The Deliverer

They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. Jeremiah 1:19

From our house to our store. I carry those rolls or pack of textiles which my father or older brother pinpointed. I carried them on my shoulders. I climb up cemented stairs and pass by a railway. With people standing and sitting on my way, I walk in a maze like streets. Through busy streets towards the market, I carry the loads in front of tall houses and buildings. As I step into the market area, I have to go around vendors and their merchandise on the street. And at this time, my shoulders feel the load getting heavier. However, I have to make sure this goods will make it to their destination. I started and must complete the delivery. As I step into our store, I delivered.

From glory to glory. God is our deliverer. He carries us. He carries our burdens. He goes with us to deliver us. He climbs up and walks down in our highs and lows of life. He delivers us allows us to overcome hurdles and obstacles in life. From problem to problem, God carries the load for us. No matter how tall is the order of the day, God delivers us from unholiness. God makes a way in a dead end spot. He finds way and solves the maze puzzle of concerns to deliver us from our worries. God sees our trials as stepping stones to deliver us. He sees every fence in our path as way to see what is ahead. He continuously walk straight to deliver us to our purpose and destination. He is our interested author and our strong finisher in the delivery of life. He will deliver, He delivers and He delivered.

From our personal problems, our family concerns, our financial lack, our health issues, our wrecked relationships, our marital wars, our weaknesses, our disappointments and discouragements, our baggage of our past....anything which go against us, our God delivers us. He is with us to deliver us. God alone is our deliverer.

It Was The Lord

For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples through whom we passed. Joshua 24:17

You prepare the place for the prayer meeting of three hundred students. You get up early from bed. You almost missed your breakfast. You still have those sleep dirt in your eyes. You climb up to that fifth floor. You set up the place; the songbooks, the chairs, the tables, the registration table, the musical instruments. You complete the tasks. And as you rest, you asked "Who did it?" - It was the Lord!

You are to stand up again before people. You are supposed to inspire people to give their all for God. You have prepared an outline. You reflect on several bible verses. You read about connecting anecdotes. You prepare your heart. You pray for the event. You ask God to utilize you. You give glory to Him for whatever will commence. You stand and speak. You see people are delighted and raring to go for God. You come back to your sit. And as you rest, you asked "Who did it?" - It was the Lord!

You look back through the years. An established student movement. A growing single working people' community. A covenant community in the works. Brothers and sisters scattered around the globe making an impact for Christ in their own ways. Brothers and sisters continue to carry the flame of fire in their hearts to go all the way for God. And as you rest, you asked "Who did it?" - It was the Lord!

Friends, we share in the work of God. We put our hands into His plow. We take upon the sickle in His harvest. We are His instruments. Moses, Joshua, Peter, Paul, countless prophets, multitudes of disciples, you and me together we shout, "It was the Lord!"

Clean Inside or Clean Outside?

Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth. Matthew 23:26-27

"I feel clean inside." Praise told me after her confession. She was joyful and it was reflected on her face. I was driving and was looking at her through the mirror, she was really glad and happy. She rested her head on the seat and her face shines.

Afterward, we went to wash the car in a touch free center. I paid some bucks to get the car clean outside. It was a rather quick fix. Pay. Drive slowly. Wash. Dry. Car is clean outside but not inside. Looks good but only outside.

Then it hit me. This is a battle. Cleaning inside versus cleaning outside. Cleaning inside is free while cleaning outside requires cost yet how do we love to pay! Cleaning inside reflects the outside while cleaning outside is skin deep yet how do we love to stare at the mirror.

We must put on God's signature in our hearts rather than put on signature clothing. Make up for our shortcomings with God rather than putting it on our faces. Clothe our hearts with holiness and purity more than being dressed for each occasion. Show to God our weaknesses so He can strengthen us rather than showing off to other people.

Friends, choose where to feel clean - inside or outside?

Istambay No More

Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.'… Matthew 20:3

I remembered this one. Yeah, this scene. They called us istambay. Night and day, I would stand by with my friends at the corner of our street just doing nothing. We chat at nothing important. We look at passersby. We spend countless hours just standing by.

