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Lord, give me a sign
Reflections on
November 14 Readings
By Eli Bautista
We all have done it once
or twice. When we are deciding on whether changing jobs,
or choosing a career, or looking for a partner or even
just where to go for vacation.
Yes, we have asked God for a sign. A white rose, a
letter from a friend, a phone call
from a relative, an email from a stranger. We ask for
different signs. We sometimes
focus too much on the signs we ask for making us less
confident on making a
decision until it is given to us.
This Sunday’s readings talk about the
signs that precede Christ’s second coming. We
hear of all the things that are to come and all the
things that the followers have to do
before facing that day. In the second reading, Paul
reminds the Thessalonians not to
be idle, to always work and not just become busybodies.
We all know where this life is going. We
all know what God has in store for us. He
has heaven waiting. He has our eternal reward ready,
BUT, we cannot just wait for
it idly. We cannot just sit around and wait for signs
while we live this life. We have
to work for it, we have to be vigilant, and we have to
be doing our part to get that
reward.
Of course, we still have to seek God’s
will for our lives, we still have to pray about
our decisions, we still need to discern about the
directions we take. If we ask for a
sign, do NOT just focus on the sign. If the sign does
not come, we have to take
courage and make that decision in faith. We offer
everything up to the Lord and if
we have decided according to His will, He will make the
decision fruitful. If not, He
will give us all the opportunity to correct it. Either
way, God helps us get there.
This week, may we remember that the most
important thing in our relationship with God is our
faith and trust in Him. Trust that if God brings us to
it, He will bring us through it.
Eli Bautista is an Alumnus of CYA-UST. He served in
CYA as a Staffer from 1993 to 1995. He is currently
serving in Families for Christ, one of the Christian
communities in Vancouver, Canada. |
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SIT AND ESTIMATE
By Yselle Callo
“Will he not first sit down and estimate the
cost?... any of you who does not give up everything he
has cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14:28,33
I can definitely relate to this example cited by Jesus
in Luke 14:28. If memory serves me right, this had been
my practice in making choices ever since, even as a
young child. I would sit and estimate the cost before
making a final choice.
I remember in grade school, I sold candies to my
classmates for snack time, but took time to budget my
limited allowance to make sure that I have enough for
both “business” and regular school expenses. In high
school, I would think more than twice to consider all
possible outcomes if I would (or would not) tell my
friends who my crush was. In college, I consulted my
sister and asked myself many times what worst thing
could happen if I say ‘yes’ to the classmate who was
courting me that time.
In deciding to follow Jesus when I attended my CLS, I
did the same thing. But how could I say “no” to the One
who offers me His everything? He gave up His life to
save me from sure death, and He promises new life and
the best future that one could ever have. I would say,
back then I was really just taken by His love. I fell so
in love with God.
Through time, as we grow in following Christ, the
question of discipleship comes – and then there is real
cost to talk about. On this, have we really sat down and
estimated what it would cost us? But what use is there
for “estimating” when what’s required is “everything”?
Lord, thank you for accepting us to be your disciples.
Thank you, Holy Spirit for helping us especially when it
becomes difficult, and when following You costs us more
than what we thought it would. Amen.
Yselle Callo is an alumna of CYA-PUP. She served as
a CYA Staffer from 1997 to 2000. She is currently
serving as a pastoral leader in Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon
community.
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NEW JOY AWAITS
By Yselle Callo
LUKE 12: 32 – “Do not be afraid any longer, little
flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the
kingdom.”
This passage follows a series of “do-not-worry”
reminders in this page of the Bible that is entitled
“Dependence on God” in the version I am using. What
consoling words! – “Do not be afraid any longer,
little flock.”
This is the same passage that started me off unafraid
and excited about 2010, when I had a retreat in January.
Today, on the sixth month of some challenges and trials,
the Lord allows me to find rest and comfort in the same
words He used from the beginning. It reminded me of the
joy that stirred my heart with excitement back then.
I realized how, even the normal challenges of daily life
can quickly diminish the joy in our hearts in loving and
living life as God wants it. It only takes one sickness,
one heart break, one frustration over trusting (or
mistrusting) a person, and most joy - if not all, could
go.
How good it is to have a God who is consistent, who
despite of the change in our circumstances or emotional
state, remains to be steadfast and doesn’t change His
promises. He remembers and say, “I, your Father, am
[still] pleased to give you the Kingdom.”
Because of this, I’m no longer afraid. Life goes on
despite the heartache, though some scars remain,
sickness are healed, frustration fades with the grace of
openness and forgiveness, and new joy awaits!
Thank you, Lord for your steadfast love and patient
understanding. Grant us the grace to be steadfast and
patient as well. Help us endure the trials and
challenges that you send our way – cause them only to
make us love you more and grow in your image as your
beloved
sons and daughters. Amen.
