I Know the Plans I Have For You

Ave Maria:-)

It's 30 yrs since I heard the name Living Word from my late mother Lydia. The first time I heard it , was in the middle of Annie Batungbacal craze, Hotdog, nightlife (I lab the nightlife, I love the boogieee, remember that song hehe) jazz fusion, fashion statements of the 80's ( that was fun)  young love , blessed with stamina where you could go on 3-4 days no sleep,all hapi-hapi let's party, get bombed ... 

THEN GOD INTERVENES... buti na lang.

Lydia: Join the Living Word iday.

Maye: Living What, Mama.? what is that .. uy ha bagong pauso ka na naman Mama dearest. Well, it figures, after all you've tried Real Estate, Bag and shoes making (magandang idea yung straw material gamit mo Ma, sayang kulang ka sa marketing strategy) , runnin' a beauty parlor...and now this Living Word? Nice Name huh... probably stands for a health supplement business...Ma, you are soooo ahead of your time. Magandang raket yan.

Lydia: Iday , it's a charismatic prayer group..Catholic charismatic.... we  asked permission from the parish priest to form the group here at Mt. Carmel, kasama ko Sis. Dori....you join, I told them you would help teach their choir.. mga youth... you'll like it.

Maye: You what?!!! Ba't mo ako kino-mit... Mama..dapat you asked me first, and why should I teach them, ka anu-ano ko ba sila... at most of all..how can I enjoy...  naykupu, ngayon pa lang I can feel in my bones , utter disaster yang papasukan kong yan...busy ako...sorry. I am singing and managing a jazz band (yung tone ko ay parang sinasabi ko : I am the Prime Minister of Great Britain.)

Lydia:(walang narinig..grrrr....) Sa Sunday you start teaching them.

Maye: Mama!!!!!! (melodramatic rolling upwards of eyes, flaring nostrils, Maria Callas coloratura complaint) Thing is..... with Lydia Bardillon Gaviola, you don't win, kahit mag melodrama ka mag-damag dyan .PANALO SI WARAY.

WARAY-WARAY...MATIGAS.

That was 30 yrs ago...I learned it(Living Word) wasn't a health supplement business but that it did contribute much not only to my personal health but to the total health of many: family, friends..strangers..enemies --- watta strange business

  Additional discoveries...there wasn't only Living Word, there was El Shaddai, Loved Flock, Light of Jesus,Couples for Christ, EliM, Marriage Encounter,the Opus Dei... over at Greenhills, another beloved aunt was deep into  the Neo-Catechumenate.. elsewhere, you'd hear Focolare Movement...

As I started to swim the deeper waters of the Catholic Church..I discovered how vast were its treasures..how countless the avenues for spiritual formation, growth and continued sustenance.. those groups..and many mandated organizations provided other supplemental help to what the church would give on a regular basis.. shepherding from the priests..the teachings and guidance from the Pope and Magisterium ,holy mass, devotions, sacraments...etc. .. etc.... How God has poured His Spirit to build the Body of Christ.

Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me....

Now I am all of 53... somehow stating my age makes me feel victorious. 53 and still alive.. with plenty of lessons learned :merong the easy way-- lesson in  one-sitting-- lesson thru-the-years...lesson hard way practicum style --talk about the School of Life .. and yes..am expecting more precious lessons .... till my final hour,I'll bet... thank You Lord. And All for what?

what is the point of this whole exercise of living?

To glorify the Giver of Life...God ALmighty! Hallelujah!

The stint with Living Word turned out to be more than just music- choir practise... more than just prayer meetings.. more than seminars... more than just to pass away the time.. or because there was nothing better to do... IT provided a launching pad so I could give better in the other areas of my life -- ( how to be wife, mother, sister, employee, Filipino citizen, soon to be senior citizen hahaha)  it turned out to be a sure venue where I could meet Jesus Up Close and Personal... and them share Him

Some will wonder... isn't it boring.. won't it become a drag in the long run... don't you have anything more worthwhile TO DO.

DEPENDS  WHAT AND HOW WE VIEW OUR LIFE.

DEPENDS WHAT THE LORD WANTS YOU TO DO AT A GIVEN PHASE IN YOUR LIFE.

DEPENDS WHAT FOR YOU IS of  TRUE LASTING VALUE.

God invites us... to a life of grace...God initiates the Romance of All Time... He makes The Ultimate Move so that we can be reconciled to Him .. and this reconciliation opens the door for a life of grace, hope and love. A life filled with beautiful changes.

As God has gifted me with community life thru the Living Word..so does He gift you with something equally beautiful...right where you are, God can give that LIFELINE.God can send you Back-up ( angels, saints and real flesh and blood people) He can bless you with a parish..a group... friends who can journey with you toward the Lord. He can even arouse our hunger and need for Him..when we are too inutile to even know we need Him!

Living Word... CWL.... Lector's Guild... what does it matter? what matters is what happens in whatever group we are affiliated with - I guess this can be applied even to our political, social, business affiliations... what the connection contributes to our life... what knowledge is gained.. and the transformation that happens. 

Has it been an easy journey.?ARE YOU KIDDING???

No group is perfect.... But the One Who holds us together is Perfect..and his Love Perfects Us.

I am grateful for the time allowed to serve the Lord in this particular way...

Many times we ask Jesus... how can you put up with us LORD...

You deserve more committed souls.. stronger, loyal to You and sincere. Iba na lang kaya.... recruit others na lang."

But Jesus says :"YOU'LL DO..... TRUST ME."

here is a song that can answer a perennial question we have:

"Why is this happening Lord? What's in store for me? I am afraid... and I am not sure that following and obeying you is the right decision."

Savor the song and be immersed in its message.

Martha Munizzi "I Know the Plans I Have For you"

http://youtu.be/ygpcnB2WAZI

For I know the plans I have for you........ I know just what you're going thru...

So when can't see what tomorrow holds and yesterday is through, remember I know the plans I have for you.

this song so beautiful was inspired no doubt by Jeremiah 29:11.¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

We have plenty of outreaches  this last quarter of 2011:

Everyone can help out:

1) thru prayer -- be a valiant prayer warrior, pray to Jesus, Mama Mary the angels and saints for the graces we will need (offer mass, sacrifice,fasting that God prepares heart to recieve His Son Jesus Christ.)

2) actual presence -- serve in any of the ministries/committees

3) help in conducting the seminars ( you may donate bibles, rosaries, food pledges ,etc... contact Monch Cerezo -Lead Servant thru Facebook or Mary Margarette Pangilinan-Asst. Lead Servant.

God bless you............ waste not those tears and trials.. let us offer them to Jesus and ask Him to draw good out of them.God bless...Te Mye