so happy for him because he was able to fulfill his call for the vocation. I was so moved when he said the phrase “I am Yours” to the crowd. Everybody cheer for him. I was asking myself when will I be able to say that. When will I be able to say that “I am fully Yours Lord”, no matter what vocation I choose from. I’m looking for ward for that day. Im looking forward that God will give me my hearts desire for my vocation. And I will continue praying for the vocation that God had plan for. For the meantime, I will continue to enjoy my journey and focus on the mission that God has given me.

 

My road to vocation is still a long way. Along the journey I will meet a lot of people that will also join me on my adventure, people that will make the travel fun and enjoyable and make the travel easy. Sometimes we will encounter pit stops, detours and blockage but I know I’m with the people that God put in my life, so I don’t have to worry. I may only see a few kilometers in front of me but I know where I’m going.

I am officially Yours.

“The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become.”- Henry Martin

Last weekend we went for a mission in Fort McMurray to help them in their Knights Tale/Princess Diaries Retreat. This is our first mission (MV Applicants Alberta) and honestly we are so excited to do this mission. We drove from Calgary to Fort McMurray, but its a travel of a lifetime. Lots of memories and story to share.

During the whole weekend its a spirit filled experience, how we spend time with our SFC Brothers in Fort Mc, our new Sir Knights. We meet them only that day but it feels like we are already brothers for a long time. Its nice to see that theres lots of brothers who wants to be the knights of God, a Knights who is willing to fight for what he believed and for his King. A knights who have this Desire to Love, Desire for Adventure and Desire to Battle, desire’s that He wants for us so we can live a life in His likeness.

“And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, and LORD OF LORDS.”- Rev 19:16 

As modern knights we should not forget who is our king, the one who we serve, and the one who we fight for. Are we ready to pick up our sword and fight for Him, to be sent in the battle for our faith? But sometimes the hardest battle is within us, ourselves.

Sunday during that weekend we attend the Ordination of Deacon Jestoni and attended the mass at the same time. God is full of surprises he really wants me to go to Fort McMurray to witness this kind of event. I wanna cry that time, I don’t know why its hard to explain but I know I wanna cry not because Im sad but because of joy. Joy because Im happy for Deacon Jestoni even though I don’t know him. During his Thank You speech this are the words that struck me the most, stays in my mind until now and digging into my heart:

 I am no longer belong to myself, I am no longer belongs to my family…Now I am yours, I am belong to the people of God, I am officially yours…..-Deacon Jestoni.

Its an eye opener for me and a challenge because we are called to serve the Lord,we are here on earth to serve others and not only for ourself. When I commit myself as Household Head, I am also no longer belongs to myself nor to my own family but I am now belong to my brothers and sister in the community, to the people around me and most especially to my household member. And by offering your self to others is a sign of submitting your life to the Lord.  Yes its a sacrifice but a sacrifice that is pleasing to God. Deacon Jestoni is an inspiration to me how he surrender everything and he offered himself, accepting the calling and going for the mission the Lord wants for him.

Heavenly Father in the world that is full of happiness, give us the heart that is willing to listen to you. Give us the courage to accept you in our heart and surrender everything. Make us like you who suffer and died because of your Love on us. Grant us the heart that is ready to serve not only ourselves but also for your people.Amen

Are we capable of giving ourself for others? Or we still thinking about our own comfort. Are we ready to say I AM OFFICIALLY YOURS?

A Beautiful Exchange

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” – 2 Corinthians 5:21

The mission will change you, if you allow it to change you. 

And what I mean by that is, one cannot go back to their old ways when they have fully experienced Christ. 

So during this year’s ICON in Ilocos Norte, Laoag, our Canadian delegation were given a challenge from our delegation heads to think of our most personal valued item that we brought on this trip …and give it away. Whether that was to give it away to someone in the same delegation, someone you just met or someone completely random. And already, I knew what the item was, and it broke my heart a little that i was called to give it away. It was my small wooden cross given to me by a sister I really look up to, and I always kept it with me wherever I go.

