God's Kiss

While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. Luke 2:6

Prince Naveen needed a kiss. He was desperate. He was looking for a princess who would kiss him so he can turn back to being human from being a green frog. Fortunately, he found Tiana who was dressed like a princess. Tiana, who has dreams of becoming a restaurant owner, has to make a deal with the frog prince to provide for her in order to make her dream come true in exchange of the kiss. Prince Naveen, who has riches to provide for Tiana’s dream, agreed to the deal just to get the “frog” spell go away. It was a mistake for as they kiss, magic smoke came out and when it died down – Tiana became a frog and Naveen was still a frog.

We needed a kiss, too. We are desperate. We were looking for a Savior to come and bring us to light from our darkness. We are seeking for someone to come to save us from our sins and give us hope. And God came near. He has no motive but to save His people from being “frogs” to being holy and whole. God came near and He did not make a deal to come. He came and He comes for He love us. Jesus becoming one of us is God’s kiss. God’s kiss is a God turning into a man. And it was not a mistake. God became man so man can be one with his God and live for Him again. No magic smoke puffed, just God’s pure passion and unconditional love for His people. God became man – that is God’s kiss.

Dreaming Big and Dreaming Right

When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus. Matthew 1:24-25

He may have his dreams. Start a family with Mary. Love and take care of his wife. Build their home with their would be children. With his trade of carpentry he would build their own furniture and home. Every chair to be seated on, every table to be shared, every bed where to rest he might have some ideas what to do. However, Mary was found to be pregnant even before they live together. And this may have shattered Joseph’s dreams as he was planning to break the engagement quietly. Yet God has His dream for Joseph and His dream for him is big – be the earthly father of the Savior of the world. This dream big and is not even comparable to any dream which Joseph might have thought of. This dream is not only big, it is also the right dream. And as he awoke, Joseph did follow God’s big dream.

Dreaming big is a catch phrase among motivational speakers and spiritual preachers nowadays. Go to YouTube and watch the motivational speaker shouting the exact phrase. Browse the website of a popular preacher and read through his outline on dreaming big. Deep inside us, we want to dream big. As they say in Filipino, “Libre ang mangarap” (“It is free to dream”). And when you dream you do not dream small, you dream big. Brace yourselves with this – God dreams big for us.

His dreams for us are not only big but the right dreams for us and His kingdom. His dreams for us are not only for our good, His dreams for us are for our best! Settling only for our dreams will hinder us to see His plans for us. Being satisfied with what we can achieve will prevent us in experiencing His larger than life dreams in our lives. Limiting our plans within our boundaries will surely give us a good distance to travel however God’s dreams for us will enable us get us pass beyond that. Dream big and dream right, my friends.

Find rest and peace in God. Sleep in God’s presence. Dream big for God. Dream right for God. And when it time to wake up, go and do what God dreams for us.

He Came to Separate

His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. Luke 3:17

Wikipedia presents the theory of a winnowing fan:

Wind winnowing is an agricultural method developed by ancient cultures for separating grain from chaff. It is also used to remove weevils or other pests from stored grain. Threshing, the separation of grain or seeds from the husks and straw, is the step in the chaff-removal process that comes before winnowing.

In its simplest form it involves throwing the mixture into the air so that the wind blows away the lighter chaff, while the heavier grains fall back down for recovery. Techniques included using a winnowing fan (a shaped basket shaken to raise the chaff) or using a tool (a winnowing fork or shovel) on a pile of harvested grain.

This illustration gives us a clear picture of one of the aims why Jesus came. He came to put a division between grain and chaff. He came to separate the grain from the chaff. Jesus came to put a gap between the desirable and unpleasant. Jesus came to identify what is acceptable and what is not. He came take the harvest and He is determined to clean the harvest before bring it to His barn.

Friends, allow Jesus to come in your life. Right here. Right now. Allow Jesus' winnowing grace to separate the good and bad in us. He will reveal to us the grain and the chaff in us. Let us agree when Jesus makes a division of what is good and what is not in our lives. He will identify what is acceptable and unacceptable in our hearts. Let us not store chaff in our minds and hearts. Let good wheat only reside in our barns.

Whether you have been following the Lord for months or years, He has something to divide in us. Whether you are a pastor or an ordinary church attendee, He has something to separate in us. Whether you are a fired-up or burned-up disciple, you will find Jesus' winnowing fan in you.

Allow Him to come. Allow Him to separate.

Falling Away

"Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." Luke 7:23

I do not know why John sent his men to ask Jesus if Jesus is the one they were waiting for or not. I do not know what is in John's heart and mind during that time. Maybe I can assume but there may be hundreds of assumptions we can propose. Maybe at the prodding of his own disciples, he did it. Or was he getting impatient? But one thing is sure, Jesus warned John - do not fall away on account of me. Jesus is telling John's men, "I am he, but even if I am the one you are waiting for, do not stop and continue your work." "Do not fall away from your calling even if I have taken my place healing the sick, curing diseases, making the blind see, allowing the deaf to hear, blessing the lame to hop and declaring God's kingdom."

Believe it or not, I have seen it happen. I saw men and women who were passionately serving God yet when the time came they needed to pass the baton to their understudies, these servants faded in the shadows. They have fallen away as if they have reached the peak of their zeal for His house. They have wandered because they knew someone has taken their place. They have been laidback thinking somebody will do the work even if they are not there.

Sometimes, I find myself in their shoes. I will not serve because I know someone will do it. I will not preach because there are already thousands of preachers out there. I will not blog about God and His gift of life because Bo Sanchez or Bobby Quitain writes better than me or further, there are multitudes of Christian bloggers in the virtual world who will do just that. I will not proclaim God's word for someone more gifted will eventually declare the message. I will not go to the social service of the community since I know I am not in-charge of the activity. I will not spend time with my kids since I know their mother will have her time with them. I will stop since someone else will start.

Jesus warns us about this. We must not be falling away on the account of someone taking their place in God's work. When someone has risen to partake in God's work, he/she is not replacing you. There is a place only for you to occupy in God's plan of action. There is a ministry designed for your God-given capabilities and gifts. Do not fall away. Be blessed.

Answering with Actions

When the men came to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?'" At that time he cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. And he said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them…." Luke 7:20-22

Picture a low-level techie demonstrating to an older person how to use Yahoo Messenger or Skype for real-time communications. She has a lot of questions. How to install the software? How to make an account? How to add contacts? How to make a video call? Can she chat with others? So I received all these inquiries about using all these internet communications. I wanted to answer them in words but in my mind it will be really tough getting my points taken. I decided to demonstrate to her how to do it. We came in front of her desktop and for less than an hour I answered her curiosity and she well understood my responses to each inquiry. I answered her questions with actions.

Jesus did this. When John's men came to Him to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?' Jesus did not say a word. Jesus did answer the question with actions. He cured the sick. He eliminated sufferings in people. He drove out demons out of people. He made the blind see. He made the lame hop and jump. He unclogged the ears of the deaf. He raised the dead to live again. He proclaimed the good news to people having bad times.

Jesus does this. When you come to Him to ask, "I thought You will provide for us?" He will give you more than financial blessings. When you come to Him to ask, "Will You please heal my wife?" Jesus extends His hands to your wife and she is healed. When you come to Him to ask, "What am I doing here?" He spreads His plan in your heart. When you come to Him to ask, "How can I serve You?" Jesus empowers you. When you come to Him to ask, "What else can I give You?"Jesus brings you more of Him.

Jesus' words have power. Jesus' actions show that power. And when we have questions, He replies more than words. Jesus answers with actions.

In Your Desert

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. Luke 3:1-2

Aren't you intrigued with the verse above? Luke enumerates who were sitting at government positions. He cites rulers and governors. He states their positions and area of authority. He also cites church leaders. He cites the high priests of the land. Luke was talking about who were big-shots in the society. Yet, Luke ends verse 2 with - the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. The word of God did not go to someone who is sitting in public office. The word of God did not go to the sacred seat of the church hierarchy. The word of God went to someone who is sitting in the desert. The word of Life came to a lifeless place.

Here is my disclaimer: I am not saying God's word will not go to political heads or church leaders. What I am pointing out is the word of God may come to anybody else, does not discriminate by position in society. God does not look at your position in church or work. Jesus can and will bless and utilize someone for His work. God does not look if you have power or authority over somebody in order to bring His message to your heart. He has that power and authority. And no matter how lowly or unqualified you maybe, His word may come to you. If you think you are in a lifeless place, think again. God has shown this many times…

An ordinary teenage lady bearing the Savior of the world.
A carpenter becoming the Messiah's father.
Fishermen becoming fishers of men.
A tax collector becoming a soul collector.
A prostitute becoming a follower of Christ.
A persecutor of the early church becoming a church builder.

So look around your surroundings. Wherever you may be sitting now, open your hearts to His word. God comes to you. The word of God comes to you. In your own desert.

