Worshipper

"The People's Choice," Bro. Ed O. Villacorte's very first book!

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:23:00 +0000

Our good friend, mentor, preacher, and servant of the Lord, Bro. Ed O. Villacorte is coming up with his very first book entitled The People's Choice in September in Manila through St. Paul's Publication. We can't wait to get hold of a copy!

You may ask, "Is it about politics, biography, art...?"

Here's a glimpse of the cover.

Launching will be at the 32nd Manila International Book Fair in September 2011.
32nd Manila International Book Fair

World Youth Day 2011 happenings...

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 07:06:00 +0000

Pope Benedict grants indulgences to those who take part in WYD

Benedict XVI has granted indulgences for those who take part in World Youth Day, and who fulfill the prescribed conditions for the Indulgence

• The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who devotedly participate at some sacred function or pious exercise taking place during the XXVI World Youth Day in Madrid, including its solemn conclusion, so that, having received the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and being truly repentant, they receive Holy Communion, and devoutly pray according to intentions of His Holiness.

• The partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, wherever they are during the above-mentioned WYD, if, with a contrite spirit, they will raise their prayer to God the Holy Spirit, so that young people are drawn to charity and given the strength to proclaim the Gospel with their life.

At World Youth Day, Pope Benedict grants indulgences

Quiet moments with God - butterfly wings

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 08:57:00 +0000

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:7-8)

How do you find your place in the sun when planted in the middle of fame? In Seasons of Life, Charles Swindoll writes this of Anne and Charles Lindbergh:

Anne was shy and delicate. Butterfly like. When she became Mrs. Charles Lindbergh, Anne could have easily been eclipsed by her husband's shadow. She wasn't, however. The love that bound the two together for the next forty-seven years was tough love, mature love, tested by triumphs and tragedy alike.

Anne describes how Charles Lindbergh's love freed her to become a woman of beauty:

"To be deeply in love if, of course, a great liberating force and the most common experience that frees... Ideally, both members of a couple in love free each other to new and different worlds. I was no exception to the general rule. The sheer fact of finding myself loved was unbelievable and changed by world, my feelings about life and myself. I was given confidence, strength, and almost a new character. The man I was to marry believed in me and what I could do, and consequently I found I could do more than I realized."

The security of her husband's love released Anne to discover her own talents and gifts and to "emerge from that cocoon of shyness a beautiful, ever delicate butterfly" who would touch many lives.

Some marriages create cocoons of fear and timidity in their spouses. They may squeeze their partners from silk-like safety zones prematurely. Some spouses hover in the gardens with a net, or treat their mates like a specimen under glass-- afraid their beloved butterfly will discover wings and fly away.

But love, gentle and patient, knows that fragile butterflies belong to the Lord. And when they are given true wings, they never fly far from home.

"We blossom under praise like flowers under sun and dew; we open, we reach, we grow." Gerhard E. Frost

Map to St. Bridget's Prayer House, Bgy. Mag-asawang Ilat, Tagaytay City, venue for "Journey To Emmaus with the Lord" Retreat on Nov. 13-14, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 02:34:00 +0000

We invite you "Journey To Emmaus With The Lord" Retreat on Nov. 13-14 and LWG on Dec. 12, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 02:27:00 +0000

Servant Leaders, you are invited to the LWG this Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010!

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:52:00 +0000

http://wguina.multiply.com/journal/item/56/Map_to_Leaders_Worship_Gathering

Servant Leaders, you are invited to the LWG this Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010!

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:05:00 +0000

http://wguina.multiply.com/journal/item/56/Map_to_Leaders_Worship_Gathering

We invite servant leaders to a night of prayer and teaching this Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010 at the LWG!

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:35:00 +0000

http://wguina.multiply.com/journal/item/56/Map_to_Leaders_Worship_Gathering

Invite to Servant Leaders to LWG on July 11, 2010, Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:15:00 +0000

Come for a night of prayer and teaching at the Leaders' Worship Gathering this coming Sunday, July 11, 2010, 6:30pm to 9pm, St. Joseph Chapel, South Greenheights Village, Putatan, Muntinlupa City, Philippines!

