Deonna Tan-Chi wrote this poem at about half past midnight today to share later with her D-Group, and then, with us. God bless all mothers everywhere!

A mother gives of her best to her children so dear,
Loves them at all times, even through tears,
Thinks not of herself,
But of their well-being and health,
Teaches them to trust and obey the Lord,
To pray and faithfully study His word,
Mentors and motivates them to always excel,
Not only in academics, but in character as well.

A mother trains her children in all social graces,
To relate with people of all races and places,
To have a heart not to take but to give,
To love and, if wronged, to readily forgive,
To treat others as they would like to be treated,
To honor and respect another even when aggravated,
To stand alone against peer pressure for what is good,
To please the Lord in all that they think, say, and do.

A mother most of all models what she desires her children to be,
Because after all is said and done, a child becomes what they see.

–
Blessed Mother’s Day!

By Cata S. de Jesus

If I were to write a Filipino version of Wilbur Rees’s “$3 Worth of God,” it would probably sound like this:

I would like to buy Php5 worth of God, please — not enough to blow my mind or make me burst out in song, but just enough to make me feel good, like a warm cup of taho or a lazy afternoon siesta. I don’t want enough of Him to make me love a terrorist or pick up garbage with an urchin on Smokey Mountain. I just want enough of Him to pray for peace on earth and give money to charity. I want gratification, not transformation. I want to stay the way I am, not be born again. I want a kilo of the eternal in a plastic bag. I want to buy Php5 worth of God, please.

What a gem of an idea — to buy just enough of God to put into a neatly labeled box, stowed away for future use, and to be opened only as the need arises! He is not supposed to rock the boat or make waves in our lives. He is just supposed to keep us afloat while we man the oars and steer the rudder. He is not supposed to disturb our sleep or give us pangs of guilt and indigestion. He is just supposed to smooth the creases and compromises we make in our lives.

He is not supposed to call sin “sin” — too Victorian and archaic for our times. Rather, He is merely to call it a mistake, weakness, oversight, or indiscretion. He is not supposed to surreptitiously creep into our conversations, lest people think we have turned corny with age, finally flipped, or turned fanatic. He is supposed to be mentioned only when talking to another Christian who “understands.”

How many of us just want enough of God to make us feel safe or better? Enough of Him, at least, to not be called a godless, twentieth-century heathen. How many of us don’t want Him to come too near? Having Him any closer might endanger our lifestyles, curb our predilections, prick our prejudices, annihilate our demons, sanitize our vocabulary, realign our thinking, stereotype our wardrobes, freak out our friends, and make us definitely UNcool. Being creatures of comfort, do we just want God at a safe, comfortable distance?

What about those of us who say that we have actually committed our lives to Him? “Committed” is such a dog-eared euphemism these days. It can sound tiresome. It has lost its meaning. We have diluted it in translation.

Paul, in the book of Romans, tells us how we can be sure that our commitment is real and not just lip service:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2

When we put God in a cubbyhole, we are actually putting ourselves in a cubbyhole. No room to grow. No room to discover the best version of ourselves. No freedom to do what truly matters.

When we just want to buy Php5 worth of God, we are shortchanging ourselves pitifully. We are actually AFRAID to put Him in control. Petrified at the thought of sacrifices we might have to make. Uncertain of the things we are willing to give up and will be allowed to keep.

That’s why there is one thing that we would do well to remember in a world that is in constant flux, in this world that continues to spin and wobble in strife and uncertainty: God is UNCHANGING and TRUE. God’s promises are unchanging and true. God’s Economy is the only economy that will never go under, never suffer a meltdown, never hit dirt, never scrape the bottom of the barrel.

God’s Economy is perfect. His currency never devalues. In fact, its value increases infinitely. Thus, He is able to, and will always bless us beyond our highest expectations — if we obey Him and do things HIS way.

God doesn’t want just Php5 worth of us. He wants ALL of us — the best and the worst of us. And He promises that if we give ourselves completely to Him, we will see, experience, and ENJOY His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Tell me, would you settle for anything less? Sounds like an offer only a fool would refuse.

–
Catherine de Jesus is a writer, lecturer, and a Christian counselor on Marriage, Life Issues, and Work Ethics. She is married to one of CCF’s Elders, Pastor Ito de Jesus, and they have four children. Cata serves with the CCF Women-to-Women Ministry and the Elders’ Wives Group. Prior to her involvement in CCF, she headed Corporate Communications and Media Relations departments in local/international organizations. She immensely enjoys reading, writing, and traveling. She has been working on a book of essays that will be published this year.

by Sasa Felipe
There is always something different about the ending of a year and the ushering in of a new one. That one-week interval between Christmas Day and New Year’s somehow evokes feelings of nostalgia for the year just passed and, at the same time, a feeling of anticipation and excitement for what the new year will bring.

