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Name: Michael Vincent
Birthday: 12/28/1981
Gender: Male
Interests: listening to music
goin' out!
travelling
serving Youth for Christ
Expertise: writing feature stories, articles etc...
music (singing, playing guitar)
dancing?!
Theatre(acting and directing)
Occupation: Student
Message: message me
Member Since:
4/21/2003
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| 1.) Doing God's work, may it be in CFC community (YFC/SFC/KFC) or GK, would never bring riches in this world. More, it would ask a lot from you... time, resources, talent, LOVELIFE, family, and self... It would empty you until there's nothing left to give. BUT... beyond all this, the rewards are eternal for the LORD will open the floodgates of heaven and pour down blessings unto His faithful servants. THE LORD will ALWAYS PROVIDE. There will never be days when the Lord would just leave you hanging around. 2.) Doing God's work would never bring you applause, recognition or any citations and would declare you a STAR. BUT the Lord blesses those who are humble and are loyal to Him... When you EMPTY yourself infront of the Lord, you become NOTHING, in you nothingness. .. you will learn how to be HUMBLE because you do things with the Lord who gives you strength. And in Humility, you become GREAT! a person with so much love for the Lord is persecuted and never recognized in this world for we do not belong to this world, instead we belong in Heaven where we sat at the banquet of our creator.
3.) Doing God's work is never a BED of ROSES. Storms, Raging Temptations, Unending Problems and challenges will come... and won't stop to come. Upto the point that it becomes too personal, where it attacks our family, our identity and our integrity. There's never a day that would give us a "FREE PROBLEM DAY!"... BUT remember, the LORD NEVER ABANDONS. We need to cling in His spirit and BE STILL for He is God... We are mere instruments of His divine and great works. It is never our problem to save people, it is Jesus'... We are just here to help Him out. So remember not to act as Superhereos that can do almost everything.. . 4.) Doing God's work would mean abandoning everything for His sake. Leaving our families, our future, our heart unto His mighty care. When we do the work of the Lord, we bring forth TRUST and giving Him the power to CONTROL our lives. BUT let us always remember that choosing the Lord and Jesus is the greatest decision ever, because we go back to our maker and the being that started it all. Choosing the Lord is always WORTH IT. It is our destiny to be Holy as God is Holy, therefore we need to change our lives in accordance to His will. Choosing the Lord would also mean we need to deny ourselves of our rights to feel anger, to feel disappointment, to worry, to feel hurt, to feel neglected, to feel alone, because, when you cling on to Jesus, He is MORE than ENOUGH. Therefore, love, patience and, forgiveness should cover our lives. 5.) Doing God's work won't deny us of tears, boredom, tiredness, emptiness, laziness, guild, doubt and fear. We are HUMANS that tends to feel these emotions. BUT let us always remember that the LORD never gave up on us thousands of years ago when He willingly DIED for all of us, so why abandon Him now? Why fail Him now? Let us always remember that Jesus was the very best example of a true servant... Let us make our lives a Jesus LIFE... If you think you can carry all this stuff and your heart is pumping by the time you're reading this, then i believe God is calling you to do more. We need to cover our lives with PRAYER for this brings us closer to Him. | | |
| A Passion unfolded It really has been awhile since I got to really hold onto the keys of the computer and wrote something that is of me and that truly came from inside… Just had a wild ride in the “so – called” LIFE that people often times refers it… but honestly, I want to call it the great adventure of a simple and ordinary journey to a phenomenal and breathtaking discovery of existence… Why? Everything is so ironic and paradoxical, if someone would try to look it in the way the world sees it… Everything is somewhat backwards to what we believe in… I have come to realize that we will never GROW unless God takes us away from things and people that really meant so much to us. We will never UNCOVER things and the mysteries of life if we just stay in one corner seeing the same old stuff that already becomes a routine. We will never LEARN unless we feel