ALWAYS LOOK ON THE INSIDE

I remember reading a story once about a man who was exploring some caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag  with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled up some clay and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man so he took the bag out of the cave with him.

As he strolled along the beach, to pass the time, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could throw.

He thought little about it until he dropped one of the balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone. Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left, then it struck him.

He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have had tens of thousands, but he just threw it all away.

You know sometimes, it's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it; we see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy.

But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person. There is a treasure hidden in every one of us. We are wonderfully made. Not just our physical bodies, our spiritual selves, which are sometimes hidden from others by the *earthen vessel*

But if you take the time to get to know that person, and if you ask the Spirit to show you that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship.

-- Author Unknown --

Greetings to all brothers and sisters in Christ! I praise the LORD for this opportunity to share what God is doing in my HOME church here in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

In the beginning when I started my Home Church as a shepherd there were many things I had to adjust to. I was not used to the concept of a Home Church. I was brought up with the traditional mindset of having church in a building on Sunday morning. The idea of having a small group meeting in a house as actually being a church service was mind blowing. I struggled with this for a while, but as I studied the bible and looked at scripture I absorbed and accepted that this concept of traditional Sunday service is not biblical, but instead the early church had their church services in people’s homes.

Today after 17 months seeing God move in our Home Churches, I can testify that it is such a blessing to experience the benefit of having a home set up as a church. Members in the Home Churches get more attention and are able to bring more into the meetings. They not only hear from the LORD through the teachings, they also share what the LORD is speaking to them. As questions are being asked during the teachings, discussions helps everyone to understand what GOD is teaching and telling us how to apply the things we’ve learned in a practical way.

Beside all these benefits of having a Home Church, it is really a blessing to see that people or the members get to be themselves in front of everybody and the LORD. There is this sense of freely showing who they really are and what their honest opinions are towards the teachings. People seem to be more honest and real and have no problems in sharing in this kind of set up. Not only does it build character but also this kind of setting builds close intimate relationships.

Through our Home Church potential disciples are being raised up by the LORD. At the moment, Grace Astronomo is one of those people who by the grace of God have gone through from being just an attendee to giving her life to serve the LORD as a disciple. Grace is currently active in getting another Home Church going and doing a lot of one on one evangelism on PSU campus. Eventually by the help and leading of the Holy Spirit Grace will be leading her first Home Church as soon as the LORD makes a way. There are still a lot of members in my Home Church that are showing interest in becoming a disciple. My prayer is that some of them will make a decision to surrender their life to the LORD and become a disciple. It is so exciting to be part of fulfilling the great commission to go and make disciples …. (Matt. 28:18-20).

All glory to our Lord Jesus Christ alone! AMEN!

                                                                             Sister in Christ,
                                                                                                Abigail

House of Prayer Enterprise (H.O.P.E.)

HELLO,

Concerning the D12 school this has probably been the most difficult month. As you know where God's presence increases sin runs away. God and sin cannot dwell together.
As God's presence continues to increase in the church, God exposed sin of some of the members and students.

To read more click this link

TESTIMONY DISCIPLE TIMOTHY

Being in the D12 School can be expressed in two words. It’s awesome and painful. Awesome because I serve an awesome God. Awesome because He sees my life as a whole picture.

To read more click this link

LAST MONTH'S TESTIMONY

Being in the discipleship school is without a doubt, a blessing! I started on March 14, 2008 and as I recall my feelings that moment was one of finally I will get to work in the church and be involved in the ministry. 

To read more click here