Everything changes but I have one thing that will never change: God's unconditional love for me. It lights up my life. It is the foundation that sustains me. God's love is reliable, unchanging, constant, dependable, steadfast, immovable, unshakeable, and unstoppable. It's forever for you and me. But it didn't stop there. And this is the hardest part. He wants me to love others the way he loves me and so do you. Wow! Kumusta naman tayo?!
Everybody can fall in love but it takes a lot more to stay in love. Do you agree with that? Yes, I know! Haha I can hear you. Witness mo ang maraming marriages and relationships na nasa paligid mo. It’s a lot harder to stay in love than to fall in love. So how to keep this relationship strong and healthy is up to you and God. Remember, you have a part to work out and God has a part to work into your life.
May ibibigay akong tatlong scenarios and I want you to take a look at them. Very significant kasi yung intentions ng isang nakikipagdate. I want to encourage you how to carry yourself in these such situations.
Una, single and ready to mingle. Pwedeng ito muna ang pumasok sa isip mo. kaya naghahanap ka na ng special someone, na lahat na yata ng paraan ginoogle mo para maging ready ka lang. Ok rin naman. Dating is about learning each other’s qualities and likes. Dito mo rin kasi makikita ang value ng isang tao na makatutulong sayo kung paano makipagrelasyon. But take into consideration na you’re still in the process of knowing that person. Baka ma-in love ka na, magtuloy-tuloy na. Just take it easy, relax, and grow your relationship with God first. We are taught that love is not enough to marry. It takes a lot of other things.
Pangalawa, playing around. Are you playing around? Ah, hindi naman. Gusto ko lang magkaroon ng special someone. So, you’re dating. If it happens, Don’t play around. I did not say just to take it lightly but be serious enough to know the person first. Eto ha, girls and boys, if you’re only flirting, your effort becomes pointless. Don’t waste time. Kasi sa bandang huli, maaaring mapahamak ka. Kailangan kasi nacocomunicate mo yung intensyon mo. You need to set boundaries on what your relationship is like. Your future relies on this, hindi porke’t bata ka pa marami ka pang panahon. Remember YOLO, “you only live once.” See your value first as a person. Date on a public places so you can also resist temptations. Do not send mixed messages; be clear and concise in your actions. Pag-usapan nyo hanggat maaga pa.
Pangatlo, the time is ticking. Pressured ka ba sa mga nasa paligid mo? kaya ganon na lang ang paghahanap mo. Naku naman, mahahanap ko pa kaya siya? Oh bakit ganon? Pinipilit ako ng nanay ko, ng tatay ko, ng pamilya ko, at mga kaibigan ko. Minsan nasasabi mo, Bakit yung iba? Sobrang saya naman nila. You have no business looking into other people's relationships. You have no business comparing your journey or relationship with others. Hindi mo daw dapat ikumpara ang chapter 1 mo sa chapter 20 ng iba! Narinig ko yan sa podcast ni Xian Lim, hehe. Hindi mo alam kung ano ang nangyayari sa loob ng kanilang relasyon. Hindi mo dapat husgahan ang iyong sarili dahil ito ay incomparable. Iba-iba ang pinagdadaanan ng mga tao. Kung alam mong nasa tamang landas ka, take your time. Hayaan mo itong maging bahagi ng journey mo na nilalayon ng Diyos para sa iyo.
Today’s episode inspires by 1 Corinthians 13, the Love Chapter in the bible. The Apostle Paul gives a detailed definition of love and unity. And today, it continues to have a universal impact as used at weddings or to explain the love that should exist between spouses. Let us learn why it continues to be a compass that guides many in understanding true love and unity and growing in that love.
Listen to this passage in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, I may speak in different languages of people or even angels. But if I do not have love, I am only a noisy bell or a crashing cymbal. 2 I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing. 3 I may give away everything I have, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing if I do not have love. 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. 5 Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. 6 Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. 7 Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. 8 Love never ends.
The kind of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is the Agape love.
