The Christian Ideal: Loving God (CLP Talk 5)

"Bring them all back home to me..."

Whew! Ambigat ng naging talk kahapon sa CLP. Si Tita Penny De Leon ng CFC (Couples For Christ) ang naging speaker namin. Naalala ko tuloy nung MMC(Metro Manila Conference), isa din kasi siya sa speaker nung MMC sa baguio na talaga namang nakaka-aliw at heartfelt ang pagto-talk. Hmmm, usually, 'di ako masyadong nakikinig nakakapakinig sa mga speakers namin sa CLP ngaun. Medyo busy lang..(ows!?, busy ba talaga o nakikipag-daldalan ka lang?!) hehe, medyo lang naman. Pero nung nalaman kong si Tita Penny yung magto-talk, ayun wala ng pumilit sakin na makinig. Kasi alam ko talaga na magaling mag-talk si Tita Penny, and for the second time na nakinig ako sa kanya, she didn't fail my expectation.

Isa sa mga striking words na narinig ko sa kanya eh yung mismong words na nanggaling kay God. Yes!, God spoke to her. (He is talking to all of us, just learn to listen) It goes... "Bring them all back home to me..." Wow!, napaka-bigat na responsibility nun!, hindi lang sinabi ni God na "Bring them back to me." but His command is strong and clear, "Bring them ALL back home to me." hindi lang asawa nya, hindi lang family nya, hindi lang ang CFC, hindi lang ang community kundi LAHAT tayo. God wants us to be with Him. And in His words, He also reminding us na bisita lang tayo sa mundo. He said, "Bring them all back HOME to me." Clear! Earth is not our home but Heaven.

With this fact, na-mention din ni Tita Penny the words from her father that she'll never forget, "Whatever is excess in what you NEED is no longer yours." See? the word is NEED not WANT. Kung ano 'yung sobra sa gusto kailangan mo, hindi na 'yun sayo. So kung hindi sa'yo 'yon, eh kanino??? It's for God and for God's nation. Huh? Ano daw??? Want to know? simple! Sabi sa kanta,

"So blessed, I can't contain it.
     So much I got to give it away"

Nakita mo na? If you are blessed enough, then give. help. Wala namang nasasayang sa paggawa ng mabuti 'di ba? Pati sabi nga ni St. Francis, "It is in giving that we receive", that is so true, kapag nagbigay tayo anu ba mapapala natin? It's joy of heart, happiness(enervon) of spirit and you glorify God. Masaya kapag nagkakaron ka, pero mas masaya kapag nakapag-pasaya ka. 'di ba! 'di ba!. Hehe.

Loving God with all your Heart; with all your Mind; and with all your Soul. That's the christian ideal. Madaling sabihin pero mahirap gawin.When you are blessed, it is easy to be faithful(to God). Pero pa'no kung down ka na? Will you still be faithful? That's the very common problem with christians(that are lacking in spiritual nourishment). We're easily giving up at times of hardship and sorrows. Nagda-doubt na tayo kay God kaagad kapag nahihirapan na tayo, the same God na nagbigay sa'tin ng lahat-lahat kahapon lang. 'di ka ba nagi-guilty?

"Never doubt in the dark
     what God has told you in the light."

Just be faithful. Pray. Love.

Tita Penny has told us a story about a woman who truly lives up her love to God. To make the story short, 'yung babae na 'to may asawa at 2 anak. Nakalimutan ko kung iniwan s'ya o namatay na ung asawa n'ya. Basta hiwalay na sila nung asawa n'ya and found another man. With her new man, nagkaron sila ng siyam na anak. Yes! Nine (9) but they're not married. They happened to attend one CLP and felt guilty. Why they felt guilty? One thing. Adultery. They are not married right? Free yung lalaki, i mean single. 'Di nagtagal natapos nila yung CLP. Then the night nung graduation, nagkaron si babae ng pagkakataon na mag-share. So she does. Humarap s'ya sa asawa partner n'ya and then she said,

"Mahal na mahal kita at alam mo 'yon...(more loving words)...but this will be the last night na magkakasama tayo. (nagulat lahat sa sinabi nya lalo na ung guy syempre) You are free but I'm not. Ako ang nagiging dahilan ng pagkakasala mo. At ayokong hilahin kita sa kasalanan. We cannot continue living together because we can't help loving each other."

See her love? Mahal na mahal n'ya 'yung partner n'ya. Pero nung nalaman n'ya na hindi 'yun ang kagustuhan ni God, kahit mahirap sa kanya, she let go of him. Hindi biro magpalaki ng labing-isang anak(9+2, math 'to!) mag-isa at hindi biro ang i-let go ung love mo na nakasama mu na sa buhay ng matagal. She never ask anything from her partner but financial support for their 9 children. She chose to be on God side. She chose to listen. She chose to follow. She trusts. She never doubt.

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" - Romans 8:32