Circle of Friends

Image taken from here

Life is partly what we make it,
and partly what it is made by the friends whom we choose.

Today is the last day of the month of August. On this post, I'll try to recap how the month went for me.

August has been such a great month, with many things happening one after the other.

And guess what... I'm back in Manila!

A friend has given me a free plane ticket to join her and a group of friends to spend a few days in Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines, a lovely city nestled up in the mountains of Northern Luzon!

Baguio is a place full of memories. It is where Ernie and I spent our honeymoon thirty-one years ago. So, this trip is really an unexpected opportunity for me!

It also gives me another reason to be with my daughter again, back at the home where I spent my childhood, teenage years and early twenties. This home has never lost its warmth and serenity! It is full of beautiful memories.


I arrived here early yesterday (Sunday) morning. I purposely took the first flight out of Bacolod City to give me and Obedient One a chance to go to church together.

I so look forward to being in church on Sunday mornings! Pastor Edgar's message at Victory Church in Quezon City was just what I needed to hear. He spoke on why we as Christians go through suffering in this life.

To summarize, he said that we go through suffering for three main reasons:

1. As a consequence of our own sinful choices
2. As a result of our own righteous choices (the world hates righteousness)
3. As a means of building the character of Christ in us

The topic was not really new to me, but the way Pastor Edgar explained it to us was so simple, Bible-centered, and direct to the point.

I thanked God for the timeliness of His message.

We all long for a time when our life will be just as we want it to be... but somehow things don't always turn out the way we want them to.

It is a fact of life: on the lowest scale of suffering, we just have to live with the disappointment caused by unfulfilled dreams and unmet expectations.

On the opposite end of the scale, we may be required to go through crippling loss, such as a financial reversal, a serious health issue, a trauma, a calamity, a death...

Writing this last-day-of-the-month post certainly helps me focus on this third reason that God allows us to suffer. Mild or serious, still, it is the kind of suffering that is a daily reality for all of us.

In many ways, we may have to live with the consequences of a sinful choice for the rest of our lives, as well as suffering for choosing to do right. These two also form part of the third reason, which is the suffering that God allows to make us more like Christ - in our words, thoughts, and actions.

And no matter what others say, this is actually the arena where our life is acted out moment by moment, day after day.

--0--

August is so special for me because I realize more than ever that I am not alone in my journey.

In our country, we have an ice cream factory that puts out a special Flavor of the Month ice cream for each month of the year.

For me, the special flavor for the month just ended is friends. They have been the icing on my cake.

I name this month "Circle of Friends."

This month, on August 9, we had the pamanhikan, the formal agreement made by two families for the forthcoming wedding and marriage of my son Worshiper and his fiancee Chosen One.

On August 11, my grandson Forerunner was discharged from hospital after a four day stay. We praise God for the speedy recovery that this little boy went through after being seriously ill.

August 22, many friends and family members made me feel so loved by being present at the unveiling of my husband's tombstone.

On August 25, my Family Foundations family celebrated the birthday of my dear British friend, Trudi. We also held the despedida (or a going away blessing party) for our friends Mitch and Jessa who were going back to New Zealand after a month-long visit.

On August 28 and 29, I, together with my friends Buddy and Tata, conducted a Transforming Hearts seminar for a group of thirteen persons. God poured so much blessing in our midst as we experienced spiritual breakthroughs and healing of emotional wounds in the lives of many.



This is also the month that I have received the most number of blog awards. Maryleigh, Kat, Andrea, Christy Rose, and Mari, I do want to thank you for passing on these awards to me. I am truly humbled even as I appreciate what you have done. Of course, the glory belongs to God alone. He is My Creator!


This month God led me to discover a number of new inspirational blogs, and through this, I have made new blog friendships! I welcome Denise, Stephanie, Amy and Matt, Cynthia, Charlotte, Joanne and a few others into my blog life.

Christy Rose also tagged me, asking me to share some of the special things I'll remember about this summer.

This month, I was also officially made a member of the Scarf Sisters, upon the invitation of Cathy.



On this post, as an act of gratitude and courtesy, I will take time to acknowledge the friends who have honored me by passing on a blog award to me.

These are gracious reminders to me of the fact that my suffering is made much more bearable because of friends, my fellow travelers with whom I share a common experience called "life."

Friends remind me that being human is universal, there is no such thing as perfection on this planet. Even the best laid out plans can still miscarry, the ones we dearly love will hurt us the most, and many of our best dreams will not always make it to reality.

