Indulgence Deli Cafe

Our Series Break was a blast! There were 26 people present yesterday for the morning fellowship at Indulgence Deli Cafe -Makati, with our Pastors of the day; P. Mau and P. Ro.

A million thanks for Rescy and Ghandi Bagwani (owner of Indulgence) for sponsoring Connect's Breakfast Fellowship. May the Lord bless you for your kindness and generosity.

To our first time guests; Lakan of Convergys-Makati, Mira of ePerfomax-Makati, Ralph and Richie of ICT Group-Makati, WELCOME!

Here are few photos taken:


GCF Connect goes wild over the camera


Girls, girls, girls


And more of them


Raya and Mrs. Rescy Bagwani


with the guys





More pictures, more fun!


No left overs


Claire with her ala-Model pose


ICT-Panasonic People


And of course, our group picture!




More pictures will be uploaded in the Series Break Multiply Album (just click on the link).

As per next week, we will resume with a new study series. We will keep you posted of our whereabouts.

Hope we all enjoy the rest of the week! Godspeed! And until next Monday!

November 19th gathering

It is the 3rd and last Monday for CONNECT's breakfast fellowship in the study and Series on PRAYER. We Hope that everyone was reminded and will practice the discipline of Prayer, not because we are obliged to, but because we want to, because we love the Lord our God.

21 people gathered yesterday for the morning devotion with Teacher Carol Felipe (Christian Education Director of GCF) as the speaker. She challenged us all to design our life with prayer and follow the example of Jesus-- Thy Will be done!

It is also a privilege for CONNECT to have a newbie in Olive (invited by Vin) from Convergys-Ortigas. We, the whole family of CONNECT, welcome you with arms wide open! We hope to see you again next meeting!

A big hand to our early birds- Venus and Sager, in setting a good example in honoring God by coming in early (not just on time, but early!). May the Lord be continuously glorified by your efforts and your commitment.

Another praise item-- someone was lead to Pray and Receive Christ. As we welcome her to the family of believers we also look forward of walking with her in this journey we have in the Lord Jesus!


Here are some photos taken:


Janet and P. Mau in Praise and worship



Teacher Carol in Connect


And her class...





actively listening


and sharing their thoughts


Rajsh with a Bonsai for T. Carol as token of appreciation


Group picture of the day





With the Christmas Tree at GCF lobby


NEXT MONDAY in GCF Connect, we will be gathering in Makati for our SERIES BREAK! Kindly confirm your attendance-- Raya at 09163658627, as she will post-celebrate her 22Nd Birthday. We'll keep you posted if there will be people meeting up in GCF or you may go straight to Greenbelt in INDULGENCE Restaurant. Again, this is RSVP!

Hope to see you, and may God bless us all!

The Necessity of Prayer

Thy will be done...

Matthew 26:36-42

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

This event in life of Jesus can be found on all four Gospel books. Jesus, the God- man is at the garden of Gethsemane. His heart was grieved and distressed. His grief was not because He did not know what would happen, but the man in Him is distressed for he knew it will cost Him His life. Together with His apostles, He prays in accordance to the Father's will.

I. The desire of Jesus for his Disciples was to pray.

Stay here- Remain, pray with me, stay with me.

Keep watch- so you will not fall into temptation.

II. The design of Jesus' Prayer was to obey the will of the Father.

a. My Father, if it is possible...

b. Let this cup pass, yet not as I will but as you will...

CONNECT with Teacher Carol Felipe


Some Notes:
- Prayer is; submission, communicating with God.
- Our life is a matter of submission to authority (God).
- The man in Jesus was telling us that he's in distress, that he was grieving.
- Many times Jesus prods us to pray.
- The Lord desires that we too communicate with Him.
- From the very start, Jesus told his disciples to pray so that they will not fall into temptation (in denying him).
- We are always tempted on all sides.
- A life that is characterized/designed in prayer is a life that will remain.
- If you don't design your life with prayer, you will not pray.
- When people pray the spirit moves.
- You want power? You want a victorious Christian life? Then plug into the Source, spend time with the Lord, spend time in prayer.
- Do you want to be used by God? Do you want to enjoy the fellowship? Then pray!
- There was no attoinment of sin, until the fulfillment of the passover Lamb-- Jesus Christ.
- The salvation that we enjoy today is not cheap.
- The death of Christ was to fulfill not just God's LOVE but to fulfill His JUSTICE as well.
- The Word of God is the will of God. It was given for us to obey and follow what it says.
- Our relationship begins and ends in the Word of God.
- Take your Christian walk seriously, that you find time to read ans study His Word.
- We have no other option but to trust the Lord.
- Many is our plan but it is the Will of God that will prevail.
- When you know the Word of God you will have steady plans.

