View of Sunrise from my bedroom windowat my sister in law's farm house
Taken on May 1, 2010, at 5:30 a.m.
For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
- Psalm 5:12
Welcome May!
Each month of the year has a special flavor, and May surely has her own!
For me, May means a respite from the hot summer months of March and April. May is some kind of an in-between month. The rains come in June, but in May, it begins to rain every afternoon. The heat lets up a bit.
I never really thought much about the different months of the year, but ever since I started looking at my life journey in terms of seasons, I realized that each month has a special story to tell!
One passage in the Bible that I love to read is in Revelation 22:1-5
This passage speaks clearly to me that in heaven each month has a special fruit coming from the tree of life! And the leaves of this tree were for the healing of the nations.
So, I say it again: Welcome, May! And your special fruit is surely welcome in my life!
May is the fifth month of the year. The number five has such a special meaning; it stands for grace.
Grace means favor. God has given me so much favor in my life. At many points in my life, God has melted my heart with His graciousness and His kindness. Kindness so undeserved. Unmerited favor. God has sent into my life friends, family members, and loved ones who have been such a blessing to me. That's what God's grace has done for me.
In a little Bible study I discovered on the web, I came across the meaning of numbers in the Bible, and what it says about grace is worth sharing on this post:
And again, as I say goodbye to April and hello to May, there are so many things to be thankful for.
I boarded my 4:40 a.m. dawn flight to Bacolod on April 30. My original flight back was on May 4, but because of the unexpected death of a beloved family member, I had to rebook my ticket so I could be present at his funeral.
My trip to the airport, time spent at the pre-departure lounge, the airplane ride, and my subsequent arrival in Bacolod City all went so smoothly.
We have all been experiencing unbelievable heat waves the past days ... but when I arrived in my home, I was so surprised to see my garden in full bloom. What a welcome sight!
Later that day, I went with my sister in law Sue to spend the night at their farm. We had planned to attend the funeral of Greg Tingson in Kabankalan City the following morning, and their lovely farm house was conveniently located only a few minutes away from the Tingson residence where the wake was being held.
The overnight stay I spent at Vito and Sue's farmhouse was so comfortable and special! It also gave me a chance to re-connect with dear Sue whom I had not seen in weeks, because I had been in Manila so often these past months.
We went to the wake of Daddy Greg on Friday, the last night before the funeral on Saturday morning. It was such a joy to be with Faith, Greg's second daughter, who is married to Ernie's brother Jun. She, together with three other sisters arrived from the United States just a few days before -- to be a comfort to their mom, and to bury their dad.
Faith and I do not see each other often, but I do love her in a special way. Faith's oldest sister, Grace, is also a very dear friend of mine. Although there wasn't much time to talk to one another, just being there, feeling the love flowing from the steady stream of well wishers and being surrounded by all the flowers sent from all over the country, gave everyone a deep sense of comfort and support.
The flowers did have such a special way of communicating comfort, beauty, and love.
Deaths in the family have a healing effect on anyone who chooses to be touched by it in this way!
The funeral was so special. Daddy Greg was a dearly beloved man, a humble servant of the Lord. He was known as the "Billy Graham of the Philippines," one of the best evangelists we ever hand. Tears just kept flowing down my face during the funeral service. His legacy extends to many generations. His life has surely left a lasting impact on his own family, as well as on many others whose lives he touched.
The day after the funeral, Faith's eldest son, Jay, visited us in Bacolod City. Jay is an American with Filipino blood. He was born and raised in the US, and still lives there with his wife and two young children, so we don't get to see him a lot. He purposely extended his stay just so he could have some bonding time with his aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces. We spent a lot of time together!
As this is my very first post for the month of May, I do want to share a few things that God has been speaking to me about.
Because of Greg's passing away, this quote that he loved touches my heart:
This quote is part of a poem written by C.T. Studd. The rest of the poem is not popularly known, but this little quote shown above is a well-known one.
And Daddy Greg lived it well. He studied to be a lawyer, but God called him to be an evangelist. And to his dying breath, Greg lived his life for Christ. Even as I write these words, tears are streaming down my face. There will never be another man like Daddy Greg in this whole wide world.
(There are many accounts on the web written about his life, but here's one that I invite you all to read, written by Bill Bray.)
