Into The Harvest Field

There was this worker from Latin America who spent almost three months in Canada looking for a friend. She would meet different people and give her number in exchange of theirs. Since she longs for someone she could talk to and meet with during her off or rest day, she would call them. Problem is, they won't pick up or just tell her they're busy.

Until she met a church worker. When she called her she wasn't able to pickup as she's at her job. After her work hours, she returned her call and they met. She invited her over their life group (small group). She was fulfilled for she found more than what she was looking for. She found a family in them.

That day she received Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. She found salvation in Him.

Truly, there are a lot of people out there just waiting to be shared by God's Word. God is already there. He has prepared them. His people just need to heed His call and let them know about Him.

* * * * * * *

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

-Matthew 9:37 - 38 (NKJV)

Point To Jesus

There are many things a preacher may have struggle from - relationships with family and/or friends, problems at work place, upcoming exams at school, maybe a personal hidden sin and/or more. All these are because they are still human. They live not only as preachers but as a human being as well - a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a professional, a casual worker, etc.

One struggle not often discussed openly is what to preach about or what to say especially when they address the same crowd everytime they deliver a message. If they depend on their own knowledge we all know it will never end well. It may entice listeners but will never get into their hearts as the only one who can do that is God himself.

One very striking passage in the Bible can be found on John 4:41-42.

"And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, 'Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.'"

It should be clear that it is not the preacher's word that will cause his listeners to believe Jesus but God's Himself. There will always be someone better speaker than the best preacher you know but no one and nothing will beat its original source - Jesus.

Preaching will never be a struggle if the goal is always TO POINT LISTENERS TO JESUS.

Surrounded By His Glory

There are things which we know are right but we neglect or choose not to do. One of those is following instructions.

A few months ago, I bought a new bed frame. Three of my friends helped me (or should I say I helped them) build it. It was supposed to be simple - prepare tools (which we have), make sure all pieces are complete, build it according to the instructional manual.

Believe it or not, not one of us thought of getting that piece of paper that came with the frame to follow what it says. We all (silently) agreed that we can build it without that manual. Just when we were about to attach the headboard to the frame, we figured we did something wrong so we had to disassemble the headboard pieces to make sure it was right.

We were able to assemble it but it would have happened sooner if we used the instructional manual.

Things like this happen most of the time when we think we can do it and we resist outside help. I have seen many drivers refusing to take someone's direction because they know other way.

This thing is very true with our walk with God. If there's anything very familiar with how God works, it's Him giving instructions. A lot of times He instructed His people, "Do not be afraid." Perhaps this is one of those things that hinder us from following Him - fear, so He would usually begin with dealing with it in us.

One good thing about following God's instructions is that He never let us go on our own. Whether we recognize it or not, God is with us every step. In fact, He goes before us. He makes sure He is ahead of us towards same direction that He wants us to take.

Remember 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (NKJV)

God does not want to take us anywhere we cannot go. He knows our limits. He even understands exactly what we are undergoing through. In John 16:33 (NKJV), Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Whatever thing may come our way, Jesus knows about it, He knows what we can and cannot bear, so He went before us, took everything we can think of on the cross, overcame them all, and made sure nothing will come that we cannot bear. He goes before us so that He can screen things. Those that come our way are what should strengthen us. Remember that with a screen, bigger things can't pass, only those that fit to the holes. Jesus goes before us, ahead of us, in front of us. He is our protector and defender when we move forward. He is the screen that makes sure only those that we can handle may pass through.

The best part of following God's instructions is that he got our back. He is our rear guard. Not only does He go before us, He also defends us from behind. All those things that we do not see and do not have control with, God takes care of it.

When we move forward, we cannot see what's behind us.God is taking care of it. This is where consistent and intentional prayer steps in - ask the Lord for protection, guidance and everything. Never let a day pass without praying. Never ever leave home without it.

I remember my wife, when we did not know yet that she was pregnant (with me first babies), she was part of a team who will lead a Youth Camp to another province. They missed the bus that was supposed to take them on time to the venue. So they had no other choice but to take the next one. In their minds, they all thought they should have gone earlier so could have got into that first bus.

God had a different plan. On their way to the venue, they saw the first bus (which they were supposed to take) burning. They could have taken that but because the God who promised He is their rear guard is true to His words,  they were spared. They were protected from the things they did not even know would happen.

As we continue our walk with God, let us always be sensitive to His instructions, being assured that He goes before us and the He is our rear guard. We are so surrounded by His glory.

Depart! Depart! Go out from there,

Touch no unclean thing;

Go out from the midst of her,

Be clean,

You who bear the vessels of the Lord.

