JOURNEY TO HAPPINESS & SATISFACTION

Psalm 34:4 -6 & 8

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”

By: FLOR PONGASE

Throughout the years, have you been searching for serenity, real joy and life's satisfaction? I've been into this journey, crossing the rugged path of sadness, emptiness, troubles and discontentment. I had a messy life, full of worries and fears. My heart keeps longing for something I couldn't name. It was my life's journey without God. Before, I live life without prayers. I never attended any mass. I was just contented on praying the Holy Rosary. I thought it was enough but as I went on to my journey, I met JESUS. I come to know Him. It was the time that I felt I have everything with God that strengthens me.

I am Flor Pongase of Ubujan, Tagbilaran, City, married with 5 children. I will sing praises to God. Glorify His name for He gives me ears to listen His words. He opened my eyes to see His glorious acts. I give Him thanks for the gifts of faith and life's satisfaction He offered. My life with Jesus began when I met somebody, a member of Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement. I shared to this person my life experiences and my deep feelings of emptiness and discontent. This person told me to attend the prayer meeting of Charismatic Healing Ministry.

I tried and I sought God by attending prayer. As I prayed, I felt so light. I felt the presence of the Lord. The Holy Spirit was working deep within me. I don't understand what I felt on that very moment. I cried, not tears of sadness but tears of joy. I can' explained my feelings. I had mixed emotions. I felt I'm in heaven. I continued coming to God by attending the prayer meeting regularly and I attended Life in the Spirit seminar. I learned more about Jesus and I received the gift of the Holy Spirit through baptism of the Holy Spirit. After that, I learned to fully trust the Lord. I began to pray constantly and my lips knew to praise the name of Jesus in all circumstances. I served the Lord with all heart and the gift of faith grew deeply within me. It was the start that I experienced miracles after another miracles.

My first victory of having Jesus as my protector and my God was when my 4-year-old child got sick of fever for 5 days and the child experienced nose bleeding. Dengue fever was the suspected diagnosis. I learned from the healing ministry that prayer is the best medicine coupled with faith. Reading the Bible is also best medication and no amount of medicine can compare to that. It was confirmed during my service to the Lord. I witnessed a lot of people healed of different diseases by His holy words. I remembered them and I applied the same manner to my child. I read the bible, cast out all sickness in Jesus name and I prayed sincerely. No medication was given. We offered sacrifice through overnight prayer. We claimed the promises of Jesus in Matthew 8: 14-17 that He heals different sickness and diseases through His words alone.

After 5 days at exactly 3 a.m. the child was totally healed. It was an extra ordinary grace. I received healing by faith and prayer. Indeed God is still working miracles this time and still capable of doing miracles all the time. It was not the last miracle I experienced, it was the beginning of seeing more miraculous deeds of Jesus in His name. Another miracle of healing happened to me. I suffered severe pains in my kidney for 12 years. My urine had blood already. Every time I urinate I felt so much pain and only small amount of urine would come out. My husband got worried. We went to the doctor. It was found out that I had kidney stone. I was given expensive medications. I prayed and I told myself if God heals my child, He is the same God that will heal me completely. I never took any medicines. I surrendered every thing to God.

I read several chapters in Psalm. Every time I attended a mass I claimed that Jesus entered into my body and touches all the vital organs that are not functioning well. I will do it and claimed Jesus healing, every time I receive the Holy Communion. Then, I continued serving the Lord by attending the prayer meetings. I was greatly amazed that all the pains in my kidney were gone. As I went back to my doctor the latest result of my ultrasound was negative. The stone was gone. I was completely healed. Praise the Lord! Alleluia!

Another victorious moment with God I had experienced was my 18-year-old son experienced bleeding in his gum right after his tooth was pulled out. The bleeding was started 10 am in Saturday until 2 pm in Sunday. Sticky blood flowed out over his mouth. We prayed and claimed that Jesus do the same healing we received before. I thank God for I never felt fear. I fully trust Him. At 2 am , my son still suffered bleeding. Blood flowed out of his mouth. We continued praying with faith and we read the bible. At 4 am , I called up Sis. Linda asking for support prayer. We prayed over the phone and the bleeding subsided. My son took a little rest. But even if he is sleeping the blood still comes out over his mouth. I decided to seek healing by serving God. We went to Sikatuna Bohol attending the healing mass. I was assigned to give testimony after the homily of the priest. While I rendered my testimony, my son becomes weaker brought about by continues bleeding. I stood firm and continued to praise the Lord waiting for the healing He bestowed. After the healing mass the bleeding stopped.

I praise the Lord upon seeing that my son was able to eat solid food. After eating, somebody offered vinegar and wine to my son to gargle to ensure healing. Without hesitations we accepted the offer even if we already witnessed healing from God. Right after my son gargled vinegar & the wine, the blood continued to over flow over his mouth. It seems it's like a fountain flowing over. We asked forgiveness to Jesus for seeking another medium of healing. We prayed with tears full of repentance and faith. At that very moment the bleeding suddenly stopped and my son was healed. Jesus permits it to happen to reveal that His healing power is more than anything else. We were very happy on that time bringing home the banner of victory with faith in Christ Jesus. We are now in the grace of serving the Lord faithfully. I am very much thankful to Jesus for giving me a great chance of knowing Him, for making me as living witness of His miraculous acts & for choosing me to be one of His children. Thanks also to Sunday Post for the great opportunity to proclaim this good news to others. Praise the Lord! Amen!

l