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

Blow the Trumpet in Zion

Blowing the Shofar

photo source




Blow the trumpet in Zion,
Consecrate a fast,
Call a sacred assembly...

- Joel 2:15

I would have despaired unless I had believed
that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

- Psalm 27:13, 14

Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

- Psalm 37:5, 6 (TNIV)

Today I take time to write a special post about a significant Jewish feast. This is to acknowledge that my faith has a spiritual connection to its Jewish roots, and that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the same God I worship and obey today.

Beginning at sundown today, September 28, to nightfall of September 30, Jews around the world will hold their yearly celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

It is also known as the Feast of Trumpets.

Rosh Hashanah literally means "head of the year" but the holiday actually takes place on the first two days of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, which is the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar. This is because Rosh Hashanah, one of four new years in the Jewish year, is considered the new year of people, animals and legal contracts.

Rosh Hashanah heralds the newness of the year with special traditions such as the blowing of the Shofar, or ram's horn, which symbolizes a trumpet fanfare at the coronation of a king.

A common greeting on Rosh Hashanah is shana tovah u'metukah, Hebrew for "a good and sweet new year."

Mostly sweet foods are eaten in celebration of Rosh Hashanah, such as challah bread dipped in honey or apple slices dipped in honey, to symbolize the desire for a sweet year.

In the Jewish oral tradition, Rosh Hashanah marks the completion of the creation of the world and highlights the special relationship between God and mankind.

The Talmud describes this day as one of malchuyot, zichronot, shofrot -- sovereignty, remembrance and shofar, a reminder of the goodness of God to His people and the importance of righteous living.

Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days, or Yamim Noraim (the "Days of Awe"), and is followed ten days later by Yom Kippur, the "day of atonement."

The Mishnah refers to Rosh Hashanah as the "day of judgment." It is believed that on this day God opens the Book of Life, reviews the deeds of His people, and begins to decide who shall live and who shall die. Those found righteous are sealed to life on Yom Kippur.

The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are therefore viewed as an opportunity for Jews to repent and ensure a good fate.

The Jews believe that the High Holy Days offer a month-long opportunity for self-evaluation, praying in community and ritual which allows them to create a spiritual journey, corporately and individually.

The Days of Awe, or ten days of repentance, are meant to be spent in "serious reflection, repentance and making amends." (Lauren Bottner in From Selichot to Simchat Torah)

"This is a time of year when we seek reconciliation with people we may have wronged during the year, or at any time," Bottner writes. "According to the Talmud, on Yom Kippur we can atone for sins between ourselves and God, but for our sins against people, we must seek forgiveness from those people and attempt to right any wrongs we may have committed."

Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is generally considered by Jews to be the holiest day of the year. It goes back to the days of Moses, and serves as a solemn reminder of the day that God forgave the Israelites for their sin of worshiping a golden calf.

The focal point of Yom Kippur is a full day — actually, nearly 26 hours — of fasting.

At the end of Yom Kippur's fasting is an elaborate feast, after which preparations begin for Sukkot, the Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles), a seven-day festival that celebrates God's protection of the Jews during their forty years of wandering in the wilderness. For these seven days, many Jews will build a sukkah, a three-sided booth made from a material that grows from the ground. During the week they will eat their meals in the sukkah — many will also sleep and socialize there.There is also a special traditional prayer that is given while holding four different kinds of branches — citron, palm, myrtle and willow — waving the branches in all directions, representing God's presence everywhere.

Rabbi Al Sulkes writes:

The rituals, prayers, meditations and deeds of the High Holy Days are designed to respond to a deep psychological need of all human beings to make some sense of their lives.

Yet as important as self-examination is, the other aspect is equally important.

It is never too late to turn your life around.

Contemplation must be followed by action.

Past is prologue, but what you do today and tomorrow is all that really matters.

Rabbi Sulkes told of another rabbi who taught her disciples that everyone should repent the day before they die. The disciples were perplexed and responded, "No one knows the day they are going to die."

The rabbi replied, "Then make every day a day of repentance."

My Prayer:

Father, I take time to worship You today, the beginning of Rosh Hashanah. I acknowledge You as the God of Creation.

May Your eternal plans and purposes for me -- plans for reconciliation, repentance, and forgiveness -- be accomplished in me and through me not just these next ten days but for as long as I am on this sacred journey.

In humility, I bow before You, seeking always to be a life-giver, an agent of blessing and a messenger of peace.

