The Covenant Singers live!

Dear friends,

You are invited to watch the rare live performance of

THE COVENANT SINGERS
Choral Music Ambassadors for Christ

TCS is composed of young people from different churches all around the Philippines who share a common passion of serving the Lord through music. They'll give us renditions of their original choral works, contemporary gospel songs and hymns in various styles; from classical to pop, from baroque to blues, from Indian to Jewish, etc. Let's join them , as they tour us around the world through :
SONGS OF FAITH. .

Here are the details:
Date: December 14, Friday
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Philam Life , UN Avenue
Ticket: Php 150
Limited Capacity

You may reply through this post or email thecovenantsingers@gmail.com for ticket orders. Do invite your friends! ü


Joyous regards,
MJ

A Letter for My God's Best

Dear God’s Best,

Hi there! I am thinking of you once again. I'm not even sure if you know me or if we've met before. Weird huh? So many questions I want to ask, like where are you? Are you thinking of me too? Are you praying for us? So many thoughts I long to share. My impressions of you; experiences, etc. I want you to know that I’ve been praying about you. I hope you’re growing under God’s blanket of joy, hope and love. I hope you’re making our Father proud!

As for me, I’m doing good. I’m well taken care of. I’m blessed with a great set of parents, loving church family and cool friends. The abundance of God’s gifts in my life is truly overwhelming. Though at times I tend to forget all these, esp. when I am drawn to the busy-ness of life just like any other woman in her early 20’s.

Despite having an active lifestyle, thoughts of you still sprout once in a while. There are times I mistake you for some other people. Okay, I confess. There was boy number one who has your sincerity, followed by a boy number two who’s got your wisdom; then there’s boy number three who’s overly patient and understanding like you; and boy number four who’s got your leadership quality. I entered a cycle of confusion, disappointments and hurts. I thank God the intensities weren’t that severe because He pulled me whenever I tend to fall deeply.

I realized I was going through all those just to fill my emptiness, the “vacuum” in my heart. I had mine filled with persons who possessed a number of your traits. I knew you’d be hurt knowing that I’ve given pieces of my heart away, leaving only the remains. That’s why I decided to end the cycle. Funny thing was, at that very moment the song “People Need the Lord” started playing.

People need the Lord People need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams He’s the open door
People need the Lord People need the Lord
When will we realize People need the Lord

True. He is the answer.

I was born empty. I grew up longing for you. Some instances may have broken me even more. I had to struggle when God asked me to give all the pieces to him. How could I right? When all that's left of me were those fragile pieces. But when I did, He restored me and made me whole again. Now you will have my whole. Hope it goes the same with you. :)

Looking forward to seeing you.


In faith,

MJ

Why I keep coming back for more

Sunday services who needs it? Most of the time, I have heard what the pastor has to say. It wouldn't be something new. So why do I keep coming back for more every Sunday. I know that I have all these knowledge in my head. I know how to differentiate right from wrong. I realized that the problem is application. All the knowledge in the world is useless if we don't apply what we know in our daily lives.

It’s not that easy to be just and fair in everything we do in our lives. There will be times when you will lose to temptation and compromise. In my life, I have compromised myself a lot. I always defended my actions by saying the rest of the world is doing it. But I am always left with the guilt feeling and heavy heart. Uneasy of the decisions and choices I have made.

Ever since I started to attend Sunday services, you know that little voice that cries out. It’s not so little anymore; it has grown to become a powerful voice inside of me. It has developed to become an annoying voice that keeps me in check. The Sunday service is an instrument God uses to strengthen that voice inside of me.

I will tell you that life now is much more difficult. Everyday I am faced with choices that would test my convictions. I find myself making difficult decisions more and more each day, because of that annoying voice inside of me. There are still times I still fail, but I will not deny that life has become a lot more peaceful. Peace is starting to fill my heart. Joy is starting to fill my heart. I am now free of the burdens I used to carry. This is the reason I keep coming back for more.

Basta Ikaw Lord!

