Don't have much? Give, give, give

These days I feel like I don't have much. Not really zero balance, but getting there.

It really does feel like my net worth is five loaves and two fishes.

Remembering how Jesus fed a multitude:

He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”  

Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”

So Philip was the math whiz. Knowing more is not always a good thing, because in this case, he knew how much they did not have.

But our Lord knows more, and can do more.

But this Jesus said to test Philip, for He Himself knew what He would do.

So He fed five thousand men, plus women and children. He provided so much food that twelve baskets of leftovers were collected after. 

I've heard this story many times that I need to let that sink in again.

Darn you, math skills. Not that math is bad, but our skills in the natural sciences may make it more difficult to trust in the supernatural. (Quick countermeasure: remembering the tangible goodness and greatness of God.)

It's not about what we have, but what we do with what we have.

It's not about what we have, but what we give.

The boy with the loaves and fishes obviously just had enough for himself. But he chose to give it to Jesus.

Jesus could have raised his eyebrows in contempt, or his voice in frustration. But Jesus chose to raise his eyes to heaven, and give thanks.

Jesus then gave the bread to the disciples, who could have eaten the food immediately. They could have insisted on their VIP rights, or said "we must be strong to serve you." But they chose to give it away.

Don't have much? Yes, that could be true. It's totally understandable if we choose to keep what little we have to ourselves.

But we could still give it to Jesus, give thanks, and give it away...

And watch the miracle happen. ♥

“Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”  

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" 

Scriptures taken from: John 6:5-7, Mark 12:43-44, and Matthew 16:24-26

========================================

Postscript:

The week after I wrote this, the miracle!

So we can give more. And love God more by loving others more, financially and otherwise.

Thank You Lord. People say we can never outgive God. If you don't believe that, feel free to try ;) (Everybody wins!)

Living Water

Today was probably the first time I went around campus with a liter of bottled water in tow. Ah, water. They say a lot of times when we feel hungry, we are actually thirsty. The one "food" that's most essential to our survival. So cheap yet so good, and no calories even ;)

No wonder Jesus compared himself to water. Not to coffee or fried chicken or chocolate (my personal faves), but to water. Let us listen.

http://www.mountainspringwaterco.com/images/waterfacts.jpg

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and Who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.”

(John 4:10)

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~reetaban/New%20webpage%20folder/Water%20droplet.jpg

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep.

Where can you get this living water?" (John 4:11)

http://www.coldspringharborspringwater.com/ColdSpringHarborSpringWater.jpg

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

http://0.static.wix.com/media/5832a0_c278807fb50d095e34f652fabc8c3b7a.jpg_1024

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink." (John 7:37)

http://images.mnn.com/sites/default/files/main_chanie_distilled_spring_water.jpg

"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said,

rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38)

http://waterevolution.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/slide2.jpg

By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given,

since Jesus had not yet been glorified. (John 7:39)

http://www.vamex.bg/imgupload/background/water_deep.jpg

Feeling thirsty already? Or already filled with Him? :)

Quotes: Nick Vujicic in Manila

Born without arms and legs, God is using Nick Vujicic to touch people otherwise crippled by fear and hopelessness. Two days ago I was blessed to hear this amazing man live in Smart Araneta Coliseum.

http://instagram.com/p/ZkmidWD7Na/

Here are the snippets I managed to write down. May you be inspired and encouraged as I am. :)

