It’s a lot of fun to know a set of sign language. I just learned how to demonstrate the letters of the Alphabet through different finger formations.I wonder how it feels when I can actually use them in “conversing” with deaf people ?  I’m excited about the possibility.

How would I communicate  “God Love’s You”  through signs that they may  know Jesus. Should I point to heaven upward, then to my heart and then  “draw” a cross on the air and then point at them?  My hand movements may probably  puzzled or  confused them !  For  those who have the knowledge, this problem is nothing.

Sign Language users easily read every facial expressions accompanied by hand movements.They stand for letters, words,phrases that form sentences, thus, sending and receiving messages. What a wonderful way of communicating one’s thoughts and feelings!

It occurred to me that in the world of faith, we do have  signs or gestures conveying messages . If I see a CROSS,   I know the message it conveys. If  I see an EMPTY CROSS, I know it’s powerful meaning too. We exactly know the gestures of those who are  in prayer, worship and  meditations . We have signs of our own that  connect us with one another. What a wonderful language!

Getting closer still, the miracles of Jesus Christ were called “signs’ in the Gospel of John … a kind of read (meaning) that affirms His Messiaship,  the Son of God, the Lamb of God,  who will take away the sins of the world. Those people around Him, especialy those who are in the know , can read signs but for some reasons, wrongly interpret the crucial ones, those of Christ’s works! Jesus Christ  said “When it is evening  you say, ‘It will be foul weather,for the sky is read’; “and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today,for the sky is red and threatening ‘. Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of  times. (Matt 16:2-3) We wonder, how could  those healings and feeding by the thousands, and preaching about the kingdom could be read otherwise? Despite its  implications, about Jesus ,the promised Messiah, they were not   good signs readers.The obvious, wasn’t obvious at all .

What about the scarlet cord?  That’s a good read.It’s one fascinating a story  of conquest and  preservation. Rahab,a harlot who lived in  Jericho, hid the spies whom Joshua sent to spy out the land of Jericho. The spies made a promise of sparing the lives of Rahab and those who will stay with her at her home. The sparing of their lives will rest upon the sign she will put up during the siege..the scarlet cord (rope)  knotted in the window through which the spies slid down. If Rahab would remove it, they have no way of  identifying and preserving her and so the promise made, non binding.  When finally Joshua and Israelites came, Rahab was spared and those who were with her , the scarlet cord providing the  identify  of where and who they were.The scarlet cord became the “sign”, Joshua and Israelites  has to see, to spare Rahab and those with her.  

Unusual ? I have another read. Rahab was a harlot ! A picture of worst of sinners. Yet she said “…for the Lord  your God,He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord…spare my father,my mother,my brothers,my sisters, and all that they have,and deliver our lives from death” (Josh 2:11-13). She believes the Lord and her faith was honored. That’s an eye-opener, the worst of us can come to God by faith and God will be gracious to us. What a great God we have!

Whoever you may be today,  be it good or bad, or wicked, no matter how you look at yourself, be sure to read the sign properly. God loves you so much that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus , who shed HIs BLOOD on the cross for you. The moment you see the cross today,stop and think through. That’s a SCARLET letter  for you. The language of God ,saying I LOVE YOU…COME TO ME THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HEAVILY LADIN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST…REST FOR YOUR SOULS…

Now,  if I can only communicate those thoughts through my hands…

We certainly welcome the kind of temperature we have in the middle of Winter. Instead of snowy days, we have bright and sunny days. A welcome respite indeed.

On the other hand,we cannot afford to hold back on our drive to proclaim the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Proclaiming the Gospel of salvation has no prescribed  seasons.

Is it polotically incorrect?  Even if it is, according to endorsers of polotical agenda, ours is to proclaim the true message of the Lord of lords and king of kings despite opositions or resistance.In this season of political correctness the temptation to keep silence is great. Pleasing men rather than the true Master of men.But no other name is greater that JESUS, even POLITICS or POLITICIANS.

Religious tolerance. Yet by the looks, its Christianity that is deprived of its right to promote,parade and post  its faith and belief. It is sad but true that what this country is willing to give to other persuasions , is unwilling to grant to Christians.Season of shutting down Christianity? Then, it has been a long season now ! We will persevere.

