Dalawang Dekada

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today is the tenth day of February two thousand and ten. It is my twentieth birthday. Dalawang dekada na akong nabubuhay sa mundong ibabaw :-D

In the bible, the number 10 signifies perfection of divine order. It is one of the four perfect numbers in the bible (i.e. 3,7,10,12). It represents completeness of order - nothing lacking, nothing over. For example: The 10 Commandments summarizes all that is necessary to be fulfilled; the 10 plagues of Egypt represents the complete circle of God's judgment on this idolatrous nation; and also the tithe (the tenth) that God requires in Malachi 3:10 represents the whole of what was due from man to God, as marking and recognizing God's claim on the whole. Moreover, check out your own anatomy, a complete set of fingers and a complete set of toes both refer to 10 phalanges (10 fingers & 10 toes)

The 10th day of February is also the 41st day of every year (beginning from January 1). Number 4, in a way, represents a new beginning, as it follows the biblical number 40. The 40th day of Jesus' Fasting marked its end, the next day (day 41) was the beginning of His Ministry. The 40th day of the rain in Noah's time marked its end, the next day (day 41) marked the beginning of the receding of the flood.

The number 20, on the other hand represents a period of waiting and expectation: Jacob waited for 20 long years to have his wives and his properties (Genesis 31:38,41); The nation of Israel waited for 20 years for a deliverer from Jabin's oppression (Judges 4:3); The Ark of the Covenant waited for 20 years at Kiriath Jearim; King Solomon waited for 20 years for the completion of the two buildings/houses (I Kings 9:10). All these people (and the ark) waited, and got what they waited for because they were full of expectation on the Sure Promises of God. 

And true enough, right now, as a recent 20-year old, I am full of expectation on God's Sure Promises and His Goodness. Just a few weeks ago, during one of our nursing board exam review classes, when I re-realized that graduation is very near, I had these doubts and (I guess) fears regarding the future. I asked God a number of questions: "What now after I graduate?; Anong mangyayari sakin?; Anong magiging buhay ko?; Anong pinaka-maganda kong gawin?; Sinong mapapangasawa ko?; etcetera, etcetera." It was right here that God seems to have squeezed my heart (it was how it felt) and it was like I pictured God smilingly say "Ano ka ba anak? Just trust Me." And it was at that very moment that The His Holy Spirit reminded me of a verse I have already read for not a few times, and I immediately took out my (electronic) bible from my pocket to look for it. . .

Psalm 139:16

"All the days ordained for me were written in Your Book before one of them came to be."

After reading this, I instinctively/automatically reviewed the events of my life, just like in a flashback. And I was convinced that indeed, this verse is very true. I saw how God planned my life. I didn't plan to take up this course (not once in my life did I dreamed of being a nurse), or to study in this university (not once did I dream of studying in UST) but I saw how God has blessed me through it and has taught me priceless life lessons during my stay at the UST College of Nursing --lessons that I would not have learned elsewhere, I believe.

Moreover, I never planned to become a Christian! No sir, na-ah, not me. It was all corny & baduy to me! But God arranged the circumstances, and moved the pieces, causing the very foundations of my life to be shaken -yes they were, they were shaken so badly and they broke, they were shattered, and on the night of June 11, 2006, I was faced with the inevitable decision and great offer of accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior. The rest is history. I didn't plan these things, but God set me up! He set me up. It was definitely a set-up.

What am I to fear? My path has already been laid out for me. It was hidden, but now, it is lighted. God has given me visions of what is to come regarding my walk with (not simply for) Him, and it is very exciting. I must not forget it. I must always bring it to remembrance. I must always remember it.

Deuteronomy 4:9
"Be very careful not to forget the things your eyes have seen. Do not let them slip from your heart. Remember them always."

Jeremiah 29:11
" 'For I know the plans I have for you' says The Lord. 'Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope' "

So Zion, whenever you're having doubts, fears or any destructive emotion, always remember. . .

 

Maliwanag ang Bukas

"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn 

--shining ever brighter till the full light of the day."