Moses never saw the promised land, Paul had his thorn in the flesh, David's tabernacle was ruined and destroyed.



But the wonderful promise of restoration is spoken time and again, through many words of promise found in Scripture. There is a coming day when all earthly suffering will come to an end, and those who have trusted in Jesus as their Righteousness will enjoy eternity in His presence!

Some of my favorites are quoted below:

On that day I will raise up
the tabernacle of David
which has fallen down,
and repair its damages;
I will raise up its ruins,
and rebuild it as in the days of old...

- Amos 9:11



They shall neither hunger anymore
nor thirst anymore,
the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;
for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne
will shepherd them
and lead them to living fountains of waters.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

- Revelation 7:16-17

--0--

And now on to the blog awards!




Thank you Mari, for letting me have this precious blog award!

I pass on the Circle of Friends Blog Award to the following blog friends who have really been exactly what the award says, a circle of friends! The award goes to:

Kat at Heart 2 Heart
Andrea at Arise 2 Write
Annie at Calling to Deep
Katie at Hope is Calling
Felisol at On the Far Side of the Sea
Amrita at Yesu Garden
Cathy at Whatever Happened To...
Beautiful Grace at Beautiful Grace
Kathy at The Other Side Of...
Saija at Through a Glass Darkly
Terry at Canadian Blogger

True Heart Award

Those who receive this award are of the sweetest nature. They are kind, friendly, funny, loving, eager to share their love for Jesus with others, and brave in their efforts to reflect Him to this darkened world. They are the kind of folks you're blessed to know, even if it's only in the bloggy-sphere.

I want to thank Kat at Heart 2 Heart for giving me this award.

And now I pass on the True Heart Award to:

Cindy at Letters From Midlife
Yolanda at Higher Grounds
Andrea at A Parson's Wife
Elsie at My Yarn Tales
Deb at He Gave Me A Dream
Julie at Jewels' Sightings
Cathy at Whatever Happened To...
Maryleigh at Blue Cotton Memory
Jennifer at More Than Just Adam's Rib
Cory at Searching for God in the Everyday




Loyal Friend and Visitor Award

The title of the award is self-explanatory. This award goes to the one who has been a loyal visitor of your blog, and in doing so, has developed a special friendship with you!

Thank you, Kat (of Heart 2 Heart), for giving this award to me!

Each one of you who visits my blog regularly is truly deserving of this award! You know how it feels when a friend drops by often just to say hello. It really encourages your heart!

A few blog friends deserve special mention. I want to pass on The Loyal Friend and Visitor Award to:

Felisol at On the Far Side of the Sea
Amrita at Yesu Garden
Kat at Heart2Heart
Andrea at Arise 2 Write
Eileen at Umma's World
Beautiful Grace at Beautiful Grace
Kathy at The Other Side Of...
Terry at Canadian Blogger

They have visited my blog almost daily over these past months, and I truly appreciate that!

Neno's Award


Neno's Award is given to those who love blogging, love to encourage friendships through blogging, and who help others seek the reasons why we all love blogging.

I want to thank the two dear blog sisters who gave me this blog award, Andrea at Arise 2 Write, and Christy Rose at The Secret Life of an American Wife and Mom.

I'm passing on the Neno Award to the following blog friends:

Terry at Canadian Blogger
Amrita at Yesu Garden
Sita at Sita's Sanctum
Cathy at Whatever Happened To...
Eileen at Umma's World
Bong at Bong Pagong




Inspirational Mom's Blog Award


This blog award is given to an inspirational mom whose blog is such an inspiration to her readers.

I want to thank Andrea at Arise 2 Write for specifically mentioning in a comment that she was passing this award on to me.

I pass on the Inspirational Mom's Blog Award to:

Maryleigh at Blue Cotton Memory
Andrea at A Parson's Wife
Amy at Beautiful Descent
Deb at He Gave Me a Dream...
Julie at Jewels' Sightings
Linda at Absolute Grace
Lisa at My Passionate Pursuit
Yolanda at Higher Grounds
Christy Rose at The Secret Life of an American Wife and Mom

Thank you, my dear blog friends, for adding spice and color to my life journey! You have all been a tremendous blessing and encouragement to me! Thank you for welcoming me into your hearts!