I heard that same call. Yeah, Jesus' invitation to His vineyard. To have life in fullness with Him and dip my dirty hands into His holy work. I do not know what He has seen in me but I have seen everything in Him, having life with Him and the joy of serving Him alone gives me satisfaction and gladness that no amount of money can buy. So, I zealously followed Him and actively served Him for about more than ten years in charismatic movements and communities.

In the last quarter 2007, we went to start anew our family life in upstate New York. No charismatic community to serve with. We still have the heart to follow and serve but we did not have the channel to express it. I do not want to be labeled as istambay or idle again. And God gave us work….

Instead of preaching to other people, preach to your family. We have a regular Saturday night Bible sharing in our family of four.

Instead of caring for people in community, care for people who don't have family. My wife and daughters visit an elderly woman in a nursing home every week to cheer her up.

Instead of talking about God's work, write about it. I blog everything about God and His people.

Instead of vocally declaring God's message to people, be vocal in posting God's point in Facebook. Every day, I post a passage from the daily mass readings at my Facebook page to impact people.

Instead of exhorting about God's glory, express it through videos. I create videos for people to see and get fired up for God.

God saw and invited me. By His grace, I am a istambay no more.

What Is Your Scenario?

Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Matthew 19:21-22

I have several scenarios for the rich young man….

First, he went home and prayed. After praying and reflecting on what have just happened, he decided to follow the instruction of Jesus. He gave up all his possessions and provided for the poor. He went to ask around where Jesus is and when he was told, he followed Him closely. He walked with Jesus, he ate with sinners, he helped to heal the sick and he was with Jesus until death.

Another is, he went home and prayed. After praying and reflecting on what have just happened, he decided to stay in his lifestyle. He kept the commandments. He followed the law. But he did not follow Christ. He stayed the same even after meeting Christ. He settled where he is before he met Christ. He knows he still lacking on something but did not responded to what is being offered to him.

Lastly, he went home and was very discouraged. After reflecting on what have just happened, thinking he can’t follow Christ because of his possessions, he wandered away from the law. He thought since he cannot give his all, he will just give nothing. He violated the commandments. He went on sinning using his wealth. In his disappointment of not being able to follow Christ, he turned his back to the teachings of the church.

Have you met Christ? Have you heard His message, “Follow me.”? Has Jesus told you about caring for the poor? Has Jesus challenged you to give up your possessions, ambitions or dreams? Has Jesus told you about having treasures in heaven?

If your answer is Yes. Then what is your scenario?

We Have Come This Far

Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Matthew 19:21

"We have come this far." This was Dennis' response to his father's inquiry if they will accept a $30 million dollars out of court settlement which was offered to them night before the jury decides on their case as depicted in the motion picture "Flash of a Genius". His father, Robert Kearns, sued Ford Motors for stealing his intermittent windshield wiper design. For several years, their family suffered as their father was bent on doing what is right which is going after the big corporation in his own small approach. And on this night, they decided not to settle. They chose to go the distance. They were determined to finish what has been started.

The young man, too, have come this far. He has observed the law. He has kept the commandments. He has been a quite churchgoer and law follower. Now, Jesus is pointing to him to go the distance. Jesus is telling him to finish what has been started. Jesus is telling him do not settle in what he is doing. Jesus is asking him to go above and beyond what he is doing.

Are you on the same boat? You observe the laws. You keep the commandments. You dress well for Sunday service. Jesus is calling you to go the distance. Jesus is encouraging you to finish what has been started in you. Go above and beyond. Give to the poor. Follow Christ. Do not settle.

Jesus is saying to you, "We have come this far."

Come Hungry

The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. Luke 1:53

My daughter Praise is book hungry. She reads everything she finds. From waking up to resting at night she will take books to read. When she is at school, she reads. When she is at home, she reads. At the bathroom, she reads. At the food table, she reads. She would lie down on the floor and reads books after another. When going out with her, she would tell me to bring her to Borders or Barnes and Nobles where she would read again. And most of the time, she would tell us facts we never know of. She would explain things because she read them. She would extract thoughts from what she has read. Such is her hunger. Such is her desire. She is satisfied because she has the hunger. She is filled because she hungry.

