In 2024, I experienced something I never thought would become one of the most painful chapters of my life.

It was an accident something that happened in just a moment, but changed so many things afterward.

I broke a bone in my ankle, and the injury was serious enough that I had to undergo an operation. Suddenly, I found myself in a hospital bed, physically broken, emotionally confused, and facing one of the lowest points of my life.

I always believed that when something terrible happens, your family would be the first people you could run to. After all, we were taught that family comes first that family should be our home, our safe place, and the people who would hold us when life becomes too heavy.

But my experience taught me something different.

During the time when I needed support the most, only a few people truly showed up for me, my closest sister, Dhea and my boyfriend, Dylmar. They were there when I was struggling, when I couldn't do things on my own, and when I needed someone to hold on to.

And then, I began to see people differently.

I experienced betrayal from someone I never thought would hurt me my own mother, especially when it came to financial matters. I was also physically hurt by my eldest sister while I was still injured. Instead of being comforted, I was blamed for the accident. I was told that it happened because I had no proper behavior, and I heard words that hurt more deeply than my physical wounds.

Imagine being injured, recovering from an operation, and already struggling to stand only to feel like you had to defend yourself against the very people you thought would protect you.

Eventually, I left home.

I was still injured. Still healing. Still trying to understand why the people I expected to protect me were making my pain even heavier.

I didn't leave because I stopped caring.

I left because I needed to survive and heal.

There were days when I felt like I had no choice but to be strong for myself. But God didn't leave me alone.

My boyfriend stayed beside me. He helped me through the days when I couldn't help myself. He became one of the people God used to remind me that I was not alone.

And slowly, I learned how to heal not only my broken ankle, but also the broken parts of my heart.

And then came the plot twist.

I used to think the accident was the worst thing that ever happened to me.

But now, I realize that the accident wasn't the thing that broke me.

It was the thing that opened my eyes.

It showed me who would stay when I had nothing to give.

It showed me that sometimes, the people we share blood with may not be the people who make us feel safe, while someone who isn't even related to us can choose to stay when we are at our weakest.

And it taught me something about family that I never understood before.

Yes, I believe that God teaches us to value our family. Family should be protected, loved, respected, and cared for. I still believe that.

But I also believe that God sees everything we don't see.

He knows when a relationship is hurting you more than it is helping you. He knows when someone's presence is slowly destroying your peace. And sometimes, when He sees that you are being hurt even by people who share your blood He creates distance to protect you.

Because being family doesn't give anyone permission to destroy you.

Blood makes us related, but it doesn't excuse cruelty.

And keeping my distance doesn't mean I don't care about them.

I still care.

I still wish them well.

I still pray that someday, things may become better.

But healing also taught me that forgiveness and trust are two different things.

I can forgive someone without immediately allowing them back into the same place in my life.

And honestly, I don't know if the trust I once had will ever come back completely.

Maybe it will.

Maybe it won't.

And I've learned to leave that in God's hands.

I don't need to force reconciliation just because we share the same blood. I don't need to pretend that nothing happened just to keep the appearance of a perfect family.

For now, I choose distance not out of hatred, but out of healing.

Looking back now…

I no longer see 2024 as simply the year I had an accident.

I see it as the year that changed me.

The year I learned who was real.

The year I discovered how strong I could be.

The year I learned that healing doesn't always happen in the same place where you were hurt.

And most importantly, the year I learned that God never left me even when the people I expected to stay did.

My ankle healed.

But the greater healing happened inside me.

I learned to stop begging people to understand my pain.

I learned that I don't have to keep proving that I deserve to be treated with kindness.

I learned that sometimes, walking away isn't giving up.

Sometimes, walking away is choosing yourself and trusting God to take care of what you cannot fix.

Today, I still carry scars from what happened. Some are visible, and some aren't.

But I no longer see those scars as reminders of how broken I was.

I see them as proof that I survived.

Maybe that was God's plan all along.

He didn't allow me to go through that chapter because He wanted to destroy me.

He allowed me to go through it because He was preparing me for the person I was meant to become.