The Unveiling of the Tombstone

Sailing Ship at Dock at Sunset
by Walter Colvin

"Ernie has already arrived at his port of call, his eternal destination."

My God and King
Terry MacAlmon

My God and King
To You alone I sing
You're the face I seek
For all eternity

You'd be my dream come true
Just to be with You
How I'd see brand new
With eyes for only You

My God and King
Through the storm I sing
Covered by Your wing
This song of love I bring

You are my dream come true
Just to be with You
Now I see brand new
With eyes for only You

Today is the ninth month of Ernie's passing away.

The unveiling of his tombstone took place yesterday evening.


The pain of separation can never be described or explained in words. I've tried to share a little about it in my past posts. But the truth is that this kind of pain can never be fully shared with anyone. It is too precious...and too sacred... to even talk about.

Being a very personal experience, it can only be embraced and treasured.

There never really was any definite plan or strategy to ease my pain or help me cope with my loss. After the burial, I just slowly picked up the pieces of my life... and in fact, I'm still doing that.

But the pain was not unbearable, or devastating. This is where I can say that God surely knew how to comfort His own.

The remarkable thing about this comfort is that it comes unannounced. It isn't even accurate to say that I felt it. It wasn't anything tangible, nothing like that at all.

All I know is that on most days, there was a supernatural strength coming from Someone definitely greater...Much Greater...than me.

The healing comes in stages, layer by layer, as it were. Like a deep wound closing up little by little.

There is probably a sense in which the grieving never ends, but I certainly don't want to live the rest of my life in grief!

And I am just so thankful for the closure that He brings on different levels.

--0--

For the past nine months, I have been thinking about doing a special ceremony called The Unveiling of the Tombstone for Ernie's grave marker.

As far as I know this has never been done in our country, but the desire to do this has been burning in my heart.

I did pray to God to lead me, and to show me how to do it, as well as the perfect time to hold it.

Without going into the behind-the-scenes details of how it came about, the unveiling ceremony finally took place yesterday.

I sent out written invitations to about sixty close friends and family members the weekend after I got back from Manila...persons who had a special place in the life that Ernie and I shared together.

This is rainy season in our country, the time of tropical cyclones and monsoon rains. In fact, just last month, the memorial park where my husband's body is buried was slightly flooded due to non stop rains. The grass was soggy and muddy.

From time to time I would shoot arrow prayers up to heaven: Dear God, please provide the perfect weather for the unveiling ceremony...Please let there be no rain on the week before it, to dry up the ground...Please don't let it be too hot... Please God you know what is best.

I am not really surprised at how God worked everything out so beautifully.

Below are the pictures taken before, during, and after the event, as well as the story of how the ceremony went.

--0--

It was a perfect Saturday afternoon. It hadn't rained a single drop in one week. It was bright and sunny, and the ground was dry.

My daughter Obedient One arrived on Friday morning to be with us on this special occasion.

Below is the grave marker covered with a beautiful veil. Just in front of it is a shallow ceramic vase for the stones that the people brought for the ceremony.






Around fifty friends and family members came to celebrate the event with us.

I began with a brief explanation about the unveiling ceremony.


I want this tombstone to be a stone of remembrance.

We are gathered here today for closure. As Ernie's wife, I stand in the gap and ask forgiveness from anyone whom he may have hurt, or disappointed, or offended in any way during his lifetime.

I ask you to forgive him of his shortcomings and failures. I want the books closed today, and that from hereon we will let bygones be bygones, release forgiveness, settle in our hearts that all relational debts incurred by Ernie in his lifetime has already been paid in full by Jesus on Calvary.

I suppose that no one of you here still thinks you need to forgive my husband for any wrong done, nevertheless, I just do not want to leave anything unsaid.

On the same note, I want everyone to know that I bear no one any ill will, neither do I hold any grudges in my heart toward anyone who may have hurt my husband while he was still alive.

Let this tombstone be a silent witness: today I release forgiveness and plead that the shed blood of Jesus is enough payment for the healing of past hurts and grievances.

Let this grave marker be a stone memorial to the life that Ernie lived. What he had become at the moment of his death is a fitting testimony to the life-changing power of our Savior, Redeemer and Lord.

We gather here at his grave on the eve of the ninth month after his death. The number nine is a symbol of birthing. Let his death be as a new birth for all of us here who loved the man that Ernie was. We know we will see him again in heaven.