New year has always been about new beginnings, new life — a time we can hit the refresh, restart, reboot buttons on our lives and start afresh. Hence, the most popular graphic or icon of the New Year is a baby in diapers. The baby is a symbol of new life. Jesus Himself said in Luke 18:17,  “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

As we say goodbye to the old year and look forward to the new, let us take this opportunity to:

1. Count our blessings. Go ahead, list them all down now then thank our Lord Jesus for each and every blessing, big and small. Say quietly in your heart, ‘Thank you, Jesus’ for even the smallest blessings, like finding a nice parking slot, or thanking Him that the congested traffic will enable you to listen to good praise music, etc. Look at the world around you with fresh eyes. See and marvel at God’s beautiful creation all around you. Stop to smell the flowers, the sunset, the play of lights on that mountain ridge looming on your horizon and thank Jesus for all these.
2. Have a Positive Mindset. After you’re done counting your blessings, get a new sheet of paper and start writing down your new year’s resolutions. You’re most probably going to commit to changing old worn-out habits and creating new good ones. Put at the top of your list: ‘I will have a positive mindset.’ This means that you will always think the best of others in spite of the circumstances. Cast aside any criticism, negativity, bitterness, and resentment and see things with new eyes and a heart brimming with gratefulness. Find something wonderful, positive, and pleasing about each one, and focus on this, not on the bad. Do this with every person God allows to come your way. Start now. Look with fresh, clear eyes at the people around you. Stare in awe at your family with new eyes and see how each of them fascinates you.
3. Let go of the old and put on the new. Truly ”the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning, new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness, Oh Lord….” Each new day brings God’s fresh mercies, God’s fresh grace, God’s fresh forgiveness, and God’s fresh love, just as each new year gives us a chance of wipe the slate clean.The New Year is a wonderful opportunity to let go of the old and get on with the new.  We have been miserable, negative, and critical for so long now and oftentimes, the new isn’t as much about things, as it is about attitudes. But a change in attitude is transformation of the heart. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” This kind of transformation can only be done by our Maker. Only Jesus can heal broken hearts. Only Jesus can change hearts.Sinful as we are, we need a Savior. Jesus is the only Savior. He paid a very painful price so that we may live in newness of life. Only Jesus will enable us to view the people in our life for the value they bring to us and not what we can get from them.
4. Pray for an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. As we say goodbye to the year was and usher in the new year, the best resolution we can ever make is to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Pray to receive His love, His grace, His mercy, and His forgiveness. This resolution will enable you to fulfill all other resolutions you might make. The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Choose, this New Year, to start fresh with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Only He can give new life… a life that is joyous and everlasting.

by Sasa Felipe

It’s Christmas once again. The Christmas lights are lit everywhere. The malls are full of people. The streets are full of cars. Traffic is almost unbearable. It’s that time of the year when everyone seems to be in a frenzy. Everyone is busy attending Christmas parties, wrapping and giving gifts. There is an air of celebration all around. But, stop for a moment, and be still. Think about this: Who and what are we really celebrating?

The message of Christmas isn’t just Christmas lights, shopping, receiving gifts, giving gifts, parties. Christmas is really all about our loving God who came to earth in the form of man and died a very painful death so that we all may have eternal life.

Jesus chose to be born in a stable, not in a palace as He deserved. He did not desire the comforts or accolades fit for a heavenly king. He came to give His life so that we may have life.

The tiny baby in swaddling clothes we see in the belen came for a purpose. The little baby who cried for milk and found comfort in the breast of His mother while lying in the rough wooden trough was the same man who was condemned for our sins and nailed to a cross, and the same God who rose from the dead to defeat sin and death so that we may live with Him forever. And He is the same God who lovingly extends His grace and mercy and who comforts us when we go through pain in this often difficult life.

Christmas is much, much more than following tradition, commercialism, materialism and indulgence. Christmas revolves around a person – Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is but fitting that those of us who profess to have a relationship with Jesus, those of us who consider Him our Lord and Savior, consider this season a time to exalt and thank Him for what He has done. Christ is what makes Christmas special. Jesus is the only reason for the season.

The greatest gift we can ever receive this Christmas is Christ Himself. Matthew 1:21 tells us, “for He, Jesus, shall save His people from their sins.”