Sharing a special timely Rosh Hashanah message from a dear kingdom friend, Alberto:

Dear Special One,

In spite of worldwide conflicts, the Holy Spirit is guiding the true Church into its greatest season of transformation. We must not look at the pressures of our times as though they were obstacles set up to restrict us. For in the hands of the Almighty these are the very tools He is using to perfect us (see Chapter 6 of Francis Frangipane's This Day We Fight).

God is sifting through the multitude to get His 300 as in Gideon's time. He is going to refine us and remove the dross in order to make us pure, holy, and strong for our Kingdom Assignment.

He is training us to become like Navy Seals. Though tough and many quit, like Christ's disciples we shall remain with Him till His cross and will derive strength from Him to face ours as well.

Jesus Himself had to check if His disciples were with Him-- whether they understood Him, whether they still wanted to remain with Him. He asks His Special Ones the same thing. For those who have ears, that they will hear. In a way He is testing our hearing.

As we enter this Jewish New Year season, by God's mercy and grace, let us open ourselves to be filled with new wine from Jesus and the refreshing infilling of the Holy Spirit to go the next leg of our journey with Him.

Information on this post was taken from the following sources:

Deseret News, September 27, 2011

From Selichot to Simchat Torah

Rosh Hashanah 2011

Shalom!

This post is dedicated to a precious friend Nikki Rosen.

Touch of Faith
by Simon Dewey

photo source



Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,
and had suffered many things from many physicians.
She had spent all that she had and was no better,
but rather grew worse.
When she heard about Jesus,
she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.
For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up,
and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

Mark 5:25-29

My friend Trudi and I arrived in Manila a week ago. Together with another friend Tina, we conducted the Transforming Hearts seminar with a group of recovering drug dependents last weekend.

It is always heart wrenching for me to see a bunch of healthy, gifted, strong and promising young men, but gripped in the dark prison of drug addiction. It is a clear example of how the enemy can blind us to the beautiful identity that God has given us, and block the road that leads to our bright future.

Instead of being productive young men, living up to their true potential, they are derailed from their God-given destiny and true life purpose.

Many of them have been in a cycle of freedom and bondage for years.

What really grieved me was the belief inculcated into their minds that a drug addict "is powerless over his addiction," and that only on their gravestones can it be stamped that their complete recovery has taken place.

This really grieved me.

As we looked into the eyes of these young men, we saw a dull sense of hopelessness.

I cannot accept this! Because what I know and what I believe is that there is no mess so deep that God's hand cannot reach down and turn it around. There is no prison so dark that the brightness of God's love cannot shine through and set the captive free.

No one ever need be imprisoned in his or her wrong choices. Hope is always available.

I spoke to them with all the hope I had in my heart for their healing - your addiction is not your identity!

I understand why most drug recovery programs (or other recovery programs for that matter) would require their participants to say at the beginning of each session, "Hi, I'm John, and I'm a drug addict." This self-admission is meant to break any cycle of denial that most of them try to hold on to and which becomes a roadblock to recovery.

However, recovery is a process, and at a certain point in the healing journey, a person should be able to identify that he is no longer an addict, but on his way to victory and full recovery.

Lest I be misunderstood, I hasten to add that I have had no hands on experience with drug addiction. So whatever I say here is said with humility and an admission of my own limited understanding. I certainly do not discredit the work of personal healing that has been brought about by self-discipline and the rigid adherence to many self-help steps.

But victory is not gritting our teeth, and fighting our bondage or addiction with every ounce of strength or energy.

As Craig Hill would say, That's not victory, that's abstinence! Victory is when we have planted the flag and no more enemies are shooting at us.

And I will not hesitate to say, with full conviction, that true victory is available only through a higher power and authority, the kind that comes from God alone.

I believe that true victory is possible only when we have tapped into the ultimate source of eternal life, and that is God alone.

And this is what the young men who participated in our Transforming Hearts seminar realized at the end, that God offers hope...healing...recovery...victory to anyone willing to receive it.

We need no longer be slaves of our past once we have made the choice to turn our lives over to a new Master.

And we certainly need not walk with our heads bowed, believing we are mere victims of our faulty upbringing, or imperfect parenting, or our own unwise choices, or unfortunate circumstances beyond our control.

There IS a way out!

Jesus is our Healer, our Deliverer...the Prince of Peace.


The Hebrew word for peace is SHALOM.

Today the word shalom is used as a common greeting in Israel. Like "Hello," or "Hi"...but the real intent in using the word as a form of greeting is to impart peace, as in "Peace be with you."

However, peace is not all that shalom connotes.