Set Our Hearts On Fire... A Pentecost Celebration! Everyone is invited.

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Wed, 12 May 2010 04:26:00 +0000

Work

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 03:42:00 +0000

There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in - that we do it to God, to Christ, and that's why we try to do it as beautifully as possible. Mother Teresa

Invite to Leaders' Worship Gathering, a night of prayer and teaching, March 14, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:45:00 +0000

All servant leaders are invited to the Leaders' Worship Gathering this Sunday, March 14, 2010, 6:30pm to 9pm at St. Joseph Chapel, South Greenheights Village, Putatan, Muntinlupa City, Philippines. This is a night of prayer and teaching.

Quiet moments with God - Counting The Cost

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:19:00 +0000

"Which of you intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" Luke 14:28 KIV

Imagine a natural disaster strikes your town and destroys everyone's home, as well as all the businesses, community services, recreation areas, and houses of worship. The government predicts that it will take nearly a decade to rebuild.

That's what happened to Valmeyer, Illinois, during the Midwest floods of 1993. People who had been neighbors for most of their lives lost everything except their determination to stick together. So they decided to start over and rebuild together - in record time.

To accomplish such a monumental task, people had to step away from their normal lives and commit to new tasks. After all, there were buildings to construct, federal and state funds to secure, and utilities and social services to restore. An entire town had to be relocated and rebuilt from the ground up.

In this case, a little motivation went a long way. The $2.2 million project was completed by the end of 1996 -- barely three years after the flood. The statement by Helen Keller, "Every day we should do a little more than is required," could have been the motto of the people of Valmeyer. They took that sentiment to heart and rebuilt their town.

In there something in your life that you could accomplish much sooner by "counting the cost" and then doing a little extra every day, every week, or every month? Financial advisers tell us that home mortgages can be paid off years in advance by adding only $100 a month to the principal payment. Faster weight loss can be achieved by cutting out just 100 extra calories a day. Every project seems to have a momentum that is accelerated when we do "just a little more."

Focus on something that is important to you, and then map out a strategy for an "extra" touch.

"Going the extra mile begins with a foot." Unknown

Quiet moments with God - another point of view

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:02:00 +0000

"We say with confidence, 'the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" Hebrews 13:6

On July 15, 1986, Roger Clemens, the sizzling right-hander for the Boston Red Sox, started his first All-Star Game. In the second inning he came to bat, something he hadn't done in years because of the American League's designated-hitter rule. He took a few uncertain practice swings and then looked out at his forbidding opponent, Dwight Gooden, who had won the Cy Young Award the previous year.

Gooden wound up and threw a white-hot first fastball that flew right by Clemens. With an embarrassed smile on his face, Clemens stepped out of the box and asked catcher Gary Carter, "Is that what my pitches look like?"

"You bet it is!" replied Carter. Although Clemens quickly struck out, he went on to pitch three perfect innings and was named the game's most valuable player. With a fresh reminder of how overpowering a good fastball is, he later said from that day on he pitched with far greater boldness.

Occasionally we forget the power we have at our disposal when it comes to speaking the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Maybe we need to step to the other side of the place for a moment to be reminded!

The Holy Spirit within us always provides a powerful witness. We can "pitch" the Gospel with the confidence and authority that God has given us. But too many times, we weakly toss out a word here and there about Jesus, hoping not to make too great a stir. After all, we don't want to be too pushy, politically incorrect, or called a fanatic! We step up to the plate of opportunity without real conviction. Is it any wonder we seem to have no impact?

If you have an opportunity today, tell someone about how Jesus has changed your life with the conviction and power that comes from your heart. This is the power of the Holy Spirit within you. Then have peace in knowing you have done your part, and the rest is up to Him!

"Opportunities multiply as they are seized; they die when neglected." Unknown

Feeling less than adequate today?

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:17:00 +0000

If you are feeling less than adequate today, cheer up! God is not through with you yet! In fact, He is working on you right now. He knew that we'd all make big mistakes, but His word says that He created us in Christ Jesus to do good works. He's prepared the road for us. He's been planning our steps long before we arrived here, so don't worry!

