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Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great

things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had

compassion on thee." Mark 5:19

P A R S / A N T R O N A S

BIBLE STORY,

MY STORY,

YOUR STORY

In Bible Story, My Story, Your Story, will inspire you to see how the day-to-day story you may face in your life. Our journey of faith will come alive as you explore the divine Narrative in the New and Old Testament contemporary characters and discover how the Bible reveals God’s plans for you today.

With personal warmth and heartfelt examples of Pars and Ant’s story which reveasl God’s loving and orderly purpose and perspective. The stories unveil a personal look at the story of God’s eternal redemption being told through your individual story right now.

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Bible Story “Jesus Heals a Paralytic”

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Days later, Jesus returned to Capernaum for more teaching. The crowds discovered the house where Jesus was staying. The crowds trying to get into the house were so great that there was no room for anyone to even squeeze through a door. Jesus was teaching them the word of God. Pharisees and doctors of the law had come from every village of Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem.

Jesus was displaying the Lord’s power as healed people of all sorts of sickness and disease.

Four men carried a man in a bed who was paralyzed, but they could not reach Jesus because of the crowds.

So they carried the man up the stairs to the rooftop where they uncovered the roof tiles and let the man down through the hole in the roof. They let him down right in the middle of the crowd where Jesus was teaching and healing. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralyzed man: “Man, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven.”

When some of the scribes and Pharisees who were sitting near Jesus heard what he had said to the paralytic, they spoke among and wondered: How can he say something like this? He is a blasphemer. Who is this person speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins? Only God can forgive a man’s sins. Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked them: Why are you thinking evil thoughts in your hearts? What is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, 'your sins be forgiven,' or to say, 'stand up and take up your bed and walk?'

The man immediately stood up and took his bed and walked in front of everyone. He left for his house, glorifying God. Everyone was amazed, and when the crowd saw what had happened, they were afraid. They were filled with excitement and began glorifying God who had given such authority to a man.

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MY STORY Ant Ronas

“YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN”

As leaders of a community back home, my husband and I experienced a lot of trials dealing with Christians. Having differences of opinion on the non-essential matters and use this as justification for division and sometimes even insight anger. It has been a problem to work together and to display an attitude of humility. The devil always wants Christians to fall into self abuse of division and bickering. The human brain is like a computer; it is a memory bank and, whether it is short term or long term, it releases biochemical stress responses when you meditate and rehearse all the offenses that have been committed towards you. Stress causes a variety of sickness and disease to harvest in our lives. Because of this situation, I developed a thyroid disorder, a lamp as big as an egg on the right side of my neck. I was scheduled for surgery. I wanted to know what this surgery was all about, so I decided to go to a bookstore and researched about this surgery. Found out that I will be in pills for life, will gain weight and if the surgery will not be successful, I can lose my voice. I got scared and I immediately cancelled the surgery the next day. I decided to have another alternative for healing that is a divine healing. I started reading the Bible and tried every possible ways I read to apply to myself. The first thing I did was to be prayed over. I attended every healing service, but still was not healed.

Every time I see the lamp in my neck, I felt I was dying soon. I read in the Bible not to think negative thoughts and not to confess anything negative, but instead confess and claim the word of God about healing. I placed a note on every mirror in the house with the words “By the stripes of Jesus I am healed” Still it

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did not work. The time came when we flew to the United States as immigrants, the lamp was still there. I did not lose hope and I continued reading the Bible for other possible ways I might have overlooked, some instructions that I need to follow and with fervent prayers, I asked the lord to reveal to me what I should do. I came across the chapter where Jesus healed the paralytic. He said to the paralyzed man: “ Man, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven.” Then he said “stand up and take up your bed and walk?”

The man immediately stood up and took his bed and walked in front of everyone. He left for his house, glorifying God.

God’s wisdom immediately revealed to me the message behind the story. The key word is forgiveness! Have I been hurt and devastated by someone? Suddenly it was like a motion picture, the Lord showed me in my subconscious, individuals who has caused me pain and stress and one by one by the grace of God I forgave them. Little did I know, I have allowed the hurt to get rooted in bitterness, unconsciously, but nevertheless it was a deadly poison causing my heart rate faster than normal and my body temperature caused me to sweat. After this episode of forgiving and asking God to forgive me for harboring resentment and unforgiveness in my heart, the next day, the lamp completely disappeared. I was healed!