It Happened

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. Luke 3:1-2

There was a time element - fifteenth year of the reign… There was a specific mention of people on the period stated- Tiberius Ceasar, Pilate, Herod, Philip, Lysanias, Annas and Caiaphas. There was a mention of government and church leaders of the said duration; it was an indication of certainty. I think Luke was narrating an event with historical facts. When you are writing about history, precise and uncontested matters are important ingredients. And Luke portrays this. He indicated the time. He pointed to the people who were leading that time. Luke maybe is telling us, this really happened.

When we read and reflect on the bible, sometimes we do not realized that what we are reading are real occurrences. We are reflecting on actual events of the saving plan of God. We comprehend realities of God loving us and men and women loving God. The Read Sea parted, the blind saw, the lame walked, the deaf heard and sung; these are some of the supernatural acts of our God. And in this modern day, it's hard to grasp what God has done or what God will do. Yet, we have the verse above signifies time and people of history. Further when you read the word of God…

God created. We sinned against Him.
He sent prophets. We did not listen to them.
Jesus came. Jesus walked with us. Jesus died and He rose.
We are saved. He loves us. By His grace we can love Him back.

No more proof needed. It happened.

Give What Your Received

Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. Matthew 15:36

Our elder brother Jun would tell me to give the day’s sale to our father as I come home after lunch. We were managing our small textile store back then. It was one of my misdemeanors to get from the total money before I would hand it over to our father. Of course, this was wrong and is a sin. And of course, I was caught doing it and our father was really mad at me and at what I was doing. Before you say, I am the worst of sinners, let me illustrate my point. My brother gives me the total amount. I get something from this total and I give to our father just a significant part of that total. It may be a major piece of the whole amount but still it’s not the complete package of what I received.

The disciples did not take anything from what was given to them. Jesus gave to the disciples. The disciples gave to the crowd. And when the twelve gave to the crowd, they gave what they received from Christ. I believe this is one trait of a disciple. To give wholly what you have received. To share totally what you possess. To hand over what was handed over to you. Pass on what was passed on to you. To be a disciple is to allow ourselves to be channels of His grace. Notice the chain reaction here: Jesus -> Disciples -> Crowd. If what you received is given to others, then you are a disciple. If what you received is kept with you, you are a member of the crowd.

I encourage you, be a disciple. Give what you received.

Blessed to See

……"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” Luke 10:23

Today is the twentieth death anniversary of our brother Ely. It’s still vivid in my mind and heart when he died. I was about to get my first ever class cards in college when the news came to me as I reached home. And his death was brutal. He was shot in the head saying no to hooligans who were asking parcel of the construction materials of the project he was managing. And as he died, our father died too. You see, our brother maybe the best child parents would want to have. Kind, respectful, loving, self-less, God fearing and intelligent – that’s our brother Ely. He was even ranked 5th in his national civil engineering board exams. There was no day and night you could not feel the anguish and sadness which his death brought in our home. My father devoted his time in gaining justice from his death. He went with the police everyday to investigate the crime. Our father utilized every connection he knows to help us bring the culprits to prison. But to no avail.

And when he was about to give up, he was blessed to see. Our father told that once he was in the police car, the officers left their weapons in the car with him. This was the same instance where they visited the suspects in their houses. The thought of using the guns at that time crossed our father’s mind. He said in his mind, justice can be easily won by just going out of the police car and fire the gun at these suspects. Yet he saw there was justice which is not in his hands but in God’s hands. And he saw his wife and other seven children who are alive.

Up to now, we haven’t got justice from our brother’s death. Our parents have died not seeing justice heave from his death. If you search our hearts, I bet you will still see some pain and some feelings for retribution. However, we thank and praise God for blessing us with eyes to see what we see. We see life rather than death. We see hope rather than despair. We see the future rather than the past. We see completion rather than frustration. We see the light rather than the darkness. We see God’s mercy rather than human justice. We see God’s love greater than our pain and hate.

And these do not come easy in living our daily lives. But with God and His providence, we are blessed to have eyes to see what we see.

No Questions Asked

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:18-19

He walked. He saw. He called.

I like the fact that Jesus saw and came up to Simon and Andrew without further inquiries. He did not ask them for their resumes. He did not ask them about their religious affiliations. No “Are you active in your church?” He had no requirement regarding their age. No “How old are you?” Jesus did not inquire about their educational background. No “Did you study the Law?” He did not ask about their status. No “Are you married or single?” Jesus did not question their past. No “So what have you done in your youth?” He did not inquire on their family background. No “What does your father do?” He saw them. Then He called them. No further interview. No scrutinizing of their personalities. No microscopic evaluation of their lives.

Aren’t we glad our Lord is like that? When He saw and called us, He did the same approach. He saw us first, we did not see Him. He called us even we do not know Him. We did not bother to show Him our resume since He does not require it. Our credentials are not essentials for Him. Our family background is not presented. Our preferences are not divulged. There is no age limit in His calling. No color or race is identified. No societal status is filled up. No further inquiries about our lives. No further questions on who we are and what we did in our past.

This gives us freedom. This gives us security. That His call for discipleship is not anchored on who we are or what we have done or what we can do or where we got our diploma.

He walked. He saw. He called. No questions asked.

Seen or Unseen

All that you see here--the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down. Luke 21:6

I was riding with my boss, Mr. Rolando Bacani, and we were going to work when he asked me, “Did you know what happened in New York?” Since we are in the Philippines, I had no idea about it so I said, “No.” My boss continued our conversation and told me that there was a massive power blackout in the Northeastern part of the United States. That was in August of the year 2003. We were working on the power system operations side of the largest grid in the Philippines, Mr. Bacani as the Vice-President of the group was well verse on this kind of events. He told me there was one time he was presenting in Malacanang Palace about minimizing the risks of blackouts in the Philippines, he was asked if the government invested large of money in the grid if it would eliminate blackout. He replied a flat NO to the inquirer. He said any man-made infrastructure is deemed to fail at some point. He elaborated whatever intervention(s) done or will be done will not prevent any synthetic system to succumb given some time.

And he concurs with Jesus. Jesus said anything that we see here will be thrown down. Everything that we can look upon will fall down. A stone standing upon a stone will falter. Anything that is seen standing for now will kiss the earth. And Jesus was specific, “All that you see….”

So what will remain standing? All that is unseen. The unseen will not be thrown down. The unseen will not fall down.

God. God’s forgiveness. God’s mercy. God’s hands. Faith in Christ. Repentance. Hope in God. Love for God and others. Dependence in God. Zeal for His house.

And what does this tells us? Look for the unseen. Believe in what is unseen. Cling on Who is unseen.

Make a choice today. Seen or Unseen?

All and Whole

He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood." Luke 21:3-4

We were settled as a family. Before coming to the United States in 2007, we have had a comfortable life in the Philippines. We have our own home. I have a stable job which was giving me a promising career. My family is well-off despite economic issues surrounding the country. As a family we had no problems with physical health and enjoyed fruitful relationships with our relatives, catholic community and friendship circles. When I got a job offer to work in the US, we felt this was God’s direction. Uprooting us from our comfortable life and a stable livelihood required more discernment however we decided to respond.

As we settled in our new home after living for two years in the United States, I thanked and praise God for enabling us. As the days went by, our family is living comfortable. There may be some new challenges in maintaining the house and paying for it yet my wife and daughters find haven in this place. My job is stable and the company I work for is reacting to the recession positively. My daughters are well adjusted with their schooling in our place. We have found new relationships with brothers and sisters who came from the same singles professionals group we used to be with in the Philippines.

And then I reflected on this story of the widow who gave her whole livelihood in God’s treasury. Her two cents may be too insignificant and may not be needed considering the amount that might be in the offertory but Jesus notices she gave her all and she gave it whole.

And the scenario gave me the usual chill. It’s about giving your all and whole to God. It may be insignificant and may not be needed as it seems but Jesus notices. We were settled in the Philippines. We were looking forward to stay put, but God said “Pack up!” and we responded by giving our all and whole. Now we are settled in the US, we are looking forward to stay put, if and when God says “Pack up!” and I pray may God give us the grace to respond and give our all and whole.

Everyday Teacher

And every day he was teaching in the temple area. Luke 19:47

Jesus gives us a lesson or two every day. He goes to the blackboard/whiteboard and discusses His mind and heart to us. He shows us the way towards Him. He keeps us posted to love God and our fellowmen. He points us to Him at a certain direction. He feeds us with His words which guide our path. He teaches. He instructs. Each day of our lives.

We may hear a new insight from the Teacher. A new inspiration that would make us renew the fervor in our hearts. A fresh revelation which catapults our hearts quickly to Him. Maybe we prayed and read the bible and the reflection jumped on us. It puts us in awe on how God works in our personal lives. It boosts our passion to give more of what we have to God. It keeps us in His company and friendship of believers.

