Melt Like Wax

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

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

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

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

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

Though On Fire

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

Have you been on fire? I have been.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Serving and Suffering

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

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

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

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

If You Have Been Here...

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

Are we like Martha? Yes, sometimes we are.

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

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

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

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

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

- directing our community, we would not be scattered.

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

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

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

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

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

Feeding God's People With Yourselves

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

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

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

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

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

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