• Put your faith in action.
• Courage means doing something even if you fail.
• You don't need courage to win, you need courage to fail.
• F.E.A.R. --- False Evidence Apparently Real
• F.A.I.T.H. --- Full Assurance In The Heart (of the Truth)
• Courage starts with purpose.
• You can have arms and legs and not know what to do with them.
• Try again.
• Failure = Education. (Teci: In direct contrast to today's mainstream educational system)
• Never give up!
• Don't believe you're a failure:
• Thomas Edison invented the light bulb after 10,000 tries. He didn't see himself fail 9,999 times. Instead, he just learned 9,999 ways to not make a light bulb.
• Nick himself contacted 52 schools and got rejected before being accepted to his first speaking engagement. Now he has to say "No" to 28,000 speaking invitations.
• The bigger the dream, the bigger the opposition.
• Was that a failure? Yes. Was I a failure? No. Try again.
• Obstacles = Opportunities.
• We have storms and clouds but it's always sunny above the clouds.
• Sometimes you may have a dream that has to die, but don't let it kill you.
• Take steps, no matter how small, towards the right direction.
• Be thankful: See what you've been blessed with!
• My circumstances didn't change; my heart did.
• If you're not happy single, you won't be happy married!
• I'm happy today because I'm thankful for the things I do have.
• Fame, fortune, sex, drugs, gangs, being in the cool group... Happiness is not in those things. Love is what you're looking for.
• Life is not just about success. At the top of the mountain it could get very lonely. Build each other up in love.
• When Nick was a boy, he wanted to see someone who was like him, with no arms and legs. Sadly, that wish was never fulfilled. But now as a speaker he once met a child with the same condition as him. The boy looked at him and knew that he himself can be happy and okay.
• You can be a miracle to someone right now.
• Australians helping Australians... Filipinos helping Filipinos.
• What are the three greatest/dearest things in your life right now?
• Who have you not forgiven yet?
• At 19, Nick had his first speaking engagement: the first time he had compassion on a group of complete strangers, 300 teenagers.
• A teenager asked if she could interrupt Nick's talk because she wanted to hug him. She whispered, "Nobody has ever told me that they love me. Nobody has ever told me I'm beautiful."
• Nick got home, realizing what he wanted to do for the rest of his life: He wanted to be a speaker.
• My parents constantly planted seeds of love and hope and truth. If parents don't do that to their children, who will?
• You are beautiful just the way you are.
• Life without limits... Unstoppable... Limitless
• Unconditional love
• Don't take any day for granted.
• Dream big.
• You can't buy hope.
• Faith as first. Faith as last.

Nick Vujicic is the author of Your Life Without Limits, Unstoppable: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action, and Limitless: Devotions for a Ridiculously Good Life. He also encourages Christians to never miss an opportunity to share the Good News in this article.

Faith and Sight

Background image from http://www.superbwallpapers.com/nature/sunrise-behind-the-mountains-16270/

Background image from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraurql7VUEZ2umDo8eYGkx_A-x6ype3xxZPQFI0nXobIlH_CD5LuKrIe04yvdm9hnAMWXLJKM9N77sMBV50a0pbhjYQ4auiWXaPIzM17oj1EN1emIhQWInJrOuhotcnV04MC4/s1600/sunrise+mountain.jpg

Deo Volente

Deo Volente. God willing.


Below is my sked for the next few months. (This was last term's.) Teacher in the mornings, Student in the evenings. Reserve a Sabbath day for worship-slash-rest: far from being a luxury, it's one of God's Ten Commands and a necessary pressure valve for professionals.)

It's been a while since I've been this confident about setting goals and reaching them  ;)

Because nowadays I'm learning to stop wrestling against God (His Will vs. mine) and learning how to wrestle with Him (against my selfish self, my laziness, my fear, my distractions).

Finally, I'm willing what He has been willing all along. And that's the only reason why I know I will succeed. ♥

My solid ground

This is the Star Frisbee, perhaps the craziest ride in Star City.

https://twitter.com/iamglezjvn1/

(Yes, those are legs dangling as the pendulum swings and rotates.)

This is me on the Star Frisbee.

Just to be clear, that is not a smile --- that is a grimace of intense fear and psychological pain. The horror of it all in multiple angles.

As I was mercilessly thrown back and forth,
I was processing how in the world I got there,
barely able to breathe in (and gasp out "LORD!")
          when the ride braces for the next swing.
Realizing there's no escape and I just have to ride it out,
I told myself, "Well, nobody died from this yet, so I should be okay."

I did get out alive; a proud survivor but with no plans of returning, thank you very much.



Just like 2012.

The year I turned 30 was the craziest ride ever, wilder than all the past years combined. Beliefs were turned upside down. Boundaries were formed and reformed. Principles were challenged. Priorities were refined. All of a sudden, God gave me maturity, self-control, security and peace.
I was shaken, I was strengthened. And yet through it all, my God remains the same. He is changing me --- improving, pruning, developing. As for Himself, He really can't improve on perfection now, can He?

Our God is the one stable and constant Presence in the universe. He is terra firma: solid ground. His Word does not change even when our understanding of it does. His gifts remain with us even when we forget about them, or ignore or misuse them. Most importantly, He is with us, always, period.

