My Blog/jyojyo

                 We desire an intimate presence of those around us as they also help us recognize that with them the presence of God is manifest. Our love of God is triggered by the love we receive from the brethren. They help us grow and become strong.

            With people around us, serving God becomes more meaningful because of the communal concern. With whom will we channel our love of God without them? That’s why we need them. And asides from this they also need to be loved as well as we need to receive love. With our family, relatives and friends around us the love of God is so alive.

            This is the gift of the desert time. Being alone with God in the times we experience bitter and painful occurrences carrying our cross as if to

Calvary

, with  loneliness, we are filled with the love of God. As we grow in our love with Him our bucket of love overflows that we need to fill other buckets.

            When we are sent to the world we feel that there is a huge volume of people who needed love and we fill that hallow place in them. We feel that there is a need for an exchange of love with others that they would also feel the love of God in them. We also grow in our desire to share the scriptures and share to them personal experiences of God.

            With them feeling the love of God in us that is so alive, they would desire God’s love too as well as they would also hunger for our presence. They would yield also to us for companionship rare and enticing. You would then know what were they missing that needs to be filled. So they would easily be captured by poems, writings and God’s love.

            The scriptures play a major role but the common intimacy and sharing are not set aside. Their friendship could be reliable that when time passes there would still be the same want and intimacy as well as warmness. They are old friends that are gold, as the silver ones shine in their best too.

            I see a lot of them waving, in all smiles and calling my nickname as I pass by while on tricycle ride. They never forget me. When we have a chance to talk, there is an intimate exchange of pleasantries or a warm acknowledgment. We never had dry moments. I remember before whenever they see me, they would wave and call my name.

            Until now, there is still an oasis of love in my heart though I have grown tranquil. I still miss what was before but I’m comfortable with my new self as I gain respect even with those who are not intimate with me. I need to part from my old world but I keep the intimacy I have had with my old friends. They are precious as of those who are new.

            Some of them still keep the poems and writings I’ve done for their own personal use, and I never thought it was a time wasted with them and with those writings, though my penmanship has wearied in time because of the favor extended.

            With the oasis of love that is a gift of desert time, love still overflows in my heart.

-o0o-

                   Lord, thou art good and are abundant in
mercy. Without the divine intervention of God, our lives would have been in a
wreck. We would have not seen the light of our journey. We would have been
lulled to sleep and would not have refilled our lamps with extra oil.

 God, we can rely on your
faithfulness. We may have been broken in pieces, but you, the King of kings put
us back together again. In our time, there are many Humpty Dumpties and some
end their lives without allowing God to put them together. But with Jesus, we
are made whole.

 The Lord that receives many stripes
and yet has been silent in the slaughter welcomes us to come that we may know
and understand the mystery of his godliness. He desires that we should obtain
salvation with us repenting, being baptized and will be receiving the Holy
Ghost. This that we may be guided in truth and merit his mercy.

 The Lord God is great and wonderful
and a Father everlasting. The mystery of him may not be revealed unless sought
in the scriptures. But God himself provides the way for us that we may
understand the scriptures. God guides those who seek to find the answers to
their questions and thus obtain the light of truth.

 We are now in the end times, and the
Lord God is doing his best that we may obtain salvation but it is up for us to
allow him to open our understanding that the truth underneath the pages of the
Bible be known to us. Without the indwelling of the Spirit, we will always have
difficulty in unveiling God’s mystery of godliness.

 Let us renew our hearts, that we may
desire truth, which was hid to Pilate except that he knows Jesus as a holy man.
Thus the Jews of which the same thing is happening to the believers that shares
with his agony rejected Jesus. He has no sin but became the sin bearer that we
may be reconciled with God.

 We also share with the apostles and
disciples the same destiny, which is to experience resurrection through the
receipt of the Holy Ghost. This we should have that we may be caught up with
him in the twinkling of an eye, and be ever is with the Lord following the
meeting in the air.

 God is a good God, and he waits for
us to be reconciled with him. With Jesus, we are comforted through his spirit.
Those who wait and never wearies because of the fire of the Holy Spirit shall
obtain their prize – to be with Jesus in his exalted stage. The Lord himself
shall be King all through the ends of the earth.

 We shall be like Jesus when the
corruptible puts on incorruption (I Cor. 15:53). We shall all be changed (I
Cor. 15:51). We shall share the destiny of the holy One: that is, to possess
the spirit of the Father. Though we are born in the image of the earthy, we
shall also bear the image of the heavenly (I Cor. 15:49).