How I hope I am like that before God. Have hunger for His presence. Have desire to serve Him more. Have craving for His word. Have appetite for His pleasure. Have yearning for His guidance. When I awake I think of Him. When I rest at night, I am in awe of Him. Wherever I am, I seek Him. Whatever the situation I am in, I delight in Him.

And hopefully, I will not come and be sent away empty. Why? Maybe because I am already loaded that I have no place for Him in my life. Maybe because my heart is already filled up that I have no space for Him. Maybe because my schedule is already fully booked that I have no time for Him.

Come to Him hungry. And you will be filled.

Happy Eleventh Anniversary to Us!

… and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate." Matthew 19:5-6

Happy Eleventh Anniversary to us!

Yes, it’s our eleventh anniversary tomorrow. It’s been a dozen minus one years we have been together as husband and wife. After one miscarried pregnancy, two blessed daughters, three apartments, one home (hopefully counting to two), transfer of employments, numerous arguments, and life with in-laws, etc., my wife Billie and I are still together. And it’s the one single reason to celebrate – we are still together, by the grace of God. Why not?

She loves traveling. I love staying at home.
She is good at personal relationships. I am for bigger audience.
She likes shopping. I like my old clothes.
She loves exploring. I love the status quo.
She is detailed. I have the wide angle.
She is carefree. I am organized.
She is an English major. I am an engineer.
She is expressive. I am a deadpan.
She is a paragraph. I am a sentence.
She is a woman. I am a man.

Marriage, I believe is like multiplication of one by one to result into one (1 x 1 = 1). If one factor is not whole then you do not have one (0.5 x 1 = 0.5). If one factor is zero then you have none (1 x 0 = 0). Each day each partner must give his whole to make the bond as one. Whole love. Whole commitment. Whole acceptance. Whole understanding. Whole respect. Whole loyalty. And when one partner fails to give his/her whole, the other gives more than his/her whole to his/her partner to make the union as one.

Marriage is a work in progress, we keep on loving and living together to be one. We keep on understanding each other to be one. We keep on accepting your partner’s weakness to be one.

Happy Eleventh Anniversary to us! And Lord, make us one!

No Fear

They shall not fear an ill report; their hearts are steadfast, trusting the LORD. Psalm 112:7

For about a couple of days, I was feeling that my gums were swollen. Every time I was brushing my teeth, blood comes out. I felt I had infection in my gums since I had this hurting sensation in my gums each time I flex my mouth after eating or brushing. I was wondering where in the world this sickness came from and where it is going to. I was brushing my teeth after each meal. I was flossing once a day. I have a regular mouthwash session each night. I decided to call our dentist for an appointment.

At the dental clinic, the doctor said he needed to do more tests on my gums. And if he would find that I have Periodontitis, he has to do gum scaling. Overall, the clinic told me it might cost me around $1000 which is not covered by my health insurance.

As I was driving home, I was in a way was shocked. I am taking care of myself and this one happens. While we have some savings but the cost of covering for the treatment will give us an uphill climb to recover. Since my wife brought our kids their martial arts session, I was all alone at home and had my time to go to God on this. I was telling God, “Lord, I have not preached or give a talk for sometime but here I am getting this problem in my mouth.” Deep in my heart, I sensed God’s direction to trust in Him. God was enlightening me to put my faith in Him and be steadfast.

After my prayer, I read about this Periodontitis disease over the internet and found its signs and symptoms. I realized I might not have the disease. I said I might have an infection in my gums but it’s not going to be Periodontitis. I called our friend doctor if he can give me prescription for antibiotics. He asked me what is my situation and upon assessing my condition, he prescribed the medicine. After taking the antibiotics for three days, the swelling in my gums have subsided. The blood stopped flowing each time I brush my teeth. I can flex my mouth without the same uncomfortable feeling in my gums. I received an ill report but God is faithful to those who trust Him and are steadfast in following Him. I am healed!