When the Star Frisbee of Life tosses me wildly back and forth, I will put my trust in what is secure. That ride is ultimately anchored on the ground; rocky circumstances ultimately answer to God Himself. I'll place my hope in my terra firma: enduring dangling in mid-air by remembering what the ground feels like... and making sure I get to touch base (literally get grounded) as much as possible.

Beginnings

 

 http://defrig.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/new-beginnings.jpg

The angel Gabriel greets a young woman (Luke 1:26-38):

"Good morning!
You're beautiful with God's beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.

Mary, you have nothing to fear,
God has a surprise for you...

Nothing, you see, is impossible with God."


Mary responds:

"Yes, I see it all now:
I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me as you say."

Lord, i belong to YOU. i am YOURS.
Let it be with me just as You say.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztjE5lQ3DCM/T_oYxLpYhJI/AAAAAAAABng/a1xwYBvWGfo/s1600/beginnings+blog+1.jpg

Jesus was around 30 years old when He said this (quoting from the book of Isaiah at the start of His ministry) (Luke 4:16-21):

God's Spirit is on me;

He's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor,

Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind,

To set the burdened and battered free,

To announce, "This is God's year to act!"

This is the year!

I'm 30 now... I'm not the Savior of the world but a sinner forgiven with a part to play.

This is the time to watch God move;

to live in faith, not doubt;

because yes, the situation may be hopeless

but nothing is impossible with God.

In Luke 5:4-11:

Jesus said to Simon, "Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch."

Simon said, "Master, we've been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even a minnow. But if You say so, I'll let out the nets."

It was no sooner said than done --- a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch.

Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. "Master, leave. I'm a sinner and can't handle this holiness. Leave me to myself." ... Awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him...

Jesus said to Simon, "There is nothing to fear. From now on you'll be fishing for men and women." They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed Him.

 

http://www.jdlejeune.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/hearthmath-new-beginning.jpg

Too tired to *not* go ;)

College finals season is appropriately called "hell week" by students, but it's also the busiest, most stressful time for us teachers. We need not just intelligence but wisdom; we need patience and grace not just towards students (and their parents) but towards our colleagues too.

Thankfully I still get to eat and sleep but it's not enough. I need to rest.



Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?

Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life.

I'll show you how to take a real rest. 
Walk with Me and work with Me --- watch how I do it. 

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 

Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.                      

--- Jesus (Matthew 11)



Religion need not be something done inside church. Religion can refer to any *performance* that would give the doer points depending on how he or she pleases the crowd. How hard (impossible!) it is to please everybody... and add the fact that public opinion is fickle and rarely reasonable. It's burnout waiting to happen.

Watch how I do it, God says. When I started this post, I was barely finishing my class records and still deciding whether to go to church or not, whether to lead our group or ask for a substitute or just call off today's meeting. How exactly do I interpret "watching God do it"?

But the point is, it's God doing the work, not me.

Which means, I don't really have to go that night. God can send comfort and peace to me and my friends wherever we are.

But this also means, I can choose to go and watch the "magic" (or "miracle") happen. Because it's not about me and it doesn't depend on my performance.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

So I did go to church that night. Our group met for only 30 minutes (compared to our regular two-hour session), where we shared quick stories of how God is working in our lives and relationships, and of course prayed for each other. Then two of us attended the last service; I listened and was encouraged in many ways. I arrived home late, with takeout food for the family (a treat from my brother and me).

How about that! In a few hours, I went from burnout to overflow, and from dog-tired to perky lively...

Fatigue need not be a reason to stay home and do the same, stay the same. The effort in transportation and socializing would be rewarded n-fold. Fatigue is actually the best reason to be blessed, to be on the receiving end of grace and inspiration and goodness.

Again, definitely God could bless and help us wherever we are and whatever we do (or not). And we all have our too-tired-to-get-out-of-the-house days. But my point is, we don't have to worry about "having a bad day" or "not being good enough today" to go to church. It's actually when we empty ourselves of our selves, that we are able to receive more of Him.

To be an agent of blessing, all we need to do is show up. Because we are just instruments, and God is the Source.



When you are arrested, don't worry about how to respond or what to say. 
God will give you the right words at the right time.

--- Jesus (Matthew 11)

"Working for God"?

I love this song... :)

From John Piper's "Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist":

God's insistence that we ask Him to give us help so that He gets glory (Psalm 50:15) forces on us the startling fact that we must beware of serving God, and must take special care to let Him serve us, lest we rob Him of His glory...

