Uncategorized

They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.' Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The Messiah of God." Luke 9:19-20

If you are maintaining a blog in wordpress.com, you may have encountered this word - UNCATEGORIZED. Sorry, I can't speak about other free blog providers if they have the same vocabulary. So why this word, uncategorized, shows up in your blog. I mean, what happened why the word comes out in your blog. Maybe you forgot to click your favorite topic categories on the right side of your dashboard. You excitedly write your thoughts and you quickly push that publish icon. When you viewed your important post, you saw that your post is under uncategorized category. Another possibility is this, you wrote a post spontaneously. Your insight juices kicked in. Your fingers found their way on your keyboard. As you conclude your article, you do not have a tag for this excellent written idea. And because it might be one of your priceless posts you decided to publish it anyway, under uncategorized.

During Jesus' time, He was like uncategorized. People do not know who Jesus really is since they had different angles at the way they perceived who He is, People do not know where He came from or what He is. They mistaken Him for the man who prepared the way. They also thought He was a present day Elijah. Another one of the popular hits is that He may be one of the old prophets who just came out from the grave. It took a retired fisherman to categorized Jesus. But the cool thing is this, among those who were trying to categorize Jesus, only Peter was named personally. Others who tried to were called "crowds" and "others". So here is my sideline slam dunk - categorizing Jesus is personal. Knowing Jesus is personal.

So how about you, my friend? How do you categorize Jesus? Are you a crowd who say He is John the Baptist? Or others who categorize Him as Elijah or one of the prophets? Or a Peter who personally replied Jesus is the Messiah of God?

Here is my suggestion. Be like Peter. Walk with Jesus. Eat with Jesus. Live with Jesus. Chat with Jesus. Be a disciple.

In your life, don't let Jesus be uncategorized.

More Precious than Silver and Gold

Mine is the silver and mine the gold, says the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:8

We deposited an amount in one house which we are interested. Since we had a falling out with the sellers, our team (attorney, real estate agent and loan officer) told us we ought to get the whole deposit. In turn, the sellers with their own team insisted they hold the whole deposit. Our lawyer was very positive that we do not have a contract with them thus we have every right to every cent of the put down. Our lawyer even encouraged us to get into small claims court to settle the dispute. On the other hand, my wife and I were discussing on how we approach the matter. Bottom line is, these are money. God provided us with this amount. Also, bringing someone to court is not our cup of Christianity, not considering the stress that goes with it. Though it may be unfair, we were ready to lose the whole amount of the deposit. If they will say we did not fight for our right then it may be said so. But we do not own those funds, God owns them. If the sellers think they are entitled to the funds, then maybe they needed it for something. At the end, the sellers gave us about ten percent of the deposit.

God owns silver and gold. He provides for His people. If other people need it, we give it even we worked for it. We do not have bragging rights on anything that He has given. Anything He has given may be taken away anytime. However our security is we have a God who owns it all. He will continue to provide. He will continue to bless. He will continue shower us with what we need.

He owns silver and gold. And He owns us.

More than silver and gold, we are precious to Him. His heart is filled for our attention not of sparkles of gold nor brightness of silver.

More precious than silver and gold is our God. No amount of money can complete us. No asset can satisfy us. Only through Him we have life.

We are to Him, more precious than silver and gold. He is to us, more precious than silver and gold.

Equal Portion

He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases... Luke 9:1

Oh yes!

Can you guess where this article going to?

Jesus called the Twelve. And then, He gave them the power and authority to drive out demons and heal the sick. Jesus did not provided more grace to Peter since Peter is the rock. Jesus did not give more power to John since John is the beloved disciple. Jesus did not bless Thomas more gifts even if Thomas will doubt later. Jesus did not held back something to someone. He gave equal blessing to everyone. He gave equal grace to everyone. He gave equal power to everyone. No disciple is greater or lesser. What James has that is what Judas has. The same power in Andrew is in Matthew. The healing gift of Mark is the same healing grace of Philip.

