God's Favor: A Season of Replacement

Trees along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Bedford, Virginia

October 30, 2013

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host
appeared with the angel,

praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men

on whom His favor rests."

- Luke 2:14

You will arise and have mercy on Zion;

For the time to favor her,

Yes, the set time, has come.

- Psalm 102:13

For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

- Psalm 5:12

Jesus said to him, 

"If you can believe,

all things are possible to him who believes."

- Luke 9:23

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is in me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion--

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of joy instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise,

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord

for the display of His splendor.

- Isaiah 61:1-3

Enlarge the place of your tent,

And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;

Do not spare;

Lengthen your cords,

And strengthen your stakes.

For you shall expand to the right and to the left,

And your descendants will inherit the nations,

And make the desolate cities inhabited.

- Isaiah 54:2-3

O God, be merciful unto us, and bless us;

and cause his face to shine upon us.

O God, bless us with Thy favor.

- Psalm 67:1 

(James Moffatt translation)

I have never read any of Barbara Kingsolver's books, but from seeing some quotes and excerpts of her writings, I can tell that she is one writer I can definitely learn from.

The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.

This quote speaks so much to me... especially so because from what I know of Barbara's life, she has had her share of adversity and trials. And yet she writes from the point of view of a victor, and an overcomer, not one defeated or weighed down by the circumstances of life.

This quote also very much sums up what is on my heart as another month comes to an end.

My way of saying good-bye to the month is to look back over the past four weeks and get the overall personal message of Abba Father for me, by re-reading the stories He has written in my heart.

There are too many events... impossible for me to remember them all. Therefore, I don't look back at the past days by simply trying to recall details but rather,the special gift that the month leaves in my life.

I take the good advice of Cesare Pavese who has penned these beautiful lines:

We do not remember days, we remember moments.

The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten.

In the moments that my heart remembers I listen to the life-giving message my Father has for me.

I try to do this as a matter of habit because it is so easy to fall prey to the deceiving words of the enemy of my soul. It is easy to forget that in each event of my life, whether fortunate or not, is an opportunity to remember the eternal goodness of God.

In this my 60th year, I can only say that even if life has dealt me some painful blows, God has never withheld good. Each experience has been hand-made, custom built by my wise Father to shape and mold me into His image... if I will have the heart to understand what He is doing.

He is my Father, I am the clay, He is the Potter... I am the work of His hand.

   

A few days ago, my daughter Obedient One was about to leave Manila for Miami, Florida where she was to board a three day cruise to the Bahamas. She has traveled a lot around Asia, but this was her first time to embark on an overseas trip to the United States.

Her point of entry was JFK in New York, where she was also to board her connecting flight to Miami. She was at the predeparture lounge in Manila and we were exchanging text messages. 

It was only then that we realized the itinerary she had chosen allowed her a mere hour and a half layover time in JFK. Even with everything going smoothly, it was not going to be enough for her to go through immigrations, customs check, and traveling by shuttle to another terminal for her connecting flight.

I began to track the flight on the web, and found out that her flight was impacted by about a half hour delay at Narita, Japan... and she was surely going to miss her next flight.

She had to get on the next available flight... but I wasn't sure if she would know what to do once she reached JFK.

And the million dollar question was, would there still be another flight to Miami that same evening?

I searched for flights, and found out to my relief, that the next flight to Miami would leave at 6:14 p.m., three hours after her arrival.

My sister called Delta and requested for Obedient One to be rebooked on the next available flight to Miami, because of the delay at Narita.

It was as easy as 1-2-3!

She was booked, and the next thing I had to do was to make sure she got this information.

I didn't want her to get off the plane, not knowing she had been booked on the next flight, thinking she has to rush through the point of entry protocol, worrying to pieces about missing her flight.

We weren't sure she would have wifi connection at once on her phone, so we sent her several text messages, praying that international roaming services would be activated by her service provider.

I sent a prayer alert to as many friends I could reach, and left it all in God's hands.

My own prayer to the Father that morning was brief: Father, You are the King, and you are her Father. She is a daughter of the King, and Your favor surrounds her like a shield. Cover her with with traveling mercies, and send angels to accompany her every step of the way.

