What Really Matters

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Then He will give the rain for your seed
With which you sow the ground,
And bread of the increase of the earth;
It will be fat and plentiful,
In that day your cattle will feed
In large pastures.

... You shall have a song
As in the night when a holy festival is kept,
And gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute,
To come into the mountain of the Lord,
To the Mighty One of Israel.


- Isaiah 30:23, 29

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

- Genesis 8:22

And let us not grow weary while doing good,
for in due season we shall reap
if we do not lose heart.

- Galatians 6:9

At the end of the day, when all is said and done, what really matters is not how something began, but how something ends.

I believe that to be true in all things.

However, something important also needs to be considered. What we sow is what we reap. That is a law that just cannot be reversed. It is called the Law of Seedtime and Harvest, or the Law of Sowing and Reaping.

The Law of Harvest states that we always reap more than we sow.

A similar law called the Law of Increase operates in relation to it. This law simply means that what we harvest is not the same amount that we planted - we harvest in "folds", as in thirty-fold, sixty-fold, a hundred-fold... or even more. You plant one apple seed, but you harvest more than a hundred apples from that single seed.

You plant kindness, gratitude, praise -- and harvest tons of them in your life! Isn't that awesome?

But the opposite is also true. You plant bitterness, anger, vindictiveness, unforgiveness -- and they bear the same fruit in "folds" ... you harvest them in huge quantities. Now, that's really scary!


So this popular saying

Sow a thought, reap an action
Sow an act, reap a habit
Sow a habit, reap a character,
Sow a character, reap a destiny

is so true, and I have always been guided by these words, consciously or unconsciously.

There is an unfortunate event that I shared with my blog readers on my two previous posts (Spiritual Blindness and Timely Encouragement).

In Spiritual Blindness, I shared how an area of blindness in me actually led to this sad happening. I am really placing the blame squarely on my own shoulders because that is just the plain truth. If someone else reacted negatively to what I initiated in the first place, then I accept the blame for the consequences that somehow hurt me. I spoke words rashly, without thinking of the possible consequences, without counting the cost, so to speak. There is no one else to blame but me.

HOWEVER, and I write this in capital letters to stress a point, I am not accepting the blame for how the other person reacted. I cannot admit responsibility for what that person did as a response. We are all responsible for our own actions, and that is where the buck ends.

I have a choice, and so do you... and the mature response is to be willing to own up to what we did wrong. It is childish to point a finger and say, "He made me do it." We really are responsible for how we react "when the wrong buttons are pushed", or "when we are triggered."

The question I ask is, "How did those buttons, or those triggers, get there in the first place?"

In our growth process, it is always good to look deep inside our hearts and take responsibility for how other people, or life in general "triggers" us!

My sister in law Sue is one wise woman. Her words to me about this event in my life really strikes me deep. She said, "Lidj, I have learned along the way not to allow myself to be a part of somebody else's circus."

That remark really made me laugh because it is so appropriate to what I went through. There will be people around us who unconsciously want to run the show, and manipulate or control you into becoming part of their circus. I smile even as I write these words.

I am learning that, too, but in a different way. I love being spontaneous, I don't want my life to be a drama where I have rehearsed my parts, or memorized my lines.

Sometimes you can be caught up in other people's personal agenda, their circus, without you being aware of it ...where you end up saying the right words that will not offend them, or will make them feel good...where you learn to say niceties that you do not really mean. It is still being in a kind of circus!

I don't know about you, but I never want to be that kind of person, either!

Looking back, I realize that I could have been more careful... but I also wish that my friend's husband had been more discreet in repeating to her, his wife, the things that I had told him in confidence, and with a sincere motive.

Can I still turn back the hands of time, or undo the events that happened next?

The obvious answer is that I can't... but the good news is that there is Someone who can do that for me.

His name is Redeemer...


It is in this hope that I can move on, pick up the broken pieces, and walk away knowing that my Jesus knows what to do next.

