I remember an old song: “Don’t forget to remember me, and the love used to be…”

Sometimes we complain too much…marami tayong reklamo sa buhay. Nakikita natin ang butas ngunit nakakalimutan ang lasa ng masarap ng doughnut.

May isang guro na kumuha ng isang kumuha ng chalk at gumawa ng isang tuldok sa pisara (blackboard). Nagtanong siya sa kanyang mga estudyante: “Ano ang nakikita ninyo, class?” Sumagot ang mga bata: “tuldok po.” Tumaas ang kamay ng isang batang si Bruno: “Nakikita ko po ang isang bagong blackboard.”

Ganyan din marahil ang marami sa atin. Nakikita natin ang tuldok pero hindi natin na-aapreciate ang ‘bagong blackboard’ ng ating buhay. Lagi tayong stressed at no contentment,  wala tayong pagpapasalamat. Na kung hindi naman dahil sa awa at pag-ibig ng Diyos ay wala tayo kung nasaan tayo. Without the loving mercy of God, we could have been worse off.

Lahat tayo ay mga “tuldok” or “butas” na mga pagsubok at alalahanin na akala natin ay wala ng pag-asa. Nawawalan tayo ng lakas dahil sa malalaking problema na alam. But today, I want to encourage you what the Bible say: “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God who took you out of Egypt.”

What about you?

Do you complain about things that remain unanswered after praying but forget to count those great blessings even without asking?

May dalawang bata na ang pangalan ay Winner at Loser. Si Winner ay isang batang nagpapasalamat palagi at si Loser ay palaging may discontentment at reklamador. Bumili ang parents nila ng laruan at tag-isa sila. Ang nakakatuwa dito: binigyan nila si Loser ng napakamahal na laruan, top of the line car na may baterya. Si Winner naman ay nakatanggap ng isang supot na may tae ng kabayo. Si Loser, nagreklamo, “ayaw ko nito! pag natapos ako maglaro pupunasan ko pa ito…maganda lang ito ngayon pero pag wala ng battery wala na itong silbi!”  Sa kabilang kwarto, habang hawak ni Winner ang tae ng kabayo, tumakbo siya sa parents nya: “Dad and Mom, thank you for this… i can sense that you bought me a horse! I remember last time you gave me a helmet, you bought me a bike.” 

Who are we in this story, Loser or Winner? Are we thankful? Do we remember how great life is? Do we thank God for what He entrusted us or we have this false expectation that life is a bed of roses?

In the Old Testament,  Egypt epitomises slavery, mockery, poverty, heartache, pain and extreme difficulty. The Lord told them that after 400 years He will be taking them to the Promised Land. In that story, while the Israelites are leaving, the Pharaoh had a change of heart. He went with his best warriors and chariots to chase them which made the Israelites ran with great fear. God opened the Red Sea that allowed His people to walk through and get away. This is one of the greatest miracles ever recorded! The same Red Sea got back to original state to swallow the Egyptians alive.  It was said in Exodus fourteen: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.”

I want to encourage you today. Do you see a big problem? sickness or disease? financial difficulty? relationship or marital conflict? Always remember how the Lord has been good in the past. Count your blessings. Sabi ng isang awit: “Ang pag–iyak ay magtatagal ng magdamag, ngunit galak ay dumarating sa umaga…”  Believe that one day, you will be coming out of your Egypt and you will be heading to your Promised Land.

Every time you fall, remember the fulfillment, the joy, the ecstasy of getting back up. Huwag kang susuko kahit anomang problema. Magpatuloy ka lang. Huwag mong kalimutan na malalampasan mo rin ang mga pagsubok at pasakit ng buhay.

This world needs people who are champions, achievers, rainmakers. I am sick and tired of hearing people who fail and discouraged. And avoid putting your problems on a social media. When people put their thumbs up icon, they’re not always saying na nakikiramay sila o naaawa sila sa iyo. The thumbs up of others are saying: “buti nga sa ‘yo.” Ang iba natin nagpapasalamat na hindi sa kanila nangyari ang pagkabigo nararanasan mo.

Nobody tells us that life would be easy. We must understand that life is not fair. People are sometimes unfair. But God is fair. Remember His goodness in your life. Cherish those times how He made things happen you cannot make on your own. Don’t forget how He was there when nobody was. He can see what’s you are going through. There is a verse in the Scripture that says: “But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!”

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for everything. Teach me to always see the beauty out of the ashes. That in Your time, you will make all things beautiful. That regardless of what I am going through right now, it may not look promising, it may be uncomfortable…pero Lord aking aalalahanin ang Iyong kabutihan sa aking buhay. I will never forget how Your mercy protected me as I walk through life. Thank you for blessing me and my family. Thank you for your protection and for your provision. Amen.