Don’t drink the deadly poison! Forgiveness is powerful weapon against negative health effects. We can choose to experience total freedom, health, and healing from the inside out and that is just one of the keys to living healthier and happier!

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BIBLE STORY

David and Goliath The Philistine army had gathered for war against Israel. The two armies faced each other, camped for battle on opposite sides of a steep valley. A Philistine giant measuring over nine feet tall and wearing full armor came out each day for forty days, mocking and challenging the Israelites to fight. His name was Goliath. Saul, the King of Israel, and the whole army were terrified of Goliath.

One day David, the youngest son of Jesse, was sent to the battle lines by his father to bring back news of his brothers. David was probably just a young teenager at the time. While there, David heard Goliath shouting his daily defiance and he saw the great fear stirred within the men of Israel. David responded, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of God?"

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So David volunteered to fight Goliath. It took some persuasion, but King Saul finally agreed to let David fight against the giant. Dressed in his simple tunic, carrying his shepherd's staff, slingshot and a pouch full of stones, David approached Goliath. The giant cursed at him, hurling threats and insults.

David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied ... today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air ... and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel ... it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

As Goliath moved in for the kill, David reached into his bag and slung one of his stones at Goliath's head. Finding a hole in the armor, the stone sank into the giant's forehead and he fell face down on the ground. David then took Goliath's sword, killed him and then cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. So the Israelites pursued,

chasing and killing them and plundering their camp.

Points of Interest from the David and Goliath Story

David's faith in God caused him to look at the giant from a

different perspective. Goliath was merely a mortal man defying an

all-powerful God. David looked at the battle from God's point of

view. If we look at giant problems and impossible situations from

God's perspective, we realize that God will fight for us and with

us. When we put things in proper perspective, we see more

clearly and we can fight more effectively.

• When the giant criticized, insulted and threatened, David didn't

stop or even waver. Everyone else cowered in fear, but David ran

to the battle. He knew that action needed to be taken. David did

the right thing in spite of discouraging insults and fearful threats.

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Only God's opinion mattered to David.

Questions for Reflection:

Are you facing a giant problem or impossible situation? Stop for a

minute and refocus. Can you see the situation more clearly from

God's vantage point?

Do you need to take courageous action in the face of insults and

fearful circumstances? Do you trust that God will fight for you and

with you? Remember, God's opinion is the only one that matters.

MY STORY Pars Ronas

THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S

Ant and I had a longing to live a life of purpose. There was a pull from within—a persistent inner voice that won't go away. We started yearning for meaningful work, deeper relationships with others, and to give our unique gifts in order to make the world a better place. A burning desire to awaken these God given gifts and talents that we can use in our service to the world—while living a life of joy and fulfillment. When we migrated here in America, the first thing we did was to look for a prayer meeting that was in 1986. Most of the prayer meetings in the parish churches were English prayer groups. Their format was quite different from what we had in the Philippines. It was like a contemplative prayer meeting, no worship songs just reading the gospel and sharing their individual insights. Attending this weekly seemed not enough; there was something else we were looking for. There was this urgency we felt that the world needs our contribution, but the challenge of "changing course" sometimes feels like it's just too much... like

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you may never truly live a life of purpose. After having struggled so much to actualize our purpose, we knew that God was leading us to a mission we thought it was not really possible to achieve here in America. One day a very close friend invited us to help a small group and that was the start of our service; to continue what we were doing back home, helping prayer groups grow which was deeply fulfilling. The news spread around los Angels that we were helping build communities. This reached the attention of a newly arrived priest from the Philippines. We were invited to join his ministry to reach out to the Filipino group. When he saw our potentials based on our experiences in the Philippine, he assigned us to be the Chairperson of a committee he created. Ant and I helped him out with other leaders to hold a gathering of all the Filipino prayer groups held at the Grand Theater in LA. It was well attended, never before they said they have seen a gathering of all the Filipino group worshipping and praising God in a huge place. The priest admitted that he never thought this could be possible and he confessed, he was about to give up with his mission. But when he witnessed people were very generous in their donations, in that gathering, thus made this priest relieved and once more motivated to continue with his mission. There are two verses that became a reality after this grand celebration.…But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another."Galatians 5: 15

"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (1 Cor. 1:10-11) God knows the weakness of man and this scripture is a warning to all. There was one among the leaders of this committee who became ambitious and started creating a division. She gave in to

