The Narrow Gate

Enter by the narrow gate;

for wide is the gate and broad is the way

that leads to destruction,

and there are many who go in by it.

Because narrow is the gate

and difficult is the way

which leads to life,

and there are few who find it.

- Matthew 7:13, 14

In this post, I want to share some of my thoughts on the claims of Jesus Christ as being the only way to heaven.

"For anyone who takes the time to actually read Jesus' own words, the truth is abundantly evident: Jesus is unequivocally exclusive, narrow, and intolerant about the way to eternal life." (Pastor Ray Noah)

One of such narrow and intolerant claims is found in John 14:6,

I am the way, the truth, and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Another is found in Matthew 7:13, 14, quoted above, and I quote it again here,

Enter by the narrow gate...

because narrow is the gate

and difficult is the way which leads to life,

and there are few who find it.

When it comes to truth, it has to be unequivocally and absolutely true, for it to be dependable and trustworthy.

If it can be interpreted another way, or misunderstood, then truth serves no good purpose, in very much the same way that a chair... or an airplane... must be true to its claims for it to be reliable, dependable and trustworthy.

If I may say so, the problem confronting the world today is its willingness to settle for relative, watered-down truth.

In the words of a song by the Monkees that I loved to sing in my teenage years, "Today there is no black or white, only shades of grey."

But relative truth is not truth at all.

The enemy of our souls has tricked us into buying the horrible lie that we need to be able to fend for ourselves, and not to be so dependent on a higher power for everything.

That is one outright twist to a truth that we desperately need to believe.

God is God alone. And we are creatures designed to be dependent on Him for our every breath.

This is not a bad thing at all. In fact, it is our salvation; our very existence depends on this truth.

If we really knew God, we would know that He is a benevolent Creator, One who is all wise, and who wants nothing but the best for the people He created. 

The best thing that can ever happen to us is to live life the way He planned it: dependent on Him.

He will give us what is best for us, what will best fulfill us, what will best satisfy us.

So when Jesus says we are to enter life through the Narrow Gate, it is in truth the best way to go through life.

And when Jesus says, narrow is the gate, and difficult is the way that leads to life... only a few find it, He knows what He is talking about.

Jesus makes it clear -- there are only two kinds of gates to choose from - the narrow gate, and the wide gate.

It is not true that "all roads lead to heaven."

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

One of the best realizations I have ever had was when I understood that the kingdom of heaven is precisely that, a kingdom.

A kingdom is ruled by a king who is sovereign. He is not elected into office by a vote of the majority. He reigns supreme, and His kingdom knows no end... because He is God who will never die.

When it comes to spiritual truths, it is best understood in terms of kingdom principles.

The difficulty begins when we look at Bible truths in terms of democratic principles. A democracy is a form of government in which the supreme political authority rests with the people.

Vox populi - the voice and opinion of the majority - is what best defines a democracy.

In a democracy, the will of the majority is considered the correct way. 

The kingdom of heaven is not a democracy.

Jesus clearly says that the road that the majority will take is the broad way... but that is the wrong way! It leads to eternal destruction.

We can go through life believing what we want to believe... but ultimately, if what we have believed as truth is not absolute truth, then sadly, we have no eternal security.

Believing in Jesus as the only Truth, and as the only Way, and as the only Life... and believing in Jesus as the Narrow Gate that leads to life... is the only way by which we will make it to heaven when the time comes for us to leave this earth.

I have no problem believing that. After all, it will spell the difference where I spend the rest of my life... forever.

Augustine of Hippo wrote these famous words:

Yes, of course.

The law of gravity is truth. Whether we believe in it or not.

So is the law of seedtime and harvest.

And the law of sowing and reaping.

And so is the unequivocal claim of Jesus Christ being the Only Way to Heaven.

It just needs a paradigm shift on our part, from a democratic mindset, which is founded on our individual rights, to a kingdom mindset which is founded on the principle of trusting and obeying the sovereign King of the universe...

And regarding a kingdom mindset, Jesus has this to say:

I tell you the truth, 

no one can see the kingdom of heaven 

unless he is born again. 

- John 3:3

Another unequivocal claim.

