His Great Plan (12/31)

Gospel: John 1:1-18

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it ~ John 1:5

It was 2008 when I lost my US Visa and was returned to Philippines from Minneapolis (airport-to-airport), on the same day I Ieft the country.

It was then; I decided to go to Dubai for work. After several months, January 2009, my father died of pneumonia. One of the few words that my dad said to my mom was, “Tell your children to offer their lives with the Lord...”

God has already constructed our lives even before. Exactly after I came back from Philippines after weeks of mourning, a flat mate of mine (Bro. Jess of A1) invited me to join the Christian Life Program for Batch 32. After my graduation from the CLP that was also the time when I got retrenched from my job.  But through the teaching which I had learned from the talks, I never blamed nor questioned Him. I know He has a great plan on me.  Second, I was not happy at all with my job then and prayed hardly to give me a new one. For I know in my heart that He will give a much better job.

And here I am until now, living in Dubai and serving the SFC Community for almost three years.

Always remember that our God will never give problems that we cannot handle or solve. And He will never forsake us. Just believe in Him. Pray. He will give you grace upon grace, as they say “siksik, liglig, umaapaw”.

Happy New Year!

Bro Bert
Unit 2

Never doubt in the dark what Jesus told you in the light (12/27)

Gospel: John 20:1-8

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ~ John 20:3-8


In this gospel our faith is being questioned from time to time. Sometimes we lose faith when trials and problems arise. My life trials and challenges often happen to be family-related which I consider as my greatest weakness.
My mom was diagnosed with Renal disease (kidney disease) and it is already at the final stage, meaning she needs to be dialyze in order to clean the toxic inside her body and if not she will die. And so our family’s faith is tested. We prayed for guidance and healing but still trials kept on coming. The more we got closer to Him the more trials happen. However, we just keep our faith and believe that God has a better plan for all of us especially for my mom. Now I realize how blessed we are. Though Mom is on dialysis for more than 11 years her hospitalization is free, both medication and treatment...it’s all through God’s grace. I haven't seen my mom for 15 years and I always ask the question “why”. God answered me – “to prolong my mother's life”. He gives us hope that one day we will be reunited again in one table eating and enjoying each other’s company. God works in things you can never imagine and dream of. Last August my mom is admitted and was critical again. She was in ICU for two months and in an unresponsive (comatose) state.
We never doubted God. We just held on to our faith. I know deep in my heart He will never leave us. The power of faith is so amazing that even the doctor could not believe my mother recovered. I never expected that I could talk again with my mom because the doctor said she has a stroke. Some part of her brain was damaged and she can only remember little things. She cannot walk and even speak. God’s power turns the impossible into possible. Now I can talk with my mother, she walks and even laughs. How great is the love of God for us. He loves us even before we were born. No matter what the future brings...”Never doubt in the dark, what Jesus told you in the light.” PRAISE GOD.

Bro Rupert
Unit 2

The word was made flesh (12/25)

Gospel: John 1: 1-18

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~ John 1:14


Christmas as a kid was always fun. I would wake up in the morning, open Santa Claus' gifts and celebrate it with family and friends. But one Christmas morning, my brothers and I woke up with gifts under the tree but nothing from Santa Claus. We got sad, thinking that he might have forgotten us. My parents explained to us that Christmas has a deeper meaning more than just presents.

As we grow older, we learn and discover a lot. Our endless seeking for knowledge makes us well informed with things around us. One of them is the true meaning of Christmas. It's when God's promise turned into flesh; Jesus Christ was born. He is the man who made the biggest impact in everyone's heart and the very same person who saved us from our sins.

You may receive all the gifts in the world but none can make you satisfied and blessed than receiving the greatest gift that you'll receive; the love that the Lord has promised us. It is the love that we are now sharing in this community will be the same love that we’ll extend to those who hasn’t fully know Him.

May we all have a blessed Christmas!

Bro Tim
Unit 1

Blessings in Our Midst (12/16)

Gospel: John 5:33-36

You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.” I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. ~ John 5:33-36

All through the course of life, the Lord has paved the way for us to get to know Him and His ways, and for thousand of years we have opted not take heed and continuously ignored His call. God’s love goes undeterred as He send His holy people one after the another to guide us, to lead us, to teach us, so that we may be worthy of a blessed life with Him in His kingdom.

Countless times, human as we are—have chosen to ignore the wisdom of people around us simply because we are too caught up in the grinds of our daily lives. For most, we have managed to reduce the blessing of life to a mere “tick tock” that we ended up valuing the wrong things. But it’s always comforting to know that whatever situation we may be, whether we deserve His love or not, no matter how many times we have refused His guiding hands, the Lord our God will always send people and strangers in our lives to teach us, to guide, to manifest His will in our lives and to lead us back to His welcoming embrace.

Sis Lanie
Unit 5

Believing in God (12/11)

Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.. ~ John 1:6-8

In some point of our lives, we experience questioning God's existence or even asking who really God is, as many have claimed that they are the real GOD. 
We cannot deny that there are  people who have a complete disbelief on God’s existence for some reasons. 
Due to human weaknesses, we also question God's existence during those times when we are broken, devastated and when we experience difficulties in our life.


In this gospel, it made us realize that there is GOD. He always find ways to make us believe that HE truly exist, and that HE is the WAY and the LIGHT and that we will believe through in HIM. 
He sends people in our lives to be our guide, who serves as the witnesses of HIS works. 
This people could be our family, our friends, our workmates, and even strangers who we encounter in our everyday life.


As humans and being a Christian, we accept and believe in God is by simply opening our hearts and letting HIM in and living a life in accordance to His will.

Sis Chai

Unit 5