Christ Has No Body

Christ Has No Body
By: Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Philosophy of Ministry: Conclusion

Hi folks! I apologize for not posting soonest. JC had a cold and was transferred to me so we were both feeling under the weather for a week or so. Though we did not get to the point of developing a fever, I was not still at my best to be doing the same daily chores.

I hope you enjoyed the Memorial Day weekend. We sure did! We checked out the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and had a chance to tour the aircraft carriers, a British Airways Concorde and the submarine during the Fleet Week in Manhattan.

So I end now the 3-part series of the Philosophy of Ministry. In conclusion:


1. Let’s be fearful:
“Cursed be the one who does the Lord’s work negligently, and cursed be the one who restrains his sword from blood. (Jeremiah 48.10).” Nadab and Abihu learned the hard way not to be flippant and careless in the service of our holy God.

2. Let’s be fervent:
“The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks is to do soas one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

3. Let’s be focused:
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

4. Let’s be faithful:
…It is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

Philosophy of Ministry Part II

I was first introduced to a Charismatic church when I was in college when a friend tagged me along to one of their prayer meetings. The community at large was composed of elite people – popular models and actors. Then I went to attend a few El Shaddai’s prayer meetings at the parks. I was baptized again by the Holy Spirit when I joined Singles For Christ in 2004. I became a household leader just after four months of joining and asked to ran in control a Christian Life Program (CLP). My short stint there was awesome and such a memorable experience! Though I had to leave after a year because of His Message, "It is done, you can go now..." My passion towards His Divine Mercy has become a fire that burns unceasingly. In 2006, God started the process of joining families together with the same passion in music. The Ocean of Mercy Music Ministry(OOM), inspired by the message of His Divine Mercy, was born. OOM provides music to all charismatic events and conferences in the whole Archdiocese of Newark, NJ. My husband acted as the Musical Director until…2009… when our family felt a calling to fulfill a bigger purpose; called to a new beginning, new direction, new miracle and new life. This new ministry will be the focus of our family’s journey here on earth.

Now Paul is exactly right here; in his perspective, he sees himself as “an earthen vessel.” What he accepted in his ministry is that he possessed it as an earthen vessel. The Lord Jesus said of Paul after the Damascus road experience, "He is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles” (Acts 9.15). And so it is with all of us; we are earthen and always should be in our own estimation. But we must balance that out with the reality that, to God, we are chosen vessels.

Do you suppose, then, that perhaps we should be careful about whining and complaining to God (and others) because we seem to be shy of some of gifts and talents others possess since He Himself has both made us AND chosen us?!

As Warren Wiersbe notes:

The important thing about a vessel is that it be clean, empty, and available for service. Each of us must seek to become “a vessel unto honor, sanctified [set apart], and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (2 Tim. 2:21).

We are vessels so that God might use us. We are earthen vessels so that we might depend on God’s power and not our own.As participants in the Body of Christ, we should focus on the treasure and not on the vessel, and we must also focus on the Master and not on the servant. If we suffer, it is for Jesus’ sake. If we die to self, it is so that the life of Christ might be revealed in us. If we go through trials, it is so that Christ might be glorified. And all of this is for the sake of others. As we serve Christ, death works in us—but life works in those to whom we minister.

But because he possessed it in an earthen vessel, he remembered this important truth: He could disgrace (or discredit) it; there were two ways he could do this.

• He could adulterate the Word of God, literally, handle it with distortion so as to cause to be false for personal gain or convenience, or subtlety. He spoke of “peddling” the Word, and he was referring to being a huckster or, in other words, a false teacher with wrong motives.

• He could cause others to stumble by giving offense.


What he acknowledged about his ministry:
 His adequacy was from God
 The surpassing greatness of the power is from God
 It is as though God Himself “were making an appeal through us”
 It is a fact that we are “working together with Him”
 It is suffering makes the treasure spill onto others

What he anticipated about his ministry:
 Some successes
 He had faith, so he spoke
 He had mercy, so he pressed on
 He had hope, so he did not quit
 Some suffering
 Some day:

An accounting:
 He possessed his ministry always in the light of his mortality
 He possessed his ministry always in the awareness of God’s watchful eye being upon him (5.11; we are made manifest to God)
 He possessed his ministry always in the light of his stewardship (This kept him from becoming a quitter
 This kept him from laziness or unpreparedness
 This kept him from self-promotion
 At home with the Lord; it’ll all be over

...to be concluded..

Philosophy of Ministry Part I

If I were to be, what would I be?

1. PRIEST. But since Catholic Church has only male priests, then that means I can never be. I cant be a nun either because my one-week period of discernment with the Sisters of Benedict at St. Emma Monastery, Greensburg, PA didn’t seem to work out and bear fruit. I am sure God has called me for something else.

