Throwing The Bad Away

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Matthew 13:47-4

I realized one iniquty in me. I was glad something bad happened to someone.

This someone was my former colleague and had numerous times I did not agree with him. There were times I hope he was not coming to the office. I questioned his approaches and strategies. I argued with him to make my point. I sometimes undermined him. I spoke against him behind his back and in front of him.

And then the news about this not so good thing happening to him came to my ear. As I heard this, deep in my heart, I smiled. I silently said to myself, good thing bad thing happened to him. I was happy that someone was suffering. I was glad that someone was standing on tough times. I was committing a sin. I was doing something wrong. I was doing something bad. I was convicted to pray to God and ask for His forgiveness and renewal and went to confession.

When the fisherman’s net caught me, I was an imperfect fish. I am not a fish for the aquarium at the living room or at the hotel lobby. I am not a fish fit for a photo shoot with the fisherman. I am not a fish for display on the celebration meal table. I am still an imperfect fish. Praise be to God, I was put into the bucket. Thanks be to God, I am swimming in His bucket. He is calling me to throw away the bad in me and not me being thrown away.

God does not throw the bad fish. God throws away the bad in the fish.

God does not throw the bad person. God throws away the bad in me and you.

We Can

Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” Matthew 20:22

I love the response of the sons of Zebedee, “We can.”

There is an element of fellowship. We. There is no I. There is no me. There no myself. Most things in life can not be done alone. Important matters in life are not meant to be done alone. You and I need someone. You and I need somebody. You give support. You receive support. There is companionship in “We”. We makes a family. We makes a friendship. We makes a church. We makes a community.

There is an element of God’s power. James and John said can not will. When you say can, you are giving space in which you state you need God. You give space on what God will do or not. For if they say “We will” rather than “We can”, they rely on their own. Paul knew this as he wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

When I went to the US all by myself, I began to realize the importance of my family and my community. The significance of “We”. Though my family joined me after more than a month, but those days were tragic. I cried almost every night. No TV program entertained me. No new acquaintances replaced my proven relationships. I go to daily mass crying out to God to bless me as I am alone. It is like drinking His cup as in being isolated from your family and friends. Going through all the adjustments and new culture, I told myself, I can not do it alone. When my family arrived, we sailed and lived together with the adjustments up to now with God’s help. I praise God for allowing my family to be with me as He knows I need to give and receive companionship and support.

Christian life is about drinking His cup. But no worry, for Christian life, also, is about “We can.”

Life's Parable

The disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. Matthew 13:10-11

He spoke to God’s people using parables. And up to our times, God still speaks to us in parables. Parables which most of the time we do not understand. Like the following,

Your US visa application denied.
Your scholarship slashed.
Your board exam failed.
Your pregnancy ectopic.
Your work supervisor unreasonable.
Your skills unwanted.
Your motive questioned.
Your family in turmoil.
Your health depleting.
Your friendship broken.
Your spiritual growth slow.

These are some of life’s parables. And these are the same life’s questions. We do not comprehend why they happen. We do not see the grand design that comes along with it.

Jesus said mysteries of the kingdom are handed down to the disciples. I have a suggestion to understand your parable. Become a disciple.

Love God with all your heart. Seek Jesus instead of self. Follow Jesus rather than you own course. Know God and make Him known. Please God instead of saying, ” Please God give me this…” Live for God and for others. Seek His pleasure rather than yours.

Become His disciple and understand your parable.

When God Shouts

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. John 20:16

Jesus had to use an exclamation point as He called her, “Mary!" Jesus had to shout. Why?

Because Mary thought Jesus was the gardener. Because she did not recognize her Lord at the first instance. Because she did not acknowledge Jesus who was dear to her at the first sight.

Let me count several possible ways why sometimes God has to shout.

First, she thought He was the gardener. She thought the resurrected God is a man. She mistaken God for a man. When we give recognition to man and not to God, we shift our attention not to God but to man. When we glorify the creation rather than the Creator, we missed out on His presence.

