Hope For The Next Generation
This entry was posted on Friday, February 6th, 2009
From JKBR – Shire, Makati
The week before the Family Olympics there were wars in my heart. I’ve been struggling inside and that somehow affected my way of serving God especially in my small group. I think this is the moment that my world just closed in and only He can help. I felt empty and cold. Waking up in the morning became a heavy load because a real battle always ensued to put myself on my knees and to enthrone and acknowledge God’s steadfast love.
Two days before the Family Olympics, I got sick – I felt dizzy and had a headache; still I went to work but came home early. When Friday came, I still wasn’t feeling very well when I met one of my small group members. I prayed so hard that God will still use me to be a blessing to this person. But the meeting went the other way around. While she was sharing about how she and her sister were able to accumulate sponsorship for the laps, my heart just melted. I saw the twinkle in her eyes, the excitement in her soul for what God will show to us at the event.
During the Family Olympics, I chose to take part in the swimming event. However, I last swam during the Duathlon pa, at naka apat na laps lang po ako nuon. So I was expecting to finish that same number of laps, as well, because I wasn’t able to prepare myself. Then, after two laps, my knees cramped so I rested for a while and said a short prayer. And truly, it helped when I saw my team mates-the youth-striving to do more laps. My heart got broken before God and I remembered the verse that He gave me earlier, “His joy is my strength.” Amazingly, by His strength, I went back to the pool and accomplished twice the number of laps that I prayed for, and six times more than what I did from the previous Duathlon. Truly, Lolo William Carrey is right, “always expect great things from Him.” Once we depend on Him and consecrate our hearts and our strength by His Spirit, we will be able to accomplish beyond our measure. While swimming, I was mostly using “back stroke” because I couldn’t finish a lap in “free style”. I was facing the vastness of the heavens. I found myself imagining our Shire events inside the mini theater and I couldn’t hide my tears. Though my heart felt empty, God filled me up again slowly, in a most special way. He showed me once more the bigger picture – the Mosaic Lounge, the fight for the next generation, the Brown Raise Movement, our battle cry for the next twenty five years and more.
And then the Amazing Race . . .this part of the event raised my hopes for the next generation. When I saw that a lot of my team mates were from the youth, I felt so blessed having expected not to see so many of them. My heart was crying in prayers that it may truly be a stepping stone for the youth in Makati. Then I saw the kuyas and ates, though better players in some parts of the game, give chances to our younger team mates. I’m just so blessed seeing that simple act of selflessness. It was not about pasikatan, instead it was about sharing fun time with our family, with our loved ones in our Church. No one felt left out. Even the mommies and the daddies were there sharing in those cool times together, giving support and cheering!! I pictured those cheers as their prayers.
Indeed, it was not only for the next generation but for everyone. I couldn’t help but notice the million peso smiles and the excitement despite the sunburn and few aches we got. Those smiles warmed my heart again. Truly, the Mosaic Lounge second phase is not a vision anymore, it is finished. I saw it in the eyes of the people. God does not only want us to build up the walls but He wants to build us up first – our hearts – to be one in Him. The walls will follow; it will be finished in His time, and that will be very soon.
As the day ended, I thanked God for the things I saw and witnessed. I broke down before Him as I remembered the things He unfolded on that day. The memories my heart would be lasting. It inspires me to continue the fight that He has set before us and to live the reason and my purpose in life – a never-ending “passing of the fire” for the next generation (just like the passing of the torch to start the Olympics). It was so beautiful. Even in our dry season, God finds a thousand ways to show His grace, mercy and blessings.
Who am I to witness all He’s been doing in the hearts of His people? I believe it is about focusing our hearts and our whole being on God. It’s about obeying and continuously surrendering to Him. And throughout the entire Family Olympics, it was never about the number of laps finished nor which team won the most events. It was all about what our hearts found and gained, and it is God (Go Lord!). There is really hope for the next generation for God continually moves in each soul, not according to their ages or circumstances. Each is taking part in building His Kingdom.
I thank God for giving me the privilege to be part of building His Kingdom in Makati, The Mosaic Lounge.
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One Response to “Hope For The Next Generation”
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We would love to hear your lifewalk with God through Project Mosaic. Share your story in document format through our email HisMosaicStories@projectmosaic.info. Feel free to include your photos too. :)
November 9th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
That is a great and inspiring story.