The Son of the South

Rodrigo Roa Duterte, fabled Son of the South, was finally sworn in as the 16th president of the Republic of the Philippines. With his inauguration comes the hope of a better, stronger nation which he had promised, and which his people desperately long for in a very long time. It was the people's cry for a real change that has catapulted him to the presidency. It was the people's call for a new brand of leadership--the kind that would stand strong on their behalf--that made him the people's anointed. Vox populi, vox dei, as they say.

Strong, decisive, irreverent at times and a staunch nationalist to a fault. He is Rodrigo Roa Duterte, son of the South. Not perfect, but real. Not the best, but his heart could make him so. May he prosper in the purpose that his people gave him. May his works usher the nation in a true and lasting change. May he be a true warrior in word and in deed--fighting for the common good and for his people.

Crush your walls!

God could have allowed His people to crush the walls on that first day at Jericho. He could have allowed them to cross over this city without difficulty and give them an easy pass from their enemy. But He did not.

God restrained until the seventh day because He wanted something more than victory for His people. Just like before, He wanted His people to trust Him, His ways, His means, His timing. God wanted them to put their confidence in Him alone--not on their army, not on their strategy.

In the end, what has broken down the walls that blocked them on the way to the Promised Land is their own faith in the power of God; what has brought the walls crumbling down was their submission to God; what has made them cross past the ruins was their own obedience to a miracle-working, sea-parting, wall-breaking, all-knowing God.‪

*Reflections on ‎Joshua 6‬‬. Part of what I shared during the regular Midyear Youth Fellowship in our Church.

What scares you makes you stronger

Vulnerability is the adventure of the profound. (Photo from the net)

I really wished we are not that too scared to open ourselves up to people and to make them feel they are important to us; to let them know that there's a special place in our life that they could fill. Baring the depths of our soul makes it easy for other people to hurt us; but it would also liberate us. Doing that will make us vulnerable. But life will demand that sometimes. To be vulnerable is scary, but not taking risks is even scarier.

I ain't going back

I have loved you
until love was given
an entirely new definition
I've made dreams
of you and me and painted
stars in our own galaxy
not knowing
that the waves
and the sands of time
would drown them
helplessly.

I have cried like
crying was the only
rational thing
to do, and I have
hoped like it's going
to get better the next
rising sun or the biting of the moon
but drifting apart
is our own version of reality.

Life is a wonder
and to embrace the
unknown journey is its way
so I did move forward
up ahead to what's waiting up there
and in time all was revealed:

that there was more to
what had been
and what could have been
and there's more to
what was left behind
and there's more to
where I've been before.

The journey's unfolding
with all its bliss at full swing
I've met this love somewhere
and it's greater and it's better
this love has consumed me
deeply and greatly
like burning amber
that I can't go back
to what once was.

Dangerous People

Those who have been freed from their past are dangerous people. Because they have no business in thinking about what was left or what was behind, or of dwelling in useless ruins and broken dreams. They don't waste time in crying over missed chances or shattered relationships. They have vindicated themselves in moving ahead and forgiving themselves.

They're dangerous because they know the way forward and it's the only way to go. They will create ways when there's none and they will crush walls that block their way ahead. They know that the promise of a new day is brighter than the ones they have left behind, that possibilities are achieved by those that have fires in their hearts to be more than what they've been. They're dangerous because they will break away to go higher, to dive deeper, and go stronger. And there's no turning back.

*Reflections on Philippians 3.

Soar higher in Christ's power! (Photo from the net)

What remains

Life is a series of trade-offs. Many are the times that we will make critical decisions that would define our directions. But remember that these decisions would also describe our devotion. What way to take? What compromise to make? Life is not a game of chances. It is an endless series of choosing and risking and deciding. It matters what risks are you willing to dive into. Are you risking for what will matter?

Therefore, be willing to let go of the things that wear you out and drag you down. Know how to play your part in the bargain. But remember, the only nonnegotiable aspect of the deal is our spiritual values and ministry. You have to ground yourself on what is eternal because in the end, this is what remains.

*Inspired by a conversation with Kuya James Dela Cruz, one of my Bible study leaders and spiritual mentors. It pays to learn from the experts.

