Chronicles of a Staff Worker (Week 1 Feb 2014)


Last February 5, I turned 25. Yes! I am already that old. It's my silver birthday as some may say. As I look back on the years of my life, I can't help but thank the Lord for being so faithful and loving. He journeyed with me through all the trials, joys, struggles and rewards of living.

I'm sharing with you one of the Bible verses that has impacted my life. It is found in Philippians 3:7-9,

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Ever since I placed my faith in Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, He has been transforming my life. Some may wonder why I chose to work among students when I could have pursued a lucrative career in media or the advertising business. This passage from Philippians is one of my reasons.

When Christ found me, the joy and the fulfillment in having a personal relationship with the living God just eclipses everything this world can offer. I was once motivated by pride, power, prestige and wealth in all that I do. But when Jesus entered my life, I was drawn to Him to the point that I now count everything a loss or rubbish compared to Jesus.

This is not to say that I am looking down on people who chose to work in the media or any related field. It's just that in Christ, I found the purpose that I've been striving and looking for ever since I was young. I testify that Mathematician Blaise Pascal was right when he said, "There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus."

So for the past four years, I've been ministering to students in the University of the Philippines Diliman, the Philippine Science High School, and for a time, at the Krus na Ligas Elementary school. It's difficult to explain what I do, but in the words of Guy Chmieleski, "We campus ministers minister to a virtual parade of students, who pass by us as we metaphorically hand out cups of cold water on the parade route, in the name of Jesus. We offer friendship, pastoral direction, and care, and get the raw and beautiful gift of seeing God woo the hearts of young adults."

Seeing students come to a genuine relationship with God is priceless. It may not make sense to most people, but being once among the crowd of youth who did not know their place in the universe, working to help young adults find their purpose in Jesus means my entire life.

Until God calls me out of the campus, I'll be here offering cups of cold water. You can always stop and get a drink. Just remember, this water is not mine but Christ's who said, "but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (John 14:4)."

~*~
I want to take this time to thank everyone who remembered me during my special day.



To my family back in La Union and all over, I will always thank the Lord for your love and support. Even if I'm not always there, I want to tell you that you're always in my prayers. I am asking the Lord to protect and bless you in everything that you do. I am also praying that He will draw all of you closer to Him as you navigate through life's challenges.To my parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, and relatives I love all!!! :)


To my DCF family, I will always thank God for using you to draw me closer to Him. My gratitude goes especially to my ates and kuyas who took care of me when I was still a student until I graduated. You will always be dear in my heart!

To the current DCFers and to those who just graduated, you may as well be my answer to Nescafe's famous ad question, "Para kanino ka bumabangon?" This, after God's glory of course. And this is true even in the literal sense for the early birds in our Bible Studies. Remember, I only pass through your life once, so I'm letting God use me to His utmost to prune and teach and challenge you. When you are already out there, doing your thing, excelling in your element, I pray that you will bring with you every Biblical principle we've studied throughout college. And I will commit to still be available for you if you need any help and prayer on anything. Thank you for taking the cup I offered. I long to see you one day offering cups of your own to countless thirsty people!


To my DCBC second family! Thank you for being my home away from home here in UP Diliman. I praise God for selflessly opening your hearts to me even when I was still a stranger to all of you. I want to thank my sunset/afternoon family whom I've invested my life for the past seven years. So many things have changed and are still changing, but let's remember that our God remains the same yesterday, today and forevermore. I pray that God can use us more in reaching out the UP Campus with His life-giving Gospel message.


To my ACTS Pisay Diliman family, I am humbled to be part of your growing up years. Thank you for letting me serve you every week in our small groups and Big Fellowships. There is still so much in store for all of you. I pray that even at your young age, you will deepen in your relationship with Jesus. We will still meet in college so you will still have more of me! Sana hindi kayo magsawa! Thank you for your patience and time. I pray that you will all grow up to be fine men and women of faith. God bless!!!

And to everyone who remembered (you know who you are!), I thank you all. I pray that the Lord will be close to you, and that one day He will also use me to bless your lives! God bless you always!

In Christ,

Pau
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3 comments:

  1. Kuya Pau, uulitin ko po, I really thank God for your life, for our conversations, for our friendship. Malaking encouragement po sa akin ang presence at prayers niyo nung college pa ako. :) May God bless you more and more Kuya Pau! :D

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  2. Let's look at things in a positive direction, love and protection. Your life and what you go through and experience meaningful sense.
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  3. I have been waiting for someone to share this post. This has actually made me think and I hope to read more. Thanks a lot for sharing with us.
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