No Permanent Address

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called

to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance.

And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

By faith he dwelt in the land of promise

as in a foreign country,

dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob,

the heirs with him of the same promise;

for he waited for the city which has foundations,

whose builder and maker is God.

- Hebrews 11:8-10

Wherever we choose to live here on earth will always be like living in a city which has no foundations.

Nothing is permanent; at any given time, anything can happen.

Every single joy we experience will be temporary, any possession we acquire, no matter how precious, will be fleeting.

That is the nature of life here on earth.

We live, as it were, as pilgrims and sojourners... in tents. We're always called to move out of our comfort zones.

We cannot drive our stakes down too deep, expecting to stay in one place forever.

Eventually somewhere, somehow, something will break down, disappoint, or lose meaning and value.

We were created for eternity, and our hearts were designed and programmed that we will always hunger and long for what is eternal.

We will always look for something more.

It is only the enemy who tricks us to be satisfied with and to pursue what this world offers.


The truth is that in this life, we must always be ready for change.

There is only one city which has foundations, and that is the Eternal City whose builder and maker is God.

I have long reconciled myself to this truth, and naturally, it has made life so much easier for me.

Yet, the more important the lesson, the harder it is to learn. I had to learn this lesson the hard way.

I'm still learning, and realize that this is one lesson that nobody ever gets to master while here on earth.

I was about to give birth to our second child in 1982 when news reached me that my dear mother had a stroke, leaving half of her body paralyzed, and her speech impaired.

It was hard to see her die a slow death. She was still the same person somewhere inside, I knew that. But as far as we, her family, were concerned, she was never the same.

She passed away in 1985, after three months of being in the ICU, in a comatose state. She was only 60 years old.

A beautiful, vibrant, intelligent, hard-working woman... but she died a slow, painful death.

That was 30 years ago. And a part of me still misses my beloved mother.

In 1989, my husband and I suffered a huge financial reversal. Due to unwise business decisions, and many circumstances beyond our control, we woke up one day with no more money in the bank. 

Our children were young, and life needed to go on.

Major adjustments were made, but we never lost hope.

It was a painful way to discover what things really matter in view of eternity. It is through this lesson that Abba Father taught me how to depend on Him alone.

That He keeps His promises... that people will break our hearts, but God is completely trustworthy.

Today, I am a living witness to God's faithfulness. Our three children finished their education, all graduated from university... and there was not a single meal that we missed.



My own dear father died in 1994, after a year of being ill.

In 2008, Ernie went home to heaven. Another major life change.

If this is all there is to this life - having good things and meaningful relationships, only to lose them in the end... then, what is the use of living?

There has to be something bigger, something more valuable, and more lasting, worth living for.

I've been here in Manila for almost a month. Give me a week or so anywhere, and I begin to grow some roots. 

Admittedly, I've become quite comfortable here already.

And today, as I'm packing my suitcase for my flight back to my home city tomorrow, there's a part of me that is reluctant to leave.

I will miss my daughter.

 I will miss my father's garden and this comfortable home filled with beautiful memories of my growing up years.

I will miss my Manila friends...

At the same time, I am also looking forward to being back in Bacolod.

I will sleep in my own bedroom again.

And I will enjoy my prayer room again.

I will be with my two sons and their wives and my grandchildren again.

I will see my dogs again...

I also have a beautiful garden there... and many dear friends are also waiting for me there.


This, of course, are just the external things. There are precious kingdom ministries that I am a part of, both in my hometown, and here in Manila, that give a deeper meaning to my life.

Abba Father has given me important assignments to carry out, and I sense that there are new marching orders to be revealed in the days ahead.

Nevertheless, this going back and forth... it is quite a confusing feeling.

I have two homes, but I never stay long enough in any of them to really feel so "at home."

I am always getting uprooted, in a way.


It is just a clear picture of what earthly life is like.

This is not my permanent address. I'm only passing through on my way to my final destination.

Today, as I was tidying up my things, preparing to leave again, I am reminded that the nature of this earthly life is transitory, and intended to give us a longing for joy that lasts... the permanence of heaven... the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Indeed, that is a place worth living... and dying, for.

Yes, Heaven...  a glorious, eternal, permanent place that God has prepared for those who are truly His!

I end this post with this powerful song, one of my top favorites.