And if you're reading this while going through your own lowest point, remember this:

Don't be afraid when God creates distance between you and certain people.

Sometimes, you may think He's taking people away from you.

But later, you'll realize

He was actually taking you away from what was hurting you.

You may not understand it while you're in the middle of the pain.

But one day, you'll look back and realize that what you thought was a loss…

was God's protection.

And what you thought was the end…

was actually the beginning of your healing.

I was already active in church, belonged to a dgroup, and was involved in ministry. Then I fell asleep.

The next morning, a loud POP woke me up. I thought the ceiling light exploded because I felt something bounce of my ankle. What I saw was a bullet beside my ankle, still warm to the touch.

That happened in the month of January. Apparently, it was a ligaw na bala that entered my window. It made a hole in the screen, but it was the old metallic venetian blind that bore the brunt of the impact. Cutting the metallic blade into two, making the bullet gently bounce of my ankle.

I have never questioned the existence of God ever again nor do I doubt His love for me.

Don't we have an extraordinary God, protecting an ordinary person, dispelling the lies of Satan? All praises belong to Him alone.

From an empty heart, to a broken one, to now overflowing with joy and love, all because of our EXTRAORDINARY GOD! To Him be all the glory and praise!

Hindi perfect ang bahay na ginawa ni papa para sa aming anim na magkakapatid. Maraming tulo tuwing umuulan, mainit pag maaraw, at marupok. Ngayon, nasa ikatlong taon na 'ko ng kursong Architecture. Kurso na time consuming at kailangan ng malaking space para gumawa. Hindi ko alam paano pa ako nakaabot dito, but one things for sure, He's carrying me. This past few days, triple ang tulo ng bahay, nabasa ang mga gawa ko, at pinagpiyestahan ako ng lamok. Dumating ako sa doubtful phase where I questioned if choosing this course was right, maybe I dreamed too high, that I was born in a wrong family. There, I questioned His plans. Masakit mapunta sa paulit ulit na endurance sa same problem. Nagmukmok at nagtampo ako Kay Lord dahil sa stress and anxiety. But, as I said "Hindi ko na po kaya, Lord." and listen to a worship song "Goodness of God" I broke down a river. There, He cleared my anxious thoughts and helped me take a step to fix the roof. Inaantok na po ako mag type 😭 pero long story short, He revealed to me that the holes on our roof isn't the root but rather the moist between the insulation foam and the metal roof. It's not about how imperfect our house is, how imperfect my father, how imperfect am I. I'm looking at a shallow perspective and didn't dare to depend on Him during this times to see things clearly. After I removed the foam, the leaks are gone and my set up is now ready for my tasks. Kahit alanganin na sa deadlines ngayon, I believe He will carry me through it on time.

No more doubting, just trusting in His goodness all the time even things are not clear on my plain sight. Only by faith.

Growing up in a dysfunctional family meant falling asleep and waking up to the sound of my parents fighting. The shouting, the harsh words, the tension—it doesn't simply disappear when the noise stops. Somewhere along the way, it becomes engraved in you.

And I learned that words can leave wounds too. Sometimes, the sharpest things aren’t the ones that touch your skin—they’re the ones that cut deep into your heart.

I remember one morning when my mom said hurtful things about me. I was already overwhelmed. I had a major accounting exam that day, was puyat kakareview, terrified of failing, and still had a long trip to school ahead of me.

I WAS ANGRY.

So angry that for a moment, I wanted to hit her. But I stopped myself and punched the glass door instead.

The glass broke, my hand was bleeding, and the house was suddenly filled with blood.

Somehow, that punch released years of anger I didn't know how to carry.

And yet, that same morning, I still had to fix myself, stop the bleeding, travel to school, and take that exam.

I vividly remember the blood staining my exam papers. I was hurting in more ways than one, but I had an exam to finish. So I kept focusing and writing.

For a long time, I saw that scar as a reminder of THE DAY I LOST CONTROL.

Then one day, as I walk the path to Christianity, I gave up my life to Jesus! He has taught me to see it differently.

