In Quietness and Trust

Native Christmas lantern made of sea shells hanging by our front window






Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

- Psalm 20:27




Rejoice in the Lord always.
I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 4:4-7




This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength... ”

- Isaiah 30:15

A week ago today, December 13, I arrived back in my home city of Bacolod.

I was gone for a total of nineteen days - nine days doing the Ancient Paths ministry in Cebu City, and ten days with my daughter in Manila.

In a previous post I wrote that by an unexpected turn of events, my daughter had to move out of our ancestral home and transfer to a tiny studio not too far from where she used to live. When I arrived in Manila from Cebu, it was my first time to be with my daughter at her new place.

Having been used to a huge four bedroom home with lovely living rooms and glass doors that gave us ample view of my father's front and back gardens, I thought that staying with Obedient One in her one-room affair and sharing the sofa bed with her at night would be difficult for me.

On the contrary, it wasn't.

Call it divine providence, but for the first few days upon arriving in Manila, I was sick with a severe head cold and was asleep most of the time to really be bothered about anything else.

Nevertheless, despite the tiny size of my daughter's new place, I found it cozy and homey. I loved the peace and quiet as well as the serene spirit that I experienced there. Her pad is situated under a huge mango tree, and surrounded by a garden, so the greenery all around provides such a restful and welcoming atmosphere.

Ten days went by too quickly. It was with a heavy heart that I said goodbye to Obedient One on the morning of my departure.

Obedient One, taken at Cyma Greek Taverna where we celebrated her birthday

Indeed, my only daughter is my little girl that has grown up to be my friend!

She will always have a special place in my heart.


When I got out of the Bacolod City airport terminal, Worshiper, my second born son, and his wife Chosen One, together with their one year old son, Elijah, were waiting for me. Since it was already evening when I arrived, Worshiper decided to treat us all to dinner at a new restaurant in town. It was a lovely homecoming meal spent with family.

Back in my home city, there was no time to lose. Events were already in store for the next few days...

Wednesday, December 14 - my friend William celebrated his 60th birthday. William is the national coordinator for Family Foundations International, Philippines. He is not only a dear friend, he is a model, a leader, a mentor. His life has been such a blessing to me and my whole family!

William's birthday cake

William with his wife Ruby, and their children Stefanie, Joshua, and Joel.

Thursday, December 15 - our family had a pre-Christmas misono lunch because Worshiper and his family will be leaving for Manila to celebrate Christmas with his wife's family.

sumptuous Japanese misono of bean sprouts, sliced vegetables, beef, chicken, shrimps, and garlic rice

my first grandson, Forerunner

First Born son and his wife God given

Matt hates group pictures, but I wouldn't let him go...
and I think little Elijah is wondering what the fuss is all about!

Worshiper, Chosen One, and little Elijah

Elijah and his Nana, at Starbucks

Friday, December 16 - our women's group that meets weekly for a lunchtime Bible devotional had a Christmas lunch party, and in the evening, our intercessors' group at church got together to listen to a teaching that I gave on Lectio Divina.

"Women of Purpose" Christmas lunch get together

Some of the intercessors enjoying pizza on a stormy night

Tropical storm Sendong (International name: Washi) made landfall in central Philippines Friday afternoon, so it was quite a rainy afternoon and evening for us.


The next day, Saturday, December 17, I was scheduled to leave Bacolod for Iloilo City, located on another island, to conduct an Ancient Paths seminar. Earlier that morning the storm moved out of central Philippines... but picking up speed, it headed toward the southern part of our islands.

I arrived at the port of Bacolod to find it jampacked with passengers. All fast ferry trips the day before, as well as the first trip that morning, had been cancelled due to the storm. That morning no sea vessels could leave the port without Coast Guard clearance. My two sons were urging me to cancel my planned trip and to rebook my ticket for the next day. However, I decided to wait it out.

Three hours later, I was on board the Weesam fast ferry bound for Iloilo City.

There were huge waves when we reached open seas a few minutes later... it was quite a scary boat ride. I can't deny that I was worried, so I prayed quietly in my prayer language... mostly to keep my heart at rest.

But in my heart of hearts, there was peace... a sense of destiny.

Half an hour later we reached the Strait of Guimaras... and to everyone's relief, the sea suddenly became calm!

I reached Iloilo City never doubting that I was in the right place at the right time.

Arrival at the Port of Iloilo on a stormy morning

However, while facilitating the Lord's ministry of healing and reconciliation in this city over the weekend, I was very much aware of the devastation that had taken place in another part of our country.

Today after three days in Iloilo, I am finally back home. The seas were quite calm during my return trip back to my island.

Sea was peaceful on my return trip to Bacolod

But as of this writing, there is sorrow and pain in the southern part of our archipelago. The death toll due to the sudden and unexpected floods in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities is expected to exceed a thousand.

The southern islands of Mindanao are seldom hit by typhoons; the people were therefore unprepared for such a phenomenon. According to our environment experts. a combination of several factors also contributed to the calamity: extreme climate change, sea level rise, storm surge, river basin overflow, and saltwater intrusion were some of them. Because these two cities are coastal areas sitting under mountain ranges, they were vulnerable to the kind of disaster that struck them. What made matters worse was the huge amount of rainfall dumped on these areas in just a period of twelve hours.

Hundreds of decomposing bodies are unclaimed, and unidentified. Authorities fear that entire families were washed out to sea by the sudden surge of flood waters that rose without warning in the dead of night.

With our nation still reeling from this recent calamity, I want to celebrate Christmas this year in a very simple, and quiet way.


I am asking the Lord to fill my heart with a sense of quiet rejoicing that He has come to bring peace and hope in the midst of our pain.

Tonight also is the start of the Jewish festival of lights, called Hanukah. We will not be able to celebrate it this year, but still I am thanking God for the significance of this feast in my own life.

I thank God for being the Peace in the midst of my storms...

for being the Light in my darkness...

the sure Hope in the midst of uncertain times...

the Healer, the Redeemer, the Restorer!

I thank God for the bright hope and assurance that He gives through the following promises found in His Word:

The LORD tears down the house of the proud,
but he protects the property of widows.
- Proverbs 15:25

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
- Psalm 68:5

Leave your fatherless children, I will preserve them alive;
and let your widows trust in me.
- Jeremiah 49:11

The feast of Hanukkah is also a feast of new beginnings!

This season, as the old year comes to an end, I am looking forward to the jubilee blessings in store for me, for my family, for our nation!

I am thanking God for the many blessings that He has continued to rain down on me and my family, and will continue to do so in the days, weeks, and months to come!

Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up;
do you not perceive it?

- Isaiah 43:18, 19


Linking up with Joan at Reflections of His Grace