Take glorious risks! (Photo from the net)

What destiny demands

Obedience is the price I pay for destiny. And every act of faith is a step towards it. Will I stay, or will I leave? I must realize that destiny has its own place. And I must be willing to let God lead so that I won't miss it. 

*Notes on Genesis 26‬.

Don't make decisions when you're hungry

People are faced with the reality of making decisions on a daily basis. From waking up to laying down, thousands of both petty and significant decisions must be made. Some decisions are generated automatically out of the routines of life and some decisions are so important that they have to be well thought-out. In terms of the most significant ones, I must realize that the decisions I make today affects the rest of my life.

The story of Esau in Genesis chapter 25 illustrates the tragedy of letting our human instincts dictate our ability to decide. When our emotions overcome reason, that's when we decide based on what is tangible at the moment. When our most pressing human needs take over our ability to process our desire for satisfaction, that's when we allow ourselves to make tragic compromises. Esau focused on his hunger and therefore compromised what is eternal.

Decisions out of impulse are dangerous. Do not compromise eternity for something that only looks good at the moment. If I will not be careful enough to guard my heart, my human tendencies will decide for me and it may want something other than God. ‪

*Reflections on Genesis chapter 25‬.

To eternal things! (Photo from the net)

Siya na nga ba?

We're part of that generation that is conditioned to want the immediate, to desire the instant, to have it all right here, right now. We're part of that generation that is so accustomed to having everything at just the click of the keyboard or at the snap of the fingers.

We are Generation NOW, and that is our curse. 

Ngayon na nagkalat na ang instant sa mundo (i.e, instant noodles, instant coffee, instant ulam, instant food) parang napakahirap ng maghintay. We're becoming a fast food planet. We think that we are getting left behind kaya naman may tendency na tayo ay magmadali. Uso pa ba ang patience sa mundo? And yet, in all of our rushing, and running and impatience, do we really know what exactly are we rushing for? Bakit nga ba hindi tayo makapaghintay?

Relationship? Oo, yun nga ang tinutukoy ko. Let's get directly to the point. If you you're dreaming for a relationship that will make you excited to wake up every morning without regretting why you woke up with that person beside you, then wait. If you want a relationship that will last--the one that will make you believe na may forever--then wait. If you're desiring for a relationship--not the fairy tale kind but the real thing, then learn to wait.

If you want a relationship that will not compromise your faith and your beliefs, then wait. And if you are a Christian who loves God, then pray for someone who has the same love for God. If you are a godly man who honors the Lord, pursue someone who honors Him. If you are a godly woman who seeks after God's heart, then wait and pray for a man that seeks after His heart. Ganun lang dapat, para happy.

We can learn many things about the love story of Isaac and Rebekah. That it is God who authors a relationship. It is God who confirms His will even for a partner. Yes, si Lord ang writer ng love story mo. Kaya matuto kang maghintay. You can always trust God's timing.

Until the moment God says "she's the one", nothing else will ever make sense. Every person that you would try to pursue and every love that you would try to chase to make your life complete will just be very, very much less than what God already had in mind. 

Gentlemen, she's worth praying for. Awesome ladies, you're worth pursuing for.

*Reflections on Genesis 24.

Tested and Tried

God tests our faith not because He doesn't trust us. He already knows us from the inside out, He knows that we can doubt, He knows that we can easily fear, He knows that we can mess things up. God is not surprised by our faithlessness.

But, sometimes, God will bring about the test because we need it, so that we would come to realize that this is about Him. None about you and me. God tests our faith because He wants us to let go of the things that might replace Him in our hearts. He wants our affection to be purged from anything that is less than love so that God alone and His presence alone and His glory alone will be the singular and most supreme desire in our life.‪

God would bring us to the test, but with His provision of strength and grace already there. I must come to realize that a faith tested and proven is a faith that pleases God.

*‎Devotional insights on Genesis 22.

The best time

God is the God of perfect timing. His purposes is neither affected by the earth's rotation nor its revolution. He is not contained in any man-made idea of space and time--He holds space and time altogether. I must realize that God's timing is always right and that I can trust Him every passing minute and every step of the way because what I see at the moment is nothing compared to what He sees in view of eternity.

He is neither dependent on any circumstance nor on human limitation. God is God no matter the circumstance and no matter the trial. He has been there before and He is always before us. God was, God is, and God always will be.

*Reflections on Genesis 21