104. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. He suffered with double the severity, yet the Lord rescued him.

29 January 2021

Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 

2 Timothy 3

10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 

11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

Sharing my reflection 10 October 2017.

"Suffering with double the severity. Yet the Lord rescued me.

Following is a passage which I must have read when I was young in my career.

1 Timothy 5:8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

After 14 years with a multinational company, in 1997 I was given early retirement with tax-free separation pay. I was in high spirits I can find similar job. I joined an Australian company's start-up local operations just to be bought out after 2 years, I was again given tax-free separation pay. No worry, the children can continue in private school.

And then for the next five years, about half that period, in gaps, I was not earning; it was very critical because the children were starting college. It was bad, and in effect worse, given I was not able to provide for my own household. It was suffering with double the severity, it made me sick of myself, I was getting crazy.

Fast forward, that was about 15 years ago when it all started. I am alive to this day, the Lord rescued me, He even made the impossible. Our daughters Vannie and Patty went to a university I may not afford if I were earning that time, and our son Paolo need not transfer high school. 

Amazing! Would anybody want to go through such ordeal? I will say I will go through it again given that I experienced God up close and personal. I also came to value life and value the love of family and friends, and became expressive in showing gratitude and affection.

"Lord, Your grace is amazing, marvelous are Your works. I praise You, "For I know the plans You have for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). I "Trust in You, LORD, with all my heart and I will lean not on my own understanding; in all my ways I will submit to You, Lord, and I know You will make my paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). Keep me in Your unfailing love, Lord, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.""

Suffering in general. Poverty. Illness.

Suffering. Affliction. Testing of faith. Read the Book of Job.

What about suffering because of earthly comfort? Suffering because of success. It's fatal.

What do I mean?

"In 1923, a group of men who were considered winners met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago.

Present were eight of the world's most successful financiers. Like whom? Charles Schwab, president of Bethlehem Steel, was there along with the president of the world's largest utility company, Samuel Insull. Richard Whitney, the president of the New York stock exchange, was there. Also attending that meeting was Albert Fall, then a member of the U.S. president's cabinet, along with Jesse Livermore, Ivan Kruger and Leon Frazer, heads of the world's largest investment firm, the greatest monopoly in the world, and the Bank of International Settlement, respectively.

And what happened to these men who had clawed their way to the very top?

Charles Schwab, the man who headed the largest steel company in the world, died bankrupt and lived on borrowed money for the last five years of his life.

Samuel Insull, the man who headed the largest utility company in the world, ended his days as a fugitive, broke, and living in a foreign country.

Richard Whitney, the man who was president of the New York stock exchange, was released from Sing Sing prison to die at home.

Albert Fall, the man who was a member of the U.S. president's cabinet, was pardoned so that he also could die at home.

The last three that I mentioned - Jesse Livermore, Ivan Kruger, and Leon Frazer - all died as suicides.

If a relationship with God has been missing in your life, right now pray a simple prayer something like this: "Father, I believe You sent Your Son into the world to make a difference in my life. I do believe that He lived, died, and rose again. I not only want Him to forgive me of my sins, but I want Him to be my Lord and Savior. Lord Jesus, please take over my life and give me a purpose in living."

With God's help you can make your life count for something lasting and worthwhile, something that will endure the fire. You, too, can be a person who makes a difference in our world." (Dr. Harold J. Sala, Book "Heroes" page 315 and 317)

"Wala ka sa Lolo ko. He suffered with double the severity, yet the Lord rescued him.", this my children's children will someday utter.

May you find meaning in life in God's Word. Amen.

Maraming salamat.