With a Heart of Thanksgiving

Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.

- Matthew 5:8

Best of all is it to preserve everything
in a pure, still heart,
and let there be for every pulse a thanksgiving,
and for every breath a song.

- Konrad von Gesner

Another month has ended!

As I look back over the past thirty days, these words resound in my heart:

with a heart of thanksgiving.

This phrase best describes how I feel as November comes to a close. It has been a beautiful month for me. My heart resounds in praise and thanksgiving for all the things my heavenly Father had prepared for me the past four weeks or so.

As I try to recall everything that has taken place and all that has been accomplished within the span of thirty short days, I stand amazed.


This month marks the day when we remember our loved ones who have passed away. November 1 is a Catholic feast called All Saints' Day. This day is an official holiday in our country as well. Our family joined the millions all throughout the world who went to the memorial parks to honor the memory of their departed loved ones.

There was a canopy over us, and a huge tablecloth which we placed on the grass. It was a kind of family picnic, with lots of good food, and games, lively conversation, fun, and lots of love.

Tisha and Leila

Matthew in a pensive moment

Sue and Hannah

On November 2, my husband's birthday, our family remembered him by having breakfast at his favorite restaurant, Bob's. (Read more about this in November Reflections.)

On N0vember 2-3, I joined the Family Foundations International ministry team for the Ancient Paths Seminar for Trinity Christian Fellowship held at Guintubdan, a lovely mountain retreat place east of Bacolod City. (Read more about this in November Reflections.)

Noonday fog begins to clear up in Guintubdan.
November 3, 2009

It was Worshiper's 27th birthday on November 5! We honored him on this day by having lunch together as an extended family!

First Born, me, and Worshiper

Caleb, Rhea, Vince, and Tony

Jay, Vito, and Caleb

Leila, Matthew and Cathy

For three mornings, from November 9 to 11, I conducted a Spiritual Empowerment retreat for the teaching staff of an integrated school in our city.

For three afternoons, also on November 9 to 11, I coordinated a Family Foundations video seminar entitled Building a Financial House for the regional staff of Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship.

These two seminars proved to be a truly a rewarding experience for everyone, most especially for me, as I realized how the Father loves to minister to hearts that are teachable, hungry, and open to His word!


From November 12-16, the women of our church had the great opportunity to be with Jane Rubietta who spoke to us on what it means to experience the heart of God as our true resting place. (Read more: In Quietness and Confidence.)

Some of the Women of Purpose of our church posing with Jane.

View from CICM Retreat House in Talisay City where we had the women's retreat.

November 23 marked the first anniversary of Ernie's homegoing. Friends and loved ones gathered together this evening to remember the many beautiful qualities of my husband's life, and God's faithfulness as He sustained us, gave us comfort and strength all through the months of this first year that Ernie was no longer with us. (Read more: The Road Ahead.)

This stargazer lily plant in our garden bloomed within the week that we celebrated the first anniversary of my husband's death, God's faithful reminder to me that the seasons of my life are in His hands. He makes all things beautiful in His time!

As I write these lines, I am back in Manila.

Honestly, on Thursday afternoon, I boarded my flight to this city with a bit of reluctance.

Having been in my hometown for the past seven weeks, I appreciated the much needed opportunity to also attend to many domestic concerns that have somehow been put on hold each time I left.

The momentum was already there to oversee repairs, repaint ceilings and walls, clean out cabinets, tend my garden...

A sense of rhythm and consistency was already coming back to my life, and I found myself being able to spend much time alone with God again, something that I missed during the months that my life had been on the go.

But, for the past years that Obedient One has begun working in Manila, I have made it a point to be with her on her birthday, which will be a week from today.

And for this reason, I was truly willing to put things back home on hold again.

My initial reluctance was dispelled as soon as I stepped into our Manila home. What a sense of warm welcome awaited me! From the airport, I was stuck in heavy after office rush hour traffic. Tired and sleepy, I finally reached home two hours later!

We do not really celebrate Thanksgiving here. Nevertheless, a freshly cooked meal was waiting for me. Obedient One was still at work, but our maid had the table beautifully set for my arrival, and I was truly grateful.

I sat down and ate my dinner alone, in the solace and familiar comfort of the home where I had spent my growing up years.

After a cold shower, I fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillows.



Early the next morning, I was delighted to see that the tree in our garden was also blooming!

The first time that I saw this tree bear flowers was also a year ago, at about the same time that my husband passed away. And now, one year after, it is blooming again!




Obedient One also had a furry surprise waiting for me:

Meet George, my daughter's five-month old mini schnauzer.

On the last weekend of the month, my daughter and I went shopping for shoes and personal accessories that we will be needing for Worshiper's wedding.

This is just a few of the shoes out of the thousands to choose from at The Landmark in the Trinoma Mall.

Here are some colorful handicrafts on sale, in preparation for the holiday season.

Yes, November has come to an end, and in just a few more hours, another month begins.

December 28 will be my son Worshiper and his fiancee Chosen One's wedding day! The preparations for this important event for our family are well underway. The ceremony and reception will be held here in Manila... our whole family, relatives, and close friends are all looking forward to it.

This has been a fruitful month, so much more than I expected.

But apart from the things that I have experienced, deep inside of me I sense that there is so much more that I have not seen or been aware of!

As the month ends, I reflect on how meaningful and beautiful the past four weeks have been for me, and my heart overflows with thanksgiving - both for the seen and unseen things that God has brought into my life.

I am also aware of unrealized blessings, deep issues in my life that are somehow unresolved, and for which I am believing God to intervene, resolve, or provide a breakthrough.

For some reason, the verse that God spoke to my heart this morning was from the Beatitudes. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

How my heart longs for my faith to keep becoming more and more child-like... a faith that will enable me to see the circumstances of my life from the perspective of heaven, and to see God's unseen hand at work.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,
but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.

- 2 Corinthians 4:18

This Bible passage has always been one of my favorites. It is alive with meaning! What is seen is temporary. It will eventually fade away. But the unseen things, these are the truly substantial things that my heart desires. These are the eternal things that will remain with me forever.

So, I thank God for what He has brought into my life these past months, but there is so much more in store...the unsearchable, the unfathomable, the great and mighty things that God has prepared for those who love Him!

How timely the following quote from A.W. Tozer is:

Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.

Oh, how my heart resounds in thanksgiving for how this month has been, and for all that I have seen of His goodness and graciousness these past weeks. I praise Him for how He has cared for me and brought me thus far! Once again, my dear heavenly Father has proven Himself to be the God of the More Than Enough.

But I am thanking Him in advance for what is to come!

Call out to Me, I hear the Father say, and I will let you experience what you have never experienced. I am always doing new things. I delight to amaze you, and take you by surprise, and fill your heart with wonder! Because you hunger and thirst for me, I will allow you to see things you have never seen before!

My heart wells up in praise! This is indeed a month of thanksgiving.

Thank You, my Father...thank You!