I was awakened by loud and distressed voices talking yesterday, very early Sunday morning. My uncle was talking to my dad with news that our tricycle was stolen during the wee hours before daylight. Shortly after, everyone in the house soon awakened and rose to the sound of distress. I'd say we were all shocked with this kind of circumstance. That tricycle had been with us for more than 15 years already. Other than my dad (who's the operator), two of my uncles drive that tricycle to provide for their respective families. "What now, Lord?", I asked.
I hurriedly prepared for church to help me clear my mind and I was expectant that He might have an answer for me then. And praise be to Him that what He told Ptr.A to feed His sheep was just what we needed to hear! LifeApps14 was entitled "It's Only a Test".
(James 1:1-3) "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."
First human reaction to distress: shock, followed by panic, then sadness, then worry. Being "joyful" isn't always in the equation, and so God's word is really challenging us all to be willing to look at trials in a different perspective, to put our faith in the finished works of Jesus, and still believe and trust God even in the absence of blessings.
(James 1:4) "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
After church (and thank God for JOF3!) today, my sisters and I went back home much more encouraged, uplifted, assured and blessed! We were able to share the teachings to our parents. We may not know the answers to the "how's", but our Lord will surely provide us with the wisdom, strength and provisions.
Just as how the Malayang Pilipino song "Kailanman" goes:
♫ Kailanman, O Diyos, Ikaw ay tapat, hindi nagbabago
Kailanman, O Diyos, Pag-ibig Mo'y wagas, Ito'y walang hanggan
Kailanman, O Diyos, Biyaya Mo'y sapat, hindi nagkukulang
Kailanman, O Diyos, Wala nang papantay, pag-ibig Mo'y tunay ♪♫
!!!NEWSFLASH!!!
"I was lost, but now I'M FOUND!" -VATODA Tricycle #36
Praise the Lord! our tricycle had just been recovered last night--not one bolt or nut missing!--from Pasig and now is home sweet home Paranaque! our God is such a miracle-working God! ^_^
One of the VATODA drivers went to our home last night to tell our family that our tricycle was reportedly recovered in Pasay. They said that it was parked near a house in Pasig. The homeowner reported the suspicious-looking trike (ours was a back-to-back trike & their community's trikes weren't) to their Baranggay Hall, who in turn, reported it to Paranaque City Hall, who then reported it to Baranggay San Isidro, who then reported it to VATODA authorities, who then went to our home to tell the good news..(whew!) And that night, my dad together with my uncles, other brgy officials hurriedly went to Pasig to fetch our trike. It was all in one piece! The journey of that trike still remains a mystery. One thing's for sure, the Lord works in such mysterious & mind-boggling ways ^_^
