San Jose Kitchen Cabinets

What is Spiritual Birthday?

A.

• Spiritual Birthday is the day we decided to begin following the Lord instead of ourselves.
• It is different from our biological birthday which is when our mother gave birth to us.
• The Lord says to Nicodemus: You have to be born-again in spirit if you want to enter the kingdom of heaven.
• There is a big difference between a life on our own and a life with the spirit of God guiding us
• The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to those who obey Him.
• If you search for Him with all your heart, you will find Him.

B.

• Iyan iyong araw na nangako tayo sa Panginoon na magmula ngayon susundin na natin siya. Hindi na tayo ang masusunod kundi Siya.
• Iyan iyong araw na nagpasakop tayo sa Kanya o’ nag surrender tayo sa Kanya.
• Iyan iyong araw na nakipag-isa tayo kay Kristo.
• Another word for spiritual birthday is spiritual awakening.
• To the Catholic the most often use word is renewed or conversion.
• Others call it: Life in the Spirit of God.
• To be born-again in the Spirit of God is the greatest miracle in the world. It is the transition from a living death (our old self) to a life of hope, inner peace and inner joy.

How does it happen?

Spiritual awakening always starts when we humble ourselves to our creator. Some examples of encounter with the Lord are as follows:

1. In the story of the Prodigal Son: The day he decided to humble himself and go back to his father.
2. Thru seminars on faith, such as Life in the Spirit Seminar, Christian Life Program of the Couples for Christ, Cursillo, etc.
3. Thru a radio or TV program.
4. Thru reading a good book.
5. Thru a high school catechist teacher.
6. Thru a mother, father, lola or a friend.
7. Thru a Bible study group.
8. Thru illnesses.
9. Thru the sacrament of confession
10. Thru the sacrament of marriage.

SPIRITUAL BIRHTDAY TESTIMONY

One early morning, sometime January 2010, I woke up at about 2 am with the thoughts that next month February, I would already be thirty years ever since that night of February 1980 when I decided to follow the Lord’s will instead of mine. I have decided that from that day, it’s not what I want but what the Lord wants that I will follow. It’s a major decision. I asked the Lord to help me because I may not be able to carry it through.

Next thing I know in that early morning was the thoughts that so many good things happened in that span of thirty years which without the Lord’s help, I won’t be able to do. Also, it seemed to me that thirty years was so fast. Consider the following. First, how was I able to avoid the sin of the flesh without the Lords help, since for the last thirty years I have never been involved with any woman, any person for that matter, except for my wife. Not only that, I also never fall into sin by way of dirty imagination. I thought to myself how was I able to do it, with all the temptation around, if it is without the Lord’s help.

Second, how was I able to do it, that for the last twenty seven or twenty eight years, if I am hurt or insulted, my hurts does not translate into hatred or anger to that person. How was I able to do it, when looking around, I can see others with hatred and anger in their hearts. Third, I can still remember, before I committed myself to the Lord, (before February 1980) that on many occasion, when I woke up in the morning, I have this awful feeling, “parang may sabit”, which is probably a product of fear, guilt or inferiority. This was gradually removed, and for the last so many years, I did not have anymore this experience. How beautiful it is to wake up in the morning with so full of hope and feeling refresh. And there are many many other good things that happen to me. And not only to me but also to others because of that surrendering to the Lord’s will.

And so, I thought that this calls for a celebration. I did not celebrate my birthday when I reached fifty years old and also when I reached sixty. My sister Tessie who lives in the U.S. said they will go home if I am going to celebrate my sixtieth birthday. I had no reason to celebrate. But now, there is a reason to celebrate. Second, this calls for a thanksgiving mass celebration for the Lord, an expression of gratefulness for all His blessing this past thirty years. But the third reason is even more important, and that is to share the experience to others. To tell the whole world that it is true, that it is really a good news, that there is such a thing as being renewed by the Spirit of God. As you can see it is very natural for us humans that we want to share what is good. Once when we were swimming in a beach with my brothers and sisters, my sister Elsa said, I wish my grandsons are also here. And so, I also wish and pray that many people will discover this beautiful thing.