Mary was weeping as she was entering the tomb. Maybe, her eyes full of tears blocked her good vision to recognize the risen Christ at the first call. Does something blocks your eyes in seeing Jesus? If yes, wait for God's booming voice.

It was still dark when she came to the tomb. Maybe, the darkness prevented her to see who was in front of her clearly. In the same way, darkness engulfing our lives prevents us from seeing Jesus. Things not of God can become clouds over for us to see the light.

She expected a dead Jesus still laying on the tomb. She did not expect standing and speaking Jesus. Maybe, this expectation did not allow her to acknowledge Jesus at the first encounter. God is full of surprises. When we expect the ordinary to happen, God does the extra-ordinary. When we expect limitation, God goes beyond the boundary.

My daughters sometimes get the ire of their parents when at first call they do not respond. We need to elevate our voices to get their attention and respond to us. I noticed they don't respond at first since their eyes are stuck in the TV set or when they are doing their art crafts. We, too, hear God's elevated voice when we fix our hearts on other things rather than God. We know God is calling us but we shun His call because our eyes are busy with other things.

Jesus speaks to us personally. Jesus knows how just to get our attention. He knows our personal frequency bandwidth. That is why we won't miss His voice.

Give glory to God. Wipe your tears. Overcome the darkness. Have an expectant faith. Fix your eyes on Him. Respond to His voice at first. Recognize Him at once.

Unless you want to hear God's shout.

Be Living

So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” John 20:25

Reasons have been hurled at why Thomas did not believe.

* He was not there when Jesus showed up.
* He himself had serious doubts.
* He wanted to see for himself the Risen Christ.
* Thomas was not convinced the way the disciples told him so.
* Or maybe Thomas wanted more than the disciples telling him and may have not seen any changes in the disciples’ lives after they have seen the resurrected Jesus.

Words may not be enough to convince somebody to turn to Jesus. It can be more than saying you believe in Jesus. Believing is be living. People may need to see your life changes. People may need to look you have changed. People may need to know you are not the same person as before.

It’s not enough you preach, you must practice.
It’s not enough you talk, you must walk.
It’s not enough you talk about God’s love, you must love.
It’s not enough you read God’s word, you must apply His words.
It’s not enough you pray, you must follow.
It’s not enough you say “God will provide!”, you must share.
It’s not enough you say “No to pride!”, you must be selfless.

It’s not enough you say “We have seen the Lord!”, people must see the Lord in you.

To believe is to be living.

Kapamilya Ka Ba?

(Are You Family?)

“For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Matthew 12:50

I learned from one community seminar that when you are getting married to a person, in a way, you are getting married to his or her family. This makes sense since the person you are marrying embodies the character and culture of his or her family. In fact, you are embracing the family’s culture and character when you commit to live your life with your spouse. In the Philippines, your in-laws would say, “Kapamilya ka na, hindi ka na iba sa amin.” (You are part of the family, you are not an outsider.”). Most of the time, this happens when you learn to embrace and accept their culture. You do things the way they do things. You eat what they eat. You talk their talk. You sleep where they sleep. You share the household with them. Your decisions impact your relationship with them. In a practical way, we create a bond or a relationship.

Jesus told us that when we do the will of the Father we are part of the family. Kapamilya tayo. We are not outsiders. Jesus considers us to be in a family-based relationship when we do what the Father asks us to do. We share a bond with Jesus when we talk the way He talks. We live with Him in a household when we love the way He loves. We embrace the culture and the way of life of God’s household when we live as Jesus’ brothers and sisters. When you based your decisions upon the Father’s will you are stating the fact that you are part of the clan. In this God given life of ours, we follow His ways and His will to sustain and nourish our relationship with Jesus.

Friends, my question is obvious. Hopefully, our answer is affirmative.

Kapamilya ka ba?

Blood Compact

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13

A sandugo or blood compact is a ritual of tribes where they cut their wrists and harvest their blood into cups. The parties involved then drink each other's blood to signify friendship or a pact.

