The passage of Matthew 7:7 that says: "Ask and it will be given; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" has always been a source of inspiration for me. My wife and I have been married for more than 3 years now and blessed with 3 yrs old daughter. I would say that we have not really encountered serious difficulties in our married life. There was but one particular area in our life that we thought would not pose to be a concern later on. My wife and I belonged to 2 different religions: she has always been Born-again Christian and I, a Catholic. Earlier in our marriage. We came to the some agreements regarding the practice of our faith. We thought that this was going to make things easier for the both of us. But somehow, it came to a point where we were going on separate ways: then went to attend their service while I went to church to hear mass. It difficult for me to live this way most especially because our little girl was growing up and we both wanted her to experiences conflicting ideas about faith. I prayed about this and asked for guidance. Then came the time God answered my prayer, through our Godparents were been invited and join in CFC Community, Lord answered my prayers, my loving life attended the CLP sessions with me until we ere able To finish the whole program. Of course, change did not happen overnight. Although we tried our best to overcome the difficulties in our faith, we still experienced a lot of setbacks. I did not stop praying for my wife. I knew that she was having a hard time trying to understand the changes happening in her life. I continued to lift somebody her eyes would be opened to the truths. And praise God , through the Marriage Counseling Retreat, that we attended, finally came to a realization. It was during those couple discussion sessions then we both had chance to evaluate the relationship with have with one another and with God. Our hearts and minds were opened to those great plans that He has in stored for us. And I truly believed that the Lord made me fell His love so strongly that I could not stop the tears from my eyes. What really touched me was when my wife decided to embrace my faith determined to grow in this faith together. I really thank God for all the outpouring of His blessing to us most especially for leading us to CFC here we found a significant meaning in our married life.
***Leenoel (cfc-dubaiI)***I remember that poem "do you know that Scarred People Are Beautiful?" from any back when I was 14 years old. It was during a youth encounter Seminar (YES) that I encountered this phrase scarred are beautiful. Difficult as it was then for me to believe in it. I now find myself thinking of this to be true. My past is a book of hurts hen I was just 2 years old and my mother as the only one ho looked after the six of us. One can probably begin to imagine the suffering we all had to go through poverty, humiliation, intimidation, and confusion. At 7 years of age, I was doing the marketing. At 9, I was expected to hand wash my own clothes. At 10, I was enrolling myself and my younger sister in school. At 11, I was attending the PTA meeting in behalf of my mother. Life was just unbearable. My eldest brother, who had difficult coping with our hardships, became a drug dependent. But despite all these, I have been blessed with a strong faith in God. I did not feel bitterness towards those who made our lives difficult. At a tender age, I learned how to truly forgive. Somehow at the Back of my mind, I knew that the Lord was molding me- using those hurts as stepping-stones to this realization. I believed deep in my heart that it is a peaceful heart that finds true joy. The good Lord taught me to find Him in all things- in good and in bad. And because I sought refuge in Him, He has always remained faithful. My brother as able to find his way backs the Lord 8 years later and was healed. He is now successful engineer, just like our Nanay, And looking at myself now, blessed with a family of my own, I will forever be grateful to the lord He has made me whole - scarred and beautiful.
Jean Sison (cfc-dubai)
Prayer for Purity of Hearth and Mind at Work
Give me dear Lord, a pure heart and a wise mind, that I may carry out my work according to your will. Save me from all false desires, from pride, greed, envy and anger, and let me accept joyfully every task you set before me. Let me seek to serve the poor, the sad and those unable to work. Help me to discern honestly my own gifts that I may do the things of which I am capable, and happily and humbly leave the rest to others. Above all remind me constantly that I have nothing except what you give me, and can do nothing except what you enable me to do. Amen.