Be an Elizabeth

"Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."Luke 1:45

Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah, mother of John the Baptist, said this to Mary when Mary visited her to share with her the "good news".

Don't we all need Elizabeths in our life? Someone to share with, someone who will support us, love us in spite of our idiosyncrasies or strange happenings in our life. Someone who will say, “Blessed are you!"

But even more important, are we Elizabeth to those who need an Elizabeth?

The Priceless Crown

“The just one’s sacrifice is most pleasing, nor will it ever be forgotten.” Sirach 35:9

King Charles III wore two crowns during his coronation. The centerpiece of the ceremony was the St. Edward’s Crown which is made of solid gold and had 444 semi-precious stones. It was so heavy it would break the sovereign’s neck should he bend while wearing it! It is considered priceless and thus, cannot be insured. Perhaps that is why the King wore his working crown or the Imperial State Crown during the final procession in the gold State Coach. 

Other famous crowns include the Imperial Crown of Austria, the Crown of the King Of Bavaria estimated at $17 million dollars, the Bohemian Crown with its huge jewels, and the  Crown Jewels of Norway. The latter were hacked to pieces in 1984. Some parts are still missing. 

No matter how valuable and magnificent these crowns are, none can be more treasured and priceless than the crown our Savior wore. A crown of thorns was placed on His head, and He wore it while He sacrificed His life willingly for us. As many teachers and preachers have said, “Jesus paid a debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt we couldn't pay.” 

Thank You Jesus for the blood You willingly shed for us on the cross. It showed how serious our sin was, and how big Your love is for us!

Clothed with Righteousness

“Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” Genesis 3:11

I don't think we can imagine the beauty, the lushness, the fragrance of the trees and plants in the Garden of Eden. According to the boundaries in the Bible, the Garden was probably just a few hundred square miles in what is now war-torn Iraq. It was full of good food for the first man and woman. But God always from the beginning has given us free will, the choice to obey or not to obey. And like many of us today, Adam and Eve chose to eat of the fruit of the one tree forbidden!

I think of our lives today. So much blessing surrounds us. Food on our table, a roof over our heads. People we love and who love us. There is so much favor available to us if we choose to obey God. But many of us choose to disobey. To choose the one thing forbidden, or even many things that God abhors. And that is why there is so much death all around. Death of marriages, of relationships, abortion, war, pollution, corruption, fake news and misinformation, etc.

Fr. Dwight Longenecker, an American convert to Catholicism, enumerates what he calls The Six Stages of Evil: 1. First, we overlook evil. 2. Then we permit evil. 3. Then we legalise evil. 4. Then we promote evil. 5. Then we celebrate evil. 6. Then we persecute those who still call it evil. This is so blatant in our society today. 

But just as God clothed Adam and Eve (Gen.3:21), He still gives us another chance. We can be clothed with the righteousness of Jesus if we accept this precious gift from God's hand.

Happy Birthday!

“ When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” Acts 2:1-4

My sister Peggy and brother-in-law Charlie attended the Golden Jubilee of the Catholic Charismatic renewal in Rome in 2017. Representatives from the Evangelical and Pentecostal churches were present as well. After all, the renewal started in Duquesne University in February 1967, during a student retreat, when they invited a Pentecostal to speak about what happened in the Book of Acts and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. During that retreat, God poured down His Holy Spirit and students began experiencing Him in a new way. Patti Gallagher Mansfield's face glowed like Moses after she encountered God's presence in the upper chapel. Some spoke in tongues. Some cried. Some laughed. Some felt a burning sensation. Some, like David Mangan, experienced little explosions going on in his body.

 

Previous to that, the charismatic Pentecostal way of worship made its way dramatically to mainline Protestant churches, and then from there to the Catholics. After that Duquesne weekend, God's 'current of grace', as Pope Francis calls it, travelled around the world and changed millions of believers' lives and faith. In unity, with one body, great things are accomplished. There is more that unites us than separates us. We have to learn from one another's strengths, and recognize the gifts God wants to give us. The Holy Spirit is not a spirit of uniformity, but unity in diversity. One body, one Spirit. 