I love how Pastor Ray Noah puts it in perspective. He says that if the claims of Jesus sound narrow and intolerant, 

it most definitely is--but so is a runway, and landing exclusively on it is the only way to get the airplane you are on safely to its destination. 

A runway has to be reserved for airplanes alone, no other kind of transportation can run on it. If cars and trucks were allowed on runways, the result would be pure chaos and disaster.

Jesus made unequivocal claims, and He so believed in His claims as being the only Way to the Father's heart that He was willing to die for the salvation of the world, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

I am passionate about what I believe in, but I have a deep love for my friends who do not believe in God the way I do. I respect them, and honor them, and I never try to impose my faith on them. My only prayer is that someday they will also come to know Jesus as their Redeemer and Lord.

A week ago, my third grandson Jeremiah David, Joyful One, turned nine months old.

Each month of his first year I pray a special blessing based on the names of God, and this month, the name of God I have chosen is Narrow Gate. 

Jesus calls Himself "the Door." 

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved,

and will go in and out and find pasture.

The thief does not come except to steal,

and to kill, and to destroy.

I have come they they may have life,

and that they may have it more abundantly.

- John 10:9,10

This is the wider context for how Jesus concludes his Sermon on the Mount... that to reach eternal life, we are to enter through the Narrow Gate... which is Jesus Himself, being the only Way to the Father.

Here is my blessing for my dear grandson:

I bless you today with a kingdom mindset, dear Joyful One.

May your heart be soft to accept and believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that you may become a true citizen of that heavenly kingdom.

May you understand and believe the unequivocal claims of Jesus being the Narrow Gate and the narrow road that leads to eternal life.

Stand up for what is true... absolutely true, dear grandson.

Never settle for half-truths... only hold on to the truth that can be depended on, the truth that will never change, and will stand the test of time and culture.

You have a good heritage of faith, hold on to it... never let anyone steal it from you.

Love always,

Nana

Morning Star

I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you 

this testimony for the churches.

I am the Root and the Offspring of David,

and the bright Morning Star.

- Revelation 22:16

And we have the word of the prophets made more certain,

and you will do well to pay attention to it,

as to a light shining in a dark place,

until the day dawns and 

the morning star rises in your hearts.

- 2 Peter 1:19

One of the beautiful names for Jesus in the Bible is the Morning Star. 

The Greek word for it is Phosporos, meaning "Light bearer."  Another Greek word used is Heosphoros, which means "Dawn bringer."

Astronomers say this refers to the planet Venus, rising in the western sky just an hour or so before the sun rises in the east.

The morning star is the brightest star and shines just before daybreak. 

The King James version uses another beautiful term Daystar.

In the passage quoted above, Peter speaks prophetically about the return of Jesus Christ. When He does return, it will really be like the dawning of a new day, the morning star will rise in our hearts.

I am always looking for connections and symbolic meanings behind things and events.

And I am just amazed at the rich symbolism in Jesus calling Himself the Morning Star.

When the Morning Star rises in the sky, we know that daybreak is coming. The darkest hour is said to be just before dawn, and that is when we see the Daystar shining.

God's compassion never fails, His mercies are new every morning.

The Morning Star is the constant reminder to us of a new, and better day coming.

No matter how terrible yesterday may have been, today is a new day.

Weeping may endure for a night, 
but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

Not only does the Morning Star speak to me of  hope... He also speaks to me of staying young at heart.

For isn't it true? The heart that is filled with hope stays forever young.

Yesterday, during the coffee get together time at church, I had a delightful conversation with Uncle Roy, my friend Bjorn's dad.

Uncle Roy is turning 80 this year.

We talked about many things, mostly about how one stays young at heart even when our bodies are chronologically growing older.

Before he left, he mentioned to me a beautiful quote that hangs above the office of General Douglas MacArthur in Tokyo, Japan... an excerpt from the poem Youth by Samuel Ullman, an American businessman and poet.

It was my first time to hear this poem, such unassuming lines, yet so powerful!

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind;it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips, and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.

I just fell in love with the way Sam Ullman described youth... 

The rest of the prose poem goes this way:

Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of sixty more than a body of twenty. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.

Whether sixty or sixteen, there is in every human being's heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing child-like appetite of what's next, and the joy of the game of living.  In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage, and power from men and from the Infinite, so long are you young.

