Blemished Sacrifice

Is there a formula for utmost motivation and passion? Who will create the formula? Who should be responsible in stirring the motivation and passion of a person?

I’ve asked myself a couple of times how much of me should be dedicated in motivating myself. Sometimes, I think that a great part of my passion depends on my superiors, sometimes I think that it is solely dependent on my being.

While I find it very hard to comprehend at times, I pretty much get the gist that most of the time, I am very passionate with my idea of motivating myself to be on fire with my passion. I later realized that it’s not the way how it works. No matter how hard it is to deal with every single day, I (should) have control over my thoughts and emotions.

Often times, we are so over ourselves that we forget to give the Lord His due respect. We prefer to choose the best for us instead of giving priority to God. At the end of the day, what can we offer Him?

These are some basic questions we can ponder on before having the discussion about motivation, passion and discipleship:

• Do you believe in the same thing and are headed to the same direction?

• Do you feel safe to talk amongst your peers and can open up your struggles?

• When you need help, would we be top of mind in the list of people you’ll run to?

• Would you submit to the plans and teaching?

Malachi 1: 7-9 states:

You are offering improper sacrifices on my altar, yet you ask, ‘How have we offended you?’ By treating the table of the Lord as if it is of no importance! For when you offer blind animals as a sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer the lame and sick, is that not wrong as well? Indeed, try offering them to your governor! Will he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the Lord who rules over all. But now plead for God’s favor that he might be gracious to us. “With this kind of offering in your hands, how can he be pleased with you?” asks the Lord who rules over all.

In photography, the most important element is light and there are 3 characteristics of light that we look for: the size, the direction and intensity. These determine the outcome of your picture.

In your life, what can be the light? I believe it is passion. What direction is God asking you to go? How big is the vision and how fast does he want you to go?

I would love to share to you the wonderful story of Sir John Ong just this week about passion:

“Lately, There’s been a lot of talk about the movie Heneral Luna. I honestly didn’t get to watch it, but I remember during my days as a member of the NDF under the group Bayan. We were very idealistic, taking the streets, braving tear gases and water canons just to get our advocacy heard. From US bases, to Tuition fee increase, to operation of Bataan Nuclear power plant, we were so passionate about what we believed in that I remember wanting to go up in the mountains to take arms. But I was given the assignment of penetrating the communities in San Andres Bukid and Malabon to make the masses join our cause. I was watching Sakay the other night and I was thinking about "What would it be like to be living during those times? Out gunned, out numbered, out witted, out resourced, but never out passioned.”

Listening to his story, I was able to reflect on my own fights in life. Some are selfless, some are selfish. I’m really blessed that I have great mentors such as Mr. John Ong, together with Ms. Monique Ong, his wife. They have wonderful stories to share and lessons to impart. Because of them, I am now learning to be more selfless for the Lord. It’s such an encompassing feeling.

I gain so much from the experience of sharing my talent and time for my God. In sharing, I’m gaining.

How many of us can say that we are truly passionate about the mission God has given for us to do? And what does being passionate mean in the first place?

a. You are sure about your calling

Just this week, I was assigned to accomplish a newsletter for our church. I was very scared because I thought that I wouldn’t be able to accomplish it in due time. I’m not really good when it comes to writing news. I later on realized that I was tasked to do creative writing, which is what I am better at.