And for those who dismiss the outpouring of the Spirit as something alien, or something new, they would do well to read what the ancient prophets had to say about God’s plans for His people. We read in Ezekiel 36:27-28, “I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes and be careful to observe My ordinances. You ... shall be My people and I will be your God.” And then there’s the prophecy by Joel in 2:28, 29, 32. He prophesied that “I will pour out My spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.... Even upon the menservants and maidservants in those days, I will pour out My spirit.... All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered.” Isn’t that amazing? 

All these prophesies are fulfilled in Jesus, mediator and guarantor of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and today we celebrate the fulfillment of God’s promise. Today we celebrate the Church’s birthday! Happy Pentecost Sunday! 

Lord, may we desire more of Your Spirit. May we not be complacent with what we have right now, but may we always want more of You!

Jesus’ Words

“There are still many other things that Jesus did, yet if they were written about in detail, I doubt there would be room enough in the entire world to hold the books to record them." John 21:25

There is a quote I like which goes: You can't have too many books. Indeed I have so many, I haven't read most of them. But the Bible is a different kind of book. So much wisdom, guidance, stories to ponder distilled into less than 80 books! Even if you read the Bible a thousand times, you'll get even more insight and understanding from its pages. Because the more you read, the more God gives His Spirit! You will see that there is so much beauty and truth in the Bible! Can you imagine what John the beloved disciple said? There were so many other things that Jesus did, and of course said, that even if the whole world was a library about Him, it could not hold all of it! Why? Why did Jesus do all that, and say all that, and not have it all documented?

Jesus' Word will not go back to Him void, without fruit, without effect (Isaiah 55:11). Jesus showed that when He curses something, it dies. I am almost sure Jesus blessed and confessed growth and healing and strength for all those who believe in Him. In John 17:20, He prayed for ALL those who WILL believe in Him throughout the ages. His Word has power, and that is why in spite of persecution, there is an explosive growth of Christianity today, especially in Africa, Latin America and Asia. 

In the 1900s in Africa there were only 8.7 Christians. Now there are 390 million! Isn't it a miracle that the teachings of an obscure rabbi changed the world, and changed the way we measured time? If His teachings can do that, can you imagine what it can do for me and you?

Do You Love Me

“Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:17

I am reminded of the song in the movie, Fiddler on the Roof, “Do You Love Me?” 

Tevye: Do you love me?

Golde: Do I what?

Tevye: Do you love me?

Golde: Do I love you?

With our daughters getting married and this trouble in the town,

You're upset. You want out. Go inside. Go lie down. Maybe it's indigestion.

Tevye: Golde, I'm asking you a question. Do you love me?

Golde: You're a fool!

Tevye: I know. But do you love me?

Golde: Do I love you?

For twenty-five years, I've washed your clothes, Cooked your meals, cleaned your house, Given you children, milked the cow.

After twenty-five years, why talk about love right now?

Tevye: The first time I met you was on our wedding day. I was scared.

Golde: I was shy.

Tevye: I was nervous.

Golde: So was I.

Tevye: But my father and my father said we'd learn to love each other.

So, now I'm asking, Golde...

Tevye: Do you love me?

Golde: I'm your wife!

Tevye: I know. But do you love me?

Golde: Do I love him?

For twenty-five years, I've lived with him,

Fought with him, starved with him.

For twenty-five years, my bed is his.

If that's not love, what is?

Tevye: Then you love me?

Golde: I suppose I do.

Tevye: And I suppose I love you, too.

Together: It doesn't change a thing, but even so, After twenty-five years, it's nice to know! 

If at the end of my life, Jesus asks, “Do you love me, Patsy?” I can answer, “For all these years, I’ve tried to get to know You, I’ve spoken with You, pleaded with You, strained my ears to hear Your voice, studied Your Word, if that’s not love, what is?” 

Jesus will ask in His still, small voice that strikes at my heart, “Did you feed my sheep?” 

Path to Life

"You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in Your presence..." Psalm 16:11

It's easy for me to speak of the joy of the Lord. Ever since I was young, I would pray, "Lord, treat me gently", and He has for the most part. One day I was before the Blessed Sacrament during a singles' retreat in our community. God gave me a vision, my first and only one. He showed me a beautiful garden and Jesus and I were walking on the path. He said, "I am the gardener here. I take care of all these plants. I prune each and every one of them." 

