Lilly is Getting Baptized!

Finally, after almost 2 years, our little angel will be baptized. We were finally able to make arrangements after months of waiting. We were finally able to set the date with the church and with our Filipino community chaplain. I am excited actually, and beginning to make plans... Well, at least in  my head. 😁

So why baptism? 

As a Catholic, it is important to have my children baptized also as Catholics, and raise them to be good children, and learn and understand our Christian faith. Being baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, they become a part of our great Catholic community, who will in a way, also be their support system as they journey in their faith. 

Anyway, since the venue for the baptism has been set, all that is left is to finalize the location for the celebration after the baptismal ceremony. We are still debating on how to proceed: whether we would book in a restaurant or rent a hall and engage a caterer. There are of course various factors to consider, like finances, manpower needed, suppliers for flowers and decorations, and time. Once the venue for the reception is finalized, I can start giving out invitations to our friends. For he guests, I already have a preliminary  list. Depending on the location, I can limit it to a specific number of people or add more guests to it. 

Well I do hope we will be able to finalized by next week so that we can finally send out invitations. Since the baptism will be in summer, we have to send them out early so that those who have vacation plans can also take the baptismal date into account. 

I plan to do DIYs as much as time allows me to: like the invitations, baptismal mass hymnal, table decor, baptismal favors, etc. And then delegate some tasks to the godparents. Hopefully, I will have the time to execute these ideas and plans. I am actually excited about it. I am happy to know that we can finally welcome our little princess into our big Catholic community and I will be at ease, knowing that she will soon receive God's blessing. 

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How to Choose a Bible Study

Bible studies encourage you to explore God’s Word and apply it to your life. Before you choose your Bible study resource, choose a lesson that is from a reputable author, meets your level of spiritual maturity and available time and applies to your life.

Author

You may search through studies offered by authors you admire or that are recommended. However, check any Bible study author’s credentials and doctrine or beliefs. Spend more time in God’s word than the study author’s words.

You may also choose to study a specific book of the Bible based on its author.

Available Study Time

Determine how much time you can set aside each week to study your Bible, and choose a study that meets these time requirements. For example, you may choose a study that requires 10 minutes per day or 1 or more hours 1 day per week depending on your weekly schedule.

Spiritual Maturity

If you are a new Christian, you may choose lessons on how to study the Bible. However, if you have some biblical knowledge and understand the stories of the Bible, you may choose to dig deeper into specific topics, such as effective prayer, prophesy or expanding your faith.

If you have a general question about Christianity, God or something you heard preached, this question may also be a good place to start.

Application to Your Life

Do you have a current need in your life that you want to address or future expectations that you want to prepare for? For example, are you planning to get married and want more information about effective Christian marriages, or are you preparing for children and want to learn godly parenting skills?

Every Bible study should be immediately applicable to your life and cause your faith to grow. However, a topic you are passionate about will encourage you to complete the study.

You may choose a Bible study because you admire a specific author. Your available time and spiritual maturity may also dictate the study you choose. Finally, you may choose a study that applies to a chosen part of your life.

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All is Calm, All is Bright

I have always loved the Christmas song "Silent Night" for it speaks of that one cold night when the little child who will save us all was born in a humbly and lowly manger. Whenever we get the chance to play for the Christmas mass, we always include this song in our repertoire. 

It has the simplest and most beautiful message to it: that things need not be extravagant or expensive to make others happy when giving gifts. For the most precious gift comes wrapped in swaddling clothes. It goes the same with gift giving. True, while we always want to give the best gift, in the end what matters most is the love that comes with the gift. While material things give us temporary happiness, receiving and giving love and true friendship, a sincere smile and warm embrace, and yes, forgiving others and ourselves is still the best gift we can offer one another.

For God so loved the world that He gave us His only son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life... so the bible says.

So before the year ends, let us allow love to reign in our hearts. And all else shall follow.

May we all continue to enjoy the holidays and greet the new year full of faith, hope and love in our hearts.

So keep calm and give LOVE.

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How to Experience God

Building a relationship with God is a beautiful opportunity to get to know the Creator of the Universe and develop a personal bond. It's one thing to talk about how good God is. It's another thing to actually experience it. Consider these four tips and learn how to connect with God.

1. Study the Word.

When you study the Word of God, you're able to learn more about his character, laws and desires for his children. Be intentional about reading every day. You can download a Bible app and receive notifications with new scriptures on a daily basis. You can even start a challenge where you read the entire Bible in one year. Just make sure to absorb the information and learn.

2. Pray.

Prayer is the opportunity to communicate with God. Many people suggest that meditation is when God communicates back to you. Open the channels of your heart and mind and be transparent with God. Let him know that you need him. Talk to him about how much you love him. Pray for your friends, family and community. Talk to him about your desires and ask him to reveal his purpose for your life. Start by waking up in the morning and immediately pray. As you go throughout your day, continue to silently pray and ask God to lead you in the right direction.

3. Express gratitude.

If you give a little child a gift and they take it without saying thank you, you'd be less likely to want to give them another gift. Why? There's something really special about letting someone know that you appreciate what you've done for them. Granted, God's goodness is based on yours. However, it is important to express gratitude and let God know that you're thankful for all He has done in your life. Whether you choose to share it through singing a praise & worship song or sharing a testimony with a friend, always make sure to talk about how good God is and express gratitude for all he's done.

4. Commit to growth.

It can be really challenging to grow in your relationship with God because it's a refining process. When you first pull gold out of the ground, it has to go through the fire and get molded. Once it's molded and perfected, it's so beautiful and desirable. As a Christian, you're going to go through situations that will feel terrible. The pressure of negative situations will help you mold your character and become a better person. Commit to the process because it's all working for your improvement.

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