Greg and Egla Tingson
What strikes me about the life of Daddy Greg is the kindness of his heart. He never spoke ill about anyone, and specially never behind any person's back. He would often tell his children and grandchildren that there is always a beautiful side to every person, and that was the side that he would choose to look at.
It doesn't mean that he was naive, or gullible...he just refused to focus on the things about others that would weigh him down.
In his life, Daddy Greg has had his share of disappointment and pain...but his life was marked by joy, and singing, and laughter. He was such a happy soul to be around with! If people put him down, or spoke unkind things about him, he was very quick to forgive.
"If Jesus has already paid for that sin, why should I bother to still to be burdened by it?" was this man's way of looking at it.
Daddy Greg was a most generous man...generous with his time, with his money, with his heart. His children, most of whom are Americans, would often send their dad big boxes of gifts several times a year. But often, the shoes, and the clothes, and other beautiful things would be given away to a poor pastor in the mountains "who needs it more than I do."
I loved Daddy Greg. Whenever I would see him, he would firmly grasp my hand, or give me a tight hug, and smile at me with that twinkle in his eyes.
There will never be another man like him in this life.
The timing of Daddy Greg's death couldn't have come at a better time.
Our country today is at the crossroads of destiny. On Monday our nation go to the polls to choose the next president of our republic. There is widespread corruption, mudslinging, vote-buying, rigged surveys, violence. There are nine persons running for the presidential position, and of course, the implications of this messy set up are obvious. Whoever wins the top post will never get a majority vote.
In the midst of all this, my heart longs to partake of the heavenly fruit for this fifth month of the year. I believe it is a spiritual fruit called Grace.
Kindness. Humility, Compassion. A true servant spirit.
The death of Greg Tingson reminds me that he was a man who had so much of this fruit in his life. He even named his first daughter Grace.
And as I end this post, I am encouraged with a deep resolve to emulate one of the greatest Filipinos who ever lived.
Whether on a national scale or on a smaller, more personal level, we all need grace in our lives.
Because of certain relational messages confronting me these past days, something in me wants to give in to discouragement.
Dear Father,
Let me not lose heart in the midst of discouraging circumstances. Constantly open my eyes to Your grace and favor that surround me.
Let me be always kind with my words.
Let me be kind with my perceptions of others. Let me be understanding when others are unkind or insensitive.
Let me not have such a self-righteous view of myself, and let me not be quick to pass judgment on other people's actions and motives.
Help me to take good care of my relationships -- always being willing to give people the benefit of a doubt. As long as I know that a relationship is ordained by You, help me to keep my heart open, believing that people can still change over the years.
You can use me to be an agent of change in their lives.
Use me to be a channel of joy, and hope, and peace in the lives of others!
Help me speak the language of love...Your language, dear God.
Help me to keep my accounts current, and to not keep a mental list of what other people have done wrong!
Help me to be forgiving, and not go through life carrying a heavy load of offense!
Oh, dear God, help me to be like Jesus...who like a lamb before its shearers remained silent.
Yes, this is what I truly want - to not be self-focused... causing me to be so protective of myself, or to be so conscious of my "rights".
Dear God, I thank you for the life of Daddy Greg, who even at his death, was used by You to remind me of these very lovely Christlike qualities that we saw in him. I thank You for the quiet impact that he had upon my life.
I pray that the life of this great man will continue to inspire his own children...down to the generations after him.
Below are a few pictures I have taken these past weeks:
A photo of the Melendrez bush in my garden, taken in early April.
Just beginning to bud
Sunset over Bacolod City, taken at the roof deck of L' Fisher Chalet hotel.
April 16, 2010
Tata, Trudi, Buddy and me
having snacks at the roofdeck of L' Fisher Chalet
April 16, 2010
Ruby, me, Trudi and Gigi in Makati City, Manila
Taken at Kashmir, a resto that specializes in Indian food!
April 22, 2010
Taken on May 1, 2010, at 5:30 a.m.
For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
- Psalm 5:12
Welcome May!
Each month of the year has a special flavor, and May surely has her own!
For me, May means a respite from the hot summer months of March and April. May is some kind of an in-between month. The rains come in June, but in May, it begins to rain every afternoon. The heat lets up a bit.