"I will show you a plant I do not prune," He continued gently, and He took me to a decaying, ugly, dying plant. He was in effect telling me that He had to prune me, He could not treat me gently all the time. In order to bloom, Jesus had to cut off what was not pleasing to Him.

 

Sometimes we do not understand what God allows in our life. Sometimes it seems just too hard. Some of our suppliers in our business have kidney disease and they have so much to deal with. They always need dialysis and sometimes the doctors have to surgically create an access to remove and return their blood during hemodialysis. They undergo a lot of pruning regularly. I see them and the families that care for them as gorgeous, magnificent plants in Jesus' garden. The path to life to fullness of joys in Jesus' presence requires that we see the eternal with the eyes of faith. 

Lord, help us to see with Your eyes. Your pruning brings life for it cuts off the dead places in us, and allows for new growth.

For Our Sake

“And for their sake and on their behalf I consecrate (sanctify, dedicate) myself, so that they also may be consecrated in truth." 

John 17:19

How amazing is it that Jesus thought us worthy of His dedicating His whole life to make sure we know the truth and one day we can be with Him in Heaven?

How inconceivable is it that He allowed Himself to become the sacrificial lamb, God the Father's Isaac, so he could bring us to our eternal Home?

All of us were put here on earth for a purpose. 

St. Paul in Acts 20:24 said,  “Yet I consider life as of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God's grace."

For most of us, our lives are not as dramatic as St. Paul, but it is a race of perseverance nonetheless. In 2009, Charlie, my brother-in-law, was asked by Peggy, my sister, if he wanted to serve in the prison ministry of QC Jail. His response was the memorable, “What?!!! Are you crazy?!!!"

But like the reluctant son in Jesus’ parable in Matthew 21:28-32, he started preaching in the perennially crowded jail in spite of his misgivings, and he continued doing so until the pandemic put a stop to jail visits. Sometimes he got discouraged like when one of the former inmates visited him and said he got a woman pregnant. Charlie felt so disheartened and angry. Why was he doing this every week if it did not make a difference?

Peggy reminded him that they go to QC Jail to show the inmates that they are loved, that some people care for them, even if they are forgotten by their families who do not visit.

Cardinal Rosales said we all have a mission, and what is important is we love our brothers, we are generous with what we have, our time and resources, our gifts and talents. And we should always remember it is God's work, not ours. We may plant but God will give the growth.

I admire Charlie a lot. I used to see him walking into the jail all by himself if no one could go with him, bringing cookies and juice for the inmates. He is "bearing witness to the Gospel of God's grace" not only with his words but by his actions as well!

Yes I Do!

“Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” John 17:3

"And this is the promise He made us: Eternal Life,” we read in 1 John 2:25.

To live happily ever after, isn't that what any bride wants on her wedding day? I forget which husband on my Facebook feed said that his wife was the perfect gift for an imperfect man, but I thought it was a beautiful sentiment. 

I read 1 John 2:25 about God's promise to us and I thought about marriage, and how God’s promise of eternal life to us is a covenant like marriage. He put a ring on my finger, just as another father put a ring on the prodigal son's finger. A PERFECT GIFT FOR IMPERFECT ME! I do not deserve it, I can never earn it, but God desires to give me eternal life, to be together forever.

There are many things that God does that I do not deserve. He gives me a beautiful wedding dress to replace the rags of my sin and shame. He washes me clean by forgiving me time and time again like Hosea forgave his harlot wife. Sometimes, because I pray every day, and contribute to different causes and do other good deeds, I think I am in right standing with God. I am complacent and un-needy. But I am as far from holiness and righteousness as the east is from the west! And yet, Jesus, my bridegroom takes me by the hand, and walks me down the aisle, and says, "Yes, I do. I do die for this precious one. I do promise to give her eternal life with Me and My Father in My Kingdom." 

That is the perfect ending and beginning, and the best part is, it is NO fairy tale!!

Take Courage!

