The Grass Factor

The God of Multiplication Series

Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. John 6:10

Jesus was in a familiar place. He felt it. He saw it. Five thousand sheep depending on their Shepherd in a place where there was a great deal of grass. Psalm 23 declares, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.”

Multitudes of grass is a factor for feeding the multitudes. Is this a coincidence? Is this accidental? No. Jesus knows His calling. He came to be the Shepherd. Leading His sheep to a green green grass place. A place where He makes them reclined and rest. A place where He fills their lack. A place where Jesus shows there is abundance in following the Shepherd. Notice that obedience of the sheep abounds in the green pasture. The disciples were told by Jesus to have the people recline, so the disciples did. The people were told by the disciples to recline, so the people did.

Jesus always leads us to a great deal of grass kind of place. He takes us to places where we can gaze more of His face. He brings us to places where we can be fed by His words. He brings us to fellowship with other sheep who likewise depend on the Shepherd. He allows us to have rest, to have peace in His presence. He would never lead us to a place of lack. There is no multiplication with zero. And when green pasture abounds, obedience of the sheep to the Shepherd abounds by grace. As His sheep we will be satisfied by His presence, more than the His providence.

In your place of great deal of grass where He has led you, declare and proclaim – The LORD is my shepherd.

The Philip Factor

The God of Multiplication Series

When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little (bit).” John 6:5-7

How big and large is the problem? Who is concerned? What is the concern? How much extent does this problem go? How strong is the storm in your house? How deep is your neck in the flood? What does it take to overcome the mountain?

Philip defined the problem at hand. He had words for the abounding task they are facing. He described the monumental crisis confronting Jesus and His disciples. And as Philip defined the problem, there was acceptance in his speech that this dilemma is beyond man’s capability- wages worth of two hundred days of labor for each needed at this instant? Which is why Philip had to reply this to Jesus. Because he knew, as earthly beings, only Someone from above can work this out. He knew that the problem is impossible for man to solve, but is possible only with God.

I call it The Philip Factor. God’s operation of multiplication starts when we spread the whole and complete picture of the problem to Him. When we claim that He alone has the power to see us through the present predicament. We come to Him with our problems and He comes to us with His solutions. Allowing God to be God and allowing man to be man. Know that God always has a rescue plan in place, but when we define the problem to Him and accept that He alone can provide an answer we are acknowledging that God is God.

When you have a big problem, always remember – you have a big God.

The Andrew Factor

The God of Multiplication Series

One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish………..” John 6:8-9

Out of more than five thousand people, Andrew identifies a boy who has five loaves and two fish. Out of multitudes, Andrew points to someone who has something. Out of waves of humanity, Andrew spots a child who has open hands.

For God to multiply resources, He enables people like Andrew. Persons who have the gift to spot someone who has something to give. Keen eyes for skills which can be useful for the Kingdom. A nose for men and women willing to give what they posses for God alone. People who are involved in God’s work making people to get involve. To be mentors of men needing direction in offering their resources for God. Disciples who can pass on the discipline.

Andrew’s work is not in vain. If you think someone has something small to offer, think again. We have a God who multiplies. Our big God can make do with something small with His work. God does not look in the amount of the skill but looks at the heart of the skilled. God specializes in small things in His big scheme of things.

Go ahead. Identify talent. Identify skills. Identify open hands. Identify open hearts. Enable others to be able for God. Allow others to give for God.

As we follow and serve the God who multiplies, be an Andrew among His people.

Step by Step

“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.” John 16:12

They heard the words of Jesus about love, comfort, peace, fellowship, security, new life, etc. I really thought Jesus brought the disciples to a college course in three years. And as the disciples are about to finish the course, Jesus informs them – you have not heard it all. If we go on to the next verse, Jesus tells them that the Holy Spirit will lead the disciples to all truth.

He tells them there is much more to be heard. There is much more to be pondered. There is much more to hear and experience. There is much more to respond to. There is much more of God’s words working in His people.

He has much more to tell. Not much more to give. Not much more to heal. Not much more to feed. Not much more dead to rise. This is how important God’s word is. The psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” We live by God’s word. We walk in life to a direction following His words. We see our way by heeding His words. We find peace and comfort through His words. We seek answers from His words.

Accept His words for you for this is the one you can bear for now. He meets us where we are. He keeps up with us not us keeping up with Him. It’s not that He does not want us to look into the future. It’s just that we are limited humans following a limitless God. Contemplate how you can apply His words to your life. Deliberate your life if it is in accordance to His words. His word today for you is your direction today. No shortcuts. No quick turns. He tells us His words step by step.

Theology Questions from my Daughters

I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. John 15:15

Since we started to pray the rosary as a family every day and have bible sharing on Saturdays, my daughters have significantly been aware of their Christianity. Recently, they have been asking me on sort of theological questions like the following:

* How come God created us?
* What is God’s purpose for creating us?
* How do we know God is walking with us?
* Can you mix science in biblical discussions since science most of the time is not in agreement with the Bible?

In my own capacity as their father, I answered those questions with simplicity up to their level. It is good that my daughters have questions and their questions are addressed to their father. I hope their questions will lead to their friendship in Jesus.

