Non-Stop

...., but whoever endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:22

There is no stopping.

Family problems. Parents having marital issues. Parents getting into mid life crisis. Parents getting into unemployment. Kids getting expose to the culture of the outside world. Children thinking independent of their parents up to the point not obeying their old folks. Children have to be reminded daily of their significance even without performance.

Financial problems. Credit cards full. Savings don't save you. Only income is not enough to get you by. You wanted to help others but you can't even help yourself. You won't turn down a plea from a relative if you have more but you have less for yourself. You try to cut expenses but there is no portion to cut.

Natural and man-made calamities happen weekly, from month to month. Earthquakes rock nations and families. Typhoon takes away lives and properties. These shatter infrastructure and progress. Bombing hugs the headlines almost everyday. Life takes away lives. Humanity on the edge of a cliff.

There will always be something somewhere stopping someone.

Jesus tells us one direction,"..., but whoever endures to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:22. You are not promise of a smooth sailing ocean ride. The current will always be present. The tide will always give you nerves. They will not stop to stop you. They will not sit down and watch you go by them. If these will not stop in stopping you, you don't have to stop. Your life don't need postponement or cancellation because things happen.

Problems and concerns are non-stop, so be you.

Born Into A Battle

...and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

This king will be protected.

In the war on the chessboard. Every subordinate will make sure their king is standing. All strategies point to shielding this king whether the move is attacking or retreating. In this battle, they will sacrifice oneself for their king. They will go after their demise as long as their king sits on his throne. Not even sure if that will assure victory. This king who can only make one step at a time and that's all.

This King will protect.

In the war starting at the manger. For a short time, he will have shepherds and wise men as short time subordinates.  All strategies point to this King protecting his people up until his death on the cross. He will go after the enemy. Defeat sin by dying sinless. Defeat death by death. In this battle, the King lives, will die and will live for his people. A King whose love for his people is expressed by being one of them. He will claim back his people. He will emerge as victorious King. This King who can and who will make all steps in every place and in every time to bring you over to his kingdom.

This King is born to give abundance and unexplainable joy. Most importantly, he is born into a battle.

Unfamiliar

...and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

I woke up in an unfamiliar place.

Once a month, we go down to New Jersey to attend our community's prayer meeting. To cut cost on hotel, my family sleeps over a brother and sister's home before or after the meetings. We sleep in their comfortable basement yet every time I wake up in the morning, I get this unfamiliarity. I have to take my whole bag to the bathroom, which I don't do at home. I come up to their breakfast table wondering where will I get my tea or food which I usually and easily does in our kitchen back home. In all these unfamiliarity, I get to miss our home.

He woke up in an unfamiliar place.

Manger. Hays and horses. Lowly shepherds and wise men mixing it up. Teenage mother bearing him in her arms. Carpenter father looking with amazement. This is the first sight of Jesus' eyes. Unfamiliar.

He is King, now he is an infant. He is worshiped day and night, now he is in the middle of a dark cold night. He tells angels to come here and there, now he is dependent on his earthly parents. He has a Father who created the universe, the world, everything, now he has a father who creates something out of wood.

Let me tell you why he is in this unfamiliar place. For him to become familiar to you. He came to that unfamiliar place to come near to you for you to know him and love him. He came to that unfamiliar place for you to know how much he will go to express his love for you.

Wake up!

Lost Will Be Found

In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost. Matthew 18:14

It's a weird feeling.

Having your child being lost.

We were at a fast food and she was playing at the play place portion of the facility. Her mother went to the counter to get more food. I stayed to watch over our stuff. I thought she was still playing, she thought our child was with me. When my wife came back to our table, she asked for her. I looked at the play place, and she was not there. We went near it, to look inside and out, she is not there. Within this short time, our eyes wandered and she wandered. Couple of minutes passed, we found her just outside the food store. She may have assumed we have gone without her or she may have lost her way around the packed fast food.

You want to shout. You want to scream. You want to stay calm. There's a feeling of fear with sort of hysteric nature. There's this great rush of cold perspiration going through your veins out of your skin. One second, your child is with you. One second she is not. And when found, never to let her go astray again.

Does the Father feel the same way when one is lost and search for the lost one?

He leaves behind the other ninety-nine and goes further to shout and scream his or her name. Every step gives him fear he won't find him or her. Every step has every heart beating to worry where is he or she now? He goes and never come back until he or she is found. Look. It's not the will of the Father we get lost. We wander from our home. We go astray from his sight.

I know how the Father may have felt. So he does everything.

Everything including sending his only Son into the belly of Mary.

So the lost will be found.

A Strange Way to Save the World

And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God." Luke 1:35

Clark Kent is Superman. Peter Parker is Spiderman. Bruce Banner is the Hulk. Maria Mendoza is called Wonder Woman. I can go on and on and on.

These superheroes become extra-ordinary from ordinary. A journalist changing into a flying super strong man. A teenage guy becoming a high leaping, wall crawling protagonist. A physicist being magnified physically and turn into a high level humanoid.

An expected way to save the world. From ordinary to extra-ordinary. From zero to hero. From weak to strong. From needing a savior to being the savior.

When the angel announced to Mary on how God would save us, it was just the opposite.

A Son of God will be born on earth to save mankind. Yet, he will be born weak, a baby. He will be born out of a teenage mother, not a queen. He will have a carpenter, not a king, as a father. Ambiance of a manger smell will first go into his nose. Poor shepherds will be among his first visitors.

A strange way to save the world. From being God to being man. From being a majestic King to being an infant depending on his parents. From being strong to being weak. From being the Son of God to being a son of a wood worker.

There are things you don't understand on how God works, yet God works, all the time for your good. Your manger is his palace. His small arms holds your world. His baby breath gives life to you. His cries are the answer to your prayers.

God comes to save you. God will come to save you. But don't expect the same route.

Zebedee

...and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 4:22

He let them left him.

They were in the middle of their livelihood. They were helping him out feed the family. The sons were mending the nets with their father when they got the calling to mend the world. Without questions, the brothers followed Jesus. Without questions, Zebedee allowed his sons.

There is a great amount of stories written about the brothers but not about their father. Allowing his sons to leave him and live for Jesus is a sign of how this father knows God's plan for his sons. Letting his sons walk after Jesus and not after him is a symbol of his hands offering his sons to the Messiah. Right in the middle of their work, he moved his motivation behind God's work. A father recognizing the Father.

He is my Zebedee.

We were not a well to do family. I have one older sister working at that time. My older brother has taken over our family business from our father. Another older brother, who was expected to help out the family in a bigger way,  suddenly died. My father expected me to contribute to the family income as I garnered my college degree. However, before I graduated, I came to know Christ in a personal way. At the last year of my studies, I was actively serving in a college missions movement. As I was waiting for the board examination results, I volunteered to serve. After the results came in, I felt God's call to spend more time to work for the college movement. Postponing my entry to the secular world will be a difficulty for my family. I know I will have a hard time to get my father's nod on this.

I was cringing nervous as I spoke with him about my intentions to stay in the campus to work for the ministry. I expected him to raise objections. He has to. After all his hard work, after all these years, here I am telling him I will not be contributing to the family's sinking funds for I will be working for free for the movement. He has been waiting for this day for me to step up into the plate and swing my bat. After I gave my piece, he said yes. He allowed me to serve. He allowed me to follow. He let me leave him to love Him.

Behind a  disciple is a father who let him walk away from him and walk towards the Father. Behind a minister or a priest is a father who recognized the Father as the father of all. Behind a John and/or a James, is a father -- a Zebedee.

Don't Blink!

Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. Mark 13:33

You got YouTube.

So even if you missed the winning run for the inevitable touchdown, you can search for that video and play it again and again.

The killer shot. You watched from the beginning until the last one minute. But you have to go somewhere else. You had to leave the game. Your team won and you want to see how it went up. That's why YouTube is here for you.

You were thinking of your favorite TV show as you drove that night. You still want to get a glimpse of the end parts as you push that pedal but to no avail. YouTube saved it for you.

Can't get into this very important family affair? Ask your relatives to post it on YouTube. Not everything is captured but you will feel you are there already.

There is a rewind. There is a replay.

But not on this.

Jesus comes at a time we don't know. Nobody knows. Not even your pastor. Nobody will be able to record it. When he comes, it's unannounced. When he comes, you must be ready. You must be awake. There is no way you can replay it on YouTube for when you missed it, you missed it forever.

That's why Jesus admonishes us all. Be watchful! Be alert! Watch!

You can. Make him your Lord. Be his servant. Pray daily. Read his word everyday. Love and serve him. Be a man or a woman for others.

Open your eyes by opening your heart for him. Don't ever blink!

The Less Is Not The Least

...and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. Luke 21:2

Luke paints a picture of less.

