“Do you believe in God?”, a friend of mine asked. “Of course!”, I replied. “Do you talk to your God?”, he added. “Indeed!”, I said. “How come that when a person talks to an alien or an imaginary friend, people call him insane; but when you talk to God, whom you've also never seen, people understands?”
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This passage is taken from the Book of Hebrews 11:1.
I was baptized Catholic. Mommy wanted me to have a good start and had me studied in Canossa Colleges where her nun-best friend, Tita Deng used to teach. From the time I started schooling, 'till I graduated College, I traced my educational history to have 90% entrance to Catholic schools. LAWYERRS (L4A batch 2004) would even call our entire course as, “BS Legal Management, major in Theology” since we had 24 units of such. I memorized all the prayers in the bible, novenas, and the like. But whenever I pray and attend the mass, I feel something's missing. I'm not learning anything. I feel incomplete. That's why I decided not to practice my religion anymore. I believe in God, but I don't believe in church. I remained Agnostic not until I went to Singapore.
Jay's the religious person, I would say. He would always convince me to go to church every Sunday, but since I'm tired (since I work 16 hours a day when I was in the Philippines), I would rather spend my time praying on my own and rest, thereafter. We met “Yaya Nora”. She was to leave Singapore for an awaited cancer medication in the Philippines when she convinced us to join her in a Christian Church. Jay and I were hesitant at first (I- - because I don't want to attend a mass, and it's not even for the religion I was baptized under. Jay-- because he usually attends to a different Christian church). We tried it and we were shocked. They sang their songs aloud, they're so passionate in praying, they show excitement and later on they cry.. but they're prayers... really made me... us..submit and absorb.
Christians focus on relationship not on religion. If things become habitual, it becomes a religion. Relationship is built on purpose. What I love about this conversion, is our enlightenment of knowing and believing God in a deeper, wholistic and realistic; that, if the center of a relationship is God then all good things will follow. Challenges beyond challenges happened when we submit and became active. Our faith was tested and it really shook our belief in HIM. Tita Detch, a church elder, said:
“God is a BIG God, Ann. He answers prayers in HIS perfect time. If you believe that GOD is your father, you would never doubt in his ability to give you what you want. If He has sacrificed his begotten son for us, why won't He give you things your heart desires? The answer relies on this question: Why do you think won't your dad give you a car at the age of 16? Is it safe to say that because he knows that you still don't know how to drive, that you still got no license, and because he loves you, he doesn't want you to get hurt once you insisted to drive? GOD's the same and more. Just remain faithful. He loves you, inspite and despite of.”
This statement moves me a lot.. We stayed and remained faithful. Just as we looked back and saw ourselves before and after the turmoil, we feel so blessed. God would never forsake His children. He never did it to us. Now, I believe that God's real, HE hears and answers prayers. Blessings upon blessings are what we now enjoy.
REMINDER: When you pray, never doubt. Believe that HE hears you and claim that those will happen in HIS perfect time. ABC of prayer- Ask, Believe, Claim!
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