Stephen Sleeps

Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”; and when he said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:60

They threw him out. They stoned him. A young man approved of his execution. And yet after all the persecution, after all the beating, after catching the stones with his body- Stephen sleeps.

The author of the Acts could have written Stephen is dead. He could have emphasized Stephen’s breath is no more. He could have boldly printed that it was Stephen’s final day. But the author did not. Instead, he described, Stephen fell into sleep.

He faithfully served a living God and this living God does not reward with death but with life. Stephen did not fall into death. Stephen did not lose his breath. Stephen eyes closed but not for long. God does not bring him into finality. God does not bring him into terminal. God does not bring him into an end. God brought him into continuation. More so, God brought him to rest which is not fatal.

God does it to us too. We serve a living God who gives life. We may be experiencing persecution, trials, difficulties, problems, recession, sickness, suffering and maybe execution. Amidst these things we do not walk into a dead end. It's a stopover but not terminal. There is no finality in living for the living God and in serving our living God. God brings us into our own continuation. We rest in God, we do not rest in peace. We rest unto Him and it's a spring of strength not venting of vigor.

Stephen sleeps. We step into sleep.

Iron Shop

Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

I have an iron shop. This is the place where God commissioned men to bring their lives and wisdom to buff up my life into its fullness and purpose.

I thank God for the gift of men who in many ways have influenced my life. These are imperfect men whose words and actions motivated me to rightness. I give gratitude to Jesus for using these men for bringing me where I am now and where I am going. I may have missed some and in the future I will continue to search my heart for the real men who shaped my life.

Mr. Rowaldo Del Mundo - You said “Theoretical is practical and practical should be theoretical.” Those words awakened my sleeping electrical engineering career.

Mr. Hilario Lulu - When you were still my instructor I thought; simplicity while being effective in what you do is grandeur. And that continues to instruct me.

Mr. Rolando Bacani - Integrity, selflessness and excellence can be mixed with government service; you practice it more than you preach it.

Mr. Arnaldo Agapito and Mr. Ronaldo Suarez - You vouched for me even if you know that someday we will be competitors as Professional Electrical Engineers. You are truly professional.

Mr. Enrico Viray - The career ladder is two ways; one way going up and the other way going down. You have shown me that there is pride and dignity going in either way.

Mr. Reynaldo Abadilla and Mr. Gregorio Jasareno - I can say you are Batman and Robin. You may be divided on something but you are united in one purpose, to get the job done and get it done well. Thank you for more than four years of watching you do just that.

Mr. Francis Iturralde - I remember when you appointed me to a service, you wrote something like this - his words are my words and give him respect as you are giving me. Your confidence in me put me to put my confidence in God. Thank you for being a leader, a brother and a friend rolled into one.

Mr. Jake Yap - You words and works shepherded me thru my college days up to now. Your rod and staff I maintain to hold.

Servants of the Word (Philippines) - I may have caught the whole proportion of your passion in loving God and living for God by just being with you. May God bless me with the grace to keep it.

Engineering brothers of Christ’s Youth in Action-Holy Angel University (CYA-HAU) circa 1990s - I was sharpened with your real brotherhood through the years. This sharpness still cuts through by the grace of God. I am indebted to all of you for all your support and my instinct tells me, there have been passing of batons but we have continue to run this noble race.

Lingkod-Angeles brothers circa 1990s - You served with hearts after God and that’s all what was and what is needed. You taught me reckless abandon. In my heart lingers, look back to what you have started and look forward to what you can finish.

My brothers Jun, Ely, Lito and Emil - We did not have similarities. We did not have the same interests. All we have shared is a sleeping mat on our living room at night. Five heads on the same level. We are bonded especially when the hour calls for it. Thank you for the love and protection.

Mr. Eleuterio Cano - My father told me once, “Ing sasaka mung ditak a gabun manibat keng kulkul, ali na mibalik kapilan man.” (The small amount of dirt you take out from the pit will never come back). Small steps for big dreams. Small words yet big impact. Thank you for being my father.

I am a work in progress. I need camaraderie of various men. I look forward for the days when God will unwrap those brotherhood in order to maintain and expand my iron shop.