This gives us more than what Jesus gave them. It gives us confidence. It gives us courage. We can do what our leaders can do. We can do what our members can do. We are given the same blessings. We are given the same grace and power. We are provided with the same Spirit. It will take yielding to His power and strength to do so, of course.

No one can say, "I can't stand up and preach like Edwin." No one may think, 'If I only have the same grace like Benedict, I can lead the church." No one can put down himself, "I am called to serve only in the chairs ministry." No one can lift himself, "I am called to higher level of service."

You have what others have. Others have what you have. Of God's power and grace, we are provided with equal portion.

Work-ship the Lord!

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9

…..he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.

Are you on your workplace now? Are you on your post? Maybe you are sitting or standing. Well, here is a good news. Jesus has His eyes on you. Just as He saw Matthew, Jesus sees you. Not to guard your actions or words. Not to audit your behavior. He has His eyes on you for you are in His heart. He has His eyes on you for He has called you where you are. Your workplace is your altar. Your workplace is His cathedral. His presence is in your work and workplace.

…..He said to him, “Follow me.”

Follow Jesus in your work. Whatever your profession is, our call is to be obedient to Jesus. It is easier to follow Christ when you are in church or community but this obedience is challenged mainly in workplaces especially when you work secularly. His grace surmounts where our loyalty to Him is confronted in our workplaces. Commit to His commandments while you are in your work. Observe His ways in doing your work. Go after Jesus’ promotion rather than your promotion.

And he got up and followed him…….

Matthew stood up. You can stand up, too. Be on the offense rather than to be in the defensive side. Take initiative, go beyond your job description. Complement and compliment others rather than compete with others. Do not allow wrongdoings find you sitting down. By His strength, stand up when a green joke is thrown. Stand up when a negative thought is in mind. Stand up when an urge for using office supplies for personal reasons is felt. Stand up when your office man-time is inefficient. Stand up when a co-worker whispers a gossip. Stand up when argument needs a peacemaker. Stand up and follow Jesus.

Jesus called you to be at your workplace. He is calling you to follow Him in your work. Your work is your worship to Him.

Work-ship the Lord!

Fulfilled at the Background

……who provided for them out of their resources. Luke 8:3

She cooked our meals for the day. She did our laundry for the week and iron them when dry. She kept our house tidy and neat. She acted like our mother. No, she is not our mother. She is our Ate Amy. One of the two older sisters. Since we were eight growing kids in the family, she has to step up. Also, since our Ate Nette can’t hear nor speak, Ate Amy has to be the “oldest sister”. Let me reiterate my point. We have always have a good start in the morning at school because of the fried eggs she prepared in our breakfast table. We have always looked good in our school uniforms because of her hands at work. We always have time to work our own stuff because she had to do chores for us. She all did this as she went through school up to its completion. And when she landed to her secular job, she gave a financial cushion to the family. In the absence of our loving parents and caring aunt, she is the glue which holds our family together. She provided out of her time and pleasure so we may get our feet to stand. She has provided out of her own so we may fly and achieve. And she is fulfilled at the background so we can take the forefront.

As Jesus and His disciples preached and proclaimed, there were women and other nameless people who provided for them so they may do their mission. These people gave out of their own resources. Maybe they pooled their money to fund the mission. Maybe they pooled their time so they can work on something for the mission to expand. They provided so others may provided. They worked so other may work. They responded to their call so others may fulfill their call. They supported so others may give support. They were in the background so others may be at the forefront.

Can you think of something else you can provide so others may provide? Do you think you can give something so others may do their service?

You can be the wind under someone’s wings.

Give out of your resources. Provide out of your own. Be fulfilled at the background.

The Traveling God

Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Luke 8:1

The traveling salesman problem. Yeah, it is a college course problem where the salesman who travels along several towns and must pass all towns minimizing distance covered throughout the travel. As he passes through one town, he looks at other options where to go next, keeping in mind he must find the next shortest distance from where he is. Accordingly, this problem can be solved by many optimization techniques. Bottom line is, the fabled salesman must minimize his travel no matter what process of solution is utilized.

