Blessed September

This shot was taken on September 20, 2009. We were on the Emirates Road, the road that connects all seven emirates of the UAE. There were miles and miles of desert, we got off the car for a while to have our pictures taken. It was nearly noon, and the temperature was a sweltering 40 degrees!




The LORD is my strength and my song;
He has become my salvation.
- Psalm 118:14

How quickly the past thirty days of September have gone by!

As I look back at the past four weeks, I find it hard to believe how much has taken place! A variety of emotions, of spiritual insights, of places reached!

September is really a special month. It is the ninth month of the year, and in numerology, the number nine connotes birthing. As there are only a few hours left before this part of the globe says good-bye to this special month, I'm taking time to write an end-of-the-month post, and give this month a name.Blessed September. This is the name on my heart for September.

A year ago, specifically on September 29, 2008, Ernie and I had just arrived in Manila after spending a year in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

It was while I was in Chiang Mai that this blog was born. Never did I imagine that within a span of one year, this blog would be witness to so many people, places and events that God would allow to hold a special meaning in my life!

One year later, I can say that I certainly am not the same person anymore.

There are events that have taken place, spiritual insights and lessons that I have gained, inner changes that have happened... changes that have shaped me and molded me to become who I am today.

My heart can only say, "Thank you, thank you dear Father."

One favorite song resonates in my heart right now.

It is the song entitled Blessed be the Name of the Lord written by Matt Redman.

Below is the video of the song:




This song never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

God has truly been with me every step of the way.

As this month was starting, I was able to spend a few days of retreat up in the lovely mountains of Baguio City. That cool respite from my loaded schedule was something I never planned, yet now I realize that my heavenly Father knew just how much I needed it!

Just a week later, I found myself, together with six other friends of mine, on our way to the Middle East. For two weeks we visited friends, traveling on the hot and dry desert sands of the United Arab Emirates, admiring the visual and sensual merchandising of the world's biggest malls, gaping in awe at the numerous structural feats of their cities, and feasting to our hearts' content on authentic Persian cuisine.

On the day that we were to fly back to Manila, Saturday, September 26, news reached us of the devastation that Typhoon Ondoy had done to the metropolis of Manila and the surrounding provinces of Southern Luzon. We heard of the 16 hours of unrelenting rain that started at 2 a.m. that day, and how this had caught the country off guard.

Dams either overflowed or their floodgates had to be opened because the pressure of the accumulating rainwater was too much for them to take. If the dams broke, there would have been a much greater damage to life and property.

It was also high tide that day, so there was no natural outlet for the watery precipitation that just kept on being poured from the clouds above.

Metro Manila experienced the worst flooding it ever had in 40 years. Waters rose above houses; rich and poor alike had to scramble up to the safety of the rooftops to literally save their lives. Many others were not as fortunate.

My sister, who lives in Virginia, USA, called me two hours before our flight to assure me that she was able to talk to my daughter who lives in Metro Manila. "Your daughter is safe," she said. "And so is our home."

What a relief it was for me to hear those words. Praise God, our Manila home is located on a hilly region of the city, and so there was no flood in that place. Never have I praised God more for higher grounds than I did that day!

We all prayed that our flight back home would not be canceled, and that the runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, which was flooded, would already be re-opened by the time our plane got there.

At the Dubai airport, we said a teary good-bye to our precious hosts who had become so dear to us. There were so many gifts of love that were given to us at the last minute, we had to repack our suitcases before checking in. Once again, we had to rush to reach our departure gate for our connecting flight to Bahrain! Despite the tiredness I felt, all I could think of was the overflowing love for my fellow Filipinos working as professionals in this land.

There were mixed emotions inside, actually. I was very, very tired. The heat and the spiritual condition in this place had a debilitating effect upon my heart. I was excited that we were finally on our way back home. Nevertheless, questions about what awaited me back in Manila lingered at the back of my mind. Will I be able to reach home? What if the flood waters had not yet receded?

Every part of me longed for rest. We were all looking forward to being back in our native land, to the freedom, the song, and the laughter that are so much a part of our national heritage!

The one hour flight to Bahrain was smooth. But upon reaching the Bahrain airport, it was the same story for us: running to reach the departure gate for our flight to Manila. We did it in 30 minutes, and we only had a ten minute rest before it was time to board.

After nine hours, our Gulf Air flight touched down in Manila. The local time was 2:45 p.m. of Sunday, September 27.

On board the plane with us were Filipino contract workers from other countries of the Middle East who had not been home for many years. There was applause, and cries of delight as the plane taxied toward the terminal.

I couldn't help but shed a few tears. It always feels so good to be back home!

The sun was out, and the runway was not flooded anymore. Our prayers were answered.

At the baggage claim, we said goodbye to one another. William, Ruby, and Trudi were catching their flight back to Bacolod City at another terminal. Alberto, and Gina were taking a taxi to reach their home in the southern part of Metro Manila. They heard that their home was not spared by the flood waters. Moses was waiting for his wife to pick him up. Their home also got flooded.

As I boarded a taxi to travel to the northern part of Metro Manila where my daughter lives, I heaved a sigh of relief. I had planned to stay three more days with her before returning to Bacolod City, and was looking forward to a time of rest.