Side note: Before the trip I was even hesitant to bring it because I was afraid I might lose it.. 

So I ended up giving this cross to a sister in my Social Actions group. I felt I was called to give it to her from the way she openly and willingly shared about her crosses to me. At the moment I gave it to her, I was at peace. I was at peace knowing it’s in good hands.

Then surprisingly the next day, the same sister comes running to me in the morning before praisefest and says, “Ate Diane, this is for you” and hands me a rosary. Honestly, all I wanted to do at that moment was cry because of how good the Lord is.

I entrust my cross to Him through this sister and He offers His full self to me in a form of a rosary. Through this encounter, I am a witness of God’s faithfulness with faith being our solid ground. Our foundation. Our stronghold. And the beauty of faith is that it’s both personal and communal. Personal in a way that the Lord speaks to us in the way we understand best. Communal in a way that we are never journeying alone. We are journeying with one another. We are journeying with Christ. He gives His whole self to me, I cannot but give my whole self to Him.

Gracious God, You are so good to me. You never fail to remind me of how immensely loved I am. Allow me to be an instrument of Your endless love and mercy. Please grant me the strength to keep running, running to Your arms. Amen.

JMJ,

Diane Dimacali

Solid Ground

“Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Your every act should be done with love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Try this. I want to ask you to stand up, and have your arms spread wide. And keep it there.. are you feeling tired yet? 

Hold it. A little bit longer. 

Okay how long has it been? 1 min? Okay, 5 more mins.

Okay you can put your arms down now.

That my  brothers and sisters, is a fraction of how I was feeling throughout my whole trip. Obviously, the longer we kept our arms up, the more tired we felt. The moment we were asked to keep it up longer, the more we complained. And that was me on this trip. The moment I felt tired, gross, sticky, hot, exhausted, is the very moment the Lord asked more from me. And all I kept saying was, “Lord, there’s nothing left. What more do you want?”

Until one worship where I was compelled to open my eyes and realized that I was literally in front of the crucifix, as it stood in front me during one worship. And all I can do at that moment was cry. Not out of sadness, but out of just overwhelming love He has for me.

I dare you my brothers and sisters to say “I’m tired” in front of the crucified Christ. I dare you to say “I can’t do this anymore” as His arms are stretched wide on the cross. You simply just can’t. As I look at Him, He just stares back at me, and he looks at me with the eyes of love.

This international conference for me was a reminder of my posture in service. It was a reminder of my willingness to sacrifice for the mission. This trip revealed to me that our Lord does not call us to mission when we are most capable and most available, but rather when we are at our weakest and most desperate for Him.

So I challenge each and every one of you, the moment you are starting to feel tired of service, the moment you are starting to feel burnt out, the moment you just feel like giving up, I dare you to look at the cross. And make your eyes meet with the one who loved us first. Because how beautiful is it, when the eyes of the lover, meets the eyes of the beloved. 

The Lord’s love and faithfulness is my solid ground. 

“We hold on to the cross as a reminder that God loved us first; that God loves me. Never let go of this love because this our solid ground.”

Heavenly Father, thank You for the many reminders of Your love in the mission.  I will fight for Your life, I will long for Your peace. Amen. 

JMJ,

Diane Dimacali

“Worry-Free”

To worry does no good at all

But does a lot of harm;

It puts lines upon your face

And dissipates your charm.

 

Whatever is to be,will be

That worry cannot change;

It only serves to dim your joy

And all your friends estrange.

 

`Tis lack of confidence in self

That causes wrong’s fight;

A lack of faith in God’s design

Your happiness will be blight.

 

Then cast aside these gloomy thoughts

And bid your dark fears flee;

Live in the light of FAITH and LOVE,

JOYFUL and WORRY-FREE.

 

Worry is part of our life. Challenges come on our way specially on our spiritual journey. But it defends to us how we can deal with it and to live a life worry free. This past few weeks is a challenging one for me, lots of things to do in my personal life, family life, community service and peoples around me, so it is really a worry week for me. I am this kind of person whose going to deal others problem or easy to say problem absorber. But He promise:

 

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body,what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than cloths? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away barn, and yet your heavenly father feeds them.Are you not much more valuable than they?-Matthew 6:25-26

Heavenly Father promise us so many thing, so why should I worry. But I am consumed but this human feeling this past few weeks, to the point that my community life and personal life is affected. But to summarized the lesson I learned is I cannot do it by myself, carrying cross is part of our life but Jesus is always there to help us,I am just a human I can’t carry all of it so I need to lift it up and surrender. Because if I’m going to deal with all of the problems, obstacles and challenges that I will encounter on my journey, for sure I’m not gonna win the battle, but with Him who strengthen me I can claim victory and I can live a life which is WORRY-FREE. And knowing the struggles of other people is not for me to carry but for me to lift up to Him, my duties is to help them pray and guide them so they will feel they are not alone.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”- Proverbs 3:5-6

 

It’s the word TRUST and SURRENDER for we have a Great God bigger that anything else in this world, and always there to help us carrying our cross.

 

Embracing the Cross

photocredit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/4484800366

 

I have recently visited one of my lower household in my unit. They had the household topic of “When Helplessness Means Blessedness.”

There is the reality that each of us has a cross to carry.

It was a moment of re-affirmation and reassurance for all of us. We were reminded again of the reality and significance of the cross in our lives especially in our Christian faith. There is the reality that each of us has a cross to carry. It could be temporary or will last a lifetime until we reach our ultimate goal, which is heaven. There is the lesson that Jesus is continually teaching us: to embrace our cross for it will lead us to our salvation.

We have our brothers and sisters, also carrying their cross, walking with us and striving to reach the same destination.

It gives comfort knowing that I am not alone. It is not that I am happy to know that my brothers have crosses, sufferings or problems too. I hope and pray that they are always okay and unburdened. But the cross is a reality of life and it gives so much hope and reassurance to all of us that we are not journeying alone in this life, this path to heaven. We have our brothers and sisters, also carrying their cross, walking with us and striving to reach the same destination.

Jesus, in His way to purchase our salvation, has shown us the perfect example of embracing the cross.

Jesus, in His way to purchase our salvation, has shown us the perfect example of embracing the cross. Human as we are, we feel the pain and burden. With the hedonistic culture of the world, we have focused so much in search of what can make us feel happy, what can make us always feel good. Worst of it all, we settle to temporary escape from our crosses. Jesus endured the way of the cross until the end to save us. The Lord had fallen three times to the ground and still rose up. We are to face our crosses. We are to embrace them. We will fall. Yes, many times we will fall but we have to stand up.

God humbled himself by accepting help from others. We have to ask for the grace of true humility.

Also, we have to remind ourselves that it is okay to ask or receive help. Most of the times, we tend to just keep our struggles to ourselves as we don’t want to burden others of our load and worse is feeding our pride telling ourselves we don’t need other’s help. Jesus, in the way of the cross, accepted the help of Simon of Cyrene to carry His cross and let Veronica wipe His face. God humbled himself by accepting help from others. We have to ask for the grace of true humility. We can not journey in this earthly life alone. We are to help one another. We are made for communion.

As true Christians following Jesus’ example, we should embrace the cross.

Most of the times when we pray, we thank the Lord for all the good things he has done for us. We too have to be thankful for the crosses that we have. As true Christians following Jesus’ example, we should embrace the cross. Let us regard every challenges, struggles or problems as a blessing from the Lord. Let us face and embrace them and take that difficult and dark moment as our share to our Lord’s suffering in the cross.

“We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.
Because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world.”

Amen.