259. “There is a man of God; he is highly respected.”

16 March 2022

1 Samuel 9

6 But the servant replied, “Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let’s go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take.”

Psalm 90

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;

    establish the work of our hands for us—

    yes, establish the work of our hands.

A man of God.

"I may have been selfish before.

I may have lived for my life before.

I may have just considered my family after my work and everything that belongs to me.

But now that Christ died for me, and I died with Him, and rose again with Him, my concern is no longer about myself.

My concern is what my Lord wants me to be."

These were the words of a man of God.

I would always remember hearing him tell my wife, "Maraming salamat Marlou sa pagdadala nyo sa mga anak nyo sa church".

That was about 4 years ago.

Today is the birthday of our second daughter Patty. I would say Patty respected highly this man of God I have mentioned above. This, I will tell you why.

Patty and our other 2 children Vannie and Paolo became Christians few years after my wife and I did. I did not impose on them and they did on their own volition.

Patty and Vannie at that time have started working, and Paolo was in college. It was 2007, I have come home from work abroad for almost 2 years on 100/21 days rotation.

Earlier, we have moved from Lipa to Quezon City, we sold our house in Lipa and rented an apartment in Quezon City. Few years earlier I was in serious financial trouble having no stable job for about 5 years. Fortunately the house was not foreclosed by the bank and was bought by a Christian couple, and I was able to pay off all debts. It was that situation that led my wife and I to Christ in 2004.

About the house being foreclosed by the bank, I remember Marlou telling me, "Sabi ni Patty, ganoon na lang, basta kuhanin ng bangko." I surmised Patty, who at that time was in college taking up Applied Mathematics, was much bothered by such possibility and must have been praying about it.

In Lipa, we attended Lipa New Hope Church and in 2007 we attended Proclaim His Name Christian Fellowship where this man of God was Senior Pastor.

About 4 years earlier, I would listen to this man of God over the radio station DZAS's telephone counseling program "Heartline". I was suffering depression at that time due to my financial situation, and it must be this man of God who I heard telling a caller (who said he was by himself, sick and no finances and was giving up), "sige let me pray for you." About a week later, I heard same caller saying, "Pastor, bumubuti na po ang kalagayan ko. Maraming salamat po sa inyong panalangin." During that time, I realized I was better off and hence thankful having my family, and my children doing good in school. Little by little my own outlook in life changed for the better.

The first time my family and I met this man of God in August 2007, I saw charisma in him. I want to clarify, charisma is not being attracted to the character of the person, but charisma instead is the character of the person in being sincerely interested in the concern of others. That's John Maxwell's definition.

That time, our three children were just obliging to come with us to church. They were then introduced to the church's young adults and youth groups. My wife was telling me she could sense the disinterest of our children coming with us to church.

Little by little they had change of heart, and after some time they went through water baptism, and later became cell group leaders.

Going back to our daughter Patty, I would say the same man of God had a big influence on her, she must have seen sincerity in his preaching and the charisma character in him.

It was this man of God who officiated the wedding of Patty and our son-in-law Coco.

I would not imagine Patty coming to Christ in any other way like how this man of God was the instrument. Patty nowadays had been attending Bible Study Fellowship and she convinced my wife and I to do the same.

Four years ago, to this man of God, Marlou responded, "Pastor, kami po ang dapat magpasalamat sa pag guide nyo sa aming mga anak." He was very sick at that time.

A few days after, in July 2018, this man of God was called to come before the Lord, "Well done, my good and faithful servant!"

Dear Pastor Clem, it is indeed a great blessing for our family for having you nurture us in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

For Patty on her birthday, my prayer, along for our son-in-law Coco and their daughter, our granddaughter Eisha, I quote this prayer.

“Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.” 2 Samuel 7:29 Amen.

""A prayer of Moses the man of God.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place

    throughout all generations.

Our days may come to seventy years,

    or eighty, if our strength endures;

yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,

    for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Teach us to number our days,

    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

    that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

    for as many years as we have seen trouble.

May your deeds be shown to your servants,

    your splendor to their children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;

    establish the work of our hands for us—

    yes, establish the work of our hands" (Psalm 90:1, 10, 12, 14-17), in Jesus' name. Amen.

30 March 2018"

May you be blessed with God's Word.

Maraming salamat.