Happy Birthday P. Mau

We gave our beloved Pastor Maurice Adam Rivera (or P. Mau if he insist) a simple birthday surprise as he is celebrating his 27th birthday today. Praise God for another year!

We wish you well and may the Lord God bless you as you have always been a blessing to all of us in CONNECT.

13 Call Center People gathered today, with 4 Pastors; P. Mau, P. Jon, P. Euge and P. Art, and also with Teacher Carol Felipe joining in for the first time (seating in, as she'll speak to us next week).

God bless us all this week.

The Primary Contents of a Healthy Prayer

A second time-speaker P. Jon Las shared to Connect what prayers should content of.



The passage was taken from Psalm 8 - A psalm of David

"O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

The quality of this psalm has been observed by many- it's all about the praise and glory of God. For our purpose we shall consider it as a hymn of praise and, more particularly, a hymn of creation praise. The Lord is the object of praise (vv 1, 9). therefore the praise is not an expression of joy in creation apart from the Creator but looks at God as the good Creator, Ruler, and Sustainer of the world.

I. When We Pray we must ASCRIBE PRAISE to God (8:1a)

The name "our Lord addresses God as king (cf. 97:5)
The title LORD is important to the Hebrews and to Christians because it denotes a relationship (Ex 6:2-3, Ps 23)
the Redeemer-King of Israel is the Creator! His "name" ("LORD") is glorious over all the earth by virtue of his creative activities (Gen 1:1-31)
The word "majestic" is royal attribute denoting:
a. His victories (Ex 15:6), The idea of "King of kings"... Illustration, Troy (Agamemnon)
b. His might in judgement (1 Sa 4:8,Ps 76:4)
c. His law (Isa 42:21), and
d. His rule over creation (Ps 8:1, 9; 93:4)
All creation reveals the power and glory of God's name (Rom 1:20, Psalm 19)

II. When We Pray we ACKNOWLEDGE God's GLORY (8:1b-2)

Regardless of how the wicked assert themselves, they cannot outdo the evidence of God's glory on earth and in heaven.
a. God wants us to glorify Him.
- No matter what we're going through.
- In spite of our physical or emotional condition
b. God has ordained praise to prevail.
- People who know and have experienced God will never be silenced
- Even though the world will is of scandal, problems and bad news
- At the end of time, His praise will prevail.

III. When We Pray we must SEEK to UNDERSTAND His mind and will (8:3-4)

The verbs "mindful" and "care for" convey the care of God, who remembers positively by acting on behalf of the human race. Instead of "visiting" persons with judgement, as their sins deserve, God's goodness extends to all creatures in his care (Mt 5:45).
a. God wants us to enjoy all the good things in store for us (Ps 84:11, Ps 85:12, Ps 103:1-4)
b. God's attention is on us (Jn 3:16)
c. God wants to reveal Himself

IV. When We Pray we must RECOGNIZE who we are (8:5-8)

a. We are CARED for God Himself (v. 4)
b. We are CROWNED with God's glory and honor (v. 5)
c. We are GRANTED authority over all things (v. 6-8)

V. Our days must begin with praise, end in praise, and filled with praise in between (8:9)

APPLICATION:
1. Our lives (spirit, soul and body) must be filled with His praise.
2. God's glory is central to who we are as His creatures.
3. We must embrace our destiny as God's special and loved people of authority.

New Series for November

THE POWER OF PRAYER will be the theme of the month. To start November, a privilege to have again Mrs. Len Sabio as speaker for the morning fellowship. She shared a brief testimony on how God has been faithful to her and to her family and how their prayers were answered. She did something different today, she asked the group to be divided into five and have a small group discussions with facilitators assigned.

The passage was taken from Nehemiah 1:1-11

Nehemiah's Prayer

"The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said:
"O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
"Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'
"They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."

Here are the small group discussion questions:

1. Compare your response when you hear a news about "home" with Nehemiah's response to what he learned from Hamani.

2. What characteristics of God did Nehemiah mention in his prayer?

3. What character of Nehemiah can you glimpse from his prayer?

4. Verse 8 says "Remember..." what does it say about God? Does He forget that Nehemiah needs to remind?

5. What does Nehemiah say about Israel?

6. What was Nehemiah's request?

7. If you were to rate Nehemiah's prayer, what percent is his request?

8. Compare your prayers with that of Nehemiah? Do you think there are areas you need to work on?

After the group discussion, one representative from each group came in front to explain what was discussed. Something new indeed for CONNECT!


Let us WELCOME our first time guests, Jena from ICT Group-Ortigas, Sir Jay from Teleperformance-Tektite and Claire from iSourcing-Libis. And KUDOS to Marc, Venus and Ruben, our early bird of the day! Hope to see you all next week as we enjoy our time together in devotion and fellowship.