Jesus traveled from one town to another. And in His travel, I must be sure that he is not minimizing something else but Jesus is maximizing His reach. He is not after decreasing His distance but He is increasing the number of people who would turn to the good news of the kingdom of God. And Jesus does not keep an algorithm to follow just plain and simple proclamation of the gospel. Further, this is where it comes personal, Jesus travels with us. He journeys with us. Maximizing His grace and love to wherever we are. If you are in your village of joy, He shares with your gladness. He is into your town of serenity when you need rest from distress. When you are stuck in your worry town, He stays to be your stronghold. He travels where our life places us.

He journeys with us. He travels with us. His purpose is to maximize His presence in our lives. He is our traveling God.

Still Standing by the Cross of Christ

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. John 19:25

We came together for one reason. To celebrate the twenty-fifth (25th) anniversary of Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon (Lingkod). To celebrate God's call for us in Lingkod. To celebrate God's faithfulness and empowerment. After twenty-five long years, we are still standing by the cross of Christ. We came from different backgrounds and different places from the Philippines and presently living in different states in North America yet received one call from one God to live one way of life.

I met some of them before the gathering; however, few of them were simply names. But when we got together in one shed, we exchanged blessings. When we got together in one table, we shared resources. When we got together in one place, we were united in purpose.

As we worship the same God who called us in the same community, we sang the same songs. We worship the same God in the same stance. After all these years, we are the same brothers and sisters. We are still in awe by the same God. We have the same hearts with the same vision and the same mission. By God's strength, we are still standing by the cross of Christ. Through the joys of the cross, we have been sustained. Through the sorrows of the cross, we have been shaped.

It would not have been possible if not for Jesus' constant love and faithfulness. We would not have gathered if not with His Spirit who enables. We would not have gone this far if not for His grace and mercy.

We are still standing by the cross of Christ for Christ is still standing by us.

Single Control

And let the peace of Christ control your hearts……… Colossians 3:15

Have you notice or not yet? The control keypad (CTRL) in your computer keyboard is powerful. Combined with other keys, the CTRL can make things happen. From copying, to pasting, and repeating your actions, or undoing your actions, and saving your file and a lot more, CTRL is it! But the downside is, you can do what the CTRL can do using your mouse or using the navigation keys. This sends me to my point, CTRL key is just another way of making things happen.

Does your heart experience the same?

Our hearts can be controlled by several matters. It can be controlled by good things. Good things like gladness from a job promotion, exuberance due to financial security, or enthusiasm in life because of good health. Or it can be controlled by not so good things. Not so good things like anger from family disputes, concern over receding bank accounts’ balance, or worry from job uncertainty. Paul wrote “Let the peace of Christ control your hearts”, stresses the fact that Christ is the reality while other ways of control are but shadows. If our hearts are controlled by these shadows, our lives are not founded and firm. Your heart’s control depends on the state of matters – good or bad.

Friends, let the peace of Christ reign in our hearts. We rest and we sleep in peace only with Christ’s peace. Let not our hearts be directed by shadows. Let Jesus manage our hearts. Let us allow Jesus to take single control. Let the peace of Christ control our hearts.

Who is your Jesus?

He ordered them not to tell anyone……… Mark 7:36

His sermon made sense. The priest was explaining why Jesus commanded the people not to tell anyone. After Jesus made the man speak, He told them not to speak about it. The priest said the reason behind was that people perceived Jesus just to be another miracle worker. People believed Jesus was just one of the many who worked magic. I once watched a bible-based children’s cartoon with my daughters which depicted the same situation. The father of the boy who had demon in him was getting tired of various miracle workers who were looking at his son but to no avail. When he heard of Jesus’ disciples working miracles in their town, he was reluctant to try them out. He went to the disciples anyway after his wife’s prodding. When the disciples were not victorious in his son, he was more discouraged and very disappointed for his son’s condition.

Jesus is a miracle worker. Jesus is a healer. However, He is beyond that. He is more than that. Jesus is our Savior. Jesus is our Lord and God. With Jesus as our savior, He will not disappoint for He died on the cross for our sins. With Jesus as our Lord and God, we will not be discouraged for He is always in control and He makes all things work for good for those who love Him.

