JUST ONE HOUR -- With JESUS

The CHRISTmas season is that time of year of greatest hustle and bustle when Believers -- professing followers of CHRIST JESUS -- are tempted to “fall asleep” (to be so caught up with buying gifts, decorating trees, putting up lights, shopping for holiday delicacies, practicing for church pageantries, entertaining visitors) -- so as to dash around so busily with all this stuff that we won’t (will not, for it is our choice whether to will to do, or to will not to do) even spend one hour with JESUS.

Some of us will say, “But I do make time to be in intimate fellowship with GOD! I give Him 20 minutes here, 15 minutes there, 15 more between this and that…and I plan to pray another 10 minutes at midnight before I fall asleep.”

JESUS, Son of Man, during His incalculable agonizing hour in Gethsemane, told His followers (His actual disciples) to watch and pray with Him.  He didn’t ask much…just for their prayers and emotional support as He wrestled deep within His soul -- His soul that was exceedingly sorrowFUL, even unto death…the worst emotional and mental anguish that any human has ever experienced.

JESUS found His followers asleep.  “WHAT! Could you not watch with Me one hour?”

Watch and pray that we do not enter into the temptation of texting and Tweeting and facebook-ing for hours, of worrying and sorrowing and coveting those toys we can’t afford to buy, of making the celebration of CHRISTmas be our god, rather than worshiping JESUS as The GOD that He is by honoring Him with our time -- time that is His gift to us by His gracious will anyway.

JESUS was prayed up -- thoroughly prepared and supernaturally strengthened for what He knew was about to happen.  Our heavenly Father did answer His fervent prayer. He was delivered from that which He feared, which was, lest by impatience and distrust He should offend His Father, and so disable Himself to go on with His undertaking. (Hebrews 5:7) GOD provided that He should not fail or be discouraged. (Luke 22:43).  This excerpt is from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible.

JESUS’ disciples fell asleep, for the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.  They were not prayed up -- they did not even pray, “The LORD deliver me from this sleepy devil!”

So when that time came (as our time will also come) of great trial and overwhelming upheaval, all the disciples of JESUS scattered…lost in their fears, depression, sorrows.  They did not watch and pray even that one hour.

JESUS is the very Reason for this season, and the only Reason for our very brief season here on earth.  So isn’t it Reason-able that we watch and pray with Him in that ALLways season-able one hour?

This CHRISTmas, let us not fall asleep, but daily watch and pray for one hour -- one wholesome hour of sweet intimacy, delicious enlightenment and delightFUL fellowship with CHRIST JESUS -- our King…our LORD!

$10 Million WINNER! A WHAT IF...

Because of the $500-plus million lotto jackpot frenzy, Kathy Garzon and i got into a discussion:

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAD $10-MILLION?

My initial response was that i would donate towards the Second-Step Home ministry of taking in homeless men, women and children; of helping to provide a safe haven for them as they get back up on their own feet. i would give to a CHRIST-centered ministry where the loving ways of GOD are the rule, not the exception.

Kathy’s question stayed on my mind…even this thought – Being a follower of CHRIST, would i even buy a ticket for this megabucks lotto?

i entertained the thought – this temptation to gamble, of grasping at straws. i thought that i would buy just one, if it were a California lotto. Sin was knocking at the door!

But i did NOT buy even one.

But WHAT IF by GOD’s miraculous provision, i was granted $10 million? Here is my heart’s desire…

1) Tithe off the gross amount for CHRISTian Fellowship Church, then pay all necessary taxes.
2) Keep $100,000 for personal use.

3) Give $1 million to Second-Step Home, or a like ministry for the homeless.
4) Give to an organization which helps rebuild the lives of children who have been rescued from the sex slavery/ trade or who have been forced to become child-soldiers in war-torn countries.
5) Give to Gospel for Asia, K. P. Yohannan’s ministry in India.
6) Give to Voice of the Martyrs to help persecuted CHRISTians worldwide.

7) Give to CHRISTian church planters who build in Third-world countries.

8) Plant a nondenominational CHRISTian church in Matei (Taveuni, Fiji). 
9) Build wells to provide clean drinking water in impoverished communities.

10) Give sewing machines to women to earn legitimate income. 

Give 20% to Ocean View Church for overseas missions;

Assembly of GOD in Matei (Taveuni, Fiji), to build a proper kitchen for Radini Selina and to complete Pastor Pauliasi's church building; and Impacting Asia missions in the Philippines.

And IF ever i receive by GOD’s miraculous and gracious providence any lesser or greater amount, i hold firm and steadfast in this Way of sharing GOD’s material and spiritual riches, for i have purposed in my heart to serve CHRIST JESUS, Who is my precious Utmost ALL in all.

“No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted tone and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of GOD and of money.” (Matthew 6:24, HCSB)

SO THERE! This blog-note is the written witness to that WHAT IF!

PERSONAL Testimony - Pruning For My GOOD

I Chronicles 16: 8 -- Oh, GIVE THANKS to The LORD!  Call upon His Name; make known His deeds among the peoples!

