Monday, February 28, 2005

Catch Me if You Can

Did you catch me?

I had been practically all over the place recently. Hope some of you "caught" me. I want to commend the Faith Christian Fellowship singles and youth for coming up with a wonderful post-valentine event, Faces of Love, on Feb. 25. FCF is in Cainta. Mang, my husband, and I had a great time with you. Thanks, Pastor Melvin for inviting us. The Greenhills Christian Fellowship-North Singles Fellowship also put up a splendid culminating valentine activity last Feb. 26. This is my home church located at Jocfer Building, Commonwealth Avenue in Diliman. Kudos to Clark who came up with a great set design. Thanks to Ate Angus who coordinated the event. Ramil, you were an excellent emcee. Kuya Ochie and Ate Me-an, your life and love story are a blessing. We appreciate all those who threw in questions. Then on Sunday, Feb. 27, Mang and I were at Jordan Escusa's church, The First Church of the Nazarene in Taytay, Rizal. We had a great time with their youth group as we conducted a True Love Waits Seminar. Had a very interesting interaction with my group talking about virginity! Oh by the way, you may wonder who Jordan is. Well, he is the DJ of NU 107's Against the Flow which is aired Sundays at 11pm. You might have guessed by now that I was Jordan's guest last night in his show. Ate Joy Solina, the True Love Waits Coordinator, was with me. It was so cool talking about sexual purity to NU's hard rock audience! NU listeners, you guys rock!!!


Catch me if you can...

Come and let's meet in these gatherings:
March 4--Full Cup Cafe in Real St., Intramuros, Manila, 7pm. I'll be talking about one female character in the Bible whom Jesus loved...watch out for it!
March 5--Powerbooks Megamall, 4pm for Empowered by Grace. This is a gathering for Women Empowered, sponsored by Powerbooks in celebration of Women's Month. I will be reading an article I wrote for "Women on the Journey: Defining Moments." Come and experience grace.
March 16--My story will be featured on The 700 Club. I believe it's aired by ABS CBN Channel 2.
March 24025--I'll be speaking at the Singles Retreat of the Kamuning Bible Christian Fellowship at Caliraya Re-Creation Center in Lumban, Laguna.


Don't just catch me...

PRAY FOR ME, TOO!!!

Thursday, February 24, 2005

Before the Waiting was Over


Both were a dream—writing a book and getting married to the right man. Both came true. But not until after I learned valuable lessons which I will carry with me for as long as I am walking this side of eternity.

This is not a book of do’s and don’ts. What you have in your hands is simply a sharing of my experiences as a sojourner through life and love. This is an intimate section in my life’s journal wherein I risked speaking my mind and baring my heart, sharing with you deep thoughts and intimate secrets.

I have read volumes on love, listened to a lot of sermons on obeying God’s will, and attended countless seminars on love, courtship, and marriage. I have come to conclude that God gives us pointers on how to please Him in our love life but it is our decision to bring it under the lordship of Christ. It is ultimately our choice to be joyful in our God-designed romance or to be miserable in our self-appointed entanglements.

This journey taught me that there are no hard and fast formulas. Each love story is unique. God can write our love story if we let Him. We may dream and He may grant it to the detail but He may also choose to give you something far beyond what you could ever ask or imagine. Indeed, mine is a love story written in heaven, lived and enjoyed on earth. Thus, I feel it is more appropriate to call what you are about to read in this book a “faith story.”

It is my prayer that my “faith story” will give the lonely heart a reason to smile, the downcast soul strength to look up, the hopeless wanderer a shade to rest in, and the lost lover a place to belong.

Grace Gaston-Dousel
June 2004

A Theology of Love

"Love is not an easy teaching. Love is extensive. It hurts to love our enemies. Love stands unchanged beyond the boundary of friendship. It is God's truth and therefore independent from circumstances. It stands without condition. Love is supernatural; it is a value of eternal worth. Love is the willingness to give when others take; it is the assurance of extending our care when others hate; and it is the motivation to help when others abuse. Jesus' theology of love did not remain on his lips. He acted it out and displayed it on the cross. LOVE is an inward energy from God, a power that conquers evil and a value that pursues eternal victory."

These are the words of Herbert, a Filipino missionary for whom I have utmost respect. He has indeed won the right to speak these words for he, too, displayed God's love to the very people who seek to take his life.

I wonder how many of us have truly understood and lived the theology of LOVE. Or is it still a mere feeling that gives a tingling sensation or something that is simply represented by Valentine hearts?

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

It's Done!

Finally, it's finished. The book has taken a hundred years to write. At least that's how it seemed to me sometimes. But the waiting for the finish is over.

The launch of my book "True Love Weds: When the Waiting is Over" was pure and simple joy. It reminded me a little of when Lian Ed came. When I gave birth to him in the summer of 2004, there were fears and worries, but at the end, it was pure and simple joy!

Now the waiting begins for something else. Will people read "True Love Weds: When the Waiting is Over"? Will it touch people's lives? How will readers react?

The waiting begins...