The following Monday, I discussed this matter of celebrating Spiritual Birthday with our senior officers in the company and they unanimously agreed. Thus was started the celebration of Spiritual Birthday in our company. That year, five other officers celebrated their spiritual birthdays in there respective communities, inviting their relatives, friends, high school classmates and neighbors.

Oscar P. Chan

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April 17, 1989 nagsimula ang aking spiritual birthday. Bago yan ang buhay ko noon ay walang kasiguruhan at walang matibay na maaasahan. Simula sa araw na iyon unti-unti nang may pagbabago sa buhay ko at may dalawang bagay akong halimbawa na nangyari sa buhay ko na masasabi kong hindi ko ito magagawa kung wala ako sa Panginoon at sa tulong ng kanyang grasya. Una, dati mahilig ako sa sugal at kahit nga sa panahon ng mahal na araw ay nakaka-pagsugal ako at madali akong mahikayat ng iba upang gawin ang mga bagay na ito. Pero sa loob ng 18 hangang 20 taon hindi na ako nakapagsusugal at kahit gaano man kalaki ang jackpot price sa lotto wala akong ganang magtaya. Pangalawa, sa pag-aasawa at alam naman natin sa panahon ngayon na may mga nag li live-in, dahil sa tulong ng ating Panginoon nagawa ko na mauna muna ang kasal sa simbahan at bago ang pagsasama.

Ed C. Victorio

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November 1980 ng lubos kong nakilala ang Panginoon, at masasabi ko na ang kahirapan ang siyang naglapit sa akin para tuluyang naising sundin ang kalooban ng Diyos, at dahil radyo ang madalas kong kasama iyon ang naging daan para sa pagkakaroon ko ng Spiritual Birhtday.

Bago ang mga panahong iyon nakita ko na parang hindi parehas ang Diyos, at hindi totoong mahal niya kami at awa ang nararamdaman ko sa aking sarili at kawalan ng pag asa. Pero buwan ng Nobyembre kung saan ang marami ay natutuwa dahil malapit na ang pasko ay kabaliktaran naman sa akin. Isang programa sa radyo ang nakatawag pansin sa akin. Iyon ay ang Charismatic Group na aktibong nag papahayag ng salita ng Diyos. Dito nag simulang ako ay mabago. Unti-unti nakaramdam ako ng pag-asa, kagalakan sa kabila ng kahirapan, lakas ng loob na patuloy nyang pinagkakaloob sa akin, at pagtitiwala dahil alam ko hindi nya ako pababayaan, dahil anuman ang nararanasan kong hirap ay hindi ko maihahalintulad sa paghihirap ni Kristo. Dahil dito labis ang aking kasiyahan at alam ko ganun din ang Panginoon, kaya salamat sa mga taong ginamit niya at sa mga pagpapala pinagkaloob niya sa akin, sa aking pamilya at sa aking kompanyang pinapasukan na umaalalay para sa aming ispiritual na buhay at kay Kristo Hesus na siyang dahilan ng lahat.

Lito P. Padlan

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Taong 1990, nang makilala ko ang ating Panginoon sa pamamagitan ng pagsali sa organisasyong pangsimbahan. Ito ang Knight of the Altar o pagiging sacristan. Dahil dito natuto akong magbasa ng Biblia sa murang edad at nakapaglingkod ako sa altar ng misa nang mga panahong iyon. Subalit ng taong 1994, nang ako ay natutong uminom sa pamamagitan ng aking mga barkada sa high school, dumating ang pagkakataon na halos ilang araw din akong nauwi ng lasing sa aming bahay, kung kaya’t ang aking mga kapatid ay nag-aalala para sa akin. Nang taon ding ito ay nagkaroon ako ng karamdaman at ito ay isang malaking bukol (cyst) sa aking batok na kailangang ipa opera. Dumating ang Holy Week, nag desisyon ako at ang aking pamilya na ipa opera kaya’t pumunta kami sa PGH Manila.

