Right Person at the Right Time

Episode 3

Haskell Point of View:

After our meaningful connect session, iniwan na kaming dalawa ni Hesed ng mga ka connect ko. I took a picture of her first, then I started my recorder. She smiles rin.

Haskell: So, are you ready?

Hesed: Yes! *chuckles*

Haskell: Okay. Let’s start. So, for my first question, How did you become intimate with God? And when did it started?

Hesed: Hmmm… How? Siguro because I grew up in a Christian family. My Mom and Dad is a devoted Christians at siguro, it is part of the reason why. When did it started, I think… at a young age? Kuya always have this story na, when I was three years old, I always asked him or Mom and Dad to read me children’s bible before going to bed, tapos lagi kong dinadampot daw yung mga coloring books na biblical.

But how and when ako nagkaroon ng deep intimacy sa kanya is during my teenage years. Yan kasi yung period in life natin na ang daming peer pressure. I was in high College when marami nagbubuyo sa akin not to attend service, sometimes, I even lie to make excuses wag lang maka-attend. Then pumasok ako sa pagbabanda. Dun ko nakita yung dumi ng paligid. As we got more gigs, padumi ng padumi…dumating sa point na my bandmates were using drugs na given by our manager. Tapos one night, during tour… muntik na kaming mabangga kasi High yung driver ng van namin, that’s when I pray and quit. Bumalik ako sa pagiging active sa church. Tas ayun, sumali sa music ministry.

Haskell: Oh wow! Grabe, I’m speechless. But since nabanggit mo yung pagsali sa music ministry, h-how did that happen? I mean, To do your passion to serve him?

Hesed: Music’s always been my passion. Kaya sumali rin talaga ako sa banda. But it’s Pastor Paul who said, why not use your passion and his gift to serve him? And, oo nga naman. That’s the best decision I ever did, kasi iba yung fulfillment. Parang everytime kumakanta ako or tumutugtog to worship and praise him, napupuno ng galak at holy spirit yung puso ko. I mean, you understand that, right? After all, you use your passion in writing to serve him.

Haskell: Yes, iba talaga when you use your passion and his gift sa atin, to serve him. Parang grabe yung fulfillment talaga. Anyway, next question is, Is there’s still something that you want to do or something na you realized na maging goal for his glory?

Hesed: Marami. Hahaha. Sobrang dami pa. Ang dami kong nadiscover na something na nakatago sa akin, one is alam mo na, writing songs for him. In God’s will, I hope maproduce ko siya, for him. Then, narealize kong I want to be a leader, teach kids, and eventually becomes a pastor. Marami talaga, pero ayun nga, I surrender those to God, syempre, His will over my will.

Haskell: I am praying for that. Really, praying for that…

Hesed: Maraming Salamat. *smiles*

Haskell: You’re always welcome. *smiles softly* okay, last 2 questions na. What can you advice to the teens and young adults na Christians?

Hesed: First, be authentic. God loves us no matter what we are, kaya no need to pretend.

Second, embrace yourself, forgive yourself, at normal lang magkamali… but, learn how to ask forgiveness too.

Third, allow God sa puso niyo. Change is always inevitable, but changed for the good dapat ang laging winiwelcome.

Fourth, it’s okay not to be okay, pero wag ka rin tumambay sa lumbay or galit. Asked for help, sa kanya, sa family mo, at kung kinakailangan, seek professional help. Fifth, When It is not yes, minsan it is Not Yet… Minsan kasi, may bagay na gusto natin pero hindi pa ito yung God’s time para mapunta sa atin, we still need to prepare for that. At pag no naman, palaging may dahilan. Baka kasi hindi talaga aligned para sa atin yun. But his no, doesn’t mean na end of the world na ah. Sabi nga when God closes that door, he opens another door for you, kasi dun ka niya pala nilagay.

Sixth, Be patient. May iba’t ibang timeline ang tao, don’t be jealous kung may mga nauuna sa iyo. Be humble, no matter how much you’ve achieved. And, be grateful palagi kay Lord, at sa mga tao sa paligid mong sumuporta sa’yo.

Lastly, you are worth it. Lahat ng likha ni God ay worth it. Wag kang makikinig sa finefeed ng enemy na wala kang kwenta, na hindi ka deserving, na ‘di ka magaling, na ‘di ka kamahal-mahal, kasi mali yun. God love us. We are all beautiful, wa are all deserving, and we all have our worth. And may isa pa pala, our journeys will not always be sunshine and rainbows, may mga bagyo pa rin na dadaan, but kapit and surrender your fears to Jesus. Makikinig siya palagi.

Haskell: Oh wow. Ang ganda. It is really something na need marinig ng nakakarami. Grabe. I’m blown away. Okay. The last question is, As a Christian, what have you surrendered to him at ano pa yung gusto mong isurrender sa kanya?

Hesed: Hmmm. Dun muna tayo sa gusto kong isurrender sa kanya. Gusto kong isurrender yung control sa kanya. Planner kasi ako, like, I make plans na hanggang 10-15 years from now, which is both good and not good at the same time. Kasi when things doesn’t go well, we questioned him which is bad. So, ayun, para iwas overthinking and doubts, I want to surrender it to him. On the things that I surrender…hmmm. I think yung forgiveness. I learned how to forgive and ask for forgiveness. With that, I found my inner peace.

Haskell: Grabe. I am in awe. Sobra. Wow. Grabe si Lord talaga. Thank you so much for this.

Hesed: Walang anuman. Thank you rin for doing this ah. Tara na sa loob?

Haskell: Ah yes yes.

At pumasok na nga kami sa loob ng bahay nila.

My sister and Hesed set up their guitars tapos Kuya Raf set up his drums, and one of my ka-connect also had his bass guitar, then we worship. It was amazing how I can feel the Holy Spirit was hugging us that night. And yes, Hesed is really on her element when she’s singing and playing her guitar for God.

Then we were all shocked when she suddenly strum her composed song for the Lord.

Kapag ako’y nanghihina,

Ikaw ang nagiging lakas sa tuwina.

Sa tuwing ako’y pagod na,

Salita mo lamang, pagod ay ‘di na alintana.

First stanza pa lang, tumayo yung mga balahibo ko.

Ilang beses man akong lumayo sa’yo

Tinatanggap mo pa rin ako ng buong-buo

Sa panahon ng pangamba,

O Panginoon, binibigay ko sa’yo ang buo kong tiwala

Dahil sa akin ay sinabi mong:

Dahil dito lang ako

Sa iyong tabi, Anak ko.

Hindi ako lalayo

Pagka’t sa’yo ay ‘di susuko

O Panginoon, sa piling mo’y hindi na lilisan

Ang aking puso’y iyong pinunan.

At sa t’wing 'di ko na kaya, ako’y iyong pinapasan

Pagmamahal mo’y magpakailanman.

Ako’y hindi na magdududa sa iyong mga pangakong:

Dito lang ako

Sa iyong tabi, Anak ko.

Hindi ako lalayo

Pagka’t sa’yo ay ‘di susuko

And I swear we were all tearing up while we praise and worship, because her lyrics was exactly how we felt para kay God.

Our night ended with my heart filled with awe with God’s grace.