Thursday, June 30, 2016

Sparrow

Friends,

There was a job fair in the city, about two hours from where I live, and I went there two days ago. They were accommodating and promising, and when they said I'll hear from them "tomorrow" (meaning, yesterday) and they didn't, well, I just prayed for God's will.

The sparrow always has been to me a symbol of God's providence, because of Jesus' sayings that birds don't worry about food because God in Heaven feeds them.

Three days ago, late afternoon, I found a sparrow hopping on the ground, not flying, just going from one potted plant to another. I didn't think much about it, and Dana was delighted to watch it, until to our horror we saw it hopping towards the gate. We feared if it gets out it might get run over, or be caught by an alley cat!

After several attempts I managed to get it gently in my hands, and then I realized it was too young, it cannot fly, the tail is too short. I put her in a birdcage. Dana was ecstatic. A pet! A pet! "What shall we call him?"

Maya is the Filipino word for sparrow, but Dana liked "Sparrow" so Sparrow it is.

We bought birdseed the next day and realized it was too young to eat it. Since Sparrow arrived into our lives, we noticed more birds have settled in the trees. Ah! They must be Sparrow's parents or family, looking for him. True enough, there'd be one adult sparrow who would get some bird seed, then put it in Sparrow's open mouth.

I thought if I got that day job I might feel like that sparrow in the cage, trapped, unable to have time for my art, for writing, for rehearsals and shows. I expect a bigger bird (the company, my employer) to feed me. I felt a pang of despair.

Dana knew that in a week's time, when Sparrow is better we'll set him free. We've made some attempts of letting him out of his cage, but still he couldn't fly.

Earlier tonight while I was at my desk and Dana was doing homework we heard the cage crash. I rushed outside and found a cat poised to strike. I quickly shooed it away. Poor terrified bird. The cage was upside down, the gate was open, the cat could have easily reached inside! Dana was inconsolable for a bit. She thought she had lost her pet!

I replaced the cage on a table outside, and surrounded it with boxes. Then I placed things that would make a clattering noise against the boxes: umbrellas, hangers, sticks... should a cat try to make another pounce. Can I blame the cat? Mother Nature intended cats to be predators, and they're very good ones at that. I left a bowl of food for the cat in case it returns.

Sparrow may not understand why we keep him caged right now, but when his wings are better, we'll let him free. Jesus said, "You are even more precious to God than a beautiful bird. If God looks after them, of course He will look after you."

Saturday, June 25, 2016

More about being God's image-bearer

I now begin to define sin as anything that maligns, destroys, goes against, and attacks God's image in a person. I think anything that does not treat another human being with the dignity of being created in God's image and likeness is a sin against that person and their Maker.

Here's another fascinating story from Standing through the Storm.
In China, a Christian woman was in charge of security at a coal mine. The woman suddenly felt the Holy Spirit urging her to pull the alarm lever, even though there was no apparent reason to do so. Although everything seemed quiet and normal, she obeyed the prompting within her. The whole mine was evacuated as a result of the alarm sounding, but when all the men had assembled on the surface, it seemed as if a huge mistake had been made. Just moments later, the ground beneath their feet shook and a large section of the mine collapsed from an earthquake.

Because of this sister's sensitivity and willingness to obey God's Holy Spirit, everyone's lives had been saved. In addition, 400 of the miners surrendered their lives to Christ after recognizing that God had miraculously saved them from death.
Now, I will confess something to you, friends. I am thinking whether to get a call center job or keep on as a novelist. I have consulted the Bible, the tarot, my own logic, but not the Holy Spirit. I will do so now.

photo credit ThoutCatalog.Files.wordpress.com

Friday, June 24, 2016

In step with the Spirit

I subscribe to Open Doors devotional called Standing through the Storm and I want to share an article from their archives with you today.

Two days ago I read John chapter three, and verse 8 made me wrinkle my nose. "The wind blows all around us as if it has a will of its own; we feel and hear it, but we do not understand where it has come from or where it will end up. Life in the Spirit is as if it were the wind of God.

I asked, "God, I want to have life in Your Spirit. But I do not know what it means." I was ready to settle with having no answers. After all, maybe a true life in the Spirit is not something to be grasped intellectually, but experienced. God may have given me an answer through the SSTS essay called "In step with the Spirit". Here it goes.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25

Jesus said He would not leave us alone but would give us a Helper to be with us forever (John 14:16-18). He taught us that the Holy Spirit would be our Counselor (John 14:26). Jesus also called Him the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17).

