Get Some Strength

Every Wednesday (except during the first Wednesday of each month), I hop from one room to another to preach among high school students (1st - 3rd year). I start talking at 7:45 in the morning upto 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I meet the graduating class every Friday. I am happy looking after these people. This task God has called me to do is very satisfying.

September 16, again I preached in 6 classes. I shared to them Gideon's story found in Judges 6 - 8. Like always, I had agreat time with them. But this preaching assignment has a challenge that went on with it. Earlier that day, I was struggling whether I would go to school or absent myself. Now you might be wondering how I ended up thinking whether to preach or not after I have told you I love what I am doing.

Tuesday night - some churchmates invited me to hang out with them. After the event we attended at the church, we went to a comedy bar. Ah... I should've left immediately after some steps from the entrance. I should've said no to them in the first place when they said where we were going. I should've went home after an hour. But I stayed until everyone has finally agreed to leave and eat at KFC. I reached my place at 3 in the morning and went to bed 30 minutes after. I knew it was a wrong turn. Indeed it was. I woke up 2 hours later. Regret woke me up. But I chose to hold on to the truth that God is faithful. Thank God for using me even though my body already wanted to give up.

When I have finished preaching to all the classes (except the 4th year class), I finally got to sit on my chair. That's the time I felt tired so I decided to go home and rest. But, my spirit wanted to seize every moment that day. After school hours, I stayed a little longer to meet the officers of the club I am moderating. I encouraged the student officers, all of them are on their 3rd year, to keep walking with Christ. When I went home, I immediately went to bed and laid my back on it.

It was a very tiring day and before I knew it, the enemy would cloud my mind and make me focus my eyes on myself as if I did not experience God Himself taking over all the preachings I did. All over my head, there was self-pity. "Oh I'm tired. Look at me. I am such a poor boy! So tired of preaching". But His love reminded me of what He has done. He was there with me. He moved among the kids. Yes I got tired but it cannot be denied that my spirit is jumping for joy. For to get tired (physically) doing God's work is much better than getting busy doing evil stuff.

Beautiful. He who called us is indeed faithful. And to completely overwhelm me with His love, a 2nd year high school student texted me asking for some help. He said he wanted to be changed by God. He confessed to me what vices he is enslaved with and why he wanted Jesus to free him. He promised he's gonna seek counsel from me. He wanted me to help him. This boy (upto this moment this blog is being written) is a frat member. He smokes marijuana aside from the usual cigarette. He drinks liquor. Inside the classroom, his classmates hate him for being a bully. I got pissed when I heard that often in the past, he used to eat his classmates' lunches. Achild froma broken family. This guy whose case, at first, I thought was hopeless, is now ready to experience Jesus' saving grace. Wow! Honestly, after our exchange of messages, I immediately went inside my brother's room (this is where I always do my devotion). There I expressed my thanksgiving to God in tears. I cried because of that great joy that rose from my heart. His love is overwhelming.

Find strength in God's arms! :)

Filemon

It was a typical Thursday night I thought, until a friend broke a news minutes before the midweek service ended. Did I say it was a bad news? Well, you could say it was just another challenge God would help you overcome. Apparently, it made me feel bad although I was trying to figure out at the same time how God will turn it into a blessing. I really got dismayed when I heard that we have a co-leader who has issues about my service to God.

I felt bad; really really bad. And I couldn't help myself but keep the feeling till the night was over. A leader opened up to a friend (the one who broke the news to me) issues about my service. She said that our co-leader mentioned about how I independently take over the youth ministry in the church where I am attending. She even talked about being close to several young people which I am not supposed to consolidate. I believe there are still more issues; probably even more serious. I believe the list would go on until I finally quit serving God. I think it won't end unless I transfer to another church or unless Jesus has come.



But God's goodness and faithfulness is beyond description. Every twist and turn in our lives connected to His will happen precisely the way He has planned it. This is the beauty of being with God. This is my faith. Even if you got hurt after hearing the bad news, still you have to hold on to the truth that it was said with a great purpose - to help you be strong.

I was lead to pray for that person who was (and still? I don't know...) raising issues about my service. Ok, I don't want to sound self-righteous here. Oh please. I do talk to God through prayers everyday. Since the dismay was clouding my mind during that night and it was killing me, I opted to talk to God about it and asked Him to clear my thoughts. As my prayer time went on, He lead me to the book of Filemon, (v4-6):

"Idinadalanagin ko na ang pagkakabuklod natin sa isang pananampalataya ay magbunga ng lubos na pagkaunawa sa mga kabutihang dulot ng pagkakaisa kay Cristo."

God reminded me for what reason He has put me in the ministry - to serve Him by loving people. Paul remembers Filemon in prayers thanking God for his life. He has heard so much about Filemon's faith. He prayed to God that their unity in faith would continually result to better understanding of the goodness brought by unity with Christ.

Suddenly I got reminded that the leader who raised up so much concerns about my service is still a sister in faith and if there is anything that is not clear to her, I should not be worried because we are serving one God. Her Boss who happens to be our Father would deal with her the concerns she has about me. I just need to be silent and wait on Him as He does the talking. This unity we have in Christ is amazing indeed.

Also, He cleared my thoughts by telling me that the presence of these people, whether I am comfortable to have them around or not, passed through His knowledge. His will in my life is not to help me become a softhearted man but to be a strong outspoken influential man who will serve Him at all cost.

This is a lesson I really need to master. A lot have said that one enemy that could destroy our passion in serving God is disappointment. But thanks be to God. This unity in faith has more goodness to unfold to those who serve Him.