In Matthew 1:23, Jesus is called Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” The Apostle Paul referred to Jesus as the “indescribable gift” in 2 Corinthians 9:15. And the Apostle John tells us how much God loves: “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Luke wrote in Luke 2:1, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Christ is the ONLY Savior! “Neither is there salvation in any other – for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we can be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Have you accepted this Great Gift of God? Are you sure you will have eternal life with Christ Jesus? You can be sure, by faith, praying and asking God to save you from the penalty of your sins, by receiving the Lord Jesus as your Savior, God will do what He has promised. He said in Acts 2:21, “And it shall BE, THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE Lord shall BE SAVED.”

Christmas can mean forgiveness of YOUR sins and an abundant NEW LIFE. If you have not received Jesus Christ, the risen Son of God, God in the flesh, why don’t you ask Him to forgive your sins, why don’t you turn to Christ and ask Him to be your Savior and Master right now?

Likewise, this Christmas may be the best time to give the love of Jesus to those who need His love. Perhaps, there is a broken relationship that needs healing. If there is resentment and bitterness in your heart, just think about how much you are forgiven. Jesus’ forgiveness will enable you to also forgive others. Jesus asks you to forgive as He has forgiven you.

Philippians 2:8 tells us about Jesus’ own humililty, “…And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” As Jesus humbled Himself, He too will enable us to humble ourselves and reach out, ask forgiveness without expecting anything in return.

This is a season to be humble and forgiving, a season to be thankful, to count our blessings because we have received God’s greatest gift of all – Jesus Christ. He is what Christmas is all about.

By Sasa Felipe

Thirteen delegates from CCF composed of pastors and their wives attended the 2008 Global Leadership Seminar held live last August 6 and 7 at Willow Creek Church, Chicago, Illinois. They were part of the 7,400-strong audience who felt blessed listening to speakers who talked about leadership
and values. The impact was life- and heart-changing.

Such was the blessing they felt that CCF committed to show the video broadcast of the whole seminar on November 6 and 7 at CCF St. Francis.

In October 2007, CCF St. Francis was chosen as the Philippine venue for the video broadcast of the 2007 GLS. The event was broadcasted simultaneously in other countries. CCF co-hosted the seminar in
Manila together with the Philippine Council for Evangelical Churches (PCEC) and Append.

Then in early February of this year, CCF again had the wonderful privilege of hosting Bill Hybels and Wayne Cordeiro as they spoke to a select group of church leaders, an offshoot of the 2007 GLS.

The GLS volunteers in Chicago this year were very active and deeply involved in all aspects, such as assisting in the parking lots and attending to the bookstore. They were very hospitable yet firmly imposed rules and policies so as to maintain order.

CCF delegates left the seminar realizing that no leader will survive without “IT;” that nothing is impossible for those who have a clear vision and mission and work hard to make their visions and dreams come true; and that no matter how stupid an idea, if we have the passion and a clear vision and mission, God will orchestrate everything to accomplish His purpose.

Discipling this nation for Jesus Christ is not impossible;spiritual and emotional maturity are possible; and character transformation takes place within the confines of strengthening one’s leadership and influence.

By Excel V. Dyquiangco

CCFers pack the Araneta Coliseum

CCF recently celebrated its twenty-fourth anniversary at the Araneta Coliseum last August 31 with the message, “A Fresh Vision of God’s Greatness.”

CCF Senior Pastor Peter Tan-Chi delivered an inspiring message on motivation and how to bring out such excitement in serving the Lord. His message was based on in 1 Chronicles 29:11-20.

He started out with several questions that left the crowd thinking: “If I were to ask you, ‘Why are you here this morning? Why are you doing what you are doing?’ what will your answer be? Why are we going to fulfill the great commission? Why are you here?”

He stressed that the more people understand their motivation, the more that joy and excitement will fill
their lives. His message ended with a prayer and a commitment to follow and obey God, and just to love Him for who He is.

As early as 8 A.M., people began flocking to the Araneta Coliseum. The program started two hours later with joyful singing from the choir and the audience, and a heartwarming song from singer Kuh
Ledesma. Businessman Bulgin Manapat delivered his testimony about how God was able to transform his life and the life of his family. A rousing video on how great and awesome God’s love is was also shown onscreen during the latter part. The anniversary was capped by another round of pleasant singing from the choir and the crowd.

More than 18,000 people from different CCF churches within and outside Metro Manila attended the event. Aside from CCF St. Francis Square and Alabang, attendees from CCF Taytay, CCF Pasig, CCF Marikina, and CCF Binondo joined the festivities. The program was also beamed live to other church plants from Luzon to Mindanao.