Pretty in Pink

Ezra 3:3

Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices.

Tomorrow morning, thirty nine boxes of toys and goodies will be given to the first graders of Carreta Elementary School. It will be our church’s third wave of sharing the love of Jesus to their community (the clean-up drive was first, and the school supplies pack was second). It’s a joy to be part of it and so my husband brought home two boxes for us: one for a girl recipient, the other for a boy. I took the list last weekend and shopped for all ten items. When I got home, somehow I felt very uncomfortable with the two blue shirts I found on sale. God has been speaking to me about giving ‘better’ gifts lately and I know a pink shirt would fit a young girl better. But when I look inside the box, with all nine other good items in it, my depraved mind was saying, ‘It’s already good enough’. I struggled for days and especially in light of my very thin Christmas budget. Then this devotion brought me light.

Chapter three of Ezra talks about the fifty thousand, first wave of exiles coming home to Jerusalem from their seventy years in Babylon. Here, after settling in their own towns for seven months, they gathered as one man in the capital city to build an altar for God. It may seem easy at first glance for it only requires some acacia wood and an overlay of bronze. Each one gave to the treasury for this work and so the financial side wouldn’t be much of a problem. But our verse above noted one big roadblocker: fear. Before their coming, the land was inhabited by pagans who were determined to stay for good. And these squatters weren’t just numerous. They even had connections to the Persian government who were powerful enough to send them away. Building an altar in Jerusalem was a big statement of reclaiming their land as God’s people. It’s like an opening arrow in war. Their fear was real and valid, but despite its paralyzing threat, they stood their ground and did God’s will. After all, if fear was at their door, all the more they needed God’s favor and protection.

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ What fear seeks is to deny us the truth of this verse. It tells us that God is NOT with us, and will NOT strengthen and help us. Fear whispered to me that my budget couldn’t allow a better gift for a little girl. Dig deeper and it meant, God is not a good provider. And so in faith, I went back to the mall, decisive to buy a pink shirt. There I was sidetracked again with a rack on sale but the ‘better’ word tapped me back. Finding the best one finally, I rushed to the cashier for the pay. Guess what? When she swiped the shirt, I was surprised it registered a discounted price. Even lower than the one on the sale rack!  It was so humbling and reassuring. I cried in praise to my amazing God!

Worried Pockets

1 Chronicles 29:16

O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.

Last Monday, the complete kit for Rilian’s homeschooling finally arrived. Now that he’s officially a student, with tests and all, I felt like we became official parents too, with responsibilities, and more. Plotting their school years to determine how much we need to raise and save every time, my initial thought balloon to those figures was: there goes my hopes for a house, and the car, and the dream vacations.  But I quickly rebuked the discouragement and remembered my parents, and theirs. They weren’t well off either, and to think they lived with eleven other siblings. But they’re living proof that it’s manageable. I myself finished school, and my sister will, by God’s grace next year, become a doctor. Now in faith I see my kids and a bright future ahead of them. I know. Because God said He will provide.

When the chronicler shared the story of chapter 29, I imagine the remnants in blank stare and deep breath, wondering how could the same building project be possible at their time. David was here pouring treasures as seed money for Solomon’s temple, and it’s extravagantly a lot! And because King David gave over and above what was expected of him, that is, he shared even from his personal treasures, the leaders of the land were inspired to give much to the treasury too.  No wonder Solomon’s temple was literally shining in gold. So how could the remnants ever fill those shoes? Coming from seventy years of foreign slavery, they barely had anything to call their own. ‘Impossible!’ was their logic’s cry. Then they heard David’s prayer and his acknowledgement that it wasn’t his treasures that provided for the temple. The verse above pointed it all came from God’s hand. Later on, the remnants saw how God’s faithfulness proved it true. In the book of Ezra, King Darius decreed, based on the scroll issued by King Cyrus, that the royal treasury of Persia will fully pay for the construction of the temple. How in the world that happened? One answer: God can do that!

How’s your finances today? Any pressing payables this week? Any savings for rainy days? If your answers are in the tune of worry, I know how that sounds. Been there, done that, still there - - minus the worry. Today at least. Tomorrow? That’s another faith decision. But clearly, truth says, everything comes from God’s hand. With His unlimited, unimaginable treasures in heaven, it’s actually more impossible for Him to not to provide. That implies, resource is not the issue here, but our heart questioning His goodness, and the humility to simply ask.  Like a child to a Father. Completely trusting. Fully expecting. If He can give His Son for us all, which is the greatest of all gifts, can we really picture Him withholding the less? Impossible! What is our need today compared to His life’s value? What is our worry compared to our need for the Cross? God’s been providing for the world ever since, will He stop now with us? I don’t think so.

Stunning Surprise

1 Chronicles 3:17

The descendants of Jehoiachin the captive: Shealtiel his son.

