What makes a miracle?

Once in a while I come across a potential client that was not as quickly sold out about my capabilities in design as I want to. They would interview me like they’re asking “Can you really do it?” or “Are you good enough for my standards?” Now it’s much easier to diffuse the air of doubt by showing them what I have designed in the past. But a person doubting your ability is usually an uncomfortable moment to be in. 

One day Jesus went to visit his hometown Nazareth. But instead of receiving warm welcomes, he received cynic looks and doubtful hearts. They lacked so much faith that he “could not do any miracles” except for a few:

He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. - Mark 6:5-6

The question “What makes a miracle?” seem skewed as if there’s a formula to make one. We cannot manipulate God into doing something for us. The question is not “Who makes the miracle?” but “What makes/constitute a miracle?” In this passage we can observe two things that must be present if we want our prayers answered:

(1) An intercessor with an intimate relationship with the Father. Though not mentioned here, in other passages we see that Jesus had an intimate fellowship with God. Spending time alone with God was a regular staple for Jesus. The longer hours Jesus spent in the prayer closet, the more potent His prayers have become. We may fail to recognize that when Jesus tells a lame person to walk, or a blind man to see, Jesus is an intercessor actually praying in faith. Which according to Richard Foster author of Celebration of Discipline, it is a prayer in a form of a command, a prayer so confident it assumes it knows the Father’s will. 

Jesus’ close fellowship with the Father in living prayer, and not by his deity (Though he was God, did not consider His deity as something to be grasped, Phil 2), enabled Jesus to become a channel through which God can work supernaturally. Therefore it’s an encouragement to us men, that with a close and intimate relationship with the Father, seeking the Giver and not the gifts, we will be able to become vessels for the Master’s use. 

Yet in Nazareth, though Jesus is as ready to perform miracles as God is eager to dispense them, Jesus faced a barrier—the recipients’ lack of faith.

(2) An expectant and believing heart. Jesus wasn’t able to do any miracles because the people of Nazareth lacked faith. From the beginning, they have doubted Jesus’ identity and ability, “knowing” Jesus was one of them. How many miracles in our lives we could have missed because we lacked the faith and anticipation of God’s answer to our prayers?

In this passage, we have an anointed intercessor (Jesus) and faithless crowd. And nothing much happened. What can we learn from this? Imagine if we assume the posture of the intercessor, intimately acquainted with our heavenly Father, and the posture of the expectant believer? What great things can God do in a spiritual environment like that?

My prayer is that may we our highest desire is to seek God earnestly to be intimately acquainted with Him. May we also have an expectant and believing heart to pray and intercede in faith and anticipation—prayers turning into answers.

Undeniable: How God's answer came through my e-mail

Note: I was planning to write about my reflection about yesterday’s retreat, but it turned into a testimonial about provision. So I’ll just complete my thoughts about yesterday’s retreat at another time.

I am by the grace of God

During the retreat, I enjoyed our time of sharing our faith journeys and our victories and current challenges in life. As I listen to each person’s stories, I can’t help but be in awe of God because He truly can utilize every person whose willing to be used by Him. I am reminded of the verse that says we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this power is not from us but from God (2Co 4:7). That God is a specialist in calling ordinary men to do His extraordinary bidding. We have nothing to boast about except God’s offensive grace.

Prayer

A huge chunk of our time there was spent in prayer. Through one of our sessions about prayer we were reminded that prayer is the most potent weapon of the Christian worker. It was the only discipline that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them. Jesus spent hours “before day” in prayer before doing ministry, so that His ministry had 100% success rate. To spend hours of Time Alone with God is to spend less hours “fixing problems” with men.

I heard once from Joyce Meyer that we should seek to become persons of divine experience rather than persons who only have heard how God moved in Scripture and other people’s lives. Time and time again God is always on time, His time. The team rejoiced at the thought that God is like a mighty eagle, swooping down to snatch us (Filipino: dagit) just when we’re inches and seconds from drowning.