When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at twenty, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch the waves of optimism, there is hope  you may die young at eighty.

My third grandson, Joyful One, turns eight months old today.

This little guy will surely stay young... his heart is indeed full of joy and laughter. I think he got the sense of humor of his grandpa Ernie. For both of them, there is always something to laugh about!

Here is my prayer blessing for my grandson today:

May the Daystar, the bright Morning Star always shine on you, my dear Joyful One.

When the night is dark, may your heart always be filled with hope, holding on to the assurance that dawn is coming, and the promise is sure that joy comes with the morning.

I declare that you will spread joy and hope wherever you go...

And you will inspire many others to remain young at heart, by trusting in God, and by waiting on Him alone for the fulfillment of your dreams.

Much love

Nana

Here is a very beautiful song, one of my husband Ernie's favorites. It never fails to touch my heart each time I hear it. This is my song for my dear Joyful One this month...

The Way to Eternity

"I am the way

and the truth

and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me."

- John 14:6




For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God, not of works,
lest anyone should boast.

- Ephesians 2:8-9

Today my third grandson Joyful One turns seven months old.

The name of God I have chosen for my blessing is shown in the photo above.

It has often been said that it doesn't matter what one believes, as long as one is sincere in his belief.

Such a statement indicates that there is no absolute truth to believe in, only subjective truth. Everything is relative. The act of believing is more important than the "object" of one's belief.

But what the world fails to understand is that what we believe in is very important.

When Jesus called Himself as The Way, The Truth, and The Life, He was making a crucial point.

No one comes to the Father except through Me.

He is the only Way to Heaven ... 

He is the absolute Truth... 

He alone is the Life.

And what's more, absolute truth does not require that I believe it in order for it to be established as truth.

He alone is the way to eternal life, whether we believe in it or not.

Today as Joyful One celebrates his seventh month of life, I pray that he will grow up knowing Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

As the day of Christ's return draws near, how my heart longs for many of my friends to know Him as their true Lord and Master. Indeed, I must be more bold in telling them about this truth. 

For fear of offending others, I prefer to leave this topic out of our conversations.

But it really is a matter of supreme importance, for what one believes will determine his eternal destiny,

There is one song I always sing, Were It Not For Grace, that makes me so grateful that Jesus my Lord has revealed Himself to me, and has led me to Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

As I think of my dear grandson on this special day, I pray fervently that early enough in his young life, God will give him the grace to turn the reins of his heart over to Jesus as his Lord.

Were It Not For Grace

Time measured out my days, life carried me along

In my soul I yearned to follow God 

But knew I'd never be so strong

I looked hard at this world 

To learn how Heaven could be gained

Just to end where I began, where human effort is all in vain

Were it not for grace, I can tell you where I'd be

Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere

With my salvation up to me

I know how that would go, the battles I would face

Forever running, but losing the race

Were it not for grace

So here is all my praise, expressed with all my heart

Offered to the Friend who took my place

And ran a course I could not start

And when He saw in full just how much His love would cost

He still went the final mile between me and Heaven

So I would not be lost

Were it not for grace, I can tell you where I'd be
Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere
With my salvation up to me
I know how that would go, the battles I would face
Forever running, but losing the race
Were it not for grace

To the Three in One: My Morning Song

Gentle Sunrise
by Donna Eaton

image source

A dear man, Samson Gonzaga, went home to heaven four days ago. Yesterday we celebrated his life in a memorial service, where his wife, children, and grandchildren gave their tearful good-byes to him. The tributes given spoke of a life that was not lived in vain... up to the very end, God was faithful to this man and all who loved him. 

A week ago, my fourth grandchild was born. In heaven she is known as Shalom, the Peaceful One.  What a breath of fresh air this little baby girl brings to my heart! I can look at her gentle face for hours. Her quiet presence seems to whisper a promise: that God's peace walks with us on the journey called life.

At the same time, this week I became painfully aware of a young couple, friends close to me, whose marriage is falling apart. So much pain and wounding, aggravated by anger and resentment. How I have prayed for the healing balm of the Holy Spirit, and the shed blood of Jesus, to be poured upon their shattered hearts! There isn't much we can do apart from the work of restoration and transformation that only the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit can do.

