Because in the school of the Spirit
man learns wisdom through humility,
knowledge by forgetting,
how to speak by silence,
how to live by dying.
- Johannes Tauler
Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him,
"Where are you?"
- Genesis 3:9
As I write this post, a soft relaxing Celtic harp music is playing in the background. I'm seated at my prayer desk in my prayer room. What a peaceful, quiet evening it is!
I have just come home from our weekly Monday night Bible study, another inspiring evening of anointed worship time and Bible teaching. Tonight, Lyndon taught from the book of Galatians. Baby and Pacit Infante hosted us at their lovely home.
My heart is still full from this evening's fresh encounter with the Living Word. The song we listened to before the lesson gripped my heart.
It was an old song, No Other Name, by Don Moen from the musicale God With Us. But the introduction to the song was powerful, with the worship leader speaking the different names* of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation, a fitting prelude to the song.
We felt the Lord's gentle presence in our midst as we heard the wonderful names of Jesus being mentioned, a sense of awe filling the lovely garden room where we were gathered.
What a comfort it brings, the truth that God is indeed the great I AM . Whatever we need Him to be, He is.
It has often been said that God doesn't respond to doubt, fear, or even need. That He responds to faith alone.
It all sounds so profound, but I beg to disagree.
All throughout Scripture, God sees the need of His people and responds accordingly. After the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden, they sewed fig leaves together to make coverings for their nakedness. In compassion, God provides them with animal skins, understanding their fallen nature and their need to cover up their sense of shame. I don't think Adam and Eve showed any faith at this point...
In Exodus, God heard the cries of His people, and sent a deliverer to lead them out of bondage. Maybe there was faith... but I think their response was mostly grumbling and murmuring.
Yet God condescends. He understands, instead of condemning. He shows compassion and responds.
There are many more stories like this. The feeding of the multitude. The Samaritan woman at the well. The woman caught in adultery. No faith was shown... yet God steps in.
God is the great I Am. He is looking for faith, but He is certainly not indifferent to our need. One of His names is Emmanuel, "God With Us."
In just a few hours, we will say goodbye to June and welcome the month of July.
Tonight is significant because not only is a month coming to an end, we are also saying good-bye to the first half of this year.
The past months, I have begun trying out a new daily practice of having my evening meditation at sundown, whenever possible.
The Biblical day officially begins at sundown of the previous day. This gives me some spiritual preparation for the new day, and helps me set the tone and direction for it.
Sundown is also the start of the first watch of the night. At this time I pray around the first line of the Lord's Prayer, Our Father Who art in heaven...
In Abu Baku's book Praying through the Gates of Time he writes that the first watch is the time to remember the Fatherhood of God over us, as well as to remember the covenant that He has with us. At this time I make it a point to receive holy communion, affirming Abba Father's fatherhood over me, and renewing my covenant with Him.
It is a helpful practice. But I don't fret or feel discouraged when I cannot do it. It brings such a sweet refreshment and renewal to my spirit when I am relaxed about it, and don't do it in a religious way.
As June is about to end, I have looked back at the events of the past weeks, and have waited to receive from God the name I am to give it.
The name He impressed upon my heart does not surprise me at all.
Hineni.
Hineni literally translated from the Hebrew means, "Here I stand, for you called me."
It is a response given when God calls on someone to do an important assignment.
Hineni. Abraham answers in response to God.
Hineni. Moses replies to God speaking to him out of the burning bush.
Hineni. Samuel responds to Eli the first time he heard the call, thinking it was Eli that called him. (1 Samuel 3:5) Here I am, for you called me. Later, Eli teaches the young Samuel to also say, Speak LORD for your servant listens.
Inferred in this simple statement is a position of readiness. "Here I am, ready and willing to do what you ask me to do."
It is a powerful response of obedience and humility.
I really love the concept of Hineni.
This concept first shows up in the garden of Eden when God asks Adam, "Where are you?" It is a question that God asks us often. And the expected response is Hineni.
Here I am, Lord, ready to do as You say.
If we are living in transparency and trust before God, we will be able to give that response wholeheartedly.
No walls, no masks, no pretense.
It says to the one calling, "Here I am, just as I am."
