Book of Acts

YOU BELONG.

You are a member of a very special group: the church of Jesus Christ. The people in this group care about you. They will support you when you're down and help you when doing right seems hard. They love you, and you love them. You're family.

The book of Acts tells how this family began and grew. Some people think "church" is just a building where people go to worship. In fact, for nearly 300 years there were no church buildings! In the book of Acts you'll learn the truth.

The church is people, people who love Jesus and care about each other.

Questions:

1. What brings people close to each other? (Acts 2:42-47)

The fellowship of believers They are devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.


2. How can others help when you're facing tough decisions? (Acts 4:23-31)

The believers' prayer On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heart this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea. and everything in them. You spokes by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

"'Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
and against his Anointed One.

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Strech out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus"
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.


3. Have you ever prayed for something and then been surprised by the answer you got? (Acts 12: 1-19)

Peter's Miraculous Escape From prison It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the feast OF Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.


So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers , bound with chains and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell of Peter's wrists.

Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your clock around you and follow me." the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passes the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one of the street, suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter came o himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."

When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed , "Peter is at the door!"

"You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."

But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then left for another place.

In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.


4. Have you ever fallen asleep during a long sermon? (Acts 20:7-12)

Eutychus raised from the dead at Troas On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "He's alive!" Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. the people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

By Dorothy Ling

Free Hugs

Life's been very busy lately!! So tired!!!!


This festive season, let's give everyone some hugs!!! ^^ Watch this

Padre Pio's incorrupt body

About Padre Pio Padre Pio,

a humble Capuchin priest from San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, was blessed by God in many wonderful and mysterious ways. The most dramatic was the stigmata. Padre Pio bore the wounds of Christ for fifty years! Among his other gifts were perfume, bilocation, prophecy, conversion, reading of souls, and miraculous cures. People are still being cured through his intercession in ways that cannot be explained by medicine or science. More important, if less spectacular, are the spiritual healings that take place in all parts of the world! Padre Pio is a powerful intercessor!!

Padre Pio's incorrupt body! To see him resting so peacefully it's hard to believe that he died 40 years ago!

A Prayer to Padre Pio
Beloved Padre Pio, today I come to add my prayer to the thousands of prayers offered to you every day by those who love and venerate you in Jesus' name. They ask for cures and healings, earthly and spiritual blessings, and peace for body and mind.

And because of your friendship with the Lord, he heals those you ask to be healed, and forgives those you ask be forgiven in Jesus' name. Through your visible wounds of the Crucified Jesus, which you bore for 50 years, you were chosen in our time to glorify the crucified Jesus.

Because the Cross has been replaced by other symbols, please help us bring back the veneration of the wounds of Jesus Christ, for we acknowledge His Precious Blood as true a sign of salvation, cleansing and purifcation.

As we lovingly recall the wounds that pierced your hands, feet and side, like beloved Jesus Christ, we not only remember the blood He shed as you also shed in pain, along with your smile, and the invisible halo of sweet smelling flowers that surrounded your presence, certainly the Scent of The Lord, symbolic as the perfume of sanctity.

Padre Pio, may the healings of the sick become the testimony that the Lord has invited you to join the holy company of Saints. In your kindness, please help me with my own special request: (mention here your petition, and make the sign of the Cross).

Bless me and my loved ones. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In Memoriam J.S.
The following quotes of Padre Pio tell how he looked after and loved his spiritual family:

'I love my Spiritual Children as much as my own soul and even more.'


'Once I take a soul on, I also take on their entire family as my spiritual children.'

'To my Spiritual Children, my prayers for you will never be lacking.'


'If one of my spiritual children ever goes astray, I shall leave my flock and seek him out.'

-shared by Stella Sayang

Footprints

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along
the beach with the LORD. Across the sky he noticed two sets of footprints
in the sand , one belonged to him,
and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life
flashed before him , he looked back
at the footprints in the sand. He
noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one
set of footprints. He also notices that it happens at the lowest
and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and
he questioned the Lord about it
"LORD , you said that once I decided to follow you , you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times of my life , there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you the most you would leave me."

The LORD replied " My precious child , I love you and I would never leave you.
During your time of trial and suffering , when you
see only one set of footprints , it was then that
I carried you."