Did you receive an ill report today or in the past days or past months? An ill report like, your doctor told you one of your loved ones have this kind of ailment. Or your job is about to be cut. Or your spouse working abroad is having hard time adjusting. Or your scholarship is about to get slashed. Or your home loan application is disapproved. Or your pregnancy is ectopic.

Have no fear on this ill report. Put your trust in the Lord. Be steadfast in holding on to Him.

Denial Kings and Queens

Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself.... Matthew 16:24

In Philippine show business, actors and actresses deny their steady relationships with someone to maintain their availability for any love team combination. They would sometimes deny having a child as they were presented as non-married. They would even deny having marital status to regain or retain their popularity among the fans who dream to having relationship with them. They would deny they said this or they said that. They would deny they have been to that place or not. In order for them to keep their high popularity or status in the business, they would keep on denying. That's why they call them Denial Kings and Queens.

Jesus calls us to keep denying. Not to deny the truth but to deny ourselves. To forget ourselves and live for Him. To reject the world and receive Christ. We must keep on denying taking our own cross….

* Deny wearing signature clothes, and give to clothe the naked.
* Deny eating lunch at that classy restaurant, and give to feed the hungry.
* Deny having an entertainment system in your home, and give to shelter the homeless.
* Deny expressing burst of temper, and give your understanding.
* Deny having time for yourself, and have time for your family and friends.
* Deny knowing everything, and learn from God and others.
* Deny throwing bad judgments to others, and give people space to grow in God.
* Deny being righteous, and ask God for forgiveness.
* Deny you can do it all, and ask Jesus for grace and strength.

To take that cross daily. To follow Christ zealously. To love God with our all.
You and I must be Denial Kings and Queens.

Nothing Will Be Wasted

When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted." John 6:12

This is the most beautiful picture in our home.


This artwork was made by my daughter Bless. And I want you to guess what material she used on this masterpiece.

* Somebody answers, "White paper?"....White yes, but not paper.
* You are thinking, "White plastic?".... Almost.
* I hear someone say, "White cardboard?" ....I am getting bored now.
* You give it a try, "Fiber glass?"....Whaaat?!

Window blinds. You read it right.

After Bless accidentally broke our window blinds, she picked up those broken ones. She started to draw our caricatures and voila! - a beautiful family portrait is immortalized. In this case, nothing is wasted.

In our case, no one is wasted. God sees our potential rather than our brokenness. God sees our future rather than our past. God sees our opportunities rather than our failures. If you think you are a scrap or your life is a waste, think again. God gathers leftovers. God secures the unnoticed. He has high regard for the disregarded. He turns busted piece to masterpiece. He turns nothing to something. He turns the broken to whole. He turns nobody to somebody.

With God, nothing will be wasted. With God, no one will be wasted. God bless.

Fragrant Aroma

….and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:2

She smelled really bad. Amoy Paksiw*! After a day’s work as a full-time housewife, I would come home from school and can sniff the smell of my mother from some feet away. She would clean the whole house when her eight children left for school and her loving husband left home to attend the small family business. By her hands, she would do the laundry of her big family. She would cook lunch and prepare the table as she rushes back and forth to her laundry or house cleaning. Throughout the day, she also finds time to her sidelines like selling retailed vinegar and retailed charcoal. Before she takes a bath, she checks on her children’s school needs and homework. Don’t get me wrong! I love my mother’s smell. It was like a fragrant aroma! It was a sign of her love and care for her family. She was not vocally expressive about her love but her smell exposes that. Her daily sacrifice floats in the air with that “aromatic smell”. We live a pleasant life because of her unpleasant sacrifice.

He looked really bad. It was not a nice picture to behold. It was not a scenic view to stare upon. Jesus nailed on the cross. God who came to save suffered. God who came to deliver died. God who came to open eyes closes eyes. God who came who has power overall things seems powerless. And this is His expression of His love. He handed himself as an offering for us. He made himself looked bad yet it resulted as a fragrant aroma. His sacrifice floats in the air with that fragrant aroma. We live a pleasant life because of His unpleasant sacrifice.