For you shall not go out with haste,

Nor go by flight;

For the Lord will go before you,

And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

- Isaiah 52:11-12 (NKJV)

In God's Terms

Most of the time the troubles that come our way are caused by the decisions we make on our own.

God, being a gracious, faithful and just God, still provides a way out for us. He forgives and cleanses. (1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 John 1:9)

Trapped in a cycle of "favorite" sins we tend to commit the same sin over and over again thinking it's okay because we ask for forgiveness. They are usually done in secret. Without us realizing it, we are relying on our own strength and deny that we cannot do it on our own.

Leaving a sinful life behind is quite similar to leaving a building. We can exit through numerous ways other than the door - windows, chimney, walls (after breaking it just so there is a way), exhaust, etc. - but doing so will give a signal to those who see us that there is something wrong going on. As the only question-free way to leave a building is through its doors, the only possible way out of sinful life is by doing it in God's terms.

Let us confess our sins to God and let Him lead the way. Trust Him. He knows best.

Fools, because of their transgression,

And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.

Their soul abhorred all manner of food,

And they drew near to the gates of death.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

And He saved them out of their distresses.

He sent His word and healed them,

And delivered them from their destructions.

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,

And declare His works with rejoicing.

-Psalm 107:17-22 NKJV

Let God Decide

I just can't help but acknowledge that the God who created the heaven and the earth is the same God who caused all the things I consider blessing to come my way.

As a Christian, prayer is always the option in any situation. It's like a fuel in our relationship with God. It's our means of communication with God. It's us admitting that without God there is absolutely nothing we can do that will count to eternity.

The truth is, every believer pray. It doesn't matter how long it has been since one became a believer of Jesus. A six - month long believer prays. Pastors pray. Prayer is a common thing for believers of Jesus.

Since it's a common thing, I sometimes find it off when a christian asks another christian, "Did you pray for it?" when they can post this question: "How long have you been praying for it?"

I'm not saying that holding on too long on a prayer item is the basis of good Christianity and faith. I'm just saying that Jesus considers persistent prayer.

"I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs." (Luke 11:8 NKJV)

The truth is, God is a God of variety when it comes to answering prayers. For some, His response comes almost instantly - one prays for his phone's battery, 1% charged, to last until his friends arrive and it does; another guy prays for his bus to arrive earlier so he would catch his daughter's recital and it did.

The healing of the centurion's servant in Matthew 8 was instant.

"Then Jesus said to the centurion, 'Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.' And his servant was healed at that moment." (Matthew 8:13, NIV)

In some instances, however, believers have to hold on to their prayer requests a little longer than others' before they see God's answers to it coming to reality.

The assurance is this: God hears our prayers. He decides when to answer it.

"Then he continued, 'Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them...'" (Daniel 10:12 NIV)

One interesting lesson I have learned is that prayer is actually our response to God's grace. We pray because He has shown Himself able - to save us from eternal damnation, to raise the dead, to do impossible things and more. We pray because we respond to the things we know He did and can do. (I mean, you would not ask someone you know who can't do what you ask for, right?) We pray because of Him. Nothing more, nothing less.

As His servants, assured that He can give us anything, our role is to wait because He is God. He is sovereign. We may never fully understand how He answers our prayers but HE DOES because He is God and that's what matters.

I Am My Wife's Husband

Someone once said when anger clouds your judgment, take time to remember who you are. They may affect but don't let them change you.

When I'm close to my point of breaking, I take time to remember I am my wife's husband. God gave her to me to be my life's partner - a constant reminder that I am special.

My wife is the reason I wake up happy every morning. She is why I believe every tomorrow is better than every today. I love her and I can't let anything stop me from doing so.

The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life. 

-Proverbs 31:11-12  (NKJV)

What You Did Not Know About "Turning The Other Cheek"

To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. (Luke 6:29, NKJV)

This is quite a popular passage from the Bible. I heard it many times in movies and songs. What amazes me is how people would stop at this verse and try to mock those who believe in it by testing if they will practice what they preach.

God is just. He will never let you experience anything beyond your endurance. When Jesus said those words, he did not stop there. That wasn't the dead end. In verse 31 of the same chapter, He said another popular line, "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise." (NKJV)

The message of the Bible should not to be taken partly. It should be taken as a whole. So whenever our mind is telling us to test others if they will turn the other cheek if we strike them on one, let us ask ourselves first, "Would I want others do it to me?"

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13, NKJV)

God-Placed Location

Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

-Genesis 3:9 (NKJV)

How can this very small detail, Adam's location, ever be unknown to an all-knowing God?
To me He knew where he was. He was just reminding him, "I placed you here. Where did you go?"

