ALL YOU NEED IS JESUS

(subtitle: kwentong katol)

I met Tito Lito in Anawim** 11 years ago. My first impression was that he looked younger than the other Anawim residents. Most of them had gray or thinning or even no hair but Tito Lito was unique. He was blessed with black and wavy hair. This made it easy to notice him amidst the crowd. 

I love talking to him every time my family visits the place. Maybe it was the stories he shared. Maybe it was his simple requests like;

-       “can you bring me a ‘katol’ (a scented mosquito repellent in coil form) in your next visit?” OR

-       “please get me a glass of water”

There was something about him that made me comfortable. I treated him as my uncle, my “Tito”. Maybe he considered me as his adopted son.   

HIS OLD LIFE

He was very open about this life. He told me that he used to have a prosperous life. His business was involved in the entertainment industry, specifically movies. He personally knew a lot of celebrities during his time. I did not know most of the actors that he said but I nodded my head at every name. I pretended to know them because I wanted him to continue with his story telling. He was earning well and his family lived a comfortable life. He never thought that his abundant lifestyle would come to an end. 

Then one day it did. 

He became sickly. He suffered a stroke and had to undergo two major operations. His movements became limited. His condition forced him to use a wheelchair.  He was not able to attend to his business. His savings were diminishing as each day passed. The biggest blow happened when his family abandoned him! 

Perhaps his wife could not bear the difficulty of taking care of him. Or maybe they felt that he cannot anymore provide for them. Maybe it was his declining bank account that made them leave. He never knew what was their reason for leaving. He just woke up one day and they were gone. No farewell note. No final message. His life changed from having everything to a life with nothing.  

HIS NEW LIFE

By some twist of faith, he ended up in Anawim. He still has limited movement but it was not an issue. The caretakers brought to him most of his needs. His family did not return but he is surrounded by true friends. They sing, eat, pray and laugh with him everyday. He may not have earthly treasures but he found the true treasure in Jesus. His new life allowed him to appreciate Jesus’ love for him. 

THE LIFE LESSON

I came prepared for our next visit to Anawim. I brought a box of “katol” for Tito Lito. I immediately looked for him in the canteen but he was not there. I went to his room but nobody was there. His wheelchair was neatly folded beside his empty wooden bed. I met a caregiver on the way out and asked about Tito Lito. The caregiver’s reply shocked me -  
“sorry, but he passed away last month”.

How can this happen? Our friendship was barely turning two years. I was looking forward to more of his stories. I was excited to hear more about his showbiz filled tales.

Later on, I took hold of myself and prayed for his soul. I realized that the situation was what’s best for him. I was happy that he found a new family before he left this world. I was joyful that he met Jesus again. I was glad that he had a relationship with Jesus during his last days. Now he is with Jesus every day. I believe that in God’s kingdom he sings, prays and laughs every moment. 

I pray that one day I will meet him again in God’s kingdom. I look forward to that day. I’ll try my best to bring the “katol” he requested.

The story of Tito Lito taught me one important thing. Your health may fail you. Your family may abandon you. Friends may go and leave you. Money will vanish or lose value. You may have nothing left but believe in faith that Jesus will always be with you. As is it written,

“It is the LORD who goes before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed.” – Deuteronomy 31:8

God will never abandon you. Now, what should be our response? Believe and love Him back.

** Anawim - is an outreach project that serves as the home for poor and abandoned elderly people located in Montalban, Rizal, Philippines.

WHEN FACED WITH A STORM, DO YOU PANIC OR DO YOU PRAY?

Then out of the storm the Lord spoke to Job. – Job 38:1

In the midst of a storm, be still and embrace the presence of your God.

http://kerygmafamily.com/modules/dailyreadings/read.php?date=2012-10-05 

have a blessed day!

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE LITTLE (OR NOTHING) TO GIVE?

This story begins when a prophet named Elijah asked a favor from a widow. 