This is God’s perfect, sacrificial and unconditional love that can save and restore even when we sin. Ang sinabi ni Pablo tungkol dito ay nagbibigay ng malinaw na paglalarawan ng Agape love habang ito ay nakatuon sa unconditional love na kailangan nating pagsikapang icultivate sa ating mga puso. Pag wala nito, we are only a noisy bell or a crashing cymbal.
Kasi kung sa atin lang napakalimitado natin. Katulad mo kapag nasasaktan ka, hindi mo iisipin ang iba. At minsan nagiging obligasyon ito na dapat ibalik ang pag-ibig na inukol mo sa kanya. Pero hindi ito ang klase ng pag-ibig na gusto ng Diyos para sa ating mga relasyon. Hindi tayo binibigyan ng awa o pabor kapag deserving ka lang o kaya pinagsisikapan natin na makuha ito sa pamamagitan ng mabubuting gawa. No, God loves us because God is love — sabihin na natin yun ang character ng Diyos, ito yung kung sino Siya at kung ano ang Kanyang ginagawa.
The beauty of Agape Love is found in these two statements of the two most popular celebrity pastors in the world.
- Rick Warren writes, “When you love in spite of your feelings, that’s called loving by faith. And it doesn’t just change the other person. It changes you, too, and makes you more like Jesus.”
Kapag nahanap mo na ang the love of your life, dapat pareho kayong may agape love sa inyong mga puso para tunay na magmahalan sa isa't isa. Kapag nangyari ito, palagi mong nasa isip ang kanyang best interests at nais na paglingkuran at suportahan siya. Mas magtutuon ka ng pansin sa kung ano ang magagawa mo para sa kanya kaysa sa pagsisikap na tiyaking makukuha mo ang gusto mo sa kanya.
- Joyce Meyer writes, “sacrifice is not always fun or easy, but when it is motivated by godly love, it always brings more peace and joy to your soul.”
Para ka daw nagtatanim sa inyong pagsasama para umani ng gantimpala na kayo ring dalawa ang makikinabang o ang mga taong nasa paligid nyo dahil ang Diyos ay kumikilos sa inyong buhay sa mga kamangha-manghang paraan habang kayo ay nagtitiwala at sumusunod sa Kanya.
Later I will give you the 3rd statement that is coming from me, Naks! hehe but before that, I want to share my story about how this third statement made possible in my life and your life, too.
When we were still dating, Rainier and I had to separate because he found his new faith and to get away from his pasts he considered me one of them. Shocked ako, mahirap man but I moved on.
One time, my former high school classmate saw me at SM Makati. Kwento siya about his faith. The next morning, it was Sunday, he took me to the fellowship he was attending and that day, tinanggap ko si Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I found new hope in God! That was the beginning of my new journey of peace and freedom from my heartaches. Agad kinontak ko si Rainier, at masayang Sinabi sa kanya ang nangyari sa akin. But to my amazement, he just smiled and spoke a few words. Sa loob ng halos isang buwan, pumupunta ako sa church para makipagkaibigan kay Rainier. Pero may mga kasama siya. So walang nangyari, after the fellowship, umuuwi na lang ako. And that's it. I realized that it is impossible for us to be together again.
Ang pag-unawa sa pag-ibig ng Diyos ay naging mahalaga sa akin. Dito ko sinimulang hanapin ang kalooban ng Diyos sa aking buhay. Mayroon akong kapayapaan sa aking puso dahil sa pag-asang may magandang plano ang Diyos sa aking buhay. Nagsimula akong magbasa ng Bible, magpray, mag-attend ng church, at sumali sa isang ministry. Nagsimula akong maglakad na may gabay ng Diyos at naisip ko kung magchuchurch ako sa hapon, hindi ko makikita si Rainier at iyon ay upang patunayan na si Jesus na ang pinupuntahan ko tuwing Linggo. Sa wakas, nahanp ko ang tunay na pag-ibig upang magsimulang muli. Ginamit ni Jesus ang mga pangyayari sa buhay ko para makita ko ang pagmamahal na hinahanap ko sa iba na natagpuan ko sa Kanya.