Shalom is such an amazing word! It means:

...completeness

...wholeness

...health

...peace

...welfare

...safety

...soundness

...tranquility

...prosperity

...perfectness

...fullness

...rest

...harmony

...the absence of agitation or discord.


Strong's Concordance 7965

Whole. Complete.

The same root from which the word integer comes. Entire. Untouched. Unbroken. Nothing missing, or lacking.

This is also where we get the English word integrity. No cracks. No imperfection. No stain or blemish.

One of my favorite names of God is Jehovah Shalom. He is my all in all. If I have His peace, then I have enough. It means I am at rest, I am healed, and I have lack of nothing.

God taught Moses the Aaronic blessing found in Numbers 6:22-26:

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying,
‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel.
Say to them:

"The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’

These indeed are powerful words we declare over one another each time we say the Aaronic blessing, or even just the word Shalom, to one another. Everything that the word shalom means, we wish on another when we use it as a sincere greeting.


And this is what she needed, that woman who suffered for twelve years from a flow of blood. She suffered from an affliction that was not only physical, but also emotional. For in those days and in that culture, women with an issue of blood were always considered unclean. She had a stigma upon her. People knew her as the woman with the hemorrhage, and they stayed away from her.

She longed for wholeness...for affirmation...for acceptance. Shalom was the cry of her heart.

The passage quoted above, one of the Bible verses that I am holding on to and believing in for my own healing, was very much on my heart just a few days before I left my home city of Bacolod.

It was the same passage that rose up in my heart as we were conducting the Transforming Hearts seminar to the group of promising young men last weekend. Shalom was the deep longing of their hearts as well.

The woman had tried all the best doctors... and had come to the end of her rope. Finally she realized that her hope for full and complete healing came from only one source. She said, "If only I touch the hem of His garment...the tassel of His cloak...I shall be made well."

I have heard it said that it's possible the woman knew that if she could touch one of the tassels of the tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) that Jesus wore, she had hopes of being healed. Such was her faith in the power of God that she was willing to elbow her way into the crowd, incognito because she bore the stigma of being unclean, until she was at the feet of Jesus, and able to touch the hem of His garment.

A Jewish prayer shawl worn during the daytime as an outer cloak

We know the story. After touching the hem of His garment, she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus turned around and spoke to her, confirming that her faith had made her whole.

Jesus spoke shalom to her. She was made whole.

She did not have to wait until the grave to be considered fully restored.


One of the men in our group gave a shout of freedom after receiving the healing touch of Jehovah Shalom. In just a few more months he will turn 50 years old. He now looks to his drug addiction as a thing of the past. And he is embracing full and complete restoration in the name of Jesus Christ.

Another young man will turn 37 before this month is over. During one ministry session he repented for having allowed walls to be built around his heart, having been his own protector from life's hurts, instead of letting Jesus be the one. And in a simple humble prayer, he asked God to tear down the hardened layers of his heart.

A precious man of 28 years old was released from the drug rehab facility a few days ago. God provided him a place to live as well as a new job. He considers himself fully delivered from drug addiction and is looking forward to life as a new creation.

Of course, only time will reveal if these men will continue to walk in their healing. But I want to believe that this is their turnaround year, even as we have prayed to the Holy Spirit to pour on them His turnaround anointing!

All things are possible...only believe! (Mark 9:23)

May the words of this post be an encouragement to any reader that comes this way today. May Jehovah Shalom grant you wholeness in body, soul, and spirit!

View of the city on this cloudy day, as seen from the top floor of the Makati Tuscany where we held the Transforming Hearts seminar last weekend

Free indeed!
Hundreds of pigeons live on top of the tall buildings in this part of Makati city, and every afternoon we were delighted as they showed off their flying stunts and skills!

Below I have posted one of my favorite songs on healing. I invite you to take time to listen to it.


Heal Me
by Terry McAlmon

Heal me, heal me
I need a brand new touch
From You my Lord


Heal me, heal me
Let the fullness of your life
Now be restored


Heal Me by Terry McAlmon

Obedience is the Key

An eagle soaring above storm clouds

...but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

- Isaiah 40:31

After spending two weeks in Manila, I returned to Bacolod City on April 13.

Tomorrow, I am scheduled to go back there for more Kingdom work waiting to be done in the days ahead.

Knowing that I only have about four days in my home city, I still opted to come home - to touch base, to reconnect, to honor prior commitments, and above all... to obey.

It would have been more practical to rebook my return flight to a later date. But when I considered doing this, there was no peace in my heart.