Tribute to BL Nars Garcia

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God's Buffet

……………my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5

Ever since we came to the US, the places where we always eat are the eat-all-you-can Chinese buffet restaurants. After attending mass every Sundays, we go there. During birthday celebrations, we go there. After a walk with some friends, we go there. And why not, you pay a minimal charge, lower compared with other fast food joints, yet you have a buffet of variety of food available for you to take. Chicken, pork and beef - name it they have meat. If you want seafood, they have shrimp, fish fillet and squid among others. They also won’t run out of veggies and fruits. Desert like cakes and ice cream flood the tables. And you can’t you miss the traditional Chinese cuisine. It’s all for you to eat. Even if I want to eat the most out of it, I can’t. The amount of food I can eat is not equal to the food they can serve or cook. At this buffet, food is limited not by what they can offer but by what I can eat.

God’s grace for his people is similar to this except we did not pay but Jesus paid for our charges. His grace overflows and abounds. His enormous blessings are offered for us on His table. And when we come to Him, we ask for more. We ask for further. We ask that His blessings to go beyond.

Yet we can only manage much. We can only be effective stewards with few or some. Why embrace what you can’t? Our cup can only handle much, otherwise it overflows. God is ever willing to give us His enormous grace and blessings, on the other hand, are we ready to handle more than we can handle? Faithful with less will be faithful with more.

In God’s buffet, the limitation is on how much we can receive and not how much God can give.

Filipino Seeds

But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Matthew 13:23

The parable tells us that the sower scattered seeds. The seeds were distributed among different kinds of ground. Same kind of seeds but different kind of grounds.

Filipinos are scattered all throughout the world. From the east to the west and from the north to the south, you have a Filipino in place. They were scattered, as they say, because of finding greener pastures.

I believe it’s beyond that. God scattered Filipino seeds for a purpose. He brings them to different places; to different soils to bear fruit.

Last Sunday, our family went to the Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Flocks crowd the shrine coming from different states and different races. I told my wife about maybe fifty percent of the shrine pilgrims were Filipinos. More than having to say “Kumusta po kayo?” about tens of times in that day, I sensed the gift of faith we have as Filipinos given by God. Filipinos of different age levels, maybe with different work backgrounds, coming from different provinces in the Philippines, walk in faith where God scattered them. They pray the rosary, they come in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, they line up for confession and they come with family and friends. Filipinos bring what they have from the Philippines, it’s not their skills and it’s not their hospitality, it’s their faith. One tent for the day is the International Office where they displayed country flags acknowledged for their devotion. We may cite our proudest moments in our history as a nation but seeing the Philippine flag shown among other flags gave me an insight - scattered Filipino seeds bear fruits.

Slow of Heart to Believe

And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Luke 24:25

I remember my mother told me my name is Edwin B. Cano, I quickly believed.

I remember when my parents told me I have seven siblings but not equally as cute as I am, I quickly believed.

I remember when my parents told me their names, Elena and Eleuterio, I quickly believed.

I remember when the legendary elementary science teacher Rosalinda Cordero provided lessons on how the butterfly comes to be, I quickly believed.

I remember when Professor Ruby Henson proved the value of sine of 45 degrees, I quickly believed.

I remember when Prof. Henson discussed the Pythagorean Theorem, I quickly believed.

I remember when my economics professor spoke about supply-demand balance, I quickly believed.

I remember when the great Hilario Lulu gave us a lecture on electromagnetic fields rotating in three-axis, I quickly believed.

I remember when my ex-girlfriend, she is my wife for ten years now, told me I am good looking, I quickly believed.

I remember when I heard a catholic preacher speaking about how God loves me and how God forgives me for my sins, ooooops….. let me think……I was slow to believe.

Get that?

Why do we quickly believe simple or complex facts but not what we heard and read about God? What do we have in our hearts that allow us to have some time before we believe in what God can do or what God will do? And when the discussion is all about God, why do we have all sorts of questions? Simple answer - we are foolish.