Let us from this point on move forward in a new and deeper awareness of the legacies he has left behind. Indeed, as the Lord promised me, he will continue to bear fruit even in old age.

I remember asking the Lord this question right after Ernie passed away. "Lord, I thought you told me that my husband will bear fruit even in old age. I don't understand."

And the Lord's clear answer to my heart was this: "Just wait and see."

Everyone who is here this afternoon was in one way or another touched by Ernie's life. Let us give glory and honor to God alone for that great privilege of sharing one another's lives, and learning from one another's precious lessons.

Thank you... each one of you who is here is a special part of our family.


A word of remembrance was given by three friends. Each one of them shared the special character qualities of Ernie that they will never forget.

Butch: "Ernie was like a big brother to me. He was my first mentor, he accepted me as I was, he was very patient with me, teaching me the rudiments of my Christian faith. I'll never forget that. He'll always be a big brother to me."

Elena: "Ernie will always have a special place in our family. He was my dad's favorite partner in visiting the sick. Ernie was "on call" as far as my dad was concerned, always ready and willing to go with my Daddy. And Ernie was our cell group leader for many years, patiently leading our group, being a true model of what he taught us."

John: "The first things that come to mind are Ernie's warm sunny smile and cordial manner of greeting people. His genuine respect for others, his kindness...I will never forget that special dinner we had at my house when my wife and I were at our lowest... And of course, who can forget his perfect English grammar and American accent? On a more serious note, I will never forget that Ernie was a man who went through a lot of adversity in life but weathered them all in the end. Truly, it can be said that he fought a good fight, kept the faith, and finished the race."

Next was the unveiling ceremony.

In the pictures below are Ernie's sisters Sue and Leila (facing the camera), my first born son First Born, and me. (Seen on the left is a portion of Ernie's father's tombstone.)

The grave marker unveiled, showing Ernie's life verse:

For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content...
- Philippians 4:11

Pastor Joe dedicates the stone marker.




Stone Speaks of Permanence
Earthly life is transitory, but our eternal life is permanent.

The grave marker, made of granite stone, speaks of permanence. The grass withers and flowers fade away, but the Word of the Lord stands forever. God instructed the Israelites after crossing the Jordan, to put up stones of remembrance. The ten commandments were inscribed in stone. Joshua used a flint stone to circumcise the Israelites; it is God's word that circumcises our hearts.

Tzur is the Hebrew word for stone, also used to refer to God. The grave marker is made of stone, a fitting reminder that God is the solid rock on which we stand. In a world of change, God is our one constant, our comfort and guiding light during the darkest night.

A stone symbolizes eternity, just as the cornerstone of a building is meant to last for all time.

Death Speaks of Realized Potential
Our birthday speaks of potential, but our death speaks of what we have become.

From now on, I will give more importance to the day that my husband entered eternity.

It has been said that one's birthday is celebrated when he is still alive, but the day of death is celebrated by those who are left behind, a reminder to us of the life he lived...what he had become at the time of death, what legacies he left behind.

How my husband lived out the purposes of God in his earthly life: this is what I want to celebrate.

In a birthday, the book is opened; in a death, the book is closed as his eternal life has begun. In a real way, when a person's earthly life ends, it marks who he had actually become.



While we mourn the loved one's absence, yet when we remember what he meant to us, there is gladness. Remembering becomes a meaningful opportunity to celebrate the kind of life he lived.

Indeed the unveling ceremony is a time of remembering that Ernie has already arrived at his port of call, his eternal destination, heaven. It is remembering his legacy, the lasting qualities that inspire us, that motivate us. The beautiful memories will live on.

As the stone marker is inaugurated and dedicated, it becomes a stone of remembrance.

What Ernie built in his lifetime as a husband, as a father, as a brother, as a friend and a colleague - his deeds and his character -- will not be easily forgotten.

Another important thing to remember is that as human beings we have been created in the image of God. We are not temporal but eternal beings, created to last for eternity. At the resurrection of the dead, Ernie and the rest of us will receive our glorified bodies, and reunited with our spirit and soul, and will last forever.

This is true of all who have chosen to relate to God at a much deeper level, the level of the heart, and not merely at the level of the intellect.

Nine: A Number that Represents Birthing
Out of death comes life, God has shown this to be true in my life. Out of Ernie's death, something is born anew in each of our lives. This gives us so much hope, to know for sure that his death is not in vain but has redemptive purpose.

We grieve, but not as those who have no hope.

