THIS IS MY LIFE

by Ana Celina D. Aboganda from my Facebook Notes last February 16, 2011; http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001667541359&ref=hpbday#!/note.php?note_id=154400081280615

It was the wee hours of the morning, I felt nauseous and sick. I kept thinking whether or not I should get back to work. There was a strong temptation to just stay curled up in bed, "shielded" from the outside world.

But the three verses that have always been directing my life kept coming back to me. More and more I have come to realize that God is giving me the opportunity to experience, live out, and understand these verses in my life...

Acts 20:24

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.

Mark 12:30

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'

Luke 14:33

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

I kept hearing the lie that I needed to get my feelings in order first before I move on. But God keeps saying to me that to love Him is not just about what my heart and soul feels. I am also to love Him with all my mind and strength. Despite the feelings.

The Holy Spirit kept reminding me "Consider your life worth nothing to you, Nins, if only to testify to the Gospel of God's grace." It was because of that grace that I was able to prepare to go back to work.As if God was affirming me, I immediately received a text from Mela, one of our student volunteers in Miriam, that her professor scheduled us to share the Gospel with her class the next day! Though I've experienced many classroom evangelisms and get excited in each one, this was particularly special because this was a first in Miriam!ü

We went and spoke to that class with the goal of blessing their hearts, but God faithfully blessed our hearts, as well, seeing Him work in and through us. I was inspired to see the ladies from the Miriam Team serve out of the overflow of God's love despite the trials and hurts they themselves were experiencing. The professor also encouraged and comforted me in the hurts I was feeling after the miscarriage.

Today was filled with opportunities to share the Gospel---to an entire class and to individual students. As I sat in the campus corridors, this overwhelming feeling of joy and peace enveloped me. I was exactly where God wanted me to be, doing exactly what He wants me to do. Suddenly, the tears that flowed for days have finally dried. I now know, the blessings do not define my life... It is sharing Jesus Christ. That gives me life.

This year God's theme for me has been about counting the cost of being His disciple.

I have learned, salvation is free and discipleship is costly. But hearing Jesus say "well done" is priceless.