tiredness, pain, sorrow and persecutions... Ironic isn't it? That God still needs to break our hearts for us to see that HE SHOULD BE IN CONTROL! Sometimes we feel that we are all alone and that the world was falling apart right in front of us, hurting us without reservations, taking away everything that is close to our hearts. We sometimes feel that we are too tired to continue breathing and living. We feel that we are alone and that no one loves us anymore. We feel that no one sees the cries and heartaches that we have. We think that we are not appreciated and no one sees the potential that we have and the capabilities that we can do (sure thing that everyone feels the same way)… and what’s so real is that sometimes we don’t accept the fact the we are imperfect and that there will always be people better than us. And do we accept that we feel these feelings and think these thoughts? Oftentimes, we do, but most of the time, we don’t, because what we seem not normal seems to be normal because our primary reason is that we just want to make a difference in the lives of the people around us. Not knowing that PRIDE is eating up the mere values that we stood up for. Well, everyone does sees this portion but we are so lucky that we often have bumps and u – turns and punches on the head because we have an awesome God that never QUITS on us… We may be undergoing a lot of hardships and troubles in life, but was there a day that God plainly abandoned us? NONE! He still continues to show His love to us no matter what! This may sound a little bit corny or clichéd but what I speak of is the truth… now we see that a lot of people are testifying that there is satisfaction and fulfillment in their lives because there is a GOD! Precise and simple but it really rocks! Knowing that our lives will never be the same because of the one God that brought a new kind of lifestyle, craze and leaning to it. Amazing isn’t it? Nah! We just owe it all to the one true God that is worthy of our praises. The creator that uniquely shaped us to perfection (so never doubt and have insecurities that we don’t look good, or we’re fat or whatever… at the back of it all, we are the handsome prince and ravishing princess in God’s eyes!) We owe it all to an amazing and incredible God that never abandons us and accepts us despite of the past that we have lived. So why put any reason to not TRUST Him and give our all? And also have a ridiculous thought of abandoning Him? Every disappointment, hardships, pain, persecutions, sorrow, tiredness should only be felt in an ample time then DROP! Drop it all to GOD! The same God that forgives and takes care of all of us… Victories and Joys should be treasured in the heart and not in the minds (to avoid PRIDE) that in times of struggles we have memories to remember for us to be STILL choose to be HAPPY! Whatever state of our hearts now, circumstances or situations we are in, we choose to be where we are! So CHOOSE GOD and CHOOSE to stay HAPPY no matter what! We have a BIG God that is BIGGER than our problems! Now I see that we need to unfold the passion that we have in doing this extraordinary work that God has called us to do… Building the church of the future and building the church of the Poor… No matter who we are, what position we have, or where God has placed us, we are equal and share the same amount of sacrifice to have a better country and world to live in. No one is greater than the other. Only God is the greatest for He is our master. But we are also called to be submissive to anything or anyone that He has placed before us. Astounding! God ROCKS our lives transforming it to a better one… And do you know, what’s the greatest thing about all of this? Giving up our future… Thinking less of our selves but more of others… Being happy, peaceful and winner in spite and despite of hardships… and laying down the most precious to us… and moving forward even if it entails our lives… IT’S ALL WORTH IT! | | |
| Gospel Reading: Matthew 8: 1-4
When Jesus came down from the hill, large crowds followed him. Then a man suffering from a dreaded skin disease came to him, knelt down before him, and said, “Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean”
Jesus reached out and touched him. “I do want to,” he answered. “Be clean!” At once the man was healed of his disease. Then Jesus said to him, “Listen! Don’t tell anyone , but go straight to the priest and let him examine you; then in order to prove to everyone that you are cured, offer the sacrifice that Moses ordered.”