Blood compact was conducted between Malay tribes in the Philippines and the Spaniards. In 1565, Datu Sikatuna of Bohol shared his blood to known Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez De Legaspi. Portuguese stalwart Ferdinand Magellan shed his blood with the chieftain of Cebu, Rajah Humabon, in 1521.

Jesus' blood was shed for our redemption and we drink His blood in the sacrament of eucharist as a blood compact. And in this blood compact, only one side shared His blood. We did not have to share our blood. His blood is enough. When Jesus shared His blood for us, He has friendship in mind. We were far off from God, however, through this blood compact we became near to God. We who were foreigners became citizens through Jesus' blood compact. God came near, so we can come near to God. A relationship is borne out of Jesus' blood compact between the Maker and His creations.

We enjoy God's presence because of Jesus' blood.

God is with us and we are with God by the blood of Jesus.

By the blood of Jesus, we are friends with God.

May we remember always through His blood, we are near with God.

Rest Servants Rest

The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:30-34

The disciples were sent and came back from their missions. Jesus instructed His men to take rest, to come to a peaceful place. As a result of the disciples' work, multitudes of people are coming wanting more. In here, Jesus saw the need to shepherd God's people, His people. So, Jesus took the work were His disciples left off. Jesus continued the labor done or being done in peoples' lives. Jesus carried on the task of bringing the people in God's fold.

One of our brothers, whom I served with, used to exclaim "Salamat, meyari na ing kasakitan!" ("Thanks, the difficulty has ended!") The brother would state this words after each retreat, maybe a seminar or any event which required more of our skills and dependence in God. The whole service group would always laugh about it, but its true. There is an end of what we can do for God. We stop at one point, and this is where God continues. After a hard fought service, it is good we rest after that for God to take the cudgels.

At the end your talk about God's love, God's love continues your message. At the end of your service at the retreat, God's is forwarding His grace to His people. At the end of your preaching in a conference, God is conferencing with the hearts of those who heard you. At the end of your discussion group, God keeps on elaborating His words. At the end of your task as an administrator, God maintains His ministry to put peoples' lives in order. After people read your gospel blog, God works to embed His message.

When our work ends, God's work carries on. When our mission is completed, God's operation continues. When our task is finished, God's grace takes over. Aren't we glad we rest, so Jesus can shepherd His people? Rest after your mission. Rest after your service. Rest after your preaching. Allow God to bless your work and continue to do the work. As we rest, God takes care of the rest of His work.

Rest servants of God rest!

Costly in His Eyes

Too costly in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his faithful. Psalm 116:15

If you want a son, you would want our brother Ely to be your son. He is everything a father would want in a son. That is why when our Kuya Ely, died of fatal shooting, it was costly in the eyes of our father. I saw him crying without tears. His eyes were without life during those painful times. My father was devastated. He was not his usual self anymore. We have observed him to have dwindled in his passion for life. He stopped attending to our small family business. There was even a point where our other older brother Jun has to expressed to our father what is happening to him and to our family. It was indeed a learning experience for our father and the whole family.

The Lord, too, is devastated when His faithful suffers death. Maybe a different kind of death.

* Death in passion for God
* Death in serving Him alone
* Death in giving our all to Him
* Death in living with fellow believers
* Death in singing worship and praise to God
* Death in dependence in the Lord
* Death in finding security in Him
* Death in having refuge in God

However God will not stop working in our lives. The Lord will not stop in attending to His children. He will make a way for us to get back to our feet. The Lord will surely provide grace and blessings for us to arise from these "deaths". God will not count the cost in raising us up from our grave to bring us back to life in Him.

Costly is our death in His eyes for we are precious in His eyes.

Imperfect Serving The Perfect

Looking about and seeing no one, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. Exodus 2:12

He killed an Egyptian. He sinned against God.