In the midst of all these, my third grandson turned four months old five days ago. My heart rejoices for the faithfulness of my Abba Father. His goodness knows no bounds; He gives His grace without measure! 

Tears of joy in my heart mingle with tears of sadness... Such is life on this side of eternity, making me long all the more for my heavenly homeland. There, sadness and grief have no place.

This morning I listened to a beautiful song by Keith and Kristyn Getty, and my spirit soared once again, filled with hope and gladness. The prayer on the breastplate of St. Patrick at the end of the song brings me so much comfort and assurance. Indeed, all is safe in His loving hands. Heaven's love reigns in the midst of our earthly circumstances. 

I offer this morning song to God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit... 

Eternal Father, Living Word, Gentle Dove... 

the Three in One, and the One in Three...

The Triune God is for me... that glorious thought strengthens me as I start this day.  

As my dear grandson Joyful One celebrates his fourth month of life, this beautiful prayer for protection, often ascribed to St. Patrick, is very much on my heart for this little one. 

From The Lorica (Breastplate) of St. Patrick

I bind unto myself today the power of God 

to hold and lead,

His eye to watch, His might to stay, 

His ear to hearken to my need;

the wisdom of my God to teach,

His hand to guide, His shield to ward;

the Word of God to give me speech,

His heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ in quiet, and Christ in danger, 

Christ in hearts of all that love me,

Christ in the mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,

the strong Name of the Trinity,

by invocation of the same, 

the Three in One, and One in Three,

of Whom all nature hath creation;

Eternal Father, Spirit, Word;

Praise to the Lord of my salvation,

Salvation is of Christ the Lord. Amen.

see full text here

In Whom We Live and Have our Being

For in Him we live

and move

and have our being...

- Acts 18:28

Today marks a very special day for our family. Two months ago, my third grandson was born, under unexpected and unplanned circumstances.

Outwardly I was peaceful and calm, but God knows my heart was filled with anxiety.

I was afraid, but I never gave my fear a voice. 

There really was no other choice for me but to trust Him. I knew He was God all wise, and completely trustworthy, good, and all powerful.

The combination of those four facets of His innumerable characteristics - all wise, all powerful, completely trustworthy, and good - was what set my heart at rest.

Worry wasn't going to change anything... therefore, resting my case in the One who holds the whole world in His hands was the best option available to me.

From Day 1, we saw Him at work.

He led us to the right doctors, both for my dear daughter-in-law Chosen One, and the neonatal specialist for the baby who was born more than a month before his due date. 

Joyful One was the name God impressed on my heart. And indeed the joy of the Lord was this little one's strength.

Friends and family rallied to our support.


Father God did not fail me in my trust of Him.

But how does one get to the point of knowing Someone who is unseen and seemingly distant?

This is the great mystery that I still cannot fathom.

The day I turned the throne of my heart over to Him 41 years ago was the day my heart to heart relationship with Him began. His heart is not hidden in some dark church cubicle... He reaches out in love, wanting to be known, wanting to be discovered for who He really is.

Yesterday, my daughter and I celebrated her birthday in a very quiet, and simple way. We went to church earlier than usual, and returned home for a special mid-morning breakfast.

As I thought of my beloved child, my only daughter, many sweet chapters from her growing up years came back to mind:

the day she was born... her early years... the formation of her obedient heart, mostly from her own responses to the way her father and I brought her up.

I see the young woman she is becoming today, and my heart overflows with joy and thanksgiving.

One story from her childhood stood out among the ones I remembered. She was always asking me questions... profound questions, many of which I have forgotten by now. But a question she asked, when she was just about six years old struck me then, even as it does me now in my remembering.

She asked me one day, "Mama... what will we do in heaven forever?"

My answer to such a profound question was followed by another profound question from this little girl, whose heart was being stirred to know more about eternal things, too wonderful for her little heart to grasp.

And yet, in that God moment, heavenly Father met us both and supplied an answer He alone could have provided. (Read the full post here.)

Abba Father whispered, "It will take forever to get to know all of Me."

Remembering that day truly warms my heart.