Cleanse Me
I was brought up in an institution where I was taught that I was above anyone else because of my skills, resources, talents and knowledge. I grew up with this mentality seeing people unequal to my capabilities. I was so arrogant and very confident, denying all the help that individuals offer to me every time I had problems. I was too proud, thinking that I can do it all by myself. I was like the man, having my pride and too much confidence in myself as my dreaded disease. But God shamed me…
Everyone that I know started to dislike me, especially those I serve with in a youth renewal community. In times of distress I felt I had no one to turn to. It felt so bad that it really crushed me into pieces. The only solution I saw was coming before my God in prayers. In total humility, I knelt down before God and asked Him to “cleanse me.” God made me realize that without Him who strengthens all of us, we are nothing. And the most important thing we receive in this world is not recognition, fame or applause but the joy in every relationship we encounter with friends and family. I plead to my God that He would continue to teach me to be modest and to love His people. | | |
| Where are the dreams that we once had? This is the time to bring the back. What were the promises caught on the tips of our tongues? Do we forget or forgive? There’s a whole other life waiting to be lived when... One day we’re brave enough To talk with conviction of the heart. And down your streets I’ve walked alone, As if my feet were not my own Such is the path I chose, doors I have opened and closed I’m tired of living this life, Fooling myself, believing we’re right, when... I’ve never given love With any conviction of the heart One with the earth, with the sky One with everything in life I believe we’ll survive If we only try... How long must we wait to change This world bound in chains that we live in To know what it is to forgive, And be forgiven? It’s been too many years of taking now. Isn’t it time to stop somehow? Air that’s too angry to breathe, water our children can’t drink You’ve heard it hundreds of times You say your aware, believe, and you care, but... Do you care enough
To talk with conviction of the heart? | | |
| Why did I go Bakas Bayani?
It was a calling. It was a long time dream becoming a missionary for God. Being a missionary for God is a payback for changing my life in a full turn. Although there were moments of doubt and confusions that almost brought me to say no, but the call was so great that it moved me to really say YES to Him.
Bakas Bayani was answer to my prayers. Though it was a tough decision to make, because I really thought that I’ll be a missionary in my own province, but I guess, God has other plans for me… a more beautiful plan. Though I also have to admit that it wasn’t easy for my family, friends and classmates to accept my decision due to the demands of being a fresh graduate and the big offers of top companies, I still had to make that choice… Why?
Simple. Youth for Christ is the community that helped me grew as a man of faith and a true Christian for the society. It taught me to love my family, my friends, the people around me, my country and my God. And I believe that through this community, by being a missionary… by being a Bakas Bayani that will go to other provinces for one year and introduce Jesus to everyone, with God’s grace… I believe I can leave a mark… I can make a difference.
And there was never a day of regret to what I have decided… God is constantly reminding me that by following Him, everything will be in order. He took care of my mom who’s living alone, because my dad works abroad and I’m an only son. And He continues to affirm me because now, my family supports my decision and my mom is now an active member of Handmaids of the Lord.
Bakas Bayani brought a great change in me. If I didn’t decide to go for it, I would never have been the person that I am now… Now, I see that my decision to offer my life to Him is my privilege… By going Bakas Bayani, God taught me to be humble and patient. He taught me love His people more. He taught me to listen and to know when it is important to speak. He brought me to my knees, teaching me how to pray to Him and cling on to His Spirit by trusting Him. He taught me the value of respect and honor for others…
I know in my heart that I have made the right choice, now, I’m more eager to go beyond my limits just to share Jesus Christ to all… No matter what other say or do, no matter what it takes, I’ll still say yes to Him. I will make Christ real in my life and make everyone see His greatness. I’ll go wherever God is sending me to bring His words and love… With God’s providence, I know that He will use me to bring more youth to the path that He’s prepared for all of us.
Bakas Bayani has taught me to make everyone see God’s goodness in my life by changing my self into a better Christian and citizen of our country. It has revealed to me the purpose of my existence... Now, my challenge to all… If you want to know your purpose in life... if you want to experience the greatest adventure of your life... if you want to be used by God and make a difference… Leave a mark… Be a Bakas Bayani! | | |
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