Up the Mountain

Ave Maria:-)

Last nite was funny in an irreverent way ...arrived at prayer mtg. as tho' would faint any moment ( you how it is to just feel awful, sick inside -out huhuhu ) - blessed relief to see dear Te Juaning , Te Teray calmly praying the rosary... wuz like " Oh thank God, they're here...!

Did not waste time asking them to please..please Ate...super please pray over me Te...mamamatay na ata ko... Well you know when you do the OA routine, they do pay attention faster... how wonderful to feel Te Teray's, old, strong hands on my shoulders..she was echoing Juaning's deliverance and healing prayers with conviction, her amen's and Yes Lord ..pure bliss to the weary soul... Te Juaning was in her usual fighting form... I love them..

I praise God for all  brothers and sisters in all parts of the world who share the love of Jesus --and thousands would probably not even be Christian but carry Jesus in their hearts just the same.

I don't think God allows Himself to be "boxed in" by the limitations of our understanding and expositions on how He loves us and how He reveals himself..He loves us..He just does...every moment...in a million magnificent ways...through the beauty of  Mother Nature , in His provisions..in the veins etched under our skin... Who could design a human body like that except GOD?

 On tv last nite..a show's host was exclaiming about seeing live Knife Fish...knife whaaat? and then they showed a fish head that looked more like a giant snakehead....wow... if we tackle Mother Nature and her mysteries...case is closed.THERE IS A GOD. 

Was waiting for two elders to arrive...male elders who I knew were very ill.... what I was suffering would be a mosquito -bite compared to what they went thru. ..Hallelujah they made it too...God is good. I know they went there to give strength and encouragement to others...isn't that strange? But truly..in our weakness..St. Paul says Christ's grace grows stronger in us.

To those who donot yet understand ..perhaps when elders share their insights on a gospel or give an exhortation..we will find it probably uhhh... old-hat? or something they would be bound to do anyway...give them their chance to speak up... but no... listen beyond the words... it is the very act of being There..the presence... the connection they have with the Lord and which they want to share with others.It is priceless ..it is not forever there... It is love, Christ's love.

Prayer meetings have all kind of shapes and sizes-- all hues....imaginable...

From prayer meetings where songs and music soar and lift us up... a good attendance ... or at times barely 20... when prayer leaders come prepared... likewise when those who attend are prepared to encounter the Lord..as when both prayer leader and the assembly are more into their personal woes and attachments to the world... and the worship takes hours to take off, if it ever does... but not to worry..inspite of ourselves... God is always prepared to meet us.. to embrace us... to grant us His tender mercies.

So whether at prayer meeting or at holy mass... we fail to recieve full  benefit of the Lord's graces because ..we were not prepared to worship and recieve Him in the first place. Our bodies could be there.. but our mind and heart anchored somewhere else. This makes God sad... but it is we who suffer..we who lose. 

Back to last night ... even the process of setting up can be challenging... last nite..Amy who was assigned prayer leader was beginning to feel frustrated... the lcd was missing..and when it was found.. the laptop would not cooperate, wires not in synch... hahaha...blessed relief..finally..we were able to start.thank You Jesus.

Amy led us praise and worship..and then it was time for the reflection.

the night's theme :GET ON THE MOUNTAIN.

In a nutshell it's about God commanding Moses " Come up to me on the mountain and stay there."Exodus 24:12

For Moses  to not give the excuse of being so busy doing things (for the Lord) that he can't anymore go up the mountain to have precious facetime with God.  Not all our services ..our ministry ... or whatever it is we do that we think is SO IMPORTANT.... none of it means a thing..none of it amounts to anything ..if we Miss out on the Crucial Item No. 1... Please spend time..quality time first with GOD. Not rushed..., not superficial... but really making Him No. 1, if possible first thing in the morning... And when this personal prayer becomes a reality... when it becomes a part of us..we will see how our ministry and service for the Lord will flow.

To not be with Him  literally means not having enough of Him to give to others.Ano ang maibibigay natin if we are empty or so full of the world and negativities?

We'd end up faking it..or end up giving ourself..and how much can our human resources hold up to the needs and pains  of the world?

Oh no..we need to give Jesus.

Amen to that

It's a given that we will suffer in this world... may it be then that should we suffer..it is for the sake of the gospel ... for sake of Christ and His kingdom.. Take good care of your health ..do include the care of your soul... a healthy soul casts an inner glow in the whole of our being.God bless you and have a peaceful, joyful Sunday. ...............love and prayers...te mye