Jesus understands what it means to carry wounds.

As it is written, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering... and by his wounds we are healed.” — Isaiah 53:4–5

Jesus met me in the places where I was broken. He carried what I couldn't carry and taught me that my anger may be part of my story, but it is not my identity.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

I am not the anger I once carried.
I am not the words spoken over me.
I am not the dysfunction I grew up around.
I am not the worst thing I did in my pain.

I am a new creation in Christ.

These hands still carry scars, but now they carry a different story—a story of grace, healing and redemption. The same hands that once held so much pain are now lifted in worship to the God who healed all my wounds.

And if these hands could speak today, I think they'd simply say:

“These scars are part of my story, but they are not my identity. Jesus is.” ✝️❤️

—K. Del Fin ♡

I grew up knowing Him. I knew what it meant to pray, worship, serve, and seek Him. There was once a fire in me—a genuine desire to know God and be close to Him. But somewhere along the way, I started turning away. One compromise became another, and the things I knew were wrong slowly became habits I couldn’t seem to escape.

I kept falling into the same struggles again and again. I knew I was hurting myself. I knew I was distancing myself from God. And the more I failed, the more ashamed I became.

Eventually, I stopped running toward God and started running away from Him.

I thought maybe I had gone too far.

I thought maybe the fire I once had was already gone.

I still believed in God, but my prayer life became almost nonexistent. My devotion disappeared. My hunger for His presence became weaker and weaker. I became comfortable living far away from the One I once desperately wanted to know.

Then one night, something completely unexpected happened.

I was simply scrolling through my phone when I came across a livestream from a CCF member. I almost kept scrolling, but something made me stay.

I listened to someone share his testimony, his struggles, and what God had done in his life. And somehow, the words reached a part of me that I had been trying to ignore for years.

It felt like cold water being poured over me.

Like God was waking me up.

When the livestream ended, I couldn’t just go back to my normal life.

Something in me was telling me to come back.

So that night, I went to my room and spent time alone with God.

I worshipped. I prayed. I confessed the things I had been carrying. I asked Him for forgiveness. I cried. And I asked Him for something I thought I had lost a long time ago:

“God, please bring the fire back.”

What I thought would only be a few minutes became almost three hours.

And somewhere in those hours, I realized something.

I didn’t stop loving God. I had just spent years running away from Him.

I realized how much I missed Him.

I missed praying.

I missed worshipping.

I missed serving.

I missed being in church.

I missed the person I was when my heart was genuinely seeking God.

And for the first time in years, I didn’t feel like I wanted to run anymore.

I wanted to come home.

I can’t say that everything suddenly became perfect that night. I still have struggles. I still have moments when I’m tempted, weak, or discouraged. But something changed.

I stopped wanting to surrender to my struggles. I started wanting to fight.

My desire to pray came back.

My desire to read His Word came back.

My thirst for God came back.

And I began wanting to return to church—not just to sit in a seat, but to worship again, serve again, and be part of the worship team and play instruments again.

Looking back, the craziest part is that I wasn’t searching for some life-changing moment that night.

I was just scrolling.

But God knew exactly where I was.

And I believe He used that ordinary moment to reach me.

Maybe that’s why you’re reading this right now.

Maybe you’re also tired.

Maybe you’ve been falling into the same sin over and over.

Maybe you’ve been hiding from God because you’re ashamed of yourself.

Maybe you used to have a fire for Him, but now you barely pray anymore.

Maybe you’ve convinced yourself that you’ve gone too far.

Please hear me: come back.

Don’t wait until you become perfect.

Don’t wait until you have everything figured out.

Don’t wait until you feel worthy.

Run to God exactly as you are.

I spent years thinking I needed to fix myself before I could come back to Him. But I realized that the whole point was that I couldn’t fix myself by myself.

I needed Him.

And maybe you do too.

Your worst season does not have to be your final chapter.

Your failures do not have the final word.

Your shame does not have to keep you hidden.

If you’ve fallen, get back up.

If you’ve wandered, come home.