2. PREACHER. Yes, I write and read long. And I love to speak! I guess i was trained early for public speaking. Of course, that's different from the mindless chatter to prove that we exist somewhere. I love to give it all and belt out praises & worship! Though most of the times, I’d rather conserve my energy to bring better balance and efficiency.

3. PHILANTHROPIST. The greatest philanthropist of our time! To protect and serve mankind. End (esp child) poverty and injustice!

4. MOTHER AND WIFE. Yes, very fulfilled. Thank You, Lord!


So my friend, bear with me this time and the succeeding posts and help me live out my dream of becoming a PRIEST AND PREACHER. Here is a 'sermon': =)


Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

What decision did you make about Jesus during your days on earth? We are in fact all involved in ministry whether we intend to be or not. I believe that we are to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…” and we can’t do that just by going to church on Sunday and expect to be involved in ministry. We must minister to those nations and shine God’s love through our words, deeds and actions. I hope we don’t think that going to church for a couple of hours on Sunday is much of a deed. We must put faith to our words.

Each and every individual person in the Body of Christ has a part in the overall ministry of the church (Ephesians 4.11, 12), and each individual has “a ministry” for which he or she will give account to God. This simple truth is evident in passages such as Ephesians 2.10 where Paul straightforwardly declares that God has fore-ordained that we should walk in good works that He, in His sovereign will, has prepared for us.

Let’s examine Paul’s concept of ministry as as set forth in 2 Corinthians in
an attempt to see his model for us and his mandate to us.


What he appreciated about his ministry:-

- Its superiority to the ministry of the Old Covenant.


- It changes hearts . The law reveals sin; it cannot renew the inner person. The Spirit wants to write His Word on hearts.

- It gives life. The law kills, but grace gives land sustains life. God’s children can have an ongoing relationship with Him through the Spirit (Romans 8.2)

- It gets more and more glorious. The glory of Old is past. The temple, the priesthood, the rituals, and the pre-incarnate revelations of God’s power. But the glory of God’s grace remains and grows more glorious.

- It brings freedom. The law brings bondage, but grace gives glorious freedom that makes us more and more like Jesus Christ. Each day, you can have your own personal transfiguration as you worship the Lord and yield to the Spirit.

- Its capacity to glorify God. Paul focused on glorifying God, and he saw ministry as a means to that end.


…to be continued..

Praise the Lord and Give Him Thanks!

Thank God it's Friday! My baby, JC, woke up early, stayed close and quiet smooching and cuddling me for a good while. Well, his sweet efforts to get me up and play with him already paid off. It's true that the best toy is either MOM or DAD and not any fancy gadgets we could throw on to get them busy and away. But first off, I got so inspired when I heard Don Moen's 'I Will Sing'. The song is amazing! It's actually on the video bar that you could listen to it, as well. And so it fired me up, started singing and praising... JC opened his mouth and babbled along with his hands up.

Lord of all creation, God of wonders, Lord of heaven and earth, we crown You with praise! We love You, we thank You, we adore You, we worship You, we glorify You! We bow down to You, King of all Kings, Lord of all Lords, we magnify and exalt Thy holy Name! “Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee: how great Thou art, how great Thou art”!

Early in the morning, I will celebrate the light. And when I stumble in the darkness, I will call your Name by night. And while I live and have any being, I will sing praises to You, my God!

Have a blessed day and enjoy your weekend, guys! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL, ESP TO OUR BELOVED REGINA COELI (posted at http://belovedavemaria.blogspot.com/). GOD BLESS!

PS: Did i mention that i saw and heard a teener yesterday going around the block with her song, matched with actions, of praises to God? Yes, i did overlooking our window where i sit with my computer all day. I roooted for her, 'yeah, sistah, BIG AMEN to that!' How very nice to see someone singing her heart out to God! Lesson learned: BE BOLD & BE BLESSED!

Jesus Loves the Little Children

I've been drafting for a while but just could'nt convince myself that they're worth posting already. I was putting my thoughts together about my blog network composed of 28 + and then would shift into something else. Well, right now, I am sure what i wana say and post. My mind which is still working into the wee hours of a moonless night (esp when I still need to wash my baby's bottles lol), I am ecstatic to tell you all that JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN!!!! YAY! Thank God, am I not on the roll now? Check the lyrics below and enjoy. I've also included a url where you could listen to the music. Be inspired, guys, and let us sure share the love!!!

Turn up the volume for some sweet comfort and beautiful promise:
http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/j007.html


Ref: Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They're all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

Whether you're rich or whether you're poor
It matters not to Him
He remembers where you're going
Not where you've been

Ref:

If your heart is troubled
Don't worry, don't you fret
He knows that you have heard His call
And he won't forget

Ref:

All around the world tonight
His children rest assured
That He will watch and He will keep us
Safe and secure

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They're all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world