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The main thing on the first session was being Humble and Selfless as attributes of being Christlikeness.

Last week we shared this with our cousin over lunch. We shared to him how Christ worked miracles in our life and what were some of the lessons we learned that helped us through our life.

Since we are both married already, one of the lessons we shared was being Christlike to improve our marriage. We mentioned that what we thought was a normal day was really sorely lacking in love and communication. Going through the day and just talking about all the chores and things needed to get through the day, the week or the month for the whole year is not enough communication between husband and wife. Not surprisingly this is getting to be the norm in our society.

We told him about the “3 questions” discussion that will improve our communication with our spouse and ultimately our relationship with each other. Question 1: “How have I been Christlike/Good this week?” Question 2: How have I hurt you this week? Question 3: “How can I Improve?” Continuing this weekly will develop humility and selflessness in a person as one accepts criticism and implements self improvements. We also mentioned that we could involve the kids as well not just to us couples. This will give the kids a sense of belonging in the family and will know they have a safe space in the family to voice out their own thoughts as well.

First sharing with a non christian family member in MD done. Sharing with family can be a bit daunting as they are not just some random people that you can just avoid or not meet again if something goes awry.

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This is a snap of our very first family ID, 3 weeks ago. Nearly didn't happen. It started with a reprimand on our teener, whose tone of answer we didn't like and spiralled into an argument between me and jacqy. In short, the mood wasn't right to start it. I felt like if we didn't push thru, some force must be behind it and prevented this from happening. It felt like it was so wrong timing. But despite it we all pressed on amidst the anger, frustration, negative energy to start it nevertheless.

We started with a prayer.

Then proceeded to talk about the WHY we are doing this. Emphasizing that we are also a work in progress christians, and we should all do this together.

Consequently, we also revisited how selfless, humble, and obedient Jesus Christ was, which was how a christian should be known.

Only then, we proceeded to ask  the 3 humbling questions on each other.  We respected each views of us on how we hurt them, asked for forgiveness, and asked them how we can improve. We all felt better afterwards because we felt heard, we felt like respected, and felt the need for us to change.  What a blessing!

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Mark & Bambi

We learned during the first session that:
God has a purpose for everything that happens with us
He already accomplished everything already in us
God is humble, selfless and loving.

We commit to apply Christlikeness in our marriage and to our children. To do it, we will seek everyday for the Holy Spirit to help us in that part.

This week, I will keep inviting my brother James who has not yet received Christ to worship with us in CCF and pray for his salvation ( Mark). I will reach out to my family back home in the Phils , call for a family gathering and intentionally ask for forgiveness from my parents and siblings. ( Bambi)

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Moises - As a disciple of Christ, one of my primary task is to disciple my family and that is done by praying, encouraging and reminding my wife and I in ways to honor Christ and glorify Him.

Etche - After the workshop I realized how unforgiving I am to my husband because of my pride. This robbed our quality time together  because of the bitterness I have to him. It’s good to be reminded Of Jesus’ characteristics that christians must be followed. I choose to forgive even if so hard and difficult but Knowing that God will strengthens me I know I will be humbled.

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I have learned from the 1st session that in order to become a successful and credible Christian I need to humble myself, if we become CHRISTLIKENESS we become pleasing to God, and discipleship starts at home.

I regard myself as a humble person not until I completed the 1st session. Realization that I am selfish and prideful. I have an ungrateful and complaining heart, impatient, inconsiderate and list goes on.

My takeaway is that I must start to submit to my husband, stay humble, show respect as the leader of our family, ready to listen, shower him with unconditional love, forgive seventy-seven times, be gentle with my voice and speak life no matter what is the situation I am in. Only through these changes I can demonstrate CHRISTLIKENESS to my children and be God’s living testimony on how He transform lives the way He designed it to be.

Now instead of praying to God to change my husband and children, I pray for HIM to change me and help me to attend to His calling as a Wife and Mother. God has showed me what is my real purpose in life.

My husband and I will continue to read our devotional and pray together before we go to sleep at night and daily create a habit of open communication on how we can improve ourselves. With the help of the Holy Spirit I will work on the things that God has convicted me and have a quiet time with the Lord. For my children, I plan to set a once a week catch up with them through Face Time though they all have busy schedules, I know God will make a way for me to be able to do this.

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭143‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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This week I learned about:
- humility daily (being humble in all times) practice Christ likeness, to think others first before my self.
My friend visited me and they stay for a week in our house, i was excited and clean the room where they will stay and clean my car and prepared extra car seat for there son, so we can drive around, I even do grocery so I can prepare foods for them.it’s not easy cuz I do have job and two kids to take care, I could just say I’m working and I’m so busy and just meet them somewhere, but god remind me to be Christ likeness, part of it is to not to be selfish so I take  3days off so I can drive them around and catching up with them.

-make a DISCIPLE, while they staying at our house, I shared that I’m attending ccf, and shared all I learned, that my story is not my story but god story of how he orchestrate everything, and put me where I am now and keeping us blessed all the time.

Stop doing: being selfish and looking my self I’m better than anybody cuz I’m just nothing without god. He can takeout everything in a snap of his finger,

Start doing: being humble at all times, I am just so blessed that god gave me all of this blessings that I have and share them with people.

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I praise God for how he has been using our cousin’s dgroup in growing our relationship with God and one another as well. The ID training encouraged me to be more intentional in knowing each one more personally, listen more and be active in helping each one become more accountable in our faith journeys. Today, they were able open up how they are able to practice becoming more like Jesus to their family members like being available to listen, being slow to speak, seeking to understand and care rather than being judgmental and sacrificially loving with joy.

Application:
-I will schedule ID meeting 1x monthly with ate Susie starting this April.

-I will pray for each cousin’s prayer items every Sat morning.

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The ID training session 1 reminded us that our first ministry should be our family. That we were called to disciple and the mission field God has placed us right now is our kids. So we shared the lesson from ID training session 1 to them which was all about being humble. We used the story of "Rabbit and Turtoise" for them to easily grasp it. We paraphrased the Philippians 2:3-5 to “Don’t be selfish, be humble and think others more than yourself" (for them to easily memorize it). We also asked them if what are the things that they want us to stop and start doing to regard them as more important. Their answers are very starightforward and it humbled our hearts.

Stop doing-
Chen: Mama should stop shouting and Papa should stop using his Cellphone and Computer
Kendu: Mama should stop working and looking at phone and Papa should stop using computer

Start doing-
Go to beach (more time together outdoor)

This is actually the first time that we intentionally sat down with the kids and talked about Jesus and His words. We are praising God for reminding us of our privilege and responsibility to disciple them.

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My sister, Zharmyn and I are close, but we sort of drifted apart in terms of our beliefs. Growing up as a Catholic just became a religion for us, but I seek to have a relationship with God. I pray that one day she'll also take the same path as I do.

I've been reminded to be more mindful of my behavior by taking control of my temper and to not let it get the best of me, in order to achieve Christlikeness.

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Ben- Restarted date night with Aims and instantly reminded of the benefits of regular heart to heart. I will be mindful to keep doing our date nights.

Aimeeh- I was reminded from the workshop of my pride. After our ID, I  learned that i can improve on being consistent with my voice tone to be gentle by God’s grace.