Treasures of Darkness

A Light at the End of the Path

image source

And I will give you the treasures of darkness

and hidden riches of secret places,

that you may know that it is I, the Lord,

the God of Israel, 

Who calls you by your name.

- Isaiah 45:3

Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed;

save me, and I shall be saved:

for You are my praise.

- Jeremiah 17:14

This beautiful month officially ends tomorrow, and what a joy it is to share my thoughts about it on the eve of the last day of March.

As I write these words, the sun has just set.

I will always love the sunrise, for there is a built-in message of hope, mercy, and grace in every sunrise I experience. My prayer desk faces the east, so that each time I welcome the day at dawn, the early rays of the morning sun shine on my face. Beautiful!

But for me, this hour of the day is the most meaningful.

In Hebrew thought, the 24 hour day begins at sundown. My mother often reminded us that we always prepared for the day the night before. She probably didn't know it, but she was handing down Biblical wisdom to me and my sister.

What peace and sense of fulfillment I feel when I take time at sundown to thank Abba Father for the day just ended, as well as the day that is at the same time just beginning to unfold.

In the same way, as each month ends, I look forward to giving it a name, a concise and meaningful summary of what the past four weeks have been like for me.

Each month's end is also the next month's starting point. My God is the God of meaningful endings and beautiful beginnings. That just takes my breath away.



This month was truly packed with meaning.

When I look back at the past 30 days I can only agree with the psalmist who wrote these words in Psalm 139:16 --

And in Your book they all were written

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

On the first day of this month I boarded my flight back to Bacolod after being in Manila for five days. It was an unplanned, unexpected end to February, having been invited on short notice by my friend Rosemarie to conduct a three-day prayer retreat for her and her business partners, but what a time of refreshing it turned out to be. 

Going back to Bacolod after that retreat at her farm in Northern Luzon, I felt energized and invigorated, physically and spiritually.

How thankful I am to Abba Father that even though I wasn't consciously preparing to conduct a prayer retreat, He broke through and used me as a channel to speak messages from His heart for all of us.

He has done that so often, it should no longer surprise me, but it still does.

Father is simply amazing. When that happens, I am once again brought down to my knees, humbled. It wasn't my doing. It was the Father speaking to our hearts, ministering grace, releasing hope for the journey.

There are just too many things I will never understand in this earthly life, but heaven is bursting with life … and at the proper time, when I finally see my Creator face to face, I know I will fully comprehend His beautiful plans and purposes for me.

The week after I arrived back home, our Family Foundations International ministry team met almost daily, in final preparation for the School of Ministry that we were hosting.

Fifty-two persons from the Philippines, Hong Kong, UAE, Norway and Canada participated in the school. Held from March 8-13, it was a week-long training for ministering the Father's blessing through the Ancient Paths seminars that we conduct.

Neil Campbell from Calgary, Alberta (Canada) was the man who gave the training.

What a week it was! It was a training for life. Many of us in the team had been in this ministry for nearly 15 years. Technically, we already knew what being an agent of blessing was all about. But the fresh insight, fresh truth, fresh revelation… the freshness of it all... just caught my heart by surprise.

I had no doubt it was going to be life-transforming, at least for me. But I wasn't expecting to be impacted in the way I was.

The messages, the hands-on ministry situations, the interacting with the participants, friends both old and newly-forged … the organized way in which everything happened… the unity of our spirits….

My heart just felt so soft, so empty and so willing to be filled, so ready to receive…

How can a deep spiritual experience ever be quantified into mere words?

Words are not enough. I leave it at that.

The one week went by too quickly, and when it ended, my heart was longing for more.

But life moves on.

How good it would have been to sit quietly for one or two more days, just taking it all in.

But the rest of my month was already broken down into schedules to meet, and so, yes… life had to go on.

I am so grateful for that week of spiritual equipping that truly refreshed me. It was like a spiritual rain! Not a downpour, the kind that could get me drenched and soaking wet; it was a gently falling rain - the kind that the earth slowly drinks in.

On Saturday, March 14, my family and I had an early celebration of my 62nd birthday. We went to Hilltop Restaurant in Murcia and had dinner just as the sun was setting. It was a beautiful unstructured time of being with my sons and their wives and my four grandchildren.

On March 16, Monday… I had a lunch meeting, more commitments in the afternoon, and a Bible study in the evening.

On March 17, Tuesday… there was another lunch meeting, then in the afternoon I waited for my second grandson Full of Hope who was sleeping over at my home that night, since I would not be seeing him for almost a month.

In the evening, my two friends Miriam and Melanie, and I, celebrated my birthday in a delicious dinner at Terrasse Bistro in District Ayala Mall.

Coming home from dinner, I had a special bonding time with my two grandsons Forerunner and Full of Hope who slept over at home.

On Wednesday, March 18, from mid-morning till lunch my brother in law Vito and his wife Sue, and I, attended a beautiful 50th wedding anniversary celebration of our dear cousins Espiridion and Ofelia Piansay. It was such a memorable event prepared for them by their five children.