We may hear a message of the past from the Teacher. And His letter reverberates like echoes yet we don’t respond. He keeps on bringing us the same word. He sends people or problems for us to learn this truth however the teaching seems too much for us. Maybe we close our hearts and minds for this specific lesson and God wants to assure us He is in control. Or we may not be attentive to this lesson that’s why it needed repetition. Or He is reminding us for what He did during yester times for us to look forward that Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Just like an effective school teacher, God may use aids to send us the lesson each day. He may utilize the bible, worship services, retreats, your spouse, your co-worker, your classmate, your children, a stranger, the internet, a preaching, a TV program, a radio station, a wholesome movie, the sun or the moon, etc. Jesus will use whatever or whoever around you to bring us His words of life. God will send multiple postmen to make sure the lesson is home with us. And the temple maybe your school, your home, your workplace, in the streets, or wherever you may be.

Just like a diligent and curious student, we must be attentive to His lessons. We open our hearts and minds each time we are in His classroom. We take note of the message to remember the truths of God and lies of the world. We take heart and reflect each message and apply them in our every day struggles and routine. We delight to listen to every word which would come out from the Teacher’s heart. We keep our eyes and minds from wandering as He is speaking to us.

It’s a great assurance that we are not fully knowledgeable before our God for He keeps teaching every day. We are not that wise not to learn from Him. We are not that intelligent not to sit down in His classroom. There’s too much to hear and apply from the Teacher. He keeps on teaching as we keep on learning from Him. There’s no holiday. There’s no vacation. There’s no end in our schooling.

Jesus teaches us every day. Listen.

Let Me See

What do you want me to do for you? He replied, "Lord, please let me see." Luke 18:41

I am not physically blind. However, sometimes I do not see. In the past weeks, I have been receiving a good amount of personal preaching from my wife. She has been reminding me of God’s work and providence in our lives. I was worrying about how we can keep our finances within our control ever since we moved in into our new home. We have to put some savings into necessary maintenance of the house. We are paying our loan in the Philippines. We have some outstanding balances in our credit cards. I was worrying what if the tax credit will not be approved? As the company I work for is tightening its belt, I was thinking how can we get through? And my wife took the pulpit. She told me we have gone this far, she can’t see any reason why God will not lead us now. She said God has given us these blessings, and it would be illogical if God will not continue to bless us to take care of His blessings. She preached to me to keep believing and being still in these times and wait for God’s hand to work.

Just like the blind man in Jericho, I have my share of rebuke. My faith is being rebuked with human understanding. My dependence in God is being silenced by laws of economics. But unlike in Jericho, Jesus is not just passing by in my life He is here to stay with me. What more can I ask for! And as the blind man called out on Jesus all the more as he was told to be silent, the more I should believe and put my faith in Jesus in the midst my own understanding and economics theory.

The man from Jericho and me, we are both blind to an extent. And with Jesus asking, “What do you want me to do for you?” We share a common reply, "Lord, please let me see."

Ever After

And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory… Mark 13:26

At first hindsight, it would be a very scary time. With the tribulation ending, the sky will not emit light so as with the moon. Darkness will cover the universe. Darkness will cover us. Light will come only from artificial sources. The stars will lose their place from the heavens and find other space to fill. The elements in the universe will move as though they are shaking. It seems order will be no more. Falling and shaking will take more power over gravity. And this scene scares the better out of us.

But it should not.

Because the Son of Man comes riding on the clouds with greater power and glory after that scene!

And because this will be the end and this will be the beginning.

Give me anything that hurt you most, death, sickness, broken dysfunctional families, betrayal, poverty, indifference, self-centeredness, greed, unfaithfulness, etc. Give me anything that makes your world, our world imperfect. Give me anything which makes us imperfect. When He comes, all of these things will end. Those things will be memoirs of the past. Those things will have no place in our vocabulary.

Only good things will be experienced when He comes to reign over His elect. Perfection, holiness, life abundance and goodness will begin in us and will have no end. Righteousness, selflessness, single-heartedness and single-mindedness will begin in us and will have no end. We will join Him in His everlasting kingdom.

And this is not a fairy tale. This is reality. This is our reality. When He comes with power and glory, we will live with Him. Ever after.

Losing Our Identity

Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. Luke 17:33

Identity theft is life theft. In the United States, people prevent their identity from being stolen. A stolen identity is disastrous and very chaotic. You do not know you have this loan from one bank or lending office. Some banks or sellers may visit you in your place and tell you that you owe that much money from them. You might have another credit card in your name that is not with you. Your purchases from your credit card(s) will be highly berserk. When someone steals your identity, they assume your life. They carry your name. They pose to be you. If not handled well, you may lose your job. You may lose your home. You may lose your life.

In our relationship with God, we are called to lose our identity. We are encouraged to lose our lives for Him. We are not called to save it. We deliberately give our lives to Him, He does not steal it. And when we lose it for Him, we assume Jesus’ life here on earth. We act not on our behalf. We do things His way. We think the way He thinks. We enter the ark and stay inside. We look forward and not turn back, exactly opposite of Lot’s wife. We stay on the housetop, fix our eyes to the heavens, and not secure our earthly belongings inside our house. We continue to work in our mission field and not come back where we have come from. And when we lose our life for Him, He saves it.

Lose it to Him rather than to anyone else.

Fixed to Stand Firm

Through all generations your truth endures; fixed to stand firm like the earth. Psalm 119:90

He had a promising career as an accountant and he was my high school buddy. When he got employed with an industrial facility in our local export processing zone, they picture him to raise the ranks. When a leftist group infiltrated the employees union, he was in the middle. He decided to join the union’s protest strike. He was fired and had a family to feed. He tended his family by driving a public utility vehicle. But then again, the vehicle used for his livelihood, he utilizes when the leftist group had street protest rallies. Once, I approached him why he was wasting his life in a defeated ideology. The ideals of their group had fought for a long time but never had victory. Their leaders succumb and most of the time, leave their troops. The group had changes in faces but their struggle remains in vain. This movement has been toppled in countries which used to be governed by this type of regime. The message they shout does not stand for generations. I told him it’s not worthy of his life.

God’s truth endures forever, through all generations. It is fixed to stand firm. When Jesus died, it was not a defeated feat. No history fact would cite that God and His word surrendered to the forces. Christianity have been questioned and doubted, but it does not diminish its truth. Christians have been persecuted and secluded yet more and more people experience conversion to Christ. Logic has provided a rebuttal to God’s presence yet we still hope in what we do not see or touch. Religions have risen and fallen but the church which Christ built still stands. God’s truth is not toppled. God’s message of love does not fade in the air. God’s truth stands in the face of opposition. His message of truth is fixed to stand firm. It’s not temporary erected, it is permanently upright. It’s unchanging and not variable.

His truth is fixed to stand firm and it’s worthy of our lives.

Along the Way

As they were going they were cleansed. Luke 17:14

Some healing came instantly. But this is not the case with the ten lepers. They were healed and cleansed of their skin disease as they were going along the way. As they were walking to show themselves to the priests, their skin became clear, then clearer then clearest. With each step, their skin sickness was being repealed. With each stride, their skin was looking flawless from being fatal. With each pace, leprosy was becoming fantasy. They were not healed instantly; the healing was gradual, they were cleansed along the way.

We have been there. God has provided healing and helping in an instant for us. However, there are certain areas in our Christian life which are not completely restored. We have to deal with these things day in and day out. We have to contend with our physical weaknesses and succumbing health concerns every time. We box with our temptations minute by minute. We face our human sand papers in our homes and offices every day. We will deal with our imperfections for the rest of our lives.

Here is my suggestion:

Continue going to God. Along the way, we will be healed.
Continue walking with God. Along the way, we will be restored.
Continue stepping forward. Along the way, we will see clearly.

Keep going. Keep walking. One thing is sure and certain, along the way we will experience His healing grace. Along the way and when complete restoration happens, give thanks to Jesus.

Unprofitable Servant

So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, "We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do." Luke 17:10

For the past ten or more years, I was at the forefront of action in Christian community building and sustaining. I thought I was an invaluable asset to my brothers and sisters in community. I served in a college movement that spread around the largest universities and colleges in our province of Pampanga. We organized conferences and seminars for large audience and small groups of support for college students. I was involved in continuing the work for single working professionals. After a year, our singles group was recognized as a fully governing branch by the national office and will celebrate our 17th anniversary this year. Overall, my contribution was acknowledged as I was appointed into regional and national positions in both college and singles movements. I was given the chance, with other members, to start-up a covenant community for the growing maturity in our local area.

I was expecting I would be valuable, when I arrived in the United States; I was looking for a way to actively serve God the way I did in the Philippines. Yet, after about two years of living in the US, I am inactive in doing the same stuff. I was involved in a catholic community; however, their way of life is very different with what I have grown with. We have an affiliate community three hours away from where we live and this distance makes us inaccessible with the said group.