If I must be honest, even after this prayer, my heart was not completely at peace. But I could do nothing more but entrust this situation to the Lord.

As it turned out, my daughter did get to read the text messages we had sent her even before she got off the plane.

She reached her boarding gate with more than enough time till her next flight.

Upon reaching Miami, Obedient One was met by my dear friend Lee Ann who was already by the carousel at the baggage claim. She and her husband brought my daughter to the hotel, and even had a packed dinner for her.

Only then could I heave a sigh of relief, when I knew that my precious cargo had already reached her destination.

I praised God profusely for how His favor never left Obedient One while she was traveling alone to this faraway land. She is quite capable, there is no doubt, yet a mother's heart always wants to be sure all will go well for her children, no matter what age they may be.

It was four years ago when God personally spoke to me that His favor surrounds each member of my family like a shield.

In September 2009, while I was traveling home from the UAE, Obedient One was held up at gunpoint outside our Manila home, just as she was about to enter our front gate. It was a good thing that a friend was with her that evening. Well, my daughter gave up her handbag without a fight.

When I asked her later if she was afraid, she said, "Never did I feel any fear for God's presence with me was so strong. But I was very angry. I wanted to kick that man... but thought it was probably not a wise thing to do."

Storming the heavens for days and weeks after that ugly incident, God's peace truly descended on my heart one morning when I prayed the Psalm 5:12 passage back to him.

For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

- Psalm 5:12

Whenever I am afraid, Abba Father reminds me of that time, and many other times, when His favor surrounded my daughter and she was kept safe in His arms of protection.

At various times, God would whisper to me:

Position yourself to receive My favor. Walk in the light of My favor.

And today, as another month is ending, I am reminded of this important life lesson I have learned many years ago:

Walking in the light of God's favor is just a matter of positioning.

The enemy would love to have us focus on the negatives surrounding our life... the lack... the sickness... the broken dreams... the failures... the shortcomings of other people... the unexpected misfortunes.

But I must refuse to listen to his long list of negatives, of things gone wrong. 

Walking in God's favor means I am seeing things the way He sees them, the way they are in heaven.

Abba Father wants His children to have an increase mentality, not a survival mentality... an abundance mindset, not a poverty mindset... God-dependence, not self-sufficiency... living under grace, not condemnation.

It is seeing myself as God sees me, "a powerful representation of Himself to the world, full of life and purpose, and overflowing with His goodness, ready to be His hand of blessing" in the lives of others. (Beverley Sheasby)

The enemy is a joy-stealer, but my Abba Father is the giver of every good and perfect gift with whom there is no shadow of turning or change.

He rejoices over me with singing.

He dances over me with joy.

Increasingly, as we are in the end times, I have to remember that we are no longer in a time of peace... we are in a time of war.

God is training His sons and daughters to do battle.  Living with the mindset of favor is so crucial to winning the war. The enemy's weapon is fear and discouragement, he is very good at psychological warfare. 

Truth is, the war has been won, and we are fighting from victory.

Earlier this year, God had spoken to me that this year I am leaving my season of grief and loss, and I am entering a season of replacement. A beautiful message of hope as I celebrated my 60th birthday.

 I am sharing one life lesson for each month of this year. This month I have shared about God's Favor. 

As Barbara Kingsolver says, figure out what you hope for... and live inside that hope.... not simply admiring it from a distance... but living right under its roof.

God's favor.

It  is what I am hoping for. It is where I live.

"Prepare for war!

Wake up the mighty men,

Let all the men of war draw near,

Let them come up.

Beat your plowshares into swords

And your pruning hooks into spears;

Let the weak say, "I am strong.'"