Our job is to "wait for Him"...

God is not looking for people to work for Him, so much as He is looking for people who will let Him work for them. The gospel is not a Help Wanted ad. Neither is the call to Christian service. On the contrary, the gospel commands us to give up and hang out a Help Wanted sign (this is basic meaning of prayer). Then the gospel promises that God will work for us if we do. He will not surrender the glory of being the Giver...

Religious "flesh" always wants to work for God (rather than humbling itself to realize God must work for it in free grace). But "if you live according to the flesh you will die" (Romans 8:13). That is why our very lives hang on not working for God.

Then shall we not serve Christ? It is commanded: "Serve the Lord!" (Romans 12:11). Those who do not serve Christ are rebuked (Romans 16:18). Yes, we must serve Him. But we will beware of serving in a way that implies a deficiency on His part or exalts our indispensability.

How then shall we serve? Psalm 123:2 points the way. "Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till He have mercy upon us." The way to serve God so that He gets the glory is to look to Him for mercy. Prayer prevents service from being an expression of pride.

Any servant who tries to get off the divine dole and strike up a manly partnership with His Heavenly Master  is in revolt against the Creator. God does not barter. He gives the mercy of life to servants who will have it, and the wages of death to those who won't. Good service is always and fundamentally receiving mercy, not rendering assistance...

And so we will serve God by believing His promise of fullest joy and walking by that faith. We will not serve by trying to put our power at His disposal for His good, but by doing what is necessary so that His power will be ever at our disposal for our good. And of course, God has appointed that His power be at our disposal through prayer. "Ask and you will receive!" So we serve by the power that comes through prayer, when we serve for the glory of God.

Without doubt this sort of serving also means obedience. A patient who trusts his doctor's prescriptions obeys them. A convalescent sinner trusts the painful directions of his therapist, and follows. Only in this way do we keep ourselves in a position to benefit from what the divine Physician has to offer. In all this obedience it is we who are the beneficiaries. God is ever the Giver. For it is the Giver who gets the glory.

1 Peter 4:11 states the principle so well: "Let him who serves serve in the strength which God supplies in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and power forever and ever. Amen." The Giver gets the glory. So all serving that honors God must be a receiving. Which means that all service must be performed by prayer.

To be sure, let us work hard; but never let us forget that it is not we, but the grace of God which is with us (1 Corinthians 15:10). Let us obey now, as always, but never forget that it is God who works in us, both to will and to do His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). Let us spread the gospel far and wide, and spend ourselves for the sake of God's elect, but never venture to speak of anything except what Christ has wrought through us (Romans 15:18). Let us ever be praying for His power and wisdom, so that all our serving is the overflow of righteousness, joy and peace from the Holy Spirit. "For he who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men" (Romans 14:17-18).

So the astonishing good news implied in the duty of prayer is that God will never give up the glory of being our Servant. "No eye has seen a God besides thee, who works for those who wait for him" (Isaiah 64:4).

The Winning Faith

 

http://imgs.abduzeedo.com/files/best_week/575x270-panoramic_man_silhouette_mountaintop_12143.jpg

Being a winner (or a loser) is entirely self-proclaimed.

God the Son says, "Become what you believe."

(Otherwise translated as, "Let it be done to you according to your faith.")

The power belongs to God,
but we can choose to ask for it
and claim that it is already given.

I've often asked God for His will to be done in my life
without bothering to name the details
It sounds very obedient and sacrificial
But how about lazy
Or even faithless?
Because I don't want to take the risk of not getting what I prayed for...?

Jesus prayed, "Father, not my will, but Yours be done."

Okay, so maybe something like this:
     "Lord, this is what I want, and I pray that You grant it,
     But ultimately I bow to Your will
     Which may not be what You want..."

Hmm... But the Bible says, the double-minded one can't expect anything from God. (How can God answer contradicting prayers?)

"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."

Indeed, Jesus says, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."


So my prayer would now go something like this:
     "Lord, this is what I want, and I believe that You will grant it,
     Because ultimately I know that You want the best for Your children
     And I am asking in Your Name,
          with the right motives (hopefully!),
          and in complete faith that You will answer.
     Thank You."

And it shall be done, according to how much faith we have, in the One who can get it done.

Do we have enough faith to win?

