ENCOUNTER WITH GOD

            Each and every one of us have different encounter with God.  Sometimes we take heed, sometimes we ignore and oftentimes, we ask ourselves whether it was real or not.  If we are not aware of it, we tend to miss out our moment with God.

            Let me share with you my unforgettable encounter with God.  I’m not saying that I’m perfect on this.  I’m still on the process of developing my relationship with Him day by day. 

My encounter with God as King

            God is a righteous God and as His people, He expects us to be righteous also.  Yes, not an easy task but by His grace and mercy, we can do it.   He doesn’t change mind like we do.  What He said, He will do.  When He teaches us something, He is there guiding us how to do it and how it works in our lives.

            There were times in my life that I was kind of bombarded of the issues of life.  Wanting to burst out but I tried to be calmed inside as I don’t want to be emotionally depressed.  As I poured out my heart to God, so many questions like, “why this and that?”.  I was divided whether to apply God’s principle or to be practical.  I reached to the point of anger and hatred because I can’t understand why it’s happening.  When my tantrum was over, He led me to a song “Your Love”.  Sounds strange?  Yes, it is.  He let me hear the song “Your Love” and as I keep on listening, slowly, the hot temperature subsided. 

            “Why should I do this Lord?” I asked, and He replied, “Because you know My word and You have My word.”    Feeling unsatisfied because it looks like unfair to me.  “Why me alone?” I added.  “Because you have the understanding of the love of God” He answered.  “You cannot give what you don’t have.” He added. 

The song was really powerful.  The verse talks about how God put His love in our hearts and made us right in His sight.  He gave His only Son that we might live through Him and as He gave His life for us, we live our life for others.  That is how great is His love.  The chorus is the part of the people.  It is our response of His love.  When we have His love, we gives, we forgives, His love in us heals, builds, empowers and conquer and His love never fails.  Yes, I’m struggling but because of the revelation I received from this song, I was able to run the race.  The song widens my understanding how to live righteously with His help.  

     

My encounter with God as Servant

“Write what you see….” “… are they not written in the book….?”  I’m wondering why I always read this in the scriptures for the entire season.  While doing the same routine in the morning, I heard this question, “Bakit di mo rin gawin yan for the Church?”  “What do you mean?” I asked.  “Writing of events.”  He said.  Kind of puzzled.  How could I?  I’m here in Boracay anyway and the church was in Kalibo.  How could I do that?  I missed some of the events because I’m here in Boracay.  I reasoned out.  

When I went home, God showed me the need and I was kind of hurt.  The feeling that, if only somebody will take a move for better work.  Then I began to understand what God want me to do.  Doing in silence, I just do what I can do while I was in the island and when I went home, I presented the better work to be used of.  I can see the happiness I brought.  They said, I’m sensitive but no, I was told to do so. 

That was the start of all, the major work is still on the process.  Nosebleed I would say but by the grace of God and with the work of the people, things will put into place steps by steps. 

 My encounter with God as Man

We know that God is our Great Physician, right?  Of course, God knows how to deal with us according to our level.  A very gentleman and sense of humor.

At that time, I had fever and chilling.  I prayed and believed God for healing.  Rebuked sickness to be gone and casting out the work of the enemy in my body.  I can’t remember if I take medicine or not.  Maybe, I did.  What I want then was to sleep and to have good health.

At about one o’clock in the morning, I woke up chilling and I prayed the same prayer.  Minutes passed, I’m still sick.  I wonder why because I’m serious to what I’m doing.  I asked God why I’m still sick despite effort to be healed.  To be honest, I did not expect His answer to me, “Pagbangon dikaron ag mag eaha it linugaw to agod mainit-initan ing tiyan.”  What?  I really laughed inside.  I expect something else.  I don’t have a choice but to obey.  I got up of my bed and cooked “lugaw”.  After I ate, I felt good and I was able to sleep again.  When I woke up, I felt better and healed.   See, it’s worth to obey.    

My encounter with God as God

To meditate a song is to be one with the song.  If I would remember it right, “In the Shelter of Thy Wings” was the first song I meditated with a divine revelation, I would say.

I was new in the ministry when I experienced this.  I was on my bed meditating this song for the Sunday Worship when I suddenly see myself lying on the bed and I went out of the door.  I was with the man in white.  I’m wondering why my environment became white, we stayed for a while as the lyrics goes “In the shelter of Thy wings, I will hide in Thee, hide in Thee, there is no other place that I would rather be than in the shelter of Thy wings”. 

Amazed of what’s going on as we hovered the white place, the chorus of the song continues “I will find Your loving kindness, I will feel your warm embrace, I will hear Your voice and I will rejoice in the shelter of Your wings.”  In the realm of this chorus, I really felt the embrace and see the smile.  I knew in my heart that I was not with an ordinary man.  I saw the huge wings and he toured me to the beautiful garden and only saw the castle far away.  He wasn’t able to bring me near the castle.  I only saw beautiful flowers and the clouds.  What a beautiful place!

The next thing I remembered was, I was on my bed already and I felt somebody kissed my right chick and said good night.  I really felt that kiss because it was cold and the man in white disappeared when I opened up my eyes then I went back to sleep again.