Who is wise and understanding among you?
Let them show it by their good life,
by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
...the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;
then peace-loving, considerate, submissive,
full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
- James 3:13, 17, 18
Jesus answered and said:
"...learn from Me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy
and my burden is light."
-Matthew 11:28, 29, 30
Let them show it by their good life,
by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
...the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;
then peace-loving, considerate, submissive,
full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
- James 3:13, 17, 18
Jesus answered and said:
"...learn from Me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy
and my burden is light."
-Matthew 11:28, 29, 30
For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
"I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble,
And to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
- Isaiah 57:15
Today another month comes to an end and I have named it "YIELDING."
Yield is one of my many favorite words, so full and so rich in meaning.
The American Heritage Dictionary lists this as one of its many definitions for the word:
To give forth by or as if by a natural process, especially by cultivation.
Yielding requires grace because it does not come naturally to anyone. Our human nature rebels at the thought of giving way.
Self will not easily give up its right to rule and sit on the throne rightfully reserved for God alone.
Self wants to go full steam ahead, with its own plans and ideas, pushing... shoving to get to the top... on its own terms... at its own time.
To yield, on the other hand, is to be willing to wait patiently.
The Latin word patior comes to mind.
It was through my favorite author Henri Nouwen that I became acquainted with this beautiful word. It means "to endure, to submit, to acquiesce."
It is the origin or root of the word "to permit."
To give permission... to give way... to say Yes... to allow.
February was such a month for me.
I didn't plan it that way, because in the first place, I really didn't have any plan for this month.
January was planned for... but February was not.
After having been away from home for nearly the whole month of January, I was scheduled to return to Bacolod two days after the month ended.
But a week before my scheduled flight, I sensed strongly that I was to cancel it, and buy a new return ticket for February 7.
Thankful to have a few more days to be with my daughter... in my heart I heard a resounding Yes!
Going online to book my ticket, I was surprised to discover that the flight for that day would only cost me six hundred seventy pesos! That's roughly US$15... a real bargain!
On my way to the airport on February 7, my friend Rosemarie called asking if I could return to Manila that weekend for a special day of prayer.
At the pre-departure lounge, while waiting to board my flight, my friend Buddy asked me if I could participate in an Ancient Paths seminar that our team was doing for Compassion, Philippines on the third weekend of February.
Again, in my heart I heard a loud Yes! to these requests.
In a previous post, I wrote that there was no struggle to make a sudden decision to return to Manila, just within four days of arriving back home.
There was a sense that things were happening the way God wanted them to, and I was to be a willing participant to what was on His heart.
Upon my arrival, there were some domestic concerns that began to weigh heavily on my heart. A part of me wanted to take things into my hands, to be the "problem solver" as in days gone by. And as much as I wanted to make things work for my loved ones, I had to accept that I didn't hold the answers to the difficult situation they were facing. Reluctantly I had to give way... yes, to yield and be willing to let go.
It wasn't easy for me to remove the label "Savior" from my forehead, but in the end I realized there was no other way.
Indeed the month of February has been a month of yielding...
of saying yes... to God's invitation to join Him in what He is doing...
of waiting patiently... and not demanding that things work out the way I want them to....
Yes, this has also been a month of giving myself permission...
to see the imperfect situations around me...
to suffer and endure because much as I wanted to provide the answers, I had to admit that I wasn't the remedy for certain difficult circumstances...
to believe that sometimes, the solution lies outside of my capabilities...
to take things in stride because God is sovereign and has His own answers coming in His own time.
Others have called it by different names:
relinquishment... abandonment... surrender.
I simply call it obedience... not my will, but Yours be done, Lord.
How beautiful the words of Henri Nouwen are about this very thing that I am talking about:
The word patience comes from the Latin verb patior, which means "to suffer."
Waiting patiently is suffering through the present moment, tasting it to the full, and letting the seeds that are sown in the ground on which we stand grow into strong plants.
Waiting patiently always means paying attention to what is happening right before our eyes and seeing there the first rays of God's glorious coming.
"Patience, Waiting, God, Hope"
in Bread for the Journey
Yielding...
Indeed this name is so appropriate for this month. The farmer waits patiently for the season of harvest.
Nevertheless, while waiting the farmer waters and cultivates.
There are times when nothing seems to be happening. Yet, after a season of waiting comes the yield.
Yield signifies a bountiful harvest, simple abundance.
The words of Jesus in Matthew 11 as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson in The Message sums it all up for me:
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
Below are a few of this month's highlights in pictures:
FEBRUARY 7
Blog Anniversary!
Crown of Beauty turned 3 years old this month!
Blog Anniversary!
Crown of Beauty turned 3 years old this month!
FEBRUARY 11
My sister in law Sue celebrated the 20th year of her presidency at the university that she heads.
My sister in law Sue celebrated the 20th year of her presidency at the university that she heads.
Pastor Joe Ascalon prays for Sue and her husband Vito during a special Thanksgiving service to mark the occasion. It was a solemn event, and we all came wearing our special native costumes.