He was born in a manger. He walked the earth. He healed. He tiptoed on water. He multiplied bread and fishes. He suffered mockery. He died. He is risen. Everything works for good for those who love God - Romans 8:28. Nothing can separate us from the love of God - Romans 8:39. He will complete the work began in us - Philippians 1:6.

Be wise. God give us the wisdom to quickly believe. God change our hearts to quickly believe.

Rolled Back

They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large. Mark 16:3-4

His death on the cross defeated sin. His resurrection defeated death. The stone is rolled back.

Our lives have wandered from the ways of God. We have plundered the freedom He has given. We have received much from Him but we have given less to Him. We have chosen and live for the night rather than the day. We have showered ourselves with ourselves. We tend to pretend we are on the right route but coupled to the wrong roots. We have separated ourselves from the One who is always by our side. We have rolled away from Him.

He is still constant as our lifestyle varies. He is still after us as we walk away. He still thinks of us as we have forgotten Him. He still longs for us as we run short. The faultless One consistently loves the flawed ones. He rolled towards us.

And when we are hopeless, He comes with hope. And when we are lifeless, He comes to give abundant life. We see the sun arise, yet we can’t come into the light thus the Light came to us. His illumination overcame the darkness of sin and death. He died and rose, we live and believe.

His death on the cross defeated sin. His resurrection defeated death. Our lives are rolled back.

Which story will you believe?

Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. They assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy (him) and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present (day). Matthew 28:8-15

Three or more days after Jesus was believed to have died from being crucified on the cross, two contrasting stories will circulate. Two opposing stories will spread regarding why the tomb is now empty.

One story says Jesus has risen from the dead, the other says His body was stolen by His disciples. One story comes from the total number of women who came to the tomb, the other comes from some of the guard who were at the tomb. One story comes from lowly women, the other from regarded soldiers. One story originated from fearful and afraid yet overjoyed women, the other comes from supposedly brave guards. One story comes from women who received grace and forgiveness, the other from men who received money. One story comes from women who woke up from sleep, the other comes from men who said they were asleep. One story comes from women who gave their lives to Jesus; the other comes from men who are trying to save their lives from the governor. One story points to a specific place of promise - Galilee, the other points to a place to nowhere. One story requires faith, the other logic.

Friends, search the depth of your hearts. Which men or women will you listen to? Which story will influence your life? Which story will get your primetime? Which story will you bookmark? Which story will you highlight? Which story will you believe?

Distinguish. For the story you will believe is the story you will tell.

Decide. For the story you will believe is the story you will live.

The Victorious Comes Out

He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. Mark 16:6

You must have seen this kind of scene from some movies. Yes, it’s a typical action movie plot. The protagonist and the main villain duel up. They are the only ones standing by now. They trade those gun shots. And as they fire at each other, the villain gets into his car and our main man follows him with his own vehicle. A wild car chase happens, through the streets, hitting public and private properties including telephone booths and vendors’ stands. Then the villain’s car crashes but he is still alive. After a while they run out of ammunition, they tussle physically. We see series of punches and blows. The villain gets the upper hand, and our hero’s last resort is to jump over the villain. And as he jumps over him, the two men fall into a vacant lot but this lot is covered by the wall. And the camera is stuck at the wall and we stare at that wall as we await who will emerge. And as predicted the victorious comes out - the protagonist hero.

I guess this is the case from Good Friday up to Easter Sunday. Jesus gets the lowly level during the first scenes. The enemy thought he is on the upper hand. Jesus is crowned with thorns. The enemy, not yet satisfied, puts a cross on Jesus’ shoulders while He walks. The finals blows were sounds of hammer and nails keeping Jesus on the cross. Round one result, Jesus defeated sin on the cross. The enemy thought Jesus did not survive. The camera is now stuck at the tomb. We thought the tomb is filled. We stare at the tomb and await what will happen next. And as the three women came and entered, they were told, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him.” See that? Dying on the cross, He defeated sin. Rising from the tomb, He defeated death. It’s a familiar plot. The enemy is no match against Him. Our Hero emerges from the tomb. And as it is written the victorious comes out - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Diminished Role

