cedartreesOftentimes, we easily complain about what’s happening in our lives. “God is punishing me!” are common words that comes out of our mouth. This happens because we have an incomplete view of God’s dealings, seeing His plan only half finished and underdeveloped. The truth is, all of us is a work in progress. The “It is finished!” words of Jesus Christ in the cross of Calvary 2,000 years ago does not apply here – redemption, yes – but not to his plan for us. His purpose why he created us is to bring him glory. “I have created you for my glory.” assured God to David, the greatest King of Israel.

The Fame and glory of Cedar Trees

Cedar trees in the mountains of Lebanon are known to be the pride of all other trees. These trees wrestled many years with cold north winds! And during summer, cedar trees must withstand the scorching heat of the sun during the day while the night has caused its soft leaves to glisten with drops of dew. Birds have built their nests in its branches, and weary travelers and wandering shepherds have rested in its shade from the midday heat or taken shelter from the raging storms. Majestic trees isn’t it? Yet the purpose of cedar trees during the time of great king Solomon does not stop their. With their fame and glory, these trees more often fall victim to woodman’s ax for demolition.

Broken Down Cedar Trees

Why demolish this distinctive “Tree of God?” we might cry out. And we might be tempted to exclaim with prophet Zechariah, “Wail, O pine tree, for the cedar has fallen…” (Zech. 11:2), as if inviting the sympathy of every less-majestic plant, invoke anger and rally in streets of Ayala or EDSA for protest.

cedartrees

What happened to the Gigantic Tree?

We should not be so quick to complain but should follow the gigantic tree as the workmen of “Hiram king of Tyre” (2 Chron. 2:3) take it down to the mountainside. From there we should see it being sailed on rafts along the blue water of the Mediterranean. And finally, we should behold it being placed as a glorious and polished beam in the temple of God. And as we contemplate its final destination, seeing it in the Holy of Hollies as a jewel in the diadem of the almighty King, can we honestly complain that this “crown jewel of Lebanon” was cut down, removed from the forest, and placed in such a noble setting? The cedar had once stood majestically in nature’s sanctuary, but the “the glory of this present house will be greater that the glory of the former house” (Haggai 2:9).

People like us

So many people are oftentimes like these cedar trees of old! God’s axes of trials and discipline have stripped us bare, and yet we can see no reason for such harsh and difficult circumstances.  But God has a noble goal and purpose in mind: to place us as everlasting pillars and rafters in His heavenly Zion. And He says to us, “You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God” (Isa. 62:3)

Testimony of my wife

My wife is a nurse by profession. She was enjoying her work as a Senior Staff Nurse in one of the major hospitals in Manila when suddenly their was a need for her to let go of her work because we saw it fitting at that time.  Her mother needed attention because she was sick diagnosed with breast cancer and we have our second baby. We planned it as short term solution.  In other words, she’ll go back to work when the situation is back to normal. Her mother died after almost a year and of course our second baby already grew to a point where my wife could leave her to a babysitter with minimal supervision so that she could go back to work.  Our long term plan then was to apply for immigration either in Canada or Australia. I am an IT Specialist and she is a nurse so we thought that we will qualify to be immigrants. And we did! But something is happening every time we take moves . There was a time that she was for an interview to work in the U.S. but our eldest was brought to the O.R. for endoscopic procedure because she apparently has gastric ailment which causes her to throw up blood.  There were many inconveniences that should have stopped her from applying but she’s dying to go abroad and she would do almost anything just to have her dreams. But something along the way happened again, she was preparing all her documents for possible Ireland employment when suddenly she experienced a terrible stomach pain that brought her to the operating room for an ‘explore lap’ because of ruptured appendix.  She was hospitalized November 2004. Her application was then rearranged and plans were moved the following year,She was supposed to leave the country April 2005 if requirements were filed, but before she could take her move for the supposed application she got pregnant, February of 2005.

Her dream for us to live outside the country will perhaps stay a dream because she got pregnant for our 3rd baby coupled with an event that she hated and prayed not to happen – I was promoted to pastoral level and assigned to pastor a starting church in the community. She doesn’t want me to become a pastor. “Being a music head would be enough.  Don’t go beyond that,” she told me many times. “Why Lord? All these things that are happening in my life are  all against with what I am praying to you.” She  didn’t only complain, but demonstrated her anger to God by withdrawing from others,  she hated our district pastor,  she hated those who resigned from pastoring,  she hated all the pastors and brethren who congratulated her for being  the newest pastor’s wife in the community.  All the more she became  my worst persecutor. She persecuted me in almost everything, she condemned my service to God.  She hated me and wanted my life to be in complete misery because i take heed to the call of the Lord.Living with her became nearly impossible. Everyday, I would see her crying and wishes  to die because she said,God never loved me at all, He always do everything that is against my will.  She mourned about it for long as if she lost another member of the family. Her pregnancy was never easy for her because she was diagnosed with placenta previa totalis. She was put on CBR-complete bed rest for the whole 9 months of her pregnancy. She said that God is literally sanctioning her,  her activity is very much limited from barely taking a bath and going to the comfort room. Everything is served to her otherwise she’ll go into profuse bleeding.  She was confined in the hospital twice because of her stiff-necked beliefs.  She believed that she’s strong and can manage to work a bit.  But her boredom grew and on the 4th month of  her pregnancy she was admitted in the hospital. Her doctor told her that she’ll be for O.R.  for Polypectomy and she agreed  with thought of getting rid of that pregnancy. But i disagreed because i feared of losing our baby. We consulted a specialist from other hospital and i was justified with the decision that i’ve made. Touching her uterus will eventually cause bleeding and we are going to lose our baby.  Thanks be to God! He saved her.  He knows what’s best for us. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and his ways are better than our ways. One day, another thing happened through one friend’s call. It was a terrible call. She reported that i was flirting with someone else,  in the church?!?Brought with so much tension and doubts, my wife asked for a divorce, once,twice, thrice, every day seems to be in tribulation.  Every call is asked,every text message is investigated. She’s acting as if she wanted to kill me and her hatred to the girl was etched to her bones down to her soul, that has  given her nightmares after nightmares. But God in all His goodness and faithfulness remains to be very true of his Word.  He knows everything that’s best for us.For what the Devil has devised against us, can be God’s intention for our own good. Day by day little by little, God’s intervention has manifested. Through that situation the unloving and inconsiderate wife experienced a rebirth. She turned to be exactly the opposite. God brought  her heart back to me.  And though she admits that there are times she’s still skeptic, it’s good to know that her hands are up for God.  As she always say, who am I that i would hinder the will of God.

Years of struggles had passed and significant changes happened, and as of this writing, it’s been more than years and haven’t heard her complaining that much. Each time she sees our daughter, our baby, she would pick her up and hug her the tightiest ever. Thanking God for blessing us with a wonderful and loving baby.Saying, God always know what he’s doing. For now, she’s a full time homemaker-enjoying the company of our 3 year old daughter. We may not have everything but we do not regret staying here in our country because we started appreciating the importance of being God’s ministers plus we have a church community, people who dearly love and serve our God not expectant of anything in return. people you can always count on. They are the kind of people worth staying for.

God’s plan is surely for our betterment, and not to harm us. (Jer. 29:11).

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