"HA? SURE KA BA?"

One day, out of curiosity, I Googled what my name meant. My first name "Joseph" translates to “he will expand”. Galing! That was a good start. Let's try my second name. Google said that "Alvin" meant “a friend of elves”. Wait, what? The good start came crashing down. Let's try my middle name "Martin". I found out that my middle name is based on the god of war Mars & it meant "war/warlike”. Cool! Sounds like an Avenger. Now, we are back on track. I hope my last name's meaning will end with a bang! I typed "Fabella", tap search & waited for the reply.

"fabella is a small fibrocartilage ossified in many animals and sometimes in humans in the tendon of the gastrocnemius muscle, behind one or both of the femoral condyles."

Simply put “fabella” meant a small bone like thingy. :(

My name literally translates to someone who will enlarge & be-friend elves. I am warlike but I am an insignificant small bone-like thingy. My name meaning felt like a roller coaster ride. It went up, down, up & down again 🙂

Names are important. There's a man in the Bible called Abram. I think he had a cool name because "Abram" meant "exalted father". Ang ganda di ba? But I also think Abram felt a bit embarassed during roll calls. Because for 80+ years people called him “exalted father” yet Abram did not have a single child. Then at 99 years old, God renames Abram.

"No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.” - Genesis 17:5

God adds two letters to his name - “H-A”. Baka yan di reaction ni Abram sa Diyos noong araw na iyon - “HA?” Is God being funny?

"HA?" From “exalted father” to "father of a multitude of nations”, yet Abram did not have a legal child. (He had a child by a slave when he was 86 years old but let's discuss that on another day)

Maybe Abram asked God, "HA? Sure ka ba? Me, father of multitude? How can this be? I am 99 years old & my wife is 90 yrs old already. Isn't it too late to start a family now? This is impossible!"

Is anything impossible with God? None. Because a year after Sarah gives birth to Isaac (Genesis 21:3). And that was the start of the multitude that God promised.

Remember, WHATEVER GOD SAYS, HAPPENS.

We have different names. God creates each of us for a specific assignment.

" For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them" - Ephesians 2:10

Your name may sound great. Your name may sound funny. Your name may have no meaning. What's important is we bear the same name. We all carry the last name of our Father! Because God has adopted us as His children when we accepted Jesus. Ephesians 1:5 says "he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will".

So, what do we do with His Name that we carry? Isa lang po. WE KEEP IT HOLY.

When Jesus taught us how to pray, he said "This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" - Matthew 6:9

What does HALLOWED OR HOLY BE YOUR NAME mean? We cannot add anything to the HOLINESS of God. Kahit ano pa gawin natin. God is God. His holiness is whole already. Why do we pray "holy be your name" if we cannot add to His holiness?

We need to remember that everything that we do points back to God because we carry His Name. We carry God's last name because we are His child. When we pray "holy be Your Name" we are not praying for God but we are praying that we keep His name holy! That is the more important name. Our Spiritual name is far more superior to our biological or legal name.

This LENT, may we be extra careful in everything we do. May we always remember that whatever we do points back to who God is. Before doing anything always ask yourself - WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? Let's be proud & declare to the world this truth - ANAK AKO NG DIYOS! Have a blessed weekend! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

PAANO NAGIGING BITIN ANG DASAL?

There is power in prayer. 

Tama naman yun. We are called to pray at all times. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Pray daily. Pray often. Sa bawat hinga mo, magpasalamat at magpuri ka sa Diyos!

But there is a trap that we need to watch out. That trap is a Christian who has an active prayer life but does not couple it with action. Bitin yan.

Psalms 23:4 says "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Awesome verse indeed! But for now don't focus on the phrase "the valley of the shadow of death". Don't focus on the "I fear no evil" or don’t focus on the beautiful closing phrase "your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Madami at maganda lahat yan pero mag-focus ka muna sa "I WALK...". Walking is action word. The writer had faith in God and he acted.

FAITH & ACTION ARE A DEADLY COMBINATION.