If the fire feels small, ask God to breathe on it again.

And if all you can pray is, “God, I’m tired. I need You,” then start there.

Because sometimes returning to God doesn’t begin with a perfect prayer.

Sometimes it begins with simply turning around.

I don’t know where this journey will take me, and I know there will still be difficult days ahead. But this time, I don’t want to run away.

I want to keep walking toward Him.

And if God could find me in the middle of my years of backsliding, shame, and failure, I believe He can find you too.

The fire isn’t something I created. It is something I believe God is bringing back to life.

All glory belongs to Him. 🙏🏻🤍

“Come, let us return to the Lord.”

— Hosea 6:1

I grew up in a broken family and learned early on to look for love, care, and security in other people. I went through relationships filled with heartbreak, trauma, verbal and physical abuse, I experienced betrayal that exposed and humiliated me in ways I never thought possible. I carried these wounds quietly, I always tried to laugh things off and pretend I was okay, until eventually, depression took over.

Since 2024, I had been going through therapy and taking medication, but I still reached a point where nothing could satisfy me anymore. I had money, dream job, business, experiences, and many of the things I once wished for, but I still felt empty.

May 5, 2026 was the lowest point of my life.

That morning, around 8 AM, I broke up with my boyfriend. I was alone in my condo, having a complete mental breakdown. I reached a point where I no longer wanted to live. For the first time, I posted something publicly that showed how broken I was:

"Pagod na po ako. Sorry, Lord."

I was ready to give up.

My ex-boyfriend came to my condo. When I wouldn't open the door, he called the authorities and contacted my family because he was afraid I would hurt myself.

When my family arrived, I couldn't properly communicate. There were strangers everywhere, and I felt overwhelmed. I remember my dad looking at me and saying:

"Anong nangyayari sa'yo? Pag ginawa mo 'yan, paano na ako?" I couldn't bear to face him.

I walked toward the balcony because I didn't know how to process everything I was feeling. I was tired. I hadn't been eating properly. I was numb. After some time, my dad came to me and asked me to sit with him. And shortly after, people from a rehabilitation facility arrived.

That was the moment I felt like my life was over.

I cried. I shouted. I begged for my dad.

I was restrained and carried away.

It was around 2 PM when I arrived at the facility.

I remember praying, "Lord, is this really the plan You have for me?"

I didn't understand what was happening. I was scared. I didn't know how long I would stay there, and I didn't know what would happen to me.

I was placed in an isolation room.

As I observed what was happening around me, I became more and more afraid. I saw things that made me uncomfortable and frightened. I didn't feel safe, and I desperately wanted to get out.

But I was locked inside.

And in that moment, I knelt on the floor and prayed.

"Lord, help me. I know this is not the life You want for me. Please help me. I'll change. I'll fix my life. I'll be a better person."

I was desperate.

While I was alone in that room, I became desperate to escape. I attempted several ways to harm myself. I found a piece of metal from the door and two nails embedded in the wall that I was able to remove with my bare hands. I tried to hurt myself with them, but nothing worked.

I prayed desperately again and cried out, asking God to save me. I felt completely hopeless.

Eventually, in my desperation, I swallowed one of the nails because I desperately wanted to be brought to an emergency room, where I could get away from the facility and talk to my family. I cried and begged the rehab nurses to help me, but at first, they didn’t believe me. Thankfully, I still had the metal piece from the door and another nail as proof of what had happened.

Around 8 PM, I was finally brought to the ER. A doctor informed us that I needed to be transferred to a tertiary hospital because I needed surgery. My family was finally informed, and I was brought to the hospital that night.

I spent 11 days in the hospital, for 9 days I was unable to eat or drink, and underwent major surgery to remove the nail that I swallowed. The recovery was painful, but while lying in that hospital bed, I realized something:

God gave me another chance to live.

I could have died that day, but God preserved my life.

A week after my surgery, I reached out to my childhood friend. I remembered that he had reached out to me after seeing my post. A month after my recovery, he helped me join a DGroup and attended a CCF service. From there, I began growing closer to God and becoming more active in church.