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Satan’s schemes. The apostle Paul says that we must not be unaware of Satan’s schemes. Yet surprisingly few Christians understand very much about this number one scheme: SLANDER. The saddest part of all, the priest heading this committee, turned around and gave in also to Satan’s schemes and was consumed with one another that led to envy, slander, disunity and division among the members. Since we were the chairperson of the committee, we where the target of this slander. She “thrust through” to destroy the respect, our credibility, and reputation by spreading false rumors. She succeeded in taking our position and became the sphere head of this committee up to this present date. Friends and members of our prayer group were very angry and they were thinking of ways to retaliate for us but praise and thank the Lord we were not moved and relied on God’s promise that if we are with God no one can be against us. And this Story of David was our inspiration when he said, “The battle is the Lord’s.” We could not fight the giant (priest) who believed the story of this woman, but with faith in our heart, we knew all the while, God will fight for us and with us! Before our very eyes, we saw God’s hand and his mighty power fought for us, just like David. God created a situation in a leader’s meeting we were invited, when we arrived, all those leaders who sided with her, approached us and with nonverbal action embraced and hugged us with misty eyes… And we felt their remorse deep in our soul that the Lord touched their hearts and revealed to them the truth and the truth has set them all free! Glory to God.

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BIBLE STORY: NOAH’S ARK

God saw how great wickedness had become and decided to wipe mankind from the face of the earth. However, one righteous man among all the people of that time, Noah, found favor in God's eyes. With very specific instructions, God told Noah to build an ark for him and his family in preparation for a catastrophic flood that would destroy every living thing on earth. People where laughing at him while he was building the ark. No one believed

about what God was telling him to do.

God also instructed Noah to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, both male and female, and seven pairs of all the clean animals, along with every kind of food to be stored for the animals and his family while on the ark. Noah obeyed everything

God commanded him to do.

After they entered the ark, rain fell on the earth for a period of

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forty days and nights. The waters flooded the earth for a hundredand fifty days, and every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out. As the waters receded, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. Noah and his family continued to wait for almost eight more months while the surface of the earth dried

out.

Finally after an entire year, God invited Noah to come out of the ark. Immediately, he built an altar and worshiped the Lord with burnt offerings from some of the clean animals. God was pleased with the offerings and promised never again to destroy all the living creatures as he had just done. Later God established a covenant with Noah: "Never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth." As a sign of this everlasting covenant God set a

rainbow in the clouds.

Points of Interest from the Story: • God's purpose in the flood was not to destroy people, but to destroy wickedness and sin. • With more detail in Genesis 7:2-3, God instructed Noah to take seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, and two of every kind of unclean animal. Bible scholars have calculated that approximately 45,000 animals might have fit on the ark. • Genesis 7:16 interestingly points out that God shut them in the ark, or "closed the door," so to speak. • The ark was exactly six times longer than it was wide. According to the Life Application Bible study notes, this is the same ratio used by modern ship builders. • In modern times researchers continue to look for evidence of Noah's Ark. Check out this article by Joe Kovacs from ©

WorldNetDaily.com on the "Ararat Anomaly."

Question for Reflection: Noah was righteous and blameless, but he was not sinless (see Genesis 9:20-21). Noah pleased God and found favor because he

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loved and obeyed God with his whole heart. As a result, Noah's life was an example to his entire generation. Although everyone around him followed the evil in their hearts, Noah followed God. Does your life set an example, or are you negatively influenced by

the people around you?

MY STORY Ant Ronas

LED BY THE SPIRIT

During the Japanese occupation in the Philippines, to avoid needless violence and civilian deaths and also to preserve as large a force as possible to continue defensive operations in rural Luzon, Imperial Japanese Army General Tomoyuki Yamashita had ordered a complete withdrawal of Japanese troops from Manila. However, 10,000 marines under Vice Admiral Sanji Iwabuchi disobeyed Yamashita's orders and remained in Manila along with some IJA stragglers. 13

Japanese Occupation Massacre

When my family heard the danger to stay in Manila, they hurriedly left and took the advice of other members of the family to go to Obando Bulacan on foot. My mom who was a devotee of the Sacred heart of Jesus, placed the image inside her blouse at her chest. Moment by moment, she was asking God’s guidance to where to go. It was very timely when they left Manila because during lulls in the battle for control of the city, Japanese troops took out their anger and frustration on the civilians caught in the crossfire. Japanese troops looted and burned, and brutally executed, decapitated and abused women, men and children alike, including priests, Red Cross personnel, prisoners of war and hospital patients. The Manila massacre was one of several major war crimes committed by the Imperial Japanese Army.