Wherever God placed you, He expects you to be who you are - His child. Act like one. Let His instructions guide you and you will never go wrong.

Bloom where you are planted.

Take The First Step

Notice how 10-month old children carelessly try to stand up and start taking some steps. They are unafraid. Perhaps they are unaware of what might happen if they fall.

What about an adult watching that child trying to do things for the first time? S/He will try to grab the child if it is dangerous, lend a hand to make sure he gets what he wants without getting hurt, or comfort him when he gets hurt.

A child needs to learn how to stand up and walk as these are integral parts of  development and growing up. We, adults, specially parents, want to make sure they learn what they have to learn with the least possibility of getting hurt. We are always excited to see them achieve what is appropriate to their age and we rejoice when they do things in advance.

Our Father in heaven is just as excited to see us grow in our walk with Him. When He instructs us to do things, He provides what we need for us to be able to do it. The question is not "Will God enable us to do it?" but "Is our faith strong enough to take the first step"?

Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (NKJV) God has enabled us to do things by giving us the strength that we need to do it. Our faith can only be of help if it is directed to Him. "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV)

Know that when we do things under His will, just like a parent to his child who's just learning how to walk -

• He will move us out of danger
• He will guide us
• He will comfort us if we get hurt

because we need to grow. We need to elevate the way we look at the "what we can do WITH Him".

So go ahead and take the first step. Our Father is watching.

Love For All Seasons

So it's March 3. Almost half a week after February. Flowers given and received on "love month" are now withered (maybe not if you know tricks to make it last longer than the usual). What about those events organized by different groups just so they can accommodate people, mostly couples, looking for something to do that goes with what's "in" the season?

Love is not about a specific month or season. It is something anyone can talk about, express, give and receive any day of the year. Imagine a husband and a wife expressing their love only on February and forgetting about it on other months. No matter how special it is on the 14th day of this special month, it will never be enough to compensate with one's need for love throughout the year.

I remember my teacher in High School who asked us what Christmas is about. Surprisingly everything we said pointed to love - Christmas is a season of love. What we didn't expect was the next question she posed: "How then does Christmas differ from Valentine's day?"

The truth is, God designed love for everyone for all seasons.We celebrate love and we love because He first loved us. It is His love for mankind that caused Him to give His one and only son for our salvation. It is His love for us that caused Jesus to give us His grace and mercy.

Jesus loves you on February, on December, even on your birthday. He loves you when you're up and when you're down. He loves us regardless of the season. Any season is His season to love. As a matter of fact, the Bible declares that while we were still sinners, He loved us.

God is love and we should celebrate it everyday.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

- Matthew 22:37-40

Just Like Her Dad

The Lord has blessed me and my wife with three lovely daughters. Everyday, seeing them having little parts of me - the way they sleep, the way they eat - gives me a higher level of joy. A classic one is when my twins pretend to be asleep on the couch or on our bed just so I will be forced to carry them to their own bed. I still have a clear memory of me doing that when I was young.

Our youngest, 10 months old, brings so much joy to us as to her Ate and Ditse (oldest and second older sister). Everytime someone compliments her beautiful eyebrows, lips and face, I feel an unexplainable sense of happiness.

I remember an instance when I brought her with me and while in a bus, somebody said, "Look at her. She's so cute." I responded, "Just like her dad." I use that line whenever a friend or even a stranger appreciates her beauty. I know it sounds a little braggy but I've heard more from proud parents and I understand them (now).

Not only am I a father but also a child. I sometimes wonder if I give my Father in heaven at least the same level of confidence that would cause Him to utter, "Just like his Dad," with the things I do and say.

"Did I make my heavenly father proud of what I did today?" I know it's never easy but being created in His own image is enough reason for me to try to be who He wants me to be.

I am a child of God. As a father of my daughters, I understand how good it is to have children who represent me (regardless if I see them or not) in a good way.

May we stay under His will as He generously gives us the grace and the privilege to be called His children. May it not hurt God everytime people say we are who we are, "Just like our Dad."

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 

-1 Corinthians 11:1

What Makes It Count

Serving God is about God, not the servant. No matter how good we think we are as Christians, God's grace is what makes it count for the Lord. It is all for Him, by Him and through Him.

Come to think of it. No participant of a singing contest will just sing for the sake of singing. He will try to know what the criteria for judging are and do his best to please the judges.

Same thing is true with serving God. When we do, we want to make sure that He is pleased. I believe that the best way to serve Him is to do so according to His ways - how He would want us to serve Him.