I arrived in Manila two weeks ago, and my return flight was scheduled for this morning. Within that brief two-week stay here, I had two main items on my agenda: to spend time with my gradeschool best friend who lives in the US but was in town for the death of her father, and to be with my daughter Obedient One on her birthday.

Today would have been the perfect day to return to my home city. Tonight there is a special Christmas dinner for our Monday night Bible study group hosted by my sister in law Sue. I had also looked forward to being in three other events this week.

An unexpected situation comes up and messes with my well laid out plans. A tropical cyclone hit our islands Saturday, and is moving so slowly that it is forecast to exit our nation only by Thursday, four days from now. Right this very moment it is grinding over the Bicol region and will be making another landfall south of Manila sometime within today.

Understandably, flights to many cities are cancelled. So here I am still... 

The past days I have been pensive...  listening to worship music, to the Word of Promise audio Bible, and pleading with God to cause this powerful storm's path to re-curve, and for its strength and intensity to weaken and dissipate. He is the all powerful One, He could very easily command this storm to dissolve, and never hit our country.

We've had enough devastation from storms, and we certainly do not need another one at this point.

I recall some of the past events of my life when I had also knelt before God, asking Him to intervene... or to protect... or to provide a way out... or to heal.

Trusting in His promises... but even more than His promises... trusting in His very character.

Many thoughts have entered my heart these past days... mostly thoughts about God's character.

He is a multi-faceted God... a God of many names. 

In the 40 years that I have walked with Him, I still feel I do not know Him enough.

I want to know Him more.

In a time of utter dependence on Him, when my dear grandson was about to be born, I asked Him for mercy, compassion, and protection.

I have asked that of Him many times before. Praise God, that particular prayer was granted.

Emboldened, this weekend I have asked Him again... yes, for the protection of my family and our homes, but mostly for the sake of my land... and my fellowmen.

The super typhoon did not re-curve... but I am thankful that it did lessen in force and intensity. Nevertheless, it did, and is still doing, much damage to the areas lying in its path. But, it could have been so much worse...

So as I am praising Him, I am still praying... praying... pleading... pleading...

Now my prayer is, Please God, do not let the storm hit Metro Manila... just let it go through the bodies of water between our islands as it exits.

We feel so vulnerable and helpless in the midst of a storm... any kind of storm. Even as I write these words, there are already occasional gusts of wind blowing outside, indicating the storm is somewhere near.

The One who can calm the storm is also near, my mind knows that ... but my heart needs reassurance.

So thankful am I for Jessica King's beautiful song... the Father is speaking peace and truth to my heart: Sometimes it takes a storm, to calm the storm within.

Abba Father never leaves a prayer unanswered. Some requests are granted... and then again... there are some prayers that are not answered the way we want.

In His wisdom, He always knows what is best. In His goodness, He gives more than what is asked for. 

Again, it takes another layer of trust in God's wisdom, power, goodness. and trustworthiness.


In the events of the past days, I hear God saying,

I am Jehovah Shammah... the God who is near. You are never alone in what you are going through. You are not forgotten, you are not abandoned, you are not forsaken. I am with you... always!

I'm doing a blog series on the names of God for my third grandson, Joyful One. As he turns two months old today, I am ready to speak words of blessing to him. I call upon Jehovah Shammah, The God Who Is There... to touch this little one's life.

Joyful One, as you turn two months old this very day, my prayers for you are being offered to the God who is standing near. He is near... He is not distant. He is the God who reveals who He is to those who hunger and thirst and long to know Him more.

Below are excerpts of the conversation I had with Abba Father when I came to Him recently as my Jehovah Shammah... recorded here for your benefit, dear grandson... that someday you may read them for yourself, and know in your heart, that this heartfelt prayer for you to know God a little bit more with each passing day, has indeed become true in your own life.

Dear grandson, I pray that you will know God as your very own Jehovah Shammah.

My Abba Father,

You are Jehovah Shammah the God Who is standing near.

You are near, not distant.

You care... and your compassion is ever within my reach... 

Your comfort is real, not imagined.

You desire to be involved and included in the affairs, the events of my life.

Jehovah Shammah, You are God whose eyes are ever on me.

Your thoughts for me are always meant to promote my welfare...

