A Book of Remembrance

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Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another,

And the LORD listened and heard them;

So a book of remembrance was written before Him

For those who fear the LORD

And who meditate on His name.

"They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts,

"On the day that I make them My jewels.

And I will spare them

As a man spares his own son who serves him."

Then you shall again discern

Between the righteous and the wicked,

Between one who serves God

And one who does not serve Him.

- Malachi 3:16-18

What a significant month this has been!

A major portion of the past four weeks was spent preparing for the 50th wedding anniversary celebration of Ernie's sister Suzette and her husband, Boy. There were two special events to commemorate this special day. One was a re-living of their "finest moments" in a lovely dinner at their home where close friends and family members were invited. The other was a formal affair at the Grand Ballroom of the Sugarland Hotel.

My daughter Obedient One came home from Manila and stayed for a week, so that made this month even more special for me.

Other noteworthy events that took place this month are, First-Born Son's birthday, the Feast of Shavu'ot (Pentecost), and my dear friend Pat's birthday.

This also marks my third month without a domestic helper, and I have survived!

After the scorching and oppressive summer heat of March, April and early May, the rains have finally come. For the past two weeks, it has been raining nearly every evening, and every now and then, heaven has graced us with a heavy downpour.

As this month comes to a close, it's good to introspect and look back.

The past years of my life have not always been easy.

Let me put it this way: Life is never easy. Indeed there have been good times - times of comfort, laughter, and more than enough. But woven between those bright happy threads are the darker hues of sad, painful, and difficult times.

Thinking of the poor people who live in famine-stricken areas or countless innocent children orphaned by war reminds me I have much to be thankful for. Nevertheless, I understand that the road I'm on has been chosen by God to draw me closer to Him.

That is why I want to make my life worth living.

The trials, the disappointments, the missed opportunities... there is a reason for them all.

Seasons do not last forever. There are seasons of joy, and there are seasons of seeking solace, of crying out for peace and justice.

One of my favorite Bible passages, Isaiah 28:5-6, reads:

In that day the Lord of hosts will be

For a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty

To the remnant of His people,

For a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,

And for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

The chapter starts with a strong word of condemnation against those who wear the crown of pride, those whose glorious beauty is a fading flower.

Reflecting on this portion of Scripture, I gain a redeemed perspective on the life I have been given. Life is not easy because Father wants His children to learn humility.

And humility is always learned the hard way.

Abba Father doesn't want me to trust in beauty, comfort, riches... for these are nothing but a fading flower.

Understandably, only a small minority will endure till the end. There is a remnant being produced this way, fellow travelers headed toward the same destination. And a day is coming when the difficulties we have gone through will be rewarded, because God will be a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to all those who have persevered, overcome, and passed the test. He will be a spirit of justice to him who has been judged wrongly, and He will be strength to those who have fought the good fight, and have not given up. I love how the passage puts it: a strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

My life has not been what I expected it to be when I was just starting out. But at this ripe age of 64, this woman knows she has gained a measure of grace, wisdom, and maturity to cooperate with the plans and purposes of God for her.

Knowing that gives me peace... and assurance... that I am on the right track.

I hear the words of God to Saul in Acts 26:14 being spoken to me as well: It's hard for you to kick against the goads.

So I quit struggling, and start cooperating, flowing with what God is doing.

He is not finished yet.

Paul gives this excellent admonition: Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness... (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Thus, my goal: To make it all worth while. To not waste the sorrows I've been through, to not devalue the tears I've shed, the efforts I've exerted at being obedient.

Making Jesus the Lord of my life was only the first step. The more crucial decision is the commitment to continue walking in obedience.

There is no stopping, no turning back, no giving up, for there are still many chapters to be written, and many more beautiful lessons to be learned, before this earthly life is over.



The past summer months, I would wake up at 4 in the morning to water my garden, because by 6 a.m., the water supply was down to a mere trickle.

So, when the rains finally came, I was beyond relieved.