Poor. Widow. Two. Small. Coins.

If that is not a case of lack of something, I don't know what it is.

Poor is having not much. It is a state of need of enough or of more. Pockets are full of air. Bank account can't be counted.

Widow is having no company. No hands to hold but yours. No walks with somebody. No dinner with somebody. Sleeping all alone in a cold night.

Two small coins sound like not much in her purse. Even if these metals clash, no sound will be heard from a good distance. If you drop them in a collection box, even the dropper's ear might miss the fall.

Yet this less is not the least, for Jesus notices it.

How many times you retreated in giving because you have less? How many times you were prevented from helping because you have not much?

Does this sound familiar, "If only I have more money, more time, more resources, more skills then I can give." Luke's painting tells us this is a myth.

For even in times of less, you can bless. Even in times of not much, you can do much. Even in times of lack, you can give back.

For Jesus, for Luke, for the widow and for you...the less is not the least.

Hanging On His Words

...because all the people were hanging on his words. Luke 19:48

They hung on his words.
He said as long as he is running the company, he will take care of their family.
They just came from the Philippines to the United States and the boss came to their apartment to assure that the company or him will do whatever it takes for the family to hurdle this new start of life. He was thinking twice in pursuing his employment with them since the company was small and was given a salary not enough to feed the family and pay the rent of the apartment. This salary grade was even noted by the boss. From that day on, they hung on his words. From that night, the family held tight on his promise. He was getting calls from headhunters left and right, by email or by social media messages but turned them all down because he was hanging on his words.
After three years, he laid him off. Not because he was performing poorly, in fact he was not. The boss even repeated, what he always tells him, that he sees himself in the employee the way he worked hard for their company. For whatever reason he may have, which up to now he doesn't clearly understand, they hung on his words and his words let them down.

Life is full of these stories.

You heard him or her say, "Till death do us part.", yet now he or she is filing for a divorce. Your father told you he'll come to your school activity however up until the end you did not see his shadows. Or a girlfriend for a decade suddenly dumps you through text message. Or a friend who gave his words that when you need them most, he takes them back. You hung on their words and they let you down.

Any man's words will let you down at some point. And boy, isn't it comforting, Jesus is not only a man, but first and foremost -- he is God.

You can hang on his words. You can hold on to his promises. He says he'll die for you, he did. He says he will rise for you, his tomb is empty. He says his love is eternal, look at the cross. He says come out and walk on the water, focus your eyes on Peter. He says feed my sheep, offer your lunch. Everything works out for our good, wait and see. You can do all things through him who strengthens you, you can and no exceptions. He says, you'll get the job, you're now on your 8th month with the company. He says this, hang on to this. He says that, hang on to that.

He will not disappoint. He will never let you down. You hold tightly. He holds more tightly.

Hang on his words.

Hiding Myself

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter;so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.' Matthew 25:24-25

"Why wear a cap when you have a hair worth showing."

This was my barber asking me. He noticed I was almost always wearing this baseball cap. He also noted that by putting this on my head, my hair was at some point is being disfigured.

As I looked at the mirror, I think he is right. I have a hair for the world to see. So from that day on, if not really needed I decided not to wear a cap over my hiding my hair.

I also hid something for sometime now-- myself.

I made excuses not to write and update this blog. One major thing is that I am new to my work. In that case, I have to focus entirely on this career. I don't want to get laid off again. I wanted to perform above the expectations. Thus, this ministry has to go to the parking lot. Another reason is I want to give my time to my family. Because I'm spending more time at the office, it's only right to share some time to my family. And this is only right. However, I'm not so successful in this area. My body may be with them but not my mind and my heart -- I'm still thinking what will I do at work in the coming day or next week. Lastly, I thought I was too much of a sinner to write about him. I felt unworthy and I'm not wrong. But his call is to be faithful not be worthy.

Until, God gave me a "thud" through this parable.

Gifts from him should not be buried. Ministry from him should not be hidden. The call to share his word and work does not enter the storage room.

So, here I am. Showing up again.

With his grace by using his gifts, I'm coming out, from hiding myself.

More Than Words

For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the holy Spirit and (with) much conviction. 1 Thessalonians 1:5

Words are all around. You can read intelligent words from bookstores. Let's not go far away, from your bookshelves. Words which inform and give you new insights.

Words are passed around. Find your cellphone and you'll find enlightening messages from a friend.

Words are liked around. You click like when your Facebook friend cites those wonderful words of a great author.

You realize the inspiration coming from those words may live by, but not for long. They may stay with you for a day, if better, for a week or month. Are you ready for this test? Do you remember the words of your friend's status which you liked on his Facebook wall? Have the words from that famous author faded from your heart?

The Gospel is not like this.

It comes to us, and when it comes to us, it comes to us more than words. It comes in the power of God's Spirit. With conviction, it is relayed to us. God's words are not mere words alone. His words do not come to us as words alone. God's words are him. Has power. Has his holy Spirit. Has conviction. We hear him and we are never the same, not only for a day, not only for a week or for a month. We are never the same for our lifetime and beyond.

His words are more than words.

Funding God

My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

She changes the station.

This is what a friend does when the listener funded Christian radio station starts their fund drive on the air. For about a good two weeks, the deejays are calling out for listeners to pledge their financial support to uphold the radio operations for the coming six months. They employ a lot of strategies just for listeners to make the call or go to their website to get financial help. So, instead of all Christian pop songs playing, you hear the deejays how much is still needed to cover local stations throughout the United States.

I understand her. It's sometimes annoying to hear someone asking persistently for something. Especially if you want music but they ask for money. These are two different things, right?

How blessed are we! God doesn't change stations when he hear our pleas and intercessions. Paul says, "My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." God provides for our needs. Daily or long term resources in order for us to live for his glory, for his kingdom, God supplies. Each time you have a fund drive for your life to prosper or for your ministry to go on, he hears you. He does not get tired of your voice calling out for him to give, for him to provide. You don't need to strategics for him to give, as long as you need it, he will supply it.  Your prayers for your needs and others needs are pure music to his hears. No matter what you need, in accord with his riches and glory in Christ, you will receive it.


Whatever you need, he gives. Whenever you need it, he meets. Wherever you need it, he shows up. You will not get short. You will not lack in anything. God will supply fully and complete.

He is our funding God.

Death from a Passion

The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. Matthew 22:6

Through an invitation, they were killed.

Just by spreading the feast being opened to them, the messengers suffered their end of life. The prophets before Jesus, John the baptist, the disciples who followed Christ.


That maybe true in those years, but not so much with us.

But they still can kill something in us. Our passion to make the invitation.

When someone not only turns down the invitation you made but ridicule you, something in us die. When a friend belittles your belief in the invitation, something in us stop breathing. When family shuns your message about the feast, discouragement and disappointment gets married inside us.

This was my experience. I invited a friend to the prayer group he must be accustomed to since we grew up on the same culture back in the Philippines. He attended once but has stopped since. I took he has valid reasons. I knew it was hard for him considering his family situations and the long drive they will take to be with the us. So, all those reasons built an insurmountable wall for my invitation. I stopped calling him. I stopped on sending him Facebook private messages. My passion for making the invitation died down.

The feast is ready. All they have to do is come. All we have to do is continue to be passionate about the invitation amidst the Nos and the Buts.

I'm closing this blog now. I have to call my friend or send him some pms -- all about the invitation.

Don't let the passion die.

Being There

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." John 19:26

One word made the difference -- there.

The other disciples were not present.

The crowd was also absent.

This disciple was not.

He was there. He chose to expose himself. He let himself to be identified.

If he walked with Jesus' mother, people must be talking about on how much he was close to the one nailed on the cross. If he stayed beside Mary all the time when her son was being tortured, the authorities must be on him with some suspicious looks. If he stood under Jesus' feet on the cross, the people wishing Jesus' death must have given him some serious stares.

The absentee disciples must have had real and true concerns regarding his safety. Or how about his brother, James? The one with John who requested to sit beside the Christ when he comes to his kingdom. He is nowhere near his brother during this time.

What we know clearly is this -- the disciple whom Jesus loved, defied all these. He may have no recourse if and when they would come after him yet he knows this was the best time to follow his Lord. He may have did not listen to the other disciples warnings, yet he listened to the Lord's teachings to be faithful until the end.

You can be like John.

Expose yourself as Jesus' follower. Let yourself be identified as his friend, as his disciple.

Walk with him even when it's not popular. Be there for Jesus when nobody else is. Stand under him when everybody are over him.

You can make a difference in this life.

Just be there.

Focus

Soon afterward he journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. Luke 7:11-12

The camera was on him - Jesus.

Then, it was on her - the widow, whose only son is dead.

Both angles of the camera has multitudes.