Is Jesus just a miracle worker for you? Does He stands around and when you need some big time miracle you come to Him? Are you discouraged or disappointed when He does not make miracles happen in your life?

Who is your Jesus? Please tell anyone.

From the First Until the Last

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Mathew 1:1

I was in the brink of shedding some tears as I let them go. This is the first day of their new grade levels, Praise and Bless. Praise just entered her fifth grade class and Bless came in into her second grade class. I was having this first day jitters in me. They are about to climb yet another mountain. They about to jump over yet another hurdle. They are about to embark into new challenges. They are about to enter into new lessons and new insights. Maybe meet new friends and definitely have new teachers. I was thinking how my daughters will fare in this new phase of their lives.

The genealogy of Jesus assures us of God as a promise keeper. It gives us the guarantee of God’s faithfulness from generations to generations. Our God looks after His people from one level to the next. He takes care of our ancient roots up to our future shoots. Centuries after centuries, God provides for His people. Decades by decades, God continues to walk with His people. Year by year, God is faithful and protects.

God took care of us when we were in our childhood. God protected us when we were in our teen years. He was faithful during our going to mature years. And He will do the same to our children. He will make sure they will overcome those mountains through His grace. He will give them the strength to hurdle each obstacle. His love, promise and faithfulness endure from generations to generations. Just like what God did with Jesus’ roots. Just like what God did with us. From the first until the last.

Bringing People to God

And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. Mark 7:32

Maybe he did not hear about Jesus. Maybe he can't talk about Jesus healing him. Maybe this deaf man does not have the heart to find his way to Jesus. Maybe he can come up to Jesus but do not know where to start. And so, people brought him to Jesus. People presented to Jesus his deafness and speech problem. People did not stop there, they begged Jesus to lay His hand on him.

Did you see two efforts in there? Action and reflection.

Bringing people to God requires action. They brought him to Jesus. They moved. They walked. Talk is cheap. You can be the best speaker in town but if your actions do not define your propositions, I do not where things are going to end up to. We must change to expect change in others. By the grace of God, this happened. When I met God in a strong personal way, change begun in me. I was a problem kid in the family but not after that. I prayed every morning and my younger brother, who shares the room with me, saw I am not the same as I was before. Soon, he joined the community I am with. I am not sure if I invited him but he became closer to God. My two other sisters followed likewise.

Reflection is important when bringing people to God. People begged Jesus for healing of the deaf man. They prayed to God in behalf of the man. They interceded together. They pleaded to God. They were in unison for one purpose. Where two or more are gathered in His name, He is there in their midst - Matthew 18:20. Jesus hears our united prayers. Jesus heeds our consolidated one petition. Jesus is present in our collective single concern.

Friends, keep action and reflection in your life. Expect people be brought to God.

All Things Well

"He has done all things well....." Mark 7:37

"What does the future look like?", she asked.

I was walking with Bless, my younger daughter, when she inquired on that highly touted question. I guess she has that question lingering in her mind since we discuss in our family our options in life. I told her future is good if you do good in your present. Telling her that if she studies well, her future looks bright. If I work well, the future will work well for me, I added.

And as we walk further, she started to sing "Amazing Grace". And then I realized, God's grace working in us.

I had to append my answer back to Bless' question. I told her God will take care of the future and as well as the present, it's not about what we did or have done. It's all about what God has done, is doing and will do. There is assurance all things in the future will go well, for He has done all things well. No bad event. No situation worth taking back. No day His grace has gone down. No part of history He will erase. No part of your life He will regret. No part of your childhood He will rewrite. No part of our books He will revise. No part of His masterpiece He will repaint. God has done all things well.

He has done all things well. No mention of what we have done in the equation- He has done. No exception to the His rule - All things. No compromising His standard, His track record always says - Well.

Believe. Look forward. Continue walking with Him. Let's get excited about the future!

