Nineteen couples were blessed with free wedding ceremony and reception rites along with rings from Matus Jewellery. The newly wed couples are from the community who have been staying together for many years. It is their wish to make their unions pleasing to the Lord. Witnessed by the whole congregation, the pairs pledged their love and support to each other in holy matrimony. It is our prayer that God’s favor and grace will overtake their households. 

Passage: 1 Chronicles 17:1-20

Message: 

1. Verses 1-20 traces the blessings of David (God’s actions to David). The tenses used indicate that the Lord has been faithful, is faithful, and will be faithful in fulfilling His promises to David.

• I took you from looking after sheep in the fields and made you the ruler of my people Israel.
• I have been with you wherever you have gone.
• I have defeated all your enemies as you advanced.
• I will make you as famous as the greatest leaders in the world.
• I have chosen a place for my people Israel and have settled them there, where they will live without being oppressed any more
• I promise to defeat all your enemies and to give you descendants
• When you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will make one of your sons king and will keep his kingdom strong.
• I will make sure that his dynasty continues forever.
• I will be his father, and he will be my son.
• I will not withdraw my support from him as I did from Saul, whom I removed so that you could be king.
• I will put him in charge of my people and my kingdom forever. His dynasty will never end.

2. David wanted to honor God by building a house for Him (v.1). Instead, God has chosen a place for His people Israel and have settled them there, where they will live without being oppressed anymore. God promised to defeat all David’s enemies and to give him descendants (v.10). God gives us more than what we expect Him to give us. He provides enormously! He hears our prayers and blesses us with more.

3. Blessings (v 7-10)

• I took you from looking after sheep in the fields and made you the ruler of my people Israel.
• I have chosen a place for my people Israel and have settled them there, where they will live without being oppressed any more.

4. Other beneficiaries of God’s blessings in David’s life are the people of Israel.

5. David’s response to all of God’s blessings to him.

David said that he is not worthy of what the Lord has done, but still the Lord is doing even more. By merely blessing David already makes him great! Indeed, there is no one like Him!

Application: God is faithful to His children yesterday, today and forever. Let us not be weary in waiting for His answer. He has prepared great things for you to be given at the perfect time. He has been faithful through all the years of your existence, why wouldn’t He be faithful now? Keep on praying and trusting the Lord for His plans. Never doubt the power of prayer. Trust in Him. Always.

“When trust is perfect and there is no doubt, prayer is simply the outstretched hand ready to receive. Trust perfected is prayer perfected. Trust looks to receive the thing asked for and gets it. Trust is not a belief that God can bless or that He will bless, but He does bless, here and now. Trust always operates in the present tense. Hope looks forward to the future. Trust looks to the present. Hope expects. Trust possesses. Trust receives what prayer acquires. So what prayer needs, at all times, is abiding and abundant trust.” – E.M. Bounds

Prayer: Lord, even if we’re unworthy, You have blessed us. Thank you because we aren’t loved because we are valuable but we are valuable because You love us. Father, may we continue to trust in You and Your plans. Unto You we commit our lives. Amen.

Sampaloc Bible Christian Community celebrated three dawns before Christmas with the community in the first ever Simbang Madaling Araw. From December 22-24, the church gathered together with our neighbors to share Christmas messages, testimonies of God’s goodness for the whole year, songs of rejoicing and prayer items before the sun was up. We also had fellowship and breakfast together before heading off to respective workplaces.

It felt like a real close-knit family gathering together to praise the Lord for His goodness in 2011! We heard testimonies of God’s faithfulness in the lives of the people living near SBCC and how the church had helped them in their spiritual growth. Praises like that were worth waking up early for. We also devoted those days to intercede for the coming year and for our friends and loved ones who need to know about Jesus.

GRACE GIVING 2011

SBCC’s youth visited underprivileged areas singing their own versions of Sa May Bahay and Ang Pasko ay Sumapit for three afternoons/nights.

They went around some streets in Sampaloc to sing to and invite people our missionary, Ate Jemimah identified. The families were asked to come by the church on December 28 to be blessed.

Thanks to our very generous donors, we were able to raise funds to prepare 200 media noche packages complete with noodles, sauce, fruit cocktail, juice, ham and bread. We were also able to pack 114 loot bags for the children with all sorts of candy and fruits.

Extra gift stubs were also available to accommodate guests who walked in. On that day, 185 media noche packages were given away and 15 packs were sent to our outreach in East Fairview. They, too were able to experience the grace we felt in Sampaloc.

And speaking of bonuses, we were also able to buy raffle items that we gave away to twenty two winners!

Before the groceries were distributed, each one of our visitors was prayed for by SBCC members. We prayed for their specific concerns, ministered to them, and made them feel the warmth of fellowship among God’s people.