I myself can testify to the power of prayer. This year, my wife and I decided that we will be more serious about our prayer and fasting time, desiring to be seek His will and be more intimate with Him. We have also decided to be more serious about giving. And in the past two months, God has been answering our prayers like manna. And He answers in ways that you cannot mistake where the provision had come from. You’ll know immediately it was from Him because His fingerprints is all around it.

Like just last Sunday morning before church, Easter, I remembered our “oil jar” is almost done and I begin to think about the week. The temptation to worry was there. Being tempted to worry is like being offered a sweet candy to suck on. With worry, it’s a temptation to sulk in it. But I have learned better than to give in to worry right away. God has given me my own share of molding moments when it comes to provision. So I just kept the thought in my heart knowing that God is always on time. “Careless abandon” is the posture I adapt for most times in times like these. Just let God be God. I prayed a prayer of trust to a loving Father who will provide on time. My prayers have been like that lately, not one of scrambling desperation, but one of expectation and trust for His answer. 

His answer came that same morning, just like talking to a person face to face, you expect the person to respond. The answer came in a form of an e-mail. I had a previous client of mine, many years back, like three years ago, I did a small project for him, but he failed to pay me. I have forgotten about it already. That client e-mailed me that morning saying how glad he was able to find me again (find my email) and that he still owe me some money and that he will be paying it now. It was a provision I was not expecting. After I finished reading it, I was just speechless and dumbfounded (in Tagalog, natameme). That same day, the client wired his payment to my account. And not only that, he had new projects for me to do. God has did it once again!

And the Easter sermon that morning was called “Easter Surprises”.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” - Ephesians 3:20-21

Back in the old habit?

Woke up from an afternoon nap. Went to church this morning for Easter Service, it was a wonderful Easter message by Ptr. Sur del Rosario entitled “Easter Surprises”. I had an Easter surprise myself early this morning. A surprise that reminded me and my wife that Jesus cares and He is taking care of us. I’ll save that for another story.

So as I was working in my computer I hear from the outside of our house “sa letrang B numero siyete”. The Bingo table is back on our sidewalk apparently. It’s painful to hear this like some people are back in their old habit, as if the last few days of Lent meant nothing, or at least a time of confession and asking for forgiveness, but Easter comes and it’s time to party again. I remember the same when I was still living in Caloocan when on Easter Sunday, for some of our neighbors it meant back on the liquor table and debauch themselves ‘til kingdom come.

I wanted to tweet about it. To air this agitation in my heart. But I don’t want to sound like a bigot. I hear my mind tell my heart, before you make your feelings public, do a self-reflection on yourself first.

Jesus didn’t die and rose again to set up a new religion. New religiosity of the same evil heart. But Jesus literally went to “hell and back” so that we can have hope of a new heart, a transformed life. So that we don’t have to do give in to destructive ways, but He offers a change of management. “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

As a recipient of this grace that I received through the cross and the promise of eternal life through the resurrection, am I a true witness of Jesus’ resurrection? Am I marked by a changed life? Do I display a life living under the grace of God? So much so that people around me see it, and “praise their Father in heaven?” Am I back in the old habit of Christianity by words and not by action (Kristyano sa nguso, hindi sa puso)? I thank God because through Christ and the power of His resurrection it is possible to live a transformed and victorious life, and become a blessing to others.

Far be it that we cease to tell the world about Jesus and His gift of life and transformation. Let the light of resurrection break within us that others may be led and their paths lit.

-

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. - Romans 8:11

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Resurrection Sunday

I’m sure it will be a great day Sunday. Woke up with a clear head this morning. Last night had been awful. I had severe headaches I think due to the cool and warm temperatures in and out of the mall. Yesterday morning, we visited our parents in Caloocan for lunch. It was nice to see them again, and see them well. My dad is looking good after he colored his hair black again. He will be preaching today’s Easter message. We left in the afternoon and decided to have my haircut. My brother rode with us up to Binondo then he biked to church. We went to SM Manila, but the barber I used to have my haircut was already gone. We then went to SM Makati, and had my haircut. It turned out pretty good.

