68. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. He declared with his mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believed in his heart, and he was saved.

28 November 2020

Once upon a time, there was a man in his 40's, was out of work and started to have psychosomatic disorder due to stress; his children were to start college. He was at his wit's end given the situation.

Who can save him?

I guess you know the answer, including who the man is.

Here's what I wrote back in 4 September 2017.

“Grace. Undeserved favor, no need to work for it.

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

The words of Apostle Paul: What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? (Romans 7:24).

Hear the story of John Newton, “Amazing Grace”.

I came about this article: http://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/atenean-this-is-probably-why-you-re-not-getting-hired-a1980-20170831

Grace.....I would say for having our two children study in Ateneo, it was all by grace.... by God’s abounding grace.

I would like to say thank you for all the help from family and friends.

Vannie (my eldest) was being accepted at Ateneo at 50% free tuition, we made an appeal because still we cannot afford it since I was out of work. They subsequently granted 100%. 

The following year, Patty (my second daughter) was to start college and I was still not earning. We stated in Patty’s college application at Ateneo that we understand, other families are priority for scholarship since Vannie is already on scholarship, yet I mentioned apologizing that Patty is applying for scholarship given our situation. When ACET results came out, Vannie texted us in Lipa that Patty got 100% free tuition. I’m teary now like when Marlou, my wife, and I got the news from Vannie.

Amazing grace, indeed how sweet the sound.

I am forever grateful to Fr. Que, then Director of Admission and Aid, now Vice President for Administration at Ateneo.

Ang mga barkada ni Vannie when we got to meet them then, mentioned they were telling Vannie, “ang daya n’yo naman, dalawa kayo free tuition".....undeserved favor.

“Lord, wala akong masabi, grace is grace, all I have to do is accept it, it’s free, it's a gift. The added blessing is the gratitude in Vannie and Patty, the attitude towards such undeserved favor. Lord, I give You all the praises, in Jesus’ name. Amen.””

Like any man worth his salt, I wanted the education of my children through college, by my own sweat, brain and brawn.

Instead, what I brought was disaster to my family.

The Lord humbled me, clipped my pride, my dependence on my ability; He wanted things to be by my own tears, heart and spirit.

God’s Sovereign Choice

Romans 9

15 For he says to Moses,

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,

    and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Who doesn't want God's compassion, God's grace?

The Lord had compassion on me; I gladly accepted his grace, the undeserved favor.

I declared with my mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believed in my heart that God raised Him from the dead, I was saved.

I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. I was saved financially, physically, and foremost, spiritually.

God has been so good to me and my family all these years. I cannot ask for more. Indeed, His grace is amazing.

One day, my children's children will say, wala ka sa Lolo ko; he declared with his mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believed in his heart, and he was saved.

God's abounding grace is in our midst.

May you be blessed.

Maraming salamat.