One Prayer for the Philippines

“For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no holocaust, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.” Daniel 3:37-38

Father in heaven, our nation is at its low. Long ago we were a model for our neighbors to look up. But in the past decades, in comparison with other nations, we have been poor watchers looking up to other nations. Our people have been long suffering. Our poverty has clothed our children for generations. Our houses are called streets and slums. Our rich land has been long barren and fruitless. Our lakes and rivers, due to lack of freshness, have stopped refreshing us. Our leaders’ and elders’ lack of vision has directed our lives. Our government and churches have been sick with no prescription. Our infants are tired even before they are born.

It is not because You, our God, has abandoned us. It is not because You, our God, has stopped blessing us. It is not because You, our God, has forsaken us. It is not because You, our God, has strayed from our nation. We have brought our nation low because of our sins. We have abused our stewardship of Your given resources. We have abused our given freedom. We have turned our backs from You, our God. We have our nation lowly because we have no leaders who find favor in You, our God. Our leaders have taken their place without You, our God, as their Lord and God. Our leaders have built houses for their own and not a place for us to offer You, our God, the fruits of our blessing.

We come back to You, our God. We humble ourselves before You. We confess our sins that cross our generations in the past and in the future. We bask in Your mercy because You, our God, is slow to anger and abounding in love. Forgive our iniquities. Cleanse our hearts and cleanse our nation. Change our hearts and change our nation. Bring revival in our hearts and soul. Bring restoration in our villages and cities.

Raise up for us leaders who will find refuge and strength in You alone, our God. Call men and women who fear You, our God, to courageously lead our nation out from our desert. Anoint Your chosen children who will rise up and march us on towards Your promise for our land. Elevate men and women of moral governance who will depend in You, our God, and not on their power or authority. Bring us to unity under Your Lordship.

Father in heaven, reclaim our nation. Take Your place in our land. Be enthroned in our midst. Be our King and God. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Opposing the Opposition

“But he passed through the midst of them and went away. ” Luke 4:30

What a God we have! Jesus passes through the midst of the opposition and simply went away. The opposition rose up ready to drive him out of town. Pushing him to the top of the hill and planning to hurl Jesus down headlong. Jesus did not retreat. He did not surrender. He did not run away. He did not buckle down in the face of the opposition. He met them face to face. He met them force to force. He opposed the opposition’s direction - through the midst of them and went away. The opposition is not in control, Jesus is.

What is your opposition nowadays? Maybe a financial problem or a relationship difficulty? Discouraging issues at home or at work? Disappointment with your prayer group? Personal or health concerns bothering your daily life? Does your opposition bringing you out of your heart and mind? Has your opposition brought you to the cliff of your life ready to drop you down? Do not retreat nor surrender. Do not run away. Do not buckle down. You do not need to face your opposition alone. With Jesus, you can and you will oppose your opposition. Allow Jesus to lead you through the midst of your opposition. Hold on to your God. He will give you the grace to meet your opposition face to face. He will give you the force to meet your opposition force to force. Stay with Jesus and see for yourself! Voila! You are past your opposition. For Jesus is in control and not your opposition.

Going Straight

“Turn neither to right nor to left, keep your foot far from evil.” Proverbs 4:27

Is this a bad or good advertisement? There is a popular beauty salon in the Philippines named “Going Straight”. Just in case you ask, I am not plugging this company. I will just illustrate a point. It’s only incidental that my wife is the favorite cousin of the owner. Based from the company name, what comes into one’s mind? Of course, straight hair! You go to the salon’s website, please click here - Going Straight. What kind of hairstyle greets you? Long curly hair.

Most of the time, we find ourselves promising the Lord that we are going straight in following Him. We tell the Lord that in our day to day life, we will walk straight in loving Him. And we commit to evangelize people, to advertise Him to people. But from time to time, we turn to the left or to the right. We walk not in a straight direction but in a curly course. Is this a good or bad evangelization? Surely, this is bad.

The Proverbs writer exhorts us to go straight. Keep our feet from stepping onto the direction of what is evil. The road to Jesus maybe narrow and the path to sin is a large highway, that turns to the left or to the right, however life is in that narrow road towards Jesus. Fix your eyes to Jesus. Do not turn to the left; do not turn to the right. Go straight. Be a good advertisement.

Listen to Him

“Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Mark 9:7

Dr. Gregory House asked the intern applicants, “Who did I say is in-charge?”. One of the interns pointed Dr. Eric Foreman, House’s assistant. House acknowledging the intern’s response replied, “Then listen to him!”.

Peter wanted to build tents for the prophets and Jesus, but this is not God’s plan of salvation. The Father communicated, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” He pertained to Jesus as His beloved Son, establishing the authority given to Jesus, establishing who is in-charge. Jesus is leading Peter, not Peter leading Jesus. It’s not that Jesus must not listen to Peter’s suggestion, it’s just that Peter’s prayer is not in accordance with God’s plan. Even up to the point the disciples did not understand - “So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.” (Mark 9:10). It was imperative the disciples listen to Jesus who is in-charge to accomplish God’s plan.