The alarm clock rang at 4:30 on Tuesday morning, giving me thirty minutes to get ready before leaving for the airport. When I awoke, the temptation to continue sleeping was very strong, to not show up for my flight. Anyway, I could always have my ticket rebooked, and it actually would save me the cost of another plane ticket to come back!

A number of options were going on in my mind...just to get the extra 40 winks...just to stay on in Manila and be with my daughter a little longer. So many good reasons to stay.

But there was no peace in my heart.

I finally said, "Yes, Lord. I will go back to my home city, even if it means I will only be there three full days."

As soon as I did that, the tiredness left my body; in its place came a surge of joy and strength. It almost felt miraculous.

All the way to the airport, the sense of peace and joy never left.

Again, it was all about obedience. As soon as I decided to obey that little voice telling me to go back home, even for just a few days, the Lord infused me with fresh strength.


In one of the seminars that we run, the Building a Strong Financial House seminars, we learn that the first important thing to determine in one's life is your vision.

Where there is a vision, there's a provision.

Provision literally means, "for the vision."

These days it is common to hear about the vision and mission statements of a church, an institution, or a company. It is good to be guided by such, but sometimes I struggle when I read elaborate versions of vision and mission, so beautifully worded, such lofty ideals being aimed for.

As I understand it, vision is simply the calling or the assignment that God has for me, for a given season in my life.

And God is only too happy to reveal the assignment that He has for each one of us, in simple, down-to-earth terms!


But in order to hear and discern correctly, obedience is the key.

If I am obeying, God gives me a vision, oftentimes not the whole vision as if I were viewing my life through the wide angle lens of a camera...but just a tiny glimpse of it, one piece at a time, one step at a time.

Being aware of my mission, of my calling, and living out that calling on my life opens up the flow of provision.

Provision for guidance, for peace, for protection and strength, for finances.

"This is the way, walk in it."


There is also provision for growth and change.

Facing this new season, I have become aware of rough spots in my character where change needs to come. And I've asked God to help me deal once more with some areas of pride and self-righteousness in my heart.

Keep me humble, Lord...keep me humble.

As I teach, as I minister, as I pray for healing and breakthroughs to take place in the lives of others, my ongoing prayer is: Deal with the blind sides of my life, dear Father. Deal with my own heart first, dear God.

Sometimes without intending to, I may have been too hasty in voicing an opinion, or a giving a thoughtless remark that could have hurt someone else.

A promise forgotten, a debt unpaid, a long overdue visit, an act of kindness overlooked.

A relationship neglected or taken for granted.

God help me to be sensitive and to be more discerning.


The thought has also occurred to me that I should probably set this blog aside for a season, to sort through my priorities, to narrow down my focus, that I may see more clearly the new path ahead of me. More uncharted waters, I sense.

I'm still trying to sense God's reading on this move.


Obedience is the key... the means to a greater faith.


It's not simply a matter of believing, as I have realized.

The other day I was surprised to hear myself say these words to a person I was conversing with:

Belief is not the same as faith.

Even I was struck by what I said! And these past two days I have pondered on the difference between belief and faith.

Belief can be just an intellectual thing, something we hold on to, as in a belief someone cherishes in his heart and mind. A belief can be handed down, and simply accepted, without being questioned, or challenged. I think that a set of beliefs is how religious denominations came about; a common belief is what binds people together.

Faith goes much deeper. All Jesus requires of anyone is faith as small as a mustard seed.

Last Sunday Pastor Edgar said that when we have a big God, we only need a small amount of faith to start with. But those who have a small God need huge amounts of faith. When I heard it expressed that way, it made so much sense to me!

Once again, obedience is the key.

A belief doesn't need any obedience to grow. Sometimes, one can go to great lengths and become a staunch defender of what he believes in! But no obedience is required for a belief. A belief is a passive thing. It can leave one unchanged, or even result in narrow minds and myopic perspectives.

On the other hand, obedience is what fuels our faith to grow. Faith is never passive. It is always active! Faith is an individual person's lookout, a personal response to what God has revealed to him. For faith to expand and be stretched, a crisis is often necessary. Faith is never an intellectual thing!

Active faith is continually being tested and proven!



Faith and obedience go hand in hand. Faith is a major ingredient in a growing relationship. If I have faith in the goodness of my God, then I am willing to give what I can to bring our relationship to the next level.

And faith doesn't depend on numbers. It is quite willing to stand alone.

Just like Abraham, or Moses, Joshua, Esther, Ruth.