He must increase; I must decrease. John 3:30

There is this book review article from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Power and Energy Magazine for March/April 2009 issue entitled “Diminished Role”. The review is looking into a book entitled Forgotten Roots: Electric Power, Profits, Democracy, and a Profession. The reviewer discusses the existing set-up for regulating and managing the electric power industry in the United States where electric power engineers are getting lesser policy decision making which is done by lawyers, economists and financial managers yet at the end, electric power engineers take all the load of fixing multiple issues arriving from bad decisions. The book also contains examples where engineers are not even asked of their inputs and when asked, their inputs get distorted as interpreted by the decision makers as the inputs get filtered through levels of non-engineers. The reviewer ends the review by saying - If we choose to ignore his words, it will be at our peril.

When you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the tendency is what John stated; for Jesus to increase as you decrease. Our lives are filled up by Jesus as we strain out our very selves. Our hearts and minds supposedly overflowing with our personal motives should be replaced by God’s desires. We do not shrink God. We do not tell Him what to do or not. In this case, we allow Him direct our decision making. We ask God for inputs what to, where to and when to. We do not distort His will and ways for our lives to bring about our personal route. Somebody must have a diminished role, and that is not God. God must increase as you and I decrease. If we choose to ignore John’s words, it will be at our peril.

He went out

Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out…… John 18:4

Jesus went out. It all started with that. Jesus knew every detail of what will happen. After all, this was what He came for.

He knew every pain He would experience. He knew men will choose man over God before Pilate. He knew the piercing words He would hear. He knew the very weight of the cross He would carry. He knew the isolation as His disciples will flee. He knew the hurt a friend will inflict for denying Him. He knew the exact size of the holes His hands will bear as the nails will be driven to glue them into the wood. We can go on and on, because we know He knew. Yet, out of His love for us He went out.

We thank and praise Jesus for going out. That even He knew what is to come, He still went out. We extol our Lord and Savior for taking our place. We exalt His name for fitting our shoes. We bring our hearts to Him for His unconditional love. We honor our Lord Jesus for going out and we pray for His grace and strength be upon us as we take our turn to go out.

Let us go out. Our lives are hinged in stepping out in faith. It is hard to live a God-centered life. Jesus said it is a narrow road. We know it is not a walk in the park. We will experience pain. People will ignore you. We will hear piercing words directed to us. Daily, a cross is needed to be carried. Family and friends might not understand. Loving Jesus and living for Jesus is all about going out. Have faith, with us He will go out.

Welcome Jesus Certainly

He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.” Matthew 26:18

I do not know who this certain man is. I do not know if Jesus has been at the house of this certain man. But one thing is certain, this certain man is certainly welcoming Jesus whose appointed time is certainly drawing near.

This certain man is not welcoming into his house Jesus who will heal a mother in law. He is not welcoming into his house Jesus who will raise Lazarus from death. He is not welcoming into his house Jesus who will seat with tax collectors and sinners.

This certain man is welcoming into his house Jesus who is about to die. He is welcoming into his house Jesus who is about to suffer. He is welcoming into his house Jesus who is about to be ridiculed. He is welcoming into his house Jesus who is about to be left alone by His own disciples. He is welcoming Jesus into his house who will be denied by His top sidekick. However, this certain man certainly welcomed Jesus. Even with the instruction of destruction, this certain man certainly prepared his house for Jesus and His disciples. After all, he is welcoming into his house Jesus who is about to complete God’s work of salvation.

This is my left hook. Do we welcome Jesus even when He brings bad news? Do we welcome Jesus even when He says the end of the line is near? Do we welcome Jesus even when He brings suffering and ridicule? Do we welcome Jesus even when people in our lives left us alone? Do we welcome Jesus even when closest friends deny of us of their loyalty?

Welcome Jesus anytime and in any case. When Jesus comes, He comes with a sure aim where He certainly hits bull’s-eye. Jesus comes to complete the work. Welcome Him certainly.

