It's Sunday morning and we drove to St. Malo to attend church service. We decided to head over there since it's Sunday and it was on the way. Our church Bible camp is there and surprisingly the weather's improved over that patch of land. Around that area, the weather network forecasts a range of 90mm-120mm of rain. Again, on that patch of land there's only 20mm of rain on their forecast and the sky was considerably clear while we were driving there. They're prayer warriors indeed.

When it was time for testimonies, I've shared with the whole congregation about my two dreams. In my own interpretation, one dream is about God's favour and the other is apparently a foresight to my coming home. In my first dream, a messenger sends word to me that my castles were under attack. Yes, castles. In fact, I remember asking him which castle was under attack since he mentioned castle(s). He showed me to this chamber, where I followed him to this table where a map was laid out. There were 7 castles, and apparently they were all mine. And then he pointed which castle was under attack. In my interpretation this was about God's favour in my life and in each castle represents an aspect of my life; each castle represents God's favour to each aspect of my life. Perhaps I have God's favour on my studies, on my work, on my social life, on material blessings, on the usage of His gifts -- things as such. It means that one castle is under attack because of sin. I've had this dream, because I did something wrong -- at least this is what I remember.

Even if this dream didn't occur right after I did that mistake, sin can block God's blessings from us. I guess this dream was a warning and I admit that I have shortcomings, that I make mistakes, and that I have weaknesses. But it should be natural to live a righteous life as a Christian. Simply put, I should live a life away from sin no matter how much of a human being I am. To everything we see, hear, and consume in this world we have to test the spirit behind it, because these things that we see, hear and consume might be the things that could potentially remove God's favour from us. Fret not. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - John 1:9.

The second dream was a bit scary. In my dream, I was called for a Bible study in my mother's hometown. And in that Bible study, I'm surprised that I was called to exhort instead of my mom or my dad. And so I tried to exhort and I saw that the people were feeling the Holy Spirit. In the middle of what I thought to be the intense presence of the Holy Spirit, because the people started to shout the name of Jesus Christ, a human sized burning statue (a rebulto) walks up to the stage. I woke up. I tried to brush it off and go back to sleep. Lo and behold, it was the same dream again. I was in a Bible study and I was asked to exhort and then everyone started to feel the Holy Spirit and I started to challenge people as well to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and then a human sized burning statue appears and walks up to the stage. I started rebuking it. One woman came up to me and asked me why I was rebuking it, because for her it was supposed to be a sign of miracle. No! Not a burning statue! Not a walking rebulto that is burning! It wasn't a sign of a miracle at all! This was an act of disruption and I told the woman that you don't need a statue at all to be saved! All you need is your faith in Jesus Christ! I told them over and over that you don't need a rebulto! "Hindi niyo kailangan ang rebulto!" Again and again I shouted. And then I woke up. I've seen the same dream twice. It means something, doesn't it? After I woke up, a story in the Bible appeared in my mind. Like a flashbulb lit in my head with the picture of it. I was reminded of this story the second I woke up. You can find the story simplified by Dr. Luke on Luke 8:45.

The story is about that sick woman who touched Jesus on the hem of his garment and she was healed. In the book of Luke, he did not mention that the woman was bleeding for twelve years, (as mentioned in the book of Matthew) however Dr. Luke wrote that this woman was indeed sick. In general, she was in dire need; essentially she had a problem and Dr. Luke need not to elaborate what that problem is. She had this serious problem and that she was willing to put her faith in Jesus Christ, that she wanted to do something to get his problem solved-- that she wanted to get healed. Perhaps she was desperate? Perhaps she knew Jesus Christ even before. But her act to grab that opportunity, her action to seize that moment so that she can experience peace and comfort from her dire need, the fact that she wanted to be healed by Jesus, her faith in Jesus alone has her healed. So... do you need a rebulto, a statue or any paraphernalia to be saved -- or to be healed? No! It's true that you need the Bible, but the Bible is the Word of God and it's for one's personal reference as to what God's good news is. Merely owning a Bible will not save a person. Confessing your sins and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour will save you from eternal death. "Hindi niyo kailangan ang rebulto!" I remember my dream. Your faith in Jesus will heal you.

"Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched Him and how she had been instantly healed. Then He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.'" - Luke 8:47-48

I believe a lot of us experience hardships in our lives that we would be willing to try anything so we can alleviate the reality called 'burden'. If you're willing to try anything, try Jesus Christ first. I'm sure that He won't fail you. I've been through a lot of depression and I've had dangerous thoughts before. I get tired and exhausted too, and there are times that I get confused in life. But now I understand that I'm engaged in a spiritual battle. The enemy is working double time to deceive me telling me that keeping the flesh utmost pleased and amused is most important.

Call them drugs, call it lust for the flesh, call it greed for money, call it thrill seeking in this world, putting your faith on these things would destroy the person itself. I have money, I have a lot of resources in my disposal, I lived my life however I want playing videogames and sleeping late and doing silly stuff. The truth is my life is easy that I could forget God. But even with all my leisure and luxury, I'm not happy. I can't see myself putting my faith on material or on flesh. The enemy is here to sever the believers from the love of God. Although, if we're aware how the enemy acts, we would know how to combat it. Combat through prayer, Bible study and... faith in God. Faith in God, I say; why am I not surprised? Just as human beings we breathe, our spirit lives through prayer and eats through reading the Word of God. My life is definitely better. Did my troubles cease to exist? Certainly not. But it's certainly more comforting knowing that God has my back. Furthermore, I can pray and tell Him all that nasty stuff happening to me. I can reach out to the hem of His garment and seek that healing I'm looking for.

And thus when God solved my problems, I just did what the woman in Luke 8:45-48 did, I trembled. I trembled for different reasons. I trembled with fear because I realized how powerful God is. I trembled because I am so thankful. I trembled perhaps I was in disbelief that I was really healed (that it was too good to be true), but indeed I trembled because it's the truth that I am finally healed. I trembled because I feel that God has taken care of me and is taking care of me. Such comfort makes my knees shake in bliss. I am unworthy of such love and grace that I fell on my feet.

The surprise from this revelation does not end there. Conveniently placed after this story in the book of Luke, guess who's starring in it? Jairus. I'm surprised too. I even asked my mom and dad what can be found on Luke 8:49. I just chuckled that they forgot. So let me get this straight: the story that popped up in my mind was conveniently placed above the story of the man that inspired my mom and dad to give me his name, Jairus. I'm loving this turn of 'coincidence'.

I like it. In summary, the story of Jairus is about Jesus's miracle of resurrecting Jairus's dead daughter. Jesus remarked that she was just asleep. But she was dead indeed as the people were wailing. It's funny how fast they went from wailing to laughing at Jesus when He said that the girl was just sleeping. They chose to be skeptical instead of being relieved. Sounds familiar? Sometimes people would cling to the grim news instead of being hopeful.

"But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but He ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened." - Luke 8:54-56

Yep, her spirit returned. She was dead alright.

What's the significance of Jairus' daughter? Well, for one thing, Jairus loves his daughter. I think his daughter is his precious creation. And he cried for help so that his precious creation can be saved. As a father you would sacrifice your body, you would work for your children, you would give your best for your children because they're your precious creation. Similarly, Jairus would've given his best effort to take care of his greatest creation, his daughter. What's your best creation? Your best creation may be the fruit of your labour, your craft, the work that you value, the result of whatever you're doing whether you like it or not. But that creation has a limit. In Jairus's story, his precious creation died. To say that it's a very serious problem is an understatement. But guess what? Jesus revived her. So I leave you this question. If there's a problem that you can't handle, say a problem with your livelihood, your school, your family or anything that you'd hold important, who would you rather turn to?

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