“In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” John 16:33

There can be no doubt that trouble is part and parcel of our life on earth. When I was young, I asked God to treat me gently. It was my constant prayer. He answered that prayer until He showed me that if He did not prune me, His plans for me would not come to fruition. I remember clearly when He said during my prayer time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, “If you are willing to be pruned, I will give you Luigi as a husband.” I prayed for 3 days, in wonder. Does God do this? Did I really hear Him say that? Finally, after 3 days, I answered yes. And a couple of years after, Luigi and I were married. 

The pruning did not come right away, but several years afterward I was beset with persistent mouth sores that we could not find a cure for. Several doctors and treatments after, we learned I had Pemphigus Vulgaris, a rare autoimmune disease. Thank God my blisters only broke out in the lining of my mouth, and not all over my skin! This condition occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks proteins in the upper layers of the skin. Then a few years after that I learned I had Thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder in which my body makes an abnormal form or inadequate amount of hemoglobin. And then I suffered from Deep Vein Thrombosis, and Pulmonary Embolism, and Pulmonary Hypertension, which eventually led to my needing open heart surgery last December 2019 to remove calcified blood clots. So one may say I have certainly had my share of troubles! 

I was listening to this virtual prayer meeting. The theme was “Faith that isn’t Troubled by Troubles”. That is what we want, isn’t it? That when we have troubles, our faith will not be shaken, we will not be anxious, but we will continue to anchor our life on God. If we want that, we need the troubles to test us, and God will use the troubles to produce in us good fruit. 

In the first chapter of the book of James, we read, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Well, I certainly am still immature and lacking so many things, but I recognize the grace of God in my life when I encounter it. Last December 2019, in my hospital room, His grace was so palpable, I was devoid of anxiety at my coming open heart surgery. I felt I was wrapped in His grace and mercy. I had no fears at all, I could “laugh at the days to come”, like the woman described in Proverbs 31. 

Today, I continue to recuperate. I am stronger but my lungs still need the help of oxygen. I get tired quickly, and have to walk up the stairs very slowly. I continue to persevere, and hope in the Lord, and trust in His promises. “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12) Troubles come and go, but the goodness of the Lord is forever!

Glorious Inheritance

This reading from Ephesians should have MANY exclamation points and capitals!

"May the EYES of your HEART be enlightened! that you may KNOW what is the HOPE that BELONGS to His call! what are the RICHES of GLORY! in His INHERITANCE! among the HOLY ones! and what is the SURPASSING GREATNESS of His POWER! for US who BELIEVE!" Ephesians 1:18-19

This is why we pray and read God's Word- to know the hope that is ours when we follow Him, the riches of our inheritance, the power we have when we believe!

If we don't have intimacy with God, if we don't know Him as our father, how can we claim what is rightfully ours as His sons and daughters? We would be like pitiful orphans, lost children. Of what value are promises if we don't claim them? What is the use of gold, riches, power, if we don't know they are ours?

There are many stories of people receiving an unbelievable inheritance from a long lost relative or even a friend. Sergey Sudev received 950 million euros from an uncle he had not seen in more than 10 years! Three abandoned Peladi children inherited 100 million dollars from their estranged wealthy grandmother. Waitress Cara Wood inherited $500,000 from a regular customer she was kind to. 

Who doesn’t like stories like this? But we ALL have a glorious inheritance we take for granted. And that is exactly what Paul is praying for, that our eyes be opened to see more clearly the riches we have in Christ! We do not have to die to possess this glorious inheritance. We can have it here and now if we read Jesus’ last will and testament, the Bible. He has given us all His secrets in order to possess the treasure we can possess in Him. 

Passionately Curious

“Apollos began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the Way of God more accurately.” 

Acts 18:26

In the 18th Book of Acts there is an encouraging story of a Jew named Apollos. Luke writes that he was an eloquent speaker, and an authority of the Scriptures. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, although he only knew about the baptism of John. What happened? When Aquila and Priscilla, co-workers of Paul, heard him speak boldly in the synagogue, they called him and explained to him the gospel, particularly about baptism. Apollos listened well and the three became ministry coworkers.