You can call me EJ. Am a struggling 28 year old Christian. The last two weeks has been a roller coaster for me. My best friend for ten years decided to end our friendship. A few days later another good friend told me that it would be best to end our friendship. These two came as a shock for me. I wasn't aware something was wrong. I called out to God and said "Bahala ka na Lord" I wanted God to fix everything for me. I wanted Him to snap His fingers and solve everything in an instance.

In those two weeks I found myself in prayer and talking to God more often. I remembered what the pastor in my church said. "if we close our hands tightly God will not be able to give His many blessings and gifts to us. On the other hand, if we open our hands wide, He will pour unto us bountiful blessings." This is what God is telling me.

Reluctantly, I started to open my tightly closed fist. Through God's goodness, He touched my friends. He opened avenues of communciations. I am now in the process of reconciling with my friends. I am scared of the outcome, but I have faith that God has great plans for me. I will put my faith and trust in Him.

After much reflection and prayer, I thought of the statement "bahala ka na Lord", and I felt it wasn't what He wanted. After more prayer and reflection, "Basta Ikaw Lord" came to mind.

"Bahala ka na Lord" I left it all in His hands, and I would just sit around waiting for His response. "Basta Ikaw Lord" whatever He wants me to do, I will follow. He commands and I will obey. There is a difference.

Feel free to post your comments.

What's a Success Story

Visit a local bookstore near you. You’ll see racks and racks of steps-to-success books ranging from money-making (selling, marketing) cha-cha-chings, to diets, relationships, series of discovering full potential stuff, etc. It’s as if there’s a surefire way of success in everything so long that you take all the noted steps.

I’m sure many of us would shout a big ‘yes!’ and match it with big eyes and big smiles when asked if we want to be successful. Then upon hearing the follow-up questions our faces would be like an anxious kid who’s called for recitation in class.

Well, what is REAL success anyway? Is it so easily achievable that all we have to do is keep track of the calculated actions stated in a book?

Though we may have different educational backgrounds, upbringing, and field of interests, many of us in one way or another want to have a success story. But we get distracted by the sights and wonders the world's got to offer. Some feel lost. Others weary themselves out in search of opportunities at ground zero. We want to succeed, yet we are not even sure what it means. Is it the journey or the outcome? At the moment, I suggest we should try to block November 29 to December 1 off our schedule.

For what?

PLEASING MY ULTIMATE BOSS camp.

Here’s an overview of it.

Venue: Oxford Hotel Pampanga
Date: Nov 29 to Dec 1, 2007

Objective
~This camp promotes camaraderie among the AZCOP young professionals and inspires them to passionately apply the biblical principles in all aspects of their lives for the glory of God.

Theme
~ success the Christian way, defining success as gaining God’s standard, whether it is personal, family, spiritual or in the workplace.


Participating Churches
~ Bacolod Trinity Church, Jubilee Evangelical Church, UEC Angeles, UEC Greenhills, UEC Gen Santos, UEC Malabon, UEC Naga, UEC Pasay, UEC Philippines, UEC Sta Cruz, UEC Vigan, and UEC Zamboanga.

There will be workshops catering to your needs like handling family business, Investing, Public Speaking, etc.

Maybe you'll even discover your success story there. See you! :)

Pleasing my Ultimate Boss

Pleasing my Ultimate Boss

I Wonder

Hi would like to share this poem that I read

I Wonder
by Ruth Harms Calkin



You know, Lord, how I serve You
With great emotional fervor
In the limelight.
You know how eagerly I speak for You
At a women’s club.
You know how I effervesce when I promote
A fellowship group.
You know my genuine enthusiasm
At a Bible study.

But how would I react, I wonder,
If You pointed to a basin of water
And asked me to wash the callused feet
Of a bent and wrinkled old woman
Day after day,
Month after month,
In a room where nobody saw
And nobody knew?

A Father's Music

The deafening noise of this world
The entangled hopes,
tied on aimless ropes
The fury of man
His perilous passion
for cold rocks and stones
Veiled his sight
Distorted his senses
Buried him to the depth
Of nothingness and loneliness
Where emptiness
Haunted his every waking hour
And devoured the song of his soul.