Stability In Christ

…provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister. Colossians 1:23

Power system stability is being able to hold or go back to an acceptable condition despite a disturbance. It is not the state of absence of disturbances. When a power system is operated, it is exposed to various disturbance. The control of the system and control of generators allow the system to hold or go back to an operating condition sufficient to allow delivery of power continuously. There are parameters on which each disturbance must be handled to maintain stability: duration and location of the disturbance. To keep stability a disturbance must be cleared in a certain limited time. Also, the power system at some point has weak locations where disturbance(s) can happen and can result to catastrophic failures leading to instability. In order to keep stability, protection and control are designed to mitigate those high risk conditions.

Disturbance? We have them. Sorts of problems. Families are having hard time to be together. Work is having hard time to be permanent. Health is having hard time to be well conditioned. Mortgage and bills are having hard time to be met.

Stability? We have it in Christ alone. We are firmly grounded. We do not shift away from the hope of the gospel.

We know we are stable in Jesus when we have a disturbance yet we hold on to the hope of the gospel. We have stability not because we can stand the storm but because God shields us in the storm. We have stability not because we can control things but because God is in control. We have stability not because we protect our own but because God is our protector- our refuge and stronghold. We have stability not because of our own strength but because God's power is made perfect in our weakness.

We are exposed to disturbances. But we have stability in Christ.

Above All Else

…….that in all things he himself might be preeminent. Colossians 1:18

We were expecting the same stage. We conceptualized the choreography and conducted dance practices thinking we will be using the same spot. At the very day of the presentation, the venue was transferred to a skating rink in a mall. The new stage was entirely different with the one we got used to. It was small and narrow. We have about thirty dancers who can’t fit in the new platform. We gathered, prayed and thought about how we can be flexible regarding the change of stage upon dancing in the tune of the song “Above All Else”. I thought this is where we will show God that He alone is above all else. This is the situation where we are challenged to prove God is above all else. No change of venue will change that. No matter how narrow or how short is the stage. No shattered expectations will alter that. At the end of the dance number, the presentation was unexpectedly done in the best way, more than we imagined and hoped for.

Has your venue changed recently? You migrated from one country to another. You transferred from one state to another. Your state of life has changed. Your lifestyle is entirely different compared last year. You jumped to college from high school. Someone might have left your family or circle or friendship. Your wallet has more space than before. Your patience is narrow and short lately. You planned and expected this way but another way showed up. You practice your life’s choreography yet a change of venue happened.

This is your best opportunity, my friend! Jesus is preeminent in all things, Paul wrote. Meaning before all things, Jesus is most excellent, top, supreme, greatest, and unsurpassed. Above all else, Jesus is at the top. Our Lord is supreme and unsurpassed before all things. Don’t allow your change of venue change that. Prove your faith is unchanging in your altered situation. Be steadfast in your loyalty despite unexpected turn of events.

Things change. Places change. Situations change. Put Jesus above all else.

Dip Deep

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Luke 5:4

When we went to York, Maine for our family vacation, I decided to dip into the beach. If you know the beach in Maine, probably you are smiling now. You are thinking, "Can you handle that freezing ocean water?". Well, I did. But not for long. I tried to immerse myself thinking the cold feeling will subside yet my bones felt the chill. Then I said, I can make myself warm in the hotel's spa pool. But as I got my feet into the spa, I quickly stood out up. I can not take to dip in what it seemed to be like the hot springs in Coron, Palawan, Philippines. My last resort was to swim in the heated pool where the water temperature was more like it. In this pool, I did my swimming strokes, I dove and I played with my girls all because I was comfortable.

Whoa! I'm very sure you can relate with this!

We go deep with God only when it is comfortable. We tend to quit on Him when heat takes its place in our lives. When it seems God has a cold heart on our petitions we are on our way to the exit door. We follow Him only when it is in season but not during out of season. When our tired souls experience the situation of "I've had have enough.", we doubt His direction to go deeper. When work or family problems surmount, we pull out from His well. When our cash are not cold, we jump out of His pool. Our direction is to stay with Him, hot or cold or comfortable. Dip deep even when your logic tells you to not to.