And then this passage came like a steady lightning. I am an unprofitable servant. Since He already owns everything, God does not get something in return with what I have done, with what I am about to do or with what I am not doing. I have done what has been called for me to do and was privileged to do so. If He calls me to do this or that, it would be my benefit, not His benefit. His kingdom will continue to grow with or without my involvement. If He gives me something to work on, it would be for my growth, not for His kingdom to grow. His harvest will be reaped even without my hands in the plow. If my hands are armed with a sickle, it does not add to His crop.

As an unprofitable servant, my contributions are like a negligible puff in His mighty wind. With or without my negligible puff, His mighty wind will blow. But I am readying my lungs, when my negligible puff is called to join in.

STOP

He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, "Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace." John 2:14-16

The disciples saw one of the ways how Jesus practiced His preaching. On this day, He showed His followers what it takes to be a Son of the Father. He lived what the scripture relates to be consumed with the zeal for the house of God. He lashed out what is not of the Father's house. He distinguished what do not belong to the place of worship. Jesus provided His apostles a main lesson - no personal business in the Father's business. And in this manner, He came strong to drive home the point. He had a whip on His hand and with no discrimination, Jesus pushed them all out of the temple.

God's place is not a marketplace.
The place of worship is not a financial district.
The temple is not Wall Street.
The church is not the stock market.
The Christian community is not a real estate industry.

We have financial responsibilities in life. We have to take care of our families. We have to have sources of income while loving and serving God. Pastors, priests and full-time missionaries must be taken cared financially to continue the work called for them. On the other hand, if we make our ministry as our business then we are no different with the folks who were bolted out of the temple. If we enriched ourselves using God's house as our office, wait for Jesus to escort us on the way to the exit. If the pulpit assigned to us generates more income for us than it generates more conversion, its time to question what kind of zeal is in us. If the gifts given to us provide more assets to us than it sustain commitment to Christ of our people, bring out the whip of Jesus.

Its not a surprise that some of the disciples lived and died as fishermen while they led the church. Its no wonder why Paul has to work as a tent maker as he was doing his mission.

STOP making the Father's house a marketplace. I did not say that. Jesus did.

Our Ministree

One generation praises your deeds to the next and proclaims your mighty works. Psalm 145:4

I believe I was in grade 1 or 2 when I watched men and women come together in our yard for worship. My parents were members of this charismatic movement that was blazing the Catholic Church during that time. I saw people singing to God. Saw them raising their hands in worship to Jesus. They discussed the Bible with fervor and passion as never before. Though the group did not last for long, my parents were keen in bringing their eight children closer to God. My mother lined us up for the Eucharist every Sunday. They encouraged their children to serve actively in the church. I was an altar boy and at the same time joined the church choir from time to time. We prayed together as family every time the street rosary was with our home in one week. Celebrating religious or holiday feasts will not be without the Holy Mass is a trademark family tradition. Acknowledging God's work in our family was vocally expressed.

If you are looking for a ministry, look at your family tree. Look inside your home for evangelization. Go for Jesus' revival in your own residential tent. Pass on your life with God to your children. Hand out new life in Christ from fathers to sons. Transfer the Good News from mothers to daughters. Move God from parents to children.

Let me enumerate some practical ideas:

* Be a model disciple of Jesus to your kids
* Pray with your children
* Have a Bible sharing with your children (e.g. choose the Gospel Reading for Sunday)
* Tell Bible stories to your kids
* Bring your kids where you worship God
* Serve with them in church/community
* Encourage your church/community to have their children formation
* Enrol your kids in bible schools

The psalmist reiterates from one generation to the next, God's deeds and works are praised and proclaimed. We pass on our godly heritage to our shoots. We transfer our Christianity to our children.

Our family tree is our ministree.

Moving One Another

None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. Romans 14:7

I guess, I thought I can do it. And I was proven wrong. With three ladies and a man in our family, moving our things from our apartment to our new home seems to be a gigantic task. I was moving things I can carry and load in our vehicle from day to day. However, we have two sofas, one queen-sized bed plus another twin-sized bed, a small dining table and other stuff which I alone cannot lift. Well, my wife can carry but limited only to two to five pounds. Our daughters can carry their belongings up only up to maybe two pounds, too. Talking about having me as the only man in their lives. This was the spot where I asked for the help of our friends willing to lift our heavy stuff. They came and willingly carried us. They moved us. They sent us from one point to another. And so in one November weekend, we were able to move in our new home.

Paul exhorts God's people to do the same. Move one another for none of us lives as his own and none of us dies as his own. Everyone has burdens to carry. Some burdens are light and can be carried personally. Most burdens can be carried only through helping one another. If you think you can carry your heavy load by yourself, you are wrong. If you think others can carry their heavy load by themselves, you are wrong. When your baggage's weight is more than you think you can lift, be humble to ask for someone to help you move from your old place to your new place. If you happen to know somebody who needs your extra time and listening heart, be quick to respond, come willingly and move that somebody into a place of comfort. More hearts make burdens easy. More hands make moving easy. Lift one another's load. Carry each other's burden. Bring up one another's baggage. And so one day, together, we shall move in to our new Home.

Hoping in God

LORD, my heart is not proud; nor are my eyes haughty. I do not busy myself with great matters, with things too sublime for me. Rather, I have stilled my soul, hushed it like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother's lap, so is my soul within me. Israel, hope in the LORD, now and forever. Psalm 113

It's a short psalm yet it portrays how we should hope in the LORD. Sometimes, insightful message need not to be in novels but in small conveyance.

So how does this psalm reflects our hope in God?

Your heart and vision direct where your hope lies.
If your heart is full of yourself, then your hope lies in you. When your life is in turmoil and proudly cast your hope in what you have in you, your hope lies in your wherewithal. If your eyes see you are bigger than God, your hope lies in you. When your vision looks to your security where God is not in the frame, your hope lies in what you can do or what other people can do. Whenever you need something or about to do more than what you used to do, if your heart depends on you and your eyes look to yourself, hope does not lie in God.

Your hope lies in God whatever great things or magnificent matters you are facing.
David might be facing tough challenges. He might be having matters greater than his capacity or skills. Yet, these great things or magnificent matters do not keep him busy. It does not make him startled. He is not worried. He is not moved. His hope is God. We are called to be like that. Problems, typhoons, dirty politics in government, job insecurity will confront our lives. These things will not get us busy. We will not be moved. We will not be worried. Our hope is in God.

Hope is dependence in God.
David illustrates dependence in God as a weaned child sitting on a mother's lap. A weaned child is one who has stopped nursing milk from the mother and started to have solid food intake. A weaned child, in effect, has gained independence and is detached from the mother. However, David points to a weaned child still dependent and still attached to the mother. When we have grown as a child at some point we take independence from our parents, but not in our relationship with God. The more you grow, the more we should be rooted in God. You have been following Jesus for five months, ten years, more than a decade, twenty years or more, your call in your first day with the LORD remains the same - depend on God. Our souls are stilled in God alone.

Friends, now and forever - hope in the LORD.

Squandered Service

Then he also said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property." Luke 16:1

I was looking for a good feeling and timing to write a good blog since I have been tired for the past days. I am busy with work and home. I cannot focus on my personal prayer. I was thinking this is another slump. I decided to write one when I feel better and when the timing is right for me.

As I write this one, I realized that I do not own any of my service to God. Yes, we own our ministry for His glory thus to take accountability and responsibility to any work called for us. Yet, our service is not on paper owned by us. It is owned by God.

He is the proprietor. The land title has His name. The vehicle is registered on His behalf.

So why squander His property? Why squander His service?

We do it our way and not His way.
We do it on our time and not on His time.
We say or write our words not His words.
We are self-centered not Christ-centered.
We proclaim ourselves not Jesus as Lord and Savior.
We cling to our skills and resources not on His grace.
We take the applause rather than saying "Not to us but to You oh God!"

We serve not because we deserve to be serving. We serve for He alone is deserving of our time and effort. When we serve Him, we are stewards of His property. We submit our service according to the directions of the Lord of the service. We speak and move in His instructions.

Silent Preacher

The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky proclaims its builder's craft. One day to the next conveys that message; one night to the next imparts that knowledge. There is no word or sound; no voice is heard; Yet their report goes forth through all the earth, their message, to the ends of the world. Psalms 19:2-4

The skies are consistently silent. The skies show up to tell God’s glory. From day to night we are covered with the tremendous message of God’s magnificence. The design of the skies reveals His being God. It provides us the message of God’s consistent love for His people. Day in and day out the skies peeks into our eyes and hearts. No need for pulpit. No need for pouncing of words and works. No need for rhymes. No need for analogies to drive home a point. No need for powerful verbal oration. No need for gifted speaker. The skies reach all points of the earth. The muted preaching of who God is brought to all peoples and all nations.

How I wish we are like that!

No words. No sound. No voice. Yet may our lives resound God’s glory. By the way we live our lives we proclaim God’s excellent plan for his people. With the way we build our families, we exalt God’s name above all names. With the way we relate with our spouses, with the way we take care of our children, we give Him powerful worship. With the way we approach our work, may He be enthroned in our dedication and focus. With the way we involved ourselves in community, may His light shine. That God’s message of hope and love reach the corners of our daily routines.

