Surely Goodness and Mercy

Now to Him who is able to do
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us,
to Him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
forever and ever! Amen.

- Ephesians 3:20

According to your faith, it shall be done unto you.

According to your faith, you shall receive.

Everything is possible to him who believes. Jesus says that in Mark 9:23

According to your faith.

Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.

These are the words ringing in my ears as 2010 began.



All six of us spent Christmas in Manila. This was in preparation for Worshiper's wedding just three days after Christmas.

We had prayed as a family that the wedding would be a beautiful ending to 2009, and a promising start to 2010. That it would bring honor and glory to God alone. My special prayer was that the wedding would be simple but elegant.

God granted our prayers.

In fact, God gave us more than what we asked for.

He is always the God of More Than Enough.

According to my faith, He has responded...but the truth is that, He responded way beyond what I expected.

God loves to do that.

And today, as I write these lines, my bags are packed. I will be leaving tonight for Manila, and tomorrow I will be boarding my Thai Airways flight to Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Everything happened so quickly. My friends Ut and Oy had been wanting to buy me a plane ticket, and were just waiting for my son's wedding to come to pass.

On New Year's Day, I sent them an email that I was ready to go to Thailand anytime they wished within the next two weeks of January.

The next thing I knew, in fact right that very weekend, my travel itinerary was sent to me by Ut, as well as arrangements for my trip to Chiang Mai.

There is no resistance within my heart, just a quiet acceptance of how events are unfolding.

My friend Ruby spoke to me yesterday when she said, "Lidj, I sense that the Lord is sending you back to Thailand for closure...and to open new doors."

She was so right. Chiang Mai was the place where Ernie and I spent the last year of his earthly life together. It was such a beautiful and meaningful experience.

A few months ago I told myself that I could never go back to that place without Ernie. The memories would be too painful for me.

But it is amazing how this morning as I was packing my suitcase, my heart was filled with excitement and a sense of readiness for whatever it was that the Lord had in store for me.

These are the words that God spoke to me as 2010 came in:

Expect this year to be a year of favor for you. Favor will overtake you and meet you at every turn. According to your faith, it shall be done for you. According to your faith...

So, Chiang Mai, here I come!


Below are a few pictures of our family that I want to share with you:

Christmas Eve in our Manila home, 2009

Worshiper, Obedient One, me, God Given, First Born, and Matt

Obedient One and George

Chosen One, me, and God given
At the Global City, just before the farewell party for Worshiper and welcome for Chosen One, given by Sue and her family at her Manila home

Matt, at our hotel room in Manila

New Year's eve in our Bacolod home, 2009
Worshiper and Chosen One, me, Obedient One, God Given, and First Born

Welcome flowers for Chosen One, given by my friend Melanie, waiting for Worshiper and his new bride upon their arrival at our home on December 31, 2009

Welcome party for Chosen One, given by my sister in law, Sue, at her home, on January 2.

My friends who gathered to give Chosen One a special welcome

Marijo. Trude, Janina

Eileen, Rebecca, Melanie, me

More friends to warmly welcome Chosen One to our city and church
Neneng, Violeta, Elena, Janice
Miriam, Pat

Some of Worshiper's church friends were also around to welcome Chosen One