Slowly, the grief gives way to hope.

Inaugurating the stone memorial on the ninth month is so significant!


All heads bow as Pastor Joe offers a prayer to dedicate the stone marker.



In the next part of the ceremony I invited everyone to place a simple stone by the grave marker.



It is customary to bring flowers to the grave site, but I requested that instead of bringing flowers, they will leave a stone when visiting Ernie's grave.

Flowers die, and speak of physical death. But the simple stone is a symbol of eternity.

It is a reminder that the loved one is not dead, but alive. He has already arrived at his eternal destination.

The stone which represents eternity reminds us that we are still somehow connected to Ernie. Our connection lives on and will never die.

During the placing of the stones, one of Ernie's favorite songs, My God and King, was played. It was a song that we listened to often during the last few weeks of Ernie's life.

First Born places his stone.

Sue placing her stone.

This is me placing my stone.

As the ceremony began, clouds gradually formed and rested over the place where we had gathered.

Some friends wrote messages on their stones.

Mario, one of Ernie's close friends, wept as he gave the closing prayer.

It was amazing that a cloud cover protected us from the heat of the afternoon sun during the unveiling ceremony.

Then it was time for us to move to the reception area and enjoy a light meal together.

The rains fell during the reception!

How good God is to honor my request for good weather during the ceremony!

How I appreciate our many friends who joined us for this very meaningful occasion. There was not a dry eye during the ceremony.

It was such a meaningful way for us to bring a closure to and receive healing for another layer of our grief.



(For a fuller understanding of this ceremony, see The Stages of Jewish Mournng, by Lori Palatnik.)

Baby Talk: Hope

Noah's Thanksoffering by Joseph Anton Koch (c. 1803)

Noah builds an altar to the Lord after being delivered from the Flood;
God sends the rainbow as a sign of His covenant (Genesis 8-9)




Then Noah built an altar to the LORD,
and took of every clean animal
and of every clean bird,
and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma.

... Then God spoke to Noah
and to his sons with him, saying,

"...Thus I establish My covenant with you:
Never again shall all flesh be cut off
by the waters of the flood;
never again shall there be a flood
to destroy the earth."

And God said:

"This is the sign of the covenant
which I make between Me and you,
and every living creature that is with you,
for perpetual generations.

I set My rainbow in the cloud
and it shall be for the sign of the covenant
between Me and the earth.

It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth,
that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud;
and I will remember My covenant
which is between Me and you
and every living creature of all flesh;
the waters shall never again
become a flood to destroy all flesh.

The rainbow shall be in the cloud,
and I will look on it
to remember the everlasting covenant
between God and every living creature of all flesh
that is on the earth."

And God said to Noah,

"This is the sign of the covenant
which I have establish between Me and all flesh
that is on the earth."

- Genesis 8:20 - 9:17


--0--


Now hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit
who was given to us.

- Romans 5:5

Today my grandson Forerunner turned ten months old.

I praise God with all my heart for the speedy recovery that God has given to this little boy. Just two weeks ago he was in hospital, and now he is in the pink of health again, very active, and very "talkative."

Today I am asking God to fill this little boy's heart with hope.

Our world today does not seem to offer much to hope for. We live in an age of pessimism and a culture of death is what our young people are growing up in. When we hear stories of teenage suicides, we are no longer shocked. It is a global phenomenon: young people are fast losing their sense of idealism; instead they look at the future with a sense of despair and impending disaster.

I don't even need to look too far away. To be honest, right within my own family life, there are some circumstances and interpersonal relationships that are far from ideal.

I could, on any given day, easily give in to hopelessness, self-focus, and negative thinking.

But Jesus states it so clearly when He says that in this world we will have tribulation, but we can be of good cheer, He has overcome the world!

Jesus is our Hope, and He has overcome, He is our Joy, and He is our Anchor!

In the midst of the darkness, He is our Light!

As I go through this world, I need to hold on to my Anchor, which Hebrews 6:19 describes this way:

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

These past weeks God has given me a sense of hope, an expectation of good things happening.


Rainbows, waterfalls, and a beautiful sunrise... these are among my top favorite nature scenes.

In times of anxiety, disappointment, frustration or fear, I have had the privilege of looking up and seeing a beautiful rainbow..

A rainbow speaks to me of promise and hope.

Just after the great flood, Noah emerges out of the ark. And what greets his eyes?

A whole world wiped out.