When I called my dad after Christmas, he was unstoppably praising God that my sister and my mom were on their way to her medical school, bringing with them the 93K tuition fee.  93K! I was high pitched myself at the miracle. For how were they able to raise that amount in two months time with his pastoral salary? God’s provision was just amazing! Their noodles and corned beef meals helped a lot too, haha :>  Day after that, my dad texted again that my cousin’s family from the province visited them for Christmas gifts – a Pinoy tradition. I can imagine the struggle in my parents’ heart to give because by then, they only had a few left. But in faith, they gave. That same day, an old lady friend dropped by the house and blessed them with cash gifts. They were pop-eyed once more. God tested their hearts to go empty for Him to fill them anew.  ‘Twas not the first time,  but God loves surprising them everytime :>

I started reading Chronicles three days ago and so far, it was all names and more names. A family tree template to be exact. There were some with interesting descriptions, like the mighty warrior Nimrod, or Peleg, in whose time the earth was divided, or the Edom kings, but I can’t seem to find anything relevant to life. Until I stumbled upon Jehoiachin’s name. He owned the last four verses of 2 Kings, and yes, I also found this evil king irrelevant. He reigned in Judah just three months and ten days, then he surrendered and was taken to Babylon, together with all the temple treasures. He was kept in prison for thirty seven years, then the unbelievable happed: Nebuchadnezzar’s son, now the king, released him and gave him a seat of honor, even higher than those of the other kings with him in Babylon. It was noted that he regularly ate at the king’s table, was kindly spoken to and was given allowance as long as he lived. How come? I let him escape my thoughts and his life excluded in my blog. But God never disregards any man, righteous or unrighteous. He saw to it that I’d stop to this familiar name again. And then the surprising realization: Jehoichin was where the bloodline from David to Jesus will pass through! God preserved and honored him, though undeservedly, because of Christ!  A stunning truth.

Grace still amazes me. Its extent surprises me. Grace can make any man climb heights though the world thinks he’s better underground.  Grace allowed evil kings of Judah ruling, included foreign women in Jesus’ geneology, even called Judas part of the Twelve. All served His purpose. All paved the way to Jesus’ glory. You and I are part of that grace list. Regardless if we acknowledge His Lordship or not, we will serve His will. Regardless if others  attach zero potentials to our names, He can accomplish great things through us. We may have prison walls around us now, but in time, He will surprise us with that release. Grace does that. Because of Christ, grace overflows. That’s the stunning truth!

Little is Much

2 Kings 4:43

‘How can I set this before a hundred men?’ his servant asked. But Elisha answered, ‘Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the LORD says: 'They will eat and have some left over.'

Being a pastor’s kid, I got accustomed to a life where finances mean we're at the receiving side. From food to clothing to tuition fees, even birthday parties, God has been faithful in providing these things through His sent-people. His timing never once failed, and amazingly, always the exact amount we need. And by exact, I felt it's an implied 'No Extra'. That how I learned to be creative in giving price-less gifts. Or to do service instead of monetary helps. For even if I save, I thought it’s still not much compared to what they need or deserve, or what others are giving. Well, I thought wrong.

In that time of famine, it was unexpected to find a man giving twenty loaves of bread to Elisha. The added phrase ‘from his first ripe of rain’, meant it was his tithe to the Lord. The firstfruit of his produce. He had the option to store it for himself, for who but God knows the famine’s timeframe, or he could have gained much from selling those at a high price. Sure the enemy tempted him with such, but he feared God above all. At Elisha’s hands, he too had the excuse of keeping it to himself. The gift tag bears his name, plus, it couldn’t feed a hundred mouths anyway. Or, he could wait hoping that another man would come bringing eighty more loaves. But being in God’s business, he knew better than hide His blessings underground.  For God’s glory and just like Jesus, he instructed to share it with everyone and even had some left over.

The widow’s mite, the Macedonians, and today’s reading teaches us one thing: we can give even in the midst of poverty and famine. Poor economy or low salary is no excuse for God’s call to be cheerful givers. God has been faithful in providing us our needs. Even that need to give. It should be part of our budget. We don’t expect a king’s pleasure in receiving spares, right? Sure pride will tell us it isn’t much. For how could our little donation help a province in flood? It wouldn’t even suffice a single family’s need for days.  But we’re not to solve the world’s problems. All He wants is for us to share in His kind and selfless nature. To experience His joy and to feel His love for these people. Let’s leave the multiplication issues at His table. Believe that little is much when He is in it!

My Last Bread?

1 Kings 17:11

As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."