Yet God chose Moses. Moses who donned the tablets which said “Thou shall not kill” at the fifth row. Moses to whom God showed His back. Moses who led His people out of the slavery from Egypt. Moses who encouraged God’s people to depend in God alone as they were in the desert.

I committed sexual sins. I stole money from my father, mother and aunt. I shouted back at my parents. I cheated during examinations. I threw all the green jokes among friends. I sinned against God.

Yet God chose me. Edwin who writes and talks about following God’s ways and submitting to God’s will. Edwin who meets his God face to face everyday in prayer. Edwin who led several renewal movements to a way of life in God. Edwin who continues to encourage his brothers and sisters to depend in God alone in their life’s desert.

Friends, if you think you are too much a sinner to be called by God to work in His vineyard, think again. You maybe thinking as a sinner you are unworthy to dip your hands into His work. First, all have sinned. Nobody can come up to you and say “You are a hypocrite! A sinner masks as saint!” Second, you will never be worthy. No one will ever be worthy in God’s eyes.

We are stained. We have rust. We, the imperfect serve our perfect God.

When Carrying Heavy Loads, Bend your Knees

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

When carrying heavy load, bend your knees.

This is a sign I read from a church. It parallels lifting heavy loads physically and lifting heavy loads in our lives. It’s hard to lift up a heavy load when you don’t bend your knees. Normally, when you do not bend your knees when lifting heavy loads, chances are, you will have trouble with your back at the coming time. Also, bending your knees gives you the upward strength towards lifting your heavy load.

It’s exact same thing in our lives. People must bend their knees when having heavy loads. To shape our knees ninety degrees and come to Jesus upon experiencing burdens. Financial burdens, family burdens, health burdens, relationship burden, work related burdens and other burdens which gives us heavy steps in life.

“Come to me.” Jesus promotes. However, sometimes when we experience burden in life, we forget to come to Him.

We come to a human friend to express our stress.
We come to our bank account to see if our resources can be extended.
We come to our resume when having difficulty at our workplace.
We come to our support group when something failed or did not happen as planned.
We come to the best doctors to heal our decaying bodies.

We thought every burden can be made light when we have our knees unbended. The more we allow our knees to be unbended, the more we feel the heavy load in our lives. Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden light (Matthew 11:30).

Carrying heavy load? Bend your knees. Come to Him.

Come to Me

Come to me…. Matthew 11:28

Come to Me.

Rather than just going to church.
Rather than just attending prayer meetings.
Rather than just serving others.
Rather than just doing your religious obligations.
Rather than just having to follow my commandments.

Come to Me.

When you are in joy or sorrow.
When you are in peace or battle.
When you are in lack or satisfied.
When you are in lowly or high spirits.
When you are depressed or ecstatic.

Jesus have come to you. Come to Him.

Go. Step. Move. His invitation – Come to Me.

We Are Israelites

But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. Exodus 1:12

Notice a piece of wood being scrub by a very rough sand paper. The more you scrub the wood, the more it becomes smooth in its surface.

Observe gold as it is engulf in fire. The more you extend its stay in furnace, the more it becomes purified.

Remember the Israelites while being slaves in Egypt. The more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread.

The God they followed is the same God we follow. The God they worshiped is the God we worship. The God who enabled them is the God who enables us. The God who allowed them to multiply and spread is the same God who will do the same thing for us.

The more you are humbled, the more God lifts you up.
The more you lose your life for Him, the more you gain life in Him.
The more you sink into the depths of waters, the more you see Him coming to reach out His hand to you.
The more storms you experience, the more you see His calming presence.
The more you have mouths to feed, the more God will multiply.
The more you are pressured at work, the more you are productive.
The more you are lacking with resources, the more you are satisfied.
The more you are slowed by disease, the more you have life.
The more you are persecuted by friends, the more you are convicted to follow God.

We are wood being scrub with a sand paper. We are gold in the furnace. We are Israelites in Egypt.