Jesus was with his disciples and a large crowd following him. The widow as well was with a large crowd from the city.

Both were traveling with large crowds. Yet, the camera zooms on our two protagonists.

Thanks to director Luke.

Luke makes you realize that Jesus should be zoomed out in your life. Your eyes and hearts should be focus on him. There maybe a large pile of life you may have. You have family to love and care for. You have chains of relationships. You have concerns in the office. You have service in the church. The large crowd is part of your life. But Jesus should take the center stage . The crowd only accompanies him.

Focus on Jesus.

Luke also makes you realize how God's eyes are on you as you travel in this life's journey. You may be with parade of death or life, God's cameras are zoomed into you. No matter how thick is the population he has created, his eyes rolls and looks for you. His heart goes after you especially in your lowest of lowest. When death comes to take life. When healing is postponed. When employment is not offered. When family is not one. He walks towards you. He walks to meet you, in your hurt, in your loneliness. His eyes have your face.

Jesus is focus on you.

No Appointment Needed

Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. Luke 6:12

“I don’t need to make an appointment to eat dinner with my parents.”

This was Aishwarya Rai’s reply to David Letterman when asked regarding the set-up of living with her parents. Since most young Americans live outside their parents’ home at a certain age, they needed to make an appointment to meet with their old folks. If they want to have dinner with them, call first. If they want to visit them on weekends, arrange first. If they want to talk about their problems, give a heads up.

Jesus lives with Father, thus needs no appointment. Jesus has to depart to the mountain to pray to his Father. He had to separate himself from people wanting to have time with him. He did not need an appointment to pray. He just have to keep himself from the crowd asking for healing or miracles,or from the Pharisees looking for his impossible missteps. He came for us to be reconciled to the Father, Jesus has paved the way for us to come to the Father.

 Even without an appointment.

Before writing this, I prayed. At my daughter’s bedside. I did not have to go up to a mountain.

As I was driving to the office every morning, I whispered the Jabez prayer. Again, I did not have to hike up to a mountain.

Everyday, our family prays together. We praise him for being our God. We thank God for his blessings. We raise up our concerns to him. My daughter Praise thanks God for her day at school. My daughter Bless gives him her prayers for healing of people she knows needing it. We do that either in the living room or one of our bedrooms. Sometimes we do it when we are traveling in our vehicle. We need not go up to the mountain.

Depart from your distractions. 

Anytime.

You can come to the Father.

Anywhere.

You can speak with the Father.

Anyone.

Can spend time in prayer to God.

No appointment needed.

Winner

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

You want out.

You want to quit.

The boss was too demanding. He corrects you publicly. He treats you like you are a machine. He sees your mistakes, he ignores your effort. Unreasonable most of the time, he tells you he told you this and that, and when you look at your notes, none of those are present. He cites his sacrifices, your own forfeits -- none sense.

So, you want to jump ship. You visit your resume. You browse the careers section.

If you think you are quitting on him, you're mistaken (again!).

You are quitting on yourself. You are quitting on God.

The LORD encouraged Jeremiah in his time, "They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD." Jeremiah 1:19. Find courage from those words. Find comfort from that sentence. Find strength from that verse. Losing is not in God's dictionary. You will battle gigantic opposition yet those will not prevail, will not win. You will be, for God is your deliverer.

No, people are not your opposition, challenges are. Challenges at work, at home or in church. Difficulties working with different people. Problems of living with family who doesn't share your beliefs or opinions. Or health problems remains a big problem after all these years. Trials still test you for all your life.

These things will fight you. These things will go against you. They will try to overcome you. They will try to bring you down. But they will not prevail. They will not win. They will not succeed. They will not topple you.

God is with you always. God will deliver you to victory each time. Just fight. Just be there at the battle field.

When the smoke clears, you are the winner.

Encircled

Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5

Multiple choice.

If you know the right answer, you encircle it.

If you are not so sure, you take your time and something runs in your mind as if you are digging the old box in the cellar.

If you don't know the right one, you guess the one you think is the right one even if you are having second thoughts on the answer beside it.

You depend with your guts. You don't really know about this one. You did not bother to read or study about it. So, guts is your answer to choose the answer.

The psalmist declared before God that our God encircles us. He puts a round figure around us. This God chooses us. He chooses you. He chooses me. There are multiple choices before our God. Look over the global warming. Fix his eyes on the dwindling economy. Mind the wars between nations. Balance the planets. Yes, he will take some time on these things but he will not encircle these. His hand will encircle you and you alone.

Yes, you may not be the right one or you may not be right, but he still encircles you. He does not think twice or thrice, no second thoughts, when he sees you, his finger scribbles around you. God does not have to depend on his guts, he knows you inside and out and he will still choose you. You think he will delay in choosing you because he is not sure if you will be the good one or bad one? Oh uh, He will not delay in encircling you with his grace and love for his choice of you does not depend on your performance or holiness or righteousness.

Think about this -- when you encircled your answer, chances are, you come back to this number if you are reviewing your work. God's hand does not leave you after he encircled you. His hand stays with you. His hand rests upon you. For he chooses you. For you are his choice. When he chooses you, he stays with you.

You are his choice among multiples. You are encircled.

God Comes Near

During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. Matthew 14:25

I thought it was all about walking on water.

It wasn't.

Jesus was coming near towards his followers.

This is the point of the sentence. But what we see the most is the fact he walked on water. He could have fly to them. He could have commanded the wind to blow the opposite way and bring them ashore. He could have asked the army of fish to push or pull them near him. He could have called angels to go down and bring him to the boat. But he chose to walk on the clear liquid.

To come near to his followers. To be near with people who are imperfect. Towards the ordinary twelve men.

His miracles have the same purpose. For him to be near to us. For him to be up close and personal with us.

List down all the "walking on water" moments in your life.

Healing of the body. From being unemployed to being employed. Peace and love in the family. Crisis solved at work. Typhoon diverts from your nation or city. Your kid turns to be an obedient one. Blessed financially, more than you prayed for.

Then measure on how much has he become closer to you. Has he become more than a God who is in heaven? Has he become more than a miracle worker? Has he become personal to you?

Don't allow the miracle overshadow the miracle of him coming near. The miracle is given so we can live and enjoy his presence. A God who is near. A God who is within your reach. A God who is personal. A God who can come into your boat. He wants to come towards you.

How does God come near?

He will do everything, including walking on the water.

Winds Against You

Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. Matthew 14:24

It was the wind.

It's the culprit, why they are now at a distance farther than before where Jesus is. It blew the boat where they are. It blew them away from him. It tossed the boat. It tossed them. Inch by inch. Feet by feet. Yard by yard. Mile by mile. Not a one wave per wind puff. They were tossed by many waves in as many wind volume that did the trick.

We don't know if the disciples were asleep or were awake and were just no match against the wind and waves but they did not do anything in combating against the wind. Another thing is they forgot to release the anchor or the anchor is not too big for the big winds.

One sure thing we know though is this, winds and waves collaborated to tossed them away from Jesus.

Winds.

They are part of your life.

They tossed you far away from Christ. They are trying to bring you some miles father from him. They blow your life away from the offer of abundance in Jesus. Event after event. Hurt after another hurt. Habitual sin(s). Problems at home. Concerns at the office. Health issues in the family. Rejection from others. Peer pressure. Burning out spiritually and physically.

You know what you can do? Battle the double "W" - waves and wind.

Be awake. Recognize the wind against you.

Bring deep the anchor of faith. Be deep in prayer and scripture.

Paddle against it. Don't be alone swimming opposite of it. Get help. Give help. Get and give support.

Bring down your sail. Bring down your pride -- anything high in your heart and mind may give you hard time. Get it down and bend your knees.

Winds are here to stay.

And so you are. Near Jesus.

The Lunch Became Feast

But they said to him, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have here." Then he said, "Bring them here to me," Matthew 14:17-18

They thought it won't be enough.

And they have a point.

Five loaves and two fish against five thousand plus people. They saw how small the food they have. They saw how big the food they don't have.

Jesus saw these, too. Yet, Jesus said, "Bring them here to me,..."

There's something that Jesus knows that his disciples don't. He knew the small they have can be the big they don't have. As long as they bring them to him. So, the disciples brought the small to him, in turn, he blessed the small which became big. A boy's lunch became a feast for thousands. The not enough became more than enough.

You thought it won't be enough.

And you may have a point.

You have this small fire in your heart for God, however, you see it won't burn fully for the rest of your life. You can give one hour a week to serve at the church but you think you won't rather give it. You can speak but you don't know how to speak before people about God. You can write but you don't write like other well known authors. You were the president of a small class in your your elementary days but leading a big community is another thing, so you said.

Jesus knows what you know. But know this - Jesus knows beyond what you know.