On the taxi, I texted Obedient One the good news that I was on my way home to be with her for a few days.

It was then that she relayed the terrible news to me.

Yes, our home was spared, and there was not a single damage, despite the 16 hours of heavy rain on Saturday. But on Friday night, just as she was about to enter the gate of our house, she was held up at gunpoint by a man riding a motorcycle. Her purse containing a few valuables and credit cards was taken.

It wasn't so much the fact that her belongings were stolen. It was the violent way in which it was done, threatening her life, pointing a gun at her. She and a male co-worker had just gotten off a cab. It was a rainy night, and they were under an umbrella. The robber told her friend to kneel on the grass and raise his hands.

My daughter gave up her purse without a murmur, and the man sped away.

In just a few seconds, it was all over. But the trauma resulting from this event, and the spirit of fear that came into their hearts will have to be dealt with.

When I reached home, my daughter was actually in high spirits.

She narrated to me what happened. She knew God was covering her, for she felt no fear at all as it was happening. However, she expressed fear for the coming days. Naturally, there are many what ifs going on in her mind.

The timing of my arrival to be with my daughter is obviously a God ordained thing! I have decided to rebook my flight so I can stay with her longer.

We praised God that Sunday night again and again...during the meal together at Taco Bell, our favorite Mexican restaurant, and later on while buying some foodstuff at the grocery in the mall, on the taxi ride home...

That night, before sleeping, we continued praising God that nothing worse happened to her. As for the things she lost, they are only material things and can all be replaced.

We remained in the spirit of praise and thanksgiving over the next few days, even up to now. I ministered to my daughter and her friend, prayed for God to break the power of the spirit of fear and death over them, canceled the lies of the enemy that he wanted them to buy, and released the life and love of the Father into their hearts.

If fear will come and unsettle their hearts in the days to come, they know they have a weapon, the weapon of God's truth, and praise.

I kept reminding my daughter that we were in spiritual warfare. Jesus says,

In the world you shall have tribulation:

but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

- John 16:33

God has given us many strong weapons against the enemy: the truth of God's word, His joy, His peace, praise...Be of good cheer, Jesus says! He has overcome the world.

We are never to live from the standpoint of defeat. We will not allow fear to intimidate and immobilize us!

--0--

Honestly, I've not yet experienced the physical rest I had been hoping to have upon reaching home.

I know God wants to give me something better, spiritual rest. And in my mind, I am receiving and holding on to this rest. But God knows how much I need Him to be real to me at this time. How much I need Him to be my strength, my song, and my salvation!

While hoping to minister God's peace to my daughter's heart, God knows how I long for Him to minister peace to my own heart!

Often I know the right words to say, and I have trained my mind how to think God thoughts and spiritually process all these recent events. But often the intellect can get in the way of true heart ministry, deceiving me into thinking all is well with my soul, when in fact it isn't.

I only pray that my words of encouragement to my dear daughter will be God's words of encouragement to my own heart as well.

This month of September is the month that a new way of trusting God is being birthed in me... This month, God is doing new things, showing me a new way of breaking my faith, to prove it, and make it stronger.

Dear friends, I will surely appreciate your prayers for me at this time.


Below are a few pictures of my September journeys:

September 7, 2009
Chosen One, Worshiper's fiancee, at the Japanese restaurant where she, Worshiper, Obedient One and I had a delicious lunch together, three days before I returned home to Bacolod City after my trip to Baguio City.

September 13, 2009
My grandson, Forerunner, taken at the SM mall the Sunday before I was to leave for UAE.

September 17, 2009
First breakfast in UAE! Fruits galore!

September 22, 2009
View of highway and the Arabian Gulf, from the hotel where we were booked.

September 23, 2009
Majestic waterfalls with sculpture of divers at the Dubai Mall

September 23, 2009
Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world

September 23, 2009
Beautiful lamps at the Persian market

A few photos gathered from the internet taken during and after Typhoon Ondoy:

The water in this picture reached the rooftops of many homes.

This man's heart is devastated as he sits in his once lovely home, now covered with mud.

Dear Father,

Once again, I declare that the times, seasons, and events of my life are in Your hands.

This world is not my home, I am only an ambassador of your grace...your love...your peace...your healing. Your kingdom assignment for me is what matters most.

But I must admit that these days I am becoming weary. Nevertheless, in the midst of what I am going through, help me to be a good representative of Your heart to those around me!

Surrounded these days by my daughter's traumatic experience, the hopelessness and fear of my fellow Filipinos in the aftermath of the recent calamity, and in the face of another threatening super-typhoon, dear Father, I plead speak Your hope to my heart. Visit me in a real, tangible way, dear Father. "I want to touch You, I want to see Your face, I want to know You more!"

Thank you for the song You gave me for my September journey. When this song touched my heart up in Baguio City, and several more times while I was abroad, this song kept on reaching my ears, I knew, dear Father, that this is the message of Your heart for me for this season.


StillHide me now
Under Your wings
Cover me
within Your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father You are king over the flood
I will be still, know You are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father You are king over the flood
I will be still, know You are God

Teach my heart to be still in Your presence, dear Father.

September 9, 2009
Snapshot of the Bible verse I was meditating on at the airport while waiting for my flight back home to Bacolod after that mountain retreat in Baguio City.