Cleaners R Us

………….gave them authority over unclean spirits. Mark 6:7

When I was in college, I had authority over parts of our household. That is I was in-charge of making our bathrooms clean. I was supplied with all the tools needed to accomplish the task. And I was vigilant, hehehe….in keeping the two rooms clean. I always remind my siblings on keeping the rooms spic and span.

Paul wrote – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens (Ephesian 1:3). We are supplied with every the grace and blessing we need in our spiritual life coming from the Father. We have all the tools. We do not lack. We are not short of something. With this, we are given authority over unclean spirits. Embedded in our hearts and soul, we have the grace and blessing to identify, block and clean up any unclean matter. We clean every part of our lives, hearts, souls and minds. Not only driving out demons and curing the sick but especially in our daily routines.

Drive out unclean spirits in us…..

* Negative thoughts towards fellow disciples
* Sexual fantasies over someone
* Bad temper towards your loved ones
* Telling your kids why being mean is wrong
* Telling your kids why being grumpy is wrong
* Selfish motives
* Being self-centered
* Spreading gossip

God gave us every spiritual blessing. God gave us the authority over unclean spirits.

Be vigilant. Be spic and span.

You and I, Cleaners R Us.

Taking God's Place

No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. Matthew 10:24

Last night was toxic.

My wife went out to visit a friend when our two daughters, Praise and Bless, started to vomit. I thought it was an ordinary instance. I told the girls to drink more water. Then they went to the bathroom again to throw up some more. I decided to put on the air conditioner as I was assuming maybe the hot weather was affecting them. But they went again vomiting. I cooked hotdogs for them so they can fill up their stomachs since I was assuming they had not have heavy dinner that’s why this is happening. But they had to run again to the sinks holding on to their mouths. This is where I decided to get Gatorade from our vehicle to support their body fluids. Still they complained about their aching stomachs. I was about to call our Family Doctor about this situation.

As I hug Bless, I realized I was taking matters into my own hands. I was taking God’s place. I made myself believe that I can do it with my own power. That I can make them well and direct these things my way. I was thinking I was above the situation. I am not above the Master. I am not above the Teacher. Thus, at this point I prayed earnestly to God to take His place. That He may heal my daughters’ physical condition. That He alone has the power to heal. My daughters did not come back to the bathroom sink after that prayer.

“…….Can I take the place of God?” Joseph said in Genesis 50:19. I can’t. You can’t. We can’t. However, sometimes we take matters into our hands, when we sin. When we put ourselves above Him. When we follow our own motives. When we go after our own selfish plans. When we ignore His words. When we shun His direction. We can’t be above Him. We can’t take His place. Let God take His place.

With God at His place, it’s not toxic.

Lip-Synch

….do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:19-20

I was waiting to be called and was just sitting at the back of the classroom. My heart was pumping triple time. I am very worried and very anxious. My future wife, a co-staffer in Christ’s Youth in Action (CYA), is teaching this Values Education class where the topic is about Moses and Jesus. I was there to talk, errr, maybe preach about Moses and Jesus. What can I expect from me? I am an engineering student who has a very bad grammar. I am a pure Pampangueno who is not even good in speaking the Filipino language. I was young in my relationship with God. And worse is, I do not have an outline in my hands.

Before she called me to take the floor, I rested my case in God. I offered to Him my heart, my mind and my mouth that God make me His vessel, His mouthpiece.

And when I stood up before this class, I spoke English like I never spoke before. I spoke with passion, like I never spoke before. I spoke with fire like I never did before. I spoke as if I have the talk outline embedded in my heart and soul. I spoke as if I was a seasoned speaker of the Word. I shouted, “Jesus is your Moses!” I preached, “Jesus is our way to the promised land!” And I spoke for almost an hour.

As I sat back to my place, I understood that that was not me. I realized it was not possible that I can do or talk like the way I just did. God’s Spirit was speaking through me. I was given the right words to say at the right time. I was doing lip- synch for the rest of the time. It was God who spoke, I just stood.

Up to now, when I am invited or asked to speak about Him, I stand and God speaks. Up to now, I do lip-synch.