- Joel 3:9-10

What the Lord has Done in Me

Let the weak say "I am strong"

Let the poor say "I am rich"

Let the blind say "I can see"

It's what the Lord has done in me

Hosanna, hosanna

To the Lamb that was slain

Hosanna, hosanna

Jesus died, and rose again

Into the river I will wade

There my sins are washed away

From the heavens mercy streams

Of the Savior's love for me

I will rise from waters deep

Into the saving arms of God

I will sing salvation's song

"Jesus Christ has set me free"

Sharing twelve life lessons on my 60th year:

January 2013 - Restoration: A Matter of Perspective

February 2013 - Authenticity: A Matter of Trust

March 2013 - Celebration: A Way of Life

April 2013 - Relinquishment: A Journey of Faith

May 2013 - Abiding: The Anatomy of a Birthday

June 2013 - Exchange: My Weakness for His Strength

July 2013 - Divine Appointments: God's Surprise Visits

August 2013 - Worship: Hidden Riches in Secret Places

September 2013 - Longing for Things Unseen: Escape from Reality

October 2013 - God's Favor: A Season of Replacement

November 2013 - Honor: Creating Space

Forerunner Turns Five

photo source

In returning and rest you shall be saved;

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.

- Isaiah 30:15a

... I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need,

and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,

whether well fed or hungry,

whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

- Philippians 4:11-13

For My people have committed two evils:

They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,

And hewn themselves cisterns--broken cisterns that can hold no water.

- Jeremiah 2:13

A prayer for my first grandson, Forerunner, as he celebrates his fifth birthday:

Dearest grandson, your grandfather and I prayed for you as soon as we knew that you were already being formed in your mother's womb.

We prayed for you everyday... and on the day you were born, we lifted you up before God.

And I have done it countless times, to this very day.

My faith declaration for you today is that Abba Father will fill your heart with peace.

You will find contentment and joy, whatever your circumstances may be.

You will focus your eyes not on things of this earth, but your gaze will ever be heavenward.

Your heart will find beauty even in the midst of the ugliness and pain of this world.

Your heart will be safe from unhealthy self-love. 

Rather, you will find ways to bring honor and delight to your earthly parents, 
and above all to your heavenly Father.

I decree and declare that your heart will be free from any form of greed.

Even the subtle greed to always have things go your own way.

I decree and declare that your heart will be protected from any fear of lack or want.

The spirit of poverty will never gain any foothold inside your heart.

Instead, your heart will be full of trust in God's boundless supply and provision,

and you will have an abundance mindset, even at your age.  

You will grow up knowing what honor means - to live a lifestyle of honoring God and others above all.

When your heart is not greedy for gain, when your heart is not saddled with fear of lack, 

then your heart is full of peace and contentment.

And you will be an honorable young man,
not greedy, never grasping or self-focused,

but generous, content, secure and confident... 
knowing that Your heavenly Father watches over you.

How I pray that your values will be formed and shaped 
even now as you are at a vulnerable stage of learning.

Because values are caught, not taught, I declare that your learning environment will be conducive to your absorbing eternal truths.

Heavenly Father, surround this young child with heaven's peace, that he will not crave for material things that will not satisfy his soul.

Teach Him to be a man after Your heart...

Abba Father, grant the desires of my heart for my grandson.

Be honored in his life. 

I love you, Forerunner!

Forerunner's 5th birthday family photo

Longing for Things Unseen: Escape from Reality

Autumn by the Lake:1869

by Jasper Francis Cropsey

photo source

Therefore we do not lose heart.

Though outwardly we are wasting away,

yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us

an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,

but on what is unseen,

since what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal.

- 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

...God, who gives life to the dead

and calls those things which do not exist

as though they did.

- Romans 4:17

Then He touched their eyes, saying,

"According to your faith let it be to you."

-Matthew 9:29

A month has passed since I boarded my flight from Manila to come here. 

While I can think of a number of reasons as to why I am here, I realize that Abba Father alone knows the real purpose of my being here, at this point in time. But I have a sneaking suspicion that it has to do with things He wants to speak to me about - heart to heart.

One of the things I am really enjoying is the cool comfort of my "bedroom" - my home away from home. Located on the second floor, it affords me a beautiful view of the wooded area right in the back yard of my sister's home.  

At nights, I open the window a bit to let some fresh air in. The night sounds that crickets and other insects make provide a different kind of music -  the rhythmic pattern is quite amazing. In the morning, I am awakened by the dawn chorus that greets my ears - tweets, hoots, chirps, warbles, trills, and caws - such a delightful harmony of bird sounds.