It is a sacred response, a person showing up for the assignment with the sincere desire to connect.
And the response brings with it an expectation that although what is required may not be so easy to do, there will surely be a good ending to the assignment.
Hineni, therefore, is a response of faith. When I say Hineni to Abba Father when He calls, I say yes with the expectation that good things are going to happen as a result of my obedience.
What strikes me about Hineni is that when God calls, His call comes not as a demand, but as an invitation for us to partner with Him, to join Him in what He is doing.
Looking back to the events of this month that is ending, I stand amazed. It has truly been a Hineni kind of month.
Here's a bird's eye view of what the month was like for me:
I returned to Manila on the last week of May, and I stayed until the 10th day of June.
While in Manila, I had the opportunity to meet up with dear friends Alberto and Gina Fernandez.
I choose to say to these, my dear friends... Hineni, here I am, believing in the best that you can be.
I say to you dear, Tina... Hineni. It was my last day in Manila, and you were also very busy. Yet we chose to find time for each other. To affirm our friendship.
Many more Hineni moments the past month...
I was able to re-establish ties with a dear friend Rebecca from my university days whom I had not seen since I left Manila in 1979. Rebecca has since remarried after her first husband died, and it was a joy to meet her husband Mike Watters as well. They are now missionaries to Kenya. We enjoyed lunch together at our home, but in the excitement of that day, I forgot to take a photo of us! However, before leaving, Mike gave me Psalm 20 as a farewell blessing. What a wonderful blessing it was!
On June 17 we celebrated Father's Day in a special lunch to honor my two sons First Born and Worshiper, now fathers to one son each.
The next day, we went to the memorial park to honor the memory of my husband, Ernie, and my father-in-law, Voltaire. Ernie and his father were both very good fathers to us, and I appreciate the legacy of hard work and generosity that they have left behind.
Indeed, Hineni is a fitting name for this special month. I sense that God is about to pour new things into my heart as I respond in obedience to His call.
God is saying to you and me, Hineni. Here I am, Your God who will be to you what you need Me to be.
And, on our part, when we say Hineni to God, we are saying, I am ready to obey You no matter what it takes.
It is the response of Isaiah, Here I am Lord, send me.
It is the response of Samuel, Here I am, for you called me.
When I say Hineni to God, I am in effect agreeing with how He sees my life - my past, my present, my future.
Not my will Lord, but Thine.
Not my perspective Lord, but Yours.
With Hineni, I choose to say, I don't know what the future holds, Lord, but show me the way, and I will follow. Hineni, I put my trust in You.
Hineni. It is a beautiful covenant response.
Good-bye, June. I name you, "Hineni."
What a comfort it brings, the truth that God is indeed the great I AM . Whatever we need Him to be, He is.
It has often been said that God doesn't respond to doubt, fear, or even need. That He responds to faith alone.
It all sounds so profound, but I beg to disagree.
All throughout Scripture, God sees the need of His people and responds accordingly. After the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden, they sewed fig leaves together to make coverings for their nakedness. In compassion, God provides them with animal skins, understanding their fallen nature and their need to cover up their sense of shame. I don't think Adam and Eve showed any faith at this point...
In Exodus, God heard the cries of His people, and sent a deliverer to lead them out of bondage. Maybe there was faith... but I think their response was mostly grumbling and murmuring.
Yet God condescends. He understands, instead of condemning. He shows compassion and responds.
There are many more stories like this. The feeding of the multitude. The Samaritan woman at the well. The woman caught in adultery. No faith was shown... yet God steps in.
God is the great I Am. He is looking for faith, but He is certainly not indifferent to our need. One of His names is Emmanuel, "God With Us."
In just a few hours, we will say goodbye to June and welcome the month of July.
Tonight is significant because not only is a month coming to an end, we are also saying good-bye to the first half of this year.
The past months, I have begun trying out a new daily practice of having my evening meditation at sundown, whenever possible.
The Biblical day officially begins at sundown of the previous day. This gives me some spiritual preparation for the new day, and helps me set the tone and direction for it.
Sundown is also the start of the first watch of the night. At this time I pray around the first line of the Lord's Prayer, Our Father Who art in heaven...