Yselle Callo is an alumna of CYA-PUP. She served as
a CYA Staffer from 1997 to 2000. She is currently
serving as a pastoral leader in Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon
community.
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The Lord is Victorious
By Kenneth Carandang
CYA-UP Diliman
When I was just beginning to serve in Christ’s Youth in
Action (CYA) at the University of the Philippines -
Diliman, I never imagined in my craziest dreams that I
would serve in a leadership role, especially in the
Christian Life Series (CLS). At that time, it seemed
frightening and daunting because of the possibility that
people might reject me or even make fun of my efforts.
In short, being a leader was well out of my comfort
zone. Not until one day, when I felt the Lord asking me
to give more to Him, that is, to give more than what is
enough.
I then began doing as God had told me. I began to step
up in my service and accept leadership roles that are
given to me. I have always believed in sharing God’s
message, so when I was asked to lead the CLS, I openly
took the opportunity to be the one in front. It was not
an easy task leading a large number of people to the
Lord but through the grace of the Holy Spirit, I
overcame every obstacle that hindered me. I would pray
for the Holy Spirit to dwell in me every time that I am
faced by my fears.
Now, I find myself smiling when I see my fellow students
raise their hands in worship, when I hear them talk
about their experience of God and when I see them living
a life in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
Seeing them following the Lord and witnessing God’s
faithfulness has given me joy for it is another victory
of the Lord in my life. It is truly a great privilege to
work for the Lord and to witness how He triumphs in the
lives of people. |
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 “Now
I See...”
Ian Belmonte
CYA-UST Alumnus
One fine Tuesday afternoon, at around 5:30pm, we
finished our work and proceeded to the badminton arena
where we play. After several rounds of hitting and
smashing, of serving and receiving, I decided to rest
for a while and allow others to play. Not more than 10
minutes of rest have passed when one of the brothers had
to go home and I was put on the court once again.
I was in for another round of serving and receiving and
running and hitting and SMASH!!!
My team mate accidentally SMASHED my right eye!
The game ended for two reasons: time was up and there
was a casualty.
I thought I could not open my right eye anymore, little
did I know then that my eye was already wide open, it is
just that I could not see anything! Slowly I saw light,
then black images of people. I could hardly see with my
right eye. At that moment I feared losing my sight
permanently! It did not feel good not to see with both
eyes. It was not easy to do things with just an eye. I
feared I would not be normal forever!
Everyone was concerned with what happened. They gave me
first aid; they sought help on how to remedy the
condition of my eyes. They even called a doctor and
booked me for an appointment. All those they did for me.
The following day, I could see better with my right eye
but still, images were not clear. I went to the doctor
and had my eyes checked. He said it was just IRITIS. I
won’t lose my sight forever. My eyes were just
traumatized with the impact of the smash. He gave me a
bottle of drops to put on my eye and set another
appointment after a week. Then I left the clinic without
paying for anything!
WOW! How blessed was I? How blessed I am.
That incident brought me to a recollection.
It was three years ago, back in college, when I first
saw with my two eyes how real God is in the life of the
members of Christ’s Youth in Action. The warm welcome I
receive every time I enter the venue of their gatherings
conveys the message of their joy that I am with them.
The genuine friendship being offered communicates the
reality of God in their midst.
Three years ago I did see Jesus. Seeing Jesus made it
easy for me to accept Him in my life – to die and to
live geared towards eternity.
Now, three years later, I still see Jesus – everyday!
I see Jesus in my fellow CYA staff, in the way we relate
with one another, in the way we serve each other, and in
the way we allow each other to grow closer to God.
I also see Jesus in the lives of the students we are
working with, in the way they offer their time and
talents for service, in the way they live out the way of
life of CYA, in their faithfulness to their commitments,
in their desire to continually grow in their faith, and
in how they see each other as God’s beloved children.
Finally, I see Jesus in the people of community. I see
Him real in the life of my brothers in the men’s group.
I see Him alive in the brothers and sisters who manage
to extend help and support to our work in CYA of
bringing young people to Christ. I see Him existing in
the faithful lives of the senior members of the
community.
After six days of dropping solutions to my eye, my sight
has been restored. I can clearly see things then. The
fear is gone. What’s left is the gratitude to my fellow
staff who showed genuine concern when I was hit and to
the generous doctor who treated me without charge. I
tell you, I did see Jesus during those times.
I have seen Jesus. Now, the challenge is to be like Him. |
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LORD,
GIVE ME A SIGN
by Eli Bautista
We all have done it once
or twice. When we are deciding on whether
changing jobs, or choosing a career, or looking
for a partner or even just where to go for
vacation. Yes, we have asked God for a sign. |
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CROSSROADS RETREAT
August 20-21, 2011
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