ACTS

Hello folks! I was planning on posting about the other banner I created for Singles For Christ, but I got caught with the power of prayer. I started to scribble on ACTS prayer and before I know it, I was enjoying how I was able to put my worshop together. Here it is sharing with you all!

ADORATION:

This is a place called Gethsemane, a place of prayer and a place of priorities. It was there when Jesus was vigilant and diligent in prayer. What a joy it is to know that our Saviour fought all the battles for us and that He prevailed every time! When was last time you offered the Lord an offering of extravagant love? When was the last time you threw away your pride and gave Him worship, honor and praise? When was the last time you selflessly served the Lord Who saved your soul from Hell? When was the last time you broke the bank worshiping Him and serving His people? How long has it been since you placed everything you have, everything you are and everything you care about on the altar of sacrifice before Him? To Mary, nothing in the world was as valuable to her as Jesus. She loved Him with an extravagant love. She loved the Lord more than she loved herself and her things!

When we think of all that He endured for us that night, in that eventful night in Gethsemane, it should drive us to our knees in worship! It should fill our hearts with His praises. It should make us want to lift holy hands to praise Him. It should make us want to rejoice in songs and shouting. It should fill us with a desire to worship and exalt Him! This is an hour that calls for action, it is not a time for God’s people to sleep. Let Mary’s gift make us ashamed of our self-centered, half-hearted love for the One Who did everything for us! We wana love Him with extravagant love! We wana love Him so much that He has control of us and all that we possess and all that we are. We wana love Him without shame, without fear and without foolish pride getting in the way. We wana love Him like Mary loved Him. Has He spoken to your heart today? Come as He calls. Love Him! Praise Him! Worship Him! Adore Him! Believe Him! Receive Him!

We worship you, we adore you, we praise you! Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth! You are holy, holy! O worship the King, how majestic is His Name! We praise your Name, oh Lord, we magnify Your Name, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, we bow down, we crown you the King, King of all Kings, Glory to the Lord on high, Lord of heaven and earth! You are holy, Praise Your holy name! The universe declares Your majesty! Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost! O worship the King! Hallelujah, praise God!

(Song: This is Your House or Prince of Peace or How Great Thou Art)


CONTRITION:

“What is that in thine hand? The Lord asked Moses and he replied, ‘a rod’. To Moses, all he had in his hand was a dry, dead stick. All Moses possessed was the rod. It represented his life, his identity and his livelihood. That stick told Moses, “You are nothing but a shepherd keeping another man’s flock!”

Like Moses, we also hold some things in our hands today. Some of those things are good things and others are evil. All of these things, whether they are good or bad, identify us and control our lives. Like a shepherd leans on his staff, we lean on the things that we hold in our hands. Things like our past, our problems, our grudges, some hard feelings over things people have done or said to us, unforgiveness, the sorrows of life, feelings of inadequacy and negativity. Moses yielded the stick he carried that day to the Lord. When he did, he was released from its power. When he did, it ceased to define him. When he did, it became the power of God in his life. God will use Moses to teach us that we can rise above the things that we hold in our hands.

“What is that in thine hand?” What do you carry today? What defines you? What are you holding on to that holds you back and keeps you from being everything God saved you to be? Is there some sin that needs to be laid down? Is there some event from your past, some hurt, some sorrow, some bitterness that hinders you today? Is there some area of life where you feel like you have arrived? Is there some talent or ability that fills you with pride? Is there something in your life that holds you back? Is there something in you that holds your family and your church back? Look at your life and see what you hold. You may hold it in your hand, but it dominates and controls your life. This is an opportunity for you to be free from its pull and from its influence. Throw it down and let God have it. When you hold it, it is a liability. When you give it to Him, it becomes a spiritual asset!

Bring what you hold in your hands and cast it down before Him. Let Him take that liability and turn it into an asset for His glory. You need to confess your failures. You need to repent of sin. You need to renew your vows and commitments to the Lord; you need to get right with God. Come home!

(Song: You Are My Hiding Place; intro solo by me)


THANKSGIVING:

Give thanks in all circumstances.
Give thanks for everything.
Give thanks at all times.