He can sustain the match-like fire in your heart and burn like a lighthouse on a hill as long as you live. He can turn your limited skills to limitless gifts. He can bring that small talent of yours to a bigger or biggest use for his kingdom. He can magnify that candle of yours to light a whole island of engulf in darkness. He can bless your words to encourage hundreds or thousands who are on the verge of giving up. He can multiply your one hour or thirty minutes of service to cascade into the lives of people who doesn't have but time.

As long as you bring that something small to Jesus. And pray that Jesus blesses it.

Expect this, your lunch will become a feast.

Great to be a Servant

Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; Matthew 20:26

This is the world of the world.

The great men deserve to be served. You see them with bodyguard, opening their car door for them. You see them coming in to that building, his aide clasp the door knob for him and sways the door wide. He sits and his hot coffee waiting for him, earlier his assistant made it for him. He points to something and that something is brought by somebody to him. He calls somebody and that somebody approaches him with awe and awaits the orders of this great man.

That is not Jesus' world.

He said whoever wants to be great shall be the servant. Greatness is hopping into the vehicle after all has taken their seat, he gets the most uncomfortable place in the house. Greatness is when you open doors for people, he doesn't closes out on them. Greatness is putting food and water into somebody's mouth. He points to something and he goes to that direction. He calls somebody and he comes to the feet of that somebody.

May I introduce you to greatness...

• The mother who gave up her exciting career for her children.
• The father who plays with his kids, dances with them after a full day at work.
• The old driver of the vehicle where the youth of the church are in going to their field trip after all the Sunday services. That driver is their pastor.
• The young professional who goes to the inner city mission office to teach young kids about math.
• The medical worker who visits her old and sickly neighbor, cares for her for free.
• The young boy who sell lemonade during summer, keeps his income not for himself but for charity.
• The young girl who celebrated her birthday, her gifts given to the orphanage.

No position required. No age limit. No office hours.

Jesus calls them servant. Jesus calls them great.

It's great to be a servant. For to be a servant, you must be great.

Smallest

It was not because you are the largest of all nations that the LORD set his heart on you and chose you, for you are really the smallest of all nations. Deuteronomy 7:7

Insignificant.

That's me.

We traveled along the so-called Endless Mountains, these humongous pile of sand, a usual thought came unto me -- the revelation of how small am I. Every time I travel, I see how big is this world. I go to this place and see the vast seas, I realize how tiny is my space. How unnoticed my weight is, whenever I jump to rebound the basketball and come back to the ground, the earth doesn't budge at all. I breathe and exhale and the world's oxygen doesn't move it's gauge.

Yet God set his heart on the small, in fact the smallest. He does not go for the bigggies, he chooses the smallest.

Put yourself in those endless mountains and God's eyes will zoom in into you. This world maybe large but your tiny space is next to his. You are just a mere dust in the oceans, however, God dives into it to search for you, to be with you. You seem to be weightless, yet God carries you gently and lovingly. He gives you this much amount of air, schedules it second by second, minute by minute.

It's good to be small, after all.

Nobody said it will be easy

Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." Matthew 8:20

You've seen these.

He came in late or his flight was delayed. He had to spend the night at the airport. Nowhere to go, he has to spend somewhere near the boarding gate or at the most comfortable place where he can rest - airport chair. When the dark hits the sky, his eyelids begin to fall. His head searches for the best fitting curve at the curve of the chair made of steel and plastic. He can also settle at the corner of the dim lighted room to keep his head from falling. Though his head does not really feel the comfort unlike kissing his pillow, his head rest at least for some time.

She was caught in the traffic thus she did not catch the bus. It was a holiday so people flocked the ticket booths. She had to settle to wait for an overnight at the station in order to ride the first trip. Her back looks for the bench. Her head bends down towards the top of this hardwood chair. During the day, these are for sitting. At this certain night, these would be the best bed she can have to rest her head. Hard not soft yet her head finds comfort even for this time.

That is comfort. That is rest.

Jesus' disciples know none of these. Jesus admonished his would be followers about this, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." No steel chair. No hardwood bench. No corner of the room. Nowhere to rest his head.

If you are not comfortable, you are in his company. If you are comfortable, check the distance between you and Jesus. Following him requires persistence and perseverance. There is no comfort zone in his presence, there are challenges to overcome. There is no worldly rest, only heavenly peace. There is no easy trail, only rough roads to conquer.

If you get tired, be strengthened by his grace. If you get disappointed, be enlightened by his wisdom. Just fix your eyes on him. Follow him, no matter what. Serve him, whatever the cost. Love him, above all else.

You need to do that.

Jesus did not say it will be easy.

Nobody said it will be easy.

Being One

He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed. Luke 1:63

They were one.

Elizabeth voiced it out. Zechariah has to write it down. Their relatives questioned it first, but were amazed at the second time. They might have different expressions but they had one direction. This couple are coupled with God's intention. This husband and his wife are married to God's plan. No outside forces can break their unity with the Father. Nobody or nothing can come in between their bond with the Giver of life.

We can be one. With God. And with one another.

In our homes, live for unity among your spouse and your children in following God. Even as one family, recognize each others individuality. Even having one blood, our expressions of love may differ from one another. Let go of preferences. Do not burden one another of menial matters.

In our church, serve with one heart and mind. We come from different backgrounds. We come with different gifts and skills. We come serving only one God. Accept and acknowledge each others contribution. Small or big role is still a role to play. Styles don't matter, what is important is we serve together.

In our offices, work for harmonious secular place. No company succeeds when divided. No company fails when united. Work on and look for similarities rather than opposite characteristics. Complement one another rather than compete with one another.

Someone will speak. Someone will write. Somebody will sing. Somebody will arrange. Somebody will do something. All can be one. All will be one. All must be one.

And all will be amazed.

Father's Day

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. John 3:16

He sacrificed for his children.

He is my father. He wakes up early. Eats some food, he provided from his pocket. He is getting ready to go to the store/shop where he is the owner, manager, salesman, utility man, accountant, public relations, etc. He goes to this place not with a car to ride but bundles of textile riding him. He shoulders rolls of materials for jeans and upper wear so his family can shoulder day to day living. He opens and closes the shop as he opens the future for his eight kids. At the end of the day, no beer or any vice to color his monotonous life but rather goes straight home to rest his tired body. No fanfare when he comes home, just a house full of imperfect children. Imperfect as they commit mistakes not following his directions. Milking from his sacrifices day in and day out, they give him reason for him to stop what he is doing but he doesn't.

I was thinking, how can he do this?

I answered myself -- he must have followed God's footprints.

He gave his only Son for he so loved the world. The world is us. Imperfect us. He rides on the clouds yet our sins burden him. He carried us from our iniquities by giving his Son, his only Son. No day, we don't falter. No hour, we don't commit mistakes in his eyes. We justify our action saying we are only humans. Yet, the Father continues to do what he does -- loving his imperfect adopted children. And his love is not only given just for us the experience it, it is given for us for our eternal  future. The human father works for a limited future for his children, but our heavenly Father works for an unlimited future for you and me. He opened the eternal gates for us to enter through Jesus Christ.

All the Father is asking is for you and me to believe. Believe in the Son he gave. Believe in his great love.

I am thinking, why believe in his love?

I answer my question again...

He sacrificed his only Child.

Home's Not Here

In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? John 14:2

I keep telling this to my daughters.

After going abroad, moving out of from the Philippines, we tell them we can come back anytime for a good reason. As immigrants to a foreign country, we still see the place where we live and have a good livelihood as not home. There's an itch to come back. There's a seed inside the heart which keeps on growing and yearn to plant one's feet again to the native soil. We may have a house or a residence yet we look at it as a temporary dwelling. Maybe, that's why we haven't let go of our home back in our nation. We still put our time to safeguard our haven through our limited finances and through relatives and friends who are willing to look after our abode. For anytime, for any reason, we will come back for home's not here.

Jesus keeps telling us this.

There is a dwelling place prepared for us in the Father's house. The kind of dwelling place prepared by him who has no civil engineering or architecture academics or experience but has love for you. Everything else we live with here on earth is temporary. Nothing is permanent. It can be constructed or destructed in any given time. The place he prepared for us is different. It's the Father's house. A home where you can be a child and depend only in him. A home where you will reside ever after.

In this light, Jesus as he prepared a home for us, invites us to look beyond this earthly life. To say words, think thoughts and do acts giving weight to the promise of that place. Everything we do or say or think has eternal consequence. Live for him and look forward living with him in that place he has for us.

Right now, you might have a big mansion or a small hut. A cozy place or an uncomfortable space for your family where you spend most of your time. Remember, this address is temporary. You won't live here for so long, for home's not here.

Remember Ananias

But Ananias replied, "Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name." So Ananias went and entered the house. Acts 9:13-17a

He had thoughts against God's.