No straight thinking person would give his friend something they don't want. When  we give a gift we want to make sure that the person who will receive it will like it. When we serve God, we offer Him our worship. Therefore, when we offer our worship to God, we must do it according to His will.

May we not look highly to ourselves as if we don't need Jesus. It is only by God's grace that we are able to do what we do for Him.

Let us serve God in the way that He wants us to. After all it's about Him.

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me."

- 1 Corinthians  15:10 (NIV)

More Good News

Jesus is the Good News who brings more good news. I tried naming some of them.

Good news: God knows what you need.
More good news: He provides them.

Good news: God hears your prayers.
More good news: He has a special way of answering them.

Good news: When you don't know what to do, God does.
More good news: Even when you think you can handle it, God knows a better way (best way, actually).

Good news: God knows you can pass any test He allows.
More good news: He provides a way for you to pass.

Good news: You can always turn to Jesus.
More good news: Jesus became human and made it more obvious that it is actually Him who turned to you.

Good news: Salvation is not for sale.
More good news: Jesus paid it in full and offers it to everyone.

Good news: God knows who you are.
More good news: He can use you.

Is That A Good Thing?

Your daughter will meet a man like you and will become her boyfriend. Is that a good thing?

I don't remember exactly where I read/heard this but I still can recall how it made me stop a while and think about the kind of man I am and was, specially "was". I guess it's not surprising for someone who have three lovely daughters.

I believe it's every father's concern that their daughters be loved by their own partner the way their mother was.

I thank God for the lesson I learned through my church's spiritual director, "As young as they are now, ask God for the perfect spouse for them." That's what I do. That's what me and my wife do. By this I am sure that no matter what happens, whoever my daughter meets, it is always a good thing because it is God's will.

"Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." - John 16:24 (NKJV, emphasis mine)

Jesus-Centered Faith

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'” - Daniel 3:16-18

In Daniel chapter 2, King Nebuchadnezzar just promoted Daniel and his friends and praised their God. Daniel was able to tell the king what his dream was and its interpretation.

Daniel 3 started with the king established an image of gold and decreed that every time the people hears all kinds of music playing they should fall down and worship this image.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, being faithful to the Lord, never bowed down before this image. In verse 8, the astrologers told the king about them disobeying the king’s command. So the king called them and confirmed if it is true and reminded them of what will happen to them if they do not fall down and worship the image he set up – they will be thrown into a blazing furnace. Daniel 3:16-18 was their reply to the king that made him so angry.

Let me share with you four things about faith as modeled by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

1. Always be on guard.

If a person (such as King Nebuchadnezzar) can praise the God we serve because of what He did through our lives and then make such a move that is against the same God he just praised, there is no reason for us to relax just because we felt the success of God's move.

It is not wrong to celebrate achievements. They came from God. What I'm saying is in your success, do not forget the one who caused you to triumph - Jesus.

Remember, most people who failed failed not during the time when they were down but during the time they were at the peak of their career. King Saul is one great example of this.

2. Stand firm on your faith but respect authorities.

Notice how Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego addressed the king... "But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. They gave him the recognition he deserves (Your Majesty) but firmly conveyed their stand on the issue.

Your parents who do not support your faith still deserves your respect because they are your parents. Same as your friends, your employer, etc. Far more than they deserve your respect, they are souls to be won for Jesus. 

3. God knows what He is doing; God knows what to do.

I love this line from this passage: "...he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." This is a clear statement of completely entrusting the situation to God. It is a fearless declaration of "I do not always understand how my God works but I know it is always the best tailored-fit-for-my-situation move."

4. Act on your faith.

Even the devil believes in God (James 2:19). Our difference from his belief on God is our point of view. Satan shudders (James 2:19). We put our faith on God. We trust that what he does is always for our best. Jesus is our Savior. 

In every situation we are facing, always remember that whenever our faith is tested it does not mean God is unsure of us. He just wants to make us see for ourselves that through Him, we can do things we never thought we can.

May our faith always point to Jesus.

Our Place Of Comfort

"Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, 'She is going to the tomb to weep there.' Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.'” (John 11:31, 32 NKJV)

Most of the time we expect someone who's hurt to be sad, to mourn, to release the emotion.

Mary, when everybody thought she would go to the tomb of her brother to mourn (which is definitely normal), showed there was a better place to mourn - at the feet of Jesus.

Whether she went to the tomb or to Jesus' feet, she could mourn. The only difference was, in the presence of God mourning could turn into dancing. Tomb can't do that. Only Jesus can.

Surrender everything to God. Turn to Him for anything (and for everything).

He knows what to do.