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Friday, October 1, 2021

JOHNNY’S GREETINGS FOR OCTOBER 2021 CELEBRATORS (FIRST HALF)

October 1 - Phoemela Baranda, Abner Delina, Zach Galifianakis, Sean Mendoza, Kelsey Merritt, Aizan Perez, Simon Pineda, Tom Rodriguez and Ryle Paolo Santiago

October 2 - Camilla Belle, Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Francheska Floirendo, Janine Gutierrez, Liezel Lopez, Pancho Magno, Benjie Paras, Maria Ressa and Adel Tamano

October 3 - Seth dela Cruz, Allen Dizon, Francis Grengia, Kidlat Tahimik, Rio Locsin, Lisa Macuja, Joemarie Nielsen, Rhian Ramos and Led Sobrepeña III

October 4 - Matet de Leon, Sean Inocencio, Mahar Lagmay, Grace Lee, Joseph Marco, JC Movido, Francisco Tatad, Isabela Vinzon and Michelle Vito

October 5 - Kara Balela, Dagul, ER Ejercito, Pauline Mendoza, LJ Moreno, Sky Quizon, Mat Ranillo III, Maja Salvador and Korina Sanchez-Roxas

October 6 - Oliver Agapito, Dale Baldillo, Lou Bonnevie, Chacha Cañete, Brian Cruz, Marimar Elio, Donald Geisler, Muriel Lomadilla, Arlene Poja, Bro. Eddie Villanueva

October 7 - Marlou Aquino, Alex Calleja, Joshua Garcia, Anna Larrucea, Joey Marquez, Noemi Oineza, Catherine Rem, Jayden Tarroquin and Katrina Yu-Pimentel

October 8 - John Harley Añonuevo, Toto Defensor, Emman Franc, Aljon Jimenez, Glorioso Miranda, Jimmy Santos, Rox Santos, Sophia Senoron and Akiko Thomson

October 9 - Althea Ablan, Jacob Batalon, Zachary Ty Bryan, Rom Dulfo, Angelic Guzman, Fino Herrera, Sarah Lahbati, Wesley So, and Jhoana Marie Tan

October 10 - Nash Aguas, Rodjun Cruz, Chiz Escudero, Michael Flores, Lyra Micolob, Paolo Onesa, Sophia Reola, Erik Santos and Raven Villanueva

October 11 - Ricardo Cepeda, Jericho Cruz, Emily Deschanel, Jason Francisco, Julius Miguel, Daniel Razon, Gerard Salonga and Bobet Vidanes

October 12 - Carl John Barrameda, Garrett Bolden, Marissa del Mar, Gwendolyn Garcia, Edward Hagedorn, Willie Marcial, Jimboy Martin, Pilar Pilapil and Krissha Viaje

October 13 - Luke Alford, Gabby Alipe, Ashanti, Angel Aviles, Eduardo Buenavista, Zachary Ezekiel, Eddie Gulas, Sandino Martin, and Yong Muhajil

October 14 - Marven Alfanta, Leanne Bautista, Joey de Leon, Angels Delos Reyes, Quinito Henson, Dodot Jaworski, Salvador Medialdea, Richard Merk, and Alice Reyes

October 15 - Aldin Ayo, Joyce Burton-Titular, Froilan Calayag, Atoy Co, Mimi Kirkland, John Pinto, Allan Salangsang, Ronald Tubid, and Sherwin Tugna

Thursday, September 30, 2021

The World Tonight | ANC (30 September 2021)

How To Lean On God When Losing A Baby

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8

Nothing can be more devastating in life that for a woman to carry an infant for almost nine months and then lose that child, or to have an infant snatched from her arms in death. That’s when the question, “Why?” is poured out in scalding tears and agony.

“Why, God? Why my baby?” Is God indifferent to the pain that parents face at the loss of a child, whether the child is a newborn infant on a little tyke of four or five years of age. There are times when a child dies and there is no apparent reason for this to happen.

In his book Safe in the Arms of God, which I consider to be the finest book on the subject ever compiled, Dr. John MacArthur quotes an article about the death of infants, telling of the reactions of parents to the great loss, sometimes totally unexpected. Sixty percent of the parents felt anger and that anger is usually directed at God whom they feel could have prevented the loss. Fifty percent of the fathers and ninety percent of the mothers felt guilt. Seventy-five percent were irritable. Sixty-five to eighty percent of the parents lost their appetite for food and eighty to ninety percent had difficulty sleeping and ninety-five percent felt profound and deep sadness.[i]

When this happens there are two questions in the minds of parents and loved ones: The first is, “Why?” And usually it is “Why my baby?” and the second is “Where is my baby now?” While we will never fully understand until we cross heaven’s threshold, there are passages of Scripture that provide comfort in the time of grief.

Perhaps you will recall the event that is recorded in 1 Samuel 12 where David fathered a child by Bathsheba–something that was displeasing to the Lord. After the child was born, the infant became ill and weaker and weaker. David prostrated himself before God, wept bitterly and lay on the ground pleading with God. But on the seventh day, the child died. After the infant died, David arose, bathed, and dressed. Then he went to the house of the Lord and worshipped. When asked why he was doing this, he replied, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me that the child may live? But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me?” (2 Samuel 12:22-23). Notice if you would the last statement–“I shall go to him, but he will not return to me?’

In this regard, the Bible is very clear. I’m in complete agreement with John MacArthur who writes, “The Bible is very clear on this point: Life begins at conception. Any death that occurs after the moment of conception is the death of a person. And persons have eternal souls.” (MacArthur, 14).

There are times when it is very difficult to see the Father’s hand, and that is when you have to trust the Father’s heart. God told Jeremiah the prophet, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).

Having had the sober responsibility of officiating memorial services for several infants whose lives were cut short, I can tell you only the Holy Spirit, the one who brings the comfort of God the Father can assuage grief and give strength to move on.

God is not indifferent to our pain. Remember, He also had a son who died, but His son rose from the dead giving us hope and assurance that we will someday join those whom we have lost in heaven.

Resource reading: Psalms 34:17-19

[i] John MacArthur, Safe in the Arms of God (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003) 11.

https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/how-to-lean-on-god-when-losing-a-baby/