Hugoong Federal Movement of the

Restoration in an Instance

Note: Because of numerous encounters regarding this kind of problem between couples, instead of our featured question this week we want to quote and share with you, our dear readers, this special article that we read from the book of Bob and Audrey Meisner en-

Lovelife Special titled, “Best Friends, Best Lovers”. This article is intended for women who

have trans-

PTR. DANTE & CYNTHA VELUZ gressed their

husbands but have realized their faults and would want to turn their lives around. We want the husbands to know that even if their wives have failed them, God can still restore their relationship and can give grace to start afresh. For couples that have experienced this stigma in their lives, we highly recommend Bob and Audrey’s book. It will be a source of healing for you.

“We (Bob & Audrey) sat in a small room facing a young couple, and we knew there was trouble. Their faces told the story, and their words confi rmed it. They had only been married two years. Confusion and unmet expectations had led to a disaster in their relationship. He was in mourning, totally at a loss as to what to do. Her face was almost gray, she was numb to any emotion and she wanted out of the marriage. She watched her husband cry and she had no response. She had already begun another relationship with an abusive drug dealer.

Bob and the hurting husband left the room, and the young wife said to me, “ I don’t know who I am. I do not want to be here.” I (Audrey) was at a complete loss; she wasn’t responding to anything I said. However as soon as I closed my eyes to pray, I instantly saw a vision in my heart of this same woman worshipping Jesus! I was shocked, and I said out loud, “You are a Jesus girl! You are a daughter of the King! You love to dance and worship!” As I opened my eyes I saw a tear roll down her face. In a monotone voice she said, “When worship was about to end, I used to beg God, ‘Just ten more minutes in Your presence!’”

One tear turned into a cry from her heart. I had the privilege of ushering her into the arms of the Father in heaven who held her as she wailed and wept. She was lost, desolate and on the road to death- and Jesus healed her heart! What happened next astounded me. Joy began to spill over from this once lifeless human. Her eyes began to twinkle and her face was radiant with God’s glory.

After we were fi nished praying, she ran out of the room, literally laughing and ran straight to her husband! She didn’t just hug him; she jumped him! She wrapped her legs around his waist and squeezed him, and they began to twirl. Laughter was restored! The healing had begun, and it all started in the deep places of her heart.”

Our Admonition: If you are a wife in the same pit of darkness, and you want to get out of it, we implore you to run back to Jesus. He is waiting to forgive you and save your relationship. He will never condemn you, but rather He will lift you up, carry you in His arms. For He said, “Come to Me who are tired and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. For I Am gentle and humble in heart, and you will fi nd rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

For you, dear husband, continue to just open your heart and mind toward forgiveness and reconciliation, no matter how hurtful it had been. You see God is a God of miracles. He can restore your broken relationship in an instance. God will reward you and set you above your situation right now. Go and see godly counselors who can lead you back to God’s throne of grace. Shalom!

To our readers: you may call or write to us at our address above-stated or email us at danteveluz@gmail.com or you can channel your feedbacks or problems through Philippines Today. God bless you all!

INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLE FOR THE WEEK

MENDING BROKEN RELATIONSHIP

By TIM PEDROSA

LET US NOT BE AFRAID OF LOSING PEOPLE BUT BE AFRAID OF LOSING OURSELF BY TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYONE AROUND US. Let us walk away from arguments that lead to anger, from people who put us down, from anyone who does not see our worth. Let us walk away from mistakes and fears; they do not determine our fate. The more we walk away from the things that poison our soul, the healthier and happier we will be. A broken relationship is like a broken glass. It is better to leave it broken when it gets expensive and keeps hurting yourself trying to fi x it. It is time to let go and replace it. Sometimes God gives us the wrong person before giving us the right one, so that when the right one comes, we know how to appreciate the gift. Relationship is a game of chance, sometimes we win, and sometimes we lose. The key is to know when to hold on and when to move on. We cannot determine who will come into our life but we can choose whom we will allow to stay. The biggest tragedy is to hang on long after the respect has gone. We are better off being alone and happy than staying with those who make us unhappy. Every goodbye is good as long as we keep the good memories and skip the bad ones. Let us stop mending a broken relationship and start fi xing ourselves. Sometimes what we are most afraid to do can bring us the most happiness. Let us listen to our heart, let us learn to let go, and live without regret. Anybody can become angry, that is easy; but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose and in the right way,

In prophet Joel 2:12 – 13, the Lord says: “… return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God…” Our Advent journey must involve acceptance of our sinfulness and then making a decision to go back to God. Sin makes us ugly. Sin not only separates us from God but also leads us into the oblivion and darkness. Sin makes us deeply ashamed of ourselves; and more so, we become ashamed of God. Remember in Genesis 3:8; Adam and eve hid themselves from God for they were ashamed of themselves, to say the least. They saw their nakedness which is an image of degraded dignity; because, a person of dignity must be well dressed. A person’s status can be known by how he is dressed. When the prodigal son returned; Luke 15:22, the father said to his servants, quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his fi nger and sandals on his feet (Lk. 15:22).” When we were reborn in baptism, God did it to us. He clothed us with divine life signifi ed by the white garment. Dressing well makes us presentable and respectable. When sin occurs, our divine image is disfi gured and our white garment, the purity and divine life in our soul, is stained and dirtied. We become disgusting; we become ashamed before God, others, and to ourselves. Advent season is our journey towards encounter with God in our Lord Jesus Christ. It is right to be ashamed in sin, and at times, discouraged to go back to God. But the good news is that He comes precisely to wipe away our sin. He comes to restore us into our dignity with God by making us His adopted children. He comes to give us clothes of righteousness, of virtues, of grace and divine favor. So, we have to be joyful in knowing there is hope for us. We must forget our pride but be contrite to approach His mercy and healing in the sacrament of Confession and Penance. Do not delay your conversion. Do not delay your steps towards a new you in Christ Jesus. Shame is a powerful emotion God endowed us with. In positive sense, shame is a powerful deterrent for us not to do bad things. For if, we know how shameful we will be if we commit sins supposed to be we will choose not to commit them. Like the fate of the prodigal son, after he lost everything; he barely could eat and his place was with the pigs. The pigs are animal that the Jews associate with dirt or is unclean and is among the lowest state among animals. So, his was at a shameful state; he had a shameful end after he left his father’s side and squandered his fortune. Are you not ashamed of God when you commit sin, dear reader? Do you think of shame when you are about to commit sin? When you go to confession, do you confess your sins with contrition? Do you know that shame can make you confess making your language frame your sin in a way that you water it down or make it light instead of grave when in fact it was? We can use our feeling of shame for the good. Let us be ashamed before God and others, if we fail to do what we are supposed to do. Let us be ashamed on the many forms of our laziness, or be ashamed when we do not want to make a sacrifi ce. Let us be ashamed before God, others and ourselves, when we are proud and conceited. Advent journey is our opportunity to become the best person we can be. Let us employ the guilty and shameful feeling to our advantage; that is, truly being determined not to fall into the same sins and be resolved to never off end God or leave His side. Though we can be ashamed before God; yet, it must not hinder us to go back to Him. God tells us in Isaiah 1:18; “Come now, let us set things right; though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow…” With God, we can be made whole from all our brokenness. And we can be clean and beautiful, if we welcome and receive Him, the Emmanuel, into our lives. Amen.

The Lesson of Shame

Afl ame The Heart REV. JOSE PELAGIO A. PADIT, SThD