Isaiah 40:31

"Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary" .... Here's a promise when we wait upon the Lord: God will give us strength. No one is pain-free in this life. But faith in God will provide us hope, encouragement, and resources we need to remain strong....

OFWs: Is "Providing" Only Equals Money?

Ruth, 8 years of age, writes to her OFW “tatay” the following note:

“Please come home. We didn’t talk the last time you were here. I was afraid of you. I didn’t know how to talk to you. I want you to know that it’s very difficult to grow up without a father. Your only girl, Ruth.”

In my country, Ruth belongs among a lot of children who now have money to buy computers or go to the malls. But they don’t have a mother or father, or both. Almost 5,000 OFWs leave my country daily. About 80% of them are women. Of the estimated 8.2 million OFWs now (2009) working in almost 200 countries, an estimated 70% of them are fathers and mothers who choose to be “absentee parents.” (see this article from TIME )

The Bible says, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever?” (1 Timothy 5:8)

In the original Greek translation of the Bible passage, the text is directed to “anyone.” Culturally, we tend to perceive this text as only referring to men. With that, we go overboard on the gender neutralization (“his”) of Scripture. The original translation meaning of the text does not even mention men and women.

Biblically, the “providing” for family is not just for the men contrary to cultural perception and expectation. The originally translated meaning of “anyone” in 1 Timothy 5:8 shows that both men and women should be completely committed to “providing” for their families. Absolutely.

Next question is, “Is “providing” for family only equals money?” Does it mean a big house, flashy car, private education for kids, bank accounts, travels etc.? Your answer may be yes if you equate provision solely to money and possessions. But is this what God’s Word fully means by “providing” for our families?

A father or mother can be in bed with materialism, covetousness, or corruption that they’ve become idolatrous. Such kind of “providing” wrongs the children’s faith, which Jesus clearly condemns (Matthew 18:6). This somehow helps us see the issue with more clarity. It gets us off the obsession that “providing” only = money!

Rebecca, an OFW who left her 3 month-old son to a relative to work in the Middle East for the next 11 years, lamented about her situation. She said that her now grown up son would constantly ask her, "Why did you leave me?" Rebecca realized something, saying: "Having spent all those years away, even if I gave him material things, it's not enough" (see Time article).

Finances are merely just one aspect of “providing” for family. Fathers and mothers are called by God to “provide” for their children that go beyond the salary or paycheck. Over the years, lots of family men and women from my country abandon “presence” in the daily life of their children to be “overseas contract workers.” Result? A growing “fatherless” and motherless” generation in our time. This practically leaves a trail of many broken families in our society.

Given these biblical reflections, is it ethical or moral then to be an OFW in relation to “providing” for family? Is the money worth it? Where do we strike the uncompromising balance that honors God?

Healing Overdependence

"This is what the LORD says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. . . . But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit'" (Jeremiah 17:5, 7-8).

We're all created by God to depend on others for certain things. Things like love, acceptance, friendship, etc. As we move along in life, we discover that some people are dependable and faithful while others are not.

You and I need to discover too that too much dependence on one person (e.g. spouse, parent) is unhealthy. We need not depend on one person for our emotional and total well being.

Depend on God. He knows your needs. He'll see to it that His blessings and touch come to you from the right places and sources.

The Life of Ernest Hemingway

Why, after we taste the plates of all the pleasures the world serves up, we’re still hungry? Why do accomplishment and activity so often fail to quench our thirsty soul?

One of my favorite authors, Dr. Charles Swindoll, told of the life of Ernest Hemingway: “Ernest Hemingway lived a full life, or so it seemed. By age 19, he was decorated for heroism in World War I. His first novel, ‘The Sun Also Rises, ‘ was published when he was only 27. Hemingway’s lifetime itinerary looks like that of a diplomat – the US, Spain, France, China, Cuba. As a war correspondent during World War II, he was known not only for his writing ability but also for his courage in battle. He won the Pultizer Prize and the Nobel Prize. His virile, gutsy style of writing reflected the way he lived – with gusto. As a big game hunter, deep sea fisherman, and bullfighting enthusiast, Hemingway experienced enough danger and adventure for several lifetimes. But despite such a full life, the novelist was, in fact, unfulfilled. He drank heavily. He married 4 times. And after a long bout with depression, he took his own life in 1961. Ernest Hemingway guzzled down all this world had to offer. But in the end, it wasn’t enough.”

Hundreds of years before Hemingway, another “one who had it all” experienced the same thing. King Solomon recorded in Ecclesiastes that all is “vanity and a striving after the wind.” He pointed out the futility of trying to live and enjoy apart from God.

The Hebrew word for “vanity” refers to that which is “without real substance, value, permanence, significance, or meaning.” All things “under the sun,” all human endeavors performed independently of God, qualify as “vanity.”

God is our purpose. He is our meaning. He is the only worthy goal to pursue in the ebb and flow of this fleeting life. As we walk with God, we not only enjoy life but we prepare ourselves for eternity with Him.