What a joy to sit on the carpeted floor by the window where I have carved a cozy devotional corner for myself... the place where I meet with my God. My secret place where I listen to soft worship music, read His word, partake of Holy Communion, and write His special message to me for the day in my journal.

When the temps are low, I keep the window open for a time. There is a sweet scent in the air, and a gentle breeze.

Many times during the day, I come back to this special corner - to listen to music, or to read.

When I visited my friend Melanie last month, she gave me a book written by Mark Buchanan. The book, entitled Things Unseen, is without doubt one of the best books I have read lately. Not only is Mark a great writer, he also puts into words the very things that have been on my heart these past years.

It's been nearly two weeks since I began reading it and yet I am not even halfway through. I am slow reading it, savoring every word, drinking in every line. After finishing one chapter, I go back to read it again. (And no, I have not been paid to do a review of Mr. Buchanan's book.)

Things Unseen. The title alone speaks volumes. And it caught my attention because it is part of my top favorite Bible passage of all:

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,

but on what is unseen,

since what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal.

- 2 Corinthians 4: 18

When Ernie and I spent one year in Chiang Mai, Thailand, about six years ago, I came to understand what it meant to be homesick for my native land. It was also there that Abba Father began to speak to me about being homesick for my heart's true home - heaven.

In Mark Buchanan's book he writes of our inner longing for our final and eternal destination.

"Even in a land flowing with milk and honey, we live estranged, we dwell in tents... No foundation we lay can take away our sense that we're not home yet."

Surely the Israelites experienced this kind of longing first hand. After leaving Egypt they lived in tents in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. Each time the cloud moved, they had to be ready to fold up their temporary dwellings, and move with the cloud.

But it is so easy to forget... or to convince ourselves that this is home.

How easy it is to lose sight of the truth that this world is not our home.

Increasingly, especially in the past two decades when God began doing a drastic pruning job in my life, I have become aware of a longing in my heart for heavenly realities.

"Heavenly-mindedness," writes Buchanan, "is sanity. It is the best regimen for keeping our hearts whole, our minds sane."

I couldn't agree with him more.

I was 39 years old when my husband's business collapsed leaving us financially bankrupt after a life of ease and comfort. It was my first major wake-up call, my realization that God was calling me to greater things than just running an immaculate home, raising well-bred children, and having a secure bank account.

Reading John 15, I had often wondered why Abba Father would still prune the branch that was already bearing fruit. In the years of my pruning, I understood. Father is looking for more fruit - fruit that lasts till eternity.

The pruning process was not easy for our family. I had to go through major adjustments, and much of my pain was internal... a battle I fought alone, away from the scrutiny and critical judgment of so-called friends and extended family.

Then, five years ago, my beloved husband passed away.

Another branch bearing fruit was pruned. What a waste of good life. What pain it has brought my heart.

And yet today, I have come to fully understand.

This world is not my home. The Father, the divine Vinedresser wants me to bear fruit that will last forever.

Once or twice I have been called an escapist for viewing life this way. 

"Be realistic. Accept reality for what it is," I was told.

But how does one explain something to those who are tuned in to a different frequency?

And so what a delight it was for me to read these words in Mark Buchanan's book:

"Things Unseen. God calls us to live among them, to set our sights on them, to treasure them against all sorrow, loss, doubt, disappointment."

"But isn't that escapism?" Mark Buchanan asks.

In answer to his own question, he talks about two different kinds of escape. "The first is the escape of one running away from life, who can't endure its disappointments and responsibilities."

The second kind of escape is the escape of the prisoner of war. "All he wants...is to go home."

"A remembrance and an expectancy - a groaning for home. A longing that sustains us no matter how dark it gets."

Beautiful!

A longing for things eternal is the second kind of escape. I am like a prisoner longing for home.


I can't get over the fact that someone is putting words to the very things that are within my heart.

And so, here I am. Sharing another life lesson for the month just ended: Heavenly-mindedness. Longing for Things unseen. Escape from reality.

Because if we are not careful, reality can truly be a day-to day prison. 