When he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called out to her, “Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.” - 1 Kings 17:10

The widow followed without hesitation. But as she was about to do his request, Elijah follows up with another one.

She left to get it, and he called out after her, “Please bring along a crust of bread.” - 1 Kings 17:11

Maybe that request caught the widow off guard. Maybe she stood there, frozen in her tracks and did not know how to react. The request for water was a difficult one since there was a drought at that time.  You can say that a cup of water was valuable as gold. Then Elijah asked for another favor. A piece of bread that would be worth a few silver coins for a poor widow.

Elijah was just new in town. He just met the widow. Yet he had the audacity to ask for the widow’s “gold and silver”. Were his requests a bit too much to ask? Were they too much for a widow who barely had enough?

The widow had no choice but to tell him the truth.

She said, “As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a few sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” - 1 Kings 17:12

“...when we have eaten it, we shall die”. That line says it all. The widow had too little or almost nothing. In fact, she was ready to die after her last meal.

Were you ever in a situation where you felt that your resources were running out? You were like a car whose fuel gauge pointed to “E”. Empty, nothing, zero, nil, zip or zinch.

• Like when you had no work and your savings was diminishing
• Or you sold most of your assets to start a business but your partners stole your money
• Or when you tried everything your doctor recommended but your terminal sickness still cant be cured

You are running low but God wants you to give. It may not be giving bread or water. Maybe God wants you to give time, your talent or your other resources. Will you still give in to a request to help this man of God?

The widow could have said no to Elijah. She had every reason to do so. For me, she could have said “no” and I won't take it against her. She was a widow and she had limited supply. Would you blame her if she said sorry to Elijah?

This is where the story becomes interesting. She decided to follow him and grant his request. She followed because she had faith in God. She believed in what God said through Elijah.

Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid. Go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Afterwards you can prepare something for yourself and your son. - 1 Kings 17:13

And the widow’s faith in God was rewarded. God was indeed faithful. As HE promised through Elijah, the widow and her son did not go hungry. They even had more than enough for others in the house.

For the Lord, the God of Israel, says: The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth. She left and did as Elijah had said. She had enough to eat for a long time—he and she and her household. The jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD spoken through Elijah. - 1 Kings 17:14-16

I love how that story ended. A widow who had little or barely enough yet she was still willing to give. She held on to the promise of God and she ended up with more than enough. Its been said that faith can move mountains (Mark 11:23). In the story of Elijah and the widow, faith resulted to a blessing not only for the giver. God blessed not only the widow and her son. God blessed the whole household.

Whenever you are faced with a drought or famine, have faith that your generous God will provide.

What to do when you have almost nothing left?

Give everything to God.

 

MORE THAN A MINUTE

Have you seen the TV game-show "Minute to Win It"?

If not yet, I suggest you do.  Contestants are given a task that has to be completed in one minute. I caught the show a couple of times and I saw a lot of talented contestants.  Their talent allowed them to do something amazing in a mere minute.

God gives us more than a minute. HE gives us a lifetime. HE gives us a lifetime to use our talents to do something incredible.  Something amazing.

Are you using your talents? More importantly, are you using it for God?

Always remember that God gives you more than a MINUTE to WIN it.

Win for HIM and make your God proud of you!

Matthew 24:45 “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time?

PAPER-ROCK-SCISSORS

If you are Filipino you know the game as "bato-bato-pik".

It was a common hand gesture game when I was a kid. Nowadays, kids’ hand gesture games are tap, tap, swipe-left, swipe-right or pinch to zoom-out/in. Anyway, let me go back to the rock.

Allow me to share this bible story about the rock.

·      No, it was not the rock that Moses struck so water can gush out. (Exodus 17:6)

·      Nor the rock that David got from his bag, loaded in his slingshot and fired at the Philistine giant. (1 Samuel 17:49)

·      Nope, it was not about the rock that Jesus asked the people to move so He can call out his friend Lazarus from the world of the dead to return back to life. (John 11:38)

·      Nor the stone at the tomb that the angel moved when Jesus resurrected on the third day. (Matthew 28:2)

It’s about a man called “The Rock”. Not the muscular former wrestler turned Hollywood star. This is the rock that Jesus chose to build His church on.