As children of the Lord, we have our own questions to God:

* Why did I lose my job?
* How come I am not getting healed?
* What is God’s purpose in the death of a loved one?
* Can you mix up your secular life with your Christian life?

We seldom understand His wisdom on what’s happening in our lives. We might be impatient to wait for His plan to be fully unveiled before our very eyes.

Jesus tells us that we are His friends for He has revealed to us what He has heard from the Father. We can come to Him to find response to our inquiries. Sometimes, He can quickly tell us the answer and sometimes we ought to wait or we just need to be more attuned to His presence.

Bottom line is, it is good our questions are addressed to the Father. And hopefully, our questions lead to a deeper and lasting friendship with Jesus.

Take Your Office

”May another take his office.” Acts 1:20

What the disciples of Jesus saw, they saw. What the disciples of Jesus heard, they heard. What the disciples of Jesus experienced, they experienced. They walked where the disciples walked.

You won’t see them at the forefront. They were at the backgrounds. They have been dwelling in the shadows shunning the limelight. They were not counted among the disciples but they kept the discipline. Maybe they were assistants to the assistants of Jesus. But these men walked with Jesus from His baptism until He was taken up. Throughout the ministry of Jesus, they followed Him. These men were constant and committed. And now they are called to take the office. Taking the office calls them to leave the background and to be at the forefront. No abilities on their resumes but hearts ready and prepared to take the office.

Are you on the same situation? You have followed Jesus and served at the backgrounds. You have been dwelling in the shadows of leaders who are at the forefront. You have been assisting men who are leading God’s people. In that role, you have been constant and committed. And now you are called to take your office. Called to leave the background and stand at the forefront. Your abilities do not count just your heart prepared to take the office.

As you take your office, realize that the same God is with you at the background as well at the forefront. Realize that God anoints whom He appoints. Don’t let the office define you, allow God to continue put meaning into you. Don’t let the office possess you, by God’s strength possess the office. Don’t let the office take you, take your office.

Remain There

“Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.” John 15:4

This just made sense. In mathematics, the number in a division operation that is left over of a quotient is called remainder. This is the amount undivided by the divisor. It’s a simple thought, the undivided will be the remainder.

The call to remain in Jesus is challenged all our lives. He surely remains in us. On the other hand, we can fall short of remaining in Him. When frustrations about the fruits sets in. When the fruits are not the way we expected. When the fruits are too big to handle. When the fruits are too small to be compared. When the fruits begin to wither. When the fruits get spoiled.

Let me picture this in actuality. Your loved one died. Your marriage rocks. Your job is gone. Your kid is out of control. Your finances hit all-time low. Your health is dimming. Your friends and community discouraged you. Your logical knowledge takes over your belief. Your pressure to conform is too much to hold off. Your faith falters as situations deviated as you envisioned.

The test to remain is when you’re seems to be divided. Loyalty to Jesus is polish when the divisor is so strong to divide our hearts.

No matter what, Jesus remains.

No matter what, by His grace, be undivided. Be a remainder. Remain there.

GULUG

“……………………..Get up, let us go.” John 14:31

Jesus is candid in his invite. He is upbeat. He is raring. He is ready. His bid is for us to rise up and move forward.

Maybe Jesus has a reason.

He sees the opportunities, we see the opposition. He sees the promise, we see the problems. He sees the blessings, we see the burdens.

Get up. Don’t take things sitting down. Stretch your legs. Show what you can reach through God. Show what heights can be attained in following Jesus.

Let us go. Step with God. Walk with Jesus. Advance His kingdom. Follow His leading onwards. You are not alone in the journey. He goes where we go.

GULUG (Get Up, Let Us Go).

Start small. Kind words to your most unlovable office mate. Give time to your lonely neighbor. Help an old lady lift her bags. Email a struggling friend. Visit a forlorn relative.

Begin big. Talk to your parish priest about starting a youth group. Set aside money for the poor. Preach in a congregation. Organize a social action. Mentor an orphan.

Continue your call. Be faithful to daily prayer. Be mindful of God’s word. Take the habit of fellowship. Evangelize in words and action. Focus on Jesus.

GULUG. Jesus and us – upward and forward.

March of Mothers

“Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb?” Isaiah 49:15

It was my high school graduation and being awarded as honorable mention, I was to march to the recognition with my mother. It was the teenage in me which prevailed. I left my mother, who was fully dressed for the occasion, I ignored her as the march was about to start. I marched alone. My mother cried and was very angry at me after what happened. Telling me why I was ashamed to march with her, my mother. All I can do was to say was one word – Sorry.

Her name is Elena. She walked with all of her ten children all of her life. When I came home from school or work, she smelled paksiw (a Filipino fish meal cooked in vinegar) because she tired herself preparing everything for us. She brought us to church and afterwards to the barber. Her good time is to be with her children plus plates of pancit palabok. She understood my mistakes. She disciplined us to keep our morals. She gave her all the time even I was selfish to give her back. She had this knack for what is good for us because this what she wants for us. She toiled day and night for us to keep up with education. She taught us to do hard work and harvest. She did not reach that far because she allowed us to reach farther.