The self-effort and the self-provision...the cares of this life, the uncertainty of it all...

There are two kinds of reality: the seen, and the unseen.

There are also two kinds of knowledge: sense knowledge, and revelation knowledge.

Sense knowledge is based on our five physical senses; revelation knowledge comes from a heart understanding of God's word and how it applies to our daily lives. Revelation is also given to the heart that diligently seeks God.

If we assess our lives based on what we can see, feel, and touch - on mere sense knowledge, then we are living only in the realm of the seen.

But my heavenly Father talks about another kind of reality - His kingdom that exists in the realm of the unseen.

Just because something is unseen doesn't mean it's not real... 

So, it comes as a relief to me that there is really a literal escape from this seen reality in which we live our physical lives.

It is once again a choice we are called to make - which reality will define the way I live today?

I am, after all, not a physical being... made in the image of God, I am a spiritual being, called to live on a higher plane than just the physical.

A dear friend of mine recently discovered that her cancer has come back - and it's in her lungs, her liver, and her bones. When I first heard the news I couldn't keep back my tears. She is a beautiful woman, strong, and intelligent. I am asking God for her healing.

Someone in my extended family has continually refused to forgive me for a wrong I never knew I did. Refusing my overtures of love, she has rejected me, shunned me. And so, while I have not stopped loving her, I have stepped back, entrusting the situation to my Father.

Right here in America where I am at the moment... the shutdown is on its sixth day because the lawmakers cannot agree to disagree and come up with an acceptable stand for the sake of the general welfare. 

The strange weather patterns are wreaking havoc on the atmosphere: high temps in one area, a severe snowstorm in another area when it's supposed to be fall and leaves have not even changed their colors.

And here I am undergoing dental treatment when I have long been believing for a creative miracle to happen in my life. Is this His answer and provision to my prayer?

It is easy to be disappointed... embittered... easily-angered... or afraid when things go wrong.

But I've been there before, and I don't want to go back. 

God prunes and removes our branches of self-protection or self-provision that He may have room to enter into our lives, and provide a way out.

Therefore we do not lose heart.

Though outwardly we are wasting away,

yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us

an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

- 2 Corinthians 4:17

Another quote from Things Unseen: "Heavenly-mindedness...allows us to endure life's agonies without despair."

Self-focus makes one unfit for heaven. But heavenly focus, setting my sights toward home, enables me to be more patient, more kind, more loving, better able to withstand the disappointments in life, and accept the shortcomings of others.

It's not about me. Never has been.

It's about the life of Christ in me.

Inwardly I am being renewed day by day.

My speech is being refined. My goals are being re-adjusted. My flying instruments are being re-calibrated.

I am after all, being trained to live as a child of the King, a citizen of that eternal kingdom... learning to live for what really matters.

Heavenly realities are, in truth, just within my reach.

Sharing twelve life lessons on my 60th year:

January 2013 - Restoration: A Matter of Perspective

February 2013 - Authenticity: A Matter of Trust

March 2013 - Celebration: A Way of Life

April 2013 - Relinquishment: A Journey of Faith

May 2013 - Abiding: The Anatomy of a Birthday

June 2013 - Exchange: My Weakness for His Strength

July 2013 - Divine Appointments: God's Surprise Visits

August 2013 - Worship: Hidden Riches in Secret Places

An Open Door

An Open Door

photo source

The words of  the holy one, the true one,

who has the key of David.

Who opens and no one will shut,

who shuts and no one opens...

Behold I have set before you an open door,

which no one is able to shut.

- Revelation 3:7, 8





...I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David;

what he opens no one can shut,

and what he shuts no one can open.

- Isaiah 22:22

Therefor, behold, I will allure her,

and bring her into the wilderness,

and speak tenderly to her.

And there I will give her her vineyards

and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.

- Hosea 2:14, 15

I arrived in beautiful USA on September 2 after traveling a total of thirty-four hours. In a manner of speaking, I arrived the same day I left, having crossed twelve time zones before getting here. The fact that one could actually travel back in time has always amazed me. 

After getting my bags ready on the eve of my departure, I realized that I only had three hours to sleep before it was time to get up again and prepare to leave for the airport. 