He was originally named Simon or Simeon. Also called Simon bar-Jona which translates to Simon son of Jonah (or John). His Greek name was Cephas and his Hebrew name was Kepha. Both of which mean rock. Jesus called him Peter. On some Bible verses he was called Simon Peter.  To us Pinoys, he is San Pedro; often personified through a statue of a bearded man holding a huge key with a rooster by his side. 

He was not outstanding. He was a simple fisherman. But when he became a follower of Jesus, he decided to be His best follower. Wherever Jesus went, Peter was there. He was like Robin to Batman, Patrick to Spongebob, or Pippen to Jordan. When Jesus healed the sick, Peter was there. When Jesus was preaching, he was the assistant. When He fed the thousands, Peter was the waiter. When Jesus talked to Moses and Elijah during the transfiguration, he was an eyewitness. Peter probably got the most medals if Jesus gave out an “Apostle of the Week” award.

However, his low point came when he denied Jesus. Faced with the possibility of being arrested and crucified, he denied his Master. He denied Him three times. For most of us, that is a sign of weakness. The once outstanding apostle became a failure. Was it time to throw away the “Apostle of the Week” trophies, medals or certificates? Was it down-hill for Peter from hereon?

Nope. Not for God because Jesus saw it differently. He knew there was something special in Peter. Yes, Peter denied Him. But God looks beyond what an ordinary man perceives as a weakness. God sees the bigger picture. God’s definition of failure is different. He knew Peter would be a solid foundation. He saw him as a solid rock.

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of death will not overcome it.” – Matthew 16:18

Jesus gave Peter a special mission. He made Peter the head of His church. The Church grew because of this rock. The Church grew because of other men and women like Peter. The Church continues to grow because of so called “failures” like Peter.

Can you recall a personal experience where you failed?

I can. Most of us do. Every time we give into our habitual sin, we fail. When we can’t forgive a friend who offended us, we fail. Or when you chose to watch a movie on a Sunday instead of attending Mass. Every time we prefer to share gossip instead of an inspirational verse, we fail. Plus a lot more situations. You are like Peter in these situations because you also “denied” Jesus. So you ask yourself – “can God love a failure like me?”

I’ve got great news for you. Jesus looks beyond what we call failure. He sees something special in you. He wants to use you for His church. All He needs to hear is your “YES”. Jesus just wants you to believe and follow Him.

Be a rock for God. Have a blessed day!

THE BLESSING COMES WITH A MISSION

I got an email about funny church signs the other week. All the signs were funny but what caught my attention was the one below.

"What is missing from CH_ _CH? U-R".

You will always prioritize something you love. Church should always be part of any Christian’s priority list. But for now, allow me to present another perspective. I will use the same the same question - "What is missing from CH_ _CH? U-R"

Not "U-R" as in "you are". But "U-R" as in "your <blank>". 

• Ur sibling 
• Ur friends 
• Ur office-mate 
• Ur parents 
• Ur neighbor 
• Ur parents 

Friends, did you already accept Jesus as your Lord and personal savior? If yes, congratulations! You are truly blessed. With this blessing comes a special mission also. This is the mission of spreading the good news. 

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." - Matthew 28:19 

Whenever I will be out of the office for a long time (regardless if its business or pleasure), I always find time to meet up with my team before I leave. Our meeting does not cover all nitty-gritty details of the operational matters. I don’t discuss all the items in the to-do list but I make sure to tackle the important points. The verse above was the final instruction of Jesus before He return to heaven. Jesus preached a lot of things during His 3 year mission but he gave the final instructions above because it is very important. God wants you to share the Good News to the people around you. If you are a “new” Christian, it does not need to be as grand as talking to a large crowd about Jesus. It can start with your circle of influence. The office-mate you meet at the pantry during coffee breaks, your siblings, your parent, a neighbor you greet every morning, a former classmate who works in the same building and the long list of friends in your social network. As Christians we are mandated by God to spread the Word to everyone.  I know what your usual reaction would be. 