I realized that all my life, I had been searching for love, purpose, and fulfillment in people and in the things of this world. I realized that the peace I had been searching for was never found in any of those things.

I found it in Jesus.

I want to live with purpose. I want to know Him more. I want to use my life for His glory.

May 5, 2026 was the day I wanted to give up my life, but God used it to give me another chance at life.

Three months after that day, today, I’m now a DGroup member. I attend different church activities, including sports every Tuesday and Saturday. I get to fellowship with people, grow in my faith, and share the Gospel with others. Soon, I’ll be attending a retreat and taking another important step in my faith journey. I’ll be getting baptized as a Christian.

This is my testimony.

I was lost, but God found me.

I was broken, but God restored me.

I wanted to give up, but God gave me another chance.

And now, I choose to live for Him.

All glory belongs to God 🙌🏻

- J.M

That changed during my LET review and examination in Davao. After a year of intense preparation, God allowed circumstances I could never have planned for: I had LBM, left my money, my phone drained, and I was in an unfamiliar place. Everything I thought I could depend on suddenly became uncertain. Yet, despite everything, I survived and received a high LET rating. More than passing an exam, God was teaching me that I could prepare for what was within my control, but I needed to trust Him with everything I could not control.

After that, I began seeing His hand more clearly. He opened unexpected opportunities, including a home-based school assignment and opportunities to lecture in LET review centers. He allowed me to receive recognition early in my career, including an Outstanding Secondary School Teacher award, but He also taught me that recognition, promotion, and salary grade could never define my worth or measure His goodness. When I became frustrated with my career progress, God reminded me that His provision was not limited to what I could earn or achieve. He provided through opportunities, people, unexpected doors, and even through my husband.

Today, I still work hard, prepare, and pursue excellence, but I am learning to hold my achievements loosely and trust God more deeply. Looking back, I realize that He was using every season to teach me dependence. I may be ordinary, limited, and not always in control, but I know the One who is. His greatest gift has been helping me realize that He is enough.

This is my story of an ordinary person experiencing an extraordinary God: a God who humbles, provides, opens doors, and faithfully leads me beyond what I could accomplish on my own.

-mae

"God, are You even real? why me? don’t You see me, Lord? how long will i suffer? i’m exhausted." everything felt like too much.

we were having family problems that almost tore us apart. i was dealing with depression. i was struggling in school, with friends, and even with relatives. i didn’t know what to do. i looked at others and envied how free they seemed. they got what they wanted. they lived fully. and i felt stuck.

then the worst thing happened. i was raped. in that moment, i wanted to die.

but God had a different plan to rescue me.

i called my ate. she came straight to my apartment where i was temporarily staying. she didn’t let me drown in the negativity. she took me out to eat. and when we got home, she brought me straight to our home fellowship. the topic that night felt like it was written just for me. and that’s where everything started to change.

in 2024, my ate invited me to church, to meet God. at first i hesitated. "i don’t belong there. i’m a sinner." but she told me, "Pinatawad ka na ni God."

my heart broke, and then it healed. i felt God’s presence so clearly, like He was saying, "Come to Me and follow Me." so i did. now, i’m serving in our ministry. i’m active in church and in our home fellowship. i’m part of a dgroup and i’m taking the Timothy step.

my life has been cruel to me. but because of God’s extraordinary love, He changed everything. He taught me how to love, to be humble, to be kind, to be generous, and to bow before Him. He taught me to forgive others—because if i had never experienced forgiveness, i wouldn’t know how to give it. you can’t give what you haven’t received.

and above all, He’s teaching me to become more like Jesus Christ, my Lord.

🤍

[6] Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Some decisions are small while others are heavy. But according to John 14:6, there is one decision that stands above the rest, acting as the foundation for every other choice we make.

Bago ko nakilala si Christ, lumaki ako bilang Catholic. Kilala ko si God, pero wala akong personal na relasyon sa Kanya. Noon, I was full of myself, silent na mayabang dahil academically intelligent at honor student. Pero nung dumating ang High School at College, nagsimula akong makaramdam ng void at emptiness sa puso ko. Parang may kulang na hindi ko mahanap.