Super Servant

So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. John 13:2-5

Every other superhero experiences immense power coming into him through a thing, a place, or an event. And then this superhero when the situation calls for, takes off his/her clothes and tadaaah! - You have a superhero saving the world through his/her supernatural power. And when they do their super heroic gig, people are in awe and applaud. However evidently, every superhero has a limitation. They have weakness. Their being super has a finish line.

Jesus was aware He had this power from the Father. The Father put everything into Jesus’ hands. Read that again, everything into Jesus. Not just some things. Not just few things. Everything. With the given power from the Father, Jesus has no limitation. Jesus has no weakness. Jesus’ power has no finish line.

This event came, where Jesus is about to have one of His tadaaah moments. He rose from His dinner and took of His garments. We expect He would have this grand costume under His cloak, but wait; He just took a towel and tied it around His waist. And in this super heroic gig, there were no keg lights and fireworks. Not much muscle flexing. He showed His mighty power - He washed the feet of His sidekicks. He exhibited His endless power - Serving His friends.

The One who has all the power over everything is super. Not a bird. Not a plane. He is Super Servant.

And it was night

So he took the morsel and left at once. And it was night. John 13:30

Judas left the troops. He did not only leave his friends, he left to betray Jesus. He left to satisfy his desires rather follow Christ. We know that it was night, after all they were all seated at this supper. Yet, John wrote to emphasize that when Judas left - And it was night.

That may happen. When we leave Jesus - and it was night. When we sin against Him - and it was night. When we turn to our worldly desires rather than turning to Christ - and it was night. When we put ourselves above Him - and it was night. Our lives becomes night, it becomes dark when we take our own path going away from Jesus. Darkness overcomes when we choose to succumb to temptations.

That will not happen. Stay with Jesus - and it wasn’t night. Burn your desires and turn to Christ - and it wasn’t night. Put Jesus above all else - and it wasn’t night. Our lives has no darkness as the sun will not set when we follow the path of Christ. The light is not overcome by the darkness, follow Jesus.

Stay with Jesus - and it will never be night.

Way to go!

(The) large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him. John 12:9-11

Way to go, Lazarus! People came not only to see Jesus but also to see you because He has given you new life. You made it to the Most Wanted lists of the Pharisees. You are second to Jesus in the chief priests’ hit list. And the headline - because of you, Jews are turning away from the chief priests and are putting their faith in Jesus.

I wonder, was there a moment when people seek me for they are seeking Jesus who has given me new life? Was there a moment that some people who ridicule Jesus, ridiculed me? Was there a moment when people who put down Jesus, also put me down? Was there a moment I made someone’s hit list with my name next to Jesus? Was there a moment in my life where people turned and believed in Jesus because of me?

Honestly, I am not quite sure. I am a sinner. I am weak. I am struggling to follow Jesus. I am besieged to love Him with my all. I need all the graces God can give. I dream of those moments. I pray those moments will come. And when those moments come, God give me the courage and grace, and show me the way to go!

Riches to Rags

Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-8

You are a millionaire and you have the following options:

1. Keep your millions
2. Put your millions into investment to raise your money
3. Give away your millions to others

Your choice - give away your millions to others. This was the action of God when He sent Jesus, His Son, to die to for us. Jesus had it all, being God. Yet, He became man for our sake. He was a millionaire becoming a commoner. He was a CEO becoming a lowest rank and file employee. He was wearing a name tag “President”, suddenly that name tag read “Ordinary Citizen”. This story was riches to rags. Jesus did this not for heroism sake. Jesus did this for His love for you and me. Jesus took out His clothing as king and put on the uniform of a slave. He was giving orders now He is taking orders. He was keeping the sun, the planets and the moon in orbit now He walks lowly.

Empty yourself, too. If you are the leader of your prayer group, become the servant of all. If you are the manager of the department, take the footsteps of your ordinary employee. If you have the authority, put on the name tag of the powerless. If you think you are the wisest of all, listen to the uneducated. If the world applauds you, make a standing ovation for others. If you are up there, step down.

The world preaches rags to riches. God points to the opposite direction - riches to rags.

P.S. As a family, we have our bible sharing each Saturday and the main thought of this reflection, the millionaire part, was shared by my daughter Praise.