Ananias had to wrestle with the Lord before coming to Saul who was persecuting the growing church. He had valid reasons. Saul has done unholy things to the holy ones. If he'll go to this man, he is also risking his life, never to see the church grow as he might have imagined. More than that, Ananias might have thought who he was compared to such person of stature in Saul. Will this Saul give me his time or take my life? Will this Saul listen to me or speak to his influence to stop me from breathing?

You know what happened to Paul. Ananias obeyed the Lord and came to Saul. Before Saul became Paul, Ananias the reluctant became Ananias the obedient. Before Paul became an instrument to the Gentiles, Ananias was instrumental for Paul's conversion. Before Paul wrote the letters we read from the Bible, Ananias' name is already written in Paul's heart. Thus when you read how Paul was radical, because a man called Ananias put himself on the line. When you listen to a sermon about Paul's one heart for God, note there was Ananias who was committed to God alone.

I wonder if my Ananias had the same reaction to God when he felt the urge from God to invite me to this Christian life seminar. He might have told the Lord, its just a waste of time. Edwin will just make fun of me and of the invitation. No way Edwin will respond positively. There's no chance Edwin will attend or complete the sessions. Not a slightest probability Edwin will take God seriously.

But when he handed me the invitation, I signed in. I don't remember what transpired over the moment of invitation yet his coming to me made the greatest difference in my entire life. God came to me, and I came to know him. I still work to be radical for him and God is patient with me. I still pray to have a single heart for God and God is enabling me through struggles. All of these changes in my life and experiencing of God's graces are not reality if my Ananias did not do what God called him to do.

Everyone of us has an Ananias. A man or a woman who heard God's call for them to come to you. A person who stepped out in faith to tell you about God. A friend who courageously stood up and told you about his life in God. A relative who shared her time with you when you were blind. A neighbor who entered your house and entered your heart by his actions and words rooted in the Lord.

When a Paul preaches, listen to Ananias by his side. When a Paul writes, read Ananias through his letters. When a Paul is remembered, remember Ananias.

Born of the Spirit

"The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:8

A  fisherman, rugged physically and more rugged vocally became the shepherd of God's church. He had no plans  doing so. He was dependent on the lakes who became dependent on God. He catches fish and stays throughout the night for them before bringing the light to men he was fishing. Never thought he would walk only to fall and be saved by his Lord on the same lake where he sailed all his life. Never thought he would stand up before men speaking as God's witness. Nobody knew he would become like this. Nobody knew where this comes from, and where it goes.

An adulterer, as she was identified. She was all alone, Jesus came to her rescue. She received mercy, he gave it. She followed him until death. Until at the tomb. She was one of the firsts who saw him risen. A sinner becoming God's messenger of resurrection. A hopeless one becoming vessel of hope. The God whom she thought was a gardener is the same God who planted and nourished the seed of faithfor her to live a new life. And she lived it. Nobody knew she would become like this. Nobody knew where this comes from, and where it goes.

A persecutor becomes the persecuted. He is Paul who was Saul. He was looking for the followers not to commune with them but to inflict pain until death. However, God was also looking for him. At once, he looked at his Lord, things changed, his heart changed. Paul's direction turned around. The destroyer of churches is now a builder churches. The biggest enemy of the faith pushes faith to the faithless. He was beacon even when in prison. Toiled as a tent maker to serve the Maker yet his influence was more powerful than when he was in power persecuting the church. Nobody knew he would become like this. Nobody knew where this comes from, and where it goes.

All were born of the Spirit.

Dreaming of a life like theirs? Wake up and end your dream now. Let the dream become a reality. Jesus opened the door for you, "everyone who is born of the Spirit...." Its not exclusive. The casting is not final. You can be one of the everyone.

Be born of God's Spirit.

Again

Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. John 21:1

He reveals himself everyday to her.

He is the man in the movie, “50 First Dates.” When he was courting the woman he adore, he has to introduce himself to her each date. When they began to have a serious relationship, he has to remind her all over again abut they being together. So, when they finally tied the knot and each time she wakes up, he reminds him to play a video of their loving family. He never got tired of doing these revelations each day. He lived through all these revealing himself again and again for he loved her.
John reveals about Jesus’ revelation of himself again.

Jesus revealed himself just recently to the disciples. He revealed himself to Mary of Magdala. He revealed himself to the walking disciples towards Emmaus. And yet, he revealed himself again. He never gets tired of showing himself to his people. He lives to show his presence to his disciples. He lives to assure his followers he is always on their side.

Jesus reveals himself to us in our highs and lows. In matters we can see or tor can’t see. In everything we understand or don’t understand. In sickness or health. In prosperity or lack. In unity or vision. In various ways we can think of or we have never imagined. He assures us of his constant presence in our lives. He gives us the gift of his love and his existence to us every step of the way. Each moment. Each day. Every trial. Every challenge. Every victory. Every failure. He makes sure we know he is with us.

Thus Jesus reveals himself again. And again. And again.

Witnesses

You are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:48

The witness died.

I read this from a newspaper's headline. He saw what happened in a murder. He saw who was murdered and who did the murder. When he volunteered to testify plus a couple of days, he was murdered, too. The witness is now dead.

The disciples took this route. Jesus declared they were witnesses. They saw what happened. They saw multitudes healed. They saw thousands satisfied and fed. The saw him walk on earth and on water. They live with him. They ate with him. They saw him dead. They saw him risen. They did not only witness one event, they saw a lot. Jesus emphasized, "...these things." They lived to be witnesses and suffered to death rather than deny the things they saw, rather than denounced their faith.

Nowadays, some of his witnesses might take the same road. They can be killed because they live as his witnesses. These modern day disciples may take the step to the grave for their stand in their faith. But not all.

Yet all of  his witnesses, like you, are called to die to oneself. Die so others may live. Die from pride. Die from selfishness. Die from compromising. Die from nonchalance. Die from fear of ridicule in declaring his kingship. Die from keeping the light within the confines of comfort. Die from declaring monopoly of God and his grace.

Like the disciples, you have seen a lot. Miracles. Blessings. Healing. Providence. Opened closed doors. Changed lives. His grace available daily. Dare to trek the direction to be his witnesses. Step forward, march on to proclaim what he has done, he is doing and he will do.

Jesus was crucified, died and was buried. He is risen and is alive. You are witnesses of these things. Take the stand.

The God Who Won't Go

And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him." John 20:13

I wonder how many times he has done this.

I'm talking about my boss. He is cleaning up an office cubicle again. Box after box. Binder after binder. Paper after paper. Another subordinate has left the company where my boss has been working for thirty-two years. I was imagining in those three decades, how many times he has done clearing out a cubicle when a colleague bids goodbye to the office. How many boxes has he put out? How many binders has he filter out to be thrash? How many project studies' documents has he kept from that deserted office nook?

When I was interviewed by him, I asked him this, "How do you do it? "What is that" he said. "Going to the same office for thirty years", he replied, "Besides I love the work, the company is my family." And yet, people left. Co-workers who became his friends abandon him. Owners sold and new owners bought the company and he is still there.

I wonder how many times she has done this.

I'm talking about Mary Magdalene. She is weeping again. Another man left her. Yes, a man after another man. Tears after tears. Broken heart after broken heart. Loneliness after loneliness. Another man she trusted with her life disappears, as she thought. However, this time she is wrong. This time is different. So, is the man she is after. The man she is visiting at his tomb is not dead. He is alive. He is risen.

He is Jesus.

He does not leave you. He does not disappear from your life. He is not like the co-worker across your cubicle, Jesus is permanent in your life. His presence is constant with you whether you are faithful or you falter. He loves you though you may not express it back. He is not going anywhere. He is with you years after years. Decades after decades, more than thirty. He stays for he loves you and for you are his friend, his family.

Don't weep. Jesus stays with you. Grow with him. Live for him. Love him. Love with him. Nobody is taking him away, he's still there with you. He is the God who won't go.

Stone Cold

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

You have the same exact question.

You have been laid off. Who will roll the stone of unemployment? You are working for unity. Who will roll the stone walls of division? You are in a mission field. Who will roll the stones in the heart of people? Your family is in a brink of brokenness. Who will roll the stones of pride and hatred? You are a sinner and you are praying for acceptance. Who will roll the stones in the hands of the judgmental? You have kidney problems. Who will move the stones in it?

The three women of Easter knew they were dwarfed by the large stone covering Jesus' tomb. So they asked the same question you asked. Who will move it for you? Who has the power to pushed it aside? -- A God who is alive. Jesus has power over sin and death, much more over the stone. No matter how large the stone is, in your life, he will roll it. He will crushed it. He will push it aside for you to enter life into its fullness.

One thing the women did is this -- they looked up. The did not look at one another to move the stone. They did not look at their strength or abilities to roll back the rock. The women did not look at their devotion or faithfulness to open the entrance. They looked up!