I never really thought much about the different months of the year, but ever since I started looking at my life journey in terms of seasons, I realized that each month has a special story to tell!
One passage in the Bible that I love to read is in Revelation 22:1-5
And He showed me a pure river of water of life,
clear as crystal,
proceeding from the throne of God
and of the Lamb,
and on either side of the river,
was the tree of life,
which bore twelve fruits,
each tree yielding its fruit every month.
The leaves of the tree
were for the healing of the nations.
clear as crystal,
proceeding from the throne of God
and of the Lamb,
and on either side of the river,
was the tree of life,
which bore twelve fruits,
each tree yielding its fruit every month.
The leaves of the tree
were for the healing of the nations.
This passage speaks clearly to me that in heaven each month has a special fruit coming from the tree of life! And the leaves of this tree were for the healing of the nations.
So, I say it again: Welcome, May! And your special fruit is surely welcome in my life!
May is the fifth month of the year. The number five has such a special meaning; it stands for grace.
Grace means favor. God has given me so much favor in my life. At many points in my life, God has melted my heart with His graciousness and His kindness. Kindness so undeserved. Unmerited favor. God has sent into my life friends, family members, and loved ones who have been such a blessing to me. That's what God's grace has done for me.
In a little Bible study I discovered on the web, I came across the meaning of numbers in the Bible, and what it says about grace is worth sharing on this post:
Grace means favor.
But what kind of favor for favor is of many kinds.
Favor shown to the miserable we call mercy;
favor shown to the poor we call pity;
favor shown to the suffering we call compassion;
favor shown to the obstinate we call patience:
but favor shown to the unworthy we call GRACE!
This is favor indeed; favor which is truly Divine in its source and in its character...
(Read more in Meaning of Numbers in the Bible: Number Five)
And again, as I say goodbye to April and hello to May, there are so many things to be thankful for.
I boarded my 4:40 a.m. dawn flight to Bacolod on April 30. My original flight back was on May 4, but because of the unexpected death of a beloved family member, I had to rebook my ticket so I could be present at his funeral.
My trip to the airport, time spent at the pre-departure lounge, the airplane ride, and my subsequent arrival in Bacolod City all went so smoothly.
We have all been experiencing unbelievable heat waves the past days ... but when I arrived in my home, I was so surprised to see my garden in full bloom. What a welcome sight!
Later that day, I went with my sister in law Sue to spend the night at their farm. We had planned to attend the funeral of Greg Tingson in Kabankalan City the following morning, and their lovely farm house was conveniently located only a few minutes away from the Tingson residence where the wake was being held.
The overnight stay I spent at Vito and Sue's farmhouse was so comfortable and special! It also gave me a chance to re-connect with dear Sue whom I had not seen in weeks, because I had been in Manila so often these past months.
We went to the wake of Daddy Greg on Friday, the last night before the funeral on Saturday morning. It was such a joy to be with Faith, Greg's second daughter, who is married to Ernie's brother Jun. She, together with three other sisters arrived from the United States just a few days before -- to be a comfort to their mom, and to bury their dad.
Faith and I do not see each other often, but I do love her in a special way. Faith's oldest sister, Grace, is also a very dear friend of mine. Although there wasn't much time to talk to one another, just being there, feeling the love flowing from the steady stream of well wishers and being surrounded by all the flowers sent from all over the country, gave everyone a deep sense of comfort and support.
The flowers did have such a special way of communicating comfort, beauty, and love.
Deaths in the family have a healing effect on anyone who chooses to be touched by it in this way!
The funeral was so special. Daddy Greg was a dearly beloved man, a humble servant of the Lord. He was known as the "Billy Graham of the Philippines," one of the best evangelists we ever hand. Tears just kept flowing down my face during the funeral service. His legacy extends to many generations. His life has surely left a lasting impact on his own family, as well as on many others whose lives he touched.
The day after the funeral, Faith's eldest son, Jay, visited us in Bacolod City. Jay is an American with Filipino blood. He was born and raised in the US, and still lives there with his wife and two young children, so we don't get to see him a lot. He purposely extended his stay just so he could have some bonding time with his aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces. We spent a lot of time together!
As this is my very first post for the month of May, I do want to share a few things that God has been speaking to me about.