Two sisters in southern China came to Christ in a house church meeting. Twenty months later a friend from Hong Kong visited them and asked what they had been doing since their conversion. "Starting home meetings," was their timid response.

"How many home meetings?"

"Only 30," was their halting reply.

"How many attend your meetings?" was the next nonchalant question.

"Well, at the smallest one, about 280!"

Now the questioner was totally involved and quickly continued, "How many attend your largest meeting?"

"Not even 5000, only about 4,900!"

The Hong Kong Christian was flabbergasted. In his excitement he quickly asked, "How do you ladies—both new Christians—know what to do?"

They simply replied, "We pray. And after we pray, the Holy Spirit tells us what to do!"

It is also obvious that these two ladies were then obedient to the Holy Spirit's direction. The goal of all Christians should be to live so completely under the control of the Holy Spirit that it can be said we are walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). As Paul reminded the Galatian Christians, they began their Christian lives by a miracle work of God, new birth in Jesus, and they could only expect to continue in it by God's power. This fact is even more evident in a hostile environment.

Response
The Holy Spirit wants to be my guide and counselor today. I will be obedient to His leading.

Prayer
Lord, help me to walk this day in the power of Your Holy Spirit. May I also keep in step!
And so perhaps I have my answer from two Chinese sisters whom I may never meet on this earth. Pray, and the Holy Spirit tells us what to do.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

God's image and likeness

I am attending Word@Work at ISACC. I encourage all to attend it. It's a great class! We began last Saturday, but it's not too late to join in. Here's the deets:



Something new learned were the original Hebrew for the phrases "made in God's image" and "in God's likeness" repeated in Genesis 5. "When God created humans, He made them in His own likeness."

In God's image means spitting image, carbon copy, exact replica, mirror image. And in God's likeness means showing undisputable family resemblance. Ha! So the next time I am tempted to treat my neighbor with less respect and dignity, I need to remember that all humans were created in God's image, and I better think twice about my attitude.

I wonder what Enoch did to have had such a close and intimate relationship with God. But that is the wrong question. I can make an entire religion out of the answers I would devise for that question. What Enoch and God had was their own special thing. But I can develop my own close and intimate relationship with God--the Rico and God way. For me, it's always prayer in the form of writing, and acting on stage. It is the practice of the gifts He has given me. What's yours?

photo credit SamJTanner.com

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

The heart of the Gospel message

John 3

16 For God expressed his love for the world in this way: He gave his only Son so that whoever believes in him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life.

17 Here's the point. God didn't send His Son into the world to judge it; instead, He is here to rescue a world headed toward certain destruction.

18 No one who believes in Him has to fear condemnation, yet condemnation is already the reality for everyone who refuses to believe because they reject the name of the only Son of God.

19 Why does God allow for judgment and condemnation? Because the Light, sent from God, pierced through the world's darkness to expose ill motives, hatred, gossip, greed, violence, and the like. Still some people preferred the darkness over the light because their actions were dark.

20 Some of humankind hated the light. They scampered hurriedly back into the darkness where vices thrive and wickedness flourishes.

21 Those who abandon deceit and embrace what is true, they will enter into the light where it will be clear that all their deeds come from God.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Jesus spoke with a fundamentalist

I find it astounding that Nicodemus, a Pharisee, was welcomed by Jesus, even when he needed to meet with Him at night. Nicodemus was a fundamentalist, to use our post-Reformation label, one who is well-versed with legalism, and who's failing at fulfilling the Law. And Jesus said this: "You must be born again." Say that to a fundamentalist today and they might fume. "I am a Born Again Protestant!"

I am glad Nicodemus responded otherwise. He asked Jesus to clarify. "How can I be born again?"

Jesus' reply to me was cryptic. "The wind blows all around us as if it has a will of its own; we feel and hear it, but we do not understand where it has come from or where it will end up. Life in the Spirit is as if it were the wind of God."

I cannot begin to understand what that means, but I think that's the whole point. Once I feel I have grasped it, understood it logically, then I have lost it. It is the wind. It goes where it does. Life in the Spirit, this new Life we are born again into, is a constant Second Circle connection to the Spirit's Presence, and a moment-to-moment obedience to His Will. It is, by its very nature, unpredictable.