My other sister in law, Leila, with her husband Jay (at the university gym where the Thanksgiving service was held).In the evening, Sue hosted a dinner at their home for people close to her heart.
me, Miriam, and Ann
Sue with her best friend Lynn, daughter Tisha, and another friend Baby
"My life story is more beautiful and meaningful because you are in it," I told Sue during the tribute I gave for her that evening.
Sue: "I did not just fill my cup... I filled it to overflowing."FEBRUARY 12
Back in Manila for a day of prayer with dear friends.
A menorah embroidered towel over the communion bread and wine.FEBRUARY 18-19
An Ancient Paths seminar for Compassion, Philippines at a lovely retreat center by the sea.
Glorious sunsetFEBRUARY 19
My BFF (best friend forever) Melanie who resides in the US arrived, and look what special gifts she brought me for Christmas and for my birthday:
Melanie knows I am a bookworm. And she knows the authors I love.FEBRUARY 22
Celebrating Buddy's birthday with the Family Foundations national ministry team.
Front row: William, Buddy, Raffi and daughter SofiaBack row: Ruby, Tata, Pat, Trudi, Honey Grace and me
And here are some scenes from my February garden:
Lantana buds about to open
More lantana shots - amazing colors in just one plant!
My dog Sammy, she loves to rest her head on the iron fence while I water the plants early in the morning.
I took this shot early this morning. On the last day of February, after a whole month of no rains, it finally rained again!
Even my cactus plant was rejoicing!Thank you, dear Father, for a lovely month during which I learned to listen... to wait... and to yield to your gentle nudges.
It is good to wait for You, Lord... to learn humility... and to grow in wisdom and in grace.
I have a long way to go, dear Lord... but thank you for Your patience with me, for not giving up on me.
Thank you dear Jesus for showing me how to do it... Your way!
"Wisdom"my favorite wooden sculpture, a gift from my friend Trudi...
9 comments:
As always, I come here and I am blessed. There were many things you said that spoke to my heart. But this is the one that spoke loudest:
"I had to admit that I wasn't the remedy for certain difficult circumstances..."
It's so very hard, sometimes, to be the mother of adult children. I want to "help out" and "fix" and "make better" - you know what I'm talking about, I think. It's very hard to yield my parenting to the Father who loves my sons even more than I do.
I will be pondering today, all the things you have brought to my mind about yielding. Surrender can be a beautiful thing - for it truly isn't something we do after we've abandoned all hope - it's what we do when we have complete hope in the One who controls the outcome.
GOD BLESS!
This is another post that I not only learn from, but that I also feel a pricking in my heart when I read it. I too want to rush in and fix things, especially for my kids and I know that sometimes I need to stand back and let them go forward themselves and learn from it.
I'm glad you followed the prompting you received and were blessed by the places you were able to be at and the things you took part in!
Oh...my-yes. How often over this past year have I had to lay down my will at the Father's feet and yield to His. I've had to do it in so many ways-physically, emotionally, mentally...with my spoken responses. Every way you can imagine. I few times for a little while-I chose MY way. Not for long-too painful. yes...I can surely relate. Sitting here smiling and nodding while I eat a few more of my little "brown" bananas.
I always long for your posts sister Lidj knowing the Lord instills something new every time but at the same time, you always encourage me with my own faith! Glory be to God!
I love the pics you shared. But most of all, I love the reminder about learning to "yield" and just letting the Lord lead us. You know this post is very meaningful for me at this time of my walk with Him. Today, He granted me something "big"...He showed me one proof that already would make me win my case...I was rejoicing! But at the same time, got quiet and in prayers, I knew I had to wait for His perfect timing, not mine. It's hard to "yield" but what a great asset if we learn to do so. By His grace...
Someday, when we go Home, I would love to know why we have to learn to endure, to be patient...But I know nothing in our own wisdom now will be able to grasp what He has in store for those who love Him.
Thank you sister Lidj for reminding me to pray after work. I always pray for protection before going into that dark place. It's always prayers of gratitude I have every time I go home. He is an awesome God but I know I shouldn't let my guard down. Thank you for your continued encouragement, prayers and love. It means a lot to me. Praying for you also. We may be miles apart but our hearts so near! Thanks be to Him for our unity in Spirit. God bless and protect you and your family. Love to you sister!
How fun to read of your travels, but mostly I was blessed by the theme of yielding, something that doesn't come very easily for me. I have to keep reminding myself that my role is not "holy spirit junior". I don't have to fix things for everyone but instead yield to the Lord's guidance.
Your month has been full of the beautiful results of your yielding. God bless you Lidj.
Congratulations for all the anniversaries and special monents o f Feb. Such lovely occasions of joy - God is so good.
You are a wonderful photographer Lidj.
My Sheeba also like Sammy likes to rest her head on the iron grille - actually her nose!
We 've had a great time with 2 young people from Canada.
long time no chat.....new blog addy is
http://rebeccaking.org/
(from the travelling scarf group!)
Hi Lidj -
Congratulations on your blog anniversay. Your content is consistently delicious! Thank you, precious lady of GOD!
Your photos are lovely.
That Isaiah 62:3 is one of my favorites. In fact, I read the entire Chapter 62 this morning as part of my Professor Horner's Bible Reading System program.
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