"Me? Evangelizing others? Are you sure?" 

Most of us would react that way. 

"I am not qualified. Please give me another service. Anything but evangelization. Let the preachers, priest or pastors do that. 
  
A lot of personalities in the bible felt the same way. 

“I am not worthy; I am a sinner!”  -  Isaiah

“I’m too young to do this”             - Jeremiah 

“I can’t speak eloquently”             - Moses 

But, with God’s grace they were able to take on the mission. All you need to do is to accept the mission and let God empower you. It is a difficult mission but it is part of our mandate when we accepted Him. We need to evangelize. And we need to do it NOW.

Have a blessed day!

DID YOU EVER COMPLAIN TO GOD?

I did....or maybe to make it more accurate - I do. Yes, I still do. 


Not all the time but definitely more than once. I complained to God a couple of times. Before I share one of my ranting moments let me tell you about Habakkuk. 

Habakkuk was an Old Testament prophet who lived in Judah. He lived in a country where the people did not obey God. He did not understand why God did nothing to correct his countrymen. He complained to God. He told God about the existence of destruction and violence. He cried to God about the absence of justice. How the evil overpowered the weak. He whined to God. 

“O Lord, how long must I call for help before you listen, before you save us from violence?” – Habakkuk 1:2 

Did you ever find yourself in a similar situation? When everything around you seems to move from bad to worse. When you see no light at the end of the tunnel; so you end up like Habakkuk. You complained to God also.

The story of Habakkuk does not end there. He receives a reply from God. 

^“I am bringing the Babylonians to power, those fierce, restless people. They are marching out across the world to conquer other lands. They spread fear and terror, and in their pride they are a law to themselves. Their horses are faster than leopards, fiercer than hungry wolves. Their cavalry troops come riding from distant lands; their horses paw the ground. They come swooping down like eagles attacking their prey.” - Habakkuk 1:6-8 

When I read this I could envision the reaction of Habakkuk. I imagined his facial expression changing. From an angry and complaining prophet to one who was filled with questions and fear. I would react the same way given the description about the Babylons. Habakkuk prayed that God saves them from evil. But God's answer gives him more fear. This is why I think he complained to God again. 

“Lord, from the very beginning you are God. You are my God, holy and eternal. Lord, my God and protector, you have chosen the Babylonians and made them strong so that they can punish us. But how can you stand these treacherous, evil men? Your eyes are too holy to look at evil, and you cannot stand the sight of people doing wrong. So why are you silent while they destroy people who are more righteous than they are? How can you treat people like fish or like a swarm of insects that have no ruler to direct them? The Babylonians catch people with hooks, as though they were fish. They drag them off in nets and shout for joy over their catch! They even worship their nets and offer sacrifices to them, because their nets provide them with the best of everything. Are they going to use their swords forever and keep on destroying nations without mercy?” – Habakkuk 1:12-17 

Complaining is usually the first reaction when you don’t like what is happening. Even a prophet like Habakkuk complained. In fact, in this story he complained twice on the same chapter. But what I like about the story is that he was not satisfied with just complaining. Habakkuk knew God would give him a reply. 

^“I will climb my watchtower and wait to see what the Lord will tell me to say and what answer He will give to my complaint.” – Habakkuk 2:1 

Do you grumble and do nothing? Sometimes we simply complained and walk away. We don’t expect a solution. We simply complain, nag or grumble. Habakkuk is different. He believed that he would get an explanation soon. And God replied to him with an assurance that those who love God will not be harm. 

^“And this is the message: Those who are evil will not survive, but those who are righteous will live because they are faithful to God.” – Habakkuk 2:4 

God will always have authority over everything. Even if you don’t see or like what is happening around you, God will always take care of His people. Your faith in Him will save you. As the prophet Habakkuk wrote in 2:4, “righteous people will live by their faith in God.” 