-o0o-

              Catch the moment with God as he comes near you as you
search the truth about him in the scriptures. Let God be the King in your heart
as your understanding is opened. Allow him to lift the veil of truth and show
you abundance of the hunger for him these days. The Lord will never fail you
such that he would satisfy your thirst.

 As
Mary conceived in her womb the child Jesus, the Word, which is God, became
flesh (John 1:14). In 1 Timothy 3:16, it states “God was manifest in the
flesh.” It was the absolute Deity that was robed in flesh, and became the Jesus
of the New Testament, which is necessary for the redemption of mankind.

 Jesus
was brought forth in the world conceived by a virgin, and they call his name
Emmanuel, which is being interpreted as God with us (Matthew 1:23). Relating to
the incarnation of Jesus, it reads: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son
is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince
of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).”

 In
His humanity, Jesus was the Child that was born, and this Son that was given.
In His deity, He was the Mighty God, and the Everlasting Father. Jesus was all
man and all God for though he took upon himself the completeness of humanity,
in Him also dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). He
was God dwelling in flesh reconciling the world unto himself (2 Corinthians
5:19).

 While
the Babe was in her womb, Mary said, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the
Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior (Luke 1:46,47-NAB),” to declare that
her God was to become her Savior. This is also similar to Thomas viewing the
wounded side and hands of Jesus saying, “My Lord and my God.”

 In
the Garden of Gethsemane, as the Flesh agonized before the Spirit, Jesus
prayed, “I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world, and
you gave them to me, and they have kept your word (John 17:6-NAB). Through
Jesus, the name of God was made known to his disciples.

Jesus was able
to answer the question asked in Proverbs 30:4: “What is his name, what is his
son’s name, if you know it?” In John 5:43 Jesus said, “ I come in my Father’s
name.” Wherefore God also had highly exalted him, and given him a name which is
above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in
heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth (Philippians 2:9,10).

In the next
verse, we find that every tongue shall confess that Christ is Lord. Surely the
name Jesus must be the name common to the three manifestation of the only One
God. Jesus Christ is indeed the same yesterday, and to day and forever (Hebrews
13:8). He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). He is the true vine
(John 15:1)

 The great I Am met by Saul is Jesus testifying
of His eternal existence (Acts 9:5).

-o0o-

               The many manifestations of the goodness of Jesus that brought forth the revival in many Christian gatherings have unveiled an intimate love for truth among the brethren. As the Holy Spirit in filled many, a lot of them testify of the Deity of Jesus.

            The name Jesus is bannered high in many religious TV programs and Christian writings and documentaries. Many of those whose understanding is opened search more and more the scriptures with the hope to discover clearer realities of the nature of Jesus. These realities points us to the truth that souls of the living need salvation.

            In one documentary for example it says that Jesus was the Son of Man because he was born of Mary, but at the same time He was the Son of God because he was conceived of the Holy Ghost. Jesus was also a perfect sacrifice of the redemption of the fallen man for though he was God took not on him the nature of Angels but was made like unto men.

            Jesus loves us so much that he became like unto his brethren. He chose to be like us that we be reconciled to the Father and that by the dwelling of his Spirit to us we will be guided by him. In the time promised by him, we shall see him coming in the clouds with great power and glory (Mark 13:26).

            As the Son, Jesus has limited knowledge for the scripture says, “But of that day and that hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Mark 13:32-NAB).” But Jesus on his Deity said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away (Mark 13:31).

            Jesus is God but as the Son, he chose to limit his knowledge. But the Father who loves the Son has given all things unto his hand (John 3:35). Even the authority to execute judgment has the Father gave the Son because he is the Son of man (John 5:27). We see that the Son having great power and authority has these delegated to him by the Father.

            Jesus is not only the Son but he is all, and in all (Colossians 3:11) as well. He is the flesh Christ who came, who is over all, God blessed forever (Romans 9:5). He is the stumbling stone and the rock of offense that was laid that whosoever believes in him shall not be ashamed (Romans 9:33). Thus he said to Saul, is it hard to kick against the pricks?

            It is in His being the All in All, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father where his Deity is fully dependent on. The cause of the deity is in this being of his, which is eternal. In his own he can do nothing but as he hears he judges, and his judgment is just because he seek not his own will but that of the Father that sent him (John 5:30).

