Steward Leadership

Source: www.pinterest.com/wkwood50

Fr. Rich Gomez's homily last Sunday, 14 June 2015, reminded me about servant leadership. At one point he emphasized the significance of having a conscious choice to serve the highest priority needs of the people with the natural desire to serve first. As he went on talking about how we supposedly live by being servant leaders in the present time, he showed us grim images of the outcome. Photos of devastations, effects of climate change, extreme dependence to non-renewable energy sources, animal extinctions and natural calamities aftermath flashed on the screen. The images were quite dismal, for a time I got upset, but then I realized, my fixation to gadgets and latest technology was not necessarily making things any better. 

Source: www.forumfed.org

What does it really mean to be stewards of God's creation? To be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth and subdue it. To have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that move upon the earth? Are we truly living up by the image and likeness of God? In search for answers, I came across another leadership model called steward leadership. I believe that this model encompasses the best concepts of servant leadership and best addresses the unique aspects of nonprofit leadership. It could be a good exercise of good governance and accountability, as it requires all of us to anticipate changes that could affect the environment, economy and the well being of the community. 

The environmental problems Fr. Rich presented were real and are big issues that could not be handled alone. We need one another in the same manner as the environment needs us. We are no longer being called to simply serve and lead but also take into consideration our role and responsibility to God, our creator. We are merely caretakers of God's universe hence we have to be fully aware of our true purpose and duty. The homily was a wake up call for everyone to mitigate the impacts of resource management. In today's world dominated by scientific breakthrough, we are all accountable to each other and to the future generation.

Source: www.johnfharrisministries.org

*This was my reflection on the Homily delivered by Fr. Rich Gomez last June 14, 2015 at Feast Greenhills. Please visit www.feastgreenhills.com to know more about the Feast, the happiest place on earth.

Victory is Ours

(Deuteronomuy 20:4) For the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. 

Source: moderreaders.com

I was looking at my kids' medical books the other day and noticed that they have vaccines due soon. Parents have different opinions about vaccines but for my husband and I, vaccines are as important as regular intake of vitamins and supplements. Vaccines help the body's immune system prepare for future attacks. The website vaccines.gov explained that vaccines consist of killed or modified microbes, part of microbes or microbial DNA that trick the body into thinking that an infection has occurred. A vaccinated person's immune system attacks the harmless vaccine and prepares for invasions against the kind of microbe the vaccine contained. In this way, the person becomes safeguarded against the microbe. If the body is exposed to the same microbe, the immune system will quickly recognize how to stop the infection. As parents, we believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, hence we allow our children to get the necessary vaccines for what lies ahead.   

Prevention is Better than Cure 

Worshipping works in the same manner as vaccines in terms of preventing distressing attacks from happening in our lives. Even if the battle has not yet taken place, we should worship the Lord for it reminds our hearts where our hope lies. It strengthens us from within, powerful enough to sustain the beating. 

When we experience a problem or difficulty, our natural tendency is to worry, become anxious or depressed, get discouraged, or turn to vices to help us feel better.  We succumb to the pressure and start to deteriorate. It is inevitable for problems to come our way but how we respond to the problem is crucial. 

It certainly takes much effort to give praise when we are at our lowest low but like a painful vaccination that we have to endure, the effect is long-lasting and we come out indestructible.  

I am so convinced of the victory that is available in worship that I have encouraged my children and even my friends to sing worship with all their hearts for major things, for sensible predicaments, and especially when everything is falling into place. When we operate in praise we triumph, giving us a right to God's blessings, overcoming the trouble and claiming the answer we deserve. 

Worship is key to Deliverance 

You may be in an impossible situation in your life and chances are you no longer see any visible solution. Perhaps you are already so discouraged and have lost the faith and grown tired of praying for a miracle. Maybe you are in a battle in which you can't quite discern the next steps to take. The answer is to start worshipping and praising God. If your worship is genuine, you begin to take on God's thoughts toward the problem. 

Worry and anxiety, though normal reactions, take on our daily battle by ourselves, but worship surrenders the battle to God's power, acknowledging that He will handle it. 

(2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV)  …‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

You don't have to be held down. We must seek the Lord every day, as we never know when we will need his strength, protection and guidance. 

*This was my reflection on the third edition of the Advancers series (Praise your way to Victory), Victory Verged, held last May 30, 2015 at Feast Greenhills. Please visit www.feastgreenhills.com to know more about the Feast, the happiest place on earth. 

Mighty Weapon

I came across the idea that our deep relationship with the Lord could emanate from and be strengthened by singing our praises, glorifying His greatness or even through acknowledging his Holy presence in silence. This act of complete devotion to God always made sense to me. Even before I started expressing my faith blatantly every Sunday at Feast Greenhills, I find myself weeping each time I pray intently for something. And since joining the Feast, shedding a tear has instantaneously been part of my religious glorification whether through songs of praise or by way of silent prayer. But it was when I witnessed the effect that worship has on darkness in the world that I understood how worship could also be used as a weapon.

Source: harrypotter.wikia.com

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them... Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself... soulless and evil. You will be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life." —Remus Lupin

Everyday we are surrounded by darkness.  We hear, see and get first hand experiences of the cruelty in our world. The feeling of hopelessness, that everything seems to be working against you than for you, struggling to believe that our God is greater than a biting injustice, crippling disease or sickness, or ballooning debts trap us. These difficult times drain our every last drop of faith and trust, like a Dementor in Harry Potter, this worldliness certainly sucks out the joy in us. But we can change this gloomy atmosphere by lifting up the name of Jesus with songs of praise and exalting Him above all things. Think Harry Potter casting a strong corporeal Patronus via a most powerful defensive charm, Patronus Charm (Expecto Patronum), to drive away Dementors.

Source: harrypotter.wikia.com

  
When darkness of doubt fills your atmosphere, let the fountain of praise and worship come out from within you. When chaos is stealing your peace, let your prayer warriors come together in faith-filled adoration. Lift the name of Jesus up high and make this your weapon. Let God arise and see darkness banish as the light of Christ's love fills your heart and the air around you. As followers of Christ, worship is our main weapon against life's problems. When we worship, our problems don't go away, but the threat of evil in our lives through those problems goes away. Worship is the hand of God that destroys all forces greater than you. 

When drama come your way, it is so easy to get carried away and imagine the worst. Our natural response is to sulk, fear, despair and worry. But we are called to focus on the truth of God's character, not on the information in front of us. And the truth is that, no matter how cliche, no problem is stronger or bigger than God. So what weapon do you use to attack your problems? Would you let the Dementor kiss you and draw out your soul? Our job is to seek Him, listen for His direction, and then obey. Sing, raise your hands, dance, jump, clap, shout, play an instrument for Him, hear Mass, pray. Let Him bring you back to life because He will never let you go. 

*This was my reflection on the second edition of the Advancers series (Praise your way to Victory), Weapon Wise held last May 24, 2015 at Feast Greenhills. Please visit www.feastgreenhills.com to know more about the Feast, the happiest place on earth. 

Reflection song: "Back to Life" by Hillsong Young & Free

VERSE Here in my heart You have found Your place Replacing fear with Your freedom You lift me up You lift me up When all seems lost in my brokenness I call Your Name and You answer Held by Your love Held by Your love CHORUS In the night Through the struggle through the trial You have made my burden light You have brought me back to life again VERSE Your love it wipes every tear away You calm the storms that surround me You carry me You carry me Your light breaks through in my darkest hour Your love is strong in my weakness You are enough You are enough PRE-CHORUS You won't let go So I will follow All I am Yours now and forever You won't let go So I will follow With all I am