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

Quiet moments with God - the return on giving

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:04:00 +0000

"Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over." Luke 6:38 NKIV

A drowning man gestured frantically to a man standing at the edge of a swimming pool. Splashing his way until he was within arm's reach of the side of the pool, the drowning man hollered: "Here, let me give you my hand." The man reached down into the water, took the outstretched hand, and pulled the distressed man to safety. Afterward the lifesaver told the man he had rescued, "I find it unusual that you said, 'Let me give you my hand,' rather than asking me to give you my hand."

The rescued man replied, "I work for a charitable organization, sir. I've discovered that people are always more willing to receive than they are to give."

While the tendency of our human nature may be to receive more than to give, the Gospel tells us giving is actually the most productive way to receive! Whatever we extend to others, give to others, or do for others comes back to us multiplied. This principle has been recognized by the business community. Donald David has said:

"You never get promoted when no one else knows your current job. The best basis for being advanced is to organize yourself out of every job you're put in. Most people are advanced because they're pushed up from people underneath them rather than pulled by the top."

Find ways to give to those around you today. Especially to those who may be in subordinate positions. Freely share information with them, and be generous in your praise and encouragement. Give advice on how to do specific tasks more quickly, more efficiently, or with greater quality. You will find that the more you do to help others in their work, the easier your own workload will become.

"Make yourself necessary to somebody." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quiet moments with God - the still, small voice

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 02:05:00 +0000

"My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me." 1 Corinthians 4:4

In his book Focus On The Family, Rolf Zettersten writes about his good friend Edwin who bought a new car. The car had lots of extra features-- among them was a recording of a soft female voice, which gently reminded him if he had failed to fasten his seat belt or was running low on fuel. Appropriately, Edwin dubbed the voice "the little woman."

On one of his many road trips, "the little woman" began informing him that he needed to stop and fill his tank with gasoline. "Your fuel level is low," she cooed in her soft voice. Edwin nodded his head knowingly and thanked her with a smile. He decided, however, that he had enough gas to take him at least another fifty miles, so he kept on driving.

The problem was, in only a few minutes the little lady spoke the warning again-- and again and again and again until Edwin was ready to scream. Even though he knew, logically, that the recording was simply repeating itself, it really seemed as though the little woman spoke more and more insistently each time.

Finally he'd had all he could take. He pulled to the side of the road and, after a quick search under the dashboard for the appropriate wires, gave them a good yank. So much for the little woman, he thought.

He was still feeling very smug for having had the last say when his car began hissing and coughing. He had run out of gas! Somewhere inside the dashboard, he was almost certain he could hear the laughter of a woman!

Our Manufacturer, God, has given us a factory-installed warning voice. It's called the conscience. Sometimes we may think it is a nuisance, overly insistent, or just plain wrong. However, most of us will learn sooner or later that it is often trying to tell us exactly what we need to know.

Whether you are being told to stop for gas or being warned not to turn off the main road, your conscience knows what is right. Follow it today, and see if you don't experience more peace about every decision you make.

"Teach us to put our trust in thee and to await thy helping hand." Traditional Amish Prayer

Quiet moments with God - the spice of life

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:57:00 +0000

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Most of us have a routine we follow every morning. There's also a certain routine for our jobs, and another one that takes over after work. Even on the weekends, there are things that must be done.

Have you come to dread another sink full of dishes, another load of laundry, another car to wash, another lawn to mow, another rug to vacuum, or another floor to scrub? Is there any end to the "routine" of life?

There's no getting out of most of those chores. Someone has to keep things clean and running smoothly. But the one thing we can control is our attitude toward it all.

Rather than emphasizing the "same old," we should remember what the Bible says: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) and, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you." (Ezekiel 36:26).

God never changes, but He loves variety. He wants us to embrace life and keep our eyes open for new possibilities, our minds open to new ideas, and our hearts open to new people who cross our path.

Even in the midst of the "same old, same old" daily routine, He can bring something new, unusual, and different. Sometimes upsetting the routine can be distressing. But don't let irt shake your confidence in God's plan for your life; instead, let it enhance His plan.

This morning, be aware that whether life seems to have a "sameness" or has turned chaotic, you are always changing inside. Through it all, the Lord is continually stirring new life within you, giving you new dreams and goals, and molding you to be more like Jesus today!