180 Degrees

But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you. Genesis 45:5

I was not selected. I applied for a promotion in my former company. I have my credentials. I am a licensed professional electrical engineer. I have PhD academic units from the most respected electric power engineering program in the Philippines. I have my relational approach in work matters. I am in good standing with my co-workers. I have an almost excellent job performance evaluation. I was a ready technical reference for my supervisors and managers. Given all these, I was not selected and promoted. I was devastated and disappointed.

But God works things out 180 degrees. In April 2007, I emailed an application to a respectable consulting company based in the USA. In November of 2007, I was working for the said consulting company. I was contemplating, if I was promoted in my former company, I would not have applied for where I am working now due to the professional satisfaction.

Joseph’s life is another testimony on how God can work things out 180 degrees. He was sold by his brothers. And at the right time, Joseph understood that God sent him to Egypt for the sake of saving lives. A betrayal turned into blessing. A tragedy turned into a triumph. God will work things out for the good of His people. God specializes in turning things around, from bad into good. His plans stands forever, wise designs through all generations (Psalm 33:11).

He will turn devastation to celebration. He will turn disappointments to appointments. He will turn distress to best.

Watch God work in our lives. 180 degrees.

Heaven at Hand

As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Matthew 10:7

Can we proclaim heaven is at hand?

To the relatives of innocent victims of the series of bombings in the past days in the southern Philippines, my beloved country.
To former colleagues at Transco who were laid off at this time of recession because of restructuring of the new owners.
To a couple who lost their supposedly first born child, days before their baby will be delivered to the world.
To a friend whose health has deteriorated despite prayers and costly medical treatment.
To a relative who struggles in family life ever since she was a child up to now that she is a mother.
To somebody who was betrayed big time by a long time friend in Christ.
To a family who has not found justice in the inhuman killing of their dear brother.

An absolute and resounding – Yes, we can! We can and we must proclaim that heaven is at hand!

We pray for them. Proclamation starts on bending our knees. Asking God to mightily magnify His presence in their lives. We intercede for them that God maybring comfort during these times of strife. We seek God's intervention that they may seek His presence and depend in Him alone.

Heaven is the presence of God. It is all about Him. And in these times of sorrow and difficulties, His presence is near. Heaven is near. His presence is at hand. Heaven is at hand. Even we experience “hell” on earth, we have God in us and with us. The more you assume God is far away, God is at hand. And in these trying times we realize, we have a temporal stint in our migrant earthly life. Nothing and nobody is permanent but God.

Live for God. Live for heaven. And by this we understand that God alone matters. It is not about our earthly life. It is not about us and our work. It is not about our family. It is not about healing or death. It is not about overcoming or succumbing to trials. It is all about God. Everything points to Him.

Clasp your hands together in His presence. Lift up your hands in worship of God. Heaven is at hand!

Share God's Work

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38

We see that the harvest is abundant and we need every help we can get. And we pray that the master may send these needed workers. The master of the harvest always sends laborers for His work. But sometimes we fail to recognize to share God’s work to the laborers He sends.

I know one prayer group which has this structure:

* A service team is comprised of the service team heads only
* The service team heads are also part of the music ministry
* The service team heads take turns in leading the prayer meetings
* The service team heads take turns in giving teachings/sharings
* The service team heads take care other services like projecting the songs to the wall, other seminars, etc.

I was thinking, there are a bunch of other members or meeting attendees who can help out in the number of ministries. This prayer group tends to show that the gifts of serving God is exclusive among the few. Or they fail to realized that the master of the vineyard has sent out laborers to partake in the harvest.

God’s work is a large crop field. To efficiently and effectively bring in the harvest, we need to acknowledge the laborers whom the Owner of the field sent out to share in our work. We acknowledge that we, too, are appointed laborers in His vineyard. We depend on the same available Master’s grace, which is working in us, to work upon these new laborers as they share in the services. The Master calls His servants to put their act together for the harvest. We are called to empower. We are called to delegate. We are called to decentralize. We are called to cooperate. We are called to coordinate. We are called to share.