Fast forward, nakilala ko si Liz, ang aking magandang asawa. Nagsimula kaming bumuo ng sarili naming pamilya pero sobrang hirap ng buhay para sa Amin. We did not feel the support and love of our own family. Hindi rin namin alam ang design ni God para sa family. Dahil sa bigat ng sitwasyon, nagdesisyon kaming lumabas sa comfort zone at pumunta sa Manila para maghanap ng green pastures. Kahit walang kasiguraduhan, nagpatuloy kami kasama ang aming mga anak. At sa biyaya ng Diyos, nagsimulang magpadala Siya ng mga tao para magbigay ng provision at maramdaman namin Ang kabutihan ng Diyos. Hindi ko alam, pero unti-unti na palang kumikilos si God sa buhay ko.

Isang araw, I attended the Sunday service sa CCF Main ng mag-isa. Parang tinawag ako ni God. Pagpasok ko at nagsimula ang praise and worship, hindi ko mapigilan ang luha. Umiiyak lang ako nang umiiyak. Ramdam ko na I finally found home. Yung dating void at emptiness, unti-unting nawala. Naalala ko ang life verse ko sa John 15:16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit.” Sinabi ko ito sa asawa ko, pero tahimik siyang tumanggi. Kaya ipinagpatuloy ko lang ang pagdarasal at hindi ko siya pinilit. Nagpatuloy ako sa Sunday service at sumali sa dgroup for men.

Noong 2018, umattend ako ng True Life Retreat sa Batangas at doon ko publicly dineclare ang faith ko sa pamamagitan ng water baptism. Fast forward, nagsimula na ring sumama ang asawa ko sa Sunday service. Hindi namin namamalayan, pero si God pala ay kumikilos na rin sa buhay niya. Tinanggap niya si Jesus bilang kanyang Lord and Savior. At ngayon, pumupunta kami sa service bilang isang pamilya.

Nang nakilala ko si Christ, doon ko natagpuan ang tunay na purpose ng buhay. Binago Niya ang puso ko mula sa pagiging silent proud, arrogant, at puno ng sarili, hanggang sa maintindihan ko na everything is GRACE. Naalala ko ang verse sa Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.” Unti-unti kong naintindihan ang design ni God para sa family. Nakita at naranasan ko kung paano gumalaw si God sa buhay namin. Ang Kanyang grace at faithfulness ay walang hanggan kahit na ako’y unworthy. Ngayon masasabi ko na lahat ng challenges na dinaanan ko ay parte ng plano Niya, dahil mahal Niya ako nang sobra. Bilang recipient ng Kanyang grace at faithfulness, gusto kong ipasa ito sa iba by making disciples and give hope to others that Jesus love us so much. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! Ngayon, hawak ko ang life verse ko sa Acts 20:24: “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” And will run with endurance, hangga’t marinig ko mula sa Panginoon ang mga salitang: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Looking back to the moment I encountered Jesus and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior, I remain overwhelmed with awe. The mystery and power of God's movement in our lives truly surpass all imagination. As affirmed by Matthew 28:18, I am committed to faithfully sharing God's grace and faithfulness. I pray for the continued privilege of serving and glorifying Him, that my life itself may stand as a living testimony to the greatness of our Lord yesterday, today, and forevermore.

John 3:16 NIV

[16] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 10:10 NIV

[10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

​I don't know what you are going through in life, but I want to remind you that Jesus loves you and He died for you.

Then, on December 7, 2021, while traveling home from Buendia, Makati to Pasig, I suddenly couldn't breathe. My chest was in severe pain, and my whole body went numb. I thought I was going to die. My taxi driver told me, "Sir, all you need to do is pray to the Lord." Then immediately I cried out loud inside the taxi "Lord, if I die today, I know I won't be with You because I'm a sinner. But if You save my life, please reveal Yourself to me." That night, the Lord spared my life.