May the grace of the skies be given among us for we need to be silent preachers.

From Seeds to Sheaves

Those who go forth weeping, carrying sacks of seed, Will return with cries of joy, carrying their bundled sheaves. Psalm 126:6

I was discussing with a brother how our brothers and sisters from Angeles City in Pampanga are making an impact wherever God has planted them. If they are in United Arab Emirates (UAE), they serve zealously in Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon (Lingkod) whether in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. If they work in Singapore, you will be inspired the way they continue to love Jesus through Lingkod-Singapore. And if they have stayed in Angeles City, the brothers and sisters bring God’s light through various communities. They serve in Christ’s Youth in Action (CYA) in Pampanga universities and colleges, Lingkod-Angeles or Lingkod-City of San Fernando and establishing a covenant community called “Bale ning Guinu” (House of God).

Remembering back and looking forward , I’ve realized this is the case of from seeds to sheaves. God has blessed and is continuously blessing our hearts to hunger for Him and spread His word wherever we found ourselves. God’s faithful nourishment in our life with Him is unfolding the harvest from seed to sheaves. By His strength, loving God and loving one another and living in a way of life He has called for us, the sacks of seed planted have now harvest of sheaves. And His harvest comes in bundles. Bundled in Angeles City. Bundled in City of San Fernando. Bundled in UAE. Bundled in Singapore.

God is not finished yet. God is bundling His harvest somewhere else.

We eagerly pray and wait for more seeds to become sheaves.

Deal Patiently

He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness. Hebrews 5:2

My seven year old daughter Bless was crying in front of me as she tells me she is scared. She remembers ghost stories she heard from a friend and when it came for her bedtime, she was startled. She tells me that when she closed her eyes, she sees the characters in the stories. She even requested that I stay with her throughout the night. At first I was telling her this is so non-sense. I was telling her that ghosts are not real and even if they are, our God is more powerful over these spirits. But I had this moment to take myself aback. She has a situation here. In her own world, she is scared. In her reality, she needed a father. This is her weakness by this instance. At this time, words will not comfort her. My understanding and patience will.

I myself have weaknesses. The men and women who have pastored me are not perfect. It takes one to understand one. It takes one to deal patiently with one. It takes one to accept one. If my leaders have been judgmental of my ignorance or errors, then I am not writing this. I would have gone astray, if they pinned me down when my face is facing the ground. I have grown because they were patient with me in the event of my immaturity. I have soared because they accepted my defects. They loved me in spite of my imperfections. They understood. They stayed beside me.

Members have weaknesses. Leaders have weaknesses, too.
Parishioners have weaknesses. Pastors have weaknesses, too.

We deal patiently with one another.

Smart Like Bart

On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me." Mark 10:47

He was blind but can hear and can speak. And Bartimaeus capitalized on those capabilities to be close to Jesus. He did not allow his blindness take away his other senses. He did not see. He heard. He cried out. He got close to Jesus. Bart made use of his available capabilities rather than focus on his incapability.

God gives each of us gifts. He blesses us with skills. He provides capabilities for us to be close to Him. Or to make others be close to Him. But often times, we find ourselves focusing on what we do not have rather than utilizing what we have. When this happens, we cripple ourselves even if we can walk. We are paralyzed even if we can run.

Do not let your own “blindness” stop you from hearing Jesus is near.
Do not allow you own “blindness” stop you from crying out for help to Jesus.
Do not allow you own “blindness” stop you from doing what you can do to be close to Jesus.
You have more than what you think you don’t have.

Be smart like Bart.

Decision to be On Fire

I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! Luke 12:49

When was the last time you were on fire for God?

Let me guess…..

* When you attended your Life in the Spirit Seminar
* When you participated in that life changing retreat
* When you were inspired by a gifted speaker's message
* In one prayer meeting when you just felt like raising your heart and hands to God
* During one of your support group meetings
* In your own time alone with God

Do you still remember that moment?

Reality is how hard to keep that fire burning in our lives. We tend to depend more on our feelings - if our feelings are not high then we seem to extinguish the fire. When life problems and difficulties arise in our situations that fire gets covered. When God turns a deaf ear to our petitions that fire produces white smoke. If the community you are involved with does not support you, the fire gets watered. Keeping the fire blazing and burning is anchored not in our feelings or circumstances but in our deliberate decision to love God and be faithful to Christ.

Jesus has come to set fire in this world. And He was wishing that fire to already ablaze. Maybe, He is pertaining to our situation. He has given us that fire yet it is not ablaze. He has come to bring us light yet that light is not translucent.

Jesus' decision is to set our hearts on fire for God.
To keep that fire blazing and burning in us - it's our decision.

The Day God took an Exam

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him... Luke 10:25

Jesus was tested on this day. By a scholar. By an expert of the law. He was testing if Jesus knew the law. This scholar was there to ask questions if Jesus knew what is loving God all about. He gave an exam to Jesus if He knew who is our neighbor. His questions were not innocent, his questions were with malice. He was not looking for answers to his questions, he was taking advantage of Jesus.

Often times we are like that. We think highly of ourselves and we put God to test. We test Him if He will do our supplications. We give Him conditions. Conditions that if He fulfill this or that, He gets something from us. We take advantage of God. We catch ourselves saying;

If You heal me....I will serve You.
If You give this job....I will be loyal.
If You solve this problem....I will commit to You.
If You provide for us....I will be faithful.

Can't we be His servants despite our bodies suffer?
Can't we show Him loyalty despite our work is not our dream job?
Can't we commit our love to Him despite life is a cycle of problems?
Can't we be faithful despite our hands are not full?

Don't put Him to test. Don't give Him questions. For God is the answer.

Holding on to Jesus

....one's life does not consist of possessions.... Luke 12:14

They had it all. Big house. Vehicles. Latest appliances. Signature shirts. Booming business inside Clark Air Base. The oldest kid in the family was a friend of mine. I used to go to their place and I was always in awe of what and how much they possessed. Soon, Pinatubo erupted and it washed Clark Air Base, making it like a deserted desert. As soon as the Americans fled so their possessions went. For the coming months and years, this family had difficulty making ends meet. The father turned into drunkard because of life's frustrations. My friend was addicted to drugs and alcohol and did not finish college due to early marriage.

Jesus preached - one's life does not consist of possessions. Is this the reason why a house, built through the years, can just be swiped away by flood in a matter of hours. Is this the reason why a luxury car, earned through working hard counting years, will just be turned upside down by a flood in a matter of seconds? Is this the reason why any man-made infrastructure can not withstand any natural force at any given day?

Honestly, I do not know. Possessions in life are not evil. Making possessions in life as your top agenda is.

Friends, look at possessions as passers by. They come and go. You can have them now but tomorrow they may not be yours. They have your name now but tomorrow they belong to someone. You can't hold on to your possessions. All these things are temporal.

Jesus stays. He does not come and go. If we have Him in our hearts today, we will still have Him in our hearts tomorrow and any day after. You can hold on to Jesus. He is eternal.

Jesus holds on to us. May we hold on to Jesus. Amen.

Notice of God

Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Luke 12:6

My mother has her eyes on me. She notices everything and anything in me. She always keeps in step with me. She notices the way I carry myself. She talks about the way I talk. She comments the way I do house chores. She has an eye for everything I do or not do. She tells me this way and not that way. I have always thought she has a video recording good to know what I am doing even when she is not present. Bottom line is she notices me, every moment my life, because she cares for me and she loves me.

God has His eyes on us, too. Jesus said even birds of the air do not escape from the notice of God. He does not look at us to count our rights or wrongs but He gazes on us to take care of us and He can't keep His eyes off on us because He loves us. He keeps in step with us when we are fast paced or even when we take things for some time. He empowers us with His presence so we can do whatever we can do or called not to do. His guidance keeps us to be on the right path towards His kingdom. Bottom line is God notices us, every moment in our lives, because He cares for us and He loves us.

Deep inside us, we want to be noticed. We want to have handshakes with politicians. We want signatures of sports or movie personalities on our things. We want to have dinner with someone whom we idolize. In our workplaces, we want our work to get noticed.

And yet we have a God who takes notice of us since He loves us and He takes care of us. He is not the president of the most powerful nation. He is not the richest or most talented artist. He is our God. The God who is the maker of heaven and earth. The God of the universe.

You are not a shadow to Him. God notices you.

The Just Rejoices and the Upright Exults

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just; exult, all you upright of heart. Psalm 32:11

Most of the time, we might feel this way. We get sad when we see others' lives that are not following Jesus and yet they prosper in life. They live with unfair treatment of people to enrich themselves but get away with it. They take advantage of people's weakness to strengthen themselves and takes the limelight of any given day. Or they simply do not believe in God and yet they still have every needed ingredient in life. It seems they live a happy and easy life.