"Nothing is to be more highly priced that the value of each day." Wolfgang Johann von Goethe

Quiet moments with God - use that powerful engine!

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:43:00 +0000

"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." Psalm 18:32

What a pleasure it is to drive a car with a powerful engine on a level highway! Picture a sunny day when there's no traffic and you're not in a hurry to get anywhere. You sing along with your favorite music tape and enjoy driving solely for driving's sake.

We are more likely to find ourselves in a much less powerful vehicle, however, while climbing a series of steep hills... in the rain... with lots of traffic behind us and in front of us... and late for an appointment.

But in our personal lives, it is possible to ride the tougher road and have the same peace and tranquility inside as when we drive the level highway? The Bible says it is. God is our powerful Engine. He makes the difficult highway become manageable.

Perhaps your day started our smoothly, but by now you've left the easy stretch of road and come to the rolling hills. Now more than ever is the time to remind yourself that your Father in Heaven loves you and wants to help you.

With God's strength, you can stay alert and focused, maintaining an even pace and an even temperament regardless of the challenge. He will help you work through any problems that arise without compromising your integrity. He may even show you some shortcuts-- and the gas mileage is great!

All you have to do is ask God to strengthen you and get you back on the road. Before you know it, you will be on the mountaintop with a clear view.

"I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship." Louisa May Alcott.

The Work of Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:33:00 +0000

When the song of angels is stilled
When the star in the sky is gone
When the kings and princes are home
When the shepherds are back with their flock
The work of Christmas begins

To find the lost, to heal the broken
To feed the hungry, free the prisoners
To rebuild nations, to bring peace among brothers
To make music in the heart

(from Pasko Na album, Bukas Palad Music Ministry)

A Blessed Christmas and A Worship-filled New Year To All!

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:51:00 +0000

Quiet moments with God - what to do

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:40:00 +0000

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

An ancient Jewish story tells of a young traveler who encountered an old man at the edge of a forest. Staring into the darkness of the overgrown foliage in front of him, the young man asked his elder, "Can you tell me the best way through this forest?"

The wise old man replied, "I cannot."

The young man asked, "But haven't you lived here for a while? Surely you have been in the forest many times."

"Yes," the old man said, "and I can tell you of the pitfalls and dangers I have encountered. I can tell you which paths not to take. But I have never been all the way through the forest. That is something you must experience for yourself."

Every day, we we encounter all kinds of problems which others may have faced before us. It is a good thing to ask for advice in these matters. In truth, however, every set of problems has its own unique twists and turns. These subtle differences make each situation unique.

The best advice others give us may very well fall into the category of things "not to do." We can learn from the mistakes of others, and from our own, but in the end, solution to our new and specific problem will be new and unique.

It is critical, therefore, for to rely upon the counsel of the Lord every hour of the day and to ask specifically for His wisdom as we face questions, needs, or troubles. He knows the precise answer for the particular circumstance we face. He knows the beginning from the end!

Others may be experts on what not to do, or what is a good thing to do, but only the Lord can point us in the direction of what is best to do.

During this short break, ask the Lord to show you the best way to handle your day.

"Life's trials may be hard to bear, but patience can outlive them." Martin Tupper

Quiet moments with God - running persistently

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:21:00 +0000

"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights." 2 Samuel 22:33-34

Bob Kempainen was determined to make the 1996 United States Men's Olympic marathon team. He was willing to go to any lengths, no matter how gut-wrenching.

On a hilly course in Charlotte, North Carolina, he won the trials-- but was sick five times in the last two miles.

Kempainen, the American record-holder in the maratho, has experienced stomach troubles since junior high school. But that hasn't kept this medical student from pursuing marathoning.

"To stop was out of the question." he said, when asked about his physical condition. With the goal in sight, he knew there would be plenty of time to rest after the race, during the five months that it would take to prepare for Atlanta.

When God puts a desire in your heart to achieve a specific goal, you can have the confidence that He will give you the strength and the ability to accomplish it.