On September 13, 2024, I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Since then, life has not been easy, and I still face spiritual battles. But I know Jesus faithfully protects and strengthens me every day. The acceptance, validation, and assurance of eternal life that I was searching for, I finally found in Christ alone. To God be all the glory.

At that time, we were already in one of the lowest seasons of our family.

My husband was almost losing his job. I had been a stay-at-home mom for almost 2.5 years after leaving my public school teaching job because our child with special needs needed me. We had no backup plan.

We had also been without church life for almost 2.5 years.

That same year, we sold our car just to lessen our expenses.

Then in August 2025, my husband almost lost his job.

And on September 21, 2025, we attended CCF.

We didn’t come because everything was okay. We came when we felt like we had nothing left to lose.

I even used to be one of those who bashed CCF because it was a mega church.

And what happened after we started attending makes me realize how perfectly aligned God’s timing was.

BEFORE CCF

* My husband was almost losing his job.

* We had no backup plan.

* I had been a SAHM for almost 2.5 years and thought my life had lost direction.

* We had almost 2.5 years without church life.

* We had sold our car to lessen expenses.

* I had been praying for seven years for my husband to lead our family spiritually.

* We had stopped sharing our faith because we felt like unworthy Christians.

* Three years earlier, after being scammed and losing money, I had written on Facebook:

“There’s nothing good to look forward to. Jesus, balik Ka na. I’m tired. I want to rest.”

SEPTEMBER 21, 2025

We started attending CCF.

And slowly, it wasn’t just our situation that changed.

The Word changed us.

We began understanding that obedience is necessary.

That we cannot say we trust God while refusing to obey Him.

That we may not understand what God is doing, but we can still follow.

We became intentional.

And after six months of attending, we joined a DGroup.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER WE OBEYED

The job we thought we were losing

My husband didn’t lose his job.

He was promoted instead.

The people who tried to harm him were eventually silenced.

The car we sold

We sold our car because we needed to lessen expenses.

Later, my husband’s company provided a car worth around ₱1.5 million, including its maintenance.

The husband I had prayed for

For seven years, I had been asking my husband to lead us spiritually.

I had cried to the Lord about it.

And it finally happened.

Not because I changed him.

But because God changed him.

He met God.

The child we were worried about

Our child with special needs now enjoys going to church and is part of NxtGen

The family who wouldn’t listen

For more than ten years, I had been telling my family about Jesus.

They never really listened.

But now, they came to church and accepted Jesus.

The career I thought I had lost

I thought being a SAHM meant my life had no sense.

The same people mentioned CCF to me mentioned an opportunity for me. Not the usual career.

after joining DGroup, an opportunity opened for me to be part of a team of homeschool provider to serve families.

I lthought I lost my purpose when I became a SAHM. Through CCF, God showed me that I was already exactly where He assigned me- to steward my family. And when the time came, He opened another door without taking away the ministry He had already given me at home.

AND THEN WE UNDERSTOOD

The connections that brought us to CCF were not random.

The timing was not random.

The struggles were not wasted.

The opportunities were not random.

God was aligning things long before we could see the whole picture.

We had our own plans.

But God’s plan was better.

And now, sharing the Gospel with relatives and even strangers has become an outflow of what He has done in us.

We used to feel unworthy to share our faith.

Now we understand:

We don’t share because we are worthy.

We share because He is worthy.

FROM “I WANT TO REST” TO “I’M EXCITED FOR TODAY”

Three years ago, I wrote:

“There’s nothing good to look forward to. Jesus, balik Ka na. I’m tired. I want to rest.”

Now?

Every day feels exciting.

Not because life is perfect.

Not because we know what tomorrow will bring.

But because we finally know Who holds tomorrow.

Even disappointment feels different now.

Sometimes, it feels like showtime for God’s glory.

Because we have seen what God can do when we surrender our plans to Him.

Now I understand that contentment comes from knowing that He is everything I need.

We came to CCF when we thought we had nothing left to lose.

But God was showing us that we had never been without Him.

His plan was better than ours.