This is a step beyond remembering God and thanking God for all the wealth that we enjoy. This is a step beyond remembering God and obeying his commands because he has given us fine houses and filled our bellies. This is even a step beyond thanking God, as the leper thanked God, for healing him through Jesus of his disease. Do you have a faith that is thankful in everything? God wants us to celebrate his love. God wants us to give thanks in everything. God doesn't want this because he is greedy for praise, the Lord doesn't want it so that he will feel better about himself. He wants it because it will bless us and because it will bless the people around us. He wants us to remember what He has done so that we will not be afraid when we are in need of help, and so that we will not grow arrogant or rude when we are prospering. He wants us to remember and give thanks to him, and to those around us so that our lives will be full of light and hope and so our actions full of tenderness and love. Psalm 92: "It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to his name!”

(Song: Give Thanks!)

SUPPLICATION:

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
Can God really meet your needs? No matter where the road of life leads, no matter what problems arise, God is always ready with the necessary means to meet the needs of His children. It is simply coming to the place where you just believe God is big enough to handle your problem. It is reaching the place Paul came to when he made the matchless declaration found in Ephesians 3:20, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."

Do not let the old “Simon” within you control you otherwise you can expect nothing but failure in your life. We should get beyond "God could and God might" and get to the place where we could confidently say "God can and God will"! Maybe you need is that of salvation, you can come and have that need met today. Maybe yours is a material or physical need. You can come and find the assurance that God will take care of that too. Maybe you need is emotional in nature, God can handle that! Whatever the need bring it to God! Satan and the flesh say, "Can God?" Those who walk in faith rest their head on the precious promises of the Word of God and in blessed assurance reply back, "God can, God can!" God can do anything, God can meet your need! Why not bring your needs, your burdens and your worries and fears to Him tonight, and find out that not only can He, but that He will also!

(Song: will have to think what's more appropriate)

Praise be unto God and thanksgiving for his many blessings. Amen.

Feeding (Con't.)

Some more photos at the Hoboken Shelter. We were asked to wear an apron and hairnet at the Goodwill.

Feeding our Less-Able Bros & Sis as my Bday Bash

To make my birthday extra special and meaningful, off i went to Hoboken Shelter, Hoboken, NJ on June 17; and Goodwill Rescue Mission, Newark, NJ on June 19 to help prepare and serve meals.

The Hoboken Shelter feeds 75-100 people and sleeps 30-35 men and women nightly. The Goodwill Rescue Mission offers help to Newark's poor and disadvantaged. Every day of the year, Goodwill serves three meals a day to 150 meals/people in need.

As always, it was a rewarding experience to reach out and serve our disadvantaged borthers and sisters. What struck me the most was when I served this nice-looking and composed man. As he approached with his plate towards me, he greeted, 'kumusta ka?'. And we started a little chit-chat in our native language. He was the only Filipino in line and didnt look disheveled at all. I asked myself what could have possibly happened to him - left by the family and alone struggling alone to make it? I brought home with me its mystery and sadness that I couldnt help blurt out of his situation during dinner with my husband. For sure, he did not have even $5 in his pocket otherwise he could have bought himself a Mc Chicken or any burger around Hoboken strip to save him the trouble of queueing up.

How much do we have in our pockets? How much do we spend for our lunch? For our vices and unnecessary things? These people barely have any.

I appreciate my husband's gesture and effort of waiting for me with JC outside the shelter during the whole feeding time.

Take a look at the pictures. At Hoboken Shelter, we prepared tuna with pasta, green salad (which is considered as a luxury, happens only once in a blue moon), bread and fruits. I prepared the salad myself and tuna with Jessie. Jerry, Shanon and Andrew, Kitchen Manager, did the boiling of pasta and eggs, slicing of the bread and cleaning of the fruits. Ops yeah, I almost forgot, I still had to ran 10 blocks to A&P Mart for a gallon of mayonnaise. At Goodwill Rescue Mission, meals were already prepared and what we did was to serve the meals to over 100 people. There were generous servings of hotdogs, corn, green beans and bread. I did it with Donna who's been doing it for 5 years or so, 14-year old Kayla, James, Mike and the coordinator. The Goodwill Rescue Mission is like 3x bigger than the Hoboken Shelter.

It was awesome, I had fun! I want to do this all time!