Holy Monday nang inoperahan ako at pagkatapos din ng operasyon kinahapunan ay umuwi na kami. Sa ilang araw ko ding pamamahinga sa bahay napanood ko sa telebisyon ang paghihirap ng ating Panginoong Hesus sa krus na isa sa mga programa. Dito naluha ako at nasabi ko sa sarili na “sino ba ako upang ‘di tupdin ang kalooban ng Diyos?” at sino ako upang patuloy na hindi sundin ang aking mga magulang.

Naluha ako sa mga sandaling iyon, kinilabutan, nalungkot at may pagsisisi ngunit taglay sa aking puso’t isipan ang pag nanais na sundin palagi ang ninanais na aking Daddy para sa akin na huwag uminom hanggat hindi pa ako nagkakaroon ng trabaho.

Pagkatapos nito, Linggo ng pagkabuhay nakapanood ako ng isang teleserye sa telebisyon higgil sa pagiging mananakbo o atleta. Sobra ang inspirasyon ko pagdaan ng gabi dahil nais kong maging atleta isang araw. At hindi nagtagal ako’y nagkamit ng ilang karangalan sa pagtakbo dahilan upang lalo akong mapaiwas sa pag-inom. Kung aking iisipin at babalikan, binigyan ako ng Panginoon ng biyaya upang ituwid ang aking buhay at naging masaya at masigla ang aking pangangatawan sa ngayon.

Minsan dumating ang pagkakataon na niyaya akong uminom ng aking barkada at biniro ng aking Daddy na tumagay sa inuman, at dito napatunayan ko ang katatagan ko na huwag ng maglasing at balikan ang dati kong buhay.

Edgardo R. Sison Jr.

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Mula nang ako’y mag-asawa noong taong 1981 hanggang 1995 ay magulo at walang direksyon ang buhay ko. Sagana sa lahat ng bagay maliban sa isang bagay na ngayon ko lang natuklasan ang kahalagahan nito, ang peace of mind (kapayapaan sa isip). Marami na ring pagkakataon na pilit kong binabago ang sarili, pero di ako nagtagumpay, hanggang isang araw ay may kaibigan akong mag-asawa na nagkumbinsi sa aming mag-asawa na sumali sa isang Christian Life Program ng Couples For Christ. Taong 1996 nang mapakingan ko ang unang panayam ng speaker, ang pamagat nito ay God’s Love. Hindi pa man natatapos ang nasasabing panayam ay talagang na blessed ako at dahil doon at sa tulong ng ating Panginoon ay tuluyan kong naiwanan ang lumang buhay, at sinimulan kong tahakin ang landas patungo sa kaliwanagan. Ito po ang dahilan kung bakit dapat

akong magdiwang ng spiritual Birthday. Nais kong bigyan ng higit na pagpapahalaga ang araw ng aking pagbabalik sa ating Maylikha.

Alex N. Paaño

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Our life before is full of superstitious beliefs. There is a Bible in the house but I have not seen my parents reading it. There were a lot of questions in my mind with regards to spiritual matters such as: what’s the purpose of my life here on earth and what is the life after death.

Until one day a pastor of Born Again Evangelical Church came to rent a room in our house. After a few months of his stay, my parents allowed him to conduct a bible study in our house. After a series of bible studies, I learned that the Lord Jesus came to earth and died on the cross to save the souls of mankind. And what we are going to do is to believed on what He has done on the cross, repent on our sins and accept Him as Lord & Savior of our life.

I mark July 7, 1988 as my spiritual birthday. That was the day when I accepted the Lord Jesus in my life as my personal Lord and Savior followed by a baptism. Since then my life has never been the same again. I came to realize that superstitious beliefs made by man were not true at all if we believed in the Lord. I still commit sins, but this time I immediately felt guilty and ask forgiveness from the Lord. When I accepted Jesus in my life I did not anymore feel empty inside, for He made my life complete.