And the greatest miracle wasn’t the promotion, the car, the job, or even the answered prayers.

It was that He brought our family back to Him.

We started to enjoy life again, living in the fullness of what He has given us now while faithfully looking forward to His return. 🤍

To GOD be all the glory and honor, He is the real School Principal in my school!

Drumming was my passion. Gaming was my rest.

Started at highschool playing for a band on our school, joined and won several battles inside and outside campus. Then played with random people who became my friends on my college days.

I was so obsessed that I always bring my drumsticks everyday when I go out, hoping that there would be an opportunity for me to play anywhere, anytime. Always wearing my earphones, listening to different music, playing to the beat by tapping.

I used to play drums at every opportunity that I get to play. When I became an employee, I even spend whole day on Saturdays during my rest days just to play drums by myself and with different bandmates, and even the whole day is not enough, I still want to play. Sometimes we ask random friends for gigs anywhere nearby where we can play.

While I was still under probationary in my first work, I mostly do "Leave without pay" thinking I don't have much to do at work, so I skip work and then I ask my friends (highschool, college, or friends outside) and whoever is available, we go to studios to jam. When I was regularly working I also spend time after work to perform at gigs with my indie band on different venues.

Rock, punk-rock, pop-punk, metal, J-rock, k-pop, slow rock, christian pop-rock, contemporary music.. whatever it is, if there's an opportunity I'll play it.

As a drummer, it came with vices that either come before or after gigs, mostly alcohol and smoking cigarettes then sex, and drugs, I experienced them all but not everyone knew.

It's all fun, all music, all ego, all friends, all good time.. at the end of the day wasted and tired, then go to work, then repeat the routine, then play the computer for hours during rest days when there's no jam or gig.

My purpose was to play drums. Not to get famous, but to play music and to enjoy it with people whom I play with and who listen to us.

That was me.

Then God changed me.

It happened at home during the time I had covid.

No gigs, tired of computer games, doing nothing but work, then it hit me that it's possible for me to just die right there while working. I witnessed people dying here and there during that time, even those who were close to me.. then God made me realize that He can take it all away in an instant.

My passion, my hobby, my dreams, everything.. I can die anytime.

God changed me. My work, my desires, my passion.

My wife who was then my girlfriend witnessed how I have changed to the point that it even affected our relationship but in a good way.

It started with me listening more to God intentionally. Learning with my wife through the glc classes that we studied together, Joined true life retreat with my wife before we got married, both got baptized.

I started to want to know God more and more daily, joined dgroups then my life routine changed because I really wanted to learn and know more of God.

lesser gigs, lesser jams, I was not having time for music and trying my best to make time for my spiritual growth.

When we got married, I left my corporate job to be a full-time staff at ccf. It was crazy as it seems, because I chose to decrease when I needed actually to increase financially. But God (even as of today) makes me realize that I need to decrease with my selfish desires and increase spiritually. I needed a relationship with God.

My gig nights became dgroup nights. I do my best to change my game time to more quiet time (reading bible thru plans or reading books related to knowing Jesus and knowing others). Joined different ministries (some with my wife), Volunteering as prayer leader during prayer and fasting, started enrolling for online theology classes, shared the gospel to different people, joined several retreats. I'm not even sure if I desire to be a pastor but what I know right now is I want to know God more and share Him more. I want more of Jesus.

One of the biggest change my wife witnessed is the music I listen to has completely changed.. from the metal and pop-punk music that she witnessed me playing, now all we hear are worship songs when driving and randomly at home. Even at videokes I desire to sing worship songs if there's any in the list 😅

Of course the journey is not smooth-sailing at all. There are tough times, temptations all the time, failures here and there, yet God continues to show His faithfulness and His love. His mercies are indeed new every morning and it humbles me everyday. I remind myself daily that I am a bondslave of Christ. I am no longer the old dane who lives selfishly, I live to know God and to make Him known. To my family, and to the people around me, my desire is now for people to see Jesus in me and no longer my old self. To love God and to love others.

Knowing God is now my passion, Jesus is now and forever my rest.