In Abu Baku's book Praying through the Gates of Time he writes that the first watch is the time to remember the Fatherhood of God over us, as well as to remember the covenant that He has with us. At this time I make it a point to receive holy communion, affirming Abba Father's fatherhood over me, and renewing my covenant with Him.
It is a helpful practice. But I don't fret or feel discouraged when I cannot do it. It brings such a sweet refreshment and renewal to my spirit when I am relaxed about it, and don't do it in a religious way.
As June is about to end, I have looked back at the events of the past weeks, and have waited to receive from God the name I am to give it.
The name He impressed upon my heart does not surprise me at all.
Hineni.
Hineni literally translated from the Hebrew means, "Here I stand, for you called me."
It is a response given when God calls on someone to do an important assignment.
Hineni. Abraham answers in response to God.
Hineni. Moses replies to God speaking to him out of the burning bush.
Hineni. Samuel responds to Eli the first time he heard the call, thinking it was Eli that called him. (1 Samuel 3:5) Here I am, for you called me. Later, Eli teaches the young Samuel to also say, Speak LORD for your servant listens.
Inferred in this simple statement is a position of readiness. "Here I am, ready and willing to do what you ask me to do."
It is a powerful response of obedience and humility.
I really love the concept of Hineni.
This concept first shows up in the garden of Eden when God asks Adam, "Where are you?" It is a question that God asks us often. And the expected response is Hineni.
Here I am, Lord, ready to do as You say.
If we are living in transparency and trust before God, we will be able to give that response wholeheartedly.
No walls, no masks, no pretense.
It says to the one calling, "Here I am, just as I am."
It is a sacred response, a person showing up for the assignment with the sincere desire to connect.
And the response brings with it an expectation that although what is required may not be so easy to do, there will surely be a good ending to the assignment.
Hineni, therefore, is a response of faith. When I say Hineni to Abba Father when He calls, I say yes with the expectation that good things are going to happen as a result of my obedience.
What strikes me about Hineni is that when God calls, His call comes not as a demand, but as an invitation for us to partner with Him, to join Him in what He is doing.
Looking back to the events of this month that is ending, I stand amazed. It has truly been a Hineni kind of month.
Here's a bird's eye view of what the month was like for me:
I returned to Manila on the last week of May, and I stayed until the 10th day of June.
While in Manila, I had the opportunity to meet up with dear friends Alberto and Gina Fernandez.
I choose to say to these, my dear friends... Hineni, here I am, believing in the best that you can be.
My sweet friend Tina Rivera and I were also able to spend time together on the last day I was in Manila this month.
I say to you dear, Tina... Hineni. It was my last day in Manila, and you were also very busy. Yet we chose to find time for each other. To affirm our friendship.
Many more Hineni moments the past month...
I was able to re-establish ties with a dear friend Rebecca from my university days whom I had not seen since I left Manila in 1979. Rebecca has since remarried after her first husband died, and it was a joy to meet her husband Mike Watters as well. They are now missionaries to Kenya. We enjoyed lunch together at our home, but in the excitement of that day, I forgot to take a photo of us! However, before leaving, Mike gave me Psalm 20 as a farewell blessing. What a wonderful blessing it was!
May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble...
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you...
May He send you help from the sanctuary...
And strengthen you out of Zion...
May He grant you according to your heart's desire...
And fulfill all your purpose...
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions...
Two days after I arrived in Bacolod, six of us in the Family Foundations ministry team left for Davao City to do a Blessing Generations seminar with the students of the Korean-run Davao Bible Seminary for two days. We had a tight schedule because on top of this seminar, our team also ministered to one family in the area of relationships. But what a blessing it was to experience breakthroughs in our midst.
sunrise over Barangay Cabantian, Davao City, June 13, 2014
Team Philippines
Team Korea
a casual photo taken by Stef during the lunch break
Back in Bacolod I was able to reconnect with my friends and prayer partners at the Negros Island House of Prayer. It was also such a blessing to be able to join dear family members and friends at the weekly Bible lessons given by Lyndon Cana every Monday night.
water droplets chandelier at the home of Baby and Stella Mora
a fitting picture of the showers of blessing we receive during the anointed Bible lessons
a fitting picture of the showers of blessing we receive during the anointed Bible lessons
On June 17 we celebrated Father's Day in a special lunch to honor my two sons First Born and Worshiper, now fathers to one son each.
