A Profitable Servant

Years have passed since I was called into a renewal,
To accept and know Christ more in a way that is personal.

I’ve rejoiced, felt being changed and really gone out of my way
because He has touched me and healed all my dismay.

In my great delight, serving Him seems to be a good payment,
And maybe, in one way or another, a very good investment.

And so I focused myself in becoming a servant in His name,
Taking everything away including my shame.

Little did I notice, my passion for service started to grow,
Sharing the blessings I have to the less fortunate people I know.

I felt good, felt differently,
To these people, I have built camaraderie and became friendly.

Admiration came that entailed bragging my own,
Putting everything aside for my all to be shown.

To everyone, I’ve became known
For I have disregarded my family, even my studies I have thrown.

I exerted effort in showing and giving more,
Until I’ve become rotten and selfish to my very core.

For I have thought of doing more, and even my best,
Making everything at my very own hands be at rest.

I’ve became a man of service, believing that I was good,
Instead of being a man of God, leaving everything to Him for good.

I focused in strengthening the service that sustained me,
Serving so many people but not the One above me.

Soon I became a loser, because all my work to Him I didn’t offer.
For service did I thought was all that matter!

~ 3:58 am ; 11-12-03

This is also one of the literary works God inspired me to come up with during my YFC days. Truly, He works in mysterious ways.

To God be the glory.

Maktub!

KASUROG

SI KRISTO AMING BANTAYOG
BIKOL AT SOUTHERN TAGALOG
YFC MAGKASURUROG

Kaibigan, kapatid, kasurog kung tawagin
Binubuklod ng iisang puso’t panalangin
Bawat isa’y aalagaan at mamahalin
At si Kristo ang bantayog at tanging didinggin.

At kung puso ang iyong susurii’t titingnan
Purong pagmamahal, walang halong kaplastikan
Sa lungkot man o hirap, maging sa kasiyahan
Laging nariyan at t’yak na hindi ka iiwan.

Sa pag-ikot ng mundo’t paglipas ng panahon
Maraming trabaho’t pagsubok ang naghahamon
Na sa bawat lubak, pipiliting makaahon
Para maging matatag sa gagawing paglingon.

Upang lalong mapagtibay ang pagsasamahan
Iba muna bago ang sariling kapakanan
Simbolo ng isang tunay na pagbibigayan
Na kahit sinong tao ay kayang patunayan.

Respeto, pag-uunawa’t tanging pagmamahal
Ang sa bawat nilalang ang s’yang pinapairal
Maging sa taong may pusong sing-tigas ng bakal
Dahil t’yak na lalambot din ito pag-tumagal.

Ordinaryong tao ngunit hindi sumusuko
Dahil ang pagsuko sagisag ng pagkatalo
Pagkatalo sa mga labang ipinangako
Laban para sa katarungan at pagbabago.

Gulong ng buhay ay kay hirap maunawaan
Ngunit kung si Kristo ang ating pinaglalaban
Kailanga’y pusong lubos na naninindigan
At mga kasurog na ating masasandalan.

While going over some of my files, I saw this one. I wrote this tula (tagalog poem) way back in 2004; just a couple of weeks after our CFC - YFC STaB SHouT (Couples For Christ - Youth For Christ Southern Tagalog and Bicol Summer House Training) in Camarines Norte. I was a very active member of YFC Albay then. I was really moved by the experience I got from that activity, inspiring me to come up with this literary stuff.

To God be the glory.

Maktub!