Because of Greg's passing away, this quote that he loved touches my heart:
Only one life, 'twill soon be past
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only what's done for Christ will last.
This quote is part of a poem written by C.T. Studd. The rest of the poem is not popularly known, but this little quote shown above is a well-known one.
And Daddy Greg lived it well. He studied to be a lawyer, but God called him to be an evangelist. And to his dying breath, Greg lived his life for Christ. Even as I write these words, tears are streaming down my face. There will never be another man like Daddy Greg in this whole wide world.
(There are many accounts on the web written about his life, but here's one that I invite you all to read, written by Bill Bray.)
Greg and Egla TingsonWhat strikes me about the life of Daddy Greg is the kindness of his heart. He never spoke ill about anyone, and specially never behind any person's back. He would often tell his children and grandchildren that there is always a beautiful side to every person, and that was the side that he would choose to look at.
It doesn't mean that he was naive, or gullible...he just refused to focus on the things about others that would weigh him down.
In his life, Daddy Greg has had his share of disappointment and pain...but his life was marked by joy, and singing, and laughter. He was such a happy soul to be around with! If people put him down, or spoke unkind things about him, he was very quick to forgive.
"If Jesus has already paid for that sin, why should I bother to still to be burdened by it?" was this man's way of looking at it.
Daddy Greg was a most generous man...generous with his time, with his money, with his heart. His children, most of whom are Americans, would often send their dad big boxes of gifts several times a year. But often, the shoes, and the clothes, and other beautiful things would be given away to a poor pastor in the mountains "who needs it more than I do."
I loved Daddy Greg. Whenever I would see him, he would firmly grasp my hand, or give me a tight hug, and smile at me with that twinkle in his eyes.
There will never be another man like him in this life.
The timing of Daddy Greg's death couldn't have come at a better time.
Our country today is at the crossroads of destiny. On Monday our nation go to the polls to choose the next president of our republic. There is widespread corruption, mudslinging, vote-buying, rigged surveys, violence. There are nine persons running for the presidential position, and of course, the implications of this messy set up are obvious. Whoever wins the top post will never get a majority vote.
In the midst of all this, my heart longs to partake of the heavenly fruit for this fifth month of the year. I believe it is a spiritual fruit called Grace.
Kindness. Humility, Compassion. A true servant spirit.
The death of Greg Tingson reminds me that he was a man who had so much of this fruit in his life. He even named his first daughter Grace.
And as I end this post, I am encouraged with a deep resolve to emulate one of the greatest Filipinos who ever lived.
Whether on a national scale or on a smaller, more personal level, we all need grace in our lives.
Because of certain relational messages confronting me these past days, something in me wants to give in to discouragement.
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
-Psalm 27:13
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
-Psalm 27:13
I would have lost heart.
But holding on to God's goodness... believing in His grace... gives me confidence!
Daddy Greg never lost heart. He lived all the days of his life, believing that he would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
But holding on to God's goodness... believing in His grace... gives me confidence!
Daddy Greg never lost heart. He lived all the days of his life, believing that he would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
Dear Father,
Let me not lose heart in the midst of discouraging circumstances. Constantly open my eyes to Your grace and favor that surround me.
Let me be always kind with my words.
Let me be kind with my perceptions of others. Let me be understanding when others are unkind or insensitive.
Let me not have such a self-righteous view of myself, and let me not be quick to pass judgment on other people's actions and motives.
Help me to take good care of my relationships -- always being willing to give people the benefit of a doubt. As long as I know that a relationship is ordained by You, help me to keep my heart open, believing that people can still change over the years.
You can use me to be an agent of change in their lives.
Use me to be a channel of joy, and hope, and peace in the lives of others!
Help me speak the language of love...Your language, dear God.
Help me to keep my accounts current, and to not keep a mental list of what other people have done wrong!
Help me to be forgiving, and not go through life carrying a heavy load of offense!
Oh, dear God, help me to be like Jesus...who like a lamb before its shearers remained silent.
Yes, this is what I truly want - to not be self-focused... causing me to be so protective of myself, or to be so conscious of my "rights".
Dear God, I thank you for the life of Daddy Greg, who even at his death, was used by You to remind me of these very lovely Christlike qualities that we saw in him. I thank You for the quiet impact that he had upon my life.