At 2 o'clock of the same day I was at my first grandson's graduation from Preparatory School, followed by a family meal at the rooftop of L' Fisher Chalet Hotel. Another beautiful sundown celebration for us!

In the evening, I went to another celebration, one hosted by my FFI friends in honor of three birthdays - mine, Elena's, and Buddy. It was such a hilarious, fun-filled evening of good food, spiritual blessings, and laughter!

I arrived home and quickly packed my suitcase for my one month stay in Manila, not forgetting that that day, March 18, was also my wedding anniversary…

By dawn of the next day, March 19, I was on board my flight to Manila to be with my daughter for one month.

During the flight, I looked back at the events of the past weeks that were carefully tucked within my heart. Even if everything had indeed gone so fast, nothing seemed out of place. God had so ordered my steps that each event had a purpose to accomplish in heaven's eternal economy.

On March 22, my daughter's maid left for her annual vacation. She would be gone for three weeks. Thus began my role for this season, to be a servant.

I wrote about it in my devotional blog: On Being a Servant.

On March 27, my birthday, I was up way before dawn, to give me enough time to reflect on the significance of that day.  Abba Father gave me a beautiful gift as I awoke: there was a song on my heart, and I knew He was singing this song for me. I wrote down my meditation for that morning in my online journal, and listened to the song. How precious and how loved I felt… my heavenly Father's love for me flooded my heart. 

You are a crown of beauty, a royal diadem in My hand, was His gentle whisper.

Read A Crown of Beauty - my birthday blog post.

I knelt down beside my bed that morning, thanking Abba Father for how my life has been. I thanked Him for creating me, fashioning each day of my life according to His beautiful design. I acknowledged that I was a masterpiece in the making, and that each day of my life had meaning and purpose.

After breakfast, my daughter Obedient One left for work, and I spent the rest of the day doing domestic responsibilities.

In the evening, I went to Ferino's, a local pastry shop nearby and bought a special bibingka and puto bungbong… then enjoyed eating it quietly at home, a simple treat for myself on my 62nd birthday.

Yesterday, after church Obedient One and I celebrated my birthday - delicious lunch at Recipes in Trinoma Mall.  

Today we had a day of prayer at Rosemarie's new home. This was the same group that had the prayer retreat last month. Again, I see it as a plan orchestrated by my Abba Father, with March ending the same way it began… in a prayer and worship setting.

One of the verses God impressed on my heart this day was Isaiah 43:5.

And I will give you the treasures of darkness

and hidden riches of secret places,

that you may know that it is I, the Lord,

the God of Israel, 

Who calls you by your name.

- Isaiah 45:3

With everything that has been happening the past weeks, I have a strong sense that Father is behind the scenes… with every event that unfolds, He has a gift waiting for me.

Just as this is the season of spring, and the ground that has soaked up all the moisture from the snow of the cold and dark winter season is bursting with new life, so am I in my spring season… walking in the newness of life, though I may not see it with my physical eyes.

Be not afraid of the cold and dark seasons of your life, I sense Abba Father saying to me. 

I am aware of your deep longings and many prayers for your family and loved ones. 

You can trust me in this.

I am giving you treasures of darkness… 

As precious as a pearl formed by an oyster coating a speck of sand with layers of nacre, trying to relieve itself of a painful intrusion in its heart of hearts…

As precious as a diamond formed from carbon after years of unbearable heat and pressure upon it…

As precious as gold purified in the crucible, simmering in white hot heat until the dross rises, and the liquid metal begins to glow…

In truth, the darkness is your friend…

For without the darkness, your strength cannot be tested

You faith cannot be proven strong…

Where there is darkness, my Spirit hovers… ready to make something beautiful.

In Psalm 18:11, the psalmist writes, 

He made darkness His secret place

His canopy around Him was dark waters

And thick clouds of the skies.

And in Psalm 139:12 I read these reassuring words,

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.

I love how Christian Moore puts it:

"Darkness is a provision from God for us, a place where we face unseen things that God wants to quietly, confidentially define by the light of His Word. Thus darkness is no longer the habitation of evil but a place where God has shrouded Himself in secret."

I have reached a point in my life where darkness no longer intimidates me.

I am not afraid of the things I do not understand or see.

In the night seasons of my life, God is secretly at work behind the scenes.

And so sundown is such a meaningful time for me to reflect and ponder what God is saying and doing, and to prepare myself for another day.

When we begin our day in the evening, it is a movement from darkness to light, from rest to activity.

Abba Father forms His beautiful treasures in the dark seasons of our lives.

It is said that the nightingale sings its sweetest songs in the night.

I came across a some quotes from Antoine de Saint Exupery's book Letter to a Hostage, a wonderful collection of insights on what the Sahara Desert taught him about the real meaning of life.