Many times we do not want to share about God because we are not so learned about scriptures. Or we are insecure about what we have to say. Or we are afraid of being laughed at or ridiculed. But here we have Apollos who is eloquent and knows the Old Testament, and yet he was humble enough to listen to Priscilla, a woman, and her husband Aquila. This shows me that if we have the desire to share, God will meet us where we are. It does not matter if we are a new believer or someone who has been reading the Bible a long time. We all have something to learn, and we should be teachable. 

Legendary basketball coach John Wooden says, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” In Proverbs 26:12, we read, “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” And the brilliant Albert Einstein said, “I have no special talent; I am only passionately curious.”

Are we passionately curious about God and His ways? Are we teachable? God will meet us where we are and we will find a treasure worth more than all the gold on earth.

Growing Pains

“…when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain...” 

John 16:21

My sister and I were pregnant at the same time. I gave birth quite quickly, but my sister was in labor for a long time, and even the doctor was in anguish for her, so when it came time to deliver her second child, the doctor decided on a caesarian delivery. That was also difficult because recuperation took so much longer. But just like Jesus said, when she had given birth, she no longer remembered the pain because of her joy that her child was born into the world. 

In life, we go through a lot of growing pains. When we grow a family, a business, a ministry, a talent, an ability, we always have to undergo some training, challenges, complications, pruning, etc. It is definitely not smooth sailing. 

Steven Covey wrote: “Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition- such as lifting weights- we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity.” The challenges we have to face can be building blocks and stepping stones to learning and growing in the purpose God has for us. 

Sing a New Song

 "Sing to the Lord a new song..." Psalm 98:1

The Jews for most of their history have been exiled, persecuted, and have suffered greatly. But in spite of all the pressures of living in a foreign land, they have managed to maintain their language, culture, identity and spirit. When the temple was destroyed and Jerusalem pillaged, the focus of their worship transferred from the temple to their faith communities. That was when the Torah was rediscovered and read afresh.

I can say I also live in exile, in a foreign land. I am, after all, a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20). And like the Jews, with their songs of lamentation, I complain about this strange land I live in. The world as I know it is changing too fast, and I can't say it's for the better! The people who are looked up to, change their husbands or wives like they change their cars. Politicians lie with audacity and have no compunction to steal from the hungry and the homeless. There are apps and sites that promote adultery, and people who are against abortion are insulted. Women jiggle and sing on TV in next to nothing! Unscrupulous people prey on the elderly and the unaware and steal their hard earned money with text scams. No, I do not feel like I belong!

Yet I can still sing new songs to the Lord! For His mercies are new every morning! And I know in every dark shadow, there is a light shining...even in the remotest region of the world! I just need to open my eyes to what God is doing. He keeps His promises, and I wait in faith, and journey with all the other pilgrims, to my promised land!

Seek and You Will Find

“The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, nor is He served by human hands because He needs anything. Rather it is He who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.” Acts 17:24-25

I was listening to the Catholic convert, Steve Ray, sharing about his 7 year old daughter, Cindy, who told him that when she grows up, she won’t be a Christian. He asked her why not? She answered because that’s what he was telling her to believe but she wasn’t sure it would be true when she grew up and studied it for herself. He said she was a smart girl and that she should think about whether there was a god or not. He told her to think for herself. She said she didn’t want to read his books because they were all about why there is a God, and she wanted to find out about the other side. He said that’s ok, think about it for yourself. 

She thought about it very seriously, and two weeks after she said, “Dad, can I talk to you? I’ve concluded there is a God.” “How did you come to this conclusion?” her father asked. 

She answered, “Dad, it’s really pretty simple. I look at the walls of our house, and there are pictures all over, and they’re framed. Not only did somebody have to paint all those pictures and put them in frames and hang them there because they didn’t get there by themselves. I look at our house and I thought somebody had to put it all together. Somebody was thinking about it and it did not happen by chance. And when I walked outside, I looked up and saw stars, and trees, and clouds and mountains, and I realized that they couldn’t have gotten there all by itself either. Somebody has to be behind everything and therefore I concluded there is a God. So dad I’m going to stay being a Christian.” 

Now Cindy is a Phd in Philosophy and one of the best defenders of the Catholic faith. In the same passage from Acts, it says that God made the earth and ordered the seasons so that we might seek Him and even grope for Him and find Him. He is not far from us, and if we sincerely seek like a little child, Jesus promised we will discover for ourselves the truth. 

