roman guevara

ROMAN GUEVARA
Daily Devotional Reading

“Let them know”

Scripture:

Hebrews 3:13

¹³But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

I don’t know about you, pero ako, pagnapapalapit na ang birthday ko, parang im in the mood to reflect about life, specifically, how my life has turned out.

My happiest…………and saddest.

My successes…….. and failures.

My achievements…..and disasters.

My victories………….and struggles.

My ups………………..and downs.

My best decisions….and of course, my unbelievable mistakes!

Yes, there all there.

Reflection, at certain times in the year is good thing. Birthdays, anniversaries, and siyempre the New Year.

Parang blood donation? Recently ko lang na discover na maganda palang ginagawa to once a year. Kasi, nalilinis ang dugo mo, nalalaman mo kung kamusta health mo dahil siyempre kung ano-anong test ang gagawin sayo para malaman kung puwede ka ngang magdonate, at of course, what a joy na nakatulong kapa sa kapwa mo na nangangailangan ng dugo.

Reflection, is just like that. It’s good for us, once in awhile.

And the other day, i was just laying on my bed, thanking God na magbe birthday na naman ako uli, and looking at my ceiling, i began to ask God “Lord, halos fifteen years na akong nagmi-ministry, did i make the right choice?”

Of course, alam ko naman, na i made the right choice.

You see, sa mga hindi nakakaalam, sa mga hindi naman ako masyado kilala, e, kwento ko lang.

Wala naman kasi akong planong mag Pastor.  Sa loob-loob ko lang, masyado na akong maraming kamag anak at kilalang Pastor. Sila na lang. Ang balak ko talaga, mag abogado. Mula elementary, tapus high school, and then college, yun ang battlecry ko. I took an undergraduate course that i felt would be a good pre-law endeavour. Kaso nga lang, somewhere in my youth and childhood, e, i would like to believe, God intervened. Kaya by the time i was 17 years old, still in college, e, nagPastor na ako. And from then on, that’s what i’ve been doing.

Now im sure im not the youngest ever na naging Pastor. Baka somewhere out there merong mas bata pa nung nagsimula. Pero medyo bata pa talaga ako when i started doing Pastoral ministry, kaya, i could honestly say, it’s been a challenging ride.

I can still remember my idealism when i started. As well as the energy that went with it. However, as much as i would like to forget, i also remember, my many mistakes. The many times i’ve failed morally, spiritually. I remember the people who have greatly encouraged me. Those who have made an impact in my life. Pero, pero, pero, i also remember, as much as i would like to forget, the people who have greatly discouraged and dissapointed me as well. Madami dami din sila.

Kaya going back to my reflective mood, i said to God “Lord, palambing naman, i know i made the right choice to serve you and your people, and it’s all really for your glory and honor………pero, sana naman malaman ko kung me na touch naman ang life, because i made that choice.”

And you know what?

The next day, i opened my multiply site, and tada!!!!!!  Isang katerbang messages sa guestbook ko, sa Personal Message or PMs sa inbox, people i’ve never known, telling me, that by God’s grace, and glory to God, once upon a time, they have been touched by God, somehow, through my life and ministry.

Talk about answered prayers!

One guy from Saudi Arabia wrote how way back in the early 90’s, his mother sent him to attend RISE UP youth conferences, na pinangungunahan ko. Ayaw pa nga raw niyang umatend non. Halos kaladkarin siya ng kanyang magulang. Pero, somehow napa attend parin siya. He mentioned in his message to me, na isa yun sa ginamit ni Lord, kung bakit today, he is now very much active in the ministry. He wrote because recently, the Lord has been dealing with him to approach and thank those whom God has used in his life. I was sobrang na encourage sa effort niya to find me after all these years, just to say thanks.

Another one wrote from Baguio. 14 years old lang daw siya nung una niya akong napakinggan magpreach, also in the 90’s. Pero God used that moment as well, to plant seeds in his life, that as of today, not only is he married na, pero Senior Pastor pa ng church nila sa Baguio.  Glory to God talaga.