And when we look into the life of a disciple of Christ, he has problems with his finances since he does not covet anything that is not of his. He lives paycheck to paycheck since he has only one job to free oneself to have time do God's service. He has sometimes issues with health however he depend of God's healing touch. He has problems with raising kids since he is teaching them to live out as Christians in counter of the present culture. His job is on the edge of going out of the door due to the recession. He has fewer connections to enable him to turn things around but holds on to God alone as his stronghold. It seems followers of Jesus live a challenged and difficult life.

The psalmist exhorts us, when you are doing what is just, to rejoice and be glad in the LORD! When we are doing what is right in His sight, we must exult with joy! If the fruits of following Christ give us hardships in life, let us not overlook the fact that He has given us grace to be faithful and loyal to Him alone. Following Jesus is much more important than what you can have or what you cannot have in life. Be glad in the LORD, you are just and upright! We are not citizens of this world we live in, we are all immigrants here. At some point in time, we will all come back to our true home - Heaven, which is God's presence. And in that place, following Him matters most. And in His presence, praising Him matters most.

Be just. Be upright. Keep on following Jesus.

Be glad. Rejoice. Exult. In the LORD.

Grab Each Opportunity

While still more people gathered in the crowd, he said to them….. Luke 11:29

Jesus saw the opportunity. He saw the need to preach while there are more people in the crowd. It's not about the number of people; Jesus saw the time element for His message - NOW. He made sure to bring across His point. He saw an opening and He went into it. He did not think for a second to delay. He did not speak His message tomorrow or next week or next month. He did it when He acknowledged the opportunity to do what needs to be done.

This is what Jesus does to us. He grabs every opportunity to bring us closer to Him. He grabs every classroom to teach us His ways. He grabs every pulpit to preach to us. In every joy or sorrow, Jesus seizes the moment for us to be enlightened in His light. In every success or failure, Jesus grips the event for us to know and love Him. Look around where you are right now, Jesus will make something around you to bless you so you may know Him.

And so it boomerangs to us.

Have we taken each opportunity to bring God's word to others? Have we taken each opportunity to serve and share in God's work?

Look inside your home. Grab each time or any event you can tell stories to your kids or siblings about Jesus. Do household chores as if you are serving God.

Look inside your workplace. Work as if you are working for the Lord. Take initiative. Talk about God to your office mates.

Look outside you. A friend may need a shoulder to lean on. A neighbor may need your support.

Do not delay. The key word is "while". While you can do it for Jesus, do it. While you can say it about Jesus, say it. While you can sing about His glory, sing it.

Are you ready to grab each opportunity for Jesus?

One Thing

"You are lacking in one thing....." Mark 10:21

He came to Jesus. And when this rich young man came, he has his religion as far he knows it. He was the guy who followed the commandments to the dot. Maybe he thought, by observing these from his youth would make him complete. This young man knew he has all to what it takes to be a follower of God. And how mistaken is he! Jesus gives him his completion - You lack one thing.

Jesus would always tell us those words when we come to His presence - You lack one thing. If you do not hear Him tell you these words, maybe you have retired from the race.

There is always room for another level of holiness. There is another struggle to overcome. There is another sin to defeat. There is another challenge to climb.

Another...

* person to bring to God
* resource to give up
* difficult person to accept
* weakness to expose
* healing to witness
* community to love

We are not perfect. We can never be perfect. But we can be complete. By following Jesus through having that one thing we lack.

His Name

The seventy (-two) returned rejoicing, and said, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name." Luke 10:17

Have you had this experience?

Maybe your father or uncle would tell you that if you want to enter a facility or a party, you just drop his name to the guard at the gate and voila!, they allow you to come in. Or maybe you have a friend who has a connection to this resort and when you called this resort and told them that you know her, your friend, then suddenly they give you some discounts or superb service. Or another instance is when you try to make a conversation with someone in authority or power and you try to slip in your father's name, who they might know, the exchange of words becomes interesting.

Well, this is the same experience the first missionaries had. They shouted Jesus' name. They spoke His name. They uttered His powerful healing name. And by His name, things happened. And through His name, things changed. And because of His name, people changed. Demons fled. Illness flew. Hunger satisfied. Faces glowed. Eyes saw. Ears heard. Mouth spoke.

Can this happen today? Can this happen to you? One word, three letters - YES!

His name has the power during that time and during our time. His name is above every difficulty. His name is powerful over any sickness. His name is mighty than your recession. His name is stronger than any bondage of sin. Call out His name in your struggles.

No other name can make things happen. No other name can make people change. No other name but the name of Jesus.

The Son Rises

But Herod said, "John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see him. Luke 9:9

I thought we will not see the sun again. It was the time Mount Pinatubo showed its wrath. It was an afternoon that you would rather call an eclipse. Sand drops from the sky. The usual hot day is covered with the sun trying to survive the darkening skies. I sat down on our window looking at people shoveling sand on their rooftops. People walking in the streets had mud all over their being. Electric power and telecommunications were all disabled. There was no light aside from the lit of the candles. We had to evacuate from our wooden house to our relative's home for safety. And on that night, still clear in my mind, I was wondering - will the sun rise in the morning? I was engulfed by the darkness around me that I began to doubt the sun will show up after all what happened. I fell asleep thinking about this and woke up with the sun rays beaming on my face. Yes constantly, the sun rises.

Herod was perplexed. Herod just struck out John, yet Jesus steps up to the plate. He knows he just put John to a stop, yet Jesus is all ready to get it on. Johns' life and death was a foreword to the saving work of Christ. No, He is not absent, Herod just not know Him yet. The Son shows up. The Son rises.

So very true in our lives. When it seems we are covered in black and blue. When it seems our vision blurs into the dust. When it seems we are not on the top of the situation. When it seems our lifestyle keeps muddying our hearts. When it seems our capabilities are disabled. When it seems we see just a glimpse of a small portion of radiance in our difficulties. When it seems we tend to evacuate from our place of shelter. Jesus bursts into the picture. His presence explodes before our eyes. His grace floods our souls. He heats up the cold heart. No, He is not absent in our darkness, we just don't acknowledge Him. Yet constantly, the Son rises.

Sad

"….. How could I not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins….." Nehemiah 2:3

One poor nation. One devastating typhoon.

Flooded metropolis. Streets are rivers of raging waters. Numerous deaths. Numerous missing. Hundreds of houses swiped. Properties destroyed. Crapped up crops. Land vehicles sucked. Mud on the map. Fingers pointing. Relief tug-o-war. Aid corrupted. Hospitals need cure. Rescuers need rescuing.

Ruined the already ruined. The weak becomes weaker. The hopeless dreams no more.

I watch from afar yet the pain is near. I listen from miles away yet the cries scream.

I find solace in God. I look for help in God. I search refuge in God.

I am sad.

Uncategorized

They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.' Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The Messiah of God." Luke 9:19-20

If you are maintaining a blog in wordpress.com, you may have encountered this word - UNCATEGORIZED. Sorry, I can't speak about other free blog providers if they have the same vocabulary. So why this word, uncategorized, shows up in your blog. I mean, what happened why the word comes out in your blog. Maybe you forgot to click your favorite topic categories on the right side of your dashboard. You excitedly write your thoughts and you quickly push that publish icon. When you viewed your important post, you saw that your post is under uncategorized category. Another possibility is this, you wrote a post spontaneously. Your insight juices kicked in. Your fingers found their way on your keyboard. As you conclude your article, you do not have a tag for this excellent written idea. And because it might be one of your priceless posts you decided to publish it anyway, under uncategorized.

During Jesus' time, He was like uncategorized. People do not know who Jesus really is since they had different angles at the way they perceived who He is, People do not know where He came from or what He is. They mistaken Him for the man who prepared the way. They also thought He was a present day Elijah. Another one of the popular hits is that He may be one of the old prophets who just came out from the grave. It took a retired fisherman to categorized Jesus. But the cool thing is this, among those who were trying to categorize Jesus, only Peter was named personally. Others who tried to were called "crowds" and "others". So here is my sideline slam dunk - categorizing Jesus is personal. Knowing Jesus is personal.

So how about you, my friend? How do you categorize Jesus? Are you a crowd who say He is John the Baptist? Or others who categorize Him as Elijah or one of the prophets? Or a Peter who personally replied Jesus is the Messiah of God?

Here is my suggestion. Be like Peter. Walk with Jesus. Eat with Jesus. Live with Jesus. Chat with Jesus. Be a disciple.

In your life, don't let Jesus be uncategorized.

More Precious than Silver and Gold

Mine is the silver and mine the gold, says the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:8

We deposited an amount in one house which we are interested. Since we had a falling out with the sellers, our team (attorney, real estate agent and loan officer) told us we ought to get the whole deposit. In turn, the sellers with their own team insisted they hold the whole deposit. Our lawyer was very positive that we do not have a contract with them thus we have every right to every cent of the put down. Our lawyer even encouraged us to get into small claims court to settle the dispute. On the other hand, my wife and I were discussing on how we approach the matter. Bottom line is, these are money. God provided us with this amount. Also, bringing someone to court is not our cup of Christianity, not considering the stress that goes with it. Though it may be unfair, we were ready to lose the whole amount of the deposit. If they will say we did not fight for our right then it may be said so. But we do not own those funds, God owns them. If the sellers think they are entitled to the funds, then maybe they needed it for something. At the end, the sellers gave us about ten percent of the deposit.

