A Much Needed Downpour

Our kalamansi shrub has been quite dry the past weeks of scorching heat supposedly because of the El Nino.  Then one day it rained so hard for a few hours, so hard that it flooded a lot of our streets causing traffic jams.  A few days after I went out and, lo and behold, this was what I saw:

I’m not sure if you can see it in the picture, but all of a sudden white flowers start budding, opening up!  All the dry shrub needed was enough water for it to seep in to bring out the flowers that will eventually end up into fruit in the end.

We all need that “downpour” during dry moments in our life.  I experience that a lot, believe it or not.  Many people look at pastors or Christian workers as “supermen” who are probably so strong in the Lord that they never experience dry moments.  Well, we’re human beings, just like each one of you reading this.  And like the rest we experience those “dry” moments in our life, when things get monotonous, there seems to be no joy, no inspiration, no zest or drive for going through a day.

Then, the downpour we so much need comes.  It’s a downpour that doesn’t come from the world, but from the One who alone can provide a “rain” of water that refreshes us and keeps us going.  That’s how faithful and loving our God is.  Though He sees us going through dry spells, He will be faithful and gracious to pour out living water on us again, so that we will be refreshed.  All we need to do is remain, rooted to Him, just like the kalamansi shrub that just stays in the ground waiting for the much needed rain to come.  We need to, as our Lord Himself taught us - “remain in the vine”, and the fruit will come out.
And it begins with the flowers.  What’s a Christian life without flowers.  And only living water from our God can refresh us enough to bring back those flowers in our life.

John 4:13-14 (NASB)

¹³Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; ¹⁴but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

No matter how we feel, or what we’re going through, we need to hold on to the truth that the Giver of Living Water, who holds our life, will refresh us again.  We just have to keep on, hold on, seek Him, and trust. Let God bring the flowers back to our day by day walk with Him

Step on the Brakes!

I was asked to speak to our church's youth group recently with the topic "Why Wait?", one of the series of teachings that they had during February, the "love month".
As I driving and going through traffic, and having to struggle with undisciplined drivers and selfish drivers (like me, hehe.  I realized that through my years of driving that I'm just as selfish and reckless as the next driver), a perfect illustration for my introduction came to mind - why is it that drivers do not want to slow down when the traffic light is yellow, or do not want to give way to another car entering their lane, or when in an intersection?
It's because we don't like stepping on the brakes.  We don't want to slow down.  We don't want anyone hindering the speed we're in, changing our pace.

It's the same thing in a Christian's life.  Why is it that there are many Christians who don't pray for God's will, who just jump into a situation with a "bahala na" attitude, and who are willing to face the consequences just in case their decision ends up a mistake.  We don't want to "step on the brakes".  When our emotions tell us something - that you like a guy or girl, or that this job is right for you, or this is the trip you want to take, or this is the car you want to buy...you don’t want anyone messing around with that emotion, with that feeling that you have that you believe, from the bottom of your heart, is the right one for you.  We don’t want to slow down.  We don’t want to change our pace.  So, we don’t step on the brakes.
We don’t pray about it, we don’t ask for counsel from other believers, we just do what we want to do.
We don’t pray, asking God to confirm in our hearts, in some divine way, that what we are doing is what He wants us to be doing.

The reason why that big pedal to the left of the gas or acceleration pedal is so that, when we have to, we step on the brakes.  It’s for our protection.  It’s to make sure that when we have to slow down, or stop the car, stepping on the brake pedal does it for us.

Waiting upon the Lord is the “brake pedal” of our heart.  When our will or emotions tell us that something is right or beneficial for us, we don’t just rush to do it or get it...we slow down, we step on the brakes and ask for confirmation.
We don’t just “follow our heart”, because our hearts are not reliable

Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV)

⁹The heart is deceitful above all things 

and beyond cure.

Who can understand it?

If your life has been bought through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, through your faith, then you have been given a new heart, a heart indwelt by the Holy Spirit Himself.
And, we have  now become an adopted child of God.  And when you are His child your life is completely in His hands.  He has become sovereign over your life.
Not only that, but knowing that you were once an enemy of God, rebelling against His commands and will, and through your faith in Christ you have now become His servant - then, His will, His commands become of utmost priority.  We live for His will.
It is because of this that you wait upon the Lord, you step on your brakes, just to make sure that you are headed in the right direction.

So, brother or sister in Christ, don’t be afraid to step on the brakes, to wait upon the Lord.  Before making any major decision in your life - whether it’s a relationship, a financial decision, or a family decision, step back for a while and pray.  Meditate on God’s Word to see if your decision goes against any of His teachings.  Seek counsel from fellow believers.  And seek His peace.

Proverbs 19:2 (NIV)

²It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, 

nor to be hasty and miss the way.

 Psalms 27:14 (NIV)

¹⁴Wait for the LORD; 

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD.

Grumbling and Complaining

Has anyone noticed that our tv and print news will never (or should I say "rarely"...although I have not yet seen nor read any) write an article or broadcast/interview anyone who is living a simple and content life, trusting in the Lord, adjusting to whatever the economy throws upon us, despite the rising of prices, inflation and other experiences?
Sadly, many Christians today spend more time watching the news, or listening to commentaries, about people complaining about inflation and the raising of prices rather than reading and meditating on the Word of God, His promises, His faithfulness, and enjoying and basking in His presence despite all that is happening in the world. And so, what do you expect, but to hear the same complaints, the same grumbling, from what they (Christians) hear or read in the news.