May the Lord Find us Faithful

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:30

Paul and Silas were imprisoned, and when they started singing to the Lord and worshipping Him, a severe earthquake opened the prison doors and their chains broke open. The jailer who was instructed to guard them well, almost killed himself when he thought they had escaped. Paul and Silas said, “Do no harm to yourself; we are all here.” Trembling with fear, the jailer rushed in to the innermost cell he had placed them, and asked, “What must I do to be saved?”

This story in the Bible reminds me of a man named Daniel. Before he attended a church in Southern California, he lived in Uganda, when Idi Amin was President from 1971-1979. At that time, he was caught and tortured brutally for being a Christian. For several days at a time, a guard would hang him from his feet and whip him. One night as the guard was leaving, Daniel said, "Have a nice evening."

The guard turned back to him, and asked incredulously, "How can you say that to me? After what I have been doing to you?" Daniel then told him about Jesus, about the blood shed on the cross for him, about freedom, about how he had been forgiven and loved. A few days after that, the guard helped him escape, brought Daniel to his house, fed him and let him share about Jesus to his family. 

We may not be imprisoned, but many people are shut in worlds full of fear and anxiety, despair and unforgiveness. If we are given the opportunity to be a witness of Christ’s love, hope and peace, let us not pass it up. 

Lord, may we be faithful to Your calling. May we live in such a way that our lives are a testimony that we know You, love You and obey You. May others who know us, know as well that we are Your servants.

Growth of Christianity

“A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart..." Acts 16:14

I can imagine Lydia listening to Paul eagerly, drinking in his words. She was already a worshiper of the true God, and He opened her heart to receive Paul's words, to accept them, to respond to them. The message found a place in her heart.

It's easy to see how Lydia would open her heart and follow Jesus after Paul spoke to her. He was obviously a charismatic speaker. But how about others? Why did they decide to follow?

How did Christianity grow from Lydia, the first Christian convert in Europe, living a clandestine, persecuted way of life, to being the legal religion under Constantine the Great? A miracle? Most certainly. There are always miracles for those who believe.

But in sociologist Rodney Stark's book, The Rise of Christianity, he proposes that "the way" provided a better life for its followers. There were more women followers because women were honored and respected, unlike their low status in the pagan world. He cites that "loving one another" and helping each other attracted many followers.

"Amidst the epidemics and fires, and other disasters that beleaguered

the Greco-Roman cities, Christian communities were a stronghold of mutual aid, which resulted in a survival rate far greater than that of the pagans. In the meantime, voluntary martyrdom, especially a generation after the death of Christ, reinforced the commitment of the Christian rank and file." Rodney Stark

Do our actions attract others to our way of life as Christians, the way the first Christians did?

God Will Do the Rest

“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope…” 1 Peter 3:15

Sometimes we know someone needs to hear the gospel, the good news, but there are just too many reasons why we don’t bother sharing our experience of God’s love and mercy. We are maybe too shy, we are afraid of rejection, we have too many other important things to do and we can’t be bothered, we don’t think it’s our responsibility or we believe someone else would be better at it than we are. 

This reminds me of a true story Greg O’Leary told in his book, “Small Miracles”. One night while he was walking home, Greg heard muffled screams of a woman coming from the bushes near him. He deliberated whether to take action or not, thinking that he could just call the police instead of doing it himself and probably getting hurt. But he resolved to help, dived into the bushes, grabbed the assailant, got into a scuffle until the man eventually ran away. Panting hard, he slowly approached the sobbing girl saying as gently as he could, “It’s all right, the man is gone.” Then for a heart stopping moment, he heard, “Dad, is that you?” It was his youngest daughter Catherine! 

Imagine if he didn’t take a risk, what could have happened? Sharing the gospel with someone may not feel as life threatening, but I’ve heard enough stories to know that sometimes we can save a person’s life! When my husband was a college student, he was part of Christ's Youth in Action and he went to Luneta Park as part of a team exercise. They were supposed to just approach strangers and talk to them about God’s love. My husband noticed a young man seated on a park bench, but he kept walking, hesitating to talk to anybody. When it was almost time to get back to the group and report, my husband finally gathered up enough courage to approach the young man and talk to him. 