Have no problems with Christ  but have with christians! No disputes with Christ but with the church ! Alarming ?  Just a reality check. Its easy to find faults with us believers and we’re not surprised,. Christ Himself has warned us “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because  you are not of the world,but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). We don’t hit back , instead , for all seasons , we do good to those who hate us. (Matt 5:44b)

Radio Talks, Late Night Shows,movies , films and print media, lambast and make fun of Christ and His teachings . Nothing new about these! The World will always act and react the way it used to for it is a fallen world.! What’s dishearthening is if we start to mellow   and turn yelow. That’s the kind of season Christ never intended for.

That leads us to this, it may not be comfortable, nor trendy, but our posture will always be, to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ inspite of circumstances.Its the message for ALL seasons. It’s that simple after all!

After having driven my husband to the station today, I noticed the ducks congregating at a lake, as most winter ducks often do, probably sharing Christmas lists and unnecessary gossip about hats and things. Every season has its unique beauty to it, and winter has its simplicity of black and white, as opposed to the other seasons which are typically known for their multifarious colors, both subtle and vibrant. But winter, just seems so cold, peaceful, and quiet.

It reminds me of the movie I recently watched, “the Nativity Story.”

I really recommend this movie. Having seen a lot of stories surrounding Jesus’ birth, this one dealt solely on Matt.1-2 and Luke 1-2, with a quietness and simplicity to it. The movie also gave a new perspective of the expectation and faith that befell Mary and Joseph, and how Jesus’ birth, how seemingly quiet and humble, was the greatest promise for all mankind, mathematically written through prophecy, all events culminated by God’s providence.

And God sent witnesses from afar and witnesses from the nearby fields.
And God sent wise men and unscholared shepherds.
And historical kings knew of the prophecy, sent historical creeds and laws to seek after the messiah.
And God sent men of faith and men of reason.
And Herod, a powerful merciless king, was thwarted by expecting the messiah to be a strong obvious leader instead of a helpless baby. And despite his resources, power, influence, and army, a humble couple and a baby, with meager transportation, escaped him.

Christmas continues to do that…bring those who are far from him, to him, and those who are close, closer. Christmas is for the young and old, for the wise scholars who reasons and for the ones who see with faith. It’s really a celebration for everyone, for the awed child to the cynic. Even now, God still calls us ALL to him.

“I have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared for all people.
He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (Luke 2:30-32)

ps. go see The Nativity Story…

Katuwa na ang Pasko ay maging karanasan sa bansang hindi sinilangan. Dito, may yelo(snow) at mamang pula ang terno. Sa atin(Pilipinas) may biko at tinderang di abaniko.Dito malamig ang paligid at at tahimik ang gabi, sa atin sa dami ng carolling, nakakabingi ang gabi at balewala ang lamig ng gabi.

Dito, english and batian, “Merrry Christmas” o kaya “Happy Holiday”, sa atin, medyo paloko “mah-li-gha-yang Pas-kow” tagalog ,pero stateside ang dating. Pero ang wala sila, dito, magkikita ang magkatipan ng ubod ng aga sa sambahan,hindi para sumamba, kundi pala para magtanan!!!

Yan ang Pasko sa atin, masaya,maraming katuwaan at minsan, may katabilan.. ngunit higit sa lahat puno ng pag-galang.

Ating kinikilala ang pag-sapit ng Anak ng Dios sa sang kataohan upang sagipin tayo sa ating abang kasalanan. Wika ng ating awit…”Tayo’y mangagsiawit dahil sa sanggol na dulot ng langit…” Ang sanggol na yan na isinilang sa sabsaban ay lumaki at nangaral ng pagsisisi at pagaamuki nang pagbabalik ng sansinukob sa kalooban ng DIOS. “magsipagsisi kayo sapagkat malapit na ang kaharian ng Dios (Mat 4:17) “Magsiparito kayo sa akin, kayo na kayong lahat na nangangapagal at nangabibigatang lubha at kayo’y aking papaghingahin…at masusumpungan ninyo ang kapahingahan ng inyong mga kaluluwa…”(MAtt 11:28-29).

Hindi nanatiling munting bata ang sanggol na yan. Siya ang Jesukristo na ating Panginoon at mananakop na nabayubay sa Krus ng kalbaryo, nalibing, at, nabuhay na muli upang pagkalooban tayo ng buhay nang kaligtasan at buhay na walang hanggan. Buhay, na sa piling niya ay walang katapusan.