We share His love. We share His grace. And may we also share His work.

Amazing God

He was amazed at their lack of faith. Mark 6:6

“You will come back in your old life.”

Seventeen years ago, this was the statement of my neighbor as I tried to share with them my new found relationship with God. He was telling about their experiences of coming to knowing God and yet did not last to live for Him. They were a bunch of thirty something men who underwent a weekend seminar and turned their lives over to God in a very tearful fashion. They were actively serving God in a few weeks after that. Going to the prayer meetings and attending street prayers were part of their routine, he said. But after a while, they came back to their old ways as days went by.

And as I shared with them what I am going through, they had more questions rather than affirmations.

What is the difference of your conversion with mine?
How will God sustain your commitment?
What will God do to you that He did not do to us?
How will your prayers and activities give you the strength to carry on?

This is the same condition which Jesus faced before His neighborhood. Questions rather than affirmations. Just because they have seen the past, they were questioning the present. Just because they have known Him as someone in the past, they were unsure of Him as somebody in the present.

Recognize that faith is affirming God rather than questioning God. Realize that faith is depending in God rather than depending on your own. Comprehend that faith is holding on to God’s promise rather than holding on to man’s experience.

Amaze God with your faith. Lack of faith or lots of faith. Pick your faith.

Jesus Inside

After the crowd had been put outside, he went in……………. Matthew 9:25

Picture this. A good amount of people, the crowd, were inside. After which, the crowd had been put outside. Then Jesus went in.

This scene gives me some questions;

What is inside my heart which occupies a good large space?
What is inside my life which gets most of my time?
What is inside my mind which secures a great part of my memory?
What is inside my soul which controls the way I breathe, speak, and live?

Jesus must come in. Jesus must enter in. Jesus must take His place.

I must put out anything that hinders Jesus to come in.
I must let go of anything that blocks Jesus from taking His rightful throne in me.
I must sweep out anything that prevents Jesus in blessing my life.
I must drive out away anything that limits Jesus from working in me.

Anything – ambition, selfish motives, pride, earthly desires, habitual unholy actions, worries, disappointments, etc.

Crowd is inside. Jesus is outside. Not my option.

Crowd is outside. Jesus is inside. My vocation.

Set Apart

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2

The Spirit points out that there is a work set apart for the tandem of Saul and Barnabas. This work is reserved only for the two. Ministry that is especially crafted for them. Service that is in accordance with their present and future gifts and skills. Labor of God which would have challenges and difficulties but designed for Saul and Barnabas to overcome by the grace of God. Work that can be done best only by the two by the guidance of the Spirit. Work to which God called for them. Work that is set apart.

Want to know my punch line? – You, too, my friend have a work set apart!

God has blessed you with skills for you to work on His work. God has given you gifts to become a gift to His people. God has provided you with talents for you to bring more talents to His house.

Maybe that is why you are where you are; Singapore, Delaware, Arizona, Bahrain, California, Dubai, Angeles City, London, Manila, New York, San Fernando, New Jersey, Saudi Arabia, Guam, etc.

Maybe that is why you are who you are; Chair minister, Registration and records servant, Prayer meeting leader, Worship leader, Discussion group leader, Action group leader, Staffer, Branch Leader, Branch Moderator, Music Minister, Finances servant, Administrator, etc.

There is a work set apart for you. Ministry that God designed for you alone to handle. Service that God crafted for you alone to serve Him. Work which God called for you alone.

You are set apart.

Under My Feet

“Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet.” Mark 12:36

There I was. On our rooftop.

This is one of my “moments”. I sit facing the sky. Relaxing after a school day or helping out in our small family business. Munching pineapple chunks, which my mother is saving for a possible fruit salad dish for the fiesta. Each time I am here, I feel ecstatic and maybe victorious. For everything is under my feet.