You are not indifferent...

You are warm, not cold...

You want me to know that You are relevant...

You can relate to what I am going through.

You speak to my heart, not to my mind.

You feel, You hear, You see.

You stand near.

You guide, You lead, You show the way... 

the way in... the way out... the way through.

You sing to me Your songs in my night seasons,

Your love comforts and sets my heart at rest.

You reveal Yourself to me...

And the more I know You, the brighter the light that shines in the darkness.

You are multi-faceted God. 

Every attribute, every facet I know of You makes You shine brighter in my understanding

and pushes back the darkness of confusion, self-centeredness, and wrong assumptions.

You are indeed the God who's standing near.

In You I live... and have my being.

From my prayer journal, October 28, 2014, 3 a.m.

I love you, my dear Joyful One. May these words be your very own words someday.

Love always

Nana

Joyful One, at seven weeks

Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend into heaven, You are there.

If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me,"

Even the night shall be light about me;

Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You.

But the night shines as the day;

The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

- Psalm 139:7-12

A mini cake for Joyful One...

A mini cake for Joyful One, from his Aunt Obedient One...

And three special songs for Joyful One:

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
by Walter Smith

Immortal, invisible, God only wise
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love

To all life Thou givest to both great and small
In all life Thou livest the true life of all
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree
And wither and perish, but naught changeth Thee

Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render, O help us to see
'Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.


Where Could I Go from Your Spirit
by Kelly Willard

Where could I go from Your Spirit
How could I hide from Your eyes
Why would I wander away from You
Knowing that You are so wise
If I take the wings of the morning
And dwell in the depths of the sea
Even the darkness hides nothing from You
And with Your hand You will lead me

For You did knit me together
Even before I was born
I will confess You and praise You
You are my wonderful Lord












First Month - If God Be For Us... Jehovah Sabaoth

If God Be For Us...

A Mighty Fortress

screenshot image source

What then shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare His own Son, 

but delivered Him up for us all,

how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?

It is God who justifies,Who is he who condemns?

It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen,

who is even at the right hand of God,

who also makes intercession for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, 

or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

As it is written:

"For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors

through Him who loved us.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,

nor angels nor principalities nor powers,

nor things present nor things to come,

nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing,

shall be able to separate us from the love of God 

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

- Romans 8:31-19

As I had written in my end of month post for September, living alone has made me aware of many things. My time is mostly my own, in a manner of speaking. This has given me so much room to think, to evaluate choices I have made in the past, to look at the past years with perspective and understanding. 

Many of the things Ernie and I have accumulated no longer seem so important. Only a very few things are valuable to me now.

On November 1, I arrived home at about 10 p.m. and discovered that my front gate was open, as well as the gate leading to my garden. I immediately knew that an intruder had gotten into my premises, and before long, I discovered that my bonsai collection of mini roses, jade plants, as well as Chosen One's succulents have been stolen. My bonsai collection is over fifteen years old, some of them planted in beautiful celadon antique pottery. 

Because they have been on a special table in my garden for years, clearly visible to passersby, it never occurred to me that anyone would have the audacity to actually enter my garden and take them.

My first response was to thank God that nothing else of value was taken. And above all, that the intruders did not break in and enter my home. I praised God for His protection. 

My bonsai collection was precious to me primarily because of the fifteen plus years (or more) of care and nurture that I had given them. The joy of seeing new mini roses blooming every week of the year has been worth the little amount of time it has taken for me to look after them every day.

The tiled table for my collection stood empty and forlorn the next morning. It was also my bird feeder table. Without the pots, the birds did not touch the bird seed that I had scattered for them. It must have looked strange to them, bird seed on the table without any of the potted plants that used to give them shade and perching spots.

There was no point in being angry, or sad at my loss. I have taken new cuttings from my garden and will soon be starting a new bonsai collection. This time, I will keep them in my small back garden, away from prying eyes and eager hands. I will shop around for beautiful pottery for them.

I also decided to change my low front gate. My new higher wrought iron gate will be installed this week. Much as I hate having padlocks, I have no choice but to use one for the new gate.

My real treasure is in heaven where thieves do not break in and steal.

