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This has got to be the scariest but by the same token, the most powerful chapter of my life demonstrating our Heavenly FATHER's Amazing Grace and Love.


Feb. 24 this year, my husband Adrian had the second open-heart surgery to replace the defective mechanical mitral valve that was placed on him almost three years prior,which was his first open-heart operation.

The days that followed were such of 'seemingly endless' agony, very strong mental and emotional torment which were extremely fiery darts from the devil.  (Above all taking the shield of faith,wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the devil. Ephesians 6:16)

It wasn't a single dart or mental attack and I wish it was, they were 'darts',  and they weren't even simple darts. They were fiery in the most extreme sense that lasted almost seven months, that had not my GOD upheld me in the inside I wouldn't be here 'penning' this , to testify of HIS faithfulness to HIS WORD. HIS Love. HIS Grace. And until now, I'm learning to clutch with all my strength to HIM. To abide by HIM, HIS WORD.

(I didn't have the courage to take his photo up-close because of how painful his appearance was.He stayed in the Intensive care unit for about three months.)

I confess, it had not been easy to stand my ground in the face of opposing physical sights.

My husband, after the third open chest surgery in less than a month, felt like giving up. And indeed, I know he has a story that he has died, as he recounted about floating above his body, and the medical staff in the ICU treating him.




That time, each day, questions and pain filled my mind, anxiety and depression for what seemed an eternity.

Where do you run for help? What can you do? What can you say ?

 
Yes, we know the story of the four hebrew children who were thrown into the fiery furnace heated seven times more. Daniel 3:24-28 . We may go through the fire, we may suffer, against the will of my Loving FATHER, but HE IS With Me, with us.



Barely  a week after they opened him up, the doctors told me and my sister in-law,  that he had internal bleeding and they found a form of embolism and formation in the wound and so operated on him for the second time.

Then, barely a week after this event, they announced again that he developed an infection of the sternum where they previously operated on. So they had to open him up again for the third time and this time though, they left it open for a week , exposing the scary sight of an open chest covered with some sponge that sucked the bacteria that caused that last problem.

 The last operation done on him was to remove the calcium deposits that solidified due to months of intravenous feeding and a host of drug medications,without possibility of drinking or eating orally.

The last cause of his stay in ICU was due to acute bronchitis which left him with barely a thin slice of air, that every single word  he uttered left him gasping for dear breath. He also suffered from Hepatitis. He was pierced (holes) almost everywhere, in both his sides, for drainage, on his neck, on different parts of  both his arms, every week, everytime a surgery was performed on him, he had to be connected to tubes that caused to be unconscious for two straight days, that I also began to question the doctors if it might cause brain damage, not to mention the large amounts of drugs they administered on him. He could not eat nor drink for three months because his vocal cords which were damaged, caused food and liquid intake to be directed to his lungs or heart.

I clung to HIS Faithfulness to HIS WORD, by Which HE established everything. In tears and sleeplessness and depression, anxiety and just about every mental and emotional torture the devil was throwing at me, my/ our Only and constant Deliverer was our Lord JESUS. Although nobody came to visit my husband, but me and my sister in-law and her family and friend, in all the six months he was confined. I don't really mind, as long as my Loving FATHER GOD IS our Stay and HE IS Perpetually with me and our family. This is all that matters to me. Only JESUS. Only my JESUS. Our JESUS.


And my Loving FATHER also used a wonderful family who took care of  my daughter every single day while I was in the hospital with my husband  and, I lift them up ( A. Estioko family) in prayers to our Lord JESUS. They were the most tangible help from my GOD during those times. GOD BLESS them Tremendously, as I would always pray.

I thank our friends, other Christian ministry prayer warriors and churchmates in ICFRome who held Adrian up in their prayers.

Every single time, when the doctors left a question mark on wether he would make it through the infection, or bronchitis, or other issues, I would run to my GOD (where else? who else can overturn this situation?) Then, my Loving Heavenly FATHER delivered my husband from every single attack of the devil to his physical body. There is no other explanation for the physical survival or recovery of my husband but HIS Divine healing. GOD Loves me, as much as HE loves you.
My GOD turned our mourning to dancing. The test into testimony, a mess into a message of HIS Grace, Mercy and Love through our Lord JESUS. Hence, this testimony of our Loving FATHER 'S Amazing Love and Grace! Praise The LORD in JESUS Name Amen!