The next day, we went to the memorial park to honor the memory of my husband, Ernie, and my father-in-law, Voltaire. Ernie and his father were both very good fathers to us, and I appreciate the legacy of hard work and generosity that they have left behind.
at the memorial park.
remembering the fathers who have gone ahead of us
My beloved husband.
"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." - Campbell
"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." - Campbell
My parents' wedding picture.
July 9, 1952
July 9, 1952
On Father's Day 2014, I also took time to remember my own father and what a special man he was. Papa, I believe, is the most important influence in my life. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word, the kind who stood up when a woman entered the room, and opened the door for my mother and us his daughters, and other women.
Papa was well-bred, refined in speech, gentle in manners. He added beauty and elegance to anything he touched. Never spoke ill of anyone. Always treated my mother and his daughters with respect. Always so generous, but never kept a record of what he had given or done for others. Truly a man of peace.
One of the best lessons I learned from him is how to speak. He would often say to me, "Daughter, the words you speak reveal what you are inside. So choose your words carefully. Always speak with dignity, and with grace."
The Hebrew term, yafei nefesh, truly applies to him. The word means, "gentle soul or beautiful spirit."
I will never forget you, Papa. Sixty-one years after I was born, and I still set the table the way you taught me. I thank God for giving me a father like you.
A few days ago, the women's group in our church had a three-day weekend retreat in Dumaguete City. God gave us a truly meaningful time of bonding together, feasting on friendship, food, laughter, and most of all, precious manna from God's enduring word. Yesterday, the last day of our retreat, I was able to share with them about Hineni. Powerful!
God is saying to you and me, Hineni. Here I am, Your God who will be to you what you need Me to be.
And, on our part, when we say Hineni to God, we are saying, I am ready to obey You no matter what it takes.
It is the response of Isaiah, Here I am Lord, send me.
It is the response of Samuel, Here I am, for you called me.
When I say Hineni to God, I am in effect agreeing with how He sees my life - my past, my present, my future.
Not my will Lord, but Thine.
Not my perspective Lord, but Yours.
With Hineni, I choose to say, I don't know what the future holds, Lord, but show me the way, and I will follow. Hineni, I put my trust in You.
Hineni. It is a beautiful covenant response.
Good-bye, June. I name you, "Hineni."
Isaiah 62: Surely Your Salvation is Coming
Related posts about Hineni:
_____
*Names of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation
In Genesis Jesus is the Ram at Abraham's altar.
In Genesis Jesus is the Ram at Abraham's altar.
In Exodus He is the Passover Lamb.
In Leviticus He's the High Priest.
In Numbers He's the Cloud by day and Pillar of Fire by night.
In Deuteronomy He's the City of our Refuge.
In Joshua He's the Scarlet Thread out Rahab's window.
In Judges He is our Judge.
In Ruth He is our Kinsman Redeemer.
In 1st and 2nd Samuel He's our trusted Prophet.
In Kings and Chronicles He's our reigning King.
In Ezra He's our faithful Scribe.
In Nehemiah, He's the Rebuilder of everything that is broken.
In Esther He is the Mordecai sitting faithful at the gate.
In Job He is our Redeemer who ever liveth.
In Psalms He is my Shepherd and I shall not want.
In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes He is our Wisdom.
In the Song of Solomon He's the beautiful Bridegroom.
In Isaiah He's the Suffering Servant.
In Jeremiah and Lamentations, it is Jesus that is the Weeping Prophet.
In Ezekiel He's the wonderful Four-faced Man.
In Daniel He's the Fourth Man in the midst of the fiery furnace.
In Hosea He is my Love that is forever faithful.
In Joel He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.
In Amos He's our Burden Bearer.
In Obadiah He's our Savior.
In Jonah He is the great foreign Missionary that takes the Word of God into all the world.
In Micah He's the Messenger with beautiful feet.
In Nahum He is the Avenger.
In Habakkuk He is the Watchman that is ever praying for revival.