God owns silver and gold. He provides for His people. If other people need it, we give it even we worked for it. We do not have bragging rights on anything that He has given. Anything He has given may be taken away anytime. However our security is we have a God who owns it all. He will continue to provide. He will continue to bless. He will continue shower us with what we need.

He owns silver and gold. And He owns us.

More than silver and gold, we are precious to Him. His heart is filled for our attention not of sparkles of gold nor brightness of silver.

More precious than silver and gold is our God. No amount of money can complete us. No asset can satisfy us. Only through Him we have life.

We are to Him, more precious than silver and gold. He is to us, more precious than silver and gold.

Equal Portion

He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases... Luke 9:1

Oh yes!

Can you guess where this article going to?

Jesus called the Twelve. And then, He gave them the power and authority to drive out demons and heal the sick. Jesus did not provided more grace to Peter since Peter is the rock. Jesus did not give more power to John since John is the beloved disciple. Jesus did not bless Thomas more gifts even if Thomas will doubt later. Jesus did not held back something to someone. He gave equal blessing to everyone. He gave equal grace to everyone. He gave equal power to everyone. No disciple is greater or lesser. What James has that is what Judas has. The same power in Andrew is in Matthew. The healing gift of Mark is the same healing grace of Philip.

This gives us more than what Jesus gave them. It gives us confidence. It gives us courage. We can do what our leaders can do. We can do what our members can do. We are given the same blessings. We are given the same grace and power. We are provided with the same Spirit. It will take yielding to His power and strength to do so, of course.

No one can say, "I can't stand up and preach like Edwin." No one may think, 'If I only have the same grace like Benedict, I can lead the church." No one can put down himself, "I am called to serve only in the chairs ministry." No one can lift himself, "I am called to higher level of service."

You have what others have. Others have what you have. Of God's power and grace, we are provided with equal portion.

Work-ship the Lord!

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9

…..he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.

Are you on your workplace now? Are you on your post? Maybe you are sitting or standing. Well, here is a good news. Jesus has His eyes on you. Just as He saw Matthew, Jesus sees you. Not to guard your actions or words. Not to audit your behavior. He has His eyes on you for you are in His heart. He has His eyes on you for He has called you where you are. Your workplace is your altar. Your workplace is His cathedral. His presence is in your work and workplace.

…..He said to him, “Follow me.”

Follow Jesus in your work. Whatever your profession is, our call is to be obedient to Jesus. It is easier to follow Christ when you are in church or community but this obedience is challenged mainly in workplaces especially when you work secularly. His grace surmounts where our loyalty to Him is confronted in our workplaces. Commit to His commandments while you are in your work. Observe His ways in doing your work. Go after Jesus’ promotion rather than your promotion.

And he got up and followed him…….

Matthew stood up. You can stand up, too. Be on the offense rather than to be in the defensive side. Take initiative, go beyond your job description. Complement and compliment others rather than compete with others. Do not allow wrongdoings find you sitting down. By His strength, stand up when a green joke is thrown. Stand up when a negative thought is in mind. Stand up when an urge for using office supplies for personal reasons is felt. Stand up when your office man-time is inefficient. Stand up when a co-worker whispers a gossip. Stand up when argument needs a peacemaker. Stand up and follow Jesus.

Jesus called you to be at your workplace. He is calling you to follow Him in your work. Your work is your worship to Him.

Work-ship the Lord!

Fulfilled at the Background

……who provided for them out of their resources. Luke 8:3

She cooked our meals for the day. She did our laundry for the week and iron them when dry. She kept our house tidy and neat. She acted like our mother. No, she is not our mother. She is our Ate Amy. One of the two older sisters. Since we were eight growing kids in the family, she has to step up. Also, since our Ate Nette can’t hear nor speak, Ate Amy has to be the “oldest sister”. Let me reiterate my point. We have always have a good start in the morning at school because of the fried eggs she prepared in our breakfast table. We have always looked good in our school uniforms because of her hands at work. We always have time to work our own stuff because she had to do chores for us. She all did this as she went through school up to its completion. And when she landed to her secular job, she gave a financial cushion to the family. In the absence of our loving parents and caring aunt, she is the glue which holds our family together. She provided out of her time and pleasure so we may get our feet to stand. She has provided out of her own so we may fly and achieve. And she is fulfilled at the background so we can take the forefront.

As Jesus and His disciples preached and proclaimed, there were women and other nameless people who provided for them so they may do their mission. These people gave out of their own resources. Maybe they pooled their money to fund the mission. Maybe they pooled their time so they can work on something for the mission to expand. They provided so others may provided. They worked so other may work. They responded to their call so others may fulfill their call. They supported so others may give support. They were in the background so others may be at the forefront.

Can you think of something else you can provide so others may provide? Do you think you can give something so others may do their service?

You can be the wind under someone’s wings.

Give out of your resources. Provide out of your own. Be fulfilled at the background.

The Traveling God

Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Luke 8:1

The traveling salesman problem. Yeah, it is a college course problem where the salesman who travels along several towns and must pass all towns minimizing distance covered throughout the travel. As he passes through one town, he looks at other options where to go next, keeping in mind he must find the next shortest distance from where he is. Accordingly, this problem can be solved by many optimization techniques. Bottom line is, the fabled salesman must minimize his travel no matter what process of solution is utilized.

Jesus traveled from one town to another. And in His travel, I must be sure that he is not minimizing something else but Jesus is maximizing His reach. He is not after decreasing His distance but He is increasing the number of people who would turn to the good news of the kingdom of God. And Jesus does not keep an algorithm to follow just plain and simple proclamation of the gospel. Further, this is where it comes personal, Jesus travels with us. He journeys with us. Maximizing His grace and love to wherever we are. If you are in your village of joy, He shares with your gladness. He is into your town of serenity when you need rest from distress. When you are stuck in your worry town, He stays to be your stronghold. He travels where our life places us.

He journeys with us. He travels with us. His purpose is to maximize His presence in our lives. He is our traveling God.

Still Standing by the Cross of Christ

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. John 19:25

We came together for one reason. To celebrate the twenty-fifth (25th) anniversary of Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon (Lingkod). To celebrate God's call for us in Lingkod. To celebrate God's faithfulness and empowerment. After twenty-five long years, we are still standing by the cross of Christ. We came from different backgrounds and different places from the Philippines and presently living in different states in North America yet received one call from one God to live one way of life.

I met some of them before the gathering; however, few of them were simply names. But when we got together in one shed, we exchanged blessings. When we got together in one table, we shared resources. When we got together in one place, we were united in purpose.

As we worship the same God who called us in the same community, we sang the same songs. We worship the same God in the same stance. After all these years, we are the same brothers and sisters. We are still in awe by the same God. We have the same hearts with the same vision and the same mission. By God's strength, we are still standing by the cross of Christ. Through the joys of the cross, we have been sustained. Through the sorrows of the cross, we have been shaped.

It would not have been possible if not for Jesus' constant love and faithfulness. We would not have gathered if not with His Spirit who enables. We would not have gone this far if not for His grace and mercy.

We are still standing by the cross of Christ for Christ is still standing by us.

Single Control

And let the peace of Christ control your hearts……… Colossians 3:15

Have you notice or not yet? The control keypad (CTRL) in your computer keyboard is powerful. Combined with other keys, the CTRL can make things happen. From copying, to pasting, and repeating your actions, or undoing your actions, and saving your file and a lot more, CTRL is it! But the downside is, you can do what the CTRL can do using your mouse or using the navigation keys. This sends me to my point, CTRL key is just another way of making things happen.

Does your heart experience the same?

Our hearts can be controlled by several matters. It can be controlled by good things. Good things like gladness from a job promotion, exuberance due to financial security, or enthusiasm in life because of good health. Or it can be controlled by not so good things. Not so good things like anger from family disputes, concern over receding bank accounts’ balance, or worry from job uncertainty. Paul wrote “Let the peace of Christ control your hearts”, stresses the fact that Christ is the reality while other ways of control are but shadows. If our hearts are controlled by these shadows, our lives are not founded and firm. Your heart’s control depends on the state of matters – good or bad.

Friends, let the peace of Christ reign in our hearts. We rest and we sleep in peace only with Christ’s peace. Let not our hearts be directed by shadows. Let Jesus manage our hearts. Let us allow Jesus to take single control. Let the peace of Christ control our hearts.

Who is your Jesus?