Many thoughts went through my mind as I lay down to sleep, but mostly I was grateful for how things went.

The past weeks in my home city prior to the week of my departure had all been spent attending to many things - making sure everything was in order at home for my long absence... and making sure I wouldn't forget anything I needed to bring along with me on my trip. Upon reaching Manila one week before my scheduled flight, I was also attending to our Manila home, once again seeing to it that things were in place, and making last minute purchases like foodstuff and little gifts to give away to friends and family.

In the midst of all these preparations, my heart was silently connecting with Abba Father to guide me every step of the way.

On Sunday morning, one day after I arrived in Manila, I woke up with an intense longing to sit at the feet of my Abba... and just be in His presence. No praying... no reading of His word... just sitting quietly and seeking comfort and re-assurance.

There was no audible prayer that came out of my lips, but I knew very well what my heart desired. "Let Your presence go with me on this forthcoming trip, dear Father."  It was the secret, unspoken prayer of my heart.

A few minutes later, I became aware of a soft, plaintive melody wafting into the room... it was the voice of Gillian Adams singing one of my favorite hymns, Through the Love of God.  How that happens just at the time I need my heavenly Father's affirming touch no longer surprises me. He has spoken to me countless times before through a song.

I have posted the youTube video below for anyone who wishes to listen to this incredibly beautiful song.

As the birds in the santol tree outside my bedroom window chirped merrily, saying good-bye to the month of August and saying hello to September, my heart was being touched by the generosity of Abba Father speaking so directly to meet the need of my heart early that morning through a song.

Trust Abba to always know what is on my heart without me having to spell it out for Him in black and white. 

Through the love of God our Savior...all will be well

Free and changeless is His favor... all, all is well

Precious is the blood that healed us

Perfect is the grace that sealed us

Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us

All must be well...

If there was anything I wanted from Him for my trip, it was for His presence to be with me, and for the long road ahead of me to be paved with His favor.

Free and changeless is His favor... all, all is well.

I wanted protection and well-being for my home and the precious family I was leaving...

Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us... all must be well.

What better assurance was there than the very words being sung to me by my Abba Father? I listened to the song a few times, grateful for the peace that filled my heart, just when I needed it.

The rest of the week went smoothly for me and my daughter.

I said good-bye to August, truly grateful for all that had been accomplished in four short weeks. September took over.

I finished packing my suitcases and went to bed asking God for strength and endurance for what was ahead.

At 2:15 a.m. of September 2, Philippine time, a family friend Willy, arrived with his van to take me to the international airport, about 45 minutes away from where I lived.

"On my way...."

Checking in was so quick, it only took me 30 minutes to finish everything. By 3:30 a.m., I was already at my pre-departure gate, two hours early for the 5:30 a.m. boarding time!

Time went by so quickly anyway and before I knew it, Delta flight 3895 was airborne, headed toward its first destination - Nagoya, Japan.

We landed in Nagoya about four hours after take-off... waited for two hours at the pre-departure before boarding again for the flight to Detroit.

Once on board, I settled comfortably in my seat, prepared for the eleven hour flight from Nagoya to Detroit. 

"Make sure that all electronic devices are turned off." 

Sleeping on this flight was not going to be easy, so I tried to make the most of it by being relaxed and having an on and off conversation with my heavenly Father. 

Having a moving map right in front of me was a crash course in geography! From time to time I turned it on to have an idea of where we were in relation to the destination.

As the plane flew over miles and miles of land and sea, I had much time to think about this trip I was undertaking. At the start of the year, I absolutely had no idea this was going to happen. This journey to the other side of the world was totally unplanned and unexpected, yet here I was. A verse came to mind: 

For I know the plans I have for you,

plans for good and not for evil,

to give you a future and a hope.

- Jeremiah 29:11

Plans for good, and not for evil.

Truth be said, I was quite reluctant to go on this trip. The United States is such a far destination for me. It takes so much effort and money, not to mention the physical and emotional preparation required to go on a journey of this nature. 

But things happened very quickly. I was given a US visa renewal without any fuss, among other things. Without going into further detail, let me just say that I found myself at the threshold of a different season in my life.