Did you ever have a “Habakkuk” experience? A situation where you complained to God because you did not like what was happening.  But, after the crisis is over you realized that God was in control and that He did not forget about you. 

Let me share with you one of my “Habakkuk” moments. 

I was looking for a new job a few years ago. At that time my current job was far from my home. I always had to leave the house early and return home late. I wanted a new job that was nearer our house so I can spend more time with my family.  So, I prayed to God about it. I prepared a great C.V. and sent it to a lot of companies. I told my friends about my plan and asked them to refer me if they saw opportunities. I prayed about it daily. I applied in various companies via on-line or snail mail. Oh, by way did I say that I prayed for it? 

After a couple of months, I was still in the same company. I did not get even one reply from all the applications I sent out. My regular prayer time became a regular time to complain to God. 

Then it happened. I got a call from a headhunter agency. My qualifications met the requirements of their client. I went through the whole process of examination, interview and salary package negotiation. The parting words of the hiring company’s president was, “you are very qualified and we will give you a call in a few days after I finalized with our regional office”.  The answer to my prayer will be fulfilled soon. 

Or maybe not. I spoke to soon. The days of waiting became weeks of waiting. I called the agency a month after my last interview but they did not have any update also. I began to complain to God again. 

Why did You give me that interview? Why did You make me excited about the blessing only to withdraw it back?  

Unlike Habakkuk I did not wait for a reply from God. I expressed my complaint and walk away. 

God gave me a reply five months after. 

I was scanning through the business section of the newspaper when a story caught my attention. It was a story about a company and their exit plans in the country. The company name seems familiar but I could not recall exactly where I encountered it. The company was closing their local office because the market was not that attractive. The statement was from the company’s president. I was shocked when I read the president’s name. He was the same person who interviewed me six months ago! It was then that I realized that I was unfair to God when I complained to Him. If this company hired me, I would have ended up as jobless. God knew what was best for me and He did not allow the hiring to push thru. 

That experience taught me to trust God at all times. You may not like what is happening now but trust that God will always take care of you.

The story of Habakkuk only has three chapters. I encourage you to take time to read it. Habakkuk writes a psalm (or song to God) at the last chapter. The last part of the psalm says;

Even though the fig trees have no fruit
      and no grapes grow on the vines,
   even though the olive crop fails
      and the fields produce no grain,
   even though the sheep all die
      and the cattle stalls are empty,

 I will still be joyful and glad,
      because the Lord God is my savior.

 The Sovereign Lord gives me strength.
      He makes me sure-footed as a deer
      and keeps me safe on the mountains. 

- Habakkuk 3:17–19  

The core message of the prophet is simple. Whatever happens, praise God!

Stop complaining...Start praising Him!

SOAR HIGH LIKE AN EAGLE or BE A FAST FOOD CHAIN MEAL

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have anything against the chicken. I believe it’s a great animal. Chickens have been man’s source of nourishment for so many, many years. It may be in the form of drumstick, breast, wings and eggs. Aside from the famous fried chicken they also come in Pinoy exotic street food variants like adidas, kwek-kwek or isaw.

An eagle represents the powerful USA.  A chicken serves as mascots in fast-food chains. Eagles seem effortless as it soars high. Chickens flap their wings at full strength but it still crashes down. Eagles swoop down their prey with sharp and strong talons. Chickens wake up early to peck at the sleepy earthworm. Eagles represent greatness. Chickens represent food or prey. Given a choice between an eagle and a chicken, I’d go with the eagle anytime.

But for purposes of example, what if an eagle egg ends up in a chicken nest? The egg breaks, the baby eagle sees the hen and says, “mama!”.  The baby eagle follows mother hen together with the other chicks. It grows up believing that he is a chicken. 

So, the beak that can rip raw meat is use to peck the lowly earthworm. The talons that are meant to kill & catch prey become a simple grip to the fence where it stays to perch. The wings that were designed for soaring up high becomes a plain balancer while it tries to crow at the morning sunrise.