I pray that the life of this great man will continue to inspire his own children...down to the generations after him.
Below are a few pictures I have taken these past weeks:
Good-bye April...Welcome May!
A photo of the Melendrez bush in my garden, taken in early April.Just beginning to bud
Sunset over Bacolod City, taken at the roof deck of L' Fisher Chalet hotel.April 16, 2010
Tata, Trudi, Buddy and mehaving snacks at the roofdeck of L' Fisher Chalet
April 16, 2010
Ruby, me, Trudi and Gigi in Makati City, ManilaTaken at Kashmir, a resto that specializes in Indian food!
April 22, 2010
Sunrise above the cloudstaken at 5:11 a.m. as plane was descending towards Bacolod City airport
April 30, 2010
View from my bedroom at Vito and Sue's farmhouseA part of the fish ponds are seen in this picture
April 30, 2010
My sister in law Faith, with her mom, Eglataken before the funeral service for Daddy Greg
May 1, 2010
Daddy Greg's casket draped with the Philippine flag,atop a truck behind which hundreds of mourners
led by the Tingson children and grandchildren walked
all the way to the gravesite
May 1, 2010
Cousins' bonding timeFirst Born, Worshiper, and their cousin Jay
May 2, 2010
Jay visits the grave of his Uncle ErnieThis is a photo I took of Chosen One and Worshiper with Jay
on May 3, 2010
May has brought in some showers, a wonderful picture of the work that grace does in our lives...
and here are a few grace-filled scenes from my garden, up close:
Euphorbias in bloom
Leafy ground cover growing back after the drought
The Melendrez bush now in full bloom!May 4, 2010
10 comments:
Lidj,
I enjoy traveling, and I think it is so neat that you are continually on the go, seeing new sights as well as old. Your pictures are always gorgeous and I appreciate you sharing your life with us.
Lovingly,
Yolanda
It's truly all about Him! I love those pics you shared. That Melendrez bush that seemed so tall, trying to reach upward and its bloom, it's awesome! I love the spiritual thought behind it.
Thank you for sharing us bro. Gregg's life lived for the Lord. I love that quote you shared...It is true. "Only what's done for Christ would last..." Only a life drawn closer with the Lord always has a tremendous impact on others. May we all grow more to be like Jesus. Happy Mother's Day to you sister Lidj. I always enjoy your insight but I love all the reminders you share with regards to your spiritual walk with the Lord. God bless you richly.
Wow. What a memorable man. I love your quote as well.
"If Jesus has already paid for that sin, why should I bother to still to be burdened by it?" was this man's way of looking at it.
THAT, is a lesson that Christians all of the world need to learn.
Thank you Lidj for sharing about such a special person. His life was truly an example to be followed as he followed Christ.
Thx for the lovely pics you shared.
Blessings,
Vickie
What a wonderful tribute to a special man. What joy to know he is now with his Father!
I liked the poem on favor and the pictures of the flowers are beautiful!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with Greg Tingson, he sounds like he led such a beautiful spiritual life, and thank you for sharing his favorite quote by C.T. Studd "Only one life, 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last." A beautiful reminder.
Your photographs were all so lovely, and I loved your reflections on the month of May (Ray and I will be celebrating our 37th Anniversary the end of this month), and your reflections on Grace were so beautiful and inspiring also.
And I'm so glad you didn't give in to discouragement.
Keep heart!
Love and Prayers,
Eileen
I liked everything about this beautiful post. The pictures of the sunsets and the flowers (sigh) are so pretty. You know so many wonderful people.
All creation testifies of Him...just like here on your post....your words, Greg's life, the pictures, your prayer...thank you so much yet again, Lidj...
"but favor shown to the unworthy... grace."
Seems as if the beginning of May and all of its grace is a perfect fit with the legacy Daddy Greg leaves behind, especially in his gracious, forgiving attitude toward those less kind. Indeed, I think I can learn something from him, even though I'll have to wait for heaven to meet him.
Beautiful, grace-filled May to you, friend. Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words about my book.
peace~elaine
Your photos are very interesting.
The funeral was such a stately affair. Ours are much simpler. Only politicians and celebrities haqve funerals like that.
Hope you enjoyed the food at the Indian restourant
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