And here I was... at the Father's disposal. A few times I wasn't really sure if this was what the Father wanted for me. But my sister had insisted that this was the best time to visit her... and really I began thinking that I must not deprive ourselves of this wonderful opportunity to be together again, to spend time making new memories, to re-bond... to re-connect... to make up for the many years and miles that had separated us since we began having separate lives. 

I experienced an Aha! moment, I wanted to seize the day, grab the opportunity... so I dropped all my reservations and announced to myself, Carpe diem! Go for it!

I am generally not an excitable person... Things impact me more internally than externally. 

But on the plane, I decided I wasn't going to have an iffy attitude about it all. I  will gladly give this trip the best that I have to offer. It is an investment from which I knew we were all going to reap eternal gains.

I prayed that Abba Father would honor the desire of my heart for the days ahead of me - that I would be a channel of blessing, and healing, and restoration. 

Believing that there is surely a good purpose for it all.

As indicated by the many hours and miles required by this travel, I am also traveling a long distance spiritually. First the natural, then the supernatural.

That is what Paul writes to the Corinthian city church:

But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, 
and then the spiritual.

- 1 Corinthians 15:46

This is my current location statement. What happens in the natural is an indication of my spiritual reality. I am traveling a long distance spiritually as well. There are new experiences and new opportunities from heaven waiting for me.

Delta flight 630 landed at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport a few minutes after 12 noon of September 2. Once again, everything went smoothly for me. Passport control, customs check up, and the series of security check... everything went smoothly. 

At the Detroit Metro tunnel which features sculpted glass walls, fabric ceilings, and about 400,000 computer generated lights which move in sync with soft music. Walking here is truly an awe-inspiring experience!

Less than one hour after I disembarked, I was at my boarding gate for my next flight.

I waited at this departure gate for more than 8 hours before I finally boarded my flight at 9:35 p.m.

Finally, at about 2 a.m. of September 3, after almost 36 hours of no sleep, I was ready to sleep in this cozy and comfortable bedroom, beautifully prepared for me by my loving sister. God's presence and His favor went with me all the way!

Today I am aware that at sundown another new year, Rosh Hashanah in the Hebrew calendar, begins. It is the year of the Ayin Dalet. 

Dalet is the fourth letter in the Hebrew alphabet. "The Hebrew alphabet doubles as numbers giving each character a numerical value. Since each Hebrew character possesses a pictorial meaning as well, there are layers of richness to each letter/number." (see Melissa Flores, The Year 5774: Ayin Dalet)

Melissa Flores writes:

Dalet is the picture of a hanging tent door. The door, dalet, can also mean the movement of one coming from or going into the tent. As is the case with every word, we can interpret negatively or positively. During dalet, one will either move (1) out of or (2) back into their tent. WIll you choose to vacate places of confinement or will you choose to retreat into the tent of isolation?

Indeed these are such significant words for me.

Ayin dalet is for me, the year of the open door...

new spiritual realities...

new opportunities...

new kingdom connections!

It truly is a beautiful beginning for me, this ninth month of the year, and this new year.

Incredible as it sounds, everything seems to be moving according to a divine plan and purpose.

I look forward to new beginnings, to God opening many new doors before me, one of them the door of hope in what I though was my valley of Achor.

God makes a way, a path through the wilderness.

I couldn't ask for anything more, or better. An open door is a way out of what controls, confines, limits, and inhibits me. An open door is a way of provision... a redeemed perspective!

Father I lift myself up to You. Lead me, guide me. 

Thank You in advance for this new year, the year of the open door. 

Thank you for what You have prepared for me - 

a new road on which to travel... 

a forward movement... 

a way out of what limits, hinders, and weighs me down. 

Set me free from old cycles and old ways of looking at things.. even old ways of doing things with You! 

Open my eyes to new horizons and vistas! Show me a panoramic view of new things that You are doing in my life and in the lives of those I love. 

Bring me up to the next level of Your eternal kingdom opportunities for me and my family!

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,
but on what is unseen, 
since what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.
-2 Corinthians 4:18