This morning is the first of a 5-day English Summer School Program offered freely by my home-church, International Christian Fellowship;whereas the same program costs as much as Eur 150 per week, per child in a regular school. I wanted to enroll my daughter in a regular catholic-sponsored summer school in our area so she wouldn't get bored but she had been looking forward to ICF 's English school because she had bonded (so) well with many kids. So, this morning it had been easy to make her get-up, she was even singing inside the shower, (she tie-coiled her hair on both sides like the star-wars lady and slept on them the night prior) and she did her hair on her own. When we got to the church,I observed how excited she was as she sang and jumped up and down to the gospel songs which she was already familiar with. At home she was ecstatic as she related their activities and was even jealous that somebody drew better than her.

The main point is that,she was always the one demanding that we go to church otherwise I would get blamed.This is the second year our daughter is attending the ICF summer school program.

Now, flashback to October 13, 1983 the day I was born again,my spiritual birthday. I signed my personal covenant with GOD  in a southern baptist or fundamentalist church in Manila's (Philippine capital) university belt area. I learned so much about GOD and the greatest hymns, and supporting my faith through good works.my first steps in my Christian walk. But then it wasn't long before I left the church due to indifference among the members which is comprised of mainly young students, even though I enjoyed the Pastor's style of preaching.Then I learned that there had been a break-away group and the Pastor that I liked started a full-gospel church which I eventually joined. Then I found my first job which afforded me an independent 'single' life and mixing with happy go-lucky people that,meant backsliding for me. In short, since my spiritual birth, I jumped from one church to the next, hampering my growth and relationship with my Lord JESUS for many years. Then GOD led me Italy where I started from scratch, with no job, no money,nobody for a friend, no means to almost anything. But I/we met a family-clan of fellow-Filipinos who hosted us,fed us and helped us for many months until we were able to stand on our own.Year 2002 I found International Christian Fellowship,about the same time that I met an Italian man who eventually became my husband.ICF became our homechurch up until we had our first and only child,who on her third month of life 'played' the baby JESUS in ICF's 2006 Christmas Nativity scene. Since then, yes there had been a few minor and negligible problems such as bickering,indifference,pride and other forms of immaturity,in this church which challenged me to change church yet again.

Now GOD made me realize that, every church is made up of imperfect people like me, trying to live out the mind of CHRIST. GOD showed me that  the church I'm looking for ,will only begin to exist as soon as we change this corruptible bodies to an incorruptible one. I believe it is GOD Who has planted me and our family,here in this church.

The first time that I stayed so long with one church, not necessarily of my own choice. Personally,I find some church-mates who are not exactly 'like-feathers' with me or vice-versa, but I know in spite of our differences,that GOD understands where each of us is coming from,especially me.In the same token, there are also many members here who make ICF church worth attending. Each of us is different and the best thing we can do is not look to each other but Only to JESUS.
 I remember when Peter was curious and wondered (or made a comparison?  about John, in John 21:21) JESUS told Peter 'What is that to you? You follow me.'  As if emphasizing, not to bother about others' business, but our 'business' is exclusively with CHRIST only.

We know that the church is the House of The Father, where HE meets us HIS children. Where HE mainly houses HIS corporate blessings.Where our children are taught GOD's ways and blessed above all.Needless to say, our Heavenly Father loves each of us, and likewise as HIS church, unconditionally.

So having 'said' all, I conclude that; we will have to either (with)stand or celebrate each other's differences until JESUS returns, and praise GOD that HE made each of us unique in HIS Own image.GOD BLESS us all Tremendously in JESUS Name Amen!

Today's message by our Pastor Rick Pasquale, has been a compelling drive for Christians to use the power of and in the WORD Spoken by GOD HIMSELF. Today's earthquake has been a foretaste of an unseen power  (much like that of an electricity or signal reception/frequency) that translates to physical movement whether negative (as this earthquake) or positive such as that of electricity.
First off, let nobody claim that an earthquake or tsunami or natural calamities are acts of God. The Bible declares that;  The thief(devil) comes not but for to steal, kill and to destroy.
I(JESUS) have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.  John 10:10
 Let this be very clear in our minds.