Shared by - Dorothy Ling =)

Carry your cross

Awesome!!
We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we cannot.


Whatever your cross,
whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine,
after the rain....
Perhaps you may stumble,
perhaps even fall;
But God's always ready,
to answer your call....
He knows every heartache,
sees every tear,
a word from His lips,
can calm every fear...
Your sorrows may linger,
throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish,
dawn's early light...
The Savior is waiting,
somewhere above,
to give you His grace,
and send you His love...

-Shared by Alexandria Kucha

WYDVC Final Celebration

A simple tree

A little poem by Edwin Luebefreed ----- Quiet Self:

I think the tree has taught
me more
Than all the things I adore.
It clings to the earth, yet
Sees the sky,
And never has it question why.

-shared by Sophia Ngiaw

Holy Alphabets

HiYo,

Just want to share something with you guys..

JESUS REPLIED, "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HEAR THE
WORD AND OBEY IT!"
( LUKE 11:28 *NIV )

It is written; "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU; IT IS IN YOUR
MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART," THAT IS, THE WORD
OF FAITH WE ARE PROCLAIMING. ( ROMANS 10:8 )
FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE.
SHARPER THAN ANY DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.
( HEBREWS 4:12 )

The Holy Alphabet

A-lthough things are not perfect
B-ecause of trial or pain
C-ontinue in thanksgiving
D-o not begin to blame

E-ven when the times are hard
F-ierce winds are bound to blow
G-od is forever able
H-old on to what you know

I-magine life without His love
J-oy would cease to be
K-eep thanking Him for all the things
L-ove imparts to thee

M-ove out of "Camp Complaining"
N-o weapon that is known
O-n earth can yield the power
P-raise can do alone

Q-uit looking at the future
R-edeem the time at hand
S-tart every day with worship
T-o "thank" is a command

U-ntil we see Him coming
V-ictorious in the sky
W-e'll run the race with gratitude
X-alting God most high

Y-es, there'll be good times and yes some
will be bad, but...
Z-ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

In closing, always remember, the shortest distance
between a problem and a solution is the distance between your
knees and the floor. For the one who kneels to the Lord can
stand up to anything! Amen.

Have a Blessed week ahead,
Salina ;->

Open your eyes!

Who God Uses

God, grant me the Serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the Courage to change the one I can, and the Wisdom to know it's me. The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...

Noah was a drunk

Abraham was too old

Isaac was a daydreamer

Jacob was a liar

Leah was ugly

Joseph was abused

Moses had a stuttering problem

Gideon was afraid

Samson had long hair and was a womanizer

Rahab was a prostitute

Jeremiah and Timothy were too young

David had an affair and was a murderer

Elijah was suicidal

Isaiah preached naked

Jonah ran from God

Naomi was a widow

Job went bankrupt

John the Baptist ate bugs

Peter denied Christ

The Disciples fell asleep while praying

Martha worried about everything

The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once

Zaccheus was too small

Paul was too religious

Timothy had an ulcer

and Lazarus was dead!

Share this with a friend or two. In the Circle of God's love, God is waiting to use your full potential.

May God Always Bless You !

-Shared by Isabel Fong

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Do you know what Valentine means???

'For God so loVed the world,
That He gAve
His onLy
BegottEn
SoN
That whosever
Believeth In Him
Should Not perish,
But have Everlasting life.'
John 3:16


Amazing eh....

-Shared by Stella Sayang

World Youth Day and Vocation Celebration

AHHHH!!! Life's been very busy... sorry for the late update!!



Since I'm in the topic, I might as well as say this. I went to a children's seminar long long time ago and this was how the speaker defined "BUSY"


Being
Under
Satan's
Yoke


I was like waa.... I was under Satan's yoke!!


You are given the same time as other people, 24 hours per day like every other people. If Bush can handle it, so can u!! ^^


K back to the topic.



Last Saturday, Blessed Sacrament Church hosted the World Youth Day Vocation Celebration. Around 500 participants came if I'm not mistaken. This must had been the most biggest event Blessed Ministry has done. Luckily for us, we got a lot of help from the Empowered Ministry, Holy Trinity Youth Ministry and more.