Another season has begun.

No, we are not alone in this.

I thank Abba Father who takes thought of His creation.

You visit the earth and water it,
You greatly enrich it;
The river of God is full of water;
You provide their grain,
For so You have prepared it.
You water its ridges abundantly,
You settle its furrows.
You make it soft with showers, 
You bless its growth.
You crown the year with Your goodness,
And Your paths drip with abundance...
- Psalm 65:9-11

Father God really does all things well. And even when life does not turn out as I hope it to, I often remind myself of my Father's words, this one unchangeable truth:

I will never turn away from doing good to them... 

- Jeremiah 32:40 

Holman Christian Standard Bible

After all has been said and done, it all boils down to living life with a reverential fear of God, acknowledging His sovereignty, understanding His holiness.

Holiness is absolute. There can be no compromise, no middle ground.

Yet, of this same holy God, the Bible says,

He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength. - Isaiah 40:29

Though I have failed too often to be the woman I know He wants me to be, all I can do is stand up again and move on.

Take the next steps of obedience. For He gives power to the weak. My Father takes thought of me, Abba is on my side. I am not alone in this.

My God is for me, not against me.  He is refining me through the circumstances of my life.

What then is the response that will please Him and honor Him?

We can learn from history. The Israelites were grumblers, stubborn, and stiff-necked even in the face of God's goodness. They failed to appreciate His design and purpose for them in their circumstances.

What an ugly picture of unbelief and defiance.

I never, ever want to be like that!

But since I have not walked in their shoes, I say that with care and caution. Instead, I whisper this simple prayer:

Father, help me learn the unforced rhythms of grace as I go through life...

The Malachi passage I have posted at the top is a truly sobering one. There is a book of remembrance being written by God. In this book are the names of all who fear Him, and who meditate on His name.

God is listening to my conversations, the words I speak, and He is looking at my attitude towards life. Am I full of complaints? Am I prone to blame others for my misfortunes? Am I a faultfinder, or am I a life giver? 

Do I give God first place in my daily priorities? Or do I pursue my own personal agenda first?

These are some of the thoughts that I have been thinking these past weeks.

It has been said by some Bible teachers that this particular passage refers to the pre-tribulation rapture. Not everyone will be raptured when the time comes, so they say. God is looking for those who have an intimate relationship with Him, those who have remained faithful to the end. He calls them My Jewels. And God says, They shall be mine, and I will spare them.

Whether it truly refers to the rapture or not, this to me is a very beautiful passage, one that I often read and meditate on.

So I name this month A Book of Remembrance, to remind myself of my desire to have my name written by God in that special book.

There are many things that Father is teaching me in this season, and one of them is to be uncomplaining in the face of difficult situations.

My prayer:

Yes, Abba, I am a lifelong learner. May I not miss out on the many opportunities You send my way to shape my character, to make me a humble, undemanding daughter of Yours, and to keep growing in an intimate relationship with You.

You are a faithful God, Your promises endure forever.

Here is the song I am singing: 

There is a Season

Sharing a few photos from the month of May:

Coffee time at Cafe de Argos with friends Jing and Tina

 On First Born son's birthday, with his son Forerunner 

Dinner at Sugarland Hotel with Anna, a dear friend from university days, who was in Bacolod City for a few days

With dear daughter in law God-given
 at Boy and Suzette's "Finest Moments" celebration

Photos of our family taken at Boy and Suzette's 50th wedding anniversary:

me and daughter Obedient One

First Born son and wife God given, with their children

 

Second son Worshiper, and wife Chosen One

my three children

 

Grandsons Forerunner and Full of Hope 

 Second born son Worshiper with his son Joyful One

 Suzette and me

family photo with Boy and Suzette

Forerunner serving as a McDonald's Kiddie Crew

Family lunch before daughter Obedient One returns to Manila

after being with us for a week

At Krispy Kreme with grandsons Full of Hope and Joyful One

Celebrating with Pat on her birthday