Utter destruction, and devastation.

No trace of life apart from him, and his family, and the animals that were in the ark with him.

Forty days of rain was enough to wipe out an entire world that had become so displeasing in the sight of God.

As far as his eyes could see, beyond the receding waters, Noah only saw a barren landscape.

He was surrounded by a deathly silence...


Not a very hopeful picture, I should say.

But it is Noah's response that catches my attention. He took all the clean animals and birds that were with him in the ark, built an altar, and offered them as a sacrifice.

Seeing how narrowly he had escaped death, his initial response was that of worship.

Before him was an awesome opportunity, an invitation from God to start afresh.

He had been given, as it were, a new lease on life.

And his heart responds in worship.


Noah's act of obedience and humility so touched the heart of God.

Noah didn't have too many animals to go around at that point. But instead of holding on to them, in fear of lack, he opens up his hand and willingly puts all those clean animals on the altar.

There is much to say about this story. But for now I will focus on the unmistakable sense of hope woven in between the lines.

In the midst of utter devastation, hope begins to rise in Noah's heart. All is not lost, as far as Noah is concerned. His sacrifice says, " I choose to put all my trust in God."

And Noah was not to be disappointed.

God makes a covenant with him. Never again will a flood of that magnitude be sent to punish man for the evil in his heart.

God says:

While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
and day and night shall not cease.

- Genesis 8:22

Life will continue. Noah is given dominion over the earth, and told to be fruitful and multiply.

God puts the rainbow in the sky as a sign of that promise.

The rainbow is a reminder to me that God is a promise keeper. He is not a covenant breaker.

Man uses contracts to enter into agreements with one another, where both parties are obligated to do their part, a "50-50" proposition which remains in force as long as both sides are faithful to the contract. If one side fails to live up to the terms of the contract, then the other party is off the hook.

Not so with God.

God enters into covenants with us. In a covenant, each side commits to keep his side of the agreement one hundred percent...until death.

God has entered into a covenant with us, saying, "I will be your God, and you will be My people."

A covenant is not like a contract with loopholes and escape clauses, or a collection of man-made promises that can be easily broken.

The word covenant in Hebrew literally means "a cut where blood flows." A blood covenant was truly sacred and binding, where the other party was required to die if ever he proved unfaithful to the provisions.

The rainbow points to our Lord Jesus Christ, who became the Substitute, so that mankind will not need to die for their evil deeds. Jesus died in our place.

He is the One who bore the penalty of our sins upon His own body. His shed blood on the cross was the full payment required for our eternal pardon.

Without the sacrifice of Jesus, the blood covenant would not have been possible, hope would never have risen upon this earth doomed by sin!

Whenever I see a rainbow in the sky, my heart is reminded that Christ is my hope of glory. Hope is still in operation in this seemingly hopeless world!


My dearest first grandson, Matthew,

Today as you turn ten months old I bless you with hope.

Hope that will be like a candle in this dark world, a light at the end of a dark tunnel.

I declare that you will never be in a desperate situation, except for a holy desperation for God that leads you closer to His heart.

All the days of your life your eyes will look at circumstances from the perspective of hope.

There will be no calamity so devastating that your spiritual eyes will not see the way out.

Your spirit will constantly be aware of God as your peace in the storms of life, your provision in a time of need, your healing in times of sickness, your life in the midst of death.

May God always show you a ray of hope whatever tight situation you may find yourself in.

There is no valley so dark that God's ray of hope cannot reach, my dear Forerunner.

I pray that you will not see this life as the enemy would want us to see it -- but as the Redeemer sees it: a world worth saving, a humanity worth dying for.

I pray that the dawning of each new day speak this message of hope to you:

Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

"The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!"

- Lamentations 3:22-24

May you someday be a Forerunner of God's hope in this world, a messenger of grace.

Together with the psalmist David, may you be able to continually say to God:

You enlarged my path under me,
So my feet did not slip.

- Psalm 18:36

Indeed, dear grandson, may you always have a sense of being in a broad place, and may your hope in God's protection, provision, and strength never die!

I bless you today with a heart that stands on the promises of God.

No one whose hope is on God will ever be put to shame!

This is my special song for you today. It was one of my favorites during my high school days... and its words and melody still ring in my heart.

May you pass on God's love and God's hope to everyone around you... it only takes a spark to keep the fire going!