My mom was seeking God’s direction all the way. We only realized the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit upon her until we looked back in retrospect how God wove events together to accomplish his will in our lives.

Something happened when we arrived in Obando. My mom wanted the family to stay together in one place, but my dad decided to follow the leading of the crowed to go and stay in the church. My mom refused to take her children to a place she believed was not the safe place because that was the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to her. Unfortunately, my dad by so many talks he’s been hearing around simply was mesmerized and carried away, so his decision was to leave his family, maybe thinking my mom would change her mind and follow him to the church. My mom had a strong perception that the Japanese were marching towards the church to massacre the people. My mom asked my eldest brother to go and fetch my dad and tell him the Japanese are on their way to the church to massacre people. Because of her prayers, my dad believed my son and they were able to leave the church on time. My mom’s prediction came to reality. All the people in the church were massacred.

Of course, the skeptic would deny that God was involved with

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such things. “Mere coincidence!” would be the claim. But sometimes the coincidences are so astounding that I find it very, very hard to believe anything other than that some Supreme Being is guiding events.

My mom pleased God and found favor because she loved and obeyed God with her whole heart. Although everyone around her followed the crowed, my mom was steadfast in her decision to follow God’s inspiration because she was praying and listening and asking for direction and guidance.

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BIBLE STORY

Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35-40)

35 And the same day, when the evening was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the

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hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Compare: Matthew 13:34,35; Matthew 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25

Jesus’ Power over Nature

During the trip across the Sea of Galilee, a large storm comes up — so large that the boat threatens to sink after so much water has entered it. The disciples were so scared that they woke Jesus up to find out whether he cared if they all drowned.

Jesus proceeds to end the storm and restore the sea to calm — but why? Calming the storm doesn’t appear to have been absolutely necessary because he rebukes the others for not having faith — presumably, they should have trusted that nothing would happen to them while he was around. So ostensibly, had he not stopped the storm they would have made it across just fine.

This story is supposed to teach us not to be fearful of the chaos and violence around us in our lives. First, if we have faith, then no harm is to come to us. Second, if you act as Jesus and simply command the chaos to “be still,” then you will at least achieve some inner sense of peace and thus be less troubled by what is occurring.

MY STORY Pars Ronas

Recalling the Story of Jesus in the Boat

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I would like to share one particular Faith Experience. Though I already consider myself a mature Christian, preaching the Word of God, there was one incident I doubted the saving grace of God.

One stormy night I was on my way to give a talk in a prayer meeting, turbulent downpours of rain, like massive violent hurricane, drowned the streets while I was on the way. Numerous reports of flooding on local streets and highways came in during the evening hours.

I started praying and was asking the Lord if I should proceed after seeing cars trapped in the flood. I said to myself, “God will understand the situation if I don’t go.” All of a sudden, a tiny voice impressed in my heart a question” What is the topic you are going to teach tonight? O Lord, its Matthew 4:35, Jesus calms the storm. “Am I not in your vessel? You are my temple…you should not fear of any chaos around you.” Without second thoughts, I proceeded and the Lord reminded me of how to cross the flood.

I proceeded slowly to avoid making large waves in the water. I stayed toward the middle lanes and I engaged first gear and kept the engine running fast by releasing the clutch just enough to partially engage gear and giving more acceleration than usual.

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This keeps the exhaust gases moving, helping to prevent water from entering the tailpipe. While moving on, I kept on saying Jesus, Jesus help me! Many cars following me stopped.

Whenever we doubt, we just have to remind ourselves all the time, that no harm is to come to us if we acknowledge that He is in us and if we act as Jesus and simply command the chaos to “be still,” then we will at least achieve some inner sense of peace and thus be less troubled by what is occurring. That is exactly what happened to me, in that moment of doubt when I prayed, He calmed me and instructed me what to do.

I still believe no one is immune to doubt. It can and does happen to us all. You've just got to know how to handle it when it comes. Even the greatest men and women of God recorded in the Bible had to deal with doubt.

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AAAnnnttt’’’sss AAAnnngggeeelllsss

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