120. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. For him, God makes everything beautiful in His time.

2 March 2021

Photos by Bankim Desai from Unsplash

God has made everything beautiful in His time. Ecclesiastes 11:3

2 Peter 3

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

The butterfly. 

The beauty of God to gaze upon. Yet, a lesson on pain and struggle. A contradiction of independence from others yet total dependence on God.

My past reflection on the main verses above refer simply to other Bible passages so I will share it toward the last part of the blog.

The life cycle of the butterfly, called metamorphosis, is commonly used as parallel to spiritual transformation, that is, pain and struggle as prerequisite to spiritual blessing; no pain, no gain.

"We are all butterflies waiting to happen. The talents and skills dormant in us will bloom if only we give them a chance."

Yesterday when I was thinking of said main verses taken from 2 Peter 3, I was lead to an fb post very appropriate for a story of spiritual metamorphosis.

His name is Peter, like the Apostle Peter, this brother in Christ is a man of courage.

He and his wife had economic struggles rearing five children, four daughters and a son.

I had the privilege getting to know him when we moved from Lipa to Quezon City and attended Proclaim His Name Christian Fellowship in 2007.

He was then a silent man of action, his personal ministry was physical arrangement and services at church. Silently, he rose to be real man of action, along with his wife Lanie, as cell leaders of maybe more than 20 members; his life testimony is an encouragement to those with economic struggles.

Their 3 daughters are now young professionals, married to professionals, one a medical doctor.

The fb post I mentioned earlier, written by one of his married daughters, reads:

"A sweet birthday surprise for Papa prepared by their disciples from Mariblo. Thank you so much po to each of you for making Papa feel special on his birthday! Thank you for praying for Mama and Papa and treating them as your family. ♥️♥️♥️ 

Mama and Papa have been with this community for about 10 years now. Looking back, I never thought that my father would memorize a verse, much less, share the Word to people he know nothing of. Papa is a living testimony that the Lord doesn’t always call the wise and the eloquent. Mama and Papa were called, they went, they planted. And tho I have not been in their ministry field for years now, I know that God has been changing hearts there."

Memorizing a verse, sharing the Word, only possible through some level of independence from others, while at the same time having economic help foremost from the generosity of Our Dear Pastor Clem Guillermo, yet total dependence on God, the giver of spiritual gifts.

I am personally blessed with the life of this man, Peter Lapore.

My tribute, my fb greeting on his birthday four days ago, my expression of affection:

"Happy Happy Birthday!!!🎉🎂🎉 Peter Lapore aka Pastor Peter

The Lord grant your heart's desire. Amen.

We share in your delight for your children and grandchildren."

Here is my related reflection 25 October 2017.

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives (2 Peter 3:10-11).

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen (2 Peter 3:14, 17, 18).

"Lord, You have made everything beautiful in its time. You have also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what You have done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of us may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all our toil - this is the gift of God. Lord, I know that everything You do will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it; God does it so that people will fear him (Ecclesiastes 3:11-14). To You, Lord, be glory both now and forever! This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.""

Someday, my children's children will utter, "Wala ka sa Lolo ko. For him, God makes everything beautiful in His time."

May you be blessed with God's Word. Amen.

Maraming salamat.