All right, expose all your enemies, my friend. Something which makes your life not easy. Something which makes your life not fiesta. Something which makes your life a mixed up like a fruit salad. Can I help you?

* Weakness or habitual sin
* Dwindling family finances
* Declining family health
* Personal and professional concerns at work
* Rocking and not rolling marriage
* Stressed out of living in a corruption laden country
* Difficult relationships in church or community
* Complacency in following Christ
* Self-righteousness and pride
* etc and etc.

Look up to your God. Feel ecstatic. Hope for victory. Sit back. God will put you on the rooftop. His promise, He will place your enemies under your feet.

Stretched

He stretched out his hand, touched him….. Matthew 8:3

When I was young, the stretchable jeans was the fad. And it will fit everyone. Whether you are small, medium, large or extras, the stretchable will fit in.

Jesus stretched out His hand. Jesus did not just wave His hand, He stretched out to touch someone. He did not just reach His hand, He stretched out to heal someone. He did not just hold through His hand, He stretched out to express His care for someone.

Jesus allows us to see a way of life in following Him. Being stretched. Being given away. Being able to fit in in a situation that may not be comfortable. Being a Christian in a place not supportive of your commitment. Being able to fit in faith, hope and love in an unfit occasion. Being able to fit in care in an uncaring world. Being able to fit in healing for the broken and unwanted. You can be one.

Stretch your love. Be patient in living or working with that difficult person.

Stretch your faith. See the unseen by fixing your eyes on Jesus.

Stretch your purpose. Respond to God’s call and go beyond the boundaries of life.

Stretch your hope. Mission possible in God alone.

Stretch your strength. Do everything in God’s way.

Remember, only by His grace we can be stretched out. For Jesus died on the cross for you and me. His hands, stretched.

Not Dead

“……..is not dead but asleep.” Mark 5:39

To be an electrical engineer. I wrote that in every slum note in elementary school.

To be an electrical engineering consultant. I said that to myself when I attended this technical seminar on how it can be done.

I never thought this was the route.

I was a Christ’s Youth in Action (CYA) volunteer staffer who developed and gave teachings and retreats to college students. I was an electrical engineering instructor who can give technical trainings, who can write and publish technical reports and articles. I was an engineer at National Transmission Corporation (Transco) doing various power system studies. Along the way, I acquired an advanced degree and a professional license. All these development and experience in me secured ingredients for me to become an electrical engineering consultant. The route have taken about fourteen years. You read it right. It took sometime.

But with God blessing my efforts and as I offer to Him my efforts, God fulfilled my dreams. In summertime of 2007, I emailed an application to a consulting company in New York, USA. Realize the probability of my application to be accepted, very very small. Yet they offered me the job. Realize the probability that a Filipino will get a US visa in four to six months, very very very small. In November of 2007, I was working for them.

I thought my dream was dead. I thought my ambition won’t be a reality. However, my dream was just asleep. I have to pray for it. I have to work on it. It will wake up sometime and be a reality.

God has to bless each step. God has to prepare each step ahead. God fulfills our dreams.

Death is not in the vocabulary of God.

Come Forward

One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Mark 5:22

On this day, Jairus came forward.

There were many synagogue officials, but only one came forward. Jairus came forward proclaiming he had no one to go but to Jesus alone. Jairus came forward declaring Jesus alone heals and gives hope. He came forward to rest his burden upon Jesus, the burden bearer. He came forward to beg mercy and he was given. He came forward not minding what other people will say or not.

It takes a lot to come forward.

You want to come forward but you worry of ridicule from your friends.
You want to come forward but fearing failure thinking what if everything does not work out.
You want to come forward but you think you are unworthy because of your sins.
You want to come forward but societal inclination tell you not to.
You want to come forward but you have had discouraging past experiences.

Come forward to Jesus. Jesus is greater than ridicule, fear of failure, your sins, your past or present.
Cross the line. Go beyond the boundary. Hurdle the fence.

After all, Jesus gave a lot to come forward.