The Almost Unexpected but Expected Answers

Today’s a bit different. October 12, 2014, Sunday. Ang dami kong nasa isip at hindi ko alam kung papano i-o-organize. Anyway, we are so blessed to have Rhea in the worship celebration. Too bad wala akong picture kasama siya. Rhea is my brother’s classmate and it is indeed a blessing having her today. :) As I have heard, this kid had gone miles in dealing with what problems life and school gave her. But I guess, she’d finally found her peace of mind and refuge in the Lord today. :) I pray na mag-grow pa siya into knowing who God really is. :)

What I wanted to share today are the answers to the problems that I had been sulking on. The worship ended around 11:00 pm. May activities pa ang church sa hapon and I am contemplating kung babalik pa or hindi. The activities include our PEPSOL or Sunday School. Pinag-iisipan ko na hindi na bumalik dahil tapos na ko sa Sunday School. So in short, wala naman na akong gagawin. But aside from the Sunday School, may seminar na paunang ginagawa and this seminar is for the whole congregation. Gusto ko sanang puntahan iyon. Pero umiral ang kung anong katamaran. Umuwi ako ng bahay around 12:00 noon to eat lunch. I was thinking  to follow-up several people instead of going back sa church. Dahil tanghaling tapat, napakataas ng araw and bigla kong naisip na ang hirap kasi maglalakad lang ako to their houses.

There is where the problems came in.

I’ve dwelt on the negative. Biglang sumagi sa isip ko na nakakapagod ‘tong ginagawa ko. I’ve been following-up people na naglalakad lang. I can ride but it wont be practical. So, in short, naisip ko yung lahat ng pagod and effort ko into discipling people and I am into this point na napapagod na ko kasi wala akong nakikitang results. Like, parang ako nalang yung nag-eeffort, walang nakikitang changes sa kanila, mauubusan na ko ng funds, ‘tas sila pa yung hindi nasunod, tataguan ka pa, blah, blah, blah. “Lord, hanggang kelan ba ‘to na ako nalang lahat? Hanggang kelan po ba na babalik balikan ko sila?” Ayun. Reklamadora mode on. Naisip ko pa, ang tagal kong hinintay ‘tong point kung saan magkakaroon na ko ng disciples pero nung nagkaroon na nga, hala, ang hirap pala. :(

Hindi ako natuloy sa pag-fo-follow up. I then saw myself going back to church that time. Bumalik nga ako but aside from my back pack, I carried with me the luggage of my problems.

But God is so amazing. He did let me come to church so I can hear His answers to all of my questions.

It was specifically in SOL 2 where I got my answers. SOL 2 or School of Leaders 2 is a part of our Sunday school where the students are already cell leaders or are already capable to be one. Tapos na ko sa Sunday School but I can always sit in. So God used the teachers to show me my answers and here are they. First, nahihirapan ako kasi sa simula palang wala akong goal sa disciples ko. Hindi ko talaga malalaman kung hanggang kelan kasi walang clear na goal and plans on how could I reach my goals. And the goal of G12 is to make every believer a leader. I should goal that my disciples are becoming leader themselves. Ang kaso cell group ako ng cell group, follow-up ng follow-up, na wala naming sinusunod na plano. So parang I’m doing this thing endlessly. Kailangan ko rin na magfocus na sa tatlong disciples na potential leaders at i-close cell ko na sila. And the rest na makulit, open cell.

But this what struck me the most. If we are motivating people, we must make sure that us leaders are well-motivated by God. That we should not let God’s battery on us be depleted kasi pag hinayaan natin iyon at nagpatuloy tayo sa gawain ng Panginoon, ang sarili na nating lakas ang gagamitin natin. Kasi ‘yung dapat na source natin naubos na. Pag nangyari iyon, mapapagod talaga tayo. Hindi naman talaga nauubos ang strength na kayang ibigay ni Lord. We just ran out of it pag tayong mga leaders wala nang matinong intimate moments kay God. Wala ng devotions and prayers. Hindi na nagpa-recharge kay God at ang sariling lakas na ang ginamit. 

And it is not true na kapag sinusugod na tayo ng kaaway or anumang pumipigil satin into continuing God’s work, titigil narin tayo into ministering peole. We can always fight our own battles while pursuing the work God gave us. There is where we can also see God’s grace and mas lalalim ang faith natin. Makakaya natin all because of faith in God’s faithfulness and grace. I am also inspired to read the whole book of Nehemiah. Ang daming pwedeng makuhang insights and inspiration on how they rebuilt their wall. And connected talaga ang book ni Nehemiah sa discipleship.

I was really recharged. And thank God for this day. I can say that God indeed is patient on each one of us. And as long as we really seek Him with all our hearts, mahahanap natin Siya. (Jeremiah 29:13) Sa part ko, I sought Him with all my heart in regards to ranting Him all my problems. And hindi naman Niya ko binigo.

Naalala ko rin yung devotion ko for today. Noong una akala ko wala lang. ‘Yun pala, pinapaalala sakin ng Lord that I am a chosen generation and I am set apart to do great things for Him.

“Datapwat kayo ay isang lahing hinirang, mga saserdote ng Hari, isang bansang nakatalaga sa Diyos. Pinili kayo ng Diyos upang maging Kanya at mahayag ang kahanga-hangang gawa Niya. Siya rin ang tumawag sa inyo mula sa kadiliman tungo sa Kanyang kagila-gilalas na kaliwanagan.” (1 Peter 2:9)

His promises are true. And dahil Siya ang nangako, sure tayong tutuparin Niya ‘yun at Siya ang magdadala sa akin doon. He never promised an easy way but He did promise that He shall be with me until the very end. :) Being a cell leader and discipling people is really difficult. But once you experience the joy of seeing people’s lives changed all because of God, lahat ng hirap worth it. Kasi at the end of the day, God can tell you are indeed a good and faithful servant. And being an instrument God can use to change lives is a very wonderful and exciting journey sa buhay natin dito sa lupa.

My PLMCI Family. Photo courtesy of Pastor Rey. This photo is dated October 5, 2014.

So God bless everyone! See you at next post! :D