Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Lesson #4: BRING THEM TO THE LORD WHILE THEY'RE YOUNG

Jann is one of the Church's worship leaders. Jenzon plays the guitar weekly during praise and worship. Jinou sings with the choir's tenors. Jonan sings aloud with the Junior Choir. And all four of them are helping as my wife and I prepare for worship.

Those, I believe are the fruit of our labors in raising them in the Christian faith ever since they came to this world. It's a good thing that their parents are both workers in God's vineyard. I've been serving the Lord Jesus for the past 23 years now without any form of leave. While my wife may have been in the service for 20 years. We have promised to God that all of our kids will be raised seeing our ministries. And we did!

Wherever God brings us to minister, our kids were with us. From north to south, as they grow, my children were never a reason for us to stop or be disheartened. Instead, each one of them were an inspiration to us. We made them feel that they are a vital part in our sevice.

One by one we taught them to live a life closer to God. To thank the Lord even in times of troubles. They never heard us complain with our lives as God's servant. Instead, we have set their minds to say, "Hallelujah, anyway!" whatever situation we are in.

All of them have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord & Savior! And grew up serving God together.We've done it while they were young! Praise the Lord!

Monday, January 12, 2015

A FATHER'S HEART

Christmas time with the family was great!
My family and I had an exhausting vacation yet the fun we had won't be forgotten. (We were with relatives.)

After Christmas day, December 26, we went on a tour to the Hundred Islands of Alaminos, Pangasinan. Traveling for 4 hours or more, we arrived excited to see one of the Philippines tourist spots. Feeling tourist, we rode a boat hopping from one island to another. We saw an island named after my surname, the Lopez Island :). Our last destination was Quezon Island where my kids went for a swim towards the beach. What did I do as their father? I took pictures as they wet themselves at the sea and as they play with the sand. I really had fun watching them.

The team packed-up in the afternoon. We rode a bus to Dagupan, Pangasinan at around 4 o'clock in the afternoon. We were to go to Baguio that night. My sister reserved a house for our stay in the Summer Capital of the Philippines. From Dagupan, we arrived at 8:00 pm on a well-knowned bus terminal. My kids enjoyed traveling though none of the oldies seemed to enjoyed the ride, including me and my wife.

A day in Baguio was incomparable with its so-cold weather. My family slept together in one bedroom. We took lunch and dinner together. We went in one of Baguio's attractions, the Botanical Garden. The city was filled with visitors, that's why we were able to visit only one place that afternoon. Still, my kids have fun! That's what matters most to me.

The two-day vacation was great! My wife and I went home that Saturday night. We have a ministry to attend to, come Sunday. We left the kids with my relatives. They arrived home on Monday and saw the glow on their faces. I believe, they really had fun!

It's very important to me, as a father, to see my kids happy with what they are doing. And, if I may say, I am not comfortable seeing them sad and discouraged. A father's heart, I believe.