            What Jesus lost in his Sonship, he regained in the Fatherhood. The Father himself, which has sent him, had borne witness of him (John 5:37). If we do not believe Jesus we also refuse to come to him. In him will we have life eternal (John 5:38-40). Believe him that he comes in his Father’s name that you might have the love of God in you.

-o0o-

Christmas is in the air. We ought to be glad that we feel the necessity to celebrate it. This is the time that we should remember well our loved ones, our friends and associates, and all the people linked unto us. Since I am writing a blog, mine is the chance to greet you all: “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!”

My heart seemed pricked as I remember my friends in the journey in the desert of life where I met a lot of friends as I share them the gospel with Bible in hand, helping them in their assignments and writing love letters that they could use to woo the girls they like. We have a lot of fun singing songs to the tune of the guitar, painting and sketching during their free time, and laughing over certain jokes.

I become teary eyed as I remember them. One time I brought the list of their names I kept for a long time and searched them in the friendster, and found out that many of them have friendsters. I am glad that in a way there would be a link in us again, some of them with kids and jobs, and other have the pictures with their girl friends or wives.

In friendster too, I had fun reading all the blogs that reached me. Some writers are sentimental as I am, and write well from the heart. I can name a few, but you know who you are. I just want to convey that I salute you for your rich ideas and healthy visions. Keep up the good work!

In this Christmas time, I am glad that I am a brother to all of you reaching you, though I may not cope up with all your birthdays or answer your message right away. I’m kept occupied too with our requirements for midterm by January, my column and my blog. I even fail to open my two other e-mail accounts and my other blog in Google.

Well, enjoy the Christmas spirit, your reunions and the fun you derived from this season. Bear with us who were writing blogs cause we’re concerned of you all, your welfare especially that of your soul. We should think as one mind being one big family, sharing even life’s secrets, or chatting through the messenger.

I appreciate all those messages sent to me through the friendster. No matter how others think, they are all my brothers. We have to keep the link alive, laughing over certain pleasantries, and bearing with each other. I too am human and I’m not spared from sin, but I try to bring you thoughts from the spirit and that’s how I am kept tranquil and sentient.

If only I have the arms to hug you all, I would hold you close to my heart just like how Jesus loves the children. I would welcome more messages and reactions or comments in my blog. I am happy every time I’ve got something to read. And I like reading the blogs of others. Smile and the world smiles with you, but I know, if I cry I will not cry alone. There are friends who never fail to sympathize.

The world is indeed beautiful and it is made wonderful with all the people around, and friends near and far, or friends through the net. I’m wishing you all a blessed Christmas and a prosperous year ahead. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

-   Jojo I. Nartatez

                Let the light be restored among us. Let the Spirit replenish the warmth in our soul. We should not protest if God chooses to chasten us. Though we may lack the vigor in our body, let us be contented that the spark from within us is keeping us strong.

            We should not allow the mission to be lost or the purpose of the journey to weaken. God has designed us to keep possessed with the glow that keeps our person growing. We should be happy that we are protected despite that the lure of the world is strong. God shall not forsake us or abandon us if we are faithful to him.

            You are not missing any of those fruits of the springtime that we bring into our hearts all through the days of sunrise. The water is inviting even surrounded by plenty of bushes that hides it. It is the place that we need to discover in us, the fountain of the Spirit. Oh, the oasis of God is so refreshing.

            The light of sunshine gives sparks out of the splashes of water. Yes, though we may differ from many, still a lot share from us the thoughts on the goodness of the Spirit. We cannot allow this goodness to be taken away from us. Even amidst the ravening wolves, the good Lord protects us though from time to time we may weaken our paces.

            Let us be aware that the truth on God is bannered high though the wiles of the evil

tries to overcome us. Our strength need not falter. It should be firm despite that our soul may waver. With the love of God shared to many, we draw a line separating the works of the flesh from the works of the spirit and try our best for the latter to conquer the former.

            No one knows what’s deep within us but we keep our loads unburdened everytime through prayer. It always pays if we have a friend who shall hear our grief. If they are far or are not present, God is always more than a friend that keeps us strong through his word. Open the pages of the Bible and the treasure is there.

            Let the fountain of our spirit keeps on bubbling in our soul, come singing, come shouting since Jesus made us whole, so a song goes. The water is inviting and the spring in us could keep our aura glowing. Yes, we need to keep our selves captured by the Spirit of God in the clear running water, as it is hum in a song of the seminary.

            Grab the moment for our chance to rejoice! Keep the Spirit burning! Be refreshed with it as we can still do, as we still have the time in plenty. When our time is over, we may not be able anymore to have the chance to pamper our spirit. Be filled then that we shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air as the trumpet is sounded (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)!

