F A I T H

Faith. It's the scariest of thoughts. The weightiest of weights. To exercise it or not spells either life or death. No wonder most of us choose to suspend belief. So we just coast along, doing life our way. "My life, my rules." 

What's funny is, we exercise faith daily. You ride your car trusting it will take you to your destination. You step out of your house confident that you can cross the street safely. You wake up expecting to make it through the day. Itty-bitty trusts. Tiny believings. 

Yet many withhold their matter-of-life-and-death trust from The One who made them! The Only One who could save them from hell. The Only One who could change them. Their very hearts! Their boring, crazy, dysfunctional lives! 

The Mighty One who by the Word of His mouth created the heavens and the earth, gorgeous dust you and me included. 

Galatians 3:11b—The righteous shall live by faith. That's why God commands, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!" 

Isn't Your Maker trustworthy enough? If He is, then put your faith in The Word who became flesh so that you and I could thrive within His power and grace. Millions of changed lives all over the earth can testify to that. He came that first Christmas day. 

His name is Jesus. Savior. Lord. Name above all names! 

GORGEOUS DUST

Perishable. You and I are. Stamped with an expiry date. 

With Covid-19 and people we know dying because of it, we're now wondering: 

Will I be next? 

That's evidence. We are but dust! The cremation chamber testifies. The maggots bear witness. 

Humbling, huh. To realize my life is not mine. Nor mine to keep. Or tear away from Him who formed me. 

He is the Potter. I am but clay. 

Yet no ordinary clay. We're His piece de resistance. His crowning glory. We're wonderful dust, if you please. 

Psalm 139:141: "I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."

So instead of fleeing away from Him, cleave to Him. Perishable-me am nothing apart from my Maker. Jesus is the Potter. I am the clay. How could I even imagine that my life is my own or mine to rule? Or mine to waste away. Or mine to do as I pretty please. 

Or that I'd still have breath tomorrow. 

Because if He shaped you, HE WILL see you through. Apart from being your Potter, He is your Savior and Lord. But first, gorgeous clay-you-and-me must yield. 

All He asks is your brokenness. A contrite heart He will not deny. 

JESUS OUR SHELTER

Dear friends,

Most of us by this time would probably be hugging each other, exchanging gifts, singing carols, even pigging it out, as we celebrate Christmas with friends and loved ones.

Not this Christmas. 

We're forced to shelter in because of Covid-19. So here we are, holding parties through Zoom. So, pwede na rin.

Yet deep down, we know this doesn't make sense. Because life is not life without relationships and the freedom to go where you want to go and be productive. But right now, many among us are jobless, sick, trapped, with no clear picture of what tomorrow may bring. 

So, may we find comfort in Jesus' words: "I've come that you might have life and have it to the full." 

Jesus is really the only shelter we can turn to right now. Because He alone is the source of genuine joy and peace. Invite Him to reside in your heart! Allow Him to unchain you from sin, and from every angst, and frustration which may have shackled you to the prison bar of hopelessness and darkness.

This is Christmas! 

I love you all with the love of Jesus! 

SNIPPET: IN-YOUR-FACE GOD

Immanuel, God with us. Jesus, the Son of God, became the Son of man that first Christmas day. Leaving His exalted heavenly throne, He inhabited a mortal body. Became a dutiful son. Labored as a carpenter.  And boy, did He see up close man's crookedness! Because He Himself was mocked, cursed, falsely accused, suffered the most shameful death—even if all He did was good! All these because He loved us unconditionally. Come to think of it, He's with you even when you stumble or make a mess. He gave it all up so you won't wallow in your mess but move on. He hasn't given up on you and me. He came to our material world to show us that if we'd make Him our way, our truth, our life, He'll stick it out with us come what may. Through joy or pain, hopelessness or triumph. Through pandemics and beyond.

SNIPPET: JOY TO THE WORLD?

What if there were no Christmas? our pastor asked. Most dreadful thought, don't you think? Oh yes, we can always have a big holiday. Adorn a tree. Put up twinkly lights. Give each other presents. Be merry. Enjoy the "ho-ho-ho!" of the bearded man in red. But without the "Christ" in the "mas", what joy  to the world would we be singing about? Without God's saving grace in Christ, we'd still be rotten to the core. The curse of sin hounding our everyday. I may sound like a spoilsport, dousing acid on your rousing holiday spirit. 

But think about it. You can't put on the spirit of Christmas by stuffing your senses with twinklies and putting on a merry face. Christ is the reason for Christmas! Giving each other presents is good and heart-warming. But God gives the perfect present. Christ's presence is heart-changing. So ask Him in. He promised to dwell in hearts that humbly welcome Him. Then you can be merry—no, joyful!—all year long. Yes, in spite of covid-19. ypo