I think we evangelicals have missed the message somehow. We thought we needed to be born again so we can be ensured of going to heaven when we die. Isn't that what John 3:16 promises? Yes, but there's more than that. It's not just life hereafter. It's life here and now.

We need to be born into the Spirit so we can belong to the kingdom of God, or as I like to think of it, under the kingship, rule, and authority of God. We are positionally placed into His rulership, His dominion, and we become subjects to the Sovereign King whose will is fulfilled. It is a transference from the world's darkness into the Light. No more hiding in the buses like our parents Adam and Eve did.

"Those who abandon deceit and embrace what is true, they will enter into the light where it will be clear that all their deeds come from God" (John 3:21).

God, I want to be born of the Spirit. Please, Jesus, I want this life that You offer.

photo credit KingOfWallpapers.com


Sunday, June 19, 2016

First three hours of the day

This is obviously an oversimplification, but practices I learned from three books: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg, and Becoming A Writer by Dorothea Brande have helped me device my own morning rituals. I think of the first three hours as a sacred offering to God. One hour of morning writing. One hour of yoga. One hour of silent meditation.

The problem is, I switch on Facebook or check e-mail, and then I'm lost in the sea of social media.

I intend to change this pattern and stick to my regimen of worship. I think this is akin to Cain's offering. If I don't give God my first hours, the best of my day, then it's a mediocre offering. It's leftovers. It's nothing special. And God may have no regard for my stale worship.

"Don't you know that as long as you do what is right, then I accept you? But if you do not do what is right, watch out, because sin is crouching at the door, ready to pounce on you! You must master it before it masters you" (Genesis 4:7).

Note to self: Rico, it is no use to be envious of God's favor on others. It is no use to be consumed by jealousy. Imust come clean before God.

When Seth was born, the people began to call on the Eternal and worship Him. This is in stark contrast to Cain, who was banished from the Presence of God. I have a choice now: to worship God, or turn my back on His Presence. Always, there's a choice.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Here's a famous quote from Lord Byron: "The water met its Master and it blushed."

John 2:5 Mary turned to the servants. "Do whatever my son tells you."

What is Mary's Son telling you to do today? His true servants will obey His every will, for He seeks to turn your wash water into delectable wine. He seeks to blossom your faith.

Friday, June 17, 2016

The blessing of physical death



I happened upon this thought after reading Interview with the Vampire, a novel by Anne Rice. In the book (if you haven't read it, please do!) a grieving plantation owner is turned into a vampire and given immortal life. Now he bears his pains and memories forever.

I realized that death in itself is a blessing. It is a painful experience losing a loved one. I do not mean to diminish that. And with the recent events at Orlando, and Syria, and really anywhere in the world, death is unwelcome, an aberration, an interruption from what makes sense.

But some people do long for death after a long, laborious life on this earth. And it is with death that we leave this body and enter Eternity.

Life is a blessing. Death can be a blessing, too. After all, the death of Jesus on the cross was the greatest blessing to mankind. That, and His Resurrection! Life!

Thursday, June 16, 2016

The sound of God

"When I heard the sound of You coming in the garden, I was afraid because I am naked. So I hid from You," Adam said in Genesis 3:10.

What once was a sound that gave a thrill: "My Maker is coming! Love is here! Eternal God who breathed into my nostrils and gave me my life, He is here!" has become one that brings terror.

I remember times when I sin and I felt afraid of God, shrinking in shame. I also remember times when I actually did not feel any shame, but more a brazenness, knowing that my heart had become calloused with sin and not giving a care at all. Eitherway, God's heart is broken when I sin. And Jesus' body was broken because of my sin.

God gave His Son, Eve's Offspring, as the promise for our salvation. And God killed an animal--foreshadowing the death of Eve's Offspring, the perfect Lamb of God, to clothe Adam and Eve with its hide.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Forbidden fruit at the centre of the garden

I theorize that the reason the tree that gives knowledge to good and evil, with its forbidden fruit, is in the center of the Garden east of Eden, is that any point of decision where we either obey or disobey God is made from the center of our hearts, our soul or being.

God takes it seriously when we choose to obey or not obey Him. I don't think it was an accident that the tree was in the middle of the Garden.

This teaches me that the next time I make a decision to yield to temptation, or to obey God's Word, that God is with me in the center of my heart, and I can make the right decision by the power of His Spirit. More importantly, that these decisions should be made from my Centre, where my Awareness and Presence springs from.