Peter might have tried everything he knew about fishing that night yet caught nothing. But when he dipped deep, his nets almost wrecked. Have you tried everything but have nothing? Follow Jesus and dip deep.

Bunso

……"Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Mark 10:14

We were there when she was born. We saw her grow and glow. As older siblings, we took turns in taking care of her. We put her in the stool when its time to eat. We gathered around to teach her how to walk. We looked after her as she made her first step in school. Before our eyes, we witness how she grows and make a mark of her own. But still, we ask her where she has been or where she is going. We inquire whom she is with. We continue to protect her. We admonish her if needed. We still gather around her teach her how to walk in life. We still look after her good in times of good or bad. We do not spoil her nor boxed her, but we love her. Her face is our face. Her name is our name. Her heart is our heart. She is our bunso.

Don't you feel like bunso before Jesus? He never gets tired of taking care of us. He brings us to the table of feast. He teaches us how to walk in faith. He looks after us for each step after another in this hard pressed life. Before His eyes, our growth in loving and following Him is the main purpose. He gives us grace to make a mark for Him. He uses where we have been to carry us to where we are going. He warns us the bad company corrupts our character. He admonishes us. He is there consistently for us in good and bad times. He does not spoil us yet He loves us unconditionally. He makes way for us to come to Him. He protects our way toward Him. We are created in His image and likeness. Our face is His face. Our name is His name. Our heart is His heart. We are His bunso.

P.S. For my non-Filipino readers, if there is any (LOL), "Bunso" is a Filipino word for the youngest child in the family.

Just Like The Weather

And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, "Isn't this the son of Joseph?" Luke 4:22

I really thought I have seen it all. Back in the Philippines, the weather bureau will declare a rainy day then the sun will shine brightly. Many times, storm will hit our place but afterward, the burning heat of the sun is felt. Classes are suspended because of a typhoon however at the last minute; the typhoon suspends its visit, too. Here in New York, you will be swept away on how fast the weather can change. It rains cats and dogs but afterward people are coming out of their houses to enjoy the sun. It feels pretty chilly in one hour yet scorching temperature the next hour. I bet that is the reason why they call it weather forecast since it can not be predicted accurately. Weather can change at once without notice.

And we are just like the weather. One minute, we spoke highly of God and are amazed of who He is. In the next moment, we question His nature. We worship Him later we doubt Him. We give Him our lives in a while we withdraw. We receive help from Him shortly we forget Him. We follow Him radically, and then suddenly, we take a U-turn. Most of the time, our faith can not be forecasted. Sometimes our commitment to Him is unpredictable. We quickly change our minds. We swiftly alter our stand. We quickly repaint our hearts.

Our God is constant, He never change. He loved us, He loves us, He will love us. And His love is all the same. Not just like the weather.

May we be constant in following Him. May we be predictable in loving Him. May we be unchanging in our devotion for Him. May we be not just like the weather.

The War Within

For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' Mark 7:21-23

Choices of the Heart. This was a talk I heard when I was in college during a retreat. The speaker told us about the choices God made to express His love for us. How God came to choosing of not letting us go. The Father made the loving decision to allow His beloved Son to suffer and die for His people. And in that presentation, it was also emphasized that we have to make a choice in our hearts, to love God back or not. I was stunned by the simple yet powerful insight that it all starts with the heart. It all begins within. To love God or to shun Him, it all boils down in the heart.

Up to this day, Jesus is clear on this. The war is within. The battle is fought in our hearts. Our hearts are an arena of contrasting directions. Within us is a place where gladiators clashed. Second after second, we are exposed to opposing powers within us. Each minute, inside us, we are to choose whether to be a disciple of God or not. Every hour, we have the opportunity starting from within us to show our loyalty or disloyalty to Jesus.

Which is why, we need to examine our hearts before Him. We ought to vacuum our inside from unclean emotions and spirits. We have to map around our hearts to make sure we are leaving no space for any evil force. When you commit sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly, you can not fault somebody else. For the war is within.