Her name is Africa. She was the second mother of the house. An older sister of our father, she stayed with us until her last breath. She outlived our parents, and became our father-mother in one package. I can count with my fingers the times she raised her voice in anger because we disobeyed. She had only deep anger for the female antagonist of Marimar. She provided selflessly for us beyond our expectations. My brothers started and finished their college courses all with her aid. My children were born with her resources at hand. We run to her in times of need. She gave more and received less.

Her name is Belinda. When we came to the USA, motherhood became her career. She cooked, she cleaned, she does laundry, and she ironed clothes and care for her daughters. I know she is adjusting to her calling for now but she accepts it with gladness. It may be hard for her but she depends not on her own but on God's grace. I was worried because she does not know how to cook but nowadays when there is a Filipino party, her bulalo (beef soup) and palitaw (Filipino dessert) are most requested. She learned how to do laundry in a small washer or even go to a laundry shop. She spends most of her time with her daughters which tires her but brings out the best in her. She is struggling but she is a mother.

Mothers walk with their children. They are friends and companions for life. And when we walk with them, they cheer for us, their children. They push us for the best. They will never forget their infants. In a mother’s life, her works and words are anchored for their children. A mother’s tenderness is from womb to tomb.

Mothers march with their children. Children march with your mothers. All we can do is say – Thank you.

Enough for Us

Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” John 14:8

Who will satisfy us? Who can quench our inner longings and desires?

I grew up in a family who had enough. I had seven living siblings then. Tatang is a textile vendor in public market. Ima stays with her sons and daughters at home and does small sales at the side. Our aunt lives with us and helps my mother. I saw that we were neither poor nor rich since we had enough. House for a shelter. Food on the table. New clothes for the kids on Christmas days. Education funds are available. Transfer of personal properties from one older sibling to a younger sibling. I did not see my parents going after moonlighting job just for us to get by. I grew up knowing that we had enough. We did not lack some things nor had floods of some things. What we have, we accepted. What we received, we embraced. What was expected, we enjoyed.

As a Christian nowadays, the call is to be satisfied with God alone. To see the Father and that will be enough. To have a relationship with the Father who longs for us and that will be adequate. To gaze upon the Father who loves unconditionally and that will be sufficient. Just by having to live with Him. Just by having to start and end the day with Him. He is enough. To our family He provides, but know that He alone is enough. Our earthly needs He gives, but know that He alone is enough. Our ambitions He fulfills, but know that He alone is enough. Our hearts may long for things but know that He alone is enough. We need to accept that He alone is enough. We need to embrace Him for He alone is enough. We need to enjoy Him for He alone is enough. He satisfies and quenches.

Live for the Father. Live with the Father. Love the Father. That will be enough for us.

Amen, Amen

“Amen, amen, I say to you………” John 13:16

In our Christian life, there is a time and place where you seems to be having difficulty in praying and relating to God. They call it spiritual dryness. This state seems like a dry weary land. Dry maybe because when you read the word of God nothing jumps into your heart for reflection. Weary maybe because you aren’t tired but you tend to lose your zeal for God.

I am now in that state. I am praying. I am reading the word of God. Yet my heart and mind reply nothing.

This is a time and place where my love for God is challenged. Will I continue to pray even if I feel don’t like it? Will I continue to follow God even if it seems He is not leading the way? Will I continue to love Him even if my heart does not beat for it?

This is the best time and place to show my love for God. An opportunity to be constant and be committed to the way of life towards Jesus. A given chance to be passionate and be stubborn in standing up for God.

I need to take not only one step towards God but more than one. I need to go an extra mile. I need to take a double dose of grace from God. To focus on God being God and not on what I feel or think. I need to believe and more than believe; to have faith. One “Amen” maybe enough but in this state “Amen, Amen” will be more than enough.

Become Epaphroditus

With regard to Epaphroditus, my brother and co-worker and fellow soldier, your messenger and minister in my need, I consider it necessary to send him to you. Welcome him then in the Lord with all joy and hold such people in esteem. Philippians 2:25,29

Jhune, I am honored to have known you since your college years. I have seen you hold on to God all through these years we have come to live the way of life He has provided for us. And it is an opportune time for God to give you more as you have been faithful with less.

Today, as you take the service God has appointed for you, I exhort you – become Epaphroditus.

Be a brother. Go out with the brothers and sisters after the meetings. Share your time with them. Speak with them in their triumphs and failures. Laugh with them and cry with them. Feel their hearts. Think their minds.

Be a co-worker. Take each brother and sister as your equal. Understand their limitations. Affirm their strengths. Work in their work.

Be a fellow soldier. Be there in the front line. Be a comrade rather being a commander. Fight with the brothers and sisters. Struggle with their battles.

Be a messenger and a minister. Be quick to encourage. Be lavish in bringing light. Show the path to righteousness. Aim always for God.

Lingkod-Angeles, welcome Jhune, who is your brother, co-worker, fellow soldier, a messenger and a minister. Welcome him with all joy and hold him with such esteem.

Let us thank and praise God who raises up men and women for His kingdom!