A prominent human rights lawyer in Iran, Nasrin Sotoudeh, is detained by the authorities on security charges.
Newsflash
We are together in spirit with all our brothers and sisters in the spiritual family around the world as we prepare to observe the third season of the Feasts of the LORD God - the Memorial of Blowing of Trumpets (September 9, 2010), the Day of Atonement (September 18, 2010), the Feast of Tabernacles (September 23-29, 2010), the Eighth Day (September 30, 2010), and rejoice with great joy at the privilege of appearing before Him in the faithful congregation of the earth. For anyone who wants to join us in keeping these Feasts, from wherever you are, do come! We welcome you with thanksgiving and delight in sharing with you the blessings of Almighty Eternal GOD...
“SO GRATEFUL” —Whether in pain or in rejoicing, the family of Raul and Vivian Hipe have always raised their voices in praise to Almighty GOD, in whose enduring purpose they strive to abide. On the Sabbath before their mother was scheduled to give birth, Ralph took the guitar and Arielle the keyboard as they rose to offer “I’m So Grateful” (composed by Walt Harrah) with their mother and father, and their baby sister in the womb. This was only one among many things we pleaded before the LORD God during the fellowship communal prayer that followed Sabbath assembly on May 29, 2010. For it had been a pregnancy declared from tests and soundings and physical limitations to be an impossibility from day one.
But by the enduring mercies of the Eternal Creator, as her father declared how true the apostle James’ testimony was that “patience must have its perfect work,” and her mother experiencing the meaning of DAILY miracles of even the tiniest details, more than the general assurance of a WEEK, the baby coasted through the calendar of motion and time with doctors holding their breath, continuously surprised by growth where thy expected none, and on June 1, 2010, Mattea Fae Lois Deboma Hipe was brought to birth and given the breath of life, her mother strengthened and alive through it all!
Yet let us not cease in prayer, brothers and sisters in the household of faith, for now on one hand we have a multitude of wonders and hurdles overcome, to raise our voices in thanksgiving to Almighty GOD, and on the other what to human eyes are incredible adversities threatening the health and life of baby Mattea Fae Lois...
“...We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done...
Meetup for Wives & Mothers – How to deal with home issues when the husband works abroad? How to know what the husband really means? When to take messages seriously? How to manage time? How to divide work at home? When to have a sense of humor? How to reach someone really stubborn? How to be an example? How to trust completely in God? How to budget without regular income? How to be firm with the children? How to let go? How to pray?... One whole afternoon can barely wrap everything in the heart of a woman of faith trying to weave a life as daughter, sister, wife and mother... Thank You Great God, for women whose desire is to seek Your will and be perfected for Your coming kingdom... thank You for the provision of time and place to come together, here and now. What multiple skills they employ! What inventive tasks they fulfill in a “woman’s work where there's always something to be done...”
In order to have a fruitful and abundant life, we must make sure that the experiences we gain through life’s ups and downs are channeled into further improving that life, building character with God’s help. In physics, every action has an equal and opposite reaction (2nd Law of Motion). Similarly, basic accounting principles (GAAP) state that every debit has to have equal credit, a yin for every yang.
LEFT SIDE RIGHT SIDE
Debit (increase) Debit (decrease)
Credit (decrease) Credit (increase)
When we are born, we are given a tabula rasa or a clean ledger on which to make our debit-credit entries in life. As we advance in years, we gain experiences that build upon our life or ASSET base. Some of these experiences are in the form of OWNER’S EQUITY or direct investment by God, our parents, our peers, the people we meet, friends, etc.
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Others are in the form of LIABILITIES or trials, some of which God allows, while others stem from conflicts with other people and/or circumstances. How we react to these positive investments and seemingly negative trials determine whether we have a NET INCOME or increase in character or a net loss.
“Family Games” – While gathering assorted clips for this video, it warms the heart to find that while we sometimes had to walk barefoot down the stone paths because of the rushing current, there was still time for the families to have fun together during the Feast of Tabernacles 2009. A smile from God’s countenance, to be able to rejoice like that!
And so it came to pass that the third child (for now), of Gilbert and Ann Deboma would be a sturdy baby boy named SHADRAC JAMES – wide-eyed, with a teasing grin, an extravagant excuse for hauling us over to Botolan, to be graciously hosted by the lively Deboma clan (waaaa talagang maghahanda si Nanay Lilian kahit sabihin nyo na “huwag na po! Kami na po ang magdadala!”). Imagine returning from a sun-bleached seashore to a long table al fresco lunch under the mango trees with ginataang laing, grilled bluefin tuna, stewed vegetables, green mango and tomatoes side by side with our adobo, chicken sisig... Not enough? Click on the video to be there!
And CLICK ON THE THUMBNAIL to view and download the photos... :)
“He Who Began A Good Work In You...”- In an age where nothing is expected to stick for more than 15 seconds, much more, a span of a generation, the Word of the LORD God rings clear: “...You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in the house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up...” What about when everyone seems to give in to the demand of the times? “Wala talagang magagawa, ganun talaga e...” Ask the fathers and mothers who remain faithful to God, what do they do? Through whatever ordeal, whatever threat of wrenching impending crisis, “is it all for nothing?” And they will say that despite every fault, God’s mercy endures forever, as can be seen in this video, stitched together with great warmth and affection by our Ate Vivian (Mrs. Vivian Deboma-Hipe), mother of Ralph and Arielle.
“CHURCH WEDDING” - Presenting the Bride and Groom before the Almighty Eternal GOD, and the spiritual family...
“WORKING ENTOURAGE” - The families themselves work together to prepare a gracious surprise for Juan Gabriel and Edelmia...
"CIVIL WEDDING RITES" - the mayor of Imus, Hon. Emmanuel Maliksi doesn't usually do weddings on a Monday, because it’s People's Day! Constituents come to be heard by their punong bayan, in a line that never ends! But on March 2, 2009, he graciously accommodated the families and witnesses of the Bride and Groom, despite the non-stop crowd outside the Municipal Hall, in an extraordinary thoughtful civil wedding ceremony that was far from the usual... Aba, hindi pala karaniwang civil wedding ito!
The two families of Jesus & Priscilla Cardona and Elmer & Miadely Perona deeply express their gratitude and thanksgiving to GOD for blessing them the rare and precious privilege to have a ‘tender shoot’ branch out through the holy union of their children JUAN GABRIEL and EDELMIA. We truly are grateful to GOD for this new family in the church, and we thank you all, Brethren, for supporting the realization of this blessing with your prayers and your presence and participation at the wedding of Juan Gabriel and Mia.
We will need your continuing prayers for our Almighty God to direct and nurture this new family, and for one another, as we now begin a new phase in the story of Church of God Sharing Village, with the prospective office coming soon, as well as the arrival of the newborn son of Gilbert and Ann Deboma - SHADRACH JAMES DEBOMA!
May the LORD God, infinite in wisdom and mercy, continue to prosper us from within and from without, as we work and await His Kingdom.
Gratefully and excitedly, the Cardona and Perona families are most pleased to announce the wedding of their children Juan Gabriel Avendaño Cardona and Edelmia Yutadco Perona on the 2nd of March, 2009.
The Civil wedding will take place at the Municipal Hall of Imus, Cavite, and will be officiated by the Mayor of Imus, the Hon. Emmanuel Maliksi, at 8:00 in the morning.
The Church wedding will be held at the Shangri-la Hotel Makati, at 6:00 in the evening.
This is going to be an intimate ceremony God wants us to share with one another...
14 February 2009 