In one peace

 http://www.realbeauty.com/cm/realbeauty/images/8z/rb-sleeping-in-pink-sheets-0809-mdn.jpg

"No more drama," sings Ms. Mary J. Blige.

Well, I love dramatic twists and turns in stories and in my own life... And I don't have control over the main source of drama: when people and things don't go *my* way.

But, I do have control over how to respond to conflicts, worries and fears.

"Peace I give you," Jesus tells us. Not the "security" of the world, that is based on endlessly getting more, getting even, getting better.

"The peace of God transcends understanding," says the Bible. There are a lot of things that won't make sense, including being at peace in the midst of confusion. But there it is: that peace is available.

This peace doesn't mean complacency nor laziness. It is good to want to be better and do better... But the focus of one's security shifts away from self, others and things.

One's security starts being placed in God Himself. The One who says He will never desert us. The One who loved us before we were worthy of Him. The One in control of past, present and future; whose will is good, pleasing and perfect.

So this is me --- resting peacefully in the midst of deadlines, tasks and activity. "Resting" in peace but all the more alive. *Matters* clamoring for attention but still in one piece, with One Peace.

God says His followers are in this world but are not of this world. They still have to eat, sleep and take a ride to work. They still need to do the same tasks as everybody else... but there's something different inside.

There is only one security that is truly secure. There is a peace that can only come from God. Would you like your heart to rest, finally, in the only Steadfast One?

Shiny.

We want this:

 http://www.diamondinfowebsite.com/ancient-history.html

but not really this:

http://isanow.blogspot.com/2010/07/ontario-diamonds-compete-on-world.html

We want this:

 http://www.nesteamclean.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Marble-Foyer.jpg

but we don't really want this:

 

 http://www.affordabledecor.biz/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Clean-Floor-Tile.jpg

SHINE means:
     1. To emit light.
     2. To reflect light; glint or glisten.
     3. To distinguish oneself in an activity or a field; excel.
     4. To be immediately apparent
(from The Free Dictionary)

To shine means to be bright... at the cost of being bruised all over or burned from the inside.

Am I willing to pay the cost to achieve the rewards?

My family name is Pulido: Spanish for polished. Like elegant floors or sparkling gems that don't just happen. There's a lot of work, pain and sacrifice involved.

Jesus says that if anyone is tired in and of this world, come to Him. HE will carry the burden, HIS power accomplishes the work. I'm still in the process of trusting Him while getting off my bum... still learning how to balance being at peace while making sure I accomplish my tasks... still trying to understand how He can work "through" me. Many questions remain: Which part is Him and which is me? Would it matter as much as long as I get my work done? What if I don't get my work done --- is this still His will?

The Bible also talks of being pruned to be fruitful and of everything being shaken to the core. That's happening to me right now --- every matter being challenged and refined. These past weeks have been craaaaazy. People might know a thing or two but only God knows how much SHAKING I'm going through right now.

But I do want to shine. Don't you?

Then let the polishing, the pruning, and the shaking continue.

Burn, baby, burn... Shine for God, by God. :)

Delays are not denials

Do you have a God-inspired dream... that up to now is still a dream?


http://www.nuggetsoftruth.com/delays_are_not_denials.htm

The Memoirs of a Wedding Guest

 

http://www.casamadrona.com/sausalito-california-weddings.php 

Tonight caps  my "three-weddings-in-one-week" adventure. What have I learned?

* God will provide --- from money for a wedding (if it's His will), to someone to marry in the first place (again, if it's His will).

* I am honored to be invited to each friend's/relative's/co-worker's wedding: one of the most special days in their lives. To witness, to pray for, to share joy in. It is a privilege.

* Surprisingly, I feel no bitterness. I'm single and will be 30 in two months. Society dictates I should be panicking by now (and dating around instead of... *blogging*). But, it's OK. I'm walking with God and He's in control; He knows best.

* "There is no more condemnation for those in Christ."  No more manipulation, guilt tripping, emotional blackmail, playing on insecurities, and defrauding. No more abuse. "All good things come from the Father." God-centered relationships are not perfect, of course, but may we recognize (and take action) if we are in a relationship that does us more harm than good. I would rather be single than in a relationship that displeases God and people. Well, prayer answered / wish granted --> I'm single now.