When we pray, our prayers must be in accordance with God’s plan and not ours. That’s why we always ask the Lord to reveal His plan for us. We plead to God that His plan will be our plan and not the other way around. We say ” May Your will be done.” (Matthew 6:10). And when our prayers are answered going in the way of God’s scheme and not ours, the best way is to listen to Jesus. Even up to the point you don’t understand what is taking place. Allow Jesus to be in-charge. He can bring us joy or sorrow however this is God’s plan then the best in our lives will surely come. Listen to Him and let God’s plan be accomplished.

Mercy Living

“Be merciful, just as (also) your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36

Mercy is defined as to help the afflicted, to bring help to the wretched. It is more than a lip service, where a person says “I forgive you”. It is going beyond those words by helping the afflicted to move out from his wrongdoing.

When I was in elementary school, I got caught by my parents getting some money from my Aunt’s wallet. I was disciplined by my mother after that but my parents continued to love me, continued to give me education and empowered me by giving me responsibilities in our home. When I was in high school, I got disciplined again by my father when I was caught getting money from our store’s cash box. Likewise my parents continued to love me, continued to give me education and empowered me by giving me responsibilities in our home. When I was in college, I got caught getting money from our store’s daily sales and was disciplined by my father. Likewise my parents continued to love me, continued to give me education and empowered me by giving me responsibilities in our home. Looking back, I believe I am where I am now because of my parents’ mercy on me. They could have stopped in providing good education to me when it seems I had no hope of changing my wicked ways but they did not. They could have told me that I am a hopeless wretched but instead they saw hope that I can change. I am grateful my parents did not give up on me. I am thankful they did not turn their backs on me. Instead, they educated me, empowered me. They had mercy on me.

God does the same way with us. He gives his pardon and strengthens His people. He does not leave us even if we live as sinners. He does not turn His back on us. He does not give up on us. He is always hopeful that we can change our ways. He sees hope beyond our afflictions. He empowers us to rise from our iniquities, to overcome temptations.

Jesus invites us to be merciful as the Father is merciful. He is encouraging us to forgive and empower people. He is telling us that words and works of mercy combined can be shown through us to other people as it is shown by the Father to us. By the grace of God, we live to receive mercy and we live to give mercy.

Pray for the Leaders

“Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.” Matthew 23:3

Is the Pope perfect? Are the archbishops, priests or pastors spotless? Is your catholic charismatic leader faultless? We all know all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Only Jesus is perfect.

How many Christians have shunned away from following God after their church leader has faltered? Answer - many. People stop in going to church or prayer meetings when their leader falls into sin or has done a wrongdoing, especially when it is made public. Jesus points out that Christian faith should be focus on the God alone and not on man. He is saying that we follow the preaching and not the preacher. Be ministered by the ministry and not by the minister. Be touched by the message and not by the messenger. Our faith should be anchored on God and not on someone’s faith.

On the other hand, the enemy works double time for our church leaders to fall. The enemy knows that when a pillar of the house crumbles, people’s faith crumbles too. The enemy’s resources are geared towards hitting the head ship so the other ships may scatter. The enemy’s strategy is to trap the leader so the followers may jump in into the pit.

It is important to realize that praying for our leaders should be part of our prayers. That they may practice what they preach. That they may lead us not only by words but with actions. That they may stand firm when temptation comes their way. That we may find them faithful. Friends, let us pray for the following leaders of the church:

* Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales
* Archbishop Paciano Aniceto
* Ricardo Cardinal Vidal
* Filipino Bishops and priests
* Eddie Villanueva and other evangelical pastors
* Mike Velarde, Bo Sanchez and other charismatic leaders
* Brothers of the Servants of the Word especially those in the Philippines
* Christ’s Youth in Action Director, Raoul Roncal
* Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon Director, Mon Samson
* Leaders of local charismatic communities

Pray for our leaders in the faith. But when your church leader falters, focus on God and continue to follow Him.

Jesus is Constant

"Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them." Mark 9:8

When we came as a family to the place where we live now, we realized we have no friends or relatives near in our area. We left a grid of relationships in the Philippines. We celebrated our successes and pondered on our failures with the men and women who stuck with us through the years. We were surrounded by a flock of angels without wings. They have been a constant source of love and support. Coming to a place where you don't have the same tested fellowship and friendships brought us to a realization that Jesus alone stays when everyone else is not beside us. We have to depend in Him alone.

In this life of ours, people in our lives may not remain since we can come and go. They bring us life but that life has its end. They bring us joy but that joy has its finish line. Jesus is with us with or without these persons. And suddenly when you look around to search for friends and you no longer see their shadows, you see Jesus alone with you. He is a steady friend and companion. More so, when everybody is not there to support you, you have Jesus. When you don't have persons to share your ups and downs, you have Jesus. When you have no one else, you have Jesus. Jesus alone is constant is our lives. Jesus sticks it out with us. Jesus alone stays with us wherever we go or wherever He sends us. Friends, recognize and thank the Lord Jesus for being constant in each of our lives.