Yes, among my many realizations is that only a few things can be considered valuable in this life. Even the nature of my friendships is changing. Friends who I thought were real friends seem to be drifting away... was it something I had done or not done... or maybe something I said, or didn't say?

Dear friends I treasure have also started attending different churches, so even the dynamic of seeing my friends at church on Sunday mornings is changing.

These changes sadden me, but I understand that it is part of the end times scenario. Many will be offended... love will grow cold...

It is a scheme of the enemy... to divide and conquer. But in this year of kingdom advance, one prophetic word that has spoken deeply to my spirit is this:

Now is not the time to give up on your covenant relationships within the body of Christ. You have been tempted to cut ties and retreat. It is in the context of relationship, however, that you will be blessed beyond your wildest expectation. Prepare to inherit riches as you reunify with your brothers and sisters. (Melissa Flores, Defining Words)

Now is not the time to give up.

This is such a timely word for me.

And if there is anything these realizations are teaching me, it is that God alone is the solid rock on which I stand, a mighty fortress, a bulwark never failing. 

A bulwark is a defensive wall, a rampart.

Important things, events, and persons in our lives come and go... but God, Almighty God, is a bulwark... unchanging... constant... the same yesterday, today, and forever.

One name of God that I really love is Jehovah Sabaoth, Lord of Hosts or Angel Armies. "Hosts" is a military term that appears more than 200 times in the Bible. Jehovah Sabaoth is the name God uses when He goes to war in behalf of His people.

One clear example of this is when David, face to face with Goliath that mighty Philistine giant, said:

You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin.

But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts,

the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

- 1 Samuel 17:45

As Jehovah Sabaoth God has mighty angelic armies at His command. And this God is on my side. He is for me. His name is a strong tower. He is called a Defender of widows in Psalm 68:5.

Look at this amazing passage:

... you... will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.

For your Maker is your Husband.

The LORD of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
He is called the God of the whole earth.

- Isaiah 54:5

As a widow, I have often felt so vulnerable. But this passage clearly says that my Maker is my husband. These lines are so personal, so real. The One who created me is the only One who can love me, protect me, and care for me. A woman's earthly husband is an imperfect reflection of her true heavenly husband. To redeem means to defend or to rescue from evil. Jehovah Sabaoth stands ready to fight for my cause! 

Knowing all this gives me such unshakable security and assurance in my God. Whatever circumstances I find myself in, Jehovah Sabaoth is fighting for me. Therefore the victory is sure.

My third grandson, Joyful One is one month old today! Just as I had done with my two other grandsons, it is a privilege to offer a special prayer for him as he turns a month older.

I woke up this morning with this verse on my heart:

If God be for us, who can be against us?

That passage from Romans 8:31-39 is one of my top favorites. God is a mighty fortress, the Lord of angel armies who fights for His people.  We may be accounted as sheep for the slaughter, nevertheless, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

The circumstances of Joyful One's birth were far from ideal. A month ago, my heart was unsure of how things would turn out, yet trusting in no one else but my God who rejoices over His children with singing, and quiets their anxious hearts with His love.

Today, as dear Joyful One turns one month old, I offer this special prayer for him:

My Jehovah Sabaoth, my grandson Joyful One is safe in Your arms. The enemy did try to shake our faith, tried to make us doubt Your goodness, but once again You triumphed over his evil plans.

You are strong, and mighty. You are our strong deliverer! 

With You on our side, the victory is secure. 

I declare today that Joyful One will know You as His Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of Angel Armies.

You have shown me time and again that You are for me, and that You hold my life in Your hands.

What this world offers has little value and is temporary, but the eternal weight of Your glory is mine for all eternity!

My family is a precious part of my life, Lord. I offer my grandson to You, for Your continued protection. You surround Him with angelic escorts. You alone are God, majestic Creator and Ruler of the universe, You sit enthroned upon the heavens, sovereign over the affairs of our lives.

Be exalted in the life of Joyful One dear God, as he has reached one month of his young life, healthy, gaining strength, and receiving love and affirmation from all who love him.

You alone are worthy to be praised in the life of my grandson, heavenly Father!

 28 days old

 one month old

 with loving parents 

a mini cake to celebrate Joyful One's first month of life 

Three special songs for Joyful One: