Philip and Chette Friendster Blog

“What do you fear?” – MJ

That was the Word of God through our Life Group leader (MJ) last wednesday when I attended the Life Group. The text is about the weeping Prophet Jeremiah. Who was really scared when God appointed Him to become a prophet. (Jer 1)

Earlier, I woke up at around 8am and planned to work on the website. I opened my notepad together with all the browsers but I couldn’t do work, I stared for a couple of minutes at the screen and then, I remembered the Life Group and I realized how God always protect me eversince I became His child. True that when our Leader MJ asked me what I fear most, I said “roaches”

At the same time… The Holy Spirit reminded me how many times my God.. protected me.

He lead me to this verse: Psalm 12, but the verse 7 really struck me.

 O LORD, you will keep us safe
       and protect us from such people forever.
 
How many times have God protected me? There was one time.. Philip and I drove toward San Fernando and there was something wrong with the car but as we prayed, God protected us. There was another time, a certain woman called me, “Borbolen” because I became a born again Christian, and her life became so messy. Many times, the people who hurt us; when we are not doing anything wrong… God will avenge and protect us. It’s like whoever blesses us, will be bless and whoever will curse us will be cursed.

Then just last week, when Philip and I rode a jeep (although, Philip already discern something so he told me not to ride the jeep, but because I was in pain due to my period, and I was really hungry and in a hurry so I didn’t discerned it so I grabbed his hand and we rode the jeep)… . In that Jeep, we sat at the center of the “robbers” Philip kept silent and he felt the hand of the robber at his pants, and he hugged me tight and just prayed. His phone was at that side of the pants. But a miracle happened, Philip looked straightly at the robber and the robber stopped what was his doing and when the jeep stopped, they left. We checked everything and nothing was stolen. GOD PROTECTED US.

Another thing happened, as Philip was going home; he encountered another robbery. The Jeep he rode stopped and the girl’s phone was snatched away. Philip already hugged his bag because he discerned something is wrong again. GOD Protected Him.

Then… He also made me remember when I was not yet His child, there were certain things that almost happened to me. (i.e. almost got rape, almost died due to sickness or my stubborness, lots of accident etc.) yet… God protected me because a certain person prayed for me.

As I remembered, what Philip said, “Before, when I was a kid… there were many times I didnt understand but God has spoken to me many times to pray for my godswill. Everytime you were in a big trouble, I don’t know but He keeps telling me to pray for you”.

waii.. im crying now. *inhale exhale*

This is the God we serve. This is the God when He fell in love with you, He’ll do things that are beyond your expectations and Imagination. He’ll protect you wherever you go. 

And thou sometimes, we hurt this God because of our stubborness… This is our God. This is our Dad. This is how He protects His children. So if you feel like doubting the existance of our Loving Heavenly Father, just think of those times how He saves us, think of those times how He solve our problems if we give it all to Him.

You may not see Him, some even deny HIM. But you can’t change the fact and you can’t make Him dissapear in this world because He is real.

and when He falls in love with you?
I guarantee you that everyday of your Life is ♫ sweeter than a day before  ♫

God bless, (geh I need a tissue) hehehe…

- Chette

Spiritual Birthday with my new Spiritual Family
So God provided XD. We celebrated our 7 years with God in Mister Frosty Angeles City. After our Friday Service, Our Disciplers (Bro.Bing & Sis.Mae) together with our lovely sisters in Christ (Ariane and Lizette) we went to the resto at around 8pm na. Why Mister Frosty? because it is a memorable place for me and Philip. We ordered Sisig, Chopseuy and Sinigang (Sarap!) and because we enjoyed talking and sharing… we lost track of time. If the waitress didn’t say, “Sir… Ma’am… we’re closing already” We won’t even leave the restaurant! hehe. The Pipz are so fun to be with! I’m so happy that God led us into this family and we have met them. I am happy now. Actually happier than before. Truly that when God told us, we will have new sets of friends, God didn’t lie about that.

Glasses
FINALLY!  I CAN SEE! LOL! Actually God already healed my eyes. But since I abused it… so… @.@ But it’s a miracle because the lenses were not that high. Actually It only increased a little but I get headaches when I didn’t have my eye glasses. The glasses are from Soliman-Paroli. Really good quality eye glasses. You should visit them when you need glasses. Not only that, I was surprised that many of the VCF Angeles Family were clients of this eye clinic. Talk about coincidence? nah. I don’t believe in Coincidence XD

My Relationship with my family and Relatives.
Before I used to treat them as my enemy. But as God finally opened my eyes. I found out that I should be thankful to God for giving me a great family. Although we still have different beliefs and faith, they are the best family I’ve could ever ask for. So now I thank God that, God is healing my relationship with my family Actually in the Bible, When you Honor your family, its the only command that has a promise.

So I really love how the VCF Church put the “FAMILY” in their Core Values. Then last September, My Uncle, Auntie with my cousins went to Angeles and it was the first time in a long time… that I went with them (before I can’t coz of church) but now I had the chance to be with them. And I found out again that they are the best relatives I could ever ask for. I asked for forgiveness to them and they forgave me… ^^ (waaaii im gonna cry…)

A new wallet XD
So last September, my relatives and I went to the SM Clark and My Auntie (Ruth) saw my wallet and she saw that it was broken… so to my surprised she told me. “choose one for yourself.” I tried to chose the cheapest one.. but she bought me an expensive one @.@ waaaiii…

Marquee Mall
Last Sunday, after church… Philip and I went to Marquee Mall to see what’s inside. My feet hurts from walking. It’s Big @.@ hehe. We didn’t buy anything oh just the 100php camera bag (but that’s all) and we ate at greenwich and Philip and I watched “G-Force”. ehehe Philip’s money so yeah XD

Lastly…

New Bible!
One of my precious material treasure is my bible. So I don’t buy Bibles that are cheap. I buy Bible that are really “expensive” so if God provides. I will buy the expensive one. I had one JIL Bible (you know that right?) but I really want a PINK Bible. (Since PINK is my FAVORITE Color) So I went to PCBS last week, and since God provided ^^ I bought my NEW Bible! I also bought one for PHILIP XD

THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS!
LOVE YOU SOO MUCH JESUS!

VCF Angeles went to Malolos Bulacan
As the Bible said, “Faith without Works is dead.” (James 2:26). So let’s us not just pray but to act as well. So just scroll down to see the pictures XD. The VCF Angeles Family went to Malolos bulacan for the operation ^^ and we helped, as well as some of my online friends and friends who gave their donation (Thank you sooo much XD Lmae, Rics and Alvin XD)

and watch the video ^^

VCF Angeles helping the Ondoy Victims

God bless!

The Blame Game
by Pastor Steve Murrel

It has been one week since Typhoon Ondoy baptized Manila in chaos - destroying homes and displacing 2 million people.

While thousands of ordinary people were generously giving and sacrificially serving those in need, others were busy playing the blame game. According to the blame-fixers, those responsible for the floods include: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the mayors, the senate, the congress, all sinners, God, the devil, global warming, Al Gore (the inventor of global warming), Osama bin Laden, Abu Sayyaf, Ahmajinedad, Gaddafi, Kanye West and former US president Bush (poor guy gets blamed for everything).

On my Nashville to Manila flight a couple of days ago - in order to gain some insights about suffering - I read the whole book of Job, the story of a man who lost it all, then some.

Here are my random Job notes from 30,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean.

1. Bad things happen to seemingly good and innocent people. Four times Job is described as “blameless and upright” yet he experienced horrible suffering.

2. The devil is real and he comes to “steal, kill and destroy.” Chapter 1 makes it clear that all Job’s pain and loss was an act of the devil, not an act of God.

3. People experiencing bad times need good friends. When you have friends who are suffering, try doing what Job’s friends did in Job 2:13 “Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.”

4. Good friends often give bad counsel. Unfortunately, after that week of silence, Job’s friends opened their mouths and stuck both feet in, nasty shoes and all.

5. Some things can’t be explained and some “why?” questions can’t be answered. The book of Job never answers the “why?” question. But is does paint a good picture of “how” - how to find God in our pain and how to respond to calamity.

6. We can find God in our pain and loss, if we do what Job did when he realized the extent of his loss - “then he fell to the ground in worship…” Do we only worship God in the good times?

7. In the end, the blessing of God caught up with and overtook Job. Most people don’t press through and read the whole book of Job. But if you endure til the end, you will find that “the Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former.” Job 42:12 And if we endure past our pain, we will find God in the end.

——-

Now my opinion about this:

1. Yeah. Bad things happened seemingly good and innocent people. Actually a certain leader once said, “It seems that when you’re right in front of God. You are wrong in front the people” ^^;; When you want to do right things, people will misunderstood you. (kekeke…) and when you want to expose the wrong thing, you’ll get blame and become the “bad person” ^^;;

2. Amen Pastor Steve, All the sufferings and pains are an act of the devil. God doesn’t want us to suffer. So I really don’t believe in the people saying, “God has given me sickness so that I can be helpful and I can become strong” waaa… ^^;;

3. Yep. When you experience bad times, you need to have good friends. But friends that you can trust on.

4. Painfully but true. Most of the times, Good friends often give bad counsel. So I have learned that when you help your friend, help him or her. Then be alert of your actions. Do not gossip or say anything to your other friends. Don’t share this secret to others (even though your intention is good.) Just pray and don’t speak. Whaaa… also a positive word is ok and backstabbing is no no.

5. yep. If the questions cannot be explain? Don’t bother to ask. In God’s timing everything will be revealed. Amen!

6. Pastor Emer said last sunday, that we are not storm-free but storm-proof. And during our Storms in life, during pain and loss. We can find God and God will manifest in us (if we give it all to Him). It’s a means of testing and a testimony.

7. This is what I LOVE! teehee. A quote once said… after the rain comes the rainbow. Every problem has a solution. Every suffering has an ending. And if we hold onto God in every problem we have, He will blessed us more than what we expect and the blessing of the latter part is more than the former.

Thank you pastor steve and Pastor emer for the wonderful insights ^^
We thank God for your Life pastor steve and Pastor Emer

So what about yours??

Tags: Pastor Steve, sharing, Storms, VCF