Love always,
Lola

One Master

Christ and the Rich Young Ruler
by Heinrich Hofmann

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said,
"One thing you lack: Go your way,
sell whatever you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven;
and come, take up the cross,
and follow Me."

But he was sad at this word
and went away sorrowful,
for he had great possessions.

- Mark 10:17-22

The Scripture passage about the rich young ruler will always have a special place in my heart.

It was this passage that gripped my heart thirty-six years ago and eventually led me to the foot of the Cross. One of these days I might be able to do a blog post on that life-changing encounter with the Savior of my soul.

But today, I want to write about something else.

Last Sunday, August 16, was the highlight of the events of the week just ended. Although Sunday is the first day of the week, I tend to look at Sundays as the culmination of my week; for me, Sunday is both an ending and a beginning. It ends the week, and it starts another week.

But it isn't often the case that it is the main event.

Ever since I went to Rasa, Switzerland in 1997 where I gained fresh insights into the importance of contemplation and meditation, I have been very much aware of my location statement, and naming my day as tools for staying close to God and aligning with His purposes for my life. I look at my daily, and weekly, events and try to see if there's a pattern in what God might be trying to communicate to me.

This has really helped me keep my focus, and allows me to be on the right track in my Christian journey. As I have discovered through the years, many distractions stand in the way.

If one is serious about his or her relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then discerning the Shepherd's voice above all the many voices around us is of utmost importance.

The sailing ship that I am on may sometimes be on turbulent seas but I need not fear, Jesus is the anchor Who keeps me from drifting into treacherous waters.


He is the Captain of my ship. He alone knows the way I should go, He alone can calm the raging waters and keep me safe as I journey to my heavenly destination, my eternal abode.

How crucial it is to stay close to Him, and depend on Him alone!


It has been a busy, fully-booked seven months.

Since Ernie's unexpected death nearly nine months ago, I feel like the ship I'm on - my life - has been taking me to very many new places. On this blog I have tried to write about my journey, still there have been so many stops and discoveries which, due to time constraint, I have not been able to put down in writing.

The greatest comfort in it all is the truth of God's word, like a gentle hand that stays my heart. In the most unexpected way, He speaks to me, reassuring me, reminding me, that He is still there.

That He hasn't given up on me.

That He understands... and He cares.

To be honest, I have condemned and judged myself, increasingly so these past weeks. I want to do more to please Him but there have been too many things to attend to. There have been times when I know I've not given Him first place in my daily priorities.

Being without my husband, my best friend, life is understandably more challenging for me.

Not more difficult, but definitely more challenging.

When my husband was still around, I could always count on him. He seemed to always know what to do, and we went through life sharing the burdens, the decision making, and whatever day to day thing needed to be addressed.

I am not discounting the fact that my God is always there for me...but still it is true: having a husband in flesh and blood beside me did make my life a lot easier to go through.

Nevertheless, in this new voyage I find myself in, God has been ever close, and ever so real.

His word once again ministered to me at church last Sunday. The servant through whom He spoke was a close friend, Dan.

Dan and his wife Jing are beloved friends of mine; they have stood close by Ernie and me through all the years of our friendship. We have enjoyed many meals at their lovely home; their beach house in Pontevedra and farmhouse in the outskirts of Abuanan have served as a venue for me and my friends whenever we needed a quiet place to meet with God.

Dan's message was entitled "Heavenly Treasure," about seeking to build our treasure in heaven where moth, rust, and thieves will never reach it.

Much of what Dan said was relevant to the present global situation.

Any religion that's not founded on the true foundation of Jesus Christ will always be accompanied by greed and immorality.

The root cause of this world's economic woes is extreme greed.

Over-indulgence, or finding pleasure in owning, is a serious malady affecting even so-called Christians who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ.

But Dan's message also ministered deeply to my heart.

Jesus calls us to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, the only treasure that satisfies. And we are called to serve and pledge our allegiance to a single Master.

The world in which we live has so deified materialism and justified the religion of self, that we no longer recognize how far from our true center we have strayed.

This message strikes my heart because it reminds me once again of Who my Master is.

In my Christian life, I am not entitled to part-time choices, only a full-time commitment to one Master.

This verse says it straight to the point:

No one can serve two masters.
Either he will hate the one and love the other,
or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

- Matthew 6:24

For me, the message was two-pronged: remembering where my true riches lie, and remembering who my True Master is.

It was indeed a timely word for my heart.