Look up to the God who is victorious over death and  sin. Look up to the risen Christ who loves you and who wants to bless you further. Look at him and not at your skills or talents or education. Depend on his faithfulness not on yours. Jesus opens anything that is closed. He clears the road blocks in your life.

Jesus is alive. The stone is not. Jesus has the heat in his body. The stone is cold.

Death of Death

We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. Romans 6:9

The search for a way or ways to beat death has been long conducted.

Juan Ponce De Leons of the world are still looking for the fountain of youth. Doctors have been operating people to change their internal organs. Cloning is introduced to replicate oneself. To look young, a visit at the plastic surgeon is appointed. To keep breathing, an apparatus is engaged to pump air into the body. To suspend death, you look for things which can give you life like career or family. All these things may postpone death. All these things may transfer your death day to another day. However, none gives death to death.

But Jesus.

Paul's reminder to the Romans and to you, "We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him." He was dead. His blood in his veins flows no more. He rose from the dead. His veins started to feel blood flow and never has stopped, ever. He dies no more. For he alone has power over death, as with life.

Jesus is not another Juan Ponce, he has no need for the fountain of youth. He has no need to change defective body organs. He did not need a medical equipment to inject air into his body. He did not clone himself, he was the same Lord and God. No career or family to give him life, for alone he is life. There was no postponement of death, there was cancellation, not to be scheduled forever. There was no transfer of death day to another, it was deleted forever in the equation. He trail blazed the way and is true to his promise, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." John 3:16.

You will not perish. You will not decay. You will not rot six feet underground. Death will have no power to those who believe him. Death will not an issue to those who follow him. Death will not be feared by those who love him.

Jesus beat death. He dies no more. He massacred death. It has no power over him. He put death to death.

Quick Answer

Do not hide your face from me now that I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. Psalm 102:3

Exactly three months ago, God quickly answered even before I called.

It was a Thursday the 13th when I got laid-off from the company I used to work for. Its not that I did not expect it but it just came too soon. I wanted to stay with this company for I liked the way it operates and I wanted to give my loyalty. In fact, there were several headhunters giving me calls and emails but I had to turn them down courteously. But life is full of surprises and this is one.

As I went home to my wonderful wife, I said to myself, this is where God will show he is God. After discussing our options, I decided to call one of the headhunters who called me previously and expressed my interest on the opportunities their office might have. The person quickly returned my call after hearing my voice mail and told me she'll refer me to a certain global corporation. After a day, a manager from the said corporation phoned me to set-up an interview with me in the coming week. The company offered me the job after another interview session and verifications but I had to wait for pertinent papers to be processed before I can get on board. All happened in three weeks.

For about two to three months of distressed days without an income for the family, we experienced God's face in the faces of family, friends and brothers and sisters in community. We enjoyed God's carefully listening ears when we raised up our concerns to the same people who helped us and supported us.

• Siblings were always on-line to encourage us, always giving us their consolation, asking us how are we doing.
• A friend lent us funds to pay our mortgage for one month. A brother in community expressed his intention to help us in this area, too.
• Had the longest email (63 replies all in all) in my entire life with brothers and sisters for continuous encouragement and prayers.
• Friends calling our home and asking how we are doing and inquiring how can they help us. Friends giving us financial aid amidst their own economic difficulties.
• God paving way for my wife to do dog sitting which gave us good amount of money to live by.
• On my 40th birthday, two friends were in tug of war to treat us in restaurants. We scheduled them in two separate days so they can be accommodated.
• A brother of mine sent us financial support which was good for a month's food supply.
• My daughter's bible school teacher affirming their prayers for us each time we see them in church.
• Our pastor enrolling in our prayer warriors list.
• My family getting closer to one another and to God as we went through the tough times.
• I am starting on a new journey in the corporation stated above this week.

God does not hid his face on the distress. His ears ever attentive to his children. Even before I prayed, God has an exit plan from the present trial. It was not late. It was not delayed. God showed he is God. Before I called, he quickly answered.

As If Nothing Happened

Then each went to his own house. John 7:53

He was a man in a black leather jacket and he was handing leaflets to people.

Unlike the woman in her sweatshirt who was also giving simple white papers for promoting a nearby commercial establishment, his brochures were glossy and were folded nicely. I know this for he handed me one. As I stretched out my hand to meet his, he greeted me, "Sir, have a nice day." My eyes quickly gazed on his paraphernalia and the bold all capital letters jumped out, "10 REASONS JESUS CAME TO DIE".

As my daughters and I walked away, I was really jumping glad in the ministry the  guy was doing. A few more steps further, I saw him vigilantly approaching people who are walking their way in this market place and giving out his message by hand and by heart.

At home, I was wondering. Thinking if each of those who received the man's leaflets went to their own house just like this crowd in Galilee. They discussed if he is a prophet. Some of them said he is the Messiah, some of them doubted this thought. But all of them went home. As if nothing happened after meeting and hearing the Christ. Nobody left his boat like Peter. Nobody left his table like Matthew. Nobody ate with Jesus at his home just like Zacchaeus. Nobody spread the news about Jesus just like the Samaritan woman at the well.

They all just went home.

Any event, new or old, where we meet Jesus must impact us. Any routine ministry, small or big, have his presence. An ordinary Sunday service has his power. Listen. Reflect. Open your heart. Open your mind. Don't just go to your own way. Don't just go to your own house. As if Jesus was not present. As if nothing happened.

The Father's Work

Jesus answered the Jews: «My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.» John 5:17

John's father gave him an ultimatum, "Clean the windows or else." *

John was blinded by an  accident. He was devastated. He imprisoned himself in his room only to come out for meals. He said his life is finished. For a young man who has been used to see the world, his eyes opens only for the darkness.

So, on that day, his father challenged him to go out of his room, out of his shell. He heard the bang of the door as his father exited their home. He was mad, "Didn't my father know I'm blind? And he has serious valid inquiry, "What if I fall in wiping the windows all around the house?"

He took up the challenged. John mapped and traced his way around the house, and moved and climbed the ladder to clean the windows. John finished the job without falling or destroying something. He was glad to realize that his life has not ended after all. That his dark vision has a bright future. His life went forward after this incident.

After some time, John was told that all the time he was cleaning the windows, his father was on his side and his father was keeping him from falling down.

When life becomes dark, we tend to think the Father has stopped working on our behalf. If problems and trials block our sight of the present and the future, we have the concept of the Father leaving our side. When the challenge is just too much to handle, we feel abandoned by the Father. As the sun sets, and as sure as the sun rise, the Father's love shines on us. He is the Father who does not leave the house and who doesn't leave his child.

The Father stays on our side and continue to work for us. He keeps us from falling. He guides us and clears the path ahead of us. Sometimes we may not see, but he is with us. Sometimes we may not feel, but he is on our side. When we our about to have imbalance, he levels the ground for us.  In the midst of family problems, he is at work. When you are jobless, he is doing his job for you. When sickness overcomes the body, he is the healer reaching out. Between relationship issues, he is working for peace and unity. He is at work until now,...24/7 for his children.

Come out of your dark room. Take up the challenge and work. The Father's grace is upon you. He is on your side always, and he is enabling you. This is the Father's work.

* This is story is adapted from Max Lucado.

Losing and Finding

The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, "Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you." John 5:13-14

He lost Jesus but Jesus found him.

He will surely lose Jesus for he did not know who healed him. He was not walking and was lying on his mat for thirty-eight years yet when he was healed by Jesus, he did not take note who healed him. Maybe the healing was instant. Maybe it was too fast for him. Maybe it was too fast for him. Maybe he was focus on the healing and not on the healer. As the crowd ate Jesus, the man who tiptoes in his first steps, loses his healer.

It may happen to us. When we are fixated on the blessings and not on the One who is blessing us, we lose sight of him. When the healing is too much for us, that too much can crowd our hearts and forget who did it for us. Overwhelmed by his grace, we can take for granted his constant presence in our daily lives of constant routine. The crowd of career, family and friends may get in the way for us to acknowledge him.

But Jesus found him. Jesus sought him. The sheep lost the shepherd and the shepherd found him. In his first steps, he loses sight of Jesus. In his next steps, Jesus finds him. Jesus did not go to another town to pursue his mission, the man was his mission. He sought this man for once again he loses Christ.

Jesus finds us when we lost him. He seeks the lost who lost him. He has given us much but he will give us his presence, its all we need. The shepherd will go out of his way to bring us back to his way. He makes sure our hearts will be in the right place when we are in the wrong place. When the crowd is too much for us, Jesus will emerged and will say his first word to us, "Look..."

We lost Jesus but Jesus finds us.