            As our inner self-mature, we are composed in the time that there is backbiting. But with the promise of the Lord, our saga shall come to pass. The Lord shall be our recourse. We can confer our burden to the Lord for with him we shall have rest. Let Jesus keeps on bubbling in our soul!

-o0o-

               There is a beacon of light in our hearts that needs to be purified for it to become brighter. We need to be covered with much light deep within, the light of truth that we may desire God’s presence firmly.

            We should not allow situations to overcome us. To keep us armored, as with faith, we should dig deeper in the word of God. The Lord sanctifies us through his truth; his word is truth. With Jesus sanctifying himself, we are also sanctified through the truth (John 17:17,19). When the Spirit of truth, is come, we are guided into all truth (John16: 13). That’s why whatever we do in word or deed; we should do it in the name of Jesus.

            We that hear the word should put into practice what we read. We need not be the man who beholds his face in the glass and goes his way forgetting the manner of man he was. We should look instead into the perfect law of liberty, and continue therein being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work that we may be blessed (James1:23-25).

            We should purify our soul by obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren seeing that we love one another with a pure heart fervently. Then we are reborn not of corruptible seed, but of incorruption by the word of God, which live and abide forever for the word of the Lord endures forever (I Peter 1:22-23,25).

            By the gospel the word is preached unto us and as new babes we desire the milk of the word that we may grow thereby (I Peter 2:2). But when we mature we are fed with the meat of the word, and even suffer for Christ that by his example, we should also follow his steps whose own self is bared of our sins in his own body on the tree.

Such that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness of which by the stripes of him we are healed (I Peter 2:24). Christ gave himself for us because of his love for the Church that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word that he might present it a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle but is holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27).

            Let the word of the Lord then become the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path. That if we are afflicted, it quickens us as it is read inclining our heart to perform his statutes always, even unto the end (Psalm 119:105,107,112). We ask the Lord to uphold us according unto his word that we may live not ashamed of our hope.

            The word of God is quick and powerful and is sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Such that we should strive to enter in at the strait gate: for Jesus said many shall seek to enter and shall not be able. We amend our ways and repent being good hearers of the word.

            Let our hearts be pricked when hearing the word, and be like the apostles curious of what to do then. We need to testify for the Lord as the beacon of light glows.

-o0o-

The Christmas spirit is spreading all over the earth. This is the time of singing and rejoicing. It is because we remember that on this earth, a holy child was born, even laid into the manger in the stable.

God’s humble birth was a sign that we too should be filled with humility. We need to be lowly and not be overly proud about ourselves. We ought to turn our heads back that we may see those who had helped us overcome life’s problems. We need to be grateful about their generosity, compassion and care. We need to grow occupied with respect to our parents, our mentors and those other more who has shown us that life is indeed beautiful.

We ought to be glad because life is a mystery solved as we overcome the desert period of our lives. We should desire to be a brother to others much more in times of their need. We must be happy that others have shown us their concern and love, much more in the time of lost of our loved ones. We have each other to rely upon as we in this earth is one big family.

We should not forget that Christ has gathered us in communion of one body, as we are one people thankful that love is there in spite of miseries. The typhoon and lahar’s victims are in much need of our help. We show then our love for them by giving something of an aid and of ourselves to the victims of calamities.

We need to include others in our desire to overcome and move on, as in counseling and sympathy; we extend our deep concern to those who have grown weary about life. We need to live a life glad about the presence of others and happy for them in the time that they triumph over some certain difficulties.

We in this Christmas time should reach out and extend a hand to those who need our compassion most, assuring them that they are loved, affirming their broken souls. We must be brave to pursue a goal and steadfast with every undertaking as together we do stand and fight for what we believe.

We should not be selfish about extending our love, for in the time of distress, we too receive the same. Hand in hand we do march, together we do move forward. Christmas is sharing and giving. We need each other, for no one lives for himself alone. Our love should move other’s heart; our compassion should fill the earth. Life is a give and take relationship. Together we do overcome.

Let the Christmas spirit be felt all around. Together we do celebrate despite the calamities that have passed. Together we do enjoy being happy in abundance or in misfortune. We must be tangible before others, rich in joy and gladness, grateful of each other. We are one big family. Together we do rejoice.