Jesus is my Redeemer, my Saviour. He saves, He re-creates, He will undo the messes that I have gotten myself into!

Understanding how the Law of Increase operates helps me so much in planning how I must respond to this situation.

I will not sow any more unkind thoughts, words, or attitudes in the stirred up soil of the hearts involved... I will walk in the opposite spirit.

I have walked in repentance for my own wrong words and thoughts...

I have also released forgiveness for the wrong responses that persons have chosen to do.

Other seeds I am sowing are seeds of humility,

seeds of peace...

choosing to rest my case instead of defending my side or protecting myself or wanting to explain what really happened...

so many more good seeds I have sown these past days.

I am really looking forward to a good harvest.

These past days, God has been just so real, and so gentle, and so kind to me. I really should no longer be amazed at how He has been like that in my life - but still His kindness continues to amaze me and take me by surprise.

I arrived back at my Bacolod City home this morning.

God has given me a truly rewarding eight-day stay in Manila, despite the fact that when I arrived there early Sunday of last week, I was feeling emotionally drained.

I made the decision to let the matter rest in God's hands and entrust the outcome to Him, asking my Father to be the Protector of my heart and reputation.

The Ancient Paths seminar began on Monday as scheduled.

On Tuesday and Wednesday however, I experienced a severe headache and a general feeling of body malaise. Clearly there was something wrong because I was really feeling fine the past days. It was an obvious spiritual attack which I could only attribute to the events of the past weekend.

My friend Tina, who was part of the ministry team for the seminar, ministered effectively to me after lunch on Wednesday. She became God's agent of healing for me as she drew out feelings inside of me that had been buried all these years, and provided a safe place for me to speak my heart out to the Lord. During her quiet but anointed prayers commanding any defiling spirit to leave my body, the heaviness lifted completely and a strong feeling of peace and love filled my heart.

How thankful I was for my dear friend.

I was also thankful that my three other friends, Pearlie, Rosinni, and Sheryll were available to be part of the ministry team for this seminar. The unity that we experienced while working together in God's harvest field was so uplifting and encouraging.

The seminar ended on Wednesday evening with many victories gained, and "land" recovered from the hands of the enemy.

This photo shows the participants and the ministry team
of the three-day Ancient Paths seminar last week.

On Wednesday morning, my dear sister arrived in Manila. The last time we saw each other was in May of 2008. On Thursday morning, I checked into the hotel where she was staying, and we had a great bonding time there for five days. We talked and shared stories, but most of all, we ate...and ate... and ate some more. She has missed Filipino food, and so this was a great opportunity for her to feast on her favorites.

Despite the jet lag she was feeling, she did not want to miss out on spending time with me, knowing that we did not have so much time to be together.


She also had a huge suitcase stuffed with lovely things from America, for me and for each of the members of my family. My sister has an overflowing generous heart, and she has always been a "giver."



But more than her material gifts, I truly treasured the time I spent with my sister. It was an "in-between" time for me, a precious opportunity God allowed to refresh me, and to bring healing to my bruised emotions. The Ancient Paths seminar was scheduled about a month ago, and at that time, I didn't even know my sister was planning to come home this month. But the timing of our being together was perfect, and I know it was planned ahead of time by my heavenly Father, the giver of every good and perfect gift.


Yet, in the midst of this, there was an enemy attempt to steal my joy.

Yesterday, the person who sent over a dozen text messages to my phone last weekend sent a few more again yesterday. This time I had sense enough not to read the messages but to delete them without reading them. I did send one reply hoping she would be convinced of my genuine feelings for her, but there was this strong voice inside, warning me, "Do not go there again, My child."

During the time last Wednesday that Tina ministered to me, she helped me set up parameters around my personal space which we declared "off limits" to Satan and his cohorts. As much as possible, I wasn't going to allow myself to once again fall prey to his subtle schemes to weigh me down, even derail me from my God given destiny.