Look at the cross. When you look at the Christ on the cross, breathe the aroma. When you bow down before that tree where Jesus is, smell the scent. And remember, you smell that pleasant aroma for Jesus made an unpleasant sacrifice.

(* Smells like fish cooked in vinegar!)

GPS

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation." Mark 8:11-12

The Pharisees were consistent in being insistent. Asking Jesus for a sign. Testing Jesus for a sign. But rather, Jesus points them to a direction - no sign will be given. No miracles will be performed. No wonders will be conducted.

The Pharisees seek sign. Jesus seeks faith. The Pharisees trails a wrong route. Jesus points to the right route.

How many times we have insisted in following our own way yet find no life?

We walk in our own selfishness. Jesus showed us how to be selfless, He died on the cross.
We run our own pointless race. Jesus showed us how to start and finish the race He has set before us.
We drive our own lifeless lives. Jesus showed us there's no dead end with Him at the driver's seat.
We travel the easier roads. Jesus showed the road towards life is narrow however He is there to carry us.
Yet we are still lost. Jesus makes sure we are found.

Jesus points us to His direction. He keeps us on the right path. When we divert from the way, Jesus prompts us. When we forget the direction, Jesus reminds us. When we are hard headed and follow our desires, Jesus quickly rescues to save us from destruction. When we are at the crossroads, Jesus keeps us straight ahead. Jesus' hope is we reach our destination He has prepared for us.

Jesus is God's Positioning System (GPS). Follow Him.

Rejoicing and Remaining

And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. Matthew 18:13

The father told his son, “Just stay here while I look for your sister.” The boy nodded giving his father the confidence that he will stay and will not go astray. The father had to look back from time to time to see if his boy is still there. The father was going forward to find his lost child yet sometimes looks back to his child who remained. He found his daughter and was joyful. They went back and still found his son where he left him. Now his family is complete and the father rejoices.

I was thinking for the past years that the ninety-nine sheep who did not go wandering were not significant in the parable. God showed me the fact that they have an important role to play. The shepherd would not have gone to look for the lost one if these ninety-nine did not remain. The shepherd would not have the courage to walk towards the missing if the ninety-nine did not stay. The shepherd would not have rejoiced after finding the misplaced one if the ninety-nine have not hold on to their place. The shepherd knew the ninety-nine were secured and safe as he had the confidence to look for the lost.

For God, there is value in finding the lost and there is value in remaining in Him.

Friends, our God rejoices in finding the lost, He celebrates when someone is found.

And our God rejoices because ninety-nine sheep remained.

God Comes Back

but the angel of the LORD came back a second time… 1 Kings 19:7

As a little boy who assists priests during mass and setting up church for activities, these days filled my elementary years. There were days I have to serve in the church service and walk a good long distance from the church to attend school carrying my backpack full of books. At the church, we were taught not only to serve God but to have an understanding of loving and living for God. I thought I was having a good time with the Lord serving in church. Until, a misunderstanding with a fellow altar boy stopped me from serving God.

I wandered from the Lord and from His ways in my high school years. I had no ways of sustaining my relationship with Him. During these times, I was a nominal church attendee. I go to church but had no relationship with Him. This went through my college years.

But God came back even if I was the one who went away. In my senior year in college, I was invited by a friend to a Christian seminar which turned the tide of my life by the grace of God. I was touched again by Him. I was alive again in Him. Once more, God’s light shone in my darkness. God’s love experienced in my brokenness. God came back to me, to give me a new lease of His life and His Spirit.

Have you wandered away from God? Is there a distance between you and God? Our God is gracious and loving. God takes the steps towards us despite it was us who strayed from Him. He knocks at the doors of our hearts when we close them for Him. He looks for us when we stow away from His home. God comes back.