Only Good Things

"……………how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him." Matthew 7:11

I was thinking, are we in the wrong place at the wrong time? We left the Philippines at the end of 2007 as a family for US. And the coming year, recession hits the most powerful country in the world. I thought they said this is the place where you can have milk and honey. As my family adjusted to the place and kind of living, I realized this is not much comfortable as being in the Philippines.

We have a house of three bedrooms with lots of space in the Philippines, but in here we live in a two bedroom apartment where we have difficulty where to put our stuff because of lack of space. Since we have house help in the Philippines, we do not have to do laundry and all kinds of menial house chores but in here, I have to wash the dishes almost after every meal and help out in cleaning the apartment afterwards. In here, my wife has to be satisfied with a small washing machine/dryer installed in the apartment where in fact we have a heavy duty large washing machine in our home in Pampanga. We have only one car, insured under third party liability (TPL), in the Philippines; we were satisfied with that since public transportation is always available. In here, we have to buy to two cars, insured comprehensively (ang mahal!), for me and my wife and for the kids to have flexibility in their school activities since public buses are scheduled every four hours. We love to walk around malls in Pampanga each weekend and have our kids watch movies, worth P 75 per person, from time to time and believe it or not, in here we have not gone to a single movie theater which might be worth about P 750 per person (times ten!). We bring our kids more often to Kentucky Fried Chicken in Angeles City but in here we can't do as much as we want since it's not economical. We have no problem with the weather back in the Philippines and we wear only a set of clothing but that is not the story when you are here; you have to have clothing for the four seasons as they call it. We can visit lots of friends and relatives in Pampanga anytime we want to but we can't do that here; first, we don't have much friends and relatives to visit and second, we need to make an appointment to do just that. We sorely missed our catholic community in Pampanga since we were with them for the last sixteen years and now, we are adjusting to the catholic community we are attending here. I can go on and on but will stop here.

When we prayed for God's blessing, God gave it to us. We were in this place within six months and all expenses paid for the whole family. And the heavenly Father gives only good things. It may not be comfortable, it may not be like the way we want and it's not a fairy tale but it's a good thing. People think people go to the US and live a comfortable life. As I narrated above, this is not true at all with us however we believe we are here because God sent us here to bring us out from our comfort zone. It maybe for reasons for His kingdom, for our family, for our personal growth but the sure thing is, the Father gives only good things.

Free to be Me

"But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner." Luke 18:13

It's the only place where I can be who I am. It's the time where I bring all my thoughts. It's the time where I can express all my feelings. I can take off all pretensions and bare my all. No mask required. No false images of myself. I do not need to look someone else I am not. I can raise my victories as well as my failures. I do not need to pretend that I am not a work in progress. I can bring out my sins; I can expose my weaknesses. I do not need to look righteous or strong. I can say all my life worries and concerns, my present difficulties and my trying times. I do not need to look that I can do it on my own. I can hoist my dreams and hopes for the future. I do not need to dwell on the darkness of my past or the broken pieces of the present.

The tax collector prayed to God and he prayed with all honesty. Praying he needs what he needs. Praying he is what he is. He comes to God presenting himself, his true self. He comes to God, without anybody's identification but bares his whole wrecked heart and humiliated face. He was being himself before God.

Friends, before God we can be who we are without diminishing His love for us. We do not need to present to Him someone we are not. He knows us deeply and when you and I are in His presence, we can say - I am free to be me.

P.S. Check out this song - "Free to be Me" by Francesca Battisteli

Fasting That’s Lasting

"This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own." Isaiah 58:6-7

Philippine Daily Inquirer reports an inspiring story about a government employee going beyond what is expected. Below is an excerpt of the report:

In a statement, the DSWD said Nerio Salaveria was recognized as the agency's "Best Technical Staff" in the sub-profession category for his work as a house-parent at the DSWD Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth in Western Mindanao. Salaveria, whose task was to instill discipline among children in conflict with the law who are living at the center, went "beyond the call of duty" when he also taught them practical skills such as haircutting as well as some agricultural work so that they could be self-sufficient when they are finally released from the center.

Based from Isaiah's prophecy, this is the kind of fasting God desires. Going beyond what is required from us. Mr. Salaveria could have boxed his work in his job description, but he walked an extra mile. He gave the rehab residents skills….no he gave them life. It is okay to abstain from a single meal or from watching TV, or any other personal pleasure and stop just right there. But what will you do with the savings you got from skipping one meal. What will you do from the reduction of electricity bills from cutting your TV time? If you give up buying some personal pleasures for yourself, can't you allot your budget for others? When fasting, share your life with others. Go beyond yourself. Walk the extra mile. Share the burden of others. Free others and you'll get free. Have life by giving life. Don't let your fasting expire. Do fasting that's lasting.