Vacation Leave!

My 2 weeks vacation is nearly coming to an end. By monday, I have to prepare myself for the whole week long class. So how did i spent my vacation? Well, i just went to several malls here in manila, walk in the near vicinity and most important of all is to read.

My close friend even candidly told me, "Nababasa ka na naman!, baka magkatuluyan kayo ng mga libro mo ah!" Well, what should i suppose to do! just sleep, wake up, take a bath and walk every day during my vacation! I would increase in weight if that would be my routine! ( unfortunately i decided to eat all my favorite food coz during opening of the class, i might not be that lucky anymore hehe!)

So book did i read? law books? Hector de leon? Tolentino? or Divina? of course not! though i am anticipating from my classmates when they read this " eto na naman c moi!" Syempre hindi law books ang binasa ko noh mga pare't mare maawa naman kayo saken noh! hehe

So what was it? Some may be surprised but i read the book, Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot.

I was introduced to the book through Josh Harris message Revisiting Romance (you can download the message here). In his sermon, Joshua Harris reminisced the day when his mother gave him a copy of the book. He was in a relationship back then, yet he never bothered to read it. He thought that the book contains things that he already knew such as "date/court only Christians", "don't kiss" and the likes. When his relationship with his girlfriend ended, he then decided to read the book and he received biblical encouragement from it. The book even inspired him to write his first book when he was 21 years old, I kissed Dating Good Bye!

Since the book inspired Josh Harris to pursue a love life that would please God, so i told myself not just to give it a try, but to spend time on it and reflect.

I bought it and read it. I was not disappointed. I am the type of person who is apathetic of romantic things. Parang bale wala lang sa akin na makapanuod o makapagbasa man ng love story. However the love story narrated in the story is different! It narrated the love story of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot and their struggles during their courtship days.

I noticed their experiences were not different from mine. I even shared them to my beloved and to her surprise she was thankful that others had also the same experiences as ours in our journey called love.

One basic theme that i noticed through out the book and that is the concept of waiting. Not just any type of waiting but waiting for the Lord. Through out the book, i read the struggles of both young people who were in love to each other yet were undecided to continue with their relationship or not. To obey God or not.

I was renewed through this book. I was reminded that there is blessing in the road called obedience. I have to admit that i myself is an impatient person. I want things to be instant. Whenever i need it, it should be there whenever i am of need of it, yet this book taught me to be patient.

"but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isa 40:31

Oh, Lord continue to teach thy son to be patient! Always be willing to surrender to your will!