THANK YOU, Most Precious FATHER – Awesome Sovereign GOD that You are, LORD of my body, heart and soul!  VINAKA VAKA LEVU, TURAGA.  JISU SA RAUTI au!  MUCHAS GRACIAS, mi DIOS Todo Poderoso – El PASTOR de todos que Refugiarse.  MARAMING SALAMAT na aking DIOS!  Ikaw ang aking talagang Buhay!

  

THANK YOU for causing me to love paradisiacal islands and for providing Taveuni as the tropical garden for my pruning; for gifting me with a loving Fijian family through my farmer-husband, Your providential catalyst for change and growth in me.

THANK YOU for ALL You’ve already done and continue to do in Maia’s Life – for providing her LIFE-SAVING medicine, a job that employs the half-blind, our healed mother-daughter relationship, and best of all -- her SAVING FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS, our INfinitely Precious Savior, our AWEsome LORD!

THANK YOU, O Holy SPIRIT, for not leaving me to continue in my SINs so as to flounder helplessly without direction or purpose.  THANK YOU, FATHER, for Your SON, whom You GAVE to us SO freely and who DIED for us SO awfully so that we may have LIFE SO awesomely!

I Chronicles 16:9 – Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of ALL His wondrous works!

SHOUT i to The LORD a JOYful hymn of PRAISE –

To The HOLY One Whom GOD The SPIRIT did RAISE!

Declaring HIM to be my Strength, my Strong Tower –

In Whom i cling to for SUPERnatural POWER!

So on bended knees i bow to JESUS, my LORD and Friend –

HE is my Faithful Shepherd, so His WORD do i defend.

HE bought me with His BLOOD, SO Precious and SO Dear –

Neither fears nor doubts have i – JESUS, The CHRIST, IS HERE!

I Chronicles 16:10 --  Glory in His HOLY Name!  Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek The LORD!

GOD is HOLY, and i glory and exult in HIS holiness.  i rest secure that He will not allow any INjustice, large or small, to go UNpunished.  Yet paradoxically, HE WILL PARDON REPENTANT SINNERs like me who TURN to CHRIST for FORGIVENESS.  i am SO grateful that because GOD is my FATHER, He will NOT allow any UNungodliness INin me to remain UNunchecked.  He WILL continue to wash me clean with His WORD.  Of this REALITY, i am confident!  HALLELUJAH!              

FatherGOD knows me SO intimately, even of my delight for mangoes. In His Providence, He caused a sweet mango to fall directly in my path at the exact moment He knew i would be there.  He knew how it would lift up my downcast spirit, so heavy was my heart.  How i rejoice at His timely gifts!  How grateful i am for His tender loving kindnesses.

How perfectly GOD’s Providence sustains me – causing me to delight IN Him even more.  He provided Matthew Henry’s Commentary On The Whole Bible the week i returned to San Diego – leading me to search His Word with renewed enthusiasm, as i pored over pages of very small print, praying that SPIRIT will fatten my soul with such nourishing Bread.  YES, i want to get very fat in my soul! 

How grateFUL and amazed i am at His wondrous acts – the miracles wrought withIN that no one can discern with the naked eye.  In the day-to-day busyness of village-life, marital ups and downs, and clashing cultures and personalities – at times i was like a thorny cactus, thirsting for the Living Water – causing discomfiture to those around me, including myself!

Bitter Melon -- Ampalaya

Yet what was gripping my heart – UNforgiveness and BITTERNESS – has vanished.  GOD -- the indwelling Holy SPIRIT -- has somehow vanquished these INternal enemies that have plagued me for SO long!  PRAISES be to GOD – the GREAT Physician – who has healed me of these deadly maladies of the heart and soul.

I Chronicles 16:11 – SEEK The LORD and His strength; SEEK His Face forEVERmore!

Because i NEED GOD’s Grace for EVERY moment He allows me to live, because i NEED His SUPERnatural POWER to continually help me overcome my weaknesses, and simply, because i LOVE Him – i SEEK His Face IN CHRIST, through His WORD, through prayer, through glad obedience to His PERFECT will.

Oh LORD, Your command is that i be CONFORMED to the likeness of Your SON, and You promised to provide ALL that i NEED so that at ALL times i may abound in EVERY good work to the GLORY of Your Name – therefore, Almighty Heavenly FATHER…

Command what You will –

Grant what You command. 

LORD JESUS, the Altogether Lovely ONE – it matters not WHAT You do with my life; it matters only WHO You are!

WWJD - GOD's Hand In Taveuni, FIJI

SAVE The CHILDREN

When “my” 11-year old Beni died—that tragic death in Naselesele Village—i asked Pastor Boschen of Ocean View Church (San Diego, California) to send 150 WWJD (What Would JESUS Do) wristbands to help the kids at the Village make wise decisions by following JESUS’ example.

This is how GOD orchestrated all things so that He might show Himself all-powerful, all-wise, ALLways loving—for He is our all-compassionate Father in Heaven, our utterly amazing and incredibly awesome GOD Who answers prayers.