Minsan lang siyang ipinanganak sa sanlubutan at hindi paulit-ulit na nagiging bata sa bawat taon! Minsan nang sumapit ang kapaskuhan at ang sa atin ngayo’y pagdiriwang ng naunang kapaskuhan.Ang Panginoon ay sumilang na, tayo ngayon ang isisilang na muli (Born Again) sa kanya kung tayo’y tutugon sa kanya sa pananampalataya. Na ang Panginoong Jesus, ay Anak ng Dios ,namatay sa Krus ng kalbaryo , nabuhay na muli mula sa mga patay,nakaupo sa kanang kamay ng Ama at muling babalik para kuhanin ang kanyang mga banal at pumasakanyang piling maypakaylan man.

Ang Pasko ay tunay na sumapit. Kung gano’n, ang Panginoong Jesus ay masusumpungan sa inyong puso. Kung wala pa, ikaw ay lkailangan na ipanganak sa kanya. Papaano? Kilalanin mong ikaw ay makasalanan. Kilalanin mong ang kamatayan ni Jesus sa krus ay para sa iyong kasalanan at iyong anyayahan ang Panginoong Jesus sa iyong puso bilang Panginoon at tagapagligtas ng iyong buhay. Idalangin mo ang mga bagay na ito na taimtim sa iyong puso…

“Panginoong Dios, akin pong kinikilala na akoy makasalanan. Aking pinagsisihan ang aking mga kasalanan. Akin pong kinikilala ang iyong pag-ibig sa tulad kong makasalanan, na ang inyong Anak na si Jesus ay namatay para sa aking mga sala. Akin po ngayong binubuksan ang aking buhay, ang aking puso at inaanyayahan ko ang iyong Anak na si Jesus bilang aking Panginoon at mananakop, Amen”

Sa oras na gawin mo yan, ang Cristo Jesus ay mananahan sa iyong buhay.Tunay na sumapit na sa iyo ang ganap na kapaskuhan. Ganyan ang pasko, ALL ABOUT HIM not about you. Hindi ang yelo,hindi ang mamang pula ang terno, hindi rin ang biko,hindi rin ang aleng nakaabaniko,lalong hindi ang magsing-irog na gabing tumakbo,ang paskoy, pagparito ng Cristo upng bigyan tayo ng kaligtasan sa impeyerno. Kaya…..hala …., kanta ” Tayo ay magsiawit………at kahit hindi pasko ay mag-awitan………

The Lord works in ways we human miscontrued a lot of times. His ways are not our ways says the Holy God ( Isa 55:8) but that doesn’t mean God wouldn’t be understood , its just that, we look at it differently and thus interpret  differently.

Could I have misread God then? Could I have misunderstood Him ? If I did, then I misled a lot of people…His church!

You see, about six years ago, God through His Word deeply impressed in my heart  to pray and long for REVIVAL.  “Will you not revive us again,That your people may rejoice in you ?”(Ps 85:6). I embraced the strangeness of this verse  and never let it go. God burdened me to PRAY for revival in our times. Alas, it was not meant for me alone. His church, in this case, SJBCI, has to be on it too.

Since then, my understanding about revival grew. I thought I know much about it. I was mistaken! I never thought , I was that ignorant  and so presumptuous.  I can see how little  my undertsanding was.  

One blessed way the Lord has tought me to understand His ways among men is to train my eyes to SEASONS of REVIVALs  that took place in   distant  fast in His Church..one of which is the.the 1904 Revival in Wales that  touched the four corners of the world. How God  can use a very ordinary man to drumbeat the mighty coming of the Holy Spirit in the Church of Christ. How prayers and fastings prepared the hearts of people and and how God can be so real in the midst of His people. These and much, much more has  opened my eyes to mystery of His ways .

In the secret place of the Most High, I can only meditate ,”Remember the word to Your servant,upon which You have caused me to hope” (Ps 119:49) “I will remember the works of the Lord;Surely I will remember Your wonders of old” (Ps 77:11) In my prayers I can only utter ,my soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.”..Turn away my eyes from looking at worhtless things, and revive me in Your way”…” behold I long for Your precepts; revive me in Your righteousness” (Ps 119:25,37,40)  

I might not have the full understanding of His `ways among men, but I can remember when He touched me to pray and long for Time of Refreshing in our times .