FAIR SUNSHINE

But the LORD.. Jonah 1:4 What great comfort this portion of scripture brings. It conveys the very meaning of all things that happen in the lives of God's beloved children. God takes great delight in giving His children good things. But many people will settle for less: less pain, less trouble, less waiting, less grieving. In doing so, they miss out on the very source of endless bounty and joy. Christ is Himself the greatest reward for those who ask for the best that God can give. The experience of pain spares no one. For both the religionists and godless, when all else is taken away, troubles tend to justify their rebellion, the evidence of an already hardened heart. It drives them further away from the only help they so desperately seek. Ready to blame anyone and everything, except themselves. For the true child of God, however, they see His hand in every facet of their lives, hardships become opportunities for maturity, and troubles drive them further into the loving ar...

I left the construction site earlier than usual because I wanted to fish while I still had daylight. As I was riding on my way to my fishing hole this afternoon I prayed. I prayed that God will glorify His name. God is very kind to me as to gently correct me in the right direction of His will. There are those who preach for the sake of preaching or prepare sermons for the sake of a good sermon. But it is infinitely more rewarding to preach and study to be awed by God's glory. Nothing more.  This afternoon ministry passed just like any other day: people do not even look at you when they take a tract. But after some time pleading with the gospel, the guard inside this building in front of me (it was barred shut so I assumed there was nobody inside) went out to ask for a tract and read it as he went back in. Father is amazing. I will really never know who's listening. I had him in mind as my unseen audience until the end of my pleading. I brought just a handful...

After doing foreman duty at the construction site for most of the day, I proceeded to what has become my usual fishing hole. I brought my gear along plus a handful of tracts, the Lord placing in my mind to fish for at least a few souls before going home. There was a makeshift stall at the corner when I arrived, and I  proceeded to hand out my tracts. A few minutes later a lady alighted from a tricycle and set her stall up right in front of where I was ministering. I must have looked very strange to her, as I received not a few glances while I was proclaiming the good news of Christ to the passersby. But as the evening drew to a close she was intently listening, almost ignoring most of her customers and leaving them to help themselves with her wares. Towards the end of the message, she finally got up and asked for a tract. She read it for a good while. There were a lot of people who passed by me. A few gave me the head to foot look, most of them not even noticing I was...

God has graciously directed us to this part of Bulacan to minister to the people flocking into the cemeteries. We planned to assist the church in today's public ministry in another proposed part of the city but I had the impression that the motive was not for the benefit of the gospel. I have never viewed public proclamation to be a picnic outing, in the sense that those who are expected to bring the good news to the public will not do so unless they go in a group, or with a companion. This I believe is one of the main hindrances of the gospel's furtherance. I am always fearful when I go out alone but I will do so in spite of that fear. Yes, a brother or a group is much preferred, but that is not always the case. Regardless if I go alone or a friend goes with me, I still will go. Praise be to the Lord of heaven and earth, I have a faithful companion with me in this war. The gospel was proclaimed before a passive crowd of passers-by, but the real audience were the ...