Thirty choir members plus imports sang nine songs and two carol medleys accompanied by Ate April Luis, conducted by Pastor Abe Luis. The four-part program included an evangelistic message to guests who have yet to hear about the grace of Jesus Christ. There were many people who received Jesus as Lord!  There was also evening snacks and fellowship after.

The night ended with a proclamation that Jesus is the best Christmas offering; the babe who was born to set our hearts free! All glory to the Lord!

Check out what’s happening this December!

• December 4 (Sun)- Life Extreme: the Biblical Basis of Courtship. 3PM. Year ender, this is!
• December 18 (Sun)- Christmas Cantata: Christmas Offering, God’s Greatest Gift to All, 7PM.
• December 22-24 (Thurs-Sat)- Simbang Umaga sa SBCC, Dawn Watch, 5AM.
• December 25 (Sun)- Christmas Sunday joint services! 9:30AM.
• December 21-23- Christmas Caroling in the area!
• December 28 (Wed)- Gift Giving/Midweek Prayer Service, 7PM.

We pray that the Christ of this season will shine the brightest in our homes all year round. Maligayang Christmas!

Start strong. Finish(ed) strong.

Special medals include Loyalty Award  for those who have completed all twelve Tuesdays; Kapal ng Folder award for those who submitted huge volumes of devotions, assignments, and book reports; Kabisote Award for those who successfully memorized all 11 verses, including the memory verse challenge.

Pastor Dave received distinction as Best Catcher for being the last man standing in ‘making salo’ hard questions in both doctrine and seminar topics while Tita Norma Sanchez got Rebound Award for being ‘late than never.’

Tapos naaaaaaa! Wooooh! More! More!

All SOL 1 Graduates will move up to SOL2 starting November 15. To God be the glory!

School of Leaders Level One Batch 2 will start on November 22.

Genesis 12:11b, “You are a woman of beautiful countenance.”

Message: In one particular event in the life of Sarah, she might have regarded her beauty as a curse.
One time when Abraham and Sarah were traveling in Egypt, people noticed her beauty, and the word soon reached the Pharaoh. This was exactly what Abraham predicted! This was the reason he told Sarah to claim that she was his sister instead of his wife for Abraham feared that he would be killed by the people who would take Sarah. So Sarah was stuck in Pharaoh’s harem!

Did Sarah ever argue with Abraham? Did she think Abraham was selfish to sacrifice her safety and well-being to preserve his life? Did she wonder with fear? Scripture doesn’t record Sarah’s thoughts or reaction. Don’t you hope the silence indicates Sarah’s faith remained strong and constant as she sat in her harem prison? That she steadfastly waited on the Lord for deliverance?

God to the rescue! Genesis 12:17, “But the Lord plagued Pharaoh.”

Although scripture is silent on Sarah’s state of mind, hopefully she is patiently waiting on God to deliver her.

As human drama unfolds our ever present God watches over Sarah and Abraham. At the perfect moment, He has revealed His glory with miraculous move. Genesis 12:17 records, “The Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of [Sarah].” God made sure that Sarah is released. Genesis 12: 19-20 has recorded that when the Pharaoh realized what was going on, he confronted Abraham and gave back Sarah to him.

Application: Sarah is safe! God took care of her because of her faith and because of her obedience to the Lord. Isn’t it wonderful to know that at this particular moment in your life, the Lord watches over you, too just like how He was with Sarah? When life seems impossible and unbearable, He will come through for you. Psalm 46:1-2 says, ”God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” In His own time, in His special way, He will rescue you! God’s Word encourages us to trust in God in all circumstances. Whether you are facing trials today or life is going smoothly, turn to Him for wisdom and strength.

• Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart (Psalm 27:14).
• Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him (Psalm 37:7).
• Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31)

How can you develop stronger faith in the midst of a trial? Talk to God about your problem. Be assured of His love and care. Trust in His wisdom. Wait on His solution.

Prayer: Lord, we are assured of Your love and care. We trust Your wisdom. We wait on Your solution.

News reports reveal that only large vehicles like military trucks and boats are allowed to enter some of the baranggays. Due to tropical storm Pedring, 26 baranggays in Hagonoy were submerged in water.  Most families have lived on their roof tops for days and have a difficult time purchasing basic commodity. 

Hitching a ride

Students from The Life City Campus helped pack 385 bags of relief goods and some members led by Kuya Alain and Ate Mye Siscar took available forms of transportation to assist the flood victims.

Blessed to bless

We praise the Lord for His provision and for touching the hearts of many sponsors who extended their help. In the next few days, 80 bags were added and were distributed in another baranggay. We also give thanks to the Lord for protecting the families and giving them shelter despite the situation.

In the next weeks, SBCC will plan a Medical Mission for the affected communities. Please continue to pray for the salvation of our kababayans in Hagonoy. Check this link from Matus for more photos.

Photo credits to Matus Weddingboutique.