Proverbs 4:18

WELCOME TO THE BEGINNING OF THE 

THIRD DECADE OF YOUR EXISTENCE

THANK YOU LORD FOR 

MY TWENTIETH BIRTHDAY 

The Only Worthy Thing

Lord Thou hath picked me for no logical reason
Thou hast picked me out of Thy Love
Before I was even born, Thou knowest me
Before I was made, loveth me, Thou hast

The Best, Thou hast given me- Thyself
No good thing hast Thou withheld
To this unworthy soul Thou hast grant
--The Greatest Love. To his understanding -beyond

Yet for some reason, or a couple of them
This soul has strayed, from Thy Presence
To find its way to its own desires
And follow his heart, 'cause it seems right

But through the years, this soul foundeth
That Thy Love is Firm, better than anything
This soul however, knowest not what to do
For far from Thee, he has gone through

Wept, this soul hast, till tears were none
It cried out loud till its voice was gone
"Bring me back to Thee" --it uttered and begged
Thou Art The Only Worthy Thing –it said

My sins are many, my faults countless
Hypocrisy and pride, I, they consumeth
Come like a flood, and sweep Thy servant
Thy Peace and Joy: to anything –more than

Tasks are many; special people, abundant
Distractions are plenty and responsibilities, important
But I’ll leave it all, and in Thy Secret Place, sing
For Thou Art The Only Worthy Thing!

“Lakad lang nang Lakad. . .”

There would be times na umiiral ang pagka-masokista ko and instead of taking the P20, 2-ride trip home from my school, I would opt to take the P10 1-ride and 2,000-step trip home. When I would ask myself: “Bakit ka ba kasi nagpapakapagod maglakad!?” Myself would rationalize by saying “Para makatipid.” But I know for sure that there’s a deeper reason. Well, I guess, I just like pushing myself to the limits. As illogical, unreasonable and stupid as it may sound, I would often bring only P20 going to school. P10 papunta; P10 pabalik – that way, wala akong magiging choice kundi maglakad (eh wala na ‘kong pamasahe eh). It is somewhat a way of teaching myself discipline.

However, one time, it seemed that I underestimated what a day could bring: had my duty from 8A-6P; pagod; gutom; uhaw; walang pera pambili ng pagkain at tubig; kinakailangan pang manghiram ng napakabigat na libro sa library; nakauwi na ang mga kaklase; walang load para magpasundo; walang telepono para makatawag sa bahay. Ang tanging meron ako: dalawang limang pisong barya – saktong pamasahe pauwi. Sa aking kauhawan, sumagi sa isip ko for one second na ipambili na lamang ito ng Sarsi at mag-wantutri (1-2-3) sa jeep. Pero gayunpaman, simula ng naging Christian na ko, and pag-wantutri became an impossible option.

Sumakay ako sa jeep at ibinigay ang nag-iisang dalawang barya ko sa drayber. “Boss, Cubao po, estudyante” ang sabi ko. Pagdating sa babaan, oras na para maglakad. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng panghihina nang maisip ko ang layo ng aking lalakarin. Lalo itong nadagdagan ng maalala ko ang aking twenty-pound bag and ten-pound book na dala-dala (seriously, I weighed them). Bumuntong-hininga ako and took my first step.

Now, in order to encourage me, Myself told me: “Sige lang, lakad lang nang lakad, mararating mo rin yan.” I immediately understood what Myself was trying to say (that’s why I love talking to myself). He made me realize: “Oo nga noh, one step takes you closer to your goal. Truth is, it doesn’t matter that much how close it takes you. What matters is that it makes you closer. Closer than before, closer than the minute ago, closer than yesterday, closer than last year. If you’ll focus on the length of the journey, chances are, you may get tired without actually getting tired (gets?). But taking it one step at a time takes you closer and closer, and closer, at hanggang sa hindi mo mamalayan- AYUN! Nandun ka na! You just need to savor every step.” I really got encouraged by this, and true enough, as I was enjoying each step, hindi ko namalayan, nasa bahay na ko, with a lot of energy still to spare.

Kung ikaw man ay nasa posisyon kung saan parang walang nangyayari sa iyong paglalakad, at ika’y nagsasawa na; Kung pakiramdam mo’y you are meant for something greater at sawa ka na sa kinalalagyan mo; Kung napapagod ka na. . .THEN ALL THE MORE you need to keep walking, keeping in mind that each step (i.e. each day, each effort, each seemingly vain effort) takes you closer to your destiny.

Everytime I get discouraged, I remind myself of what I continually tell other people: “It doesn’t matter whether it is a run, a walk, or even a crawl, the most important thing is that you are moving forward. . .in faith." Kaya lakad lang. Lakad lang nang lakad, makakarating ka rin dun.