And somewhere along the way, God breaks through and gives us a panoramic vision of what He is doing for us - just as Jesus for a few moments revealed His glory at His transfiguration.

Our obedience does that for us. God allows us a transfigured view of our destiny, even if only for a few moments. He does not always leave us in the dark. He encourages us, He brings us up above the dark storm clouds of this earthly existence, and gives us a glimpse into eternity!


So here I am again standing before a new and higher road ahead ... learning to rely not on my own carefully laid out plans...but being willing to be a servant at the beck and call of the Master.

But more than just being a servant...

I know God wants to know us as Friend...

as Son... as Daughter...

as the radiant Bride!


And He is not just our Master who is completely trustworthy to be obeyed...

He is our Father waiting to be loved!

In Acceptance Lies Peace

Just a tiny weed in my father's garden

In acceptance lies peace.

This is the title of a poem by Amy Carmichael which I first read many years ago. I’ve never forgotten it.

Amy is one of my favorite authors. She has added color and shape to my spirituality.

But so have many others: AW Tozer, CS Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, Henri Nouwen, Catherine Marshall, Elisabeth Elliot, Lilias Trotter…

I call them my friends, for they have contributed so much to the shaping and the molding of my inner man.



The first four months of the year are nearly over. Only two-thirds remains of this“new” year 2009.

Was it just a year ago when Ernie and I were preparing to leave Chiang Mai, Thailand for a two month summer break back here in the Philippines?

And was it just seven months ago when we were packing our suitcases and cleaning our Maejo University flat thoroughly, preparing to leave Thailand for good, as Ernie’s work contract as an international consultant had come to an end?

And was it just five months ago since we buried Ernie’s earthly tent?




On January 1, 2009, I sensed God saying that this year would mark a new beginning for me.

Officially, I am a widow. How is that for a new beginning?

But honestly, there is something in that word that doesn’t agree with me. I don’t think it’s denial, I just don’t want to be called by that term.

When I think of widows, the picture of a woman to be pitied comes to mind. Naomi. The widow of Zarepath…



Ernie was a strong pillar for me. Someone who always knew what to do, someone who always seemed to provide support, encouragement, affirmation.

And when he left, I suddenly found myself alone. During the first weeks after his homegoing, there were many nights when it seemed like I was surrounded by a deafening silence. I wasn’t used to not having him around to talk to!

In the weeks that followed, I realized that whatever decision I needed to make, I now had to make it alone.

Well, this was the reality I had to live with.

But the amazing thing is that although I was alone, I did not feel lonely. I missed my husband, but it wasn’t the end of the world. There was no need to re-arrange the furniture in our bedroom. I was happy to leave things the way they were.

Somehow, I did not feel like I was a widow. And I certainly did not want to impose myself on others with a sense of self-pity and helplessness.


On the contrary, after Ernie’s death I felt like there was something to look forward to, for as I have often said, I am a firm believer in life out of death, gaining through losing, descending into greatness!

It helped to know for sure that he is in heaven.

But I believe that what helped me the most was my quiet acceptance of these recent events of my life.


In acceptance lies peace.




The first three months of this year were like a whirlwind of activities for me. I was in Manila at the start of the year, to be with my daughter, and also to conduct a series of Ancient Paths seminars with the New Life Church in South Manila.

In February, I was back in Manila, a surprise trip that my sister in law Sue gave me, and not only was I able to spend Valentine’s Day with my daughter, Sue and I were also able to visit a couple of lovely tourist places in Quezon Province.

In March, I was in Guam for a week, and when I returned to Bacolod, it was a busy time for me doing a lot of writing assignments for the university. I also supervised the finishing touches of my ministry kitchen, which was finished just in time for my birthday!

In early April, my daughter Obedient One came home for ten days to spend Holy Week with us.

And on April 14, I flew to Manila to look after our Manila home while our housekeeper went on a two week vacation.

On April 19, five days after I arrived here, the 102-year old mother of Vito, Sue’s husband, died. I had to make a quick trip back to Bacolod on April 24 to attend the funeral. Vito and Sue are very close to our family, and of course, there were no second thoughts regarding this trip.

What a beautiful funeral it was, and I am just so glad I decided to go home for the special occasion.

I was back in Manila the following day.




About a week ago, I noticed that some plants near the front wall were bent, as if someone had stepped on them. I quickly realized that someone had climbed up the wall and had gotten into our property. I looked around, but there was nothing damaged or missing.

For a while thoughts raced through my mind. What else could I do to make our doors and windows secure?