He ordered them not to tell anyone……… Mark 7:36

His sermon made sense. The priest was explaining why Jesus commanded the people not to tell anyone. After Jesus made the man speak, He told them not to speak about it. The priest said the reason behind was that people perceived Jesus just to be another miracle worker. People believed Jesus was just one of the many who worked magic. I once watched a bible-based children’s cartoon with my daughters which depicted the same situation. The father of the boy who had demon in him was getting tired of various miracle workers who were looking at his son but to no avail. When he heard of Jesus’ disciples working miracles in their town, he was reluctant to try them out. He went to the disciples anyway after his wife’s prodding. When the disciples were not victorious in his son, he was more discouraged and very disappointed for his son’s condition.

Jesus is a miracle worker. Jesus is a healer. However, He is beyond that. He is more than that. Jesus is our Savior. Jesus is our Lord and God. With Jesus as our savior, He will not disappoint for He died on the cross for our sins. With Jesus as our Lord and God, we will not be discouraged for He is always in control and He makes all things work for good for those who love Him.

Is Jesus just a miracle worker for you? Does He stands around and when you need some big time miracle you come to Him? Are you discouraged or disappointed when He does not make miracles happen in your life?

Who is your Jesus? Please tell anyone.

From the First Until the Last

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Mathew 1:1

I was in the brink of shedding some tears as I let them go. This is the first day of their new grade levels, Praise and Bless. Praise just entered her fifth grade class and Bless came in into her second grade class. I was having this first day jitters in me. They are about to climb yet another mountain. They about to jump over yet another hurdle. They are about to embark into new challenges. They are about to enter into new lessons and new insights. Maybe meet new friends and definitely have new teachers. I was thinking how my daughters will fare in this new phase of their lives.

The genealogy of Jesus assures us of God as a promise keeper. It gives us the guarantee of God’s faithfulness from generations to generations. Our God looks after His people from one level to the next. He takes care of our ancient roots up to our future shoots. Centuries after centuries, God provides for His people. Decades by decades, God continues to walk with His people. Year by year, God is faithful and protects.

God took care of us when we were in our childhood. God protected us when we were in our teen years. He was faithful during our going to mature years. And He will do the same to our children. He will make sure they will overcome those mountains through His grace. He will give them the strength to hurdle each obstacle. His love, promise and faithfulness endure from generations to generations. Just like what God did with Jesus’ roots. Just like what God did with us. From the first until the last.

Bringing People to God

And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. Mark 7:32

Maybe he did not hear about Jesus. Maybe he can't talk about Jesus healing him. Maybe this deaf man does not have the heart to find his way to Jesus. Maybe he can come up to Jesus but do not know where to start. And so, people brought him to Jesus. People presented to Jesus his deafness and speech problem. People did not stop there, they begged Jesus to lay His hand on him.

Did you see two efforts in there? Action and reflection.

Bringing people to God requires action. They brought him to Jesus. They moved. They walked. Talk is cheap. You can be the best speaker in town but if your actions do not define your propositions, I do not where things are going to end up to. We must change to expect change in others. By the grace of God, this happened. When I met God in a strong personal way, change begun in me. I was a problem kid in the family but not after that. I prayed every morning and my younger brother, who shares the room with me, saw I am not the same as I was before. Soon, he joined the community I am with. I am not sure if I invited him but he became closer to God. My two other sisters followed likewise.

Reflection is important when bringing people to God. People begged Jesus for healing of the deaf man. They prayed to God in behalf of the man. They interceded together. They pleaded to God. They were in unison for one purpose. Where two or more are gathered in His name, He is there in their midst - Matthew 18:20. Jesus hears our united prayers. Jesus heeds our consolidated one petition. Jesus is present in our collective single concern.

Friends, keep action and reflection in your life. Expect people be brought to God.

All Things Well

"He has done all things well....." Mark 7:37

"What does the future look like?", she asked.

I was walking with Bless, my younger daughter, when she inquired on that highly touted question. I guess she has that question lingering in her mind since we discuss in our family our options in life. I told her future is good if you do good in your present. Telling her that if she studies well, her future looks bright. If I work well, the future will work well for me, I added.

And as we walk further, she started to sing "Amazing Grace". And then I realized, God's grace working in us.

I had to append my answer back to Bless' question. I told her God will take care of the future and as well as the present, it's not about what we did or have done. It's all about what God has done, is doing and will do. There is assurance all things in the future will go well, for He has done all things well. No bad event. No situation worth taking back. No day His grace has gone down. No part of history He will erase. No part of your life He will regret. No part of your childhood He will rewrite. No part of our books He will revise. No part of His masterpiece He will repaint. God has done all things well.

He has done all things well. No mention of what we have done in the equation- He has done. No exception to the His rule - All things. No compromising His standard, His track record always says - Well.

Believe. Look forward. Continue walking with Him. Let's get excited about the future!

Stability In Christ

…provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister. Colossians 1:23

Power system stability is being able to hold or go back to an acceptable condition despite a disturbance. It is not the state of absence of disturbances. When a power system is operated, it is exposed to various disturbance. The control of the system and control of generators allow the system to hold or go back to an operating condition sufficient to allow delivery of power continuously. There are parameters on which each disturbance must be handled to maintain stability: duration and location of the disturbance. To keep stability a disturbance must be cleared in a certain limited time. Also, the power system at some point has weak locations where disturbance(s) can happen and can result to catastrophic failures leading to instability. In order to keep stability, protection and control are designed to mitigate those high risk conditions.

Disturbance? We have them. Sorts of problems. Families are having hard time to be together. Work is having hard time to be permanent. Health is having hard time to be well conditioned. Mortgage and bills are having hard time to be met.

Stability? We have it in Christ alone. We are firmly grounded. We do not shift away from the hope of the gospel.

We know we are stable in Jesus when we have a disturbance yet we hold on to the hope of the gospel. We have stability not because we can stand the storm but because God shields us in the storm. We have stability not because we can control things but because God is in control. We have stability not because we protect our own but because God is our protector- our refuge and stronghold. We have stability not because of our own strength but because God's power is made perfect in our weakness.

We are exposed to disturbances. But we have stability in Christ.

Above All Else

…….that in all things he himself might be preeminent. Colossians 1:18

We were expecting the same stage. We conceptualized the choreography and conducted dance practices thinking we will be using the same spot. At the very day of the presentation, the venue was transferred to a skating rink in a mall. The new stage was entirely different with the one we got used to. It was small and narrow. We have about thirty dancers who can’t fit in the new platform. We gathered, prayed and thought about how we can be flexible regarding the change of stage upon dancing in the tune of the song “Above All Else”. I thought this is where we will show God that He alone is above all else. This is the situation where we are challenged to prove God is above all else. No change of venue will change that. No matter how narrow or how short is the stage. No shattered expectations will alter that. At the end of the dance number, the presentation was unexpectedly done in the best way, more than we imagined and hoped for.

Has your venue changed recently? You migrated from one country to another. You transferred from one state to another. Your state of life has changed. Your lifestyle is entirely different compared last year. You jumped to college from high school. Someone might have left your family or circle or friendship. Your wallet has more space than before. Your patience is narrow and short lately. You planned and expected this way but another way showed up. You practice your life’s choreography yet a change of venue happened.

This is your best opportunity, my friend! Jesus is preeminent in all things, Paul wrote. Meaning before all things, Jesus is most excellent, top, supreme, greatest, and unsurpassed. Above all else, Jesus is at the top. Our Lord is supreme and unsurpassed before all things. Don’t allow your change of venue change that. Prove your faith is unchanging in your altered situation. Be steadfast in your loyalty despite unexpected turn of events.

Things change. Places change. Situations change. Put Jesus above all else.

Dip Deep

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Luke 5:4

When we went to York, Maine for our family vacation, I decided to dip into the beach. If you know the beach in Maine, probably you are smiling now. You are thinking, "Can you handle that freezing ocean water?". Well, I did. But not for long. I tried to immerse myself thinking the cold feeling will subside yet my bones felt the chill. Then I said, I can make myself warm in the hotel's spa pool. But as I got my feet into the spa, I quickly stood out up. I can not take to dip in what it seemed to be like the hot springs in Coron, Palawan, Philippines. My last resort was to swim in the heated pool where the water temperature was more like it. In this pool, I did my swimming strokes, I dove and I played with my girls all because I was comfortable.

Whoa! I'm very sure you can relate with this!

We go deep with God only when it is comfortable. We tend to quit on Him when heat takes its place in our lives. When it seems God has a cold heart on our petitions we are on our way to the exit door. We follow Him only when it is in season but not during out of season. When our tired souls experience the situation of "I've had have enough.", we doubt His direction to go deeper. When work or family problems surmount, we pull out from His well. When our cash are not cold, we jump out of His pool. Our direction is to stay with Him, hot or cold or comfortable. Dip deep even when your logic tells you to not to.

Peter might have tried everything he knew about fishing that night yet caught nothing. But when he dipped deep, his nets almost wrecked. Have you tried everything but have nothing? Follow Jesus and dip deep.