* I love people! These three weddings enabled me to hang out with three different sets: churchmates, family, and co-teachers. In particular, I love what my married co-teachers said: It's not about age, background, status.. It's about God, and who He'll send. Just pray. Wow. Amen.

* May the guests not just partake of the wedding; may they support the marriage too, for better or worse.

* I love food. I've said before that my goal for this year (and how many years before?) was to develop "the Spirit of self-control". Hmm. Tomorrow I'll exercise na, promise. ;)

* I'm looking forward to my own wedding, God-willing. Our Lord Jesus tells us that if we ask according to His will, He hears and answers. It turns out I still have a lot to learn about God's will, but on the plus side, at least I'm learning.

* Lastly, I should look forward to each day, single or not, approaching my wedding or not. "This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." There is a command to rejoice; it is an act of faith for those who wish their lives could be different. But God is good and great. Let's remember, and trust, and live each day to the full. Attend a wedding even.

No fear, only love :)

http://mormonsoprano.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/greg-olson_love-evident.jpg

Since yesterday, I've had this urge to get a Venti (largest) Starbucks frappucino. My favorite is Dark Mocha, but they're featuring a new flavor, Cookie Crumble.

I'm not rich: I work for every centavo I get. Neither am I brand-conscious: I'm just as happy with a four-peso Nescafe instant coffee sachet.

My Starbucks cravings would appear to be an extravagant luxury, and that's actually the point: This is my date with God.

Disclaimer 1: Every now and then I check my heart if I'm just using God as an excuse.
Disclaimer 2: Of course, God can speak to us at any time and any place.
Disclaimer 3: The Bible reminds us that obedience (a flexible heart) is more important than sacrifice (an inflexible ritual).

Having said those, there are moments when I feel that He has something to say, and that I better be all eyes-ears-and-heart-ready. Like yesterday. I was thinking, Lord, You can talk to me here and I don't have to go to a coffee shop, right? But again, that's part of the point. Not that Starbucks is a holier place than the metro train or our living room, but it's probably because I have to be really out of my comfort zone, doing nothing but listening to Him.

http://www.alighthouse.com/godslove1.jpg

This morning, around noon, I finally got up, ordered the new Cookie Crumble frap (venti please!), and sat down.

And listened.

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Perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18)


Love extravagantly. Live generously. (1 Corinthians) 


Love  <--->  Eternal Life
Hate  <--->  Murder
(1 John 3:14-15) 


My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. 
     Shut down debilitating self-criticism (even if there's some truth to it)
God is greater than our worried hearts
     and knows more about us than we do ourselves
We're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves
     We're bold and free before God!

We're able to stretch our hands out
     and receive what we asked for
     because we're doing what He said,
     doing what pleases Him
          ==> Believe in Jesus Christ
          ==> Love each other
As we keep His commands,
     we live deeply and surely in Him
     and He lives in us.
And this is how we experience His deep and abiding presence in us:
     by the Spirit He gave us.
(1 John 3:18-24)


My dear friends,
     don't believe everything you hear.
Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you
     Not everyone who talks about God comes from God
     There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.
(1 John 4:1)


Let us continue to love each other
      since love comes from God
Everyone who loves
      is born of God
     and experiences a relationship with God.
(1 John 4:7-8)


If we love one another, God dwells deeply within us
     and His love becomes complete in us --- perfect love!
(1 John 4:12)

 

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To love, to be loved (1 John 4:17-21)
God is love.
When we take up permanent residence in a life of love,
     we live in God and God lives in us.
This way, love has the run of the house,
     becomes at home and mature in us,
      so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day ---
      our standing in the world is identical with Christ's.
There is no room in love for fear.
     Well-formed love banishes fear.
     Since fear is crippling, a fearful life
     --- fear of death, fear of judgment ---
     is one not yet fully formed in love.
We, though, are going to love --- love and be loved.
     First we were loved, now we love.
     He loved us first.
If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating..., he is a liar.
The command we have from Christ is blunt:
     Loving God includes loving people.
     You've got to love both. 

 

http://tearsinabottle.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/gods-love.jpg 

Got Hunger?

Was at tonight's last screening of "Hunger Games", with my parents and brother. ♥

Saw "Battle Royale" with some friends too, a few weeks back.

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Still looking for a reasonable reason to send kids to their death, with one victor as the authorities' act of mercy and forgiveness. (My bro was shaking his head at the government documentary explaining all this.)

