Our Source of Inspiration

The Holy Scripture is our foremost source of inspiration as it brings to us the awesome guidance that we need in our day-to-day journey towards the fulfilment of a mission we have imbued ourselves with. The Bible in your hands which you read to obtain the daily readings and lessons to apply in certain aspects of your life is undoubtedly the bestseller book of all time. We also derive inspiration from the words our spiritual advisers, brothers and sisters in faith, preachers and peers in prayer utter in sharing with us their catechetical commitments and resources. Some of them come up with the phrases in discourse while others assemble the written words and collect them into a book or published materials to serve as the laymans reference. We have established communities in order to strengthen our religious camaraderie and devotional relationship with one another. Our activities include prayer and sharing as well as doing tasks to promote the objectives for which our efforts are geared towards. For his part, the author has made a contribution by way of writing a book inspired by the blessings the members have availed of through the community Ang Dios Gugma (God is Love) Catholic Ministries, Inc. Bro. Edwin Daulo, the communitys head servant, is at the forefront of its activities. Finding Pathways through the Community is a book by N. Madera Aguilar released both in print and electronic forms. As an e-book from NRCS Bookshop, it is ready for browsing or procurement by

those interested through the Web. The same may be viewed upon and unloaded from the authors displayed documents on Scribd. A reader need only to click on http://www.scribd.com/nrcsbookshop for such purpose. In this book, the author restates the significant objectives being pursued by a group of Roman Catholic workers in faith who comprise the community. One such episode is hereunder reproduced: Ang Dios Gugma Catholic Ministries, Inc. is a Community founded on love whose members, after receiving the New Life through Jesus Christ, have united themselves in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Their changed lives serve as proof of how God bestows His blessings upon those who keep their faith and abide by the words constituting His bequest and source of grace. As an example of the lives which saw changes mentioned in the foregoing, the last chapter of the book tells us The first brother felt pains in his body and he could not move his hands. He could not talk, too. His senses suggested to him that there was heat beginning to burn him as a healer touched him. It was the thinking of his family that there was nothing useful in him anymore. His wife and children were just waiting for him to expire so that they could bury him. He was once an apostle in their village and, when he became ill, his son succeeded him. Due to his physical condition, members of the Community prayed over him.

To his surprise, as it was beyond his expectations, he was healed. He found out that he could talk again. He was amazed, but full of gratitude, at what had happened to him. Jesus gave him back his living body. When he testified before his listeners in the prayer meeting, he gave an advice that we should keep our faith as the living God is always there ready to help. ***** The second brothers condition was much worse. He was plunged into a serious condition and needed an operation as it was his heart that was affected. He was brought to a hospital by his loved ones and eventually landed in the operating room. The doctors made themselves ready for the job. The anesthesiologist took his assignment while the surgeon was all too ready to perform his task. He started seeing the stars. He was all set to leave his body as the doctors commenced work. Then, he took a glance at the surgeon leading the operation. He was long-haired, be-mustached and bearded. He was amiable and gentle-looking, sporting an aura of mercy, love and care. After the operation and the patient having regained consciousness, everybody was gladdened by the outcome. The patient, meanwhile, started asking questions. Wheres my doctor? I would like to give him thanks, he intoned. Whos the doctor youre referring to? the hospital personnel asked of him. He described the surgeon whom he saw during the operation.

We dont have a doctor in this hospital who fits your description, the staff told him. He then began to realize that only one man fits the description he gave. And its Jesus. So, as were made aware If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life. (1 Kings 3:14) ***** The love of Jesus for all mankind is immeasurable. He gave His life for the sake of our salvation. As Gods manifestation is in Christ who became man for our sake, God will always manifest Himself in us because we are His children. We, therefore, should accept wholeheartedly that we are the children of God. Dead cells of our body become alive because the Holy Spirit is in us. When we embrace the negative factor, such as letting too much anger consume us, some of our body cells become dead. Brother Edwin thus exhorted everyone to start the year with fresh cells in our body by praising Jesus and raising ourselves toward God. Blessings will arrive like waves coming to the shore. Gods grace flows endlessly as long as we remain true to the words of Lord Jesus who is the source of all good things. The Lords teachings serve as a Divine Revelation to us. Jesus chooses those to whom He reveals His love, His relationship with God the Father. He reveals Himself to the simple and the poor. And

when they call for Him, they will always receive something for which they will be thankful. Brother Edwin stresses that we should be thankful even to the negative things that we encounter, because they prompt us to call God and open the way towards Him. Hence: When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit! Nathanael asked him, Where did you come to know me? Jesus answered, I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you. Nathanael replied, Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! Jesus answered, Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these. And he said to him, Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. (John 1:47-51) ***** We should listen to the word of God to have faith. God remains as He ispast, present and future. It is impossible to please God without faith. God finds ways for us to trust in His word and follow Him. The poor who clings to Gods word will not fear poverty. They will face the challenge as Gods word is their weapon and constitutes their happiness which they cant find in money. Whatever shame they face, they can endure. As Brother Edwin has shared with us, when we pray with sincere hearts, blessings come to us from God.