After more than a month of waiting, the wristbands arrived at the Waiyevo post office, with $F136 extra fees!  i was crestfallen.  i didn’t have that kind of extra money to spend.  Literally in tears, i begged the postal clerks to release my package…even pleading, “Keep the box, just let me have the contents.” (Duh!) They had no authority to release the package or waive the fees—the Suva authorities held that power.

i left the post office empty handed, heavy hearted, face crumpled up with tears.  But just around the corner, inside Tila Madden’s post box was a brown envelope—with 55 of the WWJD bands!  HALLELUIAH! Instant joy caused my heart to dance, and my grateful spirit praised GOD for His timely grace and mercy. \o/

Some of the 55 WWJD bands, i gave to the Bucalevu Secondary students (belonging to the SUIS CHRISTian Fellowship, led by Chaplain Paulini) to wear for the Thursday “Learning Substance Abuse Through Technology” presentation of my WWJD poem…that same program where i was privileged to share my daughter Maia’s testimony of drug abuse and victory over her addictions – empowered by the indwelling SPIRIT of GOD.  i shared that when Maia committed her life to GOD through CHRIST JESUS, He gave her the SPIRIT’s supernatural strength to overcome her destructive habit.  All praise and honor to GOD—today, Maia is three years drug-free and also no longer enslaved to alcohol or cigarettes.  HALLELUIAH! \o/

But the other 95 bands were still at the post office.  GOD put in my mind to contact Police Commissioner Naivalurua (in Suva), one of Naselesele’s homegrown.  At the Matei police post, i got his phone number, along with the Police Chaplain’s.  They heard my WWJD story, and i asked for their help -- “kerekere” – because of Beni, for Naselesele kids’ sake.  i was referred to the Waiyevo police for assistance.

The next morning, because police officers Mosese nor Bale could not accompany me to the post office, GOD gave me officer Save (who is my brother-in-CHRIST, who also goes to the Assembly of GOD church in Matei) to help me at the post office. \o/

But even with Save there as Naivalurua’s agent, the package could not be released without authorization from the “big boss” in Suva, Pita Raiqeu.  i needed to call him, and that very same morning, Vodafone gave me $F5 free money in my account. \o/ We talked…i pleaded for the WWJD bands, because of Beni, and for the kids’ sake.

Pita, in his handicraft shop -- my brother in CHRIST

Raiqeu requested e-mail confirmation of my story...and right next door to the post office, which i hadn't noticed before, was a one-computer internet cafe ($3/hour) with praise music played, run by Pita who owns the commodities store and attached gift shop -- also my brother-in-CHRIST! \o/  Here, i posted on Facebook for prayers that GOD will soften Raiqeu's heart.

Even with the e-mailed story…no go…blocked.  But GOD kept working…

Back at the police station…up that long hill—again—i thanked Save for his help and told Him it was all in GOD’s hands.  Save suggested the District Office—the DO himself, another “big boss” in Taveuni.  Great idea—vakasama vinaka!  \o/

No DO—the “big boss” was still on the Taveuni-bound boat, returning from Suva.  But acting DO Tema (and radini) was there in his stead.  She is my brother-in-law’s pastor’s wife – my sister-in-CHRIST! \o/  She called Raiqeu in Suva, faxed the paper with the $F136 fee info…and Raiqeu promised that Robin (Suva office) who was handling my case will release the package the next morning—with the $F136 fee waived.  HALLELUIAH! \o/

So again, taking the 7 a.m. bus from Matei, i went to the post office and called Raiqeu to remind him of his promise.  At 9 a.m., Robin faxed the release to the Waiyevo office—and with a smile a mile wide—i gratefully received my precious 95 WWJD wristbands.   “GOD is good!” was heard from me throughout the whole day.

i shared this fantastic work of GOD to the SUIS Fellowship at Bucalevu, gave them more of the wristbands, telling them that these are from GOD Himself—very special—and recited the WWJD poem again, to remind them if they follow and act upon JESUS’ example, they will make wise decisions.

SUIS CHRISTian Fellowship
at Bucalevu Secondary School

Police Officers, Waiyevo
Health Inspector, center

Radini Tema, acting D.O.

WWJD – What Would JESUS Do?

What would JESUS do?

Never you mind what others would –

Filo, Petero, or even Manu.

To always choose wisely,

All you need to do –

Is to follow CHRIST JESUS closely.

Would JESUS, on drugs, get high?

No!  Rather He would fly

A kite higher than the sky.

Would JESUS smoke tobacco or weed?

No, never!  Rather He would help

All those in trouble and in need.

Would JESUS get drunk and brawl?

No, never ever!  Rather He would give

His surpassing peace and everlasting joy to y’all.

WHAT would JESUS do?

Whatever is good and heavenly –

THAT only, He would do.

What would you do?

So that your choice –

Later, you would not rue?

THINK! before you HNHdecide,

May your choice be lovely –

And, In CHRIST, abide.

Choose CHRIST.