- Jojo I. Nartatez

               The glow of the rainbow being a symbol of
the covenant of God testifies for us a forgiving spirit ready for a new day and
a new tomorrow. With this, he gives the sign that he would no longer destroy
the world with flood.

 Every time a rainbow appears, we are
reminded of him being a forgiving God and a God who loves the upright. With God
on our side, there is always hope and salvation. Being born of water and have
the Spirit, a Christian is ready for a relationship with God and he respects
the Lord’s being one with the fullness of the Godhead in him.

 The rainbow reminds us that, once in
the history of the world, it was washed or cleansed with flood as the first
symbol of baptism. When we are born of water or being baptized, we are forgiven
of our sins even the sin we inherited from Adam and Eve. It is the Christians’
recourse to be new with God and be cleansed.

 With the word of God that feed our
soul, our eyes are opened to the truth that as much as we need baptism, we also
need to be filled with the Holy Ghost. The eight individuals saved from flood
by Noah’s ark, are those whose eyes were opened through the inspiration of God.
Being saved to them was also a symbol of the presence of the God’s Spirit.

 Centuries after the flood in Noah’s
time, we are again here facing the same problem in the time before the flood.
People whose love has waxed cold commit all sorts of abominations:
prostitution, incest, adultery, sodomy, crime, bestiality and even suicide. As
in Noah’s time, there are drinking and feasting, getting married and giving up
marriage until the flood came.

 Though God has promised that he
would no longer end the world with flood, we are faced with the danger of a
devouring fire. We should be aware that many of the powerful nations are
equipped with nuclear weapons. Remember Nagasaki and Hiroshima, we would no
longer permit a destruction such as the people in those places had endured. But
we are facing a future with a danger similar to this.

 The Lord said, ‘Behold, I am against
them that prophesy false dreams and do tell them, and cause my people to err by
their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them:
therefore they shall not profit this people at all (Jeremiah 23:32).’ Even them
who are entrusted in their seats to serve the people and the nation lie giving
us false hope.

 Do we not fear the impending danger,
of subverting the law and weakening the nation? And with globalization, what
will happen to the poor and the distressed especially the poor nations? They
are the one that will suffer most. The rich will become richer and the poor
will even be poorer. Even the wide continents are not spared.

 Do we not fear that a single
monetary and a one-world government can control us? This would be a misery to
the poor. Pray that we shall be saved from the Lord’s fury.

-o0o-

                The love of God is a perfect love. It is
a true love or agape love. It does not look on a personal gain or owns
interest. We should have true love in us for we are not under the curse but
under the grace of God.

 True love has no limitation. It
suffers long and is kind. It does not give up and its faith, hope and patience
never fail; and it is eternal (1 Corinthians 13:4,7,8-GNB). With such love, we
look unto the welfare of others. We are willing to sacrifice for the salvation
of souls. If someone says he loves God, but hates his brother, he is a liar (1
John 4:20)

 You cannot love God whom you have
not seen if you cannot love your brother whom you have seen. If you love God,
you should love your brother also (1 John 4:20-21). For true love easily
forgives. It does not bear grudge toward a brother. It understands the
imperfection of others and is ready for an open communication.

 With the Love of God from which we
are nourished, we are able to adapt this love on our daily living. We forget
past offenses and are ready for a new day with new life. It evolves within a
journey where there is purity of concern and honest caring and compassion. With
the journey, we are nourished day by day and humbled the same.

 He that loves not knows not God; for
God is love. He manifested his love for us by sending his only begotten Son
into the world that we might live through him (1 John 4:8-9). He loves us so
much, that are why we ought also to love one another (1 John 4:11). We perceive God’s love, because he laid down
his life for us (1 John 3:16).

 With love that’s the same as God’s
love, we can lay down our lives too for the brethren (1 John 3:16). Jesus left
a legacy for us: that we should love our enemies, do good to them which hate
you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Do unto others what you would want them to do unto you (Luke 6:27-31).

 We should have agape love where
husbands are summoned to love their wives, even as Christ also loved the
church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word; and should present it a glorious church, not
having spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27).

 Thus the young women are taught to
be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children; to be discreet,
chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of
God be not blasphemed; of which young men also likewise exhort to be sober minded.
They ought to show themselves patterned of good works (Titus 2:4-7).

 When we die, we leave our body, we
leave our possessions and positions; our family shed tears for us but they
cannot go with us, but our soul is faithful and wherever we are destined it
goes with us. Agape love is likened to the role of the soul. That’s why we
should feed our souls with spiritual nourishment and the word of God.

-o0o-