Recharging Your Life Bravely During COVID-19 Pandemic

How’s your Lifestyle?

Most people around the world have already decided to stay at home & avoid crowds with the fear of either catching the Coronavirus or infecting other people carelessly. You might feel alone, bored, worried, depressed and scared, but I’m telling you, we can overcome this traumatic experience where many people believe their lives are in danger that our economy will soon to drop and never recover and that our life will never be the same again.

The government has been asked to reduce our interactions, distance ourselves from crowded places, and stay at home. How can you cope with this unspecified period of being paralyzed?

God knows every man on earth. He knows you, right down to the number of your hairs on your head (Matthew 10:29-30).

He can look down and see all of us live on earth, but why hasn’t he saved us yet from Coronavirus? God is allowing this pandemic coronavirus to happen as a correction for our sins. This virus and other diseases outbreak today are just the beginning. God is going to see where its evil ways are leading. You have to take actions! RECHARGE! RECOGNIZE your sins and CHANGE.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). He is the commander of an army, God’s people are His soldiers, and He exercises authority over them. God not only leads but protects, accepting responsibility for His people. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Are you scared?

It’s time for recharging your life bravely during COVID-19 Pandemic with the BRAVE life group. You are not alone! If you need someone’s ear, prayer, or even a piece of advice. We are here for you. Just one ZOOM & Facebook away.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/BraveLifegroup/

Watch the video here!

Introduction of Brave Lifegroup

Brave Lifegroup is a youth organization with a purpose that is to empower the youth to love God and love people.

Overview

• We have a weekly meeting every Thursday, where we get to share our lives, be vulnerable but at the same time feel safe. Here, we get to share the word of God and do life together. 
• Also, doing life together is not just limited in our weekly meeting but every day of our lives. We consider each one like a family.

Brave Lifegroup Founder

• I started the life group with a great burden in my heart to really touch the lives of the youth in Cebu City.
• We know that youth nowadays are being harassed by the Enemy. They are lost, harassed, helpless because of sexual abuse, internet addiction, depression, etc. The enemy wants to steal, kill and destroy their lives but I will not let that happen in Cebu City.
• I decided to take a stand! 
• As what they said, “ Evil prospers because good people do nothing.”
• I had a holy burden in my heart to touch lives, share the gospel and rescue the youth from whatever is oppressing them.
• 2017, I had this desire and vision where young people from different universities in Cebu City will gather to worship our God in spirit and in truth.
• I envisioned the transformation of lives and revival to take place through this life group.
• Thus, the life group started last 2017 with just 5-6 members and it started to grow up until today.

Brave Activities

Revival Pinas Brave Thoughts Kayrol Ann Vacalares

A. Brave Lifegroup (every Thursday 6:30 pm -8:00 pm) ZOOM ONLINE ID: 780 720 9350

• Where we get to know new friends, worship together, hear the word of God, celebrate life together weekly.

B. Puso Notebook Session (every Saturday 9:30 am-10:30 am)

• Using the PUSO Notebook, we get to tackle common heart issues for the youth.

• Some of the HEART issues discussed are Comparison, Loneliness, Heartbreak, Addiction, Love, Sex, and Depression.

• Life coaches are present to help people who need counselling.

• It is a very safe place where people can share their deepest and darkest secrets and be ministered to.

C. One on One Mentoring (once a week)

• We offer this to those who would like to grow deeper in their Christian journey with the help of a mentor

D. Leader’s Mentoring (every Wednesday 6:30 pm-8:00 pm)

• Weekly mentoring for leaders or mentors to be equipped in their ministry.

E. Jumpstart (at least once a year)

• The whole group will experience fun and meaningful activities that will develop their camaraderie, teamwork and character.

F. PUSO Bayanihan

In partnership with PUSO Movement (an organization that shares the same vision and heart with Brave), we get to reach out to communities who need assistance such as money or goods.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/PUSOofficial/

BRAVE REAL LIFE STORIES

I am Fernelyn Neca C. Gabas, from Brave Lifegroup and working in the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

The COVID-19 outbreak which has been a global health emergency has brought unparalleled and unforeseen impact in our lives, our economies, our societies and our livelihoods. In response, preventive measures were taken to curb the outbreak. With this, quarantine/lockdown was implemented.

As public servants, we are called to serve in this trying time. Work still continues for us and I am part of that reserved personnel for augmentation when the need arises. I am far away from my family. I wish I could be with them. But unfortunately, with the lockdown and call of duty, I have to stay here in Cebu City.