“Fear God and keep His commandments, because this applied to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14)

Self Fatherhood and My Kids

As the father of three young children – one boy (Paul), age 13, and two girls, ages 15 (Christine) and 6 (Angel) – I praise God with a deep sense of gratitude. I get to see them each day at home, have almost daily meals with them despite busy school/work schedules, lead them in prayer/bible devotions and to church on Sundays.

I value these times and opportunities not just as a father who can be present in my kids’ lives. But also, as a son who grew up without the presence and involvement of my own parents in my own life. Both my father and mother were “absentees.” And I couldn’t remember important moments together with them, much less in daily life, throughout my childhood, youth, and onwards.

So with this, I knew I needed to “self parent” with the Lord as my true, loving parent and His Word as my guide. And then step out of my own head and tune in with my own kids. It is rarely easy. Especially when it’s something not modeled to you when you were young yourself.

Over the years, I realize that I’ve been an imperfect father. I had shortcomings and made mistakes. I lost count of all the times when I stumbled in talking and listening to my children. There were days of struggle and heartache when I felt like Christine, Paul, and Angel were thousands of miles away despite my best efforts. The Lord knows the tears I shed for them. With God’s help, I knew then I had to change and improve more.

The good news is that whatever is lost or broken can be redeemed. Why? Because we have a God our Father who fully accepts, heals, and empowers His children. He is our perfect model of loving, patient, wise parenting! I came to understand that a “hole” a father/mother leaves when he/she neglects or abandons duty to his children is one that God our Father can completely fill. The Lord is more than enough to fully make up the difference.

Just this morning, before she went to school, Angel came to my room and asked for something. With her weight resting in my lap, I started praying for her and laying my hands on her head. I asked the Lord to bless, provide for, and protect her as well as her sister Christine and brother Paul all the days of their lives. I thought of the pledge I made and that is I’d give to them what I never had.

No matter what difficulties I may face hereon, I recommit my self to that work of being fully there enough for my children. Oh, how I learned much that it’s not enough to just be physically present! Too often, especially during tough times and struggles, the kids (without saying it) need their father (and mother) to be emotionally and spiritually present as well. I resolve to stick with them the whole way through not just when it’s comfortable or “fair-weather” – but when it’s so hard and they face storms in their lives.

That is my prayer, not just for me, but also for all the fathers (and mothers) out there.

The Secret of Hope

"... hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)

Several weeks ago, I prayed for a woman with terminal cancer in the hospital. She couldn't eat and she said that the doctors gave her 20% chance to live! As I laid hands over her head, I sensed a divine flow of hope and healing coming into her. When we finished, she had a smile on her face.

Two weeks after, she testified in one of our meetings that she's now able to eat. According to her doctors, during a repeat consultation, some unexplainable things happened to her. Some traces of her cancer are disappearing!

I don't believe in doctors giving a prediction on until when we'll live. Only God our Creator knows that!

Are you losing hope? I don't blame you. You're probably going through a lot. But that's just half of the story. Why don't we pray that God be present with you no matter what happens? Let's experience His love and embrace for He'll never leave us nor forsake us.

But there's a bigger question: Are you afraid to die? Most people are.

Many times, people are afraid to die because of "unfinished business" in the world. Like career or studies. Kids. Or, dreams and projects. But that's only for this temporary world.

We're all "dying people." All of life is a preparation to die and meet our Creator. Some will die today. Some in 5 years, some in 30 years. We just don't know when. But it doesn't matter. We're all going to die.

Do you know where you're going when you die? That's where lies the ultimate secret of hope. Click one of my videos on the right and watch and know what I mean.

May today make you ready.

God Is Your Provider, Not People

One of the things the Lord has been strongly teaching me these days is that He is my provider, not people. Not a company or group. Not a system. People nowadays are tempted to fear this "money beast" at a time of economic recession. In fact, countless are the numbers of those who would trade their honor or faithfulness at the altar of the material god. When I view a person or anything else as my provider, I'm giving that person or thing Lordship over my life. That's idolatry and faithlessness. It then becomes a source of brokenness and woundedness in the different aspects of our life. For resources on financial healing and stewardship, go to www.crown.org.

It Matters How You Finish. Are you going to finish strong?

Learn from Bro NICK how to really live life.

Are you ready to meet your Maker?

This past couple of weeks, we've two media reminders for you and I of the inevitability of death. One is the untimely death of pop star Michael Jackson at only age 50 (gone too soon!). The other one was that of Farrah Fawcett, a favorite star in "Charlie's Angels" series. Regardless of what age you are in right now, death brings about the reality of one of our greatest fears in this temporal, earthly life.... While all of us are so busy -- trying to create wealth, raise families, enjoy pleasures, love, relationships etc -- we all need to take time to reflect. We all need a pregnant pause. Common are the countless times when our busy preoccupations and relationships tend to cloud us of our real purpose in this life. While many of us feel bad witnessing deaths of those we care about, we're reminded of our own mortality. All of life is a preparation for death to meet our Maker! Are you ready to die and meet your Maker? Where are you going after death? Find this out before it's too late.

How do I know I'm ready to meet my Maker?