How I want to be free, and not tied down by earthly concerns, ready to follow my Master wherever He may lead me!

These lines penned by G. Campbell Morgan that Dan used to close his message brought tears to my eyes:

You are to remember with passion burning within you that you are not the child of today.

You are not of the earth, you are more than dust, you are the child of tomorrow, you are of the eternities, you are the offspring of Deity.

The measurements of your lives cannot be circumscribed by the point where the blue sky kisses the green earth.

All the facts of your life cannot be encompassed in the one small sphere upon which you live.

You belong to the infinite.

If you make your fortune on the earth - poor, sorry, silly soul - you have made a fortune and stored it in a place where you cannot hold it.

Make your fortune but store it where it will greet you in the dawning of the new morning.

Last Sunday's sermon at our church was once again used by my heavenly Father as an anchor to make my heart feel secure in Him. He alone is my haven of rest!

--0--

Below are pictures of what has been happening in my life the past week. Posting them is a graphic way of sharing a slice of my life journey with my blog friends.

I arrived in Manila for the pamanhikan Monday evening, August, 3 last week. The following morning, Obedient One and I had breakfast at the McCafe near her office. After she left for work, I stayed for a few more hours at the Cafe.

Both Metro Manila and Bacolod City are urban centers, far from mountains or seas. When I want to have an extended time with the Lord, I have discovered that a quiet (or noisy) coffee shop will do just as well.

I just love spending time with my God in a coffee shop!

My favorite breakfast: pancakes and syrup with a hot chocolate drink

Lunch: Chicken McNuggets, rice, and a tumbler of Coke. Not too healthy, but that day I had a good excuse.

This was taken just before First-Born, Obedient One, Worshiper, and I left for the pamanhikan on Sunday evening.

My gifts of grace for Madorra, Chosen's mom:

Special handicraft products from Bacolod City

A box of really special pastries topped with grated queso de bola (a special kind of Edam cheese)

Home cooked chicken binakol, my specialty!

A picture of Madorra, Chosen (Worshiper's fiancee) and Daniel that I took after the pamanhikan

Saying goodbye to Metro Manila:
On August 10, the day before my return flight to Bacolod City, I once again had breakfast at McCafe together with Obedient One. Below are two of the snapshots I took of Global City on my way to the bus stop.

As I walk, I feel like singing, for these past 8 days that I spent in Manila have given me such a sense of fulfillment. One very important step needed in the forthcoming marriage of Worshiper and Chosen One has been taken. Little hints of joy once again evident in the eyes of Obedient One. The snapshots below show an ultra modern city in the making, tall buildings, drainage pipes...all of which speak of a forward movement in my family's life. Thank you dear Father for the message of hope you are speaking to me in the things I see around me!







Upon arrival in Bacolod City on August 11:
I visited my grandson Matthew who was in hospital, but praise God, when I saw him, he was about to be discharged. This is a picture of this happy baby, on his hospital bed.



In the evening, on the same day that I arrived back in Bacolod City, our ministry team met for our weekly teambuilding meeting at our Family Foundations International-Philasia (FFI) ministry office.

Standing, from left to right: Raffy, Bjorn, Nikki, Trudi, Honey Grace, me, Ruby and William
Sitting, from left to right: Joey, Dennis, Mitch and Jessa (visiting from New Zealand), Tata

From the FFI meeting, Trudi and I went straight to Tina's home for our weekly care group meeting:

At the back: Tina, Linda, me, Rose, Janice, Trudi and Arlene

Lady in front: Melva

On Thursdays we meet at the home of Dan and Jing for our weekly Women of Purpose mentoring sessions under me. The Women of Purpose is the women's group at our church, committed to pursuing a relationship of intimacy with God.

Standing at the back: me, Julie, Elena, Jing, and Trude
Seated: April, Ronalee, Mayang, Indang, and Janice

The weekend just ended, I enjoyed spending with my family, with my pets, and with my plants:

Matthew showing off his new hooded bath towel

Here's a picture of me, gving the grass a badly needed "haircut"!

And below are some pictures that I took this weekend of the new flowers in my garden:












My two pet dogs:

Sammy, my Basset hound and dachshund mix breed about to sleep at her favorite rocking chair

Patches, my black, grey, and brown dachshund resting on our front steps

This picture of Matthew was taken early this morning, when I took him around our village on his stroller. He just loved the cool morning breeze. When he saw my camera, he gave me this sweet smile!