Yung iba naman wrote to express their gratitude kasi every morning inaabangan daw nila nag devotional readings that i write sa multiply.com, and they were sharing how through these writings they have been inspired, convicted, comforted, and encouraged to go on with life and in serving God.

Now don’t get me wrong. Hindi naman natin ito kinikwento para magyabang. At hindi rin ako nag e-ego trip. At mas lalo namang wala akong balak na kunin ang glory ke God. Ang point ko is this.

Minsan, ang tao, kailangan niya ng encouragement.

Yes, we know, it’s all for God. And yes, his love is enough. However, part ng pamamaraan ni Lord para maramdaman nating lahat ang kanyang love, e, through each other.

Kaya, kung na bless tayo, natulungan tayo ng someone, na encourage tayo somehow by another person, e tama lang naman siguro, that we should let them know.

We should let them know na tama yung ginagawa nila. We should let them know na me tinatamaan sa ginagawa nila. We should let them know na me tama silang ginagawa sa buhay nila. And they will never know really, how much, they have touched our lives, not unless, and not until, somehow, we tell it to them.

Wala naman sa ating perfect. Even the most spiritual of people make mistakes. Commit sins. Experience failure. Pero that doesnt mean, lagi nalang tayong palpak.

Me mga pumapatok tayong relationships, at meron din tayong failed relationships.

Merong mga taong gumanda buhay dahil sa atin, at meron din namang mga taong hindi kasing ganda ang alaala sa ating pangalan.

We can’t have it all.

We can only try our best, and continue to live under God’s mercy and grace.

Kaya, pag merong ginamit si Lord sa buhay natin, pasalamatan natin sila.

My brother wrote a song, and it goes like this “salamat sa iyo, binigay mo ang buhay mo, sa Panginoon, salamat sa iyo”.

The song is a reminder to us all. We need each other. And we need to encourage one another.

The other day, sinamahan ko yung friend ko at ang kanyang pamilya, na ihatid sa airport ang nagiisa niyang kapatid. E, parehong lalake, kaya, puro kalokohan nung nagpapaalam na sa airport. One year din mawawala ang kapatid bago makabalik ng Pilipinas. Nung naihatid na namin, naghiwalay nadin kami nung parents niya, tapus kaming dalawa, we went somewhere else. Mamaya maya, nung nasa taxi nakami, nag emote ang friend na ito. Sabi niya sa akin, “kuya, parang nalulungkot ako”. Sabi ko “okay lang yun, okay lang na malungkot ka, hayaan mo lang.” Aba, mamaya maya, ayun, mega cry-cry ang nagpupumilit na hindi magdradrama!

E sabi ko, “walang masama na umiyak noh, e dapat kanina nung nagpaalaman kayo, dapat dun ka nagiiyak.” E ang sabi sa akin “e nahihiya kasi ako kanina eh, me mga tao, atsaka pinipigilan ko.” Later i discovered,  pati yung nanay nila na kasama naming naghatid, nagsisihagulgol din nung naghiwalay na kami from the airport.

Yun naman ang mali. Yung naiiyak ka, tapus pinipigilan mo dahil nahihiya ka sa ibang tao. Kasi kung mahal mo, edi normal lang na nalulungkot ka kasi magkakahiwalay kayo. At pagnalulungkot, normal na naiiyak ka.

Parang sa magboyfriend lang yan, at pati narin sa magasawa. Minsan tinatanong ka ng partner mo, ng lover mo, “honey, mahal mo ba ko?”. Kadalasan pag matagal ng nagsasama, pagmatagal-tagal na kayo, e ang sagot na lagi ay “alam mo nayon!”.

Oo nga. Alam na niya.

Kaso nga lang, paminsan minsan, gusto naman niyang marinig.

Paminsan-minsan, gusto naman nating makitang naiiyak ang mga tao sa lungkot dahil mahal nila tayo. Paminsan-minsan gusto naman nating marinig, mabasa sa text or sa email, na, people love us. That we are doing the right thing. That we are a blessing in their lives. That we matter in this world.