Remembering God

They forgot the God who saved them, who did great deeds in Egypt, Amazing deeds in the land of Ham, fearsome deeds at the Red Sea. Psalm 106:21-22

In the past days, we remembered. Cory Aquino, first ever lady president of the Republic of the Philippines died and the whole nation remembered. We remembered to tie a yellow ribbon. We remembered to put on a yellow shirt as a sign of restoring democracy in the country. We remembered the “Laban” sign and once again our hands were upraised. We remembered how she stepped up to the plate to continue her husband’s call, “The Filipino is worth dying for.” We remembered her oath as the new president after the dictator was ousted. We remembered how Cory weathered challenges in her government including seven coup d’etat in six years of presidency. We remembered once again we are free and have the power to change in the midst of challenges.

This is not the case for the Israelites. When thinking about claiming Canaan, the Promised Land, they forgot God. They forgot God is God. They forgot how God saved them. They forgot how God fed them. They forgot how God rescued them.

And we, too, sometimes forget. We forget God is our God. We forget who God is. We forget how God can and will make a way. We forget how God is faithful. We forget how He saved us. We forget God especially when,

Sickness strikes in our bodies. Remember countless healing He has done in you.
Family finances are counted with fingers. Remember how God defied the supply-demand theory to meet your needs.
Relationships are in chaos. Remember He has restored broken matters in your lifetime.
Work is on the edge of the terminal. Remember how many windows has He opened when a door closes at you.

Forgetting God is about focusing at the mammoth difficulty.

Remembering God is about focusing at who God is compared to that mammoth difficulty and what God can and will do to overcome that mammoth difficulty.

Melt Like Wax

The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. Psalm 97:5

Candles are from melted wax. I found this website where in it teaches how to make candles from wax. Several principles apply to wax melting. First, the pot where the wax will go should be clean. Second, break the wax block into pieces so it can melt faster. A double boiler is used to heat the wax, the bigger outer boiler will have water and the smaller inner boiler will have the wax and the inner boiler must have no water. Set the heat on high and stir frequently as the wax gets heated. Always have a fire extinguisher within your reach in case wax gets caught with fire. Then you have a candle.

Before God, we melt like wax. We come to Him in our filth and sin, we boast not of our own cleanliness unlike the clean pot where the wax would go. We come to Him broken, same as the wax block is broken into pieces, and as He melts us we become whole. God melts us inside and out, as melting happens we are changed inside and out as with the double boiler. When we come to Him, whether we are set high or set on our lows, He melts us likewise. We need to be stirred frequently with Him as we melt before Him as with the stirring of heated wax. Pour your all for God as He will pour all His grace and shape us according to His likeness as with the pouring of melted wax and shaping of the candle. With God melting us like wax, fire extinguishers are a no-no, it's better to be on fire with God. Then you are a candle for God.

No mountain can withstand God. Mountains melt like wax before Him. If you are one, come to Him and melt like wax.

And become His candle. Burn for Him. Shine for Him.

Though On Fire

There an angel of the LORD appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. Exodus 3:2

Have you been on fire? I have been.

He was my student. And he was a grandchild of the owner of the university where I teach. I was a rather young faculty at that time. At the start of the semester, I quickly noticed his name in connection to the university's owner. He was attending my classes but his exam scores where not enough to give him a passing mark.

Days before the giving of class cards, this student approached me regarding his grade in my course subject. He confirmed to me that he is a grandchild of the university's proprietor. And then he asked me about his standing in my class. I told him his situation of failing the subject. Suddenly his face changed, he warned me about being fired from my job if he will not pass my class. He told me he can go directly to the Human Resources (HR) and scratched my name from the personnel roster.

But I was firm. I told him if he is passing, I will put a passing grade for him. If he is not, then he is going to fail. Our discussion ended by him telling me to prepare and pack my things since my days are numbered in their university.

This is my first ever secular job. If I get fired from this one, I thought it won't look good in my career path. I prayed to God to take control. I prayed to God to be my comfort and refuge. God alone is my stronghold and solace. I wanted to do what is right and fair. And in my heart, I know God is in direct hand on these matters, for God will not abandon His faithful. I realized if they fire me for doing what is right, then I am working at the wrong place.