Our housekeeper also gave word that she was not sure about coming back. Again, more thoughts going through my mind. My daughter lives a very busy schedule. She needs a housekeeper to maintain this big house, cook her meals, and do her laundry. The intruder may decide to pay us another unwelcome visit…

How I wished Ernie were around so I could ask him what needed to be done.


Then early one morning, I was awakened by “Someone” speaking to me.

Therefore the Lord will wait,
That He may be gracious to you;
And therefore He will be exalted,
That He may have mercy on you,
For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

-Isaiah 30:18


The Voice went on to say:

“I have compassion on you. I understand what you are going through. You are not helpless and alone. I am here to help you, I rise to show you compassion. I will take care of you. I have not abandoned you.”

Wow! And I wasn’t even up yet. I mean, God was already speaking to me as soon as I awoke.

God spoke those words to me last Thursday, April 23.

Last night, as Obedient One and I were having our evening devotions, I told her:

“My dear daughter, our life here on earth is not defined by how secure our doors and windows are, our well being is not dependent on a housekeeper. Our joy doesn’t come from things happening the way we want them to. We will not allow the enemy to give us a sense of bad things happening. Rather, we will let the Lord, our Keeper, Protector, and our Peace, give us a sense of good things happening!”

And this is how the first four months of this year has been for me.

My spirit is at peace.

You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You.

-Isaiah 26:3

IN ACCEPTANCE LIES PEACE
by Amy Carmichael


He said, “I will forget the dying faces;
The empty places,
They shall be filled again.
O voices moaning deep within me, cease.”
But in vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in forgetting lieth peace.

He said, “I will crowd action upon action;
The strife of faction
Shall stir me and sustain;
O tears that down the fire of manhood, cease.”
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in endeavor lieth peace.

He said, “I will withdraw me and be quiet,
Why meddle in life’s riots?
Shut be my door to pain.
Desire, thou doest before me, thou shalt cease.”
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in aloofness lieth peace.

He said, “I will submit, I am defeated.
God hath depleted
My life of its rich gain.
O futile murmurings, why will ye not cease?”
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in submission lieth peace.

He said, “I will accept the breaking sorrow
Which God tomorrow
Will to His son explain."
Then did the turmoil deep within him cease.
Not vain the word, not vain;
For in Acceptance lieth peace.

"In Acceptance Lieth Peace," Toward Jerusalem

Listen to this beautiful song, He Who Began A Good Work In You, by Steve Green:




I want to dedicate this blog post to my friends and loved ones who I know frequently visit my blog, their own way of keeping in touch with me:

my sister who lives in USA,
my sister in law Faith who lives in California,
my daughter in law God-given who lives in Bacolod City,
my best friend Melanie who lives in Virginia,
my friends:
Mari from San Diego,
Jun who also lives in San Diego,
Angelina from Hong Kong,
Jessa from New Zealand,
Ut and Oy from Chiang Mai, Thailand,
Tina from Manila,
Jing and Mayang from Bacolod City... and others whose names I may have missed.

Dear loved ones, may you be encouraged in knowing that you are safe and secure in the loving hands of our Lord. Thank you for having kept me company through my journey.

Total Praise

photo credit


Psalm 121

I will lift up my eyes to the hills--
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber,
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper,
The Lord is your shade at your right hand,
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve
your going out and your coming in
From this time forth,
and even forevermore.

Today I want to write about this uplifting song of praise, Total Praise, written by Richard Smallwood.

The inspiration for this hymn must surely have come from the famous Psalm 121, quoted above.

This song will forever remind me of the overwhelming peace, strength, and comfort that filled my heart at the time of my husband's death last November.

Many who find themselves in a similar time of deep loss, of danger, or uncertainty, will surely find great meaning in it.

A CD of this song, performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, was given me by dear friends Max and Grace Hughes when they visited me on November 24, a day after Ernie died. We then played it during the memorial service in honor of my husband given by my FFI (Family Foundations International) family.

I had never heard this hymn before. As it was being played during that service, there was a sacred hush that came into the hall, tears quietly flowed from our eyes, and God's anointing of comfort was so strong. There can be no doubt: His presence came and ministered to us all.

The song was another of God's special gifts to me. It speaks of my total trust in a loving God, my complete abandonment to His perfect timing in my life.

Indeed He is the sovereign God, He holds the seasons of our lives in His hands!


Listen to Total Praise as rendered by the Oslo Gospel Choir.

May God's comfort and peace accompany you today.