One time, nung nasa bahay ako ng pinsan ko, dumating si Rainier at sumama sa aming kumain sa labas. Unknowingly, God intervened in this love relationship to bring us back together. Nagpapasalamat ako na tinulungan ako ng Diyos na maunawaan ang mga benepisyo ng pagiging nasa Kanyang kalooban. Binago Niya ang takbo ng aking landas upang kontrolin ng Kanyang kalooban ang aking buhay. Iyan ay udyok ng Kanyang perfect, sacrificial, and unconditional love for me, the Agape Love.
I’d like to share the 3rd statement. If Jesus changes your route directed to His love, He shows His purpose for bringing you through many struggles, frustrations, and suffering so you can look back and remember that He has been good to you.
Kung babaguhin ni Jesus ang iyong ruta patungo sa Kanyang pag-ibig, ipinapakita Niya ang Kanyang layunin sa pagdaan sa iyo sa maraming mga pakikibaka, pagkabigo, at pagdurusa upang makabalik ka at maalala na Siya ay naging mabuti sa iyo.
God always works on our character and enables us one day to look back and say, the Lord has been good to us. We let go and commit our situations to the Lord's hands. We don't have to worry. We are not afraid of the future.
For over 30 years now that we have been married, I am so thankful that God helped us understand the benefits of agape love and sacrifice in our marriage.
I want to encourage you to give your heart and your relationship to God completely. Trust Him to give you the grace to love yours as much as He loves you. There are blessings to come your way when you diligently do that kind of love and sacrifice, as God guides you to do so that far outweigh the pain you experience in the process!
Join me in prayer.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your love. Nasasaktan kami pero pinagaling mo kami at ramdam namin ang comfort mo. Ang iyong pag -ibig ay nagpapasaya sa amin sa umagang pagkagising, at ginagabayan kami sa oras na kami ay nag -aalala sa aming hinaharap. Lord, I pray for my listeners, para sa mga taong naghahanap ng tamang lalaki o babae. Tulungan mo silang makahanap ng totoong pag -ibig at tapat na relasyon. Nariyan pa ang mga nagmamahal na magulang, kapatid, o kaibigan kung sakaling may nakikinig sa amin na naghahanap ng kalinga. O kung wala naman Silang makapitan, dalangin ko haplos mo para sa Kanila. Nawa’y matagpuan ka muna upang makita ang uri ng pag -ibig na inaalok mo bago pa ang anumang relasyon sa mundong ito. nananalangin rin ako para sa mga relasyon na nabigo na nang maraming beses pero ikaw ay matiyagang naghihintay sa kanila upang mapagtanto na sayo lamang nangagaling ang masaganang buhay. Tulungan mo rin ang mga mag -asawa na nahihirapan at malapit nang masira. Nawa’y maibalik nila ang kanilang pag -ibig at paggalang sa isa't isa, at makita nila ang mga nabuong pangarap at tagumpay na nalikha nila para sa bawat isa. Nawa’y tulungan mo silang mag-alab sa pag-ibig, at maging gabay at suporta na naghahanap ng interes hindi lang para sa kanila kundi unang-una sa kanilang asawa o sa kanilang relasyon. Salamat sa pagtanggap namin ng mga sagot sa aming mga panalangin. Sa pangalan ni Jesus. Amen.
Music Interlude
I hope you walk away from this episode feeling encouraged and inspired to truly stay in agape love together for life. I encourage you to check and assess your current relationship and be the first person to answer these reflective questions.
- How does the Bible challenge the way our culture portrays romantic love?
- When people don’t respond to your love the way you expect, what is a Christlike way to react?
If you answer those questions, you can write down below or dm me on my IG or FB account, for sure I will answer you! Be sure to follow me on Spotify and on YouTube. If this episode was helpful to you or you want to add some of your experiences that you have encountered while having a relationship, please leave a comment on any of my social media platforms. If you think someone else would enjoy it and it could help them improve their relationship with Jesus and their loved ones, please share it with them! And if you share on Facebook, the hashtag CafeTayowithElisaCamara would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks! Happy valentines!
Elisa
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