FAIR SUNSHINE

My own dear son in the faith who lives in the US, recently lost his job. He sent me this precious photo of him on his way to wait on the LORD for a soul to minister to. Father has greatly encouraged him the previous day when He opened an opportunity for him to talk with another soul about Christ. He thus shared with me his joy. I pray everyday to get closer to Christ. For the past few days I was actually praying to Jesus that he use me even though I did not know how as I am a shy introverted person who is scared of talking to people.    This morning when I hit the laundry, I was short of change so I got to the nearest restaurant to get change. When I came back to the laundromat, I saw a homeless black gentleman who went inside to charge his phone. I tried to break the ice by asking if he wanted to split the burrito I had with me. He obliged which I am happy with. Then I asked for his name then we prayed. After that we talked outside and a lot about of things related whil...

It's an old ploy for people here, (usually they have children with them,) to come up to you asking for money. Their reasons range from having dropped their wallet, needing fare to go home to the province, being lost in the city and having nowhere to go. I can't possibly tell if the person is in real need or just scamming me. But I use the open opportunity to ask them for a few minutes to talk before I give them help.    This lady was asking us for money. She says she needs 40 pesos to buy rice. I asked her if she knew who Christ was and she enthusiastically said yes. I glanced at her closed hand and saw the familiar purple color of a hundred peso bill and a few more. She had more money than I did. When she noticed my eyes she shyly hid her hand behind her. She claimed to be very religious, and believed herself to be a good person by virtue of religion.   A minute into the conversation, I bluntly asked her if she ever lied in asking people. Without thinking her quick an...

About eight o’clock, on February 9, 1555, he was led forth, and many thousand persons were collected, as it was market-day. All the way, being straitly charged not to speak, and beholding the people, who mourned bitterly for him, he would sometimes lift up his eyes towards heaven, and look very cheerfully upon such as he knew: and he was never known, during the time of his being among them, to look with so cheerful and ruddy a countenance as he did at that time. When he came to the place appointed where he should die, he smilingly beheld the stake and preparation made for him, which was near unto the great elm tree over against the college of priests, where he used to preach. Now, after he had entered into prayer, a box was brought and laid before him upon a stool, with his pardon from the queen, if he would turn. At the sight whereof he cried, “If you love my soul, away with it!” The box being taken away, Lord Chandois said, “Seeing there is no remedy; despatch him quickly.” Command w...

In time with our resumed daily bible studies, the young lady who met with us in our previous public ministry in Sta. Maria granted us the honor of her presence by visiting us and joining our family bible class. We talked about many things regarding the larger picture of God's redemptive work, salvation, and  the transcendence of Christ, being the glory of God. Father opened to us His word with such clarity that magnified His name further. I myself was amazed to see the wonder in her eyes as she heard truth upon truth unfold, regarding God's timeline and purpose, man's decay and depravity, and the beautiful things God has prepared for those who love Him. Father has humbled me once again in granting me such privilege in opening another soul to His graces. The four hours seemed like just an hour. I was on my way home from San Miguel around 7PM. My thoughts still with me, as I was enjoying the cold evening breeze that blew against the whistling pine trees, I passed by a small c...

A providential disruption on my day's schedule forced me to adjust what I had previously planned, and opened the way for me to finally make the 86km trip to San Miguel and back, alone. This place has been on my map for so long, and it seemed to be a far-fetched wish, but the long and beautiful roads of the Pan-Philippine Highway pulled me along and the farther I went the more I knew I needed to go. There were instances when I wanted to stop beside the road simply to admire the vast scenery, but my mind was more focused on where I needed to be. I have been to far locations where there weren't much people around, but I leaned on Father to make this one trip worth it for His name.  San Miguel Public Market is a very busy spot even on timid days. The street behind it was thriving even when you can tell it wasn't peak hours. I parked in front, beside the small group of baranggay police huddled by a landmark on the corner, and nervously walked around for a bit handing out tracts,...

Journal entry. December, 2020 People who pray long in public often do so not because they're spiritual, but because they're not.  Praying in public is not a sign of piety, praying in secret is.  Preaching is not a sign of spirituality, holiness is.  Having many words is not a sign of wisdom, keeping silent is.  Let your prayer be short before men,   and your prayers be long before the LORD.  Weep for the people you pray for. Weep for the people you preach to. 

An email came in as an encouragement from my Father through the message of an inquiring sister who yearned to serve the Lord but needed a guiding hand in order to start. We were scheduled to do outreach just near our place, but since every soul God sends our way is of utmost importance we quickly changed venue to accommodate her. She stood with us as we read the scriptures in public and handed out tracts.   God is amazing. This daughter of God's story is amazing. Amazing as to how Father has preserved her faith, and steered her into the right direction of understanding, despite having no permanent church to fellowship with. She attends a small gathering for now, and as we interviewed her, her answers aligned perfectly with our convictions. She does not think and walk the way the modern church does. May it please the LORD to groom her with His sanctifying truth, and we may share in her growth.     I met Jeffrey while we were sitting inside an eatery waiting out the short d...

I slept through the day after retiring around past 4AM last night. I was not aware of the time we came home from our overnight watch at the church, but I still worked on compiling the commentaries for Ezra-Nehemiah that I am working on. Woke up by 9AM, took my daugh to Philippine Arena for her shift. Came home and slept again by 10AM till 3PM. Sluggish and with my head buzzing a bit from my recurring headache, I rode out determined to at least reach out to someone today. My plan was to go to the farthest pin I have on my map to San Miguel near the border of Pampanga, but it was not to be. Today, it was my old fishing hole in Sta. Maria. I had a thick pack of tracts in my stash and I asked Father to prepare for me a person to talk to after I am left with just two.   It was already evening when I finished my pack, and I bought some salted eggs ( penoy ) from Nanay Criselda, the lady who sells them right beside me. She knows I regularly stand at this spot, and even gave me a discou...

In strong conviction to obey our Father my beloved wife and daughter, and after years of standing behind and beside me in the war for souls, finally put a foot forward towards the public reading of scripture. Determined in spite of the shock to their vocal chords, they finished the whole reading. They were enabled to read the holy scriptures at two locations, both of which was full of people. As what usually occurs in a market place, the vendors got to hear the whole presentation. Somewhat very pleased to imagine putting the honorary sash and crown on my daughter for her firm resolve. May it please the LORD to cement her will in submission to whatever cost there is in following Christ. Nothing out of the ordinary happened during the event, except the greater thing: they willingly obeyed the LORD. That is the triumph for us. I am aware that there are well-meaning preachers who are against women preaching, citing that woman are to keep silent - as if we already have enough men p...

My daugh had a conversation with this man who claimed that Adam's first wife was Lilith, not Eve. I remember that name from a very old book I had in my library, and briefly explained to her that this folklore had demonic origins stemming from a hodgepodge of myths and man-made legends that do not even agree with one another. She is the very role model for rebellion against husbands. In this case, his narrative is irrelevant. He merely wanted to flex his ego. People will readily believe anything that sounds mysterious and spectacular-anything that does not necessitate accountability against the knowledge of God that they willingly suppress. Myths do not deal with sin, and people are fine that it stays that way. He and his friends were inside the open store right in front of where I stood. I am sure he got and earful of accountability. Father has visibly dealt with some hearers in the far distance, but they still refused to come near, perhaps too ashamed to be saved, if it may be tha...