In Zephaniah He is the Lord mighty to save.
In Haggai He's the Restorer of our lost heritage.
In Zechariah He is our Fountain.
In Malachi He is the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings.
In Matthew Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
In Mark He is the Miracle Worker.
In Luke He's the Son of Man.
In John He's the Door by which everyone of us must enter.
In Acts He's the shining Light that appears to Saul on the road to Damascus.
In Romans He's our Justifier.
In 1st Corinthians He's our Resurrection.
In 2nd Corinthians He's our Sin Bearer.
In Galatians He redeems us from the Law.
In Ephesians He is our Unsearchable Riches.
In Philippians He supplies our every need.
In Colossians He's the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
In 1st and 2nd Thessalonians He's our soon coming King.
In 1st and 2nd Timothy He's the Mediator between God and Man.
In Titus He's our Blessed Hope.
In Philemon He's a Friend that sticks closer than a brother.
In Hebrews He is the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant.
In James He's the Lord that heals the sick.
In 1st and 2nd Peter He is the Chief Shepherd.
In 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John it is Jesus who has the tenderness of Love.
In Jude He's the Lord coming with 10,000 saints!
And in Revelation, lift up your eyes church, for your redemption draweth nigh, He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
5 comments:
What a full & precious month it was for you, Lidia. Your readiness to receive from the Father and pour your life out in service is apparent.
May His beauty continue to rest upon you in the days ahead.
Dearest Lidia,
This post touched the core of my heart-went deeper still. I think it is because of your deep love for the Lord. It comes through with every word you write, and in turn, blesses every person who reads those words. The Lord is so good, always so quick to come to our aid when we're down, so generous with His mercy, kindness, patience, and love. I am late reading this post but so glad I didn't forget to come by. Your words always leave me feeling better than when I first arrived. I feel so close to you, as if we have been friends forever. We have much in common: our love for the Lord, our desire to rightly represent Him, our desire to bear fruit, to win souls for He who gave His everything for us. We both have the desire to become the women we know God desires us to be, and to the best of our ability, share our love with others. I would ask that you continue to pray for me, dear friends, to ask the Lord to fill me with additional courage and strength to make changes I need to make. Pray that He will empower me to do those things He asks me to do.
Your photos are so precious. What stands out every time I look at them is how happy all of you are. May you always be so.
Thank you for visiting my blog. It means the world to me. Take care dear one. Pray for you every day. As well, I am looking forward to the day we will meet. Love you.
I know you are busy doing what the Lord is calling you to do. And what a servant attitude you always have, always ready whenever the Lord asks you "Where are you?" You readily come out and obey...Sister Lidia, I pray protection and His wisdom and discernment to always guide you wherever you go...
I love everything you wrote here especially the Names of our Lord. Recalling His works, we don't know the extent of what He had done here as He did many, countless things. That was mine...The post from "enough". I see sleeping Christians when it comes to all these issues plaguing America and Israel but what's sad is the division that goes on. The wrong interpretations of His Word. As I pray also that I am guided not by anyone's opinion/emotions but by Him.
"The Father's Song" is one of my fav. and I play it with my guitar despite not having a great voice :)
So is Don Moen. I love "I Will Sing" because it seems so fitting in these crucial times of every heart responding to the Lord's seeking anyone willing to respond to His calling...That's my prayer...Despite the adversities going on all over the world, is for many more to turn to the Lord...Let's continue to pray for Israel and also for America. Take care sister Lidia and thank you for always blessing me with your love for the Lord and your journey. I enjoy all the pics and your heart spilling each moment written in His book of Life. God bless and love you in His Holy Name.
"Hineni, here I am." Incredible comfort in those words. And right now with what's happening in Israel both sides need His comfort and peace. Love scrolling the pictures. Hugs Lidia and wishes for a beautiful weekend.
Well, I'm reading this a month late, but I believe God meant it for me tonight. I like the idea of beginning my day at sundown; also, if ever there was a Hineni moment in my life it's now in this season of saying yes to an open door I didn't anticipate. Already, the enemy is coming at me, and I feel the effects. Pray for my strength in this time. Thank you for giving me these words tonight.
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