Out of Town

The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?  They went out of the town and came to him. John 4:28-30

This was a field trip.

There was no connection between her and the people. No part of the people were her friend. They ignore her and she ignores them. She was alone at the well taking water.

Check that. She was not alone at the well. She was with Jesus. Being with Jesus made the difference. Speaking with Jesus opened her to a new life. Knowing that Jesus knows her sins yet sat with her and spoke with her mattered to her. He did not ignore her.

It changed her.

She goes to the people. She used to ignore them. She used to go where they aren't. She gets water when they are all drinking water. But now after meeting Jesus, she goes to them. She spoke with them and breaks the news about the Messiah.

It changed the people.

They listened to her. They don't used to be near her but now she is inches away from them. They used to talk about her and her husbands but now they are talking to her. Not only that, they believed her that they wanted to know what she knows --- the Messiah.

Change brought by Christ brings you out of yourself. Out of your sinful nature. Outside of your comfort area. Out of your dark past. Out of your discriminating norm. Allow yourself to go out of your zone and speak about Christ to your family, friends or neighbors. A group of people may go out of themselves when they hear out someone's life changing experience with Jesus.

One destination -- come to Jesus. One action -- out of town.

Left and Lifted

The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people,  Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah? John 4:28-29

She left her water jar.

This was her only purpose before Jesus met up with her and spoke with her. To fetch water when no one was near the well. When everyone might be having their lunch at their homes, she sneaked to the well. Water was there. The living water was there. Jesus talked about her. Jesus talked about himself. He quenched her thirst, not of her body but of her soul. Thus she forgot about her water jar just as she forgot about her past, about her sin. And know only one thing -- knowing the Messiah who took her time and who gave her, her new life.

She was lifted.

No friend to come with her to the well. No husband to hold her hands or hold her jar. At noontime, she was getting water, she is making sure she is not getting attention. She is wrong. Jesus' attention is on her. He knows her. He knows her dirt, her sins. In spite of, he speaks with her, let her know him. Let her have time with the Messiah whose itinerary is fully booked. Don't underestimate her minutes with Jesus, for this moments gave her the lift from playing hide and seek. She went into the town and exposed herself to the folks saying, "Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?" From keeping herself out of the crowd, she goes to the crowd. From living in the shadows, she emerged to the light.

Jesus knows your past and he urge you to leave your sins. Leave behind your old self. Leave matters that doesn't satisfy your thirst. Drink from God's well. Feast on his feast. Come out from hiding. Come to the Son. Exist for a new purpose. Live a new life. Know Jesus and make him known. Love him and make him loved.

Have you met Jesus? Leave your water jar and be lifted.

Sinnergy

Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. Luke 18:10

It's the study of sinners.

If Jesus is a science teacher, Jesus discusses two species for you to ponder who will you be.

The Pharisee does not expose his sins to God, who knows his sins. He is confident of his righteousness. He is boasting of his work. He comes before God like he is attending a masquerade party, he has a mask. He even points to others and not to himself. He exalts himself, he acts like he is looking to God yet he is looking at himself.

The tax collector exposes himself as a sinner. He is not confident of himself but he is confident of God's mercy, he is confident God forgives his transgressions. He does not boast of he does or what he did but surely he boasts of God's merciful work. He comes before God without any cover on his face, he uncovers his sins before God. The tax collector points only to himself as the prime principal of sin. If he is in a police line-up, he declares himself as guilty. As he pinpoints himself, his heart opens up for heavenly grace. He does not exalt himself, he acts like he is looking at himself yet he is looking to God, for his mercy.

At this point, choose who will you be before God. A Pharisee or a tax collector?

Be confident of God's mercy. Expose your sins and yourself to him for nothing is hidden from him. Depend on his work and not on what you have done or what you can achieve, boast of God 's work. Uncover your sins for God loves you in spite of these. If you want to point to someone else, make sure that someone else is you. Exalt God by humbling yourself.

Friends, reflect on how you pray and come before God. Study sinnergy.

Greatest

But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19

I graduated college and got an electrical engineering degree. After studying, I went to work for a catholic movement aiming for college students to have personal relationship with Christ. I never thought I would get back to my profession. After four years of mission work, I applied as an electrical engineering instructor and was accepted.

One of the first subjects, I was assigned to teach was Electrical Engineering Ethics and Contracts, which is offered to graduating students. As I read the course outline, I had hesitation since it may require practical knowledge of electrical engineering practice so the lessons will not be rather theoretical. I had no electrical work experience at that time, all I knew was to organize prayer meetings and retreats. I decided to speak with the Dean of the college regarding my incapability to teach the course for I don't have the proper practical background. I can read through the books, but I did not want the students to learn from the books, they can do that in the library, they supposedly catch what can or may happen in electrical engineering practice at their graduating level. So, I gave up the teaching load.

Can we say the same thing with our Christian life? Give up teaching since we don't live up?

Some people obey but not teach. They want to be sure to obey before they can teach or have no courage to speak out what they are obeying.  Some people teach but have hard time to obey. They tend to over weigh saying than doing or they struggle as imperfect people of a perfect God . Both type of people contribute to the mission of God in one way or another.

However, Jesus defines greatness with both -- obeying and teaching. He tells us greatness is this, "whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven..." Do it and say it. Be a follower and a leader. Walk and talk. Live like a disciple and you can disciple.

There is greater conviction to obey when you teach. There is greater passion when you teach as you obey. Maybe, that's why Jesus tells a person who does both, obey and teach, is the greatest.

By his grace, let us live to be the greatest!

Big Brother

He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. Luke 15:28

He must have understood of all people.

After all, he is the big brother. He is the older one. He must have matured throughout the years, since he did not ask for his inheritance just like the younger son. He must have more understanding on how the father felt when his sibling packed his bags and went afar. The father's loneliness must not have been a secret from him. He might have saw his gloomy eyes at the dinner table. He might have asked his father to take more food as the father seems to have hard time since the departure of his little brother.

His brother was gone for some time. Did he not miss his brother? He might have heard the news about the sad plight of his brother. Did he do something to help him out? Now his brother sits at their home. Did he want to sit with him again? Now his brother needs assurance more than anything else. Did he give it? For all the questions above -- No.

His line of thinking was reminiscence of the Pharisees and scribes.

He questions the father's actions. He lets out his immaturity. He pouts. He is angry. He even stays outside of the house and outside of the family circle. A big brother should look out for his younger blood. He protects them. He cares for them. He looks for their benefits. But not in this case. As his younger sibling is welcomed home and given a feast, he lets go of his being a big brother.

One thing we read is this -- "the father came out and pleaded with him".

The father did not come out of the house when his younger son went out of his way. He did this when the big brother acted like a small child and did not act as a big brother. He does not want his son to suffer. He does not want his son to be hungry for his love. He does not his son to be lost. He wants him to be near him. The father knew what was like it, so he did his own his search and rescue. He came out for him. He pleaded with him. A father going after his son. The father's request for him was not so much to be a big brother but to be a brother.

Before he will be lost, the father found him. So the big brother who became small is not big again but again a brother.

Draw Near

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Luke 15:1-2

Some are drawing near, yet some are drawing far.

The ones who were closing in to Jesus were sinners. They were publicly identified as sinners. No righteousness in their skin or in their heart. They have no academic knowledge of drawing near to God. All they know is to come closer to Jesus. All they know is that Jesus welcomes them. He searches for them. Jesus ate with them. He walked with them going to a dinner or a teaching session of sorts. He spoke with them in public even if they were known publicly. They felt significant when he is with them, when he took time with them, when he sat with them at the places where they would congregate.

The ones who were drawing far from Jesus were not sinners, at least for them. They were identified as righteous persons. Their piety is shown in their appearances but not sure if it has penetrated their hearts. They have an academic knowledge in drawing near to God. All they know is theory not practicality. That's why they always put Jesus in the examination room. Yet, Jesus searches for them or they look for Jesus. Wherever they are, Jesus is there. Wherever Jesus is, there they are. Given their position, they should be near to him but they are far. They even question how they spend the Jesus welcomes and eats with the sinners. Not only they are drawing far from him, they are making people draw far from him.

What can you learn from both? You can choose to be near or far to Jesus.

Choose to draw near to Jesus. Accept you are a sinner. Accept you need a Lord and Savior. Accept you need to know him. Listen to him as he declares his unconditional love for you. Listen to Jesus and listen not to people who are putting a gap between you and him. He searches for you, search for him, too.

Don't draw far from Jesus. Don't prevent people to come close to him. Jesus left his throne to be near to people, make his trip worthwhile. Even as you grow in Christ, don't let your head knowledge of him overcome your relationship with him. Let him sit with new members of your church or community. Let him eat with new believers. Be glad, he welcomed you as he welcomes them.

When given a pencil and a clean paper, you know what to sketch. Draw near.

