Is there faith in answered prayers? Is your belief tested when there is abundance? Do you claim with the same certainty that God will provide when you are happy and content, as when you have nothing to hold on to?

Most likely you will answer ‘no’. It seems unusual for your faith to be tested when all that you’ve prayed for have been answered, right? If they weren’t, that would be another story.

In providence, the euphoria of granted prayers, the satisfaction of God’s will unfolding in your life. I will tell you that yes, there is faith in those too.

Most of us come to God in desperation during times of wanting. We ask, we seek, and we knock on heaven’s door for God to reveal Himself. And then suddenly, He does. You learn the valuable lesson of faith and brokenness. You are utterly and completely dependent on Him and nothing else. You declare that you can go through the desert again and again if only with God by your side.

Point made, point taken. And that’s a good thing. No, that’s a great thing! It’s been said,

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. -Hebrews 11:16

After that, what happens next? You are already fulfilling your purpose in Church, school, work, at home, in society. It feels awesome to be right smack in the middle of God’s will because everything falls into place, and yeah, the universe isn’t conspiring against you anymore.

But it doesn’t end there. At least for us, whose relationship with God need to be ignited every now and then,

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. -2 Timothy 3:12, NLT

Or, translated in a more ‘contemporary’ way,

Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. -2 Timothy 3:12-13, The Message

And in this case, some may come up to you with discouraging news about your current environment, or tell you that maybe, just maybe, you might have made the wrong decision. Maybe your environment will not be as ‘inviting’ as it seemed before. It’ll make you question some things, make you rethink what you’re doing here in the first place.

Right around this point in your life, hope starts to kick in. And when you persist in holding on to that hope, that’s faith right there.

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. -Hebrews 11:1, NLT

 You still get to believe, continuously, because our hope is alive. It changes, it transforms according to our situations and needs, according to how God wants you to know Him. Like the sunset and the sunrise, there is a cycle that reminds us.

So when you find yourself on the last page where it says “…happily ever after”, look again. It may not be the end of your book on Faith, but only of a chapter. And it can only be more adventurous and exciting, what with God being your Author.

  When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?

Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority— the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.

O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Psalms 8:3-9, NLT

We may all have forgotten the Source of this universe, but His masterpieces never will.

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Recycled photo | Club Paradise, Dimakya Island, Coron, Palawan| 2010 | It’s More Fun in the Philippines

I can see myself in her, honestly. I’m not very surprised I’m getting letters like these and I can feel these won’t be the last ones. (Do I hear an uh-oh?)

Mia and I got these wonderful books for Christmas from Ate Ida (who works at OMF Lit, a wonderful bookstore) and Khay. Yey!

We actually haven’t gotten around to doing the recipes in the cookbook, but that’s on our list for when non-working holidays roll around, along with bringing the new bike to the park.

Finally, we bought a pink bike with training wheels, thanks to generous ninangs/ninongs, titos/titas, and lolos/lolas. Another yey!

We welcomed the new year on the beach with family as always. So many things to be thankful for. So little time. So I will let this song say it all for me for now.

“I remember how You found me, in the very same place. All my failings surely would have drowned me. Still You made a way. You are my freedom. Jesus You are the reason I’m kneeling again at Your throne. Where would I be without You, here in my life?“

It’s easy to be reminded how flawed I am. Easy to forget the testimony that I bear for the world to see —and sometimes judge. It’s much easier to curl up in a corner and let the world pass by. After all, less words spoken, less mistakes right?

It’s an injustice. I was made to proclaim the glory that lasts, the One that sustains, an unconditional Love. When you are stained by the past and the current things that you do, frankly you would rather leave “being a Christian” to others. Maybe they’d do a better job than I would ever. Maybe.

Well, flawed that I am, I keep forgetting —there’s grace. I was bought with a price, paid for in full by the ultimate selfless act of all time.

We are sinners full of grace, instead of sinners full of pride. -RelevantMag

It’s not a safe house to hide in just in case God’s justice comes pouring down. It’s a security that tells me that hey, no matter what you do, nothing can separate you from Him. Sure, He disciplines those He loves, but God is the best prodigal son’s Father.

I accepted that privilege; it’s high time I took advantage of it.

In our lives there’s that contrast of light and dark, night and day, good and bad always. God, though, has a more enduring promise.

“I remember my affliction and my wandering…and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.” Lamentations 3:19-23 NIV

Hard-core faith means hoping in things unseen, confident that what you hope for will come to pass. You have faith and hope. Not dreams.

Well at least that’s what I thought. Dreams for me only meant wishful thinking, no solid commitment. I was wrong though. Dreams played a part in visions of the present and future for many a king, prophet and slave. It’s been told and retold in the Bible. It even said that towards the end of the age, ” old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions“. These dreams though, were a product of Divine revelation.

So obviously in this proper context, dreams are also means to hope.

Tomorrow is a new day, a fresh start, ripe with possibility. Smog and particulates conceal celestial glory, but the right evening provides unparalleled clarity. Take a breath. Make a wish. Dream. Hope without ceasing. -Deeper Walk, “Choose Hope”

What do you hope and dream of? I know what mine is.

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Inspired by today’s devotion by Austin C. Bonds, “Choose Hope” at Relevant Magazine