Friday nights are family nights for us. I usually cook a more special dinner, meaning no easy fried or instant thing-ies, haha :> Next stop is what we call ‘Jesus time’. Tris will draw the kids’ ‘thank You Jesus’ items on the whiteboard, we'll read from the kid’s bible and have some bite-sized application, then we’ll close with our prayer requests. Kids know that next is a surprise from their dad before our movietime. Ice cream is the crowd-pleaser here. They’d yell competing for that first spoon. When the who’s-turn has been decided, their noise shifts to having a bigger scoop. But when the pint’s getting close to empty, they’d loudly hope having that last bite. There’s always a loser to this. What’s funny is that they discovered a way of beating it: ‘Dad, chips?’ And we’re back to square one, haha :>

At the height of Israel’s famine, the word of the Lord came to Elijah and asked him to move from the empty brook to a Gentile town, Zarephath. Sidon is the home country of Ahab’s wife and it’s just so out-of-the box to house Elijah there. We all know she’d soon flare up and pursue to kill him. But God’s ways are higher and wiser. He can choose to prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies and still be protected. Add to that, He can choose an empty table for us and still be provided! What is more amazing is when we move to the widow’s side and hear these words: You have an empty table and I can still provide THROUGH you. Woah! Considering she’s a widow with a son, that’s so faith-stretching. When Elijah first asked her for a drink, we saw her kindheartedness and amidst life’s difficulty, she willingly took that step to help another. Maybe she was really a generous person, but because of scarcity, the most she can offer is her service. Not bad right. But Elijah pushed it, ‘and bread please?’.  I would have cried in  self-pity and Elijah’s seemingly insensitivity here. It was their last meal in this famine. A mother would sacrifice her last for his son but not to a stranger. God knew fears and assured her of His provision. And so she went home and took that step of faith.

For my children, it’s easier to accept not having that last ice cream spoon because they know there’s still chips to look forward to. For this widow, she was willing to give up her final meal because she heard God’s promise to take care of them. They may not have the provisions yet, but faith already saw it coming. The Bible calls us to generosity and sacrifices and it doesn’t have the qualifier that it’s only when we’re full and overflowing. Blessings are from the Lord and not from our hands. When He asks us to give and help, we have to look at His unlimited riches to provide. It is for His glory that thousands are fed from just five loaves and the two fish. The widow’s flour and oil went unlimited too. Let go of your two mites. It may be small. It may be your all. But know that Jesus sees your giving and sure He can open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it :>

Life Is Beautiful

1 Kings 17:9

Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.

Ever experienced a day when there’s zero peso in your pocket and there’s no food on the fridge? As a pastor’s kid, I have countless miracle-stories to share. As a designer’s wife, by God’s grace, it trimmed down to one. Well, so far :> It was a Sunday afternoon and our ‘almost’ last money was spent going to and fro church. ‘Almost’ because I kept the last one so Tris could get to work the following day and receive his salary. We chose to rejoice in God regardless and thought of spending dinnertime walking around. ‘Twas our favorite date idea before the kids ‘happened’, haha :> After an hour, our toes brought us to a nearby mall. Fast forward a bit and you’ll find us lined up to a stall offering sample noodles. Another one was calling for another brand. When we went inside the grocery, we were handed with rice toppings and waiting just before the exit were cups of fresh milk. Now if you know me and my husband, you can imagine how my acting skills, and his lack of it, made it all the more enjoyable. We had a great, loud laugh on our way home. Only God can orchestrate such a great date!

Although I’m not sure if Elijah was a man of humor, but just in case he was, he sure would find this chapter amusing. (Just don’t remind him yet that he angered the king and his life’s probably in danger). Yesterday, we found him near a brook and ravens brought him bread and meat, one set in the morning, and one in the evening. How cool is that? Boyscouts would trade their PSPs for such an adventure. Not even Reality TV could copy-paste that.  When the brook dried up, he may have chuckled hearing his next where-to-get-food. “Through a widow? Seriously Lord?”.  And so he went and God did not disappoint his expectations: the jar of flour were not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry. It may not be as feastly as dining with kings, but royalties would sure exchange half their wealth seeing a miracle firsthand (they might call it magic though).  To Israel, the three and a half years of famine was curse. But to Elijah, those were great days of grace.

Oscar’s 71st Best Foreign Language Film “Life is Beautiful’ have the same plot. Beautiful was a forgotten word to those in concentration camps. But Guido managed to give their predicament some light when he told his son it was all competition for a prize of a real tank. Who’d ever read fun along the word N-a-z-i? Guido’s son never had a hint of danger for all he saw was his father’s great performance. He believed him. We too can find laughter amidst penniless pockets. We too can choose to see miracles instead of famine and threats. We have a Father whose performance ranks one. But unlike Guido, God’s word is true.  When He promised provision, we can be sure it’s coming – whether by ravens or through widows. Breathe some air and enjoy a bit of adventure there. If the fridge’s empty, call it a Family Clean-Up Day. If coins are all that’s left, declare a ‘Street Food Race’.  Sure you can invent better events.  Life is beautiful. Because our God Is :>