Speaking Truth

Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true”. And many there began to believe in him. John 10:41-42

Words can be powerful. Words can be life changing. Words if said in truth can bring people to conversion. Words when said in truth take hearts to turn to believing from doubting. Just true words. No miracles performed. No healing of the sick. No lame walked. No mats carried. No blind’s eyes opened. No deaf suddenly listening and speaking. No devils thrown away from a soul. Just words which are true about Jesus. John spoke and everything he spoke about Jesus was true. Everything. Every word, every phrase, every sentence which came out from his mouth about Jesus was true.

Words which are truth. Jesus came before me. I am not the Messiah, Jesus is savior. I am not worthy to tie His sandals, Jesus is Son of God. I baptized with water, Jesus will baptized you with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. These truths turned people to believe in Jesus.

It made me ponder. Do we speak about Jesus in truth? When we tell my family and friends about Him, do we tell what is true about Him? When we speak before people about living for Him, do we use sugarcoated words instead of the truth?

May God give us the grace to speak in truth, to speak about Jesus in truth. That every word will reflect the true Jesus. That every word will stir hearts to believe. Speak about Jesus in truth. No more. No less.

Make Room

“….because my word has no room among you.” John 8:37

This was usual daily schedule:

5:30 am........................Wake Up
6:00 - 8:00 am...............Commute to Quezon City
8:00 am- 5:00 pm..........Work Hours
5:00 pm- 6:00 pm..........Get Dinner
6:00 pm- 9:00 pm..........Attend Classes at UP Diliman
9:00 pm- 11:00 pm.........Commute for Home
11:30 pm.......................Sleep

If I had no classes to attend at UP as a student, I would have that time going back home then attend my classes at Holy Angel University (HAU) as a professor or do some sideline work as Professional Electrical Engineer. All these things are good and noble. On the contrary, I observed that I had no time to pray. I had no time to read God’s word. I had little time to spare for my family. I was full of my work and career building. It’s not that I do not want Christ in my life; it’s just that I had no time or room for Him.

In my heart, I believed I have to do something. I committed my life to God and promise that my life will be dedicated for Him alone. I have to pull some things out of my life to make room for God. I have to throw some things out of the picture for Jesus to take His place. I have to enthrone Jesus on the center of my life, of my room. When my present employer tossed the idea of me going back to school and finish my PhD studies in a reputable university in upstate New York, I said no. I knew this will bring me back to the usual cycle of not having room for Jesus.

Friends, look at your room. Is Jesus at the center? Does Jesus have the space rightful for Him? If not, classify those things that occupy your time and room. Are those things more important than Jesus?

Make room for Jesus in your room.

Illogical

"When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home." Matthew 1:24

He was the most eligible bachelor. He was coming from a family whose lineage is King David. Joseph does not woo women. He is the one being wooed. He is that TV bachelor where women would line up dreaming for him to say, "Will you marry me?"

He had picked his rose among the many flowers. Along the way, he had the information that his girl got pregnant actually not by him. He planned to break the engagement with the bride loaded with a baby. But wait, Joseph decides to marry a pregnant lady whose fruit is not his. His plan is logical; best bachelor in town why marry a pregnant lady. God's plan is illogical; best bachelor in town takes a pregnant lady into his home. Joseph followed God's illogical plan.

I was stunned when I was asked to attend a Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS). You see, for the past sixteen years of my life I have been following the Lord and can give a whole LSS with one foot standing. I see this as illogical. Is God kidding me? Is God the King of comedy besides being the King of Kings? Does He want me to go through the seminar I went through for almost N times by conducting it for people? I was about to say no however, in my heart, I knew I needed revival. I knew I needed restoration. I attended the LSS and the fire in me sprung day by day. You are reading my blog because God revived me through that LSS. I am loving and living with Jesus because I followed His illogical plan.

Are you facing a situation where logic tells you that follow this direction? Are you on a verge of decision making where logic points you to step in this path? Is God leading you to do or to take the illogical route? And you are asking why this road and not the other one?

Follow God's illogical plan and put your faith in Him.