What a waste! 

An eagle that grows up with other chickens thinks that it is a chicken. Its’ POWER is not maximized. 

My friend, you were also designed for greatness. You need to be with the right group if you want to reach full potential. If you want to be a great cook, you need to mingle with the best chefs. If you desire to be a great swimmer, join the swimming club and compete. If you want to be like Christ, be with fellow Christians who desire the same. 

A Christian needs a group that is faithful, generous, inclusive and life giving. In the discussion groups, the participants shared their views on how committed relationships in Southside allowed them to grow as Christians. Allow me to repeat my earlier statement - If you want to be like Christ, be with fellow Christians who desire the same. 

Are you looking for that kind of group? 

Check us out on Facebook, search for Pathways Southside

“YOU, YOU & YOU….THE BOTH OF YOU 3!!!"

I can still remember the first time I heard that grammatically challenged sentence in school. It is good that the person who spoke that was teaching us P.E. and not English. If you are worried that your child might be exposed to the same kind of English, email me directly and I’ll tell you what school I attended. :-)

There are two points which I want to tackle in this blog - Prayer and Scripture.

“You, you and you…”

When it comes to Worship is not about you. It’s about Him. It’s all about God. Often times, our prayer time becomes a replica of our Christmas wish list.

“Please give me this blessing….I hope You can grant my wish….I will pray more if this request of mine is granted…”

I like what the song “Heart of Worship” says….

“I’m coming back to the heart of worship

And its all about you

It’s all about you, Jesus”

Scripture also makes your worship more powerful. Every Christian should have a regular time for Scripture reading and study. Muscles that are not exercised regularly become soft and looses its’ strength.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” - 2 Timothy 3:16

 Three important points about Scripture:

1.    Scripture is a weapon

2.    It is a Christian’s TRUE treasure and

3.    It is God’s love letter to you

Prayer and Scripture are powerful tools if you want to grow in your Christianity. Our life came from Him and is meant for Him. Always remember, its not about you but its all about Him.

Have a blessed day!

A TALE OF TWO MEN

Dionie ** , 47, received a surprise gift last April 2008. He became an instant millionaire when he won P 14.1 million in the lotto draw.

His lifestyle took a 180-degree turn from one of simplicity to one of extravagance. 

•  He immediately purchased a P 4,000,000 house

•  He drove around in an SUV

•  He gave "balato" (goodwill) money ranging from P1,000-P850,000 to family, relatives, friends officemates and more

•  His past time became gambling, women and drinking sprees

He spent it all in 3 months!

Now, he owes various people almost P 500,000. Left with no cash, he needed to get a P 500,000- PCSO assistance when he needed heart surgery last year.

That ends my first tale.

Now, let me tell you my second story.

HE was always rich. In fact, HE is the wealthiest for HE made everything and owns everything. More than 2,000 years ago, HE decided to visit us to fulfill a mission. HE came to save us. HE did not have to do it but HE gave everything for us. Jesus died for you.

Two men, two different stories. One is mortal, the other immortal man-God. One received a gift, the other gave a GIFT. One loss everything, the other gave everything.

Jesus gave HIS life so you can receive the GIFT of eternal life.

Do you want to “grow” in your relationship with Him?

The participants of the recent Southside Choices do. They want to “grow” in their relationship with the Giver of the GIFT. The Christian Growth Series (CGS) that started last Wednesday was meant to help the attendees “grow” in their Christian life.

Aside from the Choices participants, there were new guests who attended the first Talk. Truly, a blessing indeed!

Do you want to honor the Giver of this GIFT? Do you want to grow in your relationship with HIM? 

We invite you to join Pathways Southside's Christian Growth Series every Wed 7:30pm at Richville Chapel.

Have a blessed day!

alvinfabella@yahoo.com

 

. ** http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/354133/lotto-winner-spends-p14m-in-just-3-months