James 2:17 says "So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead."

• Are you praying for a healthier body but not exercising & following a healthy diet?
• Are you praying for work but not applying or sending out your CV?
• Are you praying for healing of broken relationships but pride keeps you from approaching other person?
• Are you praying for a better country but you don’t pay your taxes properly?
• Are you praying for your personal conversion but you keep on going to places where you fall into sin?

What are you praying for today? Do you part. Act on it. Pray more this LENT. Act more so you can bless more people. - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

CHANGE IS COMING

Change can be difficult. It can be uncomfortable. But if it's God who initiates the change, what will you do?

"The LORD said to Abram: Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you." - Genesis 12:1

That must have been difficult for Abram. He was 75 years old already when God spoke to him. He was born & raised in that place, he met his friends, got married there & a lot more. Now God wants him to move out.

What is God asking you to do that looks difficult & uncomfortable? Does it require you to change something that you have been used to already? You always have a choice. Let's see what Abram did.

"Abram went as the LORD directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran." - Genesis 12:4

That’s a perfect example of complete obedience. No questions asked. He simply trusted God & followed. That is what FAITH is all about. They say that faith is believing without seeing. Abram believed what God promised to him.

"I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing." - Genesis 12:2

The blessing was not only for Abram. The blessing will allow him to be a blessing to others. If it's God who calls you to do it then we follow. God blessed Abraham as HE promised him. But wait, there’s more! We also reaped the benefits of God’s promise because Abraham took that step of faith.

"By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise" - Hebrews 11:9

We are also entitled to God’s blessings. The blessing to Abraham extends to us as we are all “heirs of the same promise”. So, always hold on to God's promise. BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO GOD, WE SHOULD CHOOSE TO CARRY THE CROSS OVER THE COMFORT.

What is God calling you to do this LENT? Is it forgiving someone? Is it letting go of material things that control you? Is it giving up the worldy things? Is it asking God’s forgiveness for a habitual sin?

It will be hard & uncomfortable. But we are called to follow in faith. Because the BLESSING IS ALWAYS BEYOND BURDEN. Have a blessed weekend! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

A MIRACLE RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES

“I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky... and all this land that I promised.” – Exodus 32:13

My brother and sister-in-law were shocked to hear the words from the doctor: “Your son Heinz has kidney cancer and needs surgery ASAP.” A second doctor, an oncologist, confirmed that it was Wilms Tumor, a type of cancer that starts in the kidneys. They scheduled the surgery immediately and said that he will need chemotherapy and radiation treatment for four to six months depending on the stage of the cancer.

The surgery was done as scheduled and we prayed for good results. We believed that God would take care of Heinz. During one of our family gatherings, we looked back at how God took care of our family in the past. We felt God’s love when our family business suffered, when some family members got sick, when we had a financial difficulty, and a lot more. Truly, God has been faithful through the years.

God’s faithfulness was confirmed when we got the biopsy result. It was a benign tumor of the blood vessels. No need for chemotherapy or radiation. It was truly a miracle!

Just as God was faithful to His promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants, He will also be faithful to you and your family throughout the generations. - alvinfabella@yahoo.com (DIDACHE APRIL 4, 2019)

Reflect: During times of trial, do you worry or do you worship?

Lord, increase my faith so that I may appreciate the miracles that are coming my way.

St. Isidore of Seville, bishop and Doctor of the Church, pray for us.

"FIRST & LAST"

It was my FIRST time to speak at the new venue of Pathways North QC. It's also my LAST in a Pathways site because the open event will now move to the #opendoor Sunday meeting. I had a good run of talks the past 2 weeks with Pathways BGC then Alabang, then North Cubao, followed by Katipuna & lastly QC. And I was blessed!

FIRST & LAST. That made it special for me. I prayed hard that I may preach in a special way that evening. What’s the difference between last night & you?.…..You too are special but not only for a day or night. YOU ARE ALWAYS SPECIAL IN GOD’S EYES!

Why?