I failed the student. He went to the HR and asked the office to fire me. One employee in that office quickly disproved his plea, saying even if he is a descendant of the owner, the school does not do that without due process. And I taught in that university for about ten years, combining full-time and part-time capacity.

Though on fire, the bush was not consumed. For God is present.

Though on fire, I was not consumed. For God is with me.

Serving and Suffering

"Why do you treat your servant so badly?" Moses asked the LORD. Numbers 11:11

My father had a heart attack when I was actively serving God through Christ's Youth in Action (CYA), a movement for college students in the Philippines. In CYA, I was doing retreats, prayer meetings, keeping students in their relationship with Jesus, forming small groups of support and training young people for God's vineyard. Doing all these things, I received a small amount of compensation which was good for my food and transportation expenses. It was still vivid in my mind how my father succumbed to heart attack, as I was with him, when that happened. We quickly brought him to the nearest hospital for medical attention. After that, I continued to my CYA activities scheduled prior to the tragic event. I was thinking, I was giving a Christian Life Seminar (CLS) for college students while my father lies in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). I was trying to share a new lease of life to students yet my father lies dying. I was providing my time for God yet I can't even provide for my father's hospital bills. Every time, I came from each CYA event I was wondering if my father is still in coma or can be in a coffin.

When we are serving God, we sometimes think we are insulated from suffering. We maybe thinking we are super over hardships and difficulties of life. This is not the case. This is not true. We serve God since we are called and we were chosen. We partake in His work. Yet we still live in an imperfect world. We still breathe in a challenging broken world. When trials and problems come our way when we serve the Lord, this is the best time we can show God our steadfast loyalty. And His grace will always be available to strengthen His servants. We serve God not because we don't want to suffer but because we are privilege to serve to King of Kings.

During those trying times, wrestling with God and my lowly emotions, God enlightened me which I carry all my life - Serving God is not an excuse to suffering and suffering is not an excuse to serving God.

If You Have Been Here...

Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. John 11:21

Are we like Martha? Yes, sometimes we are.

We usually tell Jesus,....if you have been here....

- providing for our needs, we would not have starved.

- giving us good health, we would not have suffered.

- guiding us in our lives, we would not be lost.

- blessing us in our work, we would not be fired.

- directing our community, we would not be scattered.

- answering our prayers, we would not have gone astray.

We tend to put the blame on God in our misfortunes and sufferings. We tend to poke Him as if He is absent in our difficulties. We give Him our claim about how we have been struggling as if He is not blessing us all the days of our lives. We always look to Him as an escape goat for our misery and problems.

Our wretchedness and despair, most of time, are fruits of our own actions. Let us be accountable and be responsible.

God loves us unconditionally. God provides for our daily needs, may it be spiritual, physical and emotional. God is faithful even if we are not. God is ever present. God is with us. God is constant. God never fails. God looks after His children. God never abandons His flock.

Lord, you have been here. Lord, you are here now. Lord, you will be here. With us.

Feeding God's People With Yourselves

(Jesus) said to them, "There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves." Mark 14:16

My former pastoral leader did not turn me away……he just came from his board examination review traveling about 100 kilometers. He was tired in mind and body. But I called him saying I needed someone to talk to. I needed to talk to him about my struggles in loving God. He saw that I need not to go away. We met and he listened. I told him about my difficulties and challenges. He gave me his ears and full attention. He may have told me about his experiences but by his mere presence I was fed. By putting my personal stories into his ears like an earphone, I was filled and blessed.

Jesus told his disciples not to allow the people to go away but to feed them. We as His disciples, continue to provide for God's people. We give our time. We give our attention. We give our support. We give our words of encouragement. We give our shoulders for them to lean on. We give our hands to care and guide. We give our tired mind and bodies to likewise worn out followers of God. When we see His people hungry and lacking, we stand up and we give,

Our listening ears to a brother struggling in his weakness.
Our attentive presence to a child.
Our time to fellow followers who need food for the soul.
Our hands to caress the hurt and broken.
Our shoulders for someone who is weak and tired.

We give our lives and we give our time. We feed God's people with ourselves.

God's people need not to go away, when we give ourselves away.