Joint Account

He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours." Luke 15:31

Our mother used to keep bank accounts with each of her children as secondary signatories of the account.

The savings I accumulate goes to our joint account. When Christmas comes and I get financial gifts from my godmother, she puts it on the same account. If she thinks that she has some money to spare me, she'll deposit right away in our account. When I won a quiz bee contest, she gave me prize money which was directly recorded in the account.

Looking at the account when I grew old, all of the funds where mostly saved for I may have deserved them or have worked for them. The joint account has also an expiry. If I reach 18 years old, my mother's name can be erased since I have come of age, I become the primary owner of the account. But this did not happen, when the eruption of Mount Pinatubo crushed our home, we withdrew all our savings to contribute to building our home again.

The older son in the parable of the prodigal son might have been in the state of shock when his father told him that everything the father has is his. We know that this son toiled and labored for his father, yet his rightful part of the father's property is now more than what he deserved. The son owns what the father owns. A joint account.

This joint account has no expiration date. This account may have deposits made due to the son's work. However, the main requirement of the father for the son was to be with him always to have everything he has. The father was not focus on the son's work for him. He was looking mainly at their relationship. Knowing that his son was near to him was enough.

If you are feeling lacking of something today, the Father has everything you need and everything he has is yours. He is always with us and be with him always. Know that the resource you need is a prayer away. There is a right time for his providence. There is a right amount for his splendor. Whatever you have is from his. Whatever you have from him is for him. Give to him whatever you get from him.

In this joint account, you don't need to make a deposit to make a withdrawal. Such is the Father's grace and love.

One Way Trip

And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Luke 16:24

This was the request of the rich man.

Max Lucado wrote about this man. That this man requested water. He also requested Abraham that Lazarus go back to his house to warn his brothers regarding the netherworld --- Hell. Max pointed out that the rich man did not request that he'll be save from hell.

Clever, right?

Jesus is pointing out rather an important teaching for all of us in this story --- once you go the hell, forever you will be in hell.

That's why as long as you are here on earth, do everything in God's power not go to hell.

Commit to Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Love God. Love others. Repent and believe. Avoid sin. Remember to love and follow the laws of Christ. Be faithful to your spouse. Be a responsible and loving parent. Respect your parents. Respect your children. Show love to your neighbors including the snob at the corner. Give encouragement to the fallen. Share your food to the Lazarus at your doorstep. Send money to children in need in developing nations. Attend church. Pray daily. Read his word. Commune with believers.

I know, you have a long list of to believe, to love and to do.

Yet, always keep in mind and in heart these are all worth it. For in every action, every thought, every word, you choose between heaven or hell.

For in both places, there is no return flight. There is no back in the back and forth. It's a one way trip.

Equalizer

When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,.. Luke 16:22

Ha! This is just like the cellphone. At least in the Philippines.

The fireman has one. The garbage boy has the new model. The riches politicians uses it at the sessions. A student in her early teens has accessories with it. You look at the blue security guard's pocket, he has one. Everybody has a cell phone! The fishball vendor. The meat slicer in the wet market. Nurse. Doctor. Engineer. Accountant. Policeman. Clerk. Jeepney drivers. Car drivers. Bikers. Elementary graduate. High School drop-out. The oldest man in the neighborhood can text you. The youngest fellow in the family can call you. The cellphone, it's an equalizer.

Just like death. Jesus told us this, the poor and the rich will all meet death. Nobody is here on earth is to live forever and not bumped into death. Death maybe an early call or can be postponed for some decades. However,as sure as the air you breathe, you will stop in doing so. One day, we will all have to put our backs flat and never have to stand up again.

If death is the equalizer, what is that will spell the difference?

Life.

The way you live your life will present the inevitable inequality. To whom you will dedicate it. To whom you will spend it. For whom you will breathe as long as you live. How you are committed to loving God and helping people will make a difference. Why you do the things you are doing for God and his church will make the slack.

The rich man knew he has a poor man, Lazarus, at his gates but did not look his way. He was clothed with garments and linen good enough to make Lazarus warm and cover his sores but did not do it. Lazarus was willing to take the scraps from his table but he won't let it fall.

Lazarus, on the other hand, kept quiet. He did not curse God for his life. He did not shout at this rich man for not helping him. He accepted his situation and understood others situation. His conduct gives us the picture of man who did not complain about his empty stomach and body sores enough for a dog's tongue action.

Decide who made the difference.

Decide to make a difference.

Life is the difference, death is the equalizer. You can do something with the difference, you can't do something with the equalizer.

Heavy

They tie up heavy burdens (hard to carry) and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. Matthew 23:4

If life has an idiom, this is it.

A bull session after the Christian seminar. As the set-up was set down, the service team were asked to gather by the leaders for a meeting. The ending of the seminar did not end their joy in serving but started their fulfillment for pouring precious hours to reach people for God. The heavenly burden on their shoulders was light by the grace of God's strength. The event servants have been putting their hands and hearts on the line for about two weeks now, so the end of the seminar was a heave of relief and fruitfulness.

So they were astonished when a heavier burden was laid out by the leaders, "If you have ill feelings towards one another, negative thoughts in serving with one another, this is the time and place to let it out!"

This was really heavier on the serving people. When leaders assume members have ill feelings towards one another, they burden them. When people in position see that their followers are not in a bad position where in fact not, it weighs down the members. Instead of a life giving atmosphere, burden giving was in the air.  These are the kind of burden shoulders can't carry.

Leaders must share the light not darkness. Leaders must make heavy things light not making the light heavy. If you are leading or supervising, do this. Avoid putting anger in hearts. Avoid putting dirt in hands. Avoid seeding guilt in minds. You can assign service matters to your members but do not assign unnecessary matters in their lives.

In this earthly life, every person will have to bear something on their shoulders. Don't add what you are not willing to lift. Give life. Give light. Not heavy.

Giving Mercy

Jesus said to his disciples: «Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36

It makes sense.

To give mercy, or to be merciful. For people in poverty. For the abused. For the forgotten. For the worker who was laid-off. For the family relative who is not making ends meet. For the dead who was misdiagnosed. For the victims of massacres or heinous crimes. For the street dwellers, homeless and cold.

Can you also be merciful to people who are above the above persons? Government officials who are rich and who lives as if there are no poor in their community. People who deliberately deny the existence of the forgotten people. The boss who fired the worker. The relative who has much but don't want to share. The doctor who did the mistake in the diagnosis. The culprits behind the death of the massacre victims. The people who are in power who can make a difference in the lives of the homeless yet they don't.

Remember Paul. He was persecuting God's church. He was leading the destruction of the mission. He was high above the lowly. He was powerful against the powerless. If you read about his exploits against the early Christians, you'll have mercy to the oppressed followers but not to Paul. However, God thinks otherwise. God calls Paul into his side and gives his mercy to him just as God gives his mercy to the faithful. Mercy was given to the persecuted and to the persecutor.

The Father's mercy does not know no levels in life. It is provided to people who don't deserve it for none deserves it. It does not weigh on your economic standing. Mercy is free no matter what is your position in the company, in the church or in life. It does not claim benefit to people who has less or more. It does not discriminate. God's mercy is given to all.

"Be merciful just as the Father is merciful", Jesus tells us. Mercy, God gives it to you. Give it to all. It makes sense.

Coming Down

As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." Matthew 17:9

It all comes down to coming down.

The sequence of events are known. They came up. Jesus transfigured, they saw Jesus like a dazzling Mr. Clean. They came down.

Same sequence of your life. You come up to a certain mountain. You get to the peak of your family relationships. You step on the tip of your professional career. You stand on the clouds of your spiritual journey.

At that stage, you see Christ like a bright morning star. You see God's glory since you are enjoying where you are. You see God's light all around you. You even believe people around you are as nice as God's prophets.

However, time will come you have to come down. His brightness will wander at least in your eyes. His companions will be seen no more. You ascended, now you have to descend. You have to come down from what you think is the top of your life.

As you come down, you know much more than when you came up. This is what you know-- Jesus is the Son of God with whom the Father is well pleased and the Father is asking you to listen to him. This declaration did not come from Peter's wisdom, it came from the Giver of that wisdom. This proclamation was not spoken by people who were healed of their ailments, it was spoken by the One who reaches out to comfort the body and soul. The statement did not echo the declamation of a preacher, these powerful words were came from God whose words created the universe.

You will muster higher courage as you come down. You will have ascending hope as you descend. You can step up high when you step down. For now you know Jesus is more than a healer, more than a preacher and teacher, more than a multiplier of lunch, he is the Son of God. And he is coming down with you, just like he came down from his heavenly throne to save the world.

God has a plan when you come down with Christ. Don't stick with the plan. Stick with the planner. He comes down with you.