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About
CFC-FFL
Who
is the CFC-FFL?
The
Movement for Restoration Our
Covenant
Our
Mission and Vision
Our Statement of
Philosophy
Our
Core Values
Family Ministries Kids
for Family and Life (KFL) Youth
for Family and Life (YFL)
Singles
for Family and Life (SFL)
Handmaids
for Family and Life (HFL)
Servants
for Family and Life (SvFL)
Wish
to JOIN?
The
highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity,
choosing right over wrong, ethics over convenience, and truth over
popularity.
Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for THERE IS
NEVER A WRONG TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
-
Bishop Soc Villegas
25 July 2007
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THE WAY FORWARD IN CHRIST
(Part 40)
A GOD OF STRENGTH
August
5, 2011
Today’s reading: Deuteronomy 4:32-40
Our God is a God of strength and power. This is what Moses reminded the
Israelites, on the eve of his death, at 120 years old, having brought
God’s people from Egypt to the desert and to the edge of the promised
land. Moses told them how God made a nation for Himself “with his
strong hand” (Dt 4:34), how He personally led them “out of Egypt by
his great power” (Dt 4:37).
This is the same God who has raised us today as His people. God has a
purpose, that we might be His servant through whom He will show His
glory (Is 49:3). This is our great privilege, to be able to be God’s
instrument, to do His very will, to accomplish His divine purpose for
the life of the world.
As such we must respond. How? “You must keep his statutes and
commandments which I enjoin on you today, that you and your children
after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which
the Lord, your God, is giving you forever.” (Dt 4:40).
First, we must obey God. God gives us the Ten Commandments (through
Moses at Mount Sinai) plus all the other commandments given by Jesus
directly and through his disciples. For us as CFC-FFL, there are two
basic commandments that can encompass everything else. One, we are to
grow in holiness (1 Pt 1:15-16), and two, we are to do the work of
evangelization and mission (Mk 16:15).
Second, we must observe God’s way of life as given to us. As CFC-FFL,
this way of life is represented by our covenant. We are to be faithful
to our covenant, knowing that this is not meant to burden us, but to
support us to live out our calling. God calls us not only as individuals
and as families, but as a community, as a family of families. We can
only be properly formed and become what God intends if we remain
faithful to every aspect of our covenant.
Three, we must realize that our work of evangelization is done within
the context of renewing the family and defending life. When we obey
God’s commands and live His way of life, then, as Moses says, our
children will prosper and we will have a long life on the land.
Obedience directly impacts on family and life.
After 30 years, God has formed us as a community, including our
wandering at times in the desert. “Out of the heavens he let you hear
his voice to discipline you” (Dt 4:36a) in order that we might be
chastised, purified and grow in holiness. Then “on earth he let you
see his great fire” (Dt 4:36b), witnessing the rapid and massive
evangelization work made possible by the Holy Spirit. God has given us
our very clear vision and mission. Now, on this our 30th year, the
fullness of God’s strength is being made available to us. It is now
entirely up to us how we are to respond.
We have already seen what God can do--in our personal lives, in our
families, and in the world through our work. “All this you were
allowed to see that you might know the Lord is God and there is no
other.” (Dt 4:35). Our God is victorious, and His strong right hand
continues to be outstretched. In that let us rejoice, and confidently
march on into the promised land.
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