The Bible verse cited  today is Mark 11:23 "For verily I say to you,That whosoever shall say to this mountain,be thou removed,and be cast thou cast into the sea;and shall not doubt in his heart,but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass;he shall have whatsoever he says."

And that there is incredible power in the WORD of GOD, I believe.As it says in Hebrews 4:12

For The WORD of GOD is Alive and Active,sharper than any double-edged sword,it penetrates even to the dividing soul and spirit,joints and marrow;it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

So the same power that created all the wonders we experience,the nature,cosmos,stars and planets  . ..HE does not 'talk' by means of an earthquake although HIS power exceeds all. Just imagine,if you are a mortal human parent, no sane or loving parent would subject his child/children to extreme terror just to catch his/her attention or teach him/her a lesson? In as much as a loving parent can only serve to give their children the best of care, what more with our Ever-Loving FATHER WHO sent HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, our LORD JESUS to die to redeem us from sin?

As it is,This Power is ever relevant and needful to our life today and while here on earth. In heaven there will be no more battles, no struggles, no warfare,no more failures and pain  . . ..we need this Power (made available by JESUS' Authority Legally delegated to HIS followers and believers by the Token Divine 'receipt' in and through HIS sinless Blood.) here and now, because our adversary.the enemy of our souls, is an evil spirit, therefore our weapon is also spiritual, in JESUS. There are seen/unseen angels who help us in our everyday walk,to overcome the challenges each day may present.

How? Well, the key was given by JESUS,SPEAK TO YOUR MOUNTAIN ABOUT HOW BIG OUR GOD IS. RECITE GOD'S OWN WORDS INTO YOUR DAY.EVERYDAY.BECAUSE WE LIVE ON A PER-DAY BASIS. JESUS DID HIS WORK ON EARTH BY DECLARING HEALING, PEACE VICTORY AND GOD'S POWERFUL LOVE.If we can believe the bank that promises to transfer into our savings account a huge sum of money. Much more, we can Trust This GOD IN WHOSE WORDS ALONE, HANG ALL THE UNIVERSES AND CREATIONS,IN JESUS.So in ending, I would remind you to remember today's verse; Mark 11:23. And GOD BLESS us all,Tremendously in JESUS name Amen!

As it is CHRIST is the only One who claimed that,HIS followers would be persecuted for HIS Name's sake.And that not,to be afraid,that those who can kill the body cannot kill the soul (Matt. 10:28). Would you know beloved? JESUS CHRIST represents our FATHER Who IS in heaven. We are HIS children,only those who will decide to take HIS side, by heart conversion. Since satan cannot hurt or attack The FATHER, he hurts The FATHER by attacking HIS children. Our Lord JESUS CHRIST is the WORD of GOD that came to flesh (John 1:14 The WORD made Flesh and dwelt among us). The WORD of GOD is a two-edged Sword. The Written WORD of GOD or the Scriptures, and The Person of our Lord JESUS CHRIST Who is our all in all. (Time and space are not enough to expound on this,GOD's Sovereign Grace, Love and Mercy to us). If it's only upto satan he would annihilate any trace or evidence of GOD in my GOD's Own creations,and that is what all anti-semitism is all about and Christian persecution.These are all satan's attempts to eliminate GOD on earth, and rule the world on his own as he always dreamed (Isaiah 14:13-14).
There is a battle going-on on this earth.And it's not between men and satan, but between GOD and satan.It's a battle to win the hearts and minds of men. You don't have to fight this battle on your own. Our Almighty GOD has taken care of it for us HIS children, all we have to do is switch to HIS Gracious side by accepting the salvation which is wrapped in the death and resurrection of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, which is the ransom GOD paid to redeem us.Praise the LORD! This is not our battle, but the LORD's (2 Chron. 20:15) and would you know, GOD has HIS mighty and powerful angels that surround and protect them, who are HIS just like this fragile-looking man preaching openly and fearlessly amid these muslim crowd. It amazed me that no one dared to touch or harm him,but I can only explain by citing GOD's protection.
Thank YOU LORD ! There is no one like YOU ! YOU are Worthy of all Glory, Honor and praises.Let the Holy and Powerful Blood of our Lord JESUS CHRIST cover us continually, in JESUS' Name we ask and Thank YOU very much GOD-PAPA Amen!