Alone? Struggling? Fearful? Worried? Yes, but this pandemic reminds me that when everything else is taken away from us, God still remains. He will never leave nor forsake us. Therefore, we should trust not ourselves but God alone. Fear loses its power when we actively trust God more than what we fear. Everything that happens has reasons. And I believe God is sending us a message with this plague that we are going through. Storms will definitely come. But the question is, can we still fix our eyes on Jesus?

It’s not just our physical body that we need to strengthen during this crisis but our spiritual life as well. More than ever, we need God. In Him, there is hope. And it’s also great to be with people where you can still do life together even during this time. Brave Lifegroup has been one of my safe haven and place of comfort where I get encouraged and fed up spiritually. When personal interactions and gatherings were restricted, this has not stopped us from updating each other’s lives and being a constant support system as we face COVID-19. They are a family.

Psalm 144: 1-2 says “Praise be to the Lord my Rock who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.” As we grapple with this pandemic, let us hold tightly to the one who is in control, GOD! This season shall pass. We may not know when this crisis would end but we are claiming the victory ahead of us.

God is fighting with us in this battle. Together, let us be love givers, hope dealers and light shiners. Together, we will heal as one.

I am Janice M. Betacura from Brave Lifegroup, currently working in Homeschool Global Visayas.

Pandemic is moving like a wave, one that crashes on those least able to cope, this is really a horrible effect to all of us because some lose their jobs that sustain the needs of the family. Everybody seems worried about when this crisis will end because this causes a lot of trouble and suffering especially to those people who are front liners and low income.

At first, this pandemic did not really affect me, I still work at the office every day, until one day when I woke up the first thing that came into my mind was that, everything changed, everything is indifferent, honestly while thinking those things I felt scared and worried not for my self but for my family who’s afar from me. I started to ask God why all of this happened? But God answered me in my daily devotional in Daniel 4:35 – To Him, the nations are for less than nothing, God controls the star in the sky and everyone on this earth when God does something, we cannot change it or even ask why?

This made me realize why I am worried and scared for my family when God is in control of everything! God wanted us to trust His ways and plans even in this crisis. He wanted us to hold on to Him every single day. He wanted us to realize how lucky we are that we are still alive and have time to be with the people we love through digital communication.

This lockdown/quarantine taught me to be humble before the Lord, to go back to Him and make Him my priority in life, to care, share and love others! Being alone and far from my loved ones is not easy. Grateful to be part of this Brave Lifegroup family that truly shares and cares for others, it is one of my safe places and it is also my comfort zone, with this family I feel at peace always, we will overcome this by the grace of the LORD.

Keep the faith that God has given and always look on the better side. God is in control.

I am Licah Pableo from Brave Lifegroup, working as an Online English Instructor.

Before Covid19 I have been a very busy person, I’ve got a full time and part-time job at the same time. It has been a tiring day to day schedule for me which sometimes I forgot to acknowledge who is giving me such strength and courage.
Then all of a sudden, everything’s changed in just a day. Last March 27, 2020, I lost both of those jobs. The jobs which I treasured and the jobs that support my family’s needs.

(Proverbs 3: 5 – 6) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall make your paths straight.

This life verse of mine talks a lot to me now. After crying some time thinking about what just happened and trying to move on. God then reminded me that even without a job, He still could provide all our needs and He could use me more to work for His kingdom. Most importantly, I could rest and enjoy being in His presence as well as with the Life groups that I join and handle. Therefore, I believe that this pandemic is such a great way to recharge and go back to the main purpose that God has given us.

I am Serge Mercado from Brave Lifegroup, Computer Engineering Graduating Student at Cebu Institute of Technology.

Finals cancelled. Graduation postponed. Job interviews on hold. Celebrations were unknown. I was so excited to step on a new chapter of my life as a young professional even though I’m an anxious type of person of what the future withholds for me. Then COVID-19 happened just days before the new year officially started.

From the start, I didn’t realize how it will change our lives forever. You might hear of the words “New Normal” and that’s new to me too. Whatever was behind me might or might not go back again to what was before. At first, I got discouraged. It was natural because I am a human also but what makes me so blessed is that I also have another family who never failed to surprise and helps me get up and deepen my faith more to Jesus.

Whatever this “New Normal” will be, it won’t stop us from doing life together!

You will be encouraged by the timely message from our great Brave Leaders and all the amazing speakers from streams & breakout sessions! Brave Life group Zoom Day.

Please feel free to comment down if you’re interested to join with us. We hope to see you online!

Brave Lifegroup (every Thursday 6:30 pm -8:00 pm) ZOOM ONLINE ID: 780 720 9350

Chat Online: m.me/BraveLifegroup

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