Vivian L. Canguit

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Taong 1978 ang aking Spiritual Birthday kung kailan ko nakilala ang Panginoon Diyos. High School palang ako ng sinabihan ako ng aking teacher na sumama sa recollection kung saan magkakaroon ka ng kapayapaan sa buhay. Noong panahong iyon ay wala pa akong paniniwala kaya hindi nila ako nakumbinsi. Pero sa dami ng nag recollection nag karoon pa ng pangalawang batch. Inalok ulit ako, sabi ko sa sarili na bakit hindi ko subukan.. So that time sumali ako sa recollection at doon ko nakilala ang Diyos na siya lang ang nagmamayari ng lahat ng bagay dito sa mundo. Doon ko rin napatunayan na sa lahat ng ginagawa ko pag nagpasakop ka sa kanya ay walang imposible. Ililigtas ka niya at walang kapaguran sa anumang bagay na iyong ginagawa. Hindi ka makakagawa ng malaking pagkakamali dahil alam mo na lagi siyang nagmamasid sa iyo.

Rey M. Esteban

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Notes on Spiritual Birthday

1.   Anong mga palatandaan na tunay nga ang kanyang Spiritual Awakening.Kapag ang mga sumusunod na masasamang ugali na karaniwan ay dala-dala ng tao ay lubusan ng nawala o malaki na ang nawala.

A. Pitong Masamang Ugali:

1. Ang pagka mapagmataas (pride)

2. Ang pagka magagalitin o init ng ulo. (anger)

3. Ang pagka inggit (envy)

4. Ang pagka sakim (covetousness)

5. Ang hilig sa sex, pornography at maruming kaisipan (lust)

6. Ang sobrang hilig sa pagkain, inumin o sigarilyo (gluttony)

7. Ang katamaran sa gawain ng katawan o isip (sloth)

B. Isa pang grupo ng palatandaan na ang tao’y tunay ngang mayroon ng Spiritual Birthday :

1. Gumaganda ang kanyang self-control.

2. Nakakatanggi na siya sa mga paanyaya ng mga barkada.

3. Gumaganda ang kanyang relasyon sa ibat-ibang tao.

4. Lumalawak ang kanyang pang-unawa.

5. Nagiging sensitive siya sa damdamin ng iba.

6. Unti-unting nawawala ang pagka moody niya.

7. Nagiging matulungin.

8. Excited magbigay ng oras o’ pera para sa Panginoon.

2. Who can celebrate Spiritual Birthday?

• Anyone who had committed to the Lord for sometime and feels the big difference between his previous life and now.
• Those who would like to thank the Lord for the New Life that they have.
• But since it will take some time for us to improve ourselves thru the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it is advisable to celebrate when we have more or less gain some solid Spiritual maturity, say after 5 to 10 years.
• It is best to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance if we are to celebrate our Spiritual Birthday.

3. Why Celebrate “Spiritual Birthday”

• We are contributing to Evangelization since we will be witnessing the big difference between our previous life and our life with the Lord. It is a new tool for Evangelization.
• It will make the Lord happy because we will be contributing to His mission.
• It will motivate us not to sin or backslide for how can we celebrate again next year.
• We can help shift a huge amount of biological birthday budget money to a worthy cause.
• It hits two birds in one stone. It’s a happy social occasion as well as a worthy cause. It motivates people to go back to God. It promotes bonding among God’s people

4.  Suggestions

• We encourage everyone to join a church community, such as: Couples for Christ, Cursillo, Bible Study Group and many others. This will nourish your faith and will be a support group in times of trials. However do not expect perfect people in these communities. They are, like you, a fellow traveler on the road to a mature spiritual life.
• We encourage everyone who is matured in their faith to begin celebrating their spiritual birthday, a new way of helping our Lord in His mission.

TO EXPIRIENCE SPIRITUAL BIRTHDAY IS THE GREATEST MIRACLE IN THE WORLD. IT IS THE TRANSITION FROM A LIVING DEATH (OUR OLD SELF) TO A LIFE OF HOPE, INNER PEACE AND INNER JOY.