1. You are God's FIRST because you are His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10)
2. You were God's LAST creation because He prepared everything before making you. That includes your food, "See, I give you every seed-bearing plant on all the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food" (Genesis 1:29)
3. You are God's FIRST because He says that "you are precious in my eyes & honored” (Isaiah 43:4)
4. You are His LAST because He promised that "I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

You may feel down, depressed or broken right now. Read this line again & believe it. YOU ARE ALWAYS SPECIAL IN GOD’S EYES!

How should you respond to God then?

Make everything that you do start & end with God. Because everything starts & ends with Him. Jesus is first & the last.

"Fear not, I am the first & the last" - Revelation 1:17

Stay Blessed! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

"DATI COKE ZERO. NGAYON, ZERO COKE"

a personal reflection on today's Gospel Matthew 20:17-28 (Mar 20,2019)

What did you give up for Lent? 

I gave up my favorite soda. BEFORE LENT, COKE ZERO. DURING LENT, ZERO COKE. Yun lang? Well, I fast from other things also but the Coke thing is what want to share in this post.

Coke lang? Isn't that too simple? Maybe. But actually, anything that we do this Lent is nothing compared to what HE did.

"the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified....." - Matthew 20:18-19

Make simple choices for Jesus because everything is simple compared to what God did for you.

Choose love over lust, dialogue over debate, to forgive over keeping your pride & serving others instead of using people. This Lent, put more emphasis on service. Always make yourself available for others. Serve others because "even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Matthew 20:28

Make Lent more meaningful. Make choices for the glory of Jesus. 

Have a blessed Wednesday! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

"BUNDOK O BUILDING"

a personal reflection on today's Gospel Luke 9:28-36 Mar 17, 2019

I once joined some friends to a hiking trip. The climb was hot. The pathway was difficult. Walang lugar para sa stopover na may tubig o toilet. It was a long climb. It was hard.

Jesus also brought his friends up a mountain.

"Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray" - Luke 9:28

Baka nahirapan din sila. Baka sobrang pagod pero hindi sila makatulog dahil sa kanilang nakita. They witness something awesome!

Jesus was dazzling white (Luke 9:29) & Jesus talking to Moses & Elijah (Luke 9:30)!

The scene was so awesome that they did not want it to end. Peter even wanted to stay.

"And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah" - Luke 9:33

Ganyan pag na-experience natin ang pagmamahal & presensya ng Diyos sa ating buhay. We will be transformed! Not instantly. But each day you will be transformed to be saint. You will be transformed not because you are good but because God's Holy Spirit will guide you.

Secondly, the experience with God is so overwhelming that you will opt to stay. You also want to build a tent like Peter. But we are not called to build a physical tent. We need to build a tent for God in our hearts. Because God is knocking & wants to stay in your heart.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." - Revelation 3:20

FB friends, on April 7 may I invite you to a climb. Hindi naman tayo aakyat ng bundok. Aakyat tayo sa 3rd floor lang ng building :) May stairs at elevator naman kaya di mahirap. It will be an awesome experience because God will be there. See you at the Open Door!

Have a blessed 2nd week of Lent! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

“ILANG ULIT PA BA ANG UULITIN"

Jonah needed to hear it again from God.

"The word of the Lord came to Jonah a SECOND time: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” - Jonah 3:1-2

God had to repeat His instructions before Jonah followed.

Are you like Jonah? 

Do you hesitate to follow God’s instructions immediately?

I know that it’s hard to follow God. Because we don’t know what lies ahead. We get scared. We hesitate. So, we opt not to follow because that’s the easier path. Jonah hesitated at first but later changed his mind. He decided to follow God after their second dialogue. He preached to the people of Nineveh & they repented. Then God saved them because they changed their ways.

"When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out." - Jonah 3:10

Thousands were saved because Jonah followed God. Do you want to be a modern day superhero & save others? 

Don’t hesitate. 

When God says GO, simply FOLLOW. What is God asking you to do this Lent? - alvinfabella@yahoo.com