My camera died out on me and I can't show you most of the events in graphic form, but I'll get it from our official photographer, Alex Kucha, soon. So... be patient k.

To me, one of the most interesting thing that happened is this.

The Veneration of the Cross...

This is the first time I've venerated on the foot of the cross that big in front of a big crowd.... Waa... I felt so holy, but nonetheless, it was a chance for all the participants to touch and feel that cross. It was truly an amazing event.







The other interesting event must be the Youth Festival at the end.



Sorry.. this is all the picture I can get for now.



There were songs, sketches and dances by various youth groups in Kuching. It was really an fun and joyful night.


During the day, various talks was given by Fr Felix Au, Fr Simon and other guests. At the end, the Cross and Icon was handed over to Serian's Parish to continue it's journey in Sarawak.




Logging out
-Cyril

How to dance in the rain!

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his
80's,arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb.

He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be
over an hour before someone would be able to see him.

I saw him looking at his watch, and decided, since I was not busy with
another patient, I would evaluate his wound.

On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got
the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's
appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to
eat breakfast with his wife.

I inquired as to her health; he told me that she had been there for a
while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.

He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not
recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even
though she doesn't know who you are'?

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I
still know who she is'.

I had to hold back tears as he left; I had goose bumps on my arm, and
thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life'.

True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an
acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there is one
that comes along that has an important message.

This one I thought I could share with you.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the best of everything they have.

I hope you share this with someone you care about. I just did.

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
But how to dance in the rain.'

A simple prayer

The prayer:

Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those that I care deeply for, who are reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power.
Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment.

Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace.

Where there are needs, I ask you to fulfill their needs. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings.

In Jesus ' precious name. Amen.

-shared by Kelvin Ting

World Youth Day and Vocation Celebration

Reflection......

God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful World as it is,
Not as I would have it;
Trusting that You will make all things right
If I surrender to Your will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You
Forever in the next. Amen.
Author, Reinhold Niebuhr

Regards,
Salina ;-)

True sign of friendship

HiYo!

Just something i'd like to share with everyone. Something to think about... :)

Caring Means Confronting!

An honest answer is a sign of true friendship. - Proverbs 24:26 TEV

It's much easier to remain silent when others around us are messing up, but it's not the loving thing to do. Most people have no one in their lives that love them enough to tell them the truth, so they continue going the wrong way. Usually we know what needs to be said but fear keeps us from saying it. "An honest answer is the sign of true friendship." Sometimes caring means confronting!

Paul writes, "If someone in your group does something wrong, you who are Spiritual should go to that person and gently make him right again" (Gal 6:1 NCV). That's what 'Spiritual' people do!

The trouble is when an issue pops up that might cause tension, it's immediately glossed over in order to preserve peace. Mr. 'Don't-rock-the-boat' jumps in and tries to smooth everyone's ruffled feathers, the issue is never resolved and everyone lives with an underlying feeling of frustration.

"No more pretence. Tell...the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other...When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself" (Eph 4:25 TM).

Now frankness is not a license to be rude and say anything you please. Thoughtless words wound people.

"Never use harsh words when you correct an older man, but talk to him as if he were your father. Talk to younger men as if they were your brothers, older women as if they were your mothers, and younger women as if they were your sisters" (1 Ti 5:1-2 GWT).

Bottom line: whether in a marriage, a friendship, a church or a business, until we care enough to confront and resolve the underlying barriers, we'll never grow close to each other!

God bless

Sarah

Stress?? No Pom Pom! ^^

36 Christian Ways to Reduce Stress

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say "No," to projects/activities that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and un-clutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you to do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K. M. S. (Keep Mouth Shut.) This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough exercise.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write thoughts and inspirations down.

22. Everyday, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until its time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus!"

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but yourself not at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

Submitted By: Thomas Daniel

What God Can Do With "57 Cents"

A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was "too crowded."



"I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements.

As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.
Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School."

For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion.

He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

But the story does not end there...

A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands.
When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents.

Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide.
Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00--a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.

When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University, where thousands of students are educated.

Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children, built so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday School time.

In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell, author of the book, "Acres of Diamonds"

This is a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 CENTS.

Happy New Year