It's not that I was going to be the protector of my own heart; that's a position God alone can fill. But this I know: I have to be in right standing before Him, where I allow myself to be guided by Him, even in the way I respond to messages sent to me through my mobile phone.

I literally had to lay hands over my phone, and cleanse it from ungodly contamination from the enemy, whom we know also operates as the prince of the airwaves. I spoke powerful faith words over my phone and laptop and declared that these will be tools of God for peace and righteousness and nothing else.

As part of my spiritual warfare for this season of healing and rest that God is bringing me to, I know that I must take every thought captive and make them obedient to Jesus Christ.

It still amazes me that my honest intentions were turned around without me being given the benefit of explaining my side. Words I have never spoken were somehow attributed to me, and it really has taken a huge amount of effort to stick to my decision to rest my case at the table of the Lord, who alone is the Lawgiver and rightful Judge.

This is my season of harvesting what God has spoken to me many years ago as clearly stated in the Isaiah 30:23 passage quoted above.

The words of Francis Frangipane are also so appropriate and I would like to quote them here as I close.

While we may have many legitimate arguments to wage war against our accusers, Jesus stood silently before His. Beloved, there is a time to take your stand and defend what God is doing, and there is a time to become silent and simply entrust yourself to God....

If your words will not persuade your attackers, beloved, recognize it is time to be silent. Yet, Jesus was not just silent, He bore their sins on His cross.

So also for us. It is not enough that we not react negatively; we must respond positively to those who come against us, just as Christ did. We must pray the mercy prayer.... (Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.)

So though grieved and deeply troubled, Jesus prayed, "What shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I came.'" (John 12:27).

Jesus understood that for redemption to be accomplished, His love would face its most severe test....

So it is with us. God allows injustices to perfect our love.... This battle is not about you and your enemies, but about you maintaining love in the midst of injustice.

Dear follower of Christ, let us redefine our meaning of success. Here is the success that will bring the power of redemption into our world.

When we have endured... and instead of reacting, allowed adversity to refine our love, we will have succeeded in the purpose of our existence.

Beloved, regardless of the rest God calls you to endure, it is not about you and your relational opponent. The real issue is about you and God.

Will you allow love to be perfected? Will you transform Satan's hour into an offering of your life in Christlike surrender?

My prayer:

The death of Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice, Father, but I have not even suffered to the point of shedding blood.

Even then, I want to have the heart of Jesus. Help me to allow love to be perfected in me.

I don't want this prayer to be mere words...but words from my heart. Forgive this friend for she's not aware of what she is doing.

Help me as I entrust my heart to you. Enable me to take the higher road that leads to Christlikeness.

A bountiful harvest awaits me when seeds of humility are sown...

It is tiring to strive when all I need do is walk in the good works that you have prepared in advance for me to do.

As I choose to walk in the opposite spirit, I know healing will come.

What really matters is Your heart, because I know You are taking care of mine.

May my responses give You glory and honor.

I choose to sow seeds of hope and peace...even as I put up healthy boundaries around my heart.

Lord, I rejoice in this new season of restoration where all that was stolen from me will be returned a hundred fold!



My song:


It's A New Season
by Israel Houghton

It's a new season, it's a new day.
A fresh anointing is flowing my way.
It's a season of power and prosperity.
It's a new season coming to me.

Verse 1:
The devil's time is up no longer can he bother me,
‘cause the Creator of the universe He fathers me,
And it's transferable my children's children shall be free;
It's a new season (it's a new season).

If you don't know by now, you need to know it's jubilee,
Where debts are cancelled and your children walk in victory.
It's so available to you right now just taste and see,
It's a new season (it's a new season).

Verse 2:
The new millennium presents a new horizon,
And no greater time for us to make a choice and take a stand.
All that we need, is resting in His hands;
It's a new season (it's a new season).

All that was stolen is returned to you a hundred fold,
Tried in the fire but you're coming out gold.
Cling to His hand,
Yes, to every promise take a hold;
It's a new season (it's a new season)



It's A New Season (Martha Munizzi)