Just thinking.

Psalms 4:6-8 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. (7) You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. (8) I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Faith Swings

There are times when I suffer from "Faith Swings" (my own personal invented term).  Similar to mood swings, but with this it deals with faith.  There are many times when, like a pendulum, my faith will swing from strong to weak.  Sometimes I feel it's more like from strong to none at all!  Many times it makes me wonder why I am a Christian, why the Lord called me to be a pastor, and during really down times I sometimes begin to doubt if God actually listens to me.

I think we all have our weak areas of life where our faith is tested.  There are many areas of life where my faith has passed the test, and even now when I go through those trials my faith remains.  But it seems like the Lord allows certain areas of our life where our faith is continually tested...for me it's my family.  When a family member is sick, in pain, and there is almost nothing you can do, I tend to panic.  I pray with panic, rather than with faith.  I become anxious, and many times impatient with regards to their healing or recovery.  This is one of my down areas of life.
And, as always, the Lord works and brings healing and recovery.  And not without my feeling ashamed of how I panicked and became impatient.  I eventually ask for forgiveness, and ask God to teach me, strengthen my faith, to prepare me for when it may happen again, that my faith may be strengthened again and again.

During my recent struggle with faith I came to the Lord, ashamed as always for my lack of faith, and came to Him with a humbled heart, and asked "Lord, is there anyone in the Bible who was like me, whose faith wavered even just for a while".  And in my heart I "heard" an answer from God...it was like a divine whisper.  And His answer was "My Son".  God's Son, my Savior and Lord, was that someone in the Bible whose faith wavered!
And immediately I remembered the event in the garden of Gethsemane:

Matthew 26:36-39  Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."  (37)  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  (38)  Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."  (39)  Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

During these last moments of His life, our Savior was overwhelmed with sorrow, and actually asked the Father if it was possible not to let His crucifixion continue.  But the whole time ends with our Savior saying "Yet not as I will, but as you will".  There was submission.

I have my Savior and Lord, my God now seated at the right hand of the Father, who went through exactly what I go through.  If there is anyone who understands, who can identify with us, it is Jesus Himself!  In His humanity he was overwhelmed and actually asked God to take away the circumstance He was about to face.  But His faith prevailed, and submitted to the sovereign will of His Father.

This is why we can call upon Him, and He will surely comfort us and restore us, because He Himself went through it, and was restored.

Hebrews 2:17-18  For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.  (18)  Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 4:15-16  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.  (16)  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

This is why eventually, even with bouts of "faith swings", we will eventually pass the test and our faith will be strengthened, because we have a God who sympathizes with us, and will strengthen us and see us through.

This was the Lord's promise to Simon:

Luke 22:31-32  Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.  (32)  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

It is our Lord Himself who will make sure that our faith will not fail.  All we have to do is to call upon Him, no matter how down or weak our faith may be.

Asking for a Sign

Have you ever asked God for a sign?  I have to confess, I have...a lot!  I think it is normal for us human beings, dependent on our senses and intellect, to ask God for a sign or confirmation for His will, or even His love for us.

David asked for a sign in Psalm 86:

Psalms 86:17 (NIV)

¹⁷Give me a sign of your goodness,

that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,

for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Many times I have quoted this verse in my prayers to the Lord.  And many times He has graciously shown me a sign or two of what I was requesting from Him.

But there were quite a number of occassions and circumstances when there were no signs.  And God was just asking me to trust Him totally.

Sometimes it seems like a lack of faith, just as with the Jews when Jesus was walking among them

John 4:48 (NIV)
⁴⁸“Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
It's true, right?  Sometimes our belief in our Lord becomes dependent on signs that He will show of who He is and what He has promised us He would do for us.
There are times in life when we need to walk by faith, and just trust in His promises for us, and trusting in who He is.
But, as human as we are, we still look for signs.

This is why, I believe, the greatest sign was given by our Lord when Thomas just could not believe Jesus was alive (we call him doubting Thomas...hopefully not out of judgment but because he is so much like us!).
John 20:24-25 (NIV)
²⁴Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

There are many times when we cannot see our Lord in certain circumstances.  The problem, the hardship, the pain, seem to overwhelm us and overshadow the reality of our God and His promises.
But Jesus was gracious enough to deal with the doubt of Thomas:
John 20:27-29 (NIV)
²⁷Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
²⁸Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
²⁹Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

What sign did our Lord show Thomas?  He said "see My hands...reach out your hand and put it into My side".  Jesus showed Thomas the proof of His dying on the cross, the price He paid to save us from our sins.  There is no greater expression of His love than that.
There is no other sign that we need.

So, if we ever come to a situation where our circumstances seem to question the love and faithfulness of our God remember the cross!  It was in the cross where our Savior and Lord showed the ultimate expression of His love and faithfulness to us.  There is no greater expression of love than dying for us, even while we were still sinners.  No greater love.

So, when circumstances in our life seem to question the love and faithfulness of our God go back to the cross.  He already showed us the extent of His love.  It's impossible that He will not show it in our everyday circumstances.