This week I have to hear three people pass away. It’s unusual to hear someone dying in Holy Week. But well, Jesus did, centuries before the tradition was even set. But today brings us hope, and a reason to press on, that we may leave this earth for now, but soon, just like Christ rose first from the dead, so will we who have known Him. Thank You for your gift of eternal life.

He is not here [in the tomb], He has risen!

A Day in the Life

This morning Nette and I for a morning ride at The Fort. The bikes haven’t been used for a while so it needed some air. Got to the gas station and had an intense time airing because it was my first time to do it without someone helping me. But after that it was a great ride.

The Help

I just finished reading The Help by Kathryn Stocketts. I took interest in reading the book after seeing the movie of the same name. The movie vied for Best Picture in this year’s Oscars and had won other movie awards so I thought it was a good story. It’s a story about three women that took the courage to voice out the stories of black domestic helpers in Jackson, Mississippi at the dawn of the civil rights movement. 

What I appreciate most about this book is the theme of courage. Someone said courage is not the absence of fear, but doing something despite the presence of fear. The three women in the story acted upon courage to voice out the plight of the help by writing a book despite the risk of being found out and facing the consequences of their actions. 

I remember Andy Stanley once talked in his podcast about courage. And he says that a “single act of courage is often times the tipping point for something extraordinary.” And that is true in this story.

Am I courageous? I need to be. I need more of it. I need the courage of:

• Abraham - followed God in faith even if he didn’t know where he was going


• Moses - led the Israelites from Egypt through the desert, short of the Promise Land


• Joshua - led the Israelites to the Promise Land, had to grow out of Moses’ shadow


• Gideon - delivered the Israelites in spite of his insecurities


• Jesus - chose the way of the cross in spite of the pain and suffering for the greater good of mankind.

Two Bible promises we can hold on to so we can act courageously:

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Matthew 28:20 - I am with you always to the very end of the age.

Beauty of the cross

This afternoon I got to go to the Fort to buy halo-halo for the people in the house. I wait at the car as Nette orders inside.

I looked around me and I noticed two construction cranes in the skyline, one of which is the up and coming Shangri-la hotel rising in 2014. Once in a while I like looking at different skylines of cities in photos and I know that a cityscape with awkward construction cranes does not look good. It’s an eyesore, a reminder that something is not yet complete. But it represents progress and development. They are important in building high towers.

Then I remember about the cross of Christ. When you try to picture it, a wooden cross, rough, flaky one might get saludsod by just touching them. It’s bloody, from the man hanging on the cross. His body beaten, bruised and wounded. A crown of thorns pressed on his head cutting his flesh and blood stinging his eyes. A man in agony, in pain. Who would dare look to such a painful scene and not cringe at the sight.

“The stone that the builders rejected, has now become the cornerstone.” (Acts 4:11, NLT)

But it is in this place, in this moment, that Jesus utters his victory call, not with a triumphant shout, but with a faint last breath, “It is finished.” Mission accomplished. He chose the way of the cross. The way of suffering, and death for you and me so that we “will not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Like holding your wife’s wrinkled hand and looking through her eyes in old age, we find a new meaning of beauty at the cross, a beauty that is beyond aesthetics. And far be it that this completion in the chapter of our universe is the end of all things. Endings always give way to new beginnings, new hope and new life, through a risen Christ, our Savior.

May we find the beauty in what Christ has done for us. May we recognize our need of Him and receive it as ours. May it speak true to our lives, that there’s new hope and new life through Christ.

Keep calm and know He's always with you

Woke up an hour ago and found a text message from my mom. A girl who once went to your church met an accident yesterday. There was a hold-up in the jeep she was on so she jumped out of the speeding jeep and bump her head on the concrete. Now she is in coma (I read in FB, in critical condition, hope she’s out of danger now) in Chinese General Hospital.

What an unfortunate event. Praying that she will recover and be back on her two feet. In the name of Jesus.