There was a melody
So pure and gentle
That a Father made
For an innocent and hopeful child.
She danced, she leaped,
Ecstatic with the heavenly
Sound of music.
She soared, she glided,
Along with the song,
She shouted for joy.
Sadly, her shouts were but ashes
to the intensity of the clamor outside.
Still, the soft music kept on playing.

Unwillingly, she got distracted.
As she grew more accustomed
To the noise of this world.
She thirsted for something else.
The melody was no longer enough
To sustain her once a joyous life.
Whispers from the deep,
She caught in her sleep.
In anguish she cried out,
Sadly, her cries were but ashes
to the intensity of the clamor outside.
Still, the soft music kept on playing.

Seeing His child daunted,
The Father knocked at the door.
The girl laid restless,
Afraid of scolding and spanking.
Upon more knocks,
And a voice that said “Child open the door,”
In fear, she opened it.
But much to her surprise,
She was welcomed
By His warm loving embrace.
Tears fell unspoken,
in awe of His love.

Her Father said,
“Shh… Rest my princess.
It may not show in this world,
But you are very special,
Let the music remind you always.
My music is yours to keep.
My music is my life.”

Who's Your Boss?

The first notion I've had of Young Professionals was that they are those individuals who are young of course but are adult enough to wear cool suits. Well that's how those Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren posters taught me. They're usually the first to own new gadgets and cars. Their time is worth 58k gold. Often, they hang-out in Starbucks, meet clients in Starbucks, have their dates in Starbucks.

Are you one of these Young Professionals? Or do you aspire to be more? I've met those who despite their busy-ness were able to find time to teach and encourage a group. Some were burdened by problems not of their own and they then promoted a cause. Others gave up their suits, gadgets and leisure afternoon coffee to carry a mission of saving lives. These are Young Professionals whose goal is not to be admired by society. Their profession doesn't make much money or bring them to the limelight. They've been called to continue walking Christ's steps and make fishers of men, not with a fishing pole and bait or anything like that. They obeyed to His calling. Their hearts have been unveiled to see the world in His eyes. They become the catalysts in this society. Lives are changed and blessed through them. These people are blessed with so much joy, peace, love and hope that they opt to share them. They were once empty, but now they're full; once weak, now strong; once filled with anger, now love.

Maybe you also have the same calling. Maybe you hear God knocking at your heart saying "My dear child (but we're merely supposed to be servants), I have BIG plans for you. I want to show you how great the extent of your gifts and abilities could become. Will you follow me?"

Will you make Him your BOSS?

Thank God it's Friday!

I love Fridays. I've always been looking forward to it ever since I was a kid. But of course my reason for getting giddy over it changes through time. Like when I was in Grade school it was a TV-all-nighter kinda thing. After I do my mopit (Chinese Calligraphy), my hands would automatically grab the remote and I'd watch Lamb Chops Play Along or Gem. You've probably guessed my age from there. Come highschool, Fridays became my Telebabad Night. I'd talk to my bestfriends for hours even if we just spent the whole day together. I still can't understand why there were so many (senseless i guess) things to talk about. When I entered college Fridays became my Indulgence Night. Eating, sleeping, watching movies, anything that's fattening, you name it; that's what I normally did.

Though those Fridays were fun, they weren't really meaningful. I didn't grow mentally, emotionally or spiritually... well, just physically I guess (hehe). Now that I've graduated college and officially a part of the Young Professionals population, I see Fridays in a different light. It's a good wrap up for the week's stress at work. It can also be a fun&value-filled night. I together with other Young Pros have fellowship in our fave hangout place, a coffee shop! So what we do on these nights? Usually, we study God's word, share our thoughts and ideas, encourage each other to grow. I guess young pros nowadays aren't really all about just being money-makers, they long to find a noble purpose to pursue, fulfill it faithfully and help others do the same. Spending time with my brothers and sisters in Christ has no doubt strengthened my faith and added my joy. I'm glad I ain't glued to the tube anymore, or else, I won't have met this wonderful bunch in the course of life's bumpy ride. Oh yeah, today's Friday! You are more than welcome to join us. :)