The Mike Files

I just got this link from Global Media Outreach weekly prayer letter.  Hope who anyone drops on my blog will check this out.  Its truly amazing and life-enriching guide that will surely helps everybody’s christian walk.

The 30 Day Next Steps – http://www.30daynextsteps.com/

As I waited for our application to work again, I tried searching the net about purgatory.  A very interesting and sound understanding of the author about purgatory.

I came across a passage in the New Testament that I found very surprising. While addressing the very issue of sin within the Christian community — those who were believers and had accepted the Lordship of Jesus Christ into their lives — St. Paul writes:

For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble — each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire (1 Cor. 3:11-15).

The passage is quite clear: Gold and silver, when placed into a furnace, would be purified; wood and hay would be burned away. As this is done, Scripture says we will suffer loss, but be saved “as through fire.” The image of purgatory was becoming more vivid as I read. What else could St. Paul be referring to? He can’t be referring to hell, because it’s clear that the people who undergo this “purifying fire” will be saved, while those who are in hell are lost forever. And yet he can’t be referring to heaven, because he mentions the suffering of loss, while in heaven every tear will be wiped away (cf. Rev. 21:4).

Scripture teaches that God is a “consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29). The point St. Paul seems to make is that, as God draws us to Himself after death, there is a process of purification in the fire of God’s holy presence. God Himself purifies us of those imperfect deeds: the wood, hay, and stubble. And those works that are performed in faithfulness and obedience to Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, those of gold and silver, are purified. This purification is necessary because, as Scripture teaches of heaven — the new Jerusalem — and the temple within it, “Nothing unclean shall enter it” (Rev. 21:27). The biblical images of the purifying fire, through which the believer is saved while suffering loss, were now beginning to sound more and more like purgatory.

It seems my doubt has been answered, which I still need to read through.  Read more: http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0041.html

Well just to share how God blessed me and my fiancé, Lenny.  Last March this year, I was awarded as one of the Employee of the Quarter Awardee for Q3 in my company and the rest of my colleagues.  And here another blessing God showered to us.  Lenny just shared with me that she was awarded today as “Most Outstanding Cash Application Specialist for the 1st Quarter of Fiscal Year 2009“.  We are so happy about the news that we told our parents about it.  I can’t explain the exuberant feeling and the excitement when I read her email and the good news.  God did everything for us and blessed us so much for this.

Congratulations Honey!  ^_^  You made it!  See the fruit of your hardship.  I hope you’ll continue showing your best!  And I know God will continue to bless you.  I love you Honey!

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Lord, Our Father.  Thank you for all the blessings that you’ve given to us.  We owe everything to you Father because of your grace and goodness.  We cannot find the right words Father how thankful we are for all these things.  Continue to bless us Father as we share your blessings with other people.  Use us Father for your Greater Glory and to make people know about your Name and worship you in Spirit and in Truth.

In Jesus name we pray.  AMEN.