Can’t help but remember my own mishap with hold-uppers last January when I visited Daet, Camarines Norte for Chi Alpha. It’s very important to always keep calm, and know that God is with you even in times like these. The following is an excerpt I wrote before about that experience.

January 30, 2012:

The night of Monday was a memorable one, of how God protects His children. Yesterday morning, I woke up from a bad dream, someone’s chasing me and trying to do harm on me. I told this to my teammates, and I said it’s been a while since I had a dream, and I just brushed it off and went on the days activity. That night, I boarded a Philtranco bus from Daet to Manila around 9PM. Because the bus had still empty seats, it took more passengers along the way. I was nudged to place my backpack where my laptops and gadgets are under my seat, and I slept. By approx 11PM, I woke up to a commotion on the bus, there was an ongoing hold-up situation on the bus! Everyone was looking down as instructed by the robbers—there were 4 of them toting guns and icepicks. From the back they started making their way to each passenger. 

Silently I began to whisper and pray, I began to pray, “In Jesus Name, In Jesus Name!” I began to pray in tongues. And suddenly there was this clear assurance in my heart as if God was saying “Do not be afraid, I am with you.” The word was as clear as day. And I felt this security envelope me, my fear slowly removed from my body. When the robber turned on me, he asked me for my money, so I removed my wallet and opened it up for him, hoping he would just take the money and leave my wallet and important ID and ATMs behind. And he did. He took less than a thousand from me. Thank God because I didn’t place all the money that I had in my wallet. I had more in my suitcase. He also patted my pants pockets hoping to find a cellphone which was on my right pocket. I was praying Lord don’t let anyone text or call me or I’ll be in trouble. Because the cellphone was lodged deep in my pocket, he didn’t find it. I was also worried about the backpack that had my laptop and other gadgets, I was able to hide it under my seat and it became invisible to them. After they got want they wanted, they went down the bus and we hurried off to the nearest police station to file a blotter. 

Thank God for His protection because nobody was hurt, and only a few amounts of cash were taken from me. After the incident, I found myself surprisingly calm. And I began to thank God for His protection, His wisdom and presence at that time. He is not just the God of my future or my past, He is God of my Now. I have once again proven that we have an awesome God!

One more day before holy break

Today is Holy Wednesday. It was our last day at the office. By the way, I work as a web developer and graphic designer for Asia Pacific Media Ministries and ICI Ministries Philippines. There were less people on the streets that the usual since some have already gone ahead with their Lenten vacation.

Today I am thankful because the latest issue of Moms Magazine has been delivered to the office. It’s quite exciting because the topic is about Overseas Filipino Workers, and there’s an insert in the magazine, a new publication called Men in Progress, a complimentary newsletter for men. Everyone in the staff seems satisfied with the output. I’m satisfied myself. It was also my first time to write for MIP, so Kuya Ptr. Alvin Tud, our MIP magazine editor, handed me a gift of Php200 worth of gift certificates from Starbucks. It’s always fun to receive good things.

I’ve been also working on our new online store that will sell our videos and books that we’ve produced. We had a wonderful meeting in the afternoon to go through some decisions to make for the project. One was choosing a name for the online store. A few suggestions came to mind, and after an intense brainstorming of seven people in a small round table at Bro Bill’s office, Alvin (our other Alvin at the office) offered the name Sari-sari Media, which rung nice to everybody’s ears. I’m looking forward to get this online store working soon.

Thank God for a productive day.

Who is Patrick Tan?

When I was born, my parents named me Patrick Vincent Cua Tan. I was born on September 11. Today I am 30 years old. I am a husband to my wife Nette. We got married January 16, 2010, two years ago. I am a web developer and a graphic designer since 2002. I am a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ since I was 15. Today I serve as a campus worker for Chi Alpha Student Ministries.

This is my life.

This is a continuation of my blog: The Mind of the Melancholeric Man. You can read blog between 2004-2011 at www.melancholeric.blogspot.com.