Are we overanalyzing and taking this movie too seriously? Maybe. But gladiatorial (anything but) games with favors from on high are not only seen in Greek mythology and pop culture. The Romans did it 2000 years ago, and today we still have government-sanctioned violent entertainment.

Yes there's the violent loss of life, but the Capitol's supposed act of mercy is what disturbed me more. (Yes, I know, it's just a story, but there must be convincing reasons for audience's suspension of disbelief. Or maybe I just feel like a panel member reviewing *someone's* thesis.)

To atone for their rebellion, they must give:

a sacrifice.

of blood.

of life.

yearly.


Act of mercy and forgiveness? The people are supposed to be grateful for the ritual murders in their lands?


The documentary in the movie also talks about the peace they attained at the cost of blood. Now that the land already has peace, the government still demands blood sacrifice.




Do we still do that?

Yes.

 

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But Jesus said, "It is done."

He said, "It is finished."


Today is the start of Holy Week.

Hopefully we remember not just Jesus' death but His victory over death.

Hope we remember His sacrifice, not to add to it (like we can!),
but to give thanks.


In the movie, Katniss promises to be back for her sister. Kat gives all the reasurrance that she can, but she herself is not sure about what tomorrow will bring.


"Come to Me," Jesus says, "And I will give you rest."

 "Blessed are those who hunger, for they shall be filled."


"Whoever is thirsty, let him come to Me...
Whoever drinks the water I give him will never be thirsty again."

No empty promises, no mere good intentions.


With Jesus, we can truly be full.

The best time for Faith

"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Faith is confidence or trust in a person or entity.
- Wikipedia: Faith 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.
- Letter to the Hebrews


This must be the best season yet for me to have faith.

Previously, following God used to be so simple, understandable, and attainable.

Now, there's a lot of "?", "!", and "?!?!"... But thankfully, my past (and the history of the world) is filled with accounts of how wise, faithful, good and great our God is.

So now, this intellectual overachiever is confused... But grateful because God is still in control. HE will work out my life, as He always has.

"Be still... and know that I am God."

Instead of worrying or panicking, I will remember to trust, and be at peace. 

Because the best time for having faith in God 

is not when things are perfect,

but when everything's all messed up. 

May I glorify You as I continue to trust in You. :)


P.S. Some reminders from the net. May we all be blessed. :)
Image credits: [1], [2], [3].

When I don't know...

When I don't know,
I will rejoice,
Because I know the All-Knowing One.


The secret things belong to the LORD our God,
but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever,
that we may do all the words of this law.
- Deuteronomy 29:29

Easy to follow (or, "Decisions, decisions")

Today I'm just thankful, for the times God makes it easy to follow Him. ♥

I remember my first "major life decision" as a Christian: contemplating the path to take after graduating from college. I prayed for neon signs pointing to just one path, God's will for me.

Sure enough, then and now, clarity arrives, things do fall into place, with criteria being met by only one option.

Even Jesus prayed, "Father, not My will but Yours be done." [1] "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in heaven." [2]

Following God doesn't have to be a painful (if I may say so) hell. True, there are sacrifices and hardships, but the bigger picture is simply wonderful.

Jesus endured the most painful kind of death "for the joy set before Him." [3] "God's will is good, pleasing and perfect." [4]


Dilemma no more, head and heart united, His will becomes my own. There's no other place I'd rather be. Wouldn't you agree?

It's a vine (not a beanstalk)

It's a vine. Not a beanstalk.

In our modern, techie society, we want instant results. Success is associated with "more", "faster", and "bigger".

Even churches (groups of Christ-followers and the places where they worship) are pressured to be "successful". Besides, weren't 3,000 believers added just like that in the early days? But let's be careful to distinguish godly wisdom over worldly wisdom: if satan tempted even Jesus with worldly power, all the more can satan twist our good intentions.

The Christian life is a vine, not a beanstalk. It's a moment by moment choice to pursue God, not an overnight ticket to riches (and evil giants out for your blood :p).


Our Master's words in John 15:1-17:

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.

"I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are My friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last — and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you. This is My command: Love each other."

It is to God's glory that we be "successful"... but let's do so by pursuing not success but God Himself! (Seek ye first.) Surely we want quality and quantity, but pursue quality (our own walk with God) and the quantity will follow. It is God who will add the numbers. :)


I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything,
but only God, who makes things grow. 
- Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)