Every person has his or her own obstacles to overcome in life. In Kempainen's case, the condition of his stomach was trying to hinder him from winning the marathon race at the Olympics. In your life it will be something else. But we all face difficulties and challenges on the road to success-- and the difference between those who succeed and those who fail is simply persistence.

Life is not a level, smooth path, but rather a series of hills and valleys. There are times spent on the mountaintop, when everything seems clear and perfect. Then there are those times when we feel like we're wandering around in a dark cavern, feeling our way along and trusting God for every step of faith.

Runners get a "second wind" after forcing themselves to go on when they feel like they can't. In the same way, we feel the joy of God's Spirit lift us up and carry us on when we choose to continue in faith, no matter how we feel or what's going on around us.

Take a moment and set your heart to be persistent in your faith-- faith in God to lead you, pick you up and when you have fallen, give you strength to go on, and ultimately bring you to victory.

"The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running." Unknown

Quiet moments with God - payoffs

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:41:00 +0000

"The men did the work faithfully." 2 Chronicles 34:12

Thomas Edison once said:

"I am wondering what would have happened to me if some fluent talker had converted me to the theory of the eight-hour day, and convinced me that is was not fair to my fellow workers to put forth my best efforts in my work. I am glad that the eight-hour day had not been invented when I was a young man. If my life had been made up of eight-hour days, I do not believe I could have accomplished a great deal. This country would not amount to as much as it does if the young men had been afraid that they might earn more than they were paid."

Edison attributed his success to "1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration."

Missionary and explorer David Livingstone worked rush-hour days in a factory-- from 6:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. When he got off work, he attended high school classes for two hours, and then he went home to study late into the night.

Leonardo da Vinci, the great fifteenth-century Italian painter, sculptor, architect, engineer, and scientist, also understood the need for hard work. He said, "Thou, O God, doth sell to us all good things at the price of labor. Work is the seed from which grows all good things you hope for."

Nature also provides a striking example of hard work. Honey bees collect nectar from 12.5 clover heads to make one gram of honey. That adds up to three million trips to make one pound of honey!

And Michaelangelo, one of the greatest artists of all time, disputed the marvel of his own talent. "If people knew how hard I have had to work to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem wonderful at all."

"Overnight" success, making it big, and "lucking out" often disguise hard work.

Thank God every morning that you have something to do which must be done, whether you like it or not. Then do it to the best of your ability.

"Never turn down a job because you think it's too small. You don't know where it can lead." Julia Morgan

Quiet moments with God - open door to your goal

noreply@blogger.com (Willie and Eda Guina) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:32:00 +0000

"Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all." Galatians 6:10

Edwin C. Barnes had a burning desire to become a business associate of the great inventor Thomas A. Edison. He didn't want to work for Edison, he wanted to work with him.

As a step toward making his dream come true, Barnes applied for a job at Edison's lan in New Jersey. He was hired as an office worker at a minimum salary-- a far cry from a partnership. Months passed with no change in his status or his relationship with Edison. Most people would have given up, feeling their job was taking them nowhere. Barnes, however, stayed on board. He became thoroughly aware of the office environment and each person's job, and he sought out ways to make each person's work more pleasant and efficient. Above all, he remained open and optimistic. He saw all that he did as preparation for the day when he would become a partner with Edison in a joint venture.

The day came when Edison presented the Edison Dictating Machine to his sales staff. They didn't believe it would sell. Barnes, however, saw this awkward-looking machine as his opportunity! He approached Edison, announcing he'd like to sell the dictating device. Since no one else had showed any enthusiasm for it, Edison gave him the chance. He granted him an exclusive contract to distribute and market the office machine throughout America. Barnes succeeded in his goal of working with the great inventor, and he achieved his goal to be a success in business at the same time.

Do you have a goal in your mind or heart today? You can be certain you will reach it as you serve others and help them reach their goals. The help you offer to a family member, neighbor, coworker, or employer today will come back to you in success tomorrow.

Opportunity may arrive in your life today in the disguise of misfortune, defeat, rejection, or failure. See beyond the problems to consider the possibilities. Step out to help someone overcome their difficulties, and you will be overwhelmed by the good fortune God sends your way!

"Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings." Samuel Johnson