It turned out this young man was contemplating suicide, and because my husband talked to him, he didn't. This tells me we shouldn’t be afraid to fail. We should speak from the heart , and share the truth in love. If we pray for the other person, and do our part, God will do the rest. 

Seek What is Above

“Seek what is above, where Christ is seated...” Colossians 3:1

Facebook and Instagram and other social media platforms used to be a place where you showed your better side. People were kind, polite and encouraging. I don’t know what happened but it seems to me that there are more people who want to pick a fight about the oddest things. More people are unkind, intolerant, and lack a sense of humor. It saddens me when I read comments that are downright rude, insulting and unreasonable. People think it’s OK to judge others without knowing circumstances. What happened to civility, respect, and kindness? People leave Facebook because they can’t handle the aggression. Commenting on some Youtube videos is disabled because of the prevalence of hateful  remarks. 

Saint Paul wrote to the believers in the city of Colosse that they should live in a way that will always honor and please the Lord. “Always do good, kind things for others, and get to know God more and more. Let heaven fill your thoughts and always set your sights on the realities of heaven.” It would be easy to write that from the comfort of one’s home, but Paul was, for the second time, imprisoned in Rome, and awaiting execution. It would have been normal if he had some bitterness and doubt in his heart. After all, he was giving his all to the Lord, and there he was, chained! 

We may be facing difficult challenges, angry at somebody, or being unfairly treated. Let us remember that in all we do and say, we should always strive to do good and give glory to God!

Love as Jesus Loves

Jesus said to his disciples: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:12-13)

How do we make the call to love one another REAL in our lives? Before our father died, we were able to tell him we loved him, that he was never alone, and we would do everything we could to take care of him. Daddy also told us he loved us many times. 

In the same way, before Jesus was crucified, when He took the time to be with His disciples, what He did and said was very important. He washed each of their feet and said, "Do you understand what I have done for you? Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you...Now that you know these things, YOU WILL BE BLESSED if you do them."

And then, after a little while he said, "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love."

Why a new commandment, when the Jews were already instructed to "love thy neighbor as thyself?" (Leviticus 19:18) is it not because we are to love as Jesus loves, not as we love ourselves? Many of us do not know how to love ourselves. We can be over critical. We want to change the way we look, the way we speak, the way we act, the way we perform our work. We get frustrated with ourselves. We usually think that what we are, what we are capable of, is never enough. We do not accept ourselves unconditionally. I know there are some people who even hate themselves! 

That's why Jesus says, "Look at me. Look at the way I love you. Look at my commitment to you. It does not depend on how you look, your achievements, your worthiness. I accept you for who you are. Even if you fail again and again. Even if you see yourselves as thin or fat, or white or dark, or timid, or dumb. I love you. I died for you. I want to help you to grow, to mature, to use all your gifts, not only for My glory, but because that is how I can bless you."

The first step to loving others, is to know God's love for us. He loves us unconditionally, eternally!

Remain in My Love

“Remain in my love.” John 15:9

In my other Bible, this verse reads, “Abide in my love.” The Greek word “meno” which translates to abide means to stay or continue on. In John 1:38-39, two disciples who were curious about Jesus asked Him where He was staying. Jesus’ answer was that they should “meno” with Him. 

I can imagine Jesus saying the same to us. Stay with Me, learn from Me, walk with Me, remain in My light, don’t stray away. “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you, and your joy might be complete.” (John 15:11) When someone we love is about to pass away, we want to be by his side to listen to his words. For weeks, I had been recording my father’s stories as he lay in his sick bed. Almost anything he said was important to me, because I knew he could leave us at any time. A few days before he died, I even transcribed what he said, even when it did not make sense. 

How much more important, life-changing, crucial it is, for us to take Jesus’ words seriously! I believe it is a matter of life and death for us to understand and obey what Jesus said. It is not reasonable to say, “I will take my faith more seriously when I am old. I still want to enjoy my life, have fun, do things my way.” It is like we are frittering the best years of our life away if we do not start making Jesus our best friend now. He has so much to offer us! There is so much more of the “best” life we can experience if we connect, depend, continue on and remain in His love and presence!