And you know? Sometimes………………………hindi nila alam.

Why not?  Kasi……………………………………..hindi natin sinasabi. Hindi natin pinapakita. Hindi natin pinaparamdam.

Let them know.

Thank God for friendster, christianster, myspace, hi-5, facebook, and of course, multiply, people are more connected now, more than ever, in our lifetime and history. At isa sa features ng mga social websites na ito, is that, you can announce your birthday to your own sphere of influence. Kaya, kung me isa kaman lang na friend or contact, tiyak, hindi kanaman ma z-zero sa pagbati or greetings pag eto na, it’s your birthday already.

Kaya, in the last 2 weeks, medyo sunod sunod na ang pagtanggap ko ng advance hapi birthday greetings.

At you know what? Thankful ako, for all of them. Thankful ako, kahit sa pagbati……lang.

Pero siyempre, medyo extra special ang pasasalamat ko sa mga higit sa pagbati ang pinaabot. Tulad ng kagabi, some of my very good friends decided to throw me a pre-birthday dinner! At sino banaman ang hindi kikiligin pag inaabutan kana ng mga regalo? Lalo na kung cash! Hehehe.

Love talaga nila ako. They are truly my friends.

Kasi, sometimes, kailangan din, hindi lang na sabihin. Kundi…….ipakita.

Kailangan nila yun from time to time. Kailangan naman minsan ilibre natin sila for lunch or dinner. Kailangan naman minsan bilan natin sila ng damit, sapatos, o kahit celfone o bagong laptop. Kailangan naman minsan, kung nabless ka talaga, i-encourage munaman ang mga taong ito, by giving them, with what most people need today…..cash!

Ok yung pabati-bati, pagreet-greet, patext-text, payakap-yakap. Pero sometimes, mas maging creative kanaman.

Yes, kailangan nila. Pero, the truth is, kailangan din natin.

Kailangan nating malaman at maramdaman, that we have become a good person. And a good person, is, a grateful person. We Filipinos have a good concept concerning this. The concept of “utang na loob”.  It’s not really about what we owe, but more of the fact that we love, and that because of, including that which they have contributed to our lives in the past, our parents, our brothers and sisters, our relatives, our friends, our leaders and Pastors in the church, we have become who we are today, and hopefully, we are today, a better person, a good person. A grateful person.

How about you?

Who has touched your life?

Sino ba ang mga taong nagmamahal sayo, noon paman, at hanggang sa ngayon?

Sino ba ang mga taong ginamit at patuloy na ginagamit ni Lord para patuloy na lumalakas ang iyong faith?

Napasalamatan munaba sila?

Napakita munaba sa kanila how grateful you really are of them?

Kapatid, maybe it’s time. Maybe it’s your turn. Who knows how important it is for them right now for you to say, for you to share, for you to acknowledge, not tomorrow, but today.

Let them know.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Thank you Lord for this beautiful day that you have made. And life is even more beautiful because of your great love, and the people you’ve brought in my life to make it so. I cherish Lord all your works. I appreciate Lord tha people you have used in my life so that even today, i continue to cling to you. I pray for them Lord. Bless them each day. Empower them. Enrich them. Encourage them. Forgive me Lord, if sometimes i have been remiss in showing my gratitude. Forgive me Lord for the times that i have been ungrateful. Help me Lord to say it. Help me Lord to show it. To be an encouragement myself to others. And that is why today Lord, i ask, that you use me. That you make use of my unworthy life, to bring glory to your name, by helping others RISE UP. By encouraging others with your love. Anoint this day Lord for all of us, in Jesus name, amen.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED BY THIS DEVOTIONAL, FEEL FREE TO RECOPY, REPOST OR TO MAKE A LINK THROUGH YOUR SITE, THANKS AND GOD BLESS.

IN YOUR SPARE TIME, YOU MAY WANT TO HEAR THE WEEKLY AUDIO MESSAGE FOUND ON THE LISTEN SECTION OF THIS SITES HOMEPAGE.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 5th, 2008 at 7:26 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.