In one of the chapters he writes: 

"There is a silence of peace, when the tribes are reconciled, when the evening once more brings its coolness, and it seems as if one had furled the sails and taken up moorings in a quiet harbor."

That very much describes what I feel as this month comes to an end.

There is a silence of peace.

The evening once more brings its coolness.

My ship has taken up moorings in a quiet harbor.

At this point in my life, my 62nd year, I may still have some unfulfilled dreams.

But mostly I am at peace.

Unlike many people I know who derive their significance from their family relationships, I am very much at peace in my own standing and eternal position as a daughter of the King of Kings.

While I truly love my family - my children and grandchildren - I am also very much aware that they have lives of their own. I do not see myself as being defined by them. They are their own persons, with God- given identities and destinies.

I may help shape the formation of their character, speak words of insight, wisdom, and counsel… provide help in whatever form I am able to give it… But I am defined by my own unique relationship with my heavenly Father and who He created me to be.

As March ends today, this is the message it leaves behind for me: 

Father God is giving me treasures of darkness… hidden riches of secret places.

I name this month Treasures of Darkness.

Thank You, Father.  For now, I am glad as I rest my heart in You.  My ship has taken up moorings in a quiet harbor.

When the enemy comes like a flood, seeking to discourage me, or sow fear in my heart, You come to my rescue.

Treasures in darkness.

Hidden riches of secret places.

Father God at work behind the scenes… in the cold winter seasons, He soaks the ground of my heart with life-giving moisture.

And new life is ready to burst forth...

Two beautiful songs for this month:

Watches of the Night/Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer

I look towards the wintering trees
To hush my fretful soul
As they rise to face the icy sky
And hold fast beneath the snow
Their rings grow wide, their roots go deep
That they might hold their height
And stand like valiant soldiers
Through the watches of the night

And no human shoulder ever bears
The weight of all the world
But hearts can sink beneath the ache
Of trouble's sudden surge
Yet far beyond all knowing
There's a strong unsleeping Light
That reaches 'round to hold me
Through the watches of the night

I have cried upon the steps that seem
Too steep for me to climb
And I've prayed against a burden
I did not want to be mine
But here I am and this is where
You're calling me to fight
And You I will remember
Through the watches of the night
You I will remember
Through the watches of the night



Jesus draw me ever nearer
As I labor through the storm
You have called me to this passage
And I'll follow, though I'm worn

May this journey bring a blessing
May I rise on wings of faith
And at the end of my heart's testing
With Your likeness let me wake

Jesus guide me through the tempest
Keep my spirit staid and sure
And when the midnight meets the morning
Let me love You even more

And may this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith
And at the end of my heart's testing
With Your likeness let me wake

And let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go
And at the end of this long passage
Let me leave them at Your throne

And may this journey bring a blessing
May I rise on wings of faith
And at the end of my heart's testing
With Your likeness let me wake

Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer
Music by Keith Getty, Words by Margaret Becker
Thankyou Music

A Crown of Beauty

Sixty-two years ago, God brought me forth into this world.

Truly a day to remember, and a life to celebrate. The year was 1953.

Twenty years later, in 1973, as a young university student, I encountered my Maker on my Damascus Road gently inviting me to turn the throne of my heart over to Him. 

I was the One who created you. I have beautiful dreams for you. Let me show you who you really are, the way I intended you to be.

How could I resist such a beautiful offer?

He is the great I Am

the Lord God, the Creator of all the earth... 

and the One who carried the idea of me in His heart 

for millennium after millennium...

And when the fullness of time had come,
ordained the day of my birth...

rejoicing with all of heaven

placing me in the hands of a man and a woman

who did their best to nurture and nourish 

this fragile tender life...

A man and a woman, my parents, who believed in me

and in the best I could become...

they were the instruments He used to ensure

this precious cargo would make safe passage

over dangerous seas...

But He is my great I Am
the One Who stood watching over my every step

every step of the way...
saying "This is the way, walk in it."

the One Who planted dreams inside my heart

and equipped me to carry them out...

He is my great I Am
the One Who holds the master plan for my life
plans for peace and not for evil,
to give me a future worth looking forward to
a future filled with hope...
the One Who promises abundant life...

How could I say "No" to that invitation?

The Psalmist couldn't have said it better:

For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother's womb,

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from You.

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

- Psalm 139:13-16

The One who fashioned me, and put me together - body, soul, and spirit - and the One who wrote out the story of my life when I was not yet born... surely He is the One who knows all about me.

How could I resist such a wonderful offer... to give the reins of my life back to Him, to choose the life He offers, that I may experience what it means to truly live?

I did, twenty years ago. That was the day I was born, spiritually.

And to make a long story short... it is the best thing that ever happened to me.

Today I celebrate both the day I was born physically... and the day I was re-born in my spirit.

To be born twice, as they say, means you only die once.  For me, that is the best and wisest transaction anyone can ever make. For who can determine my eternal destiny except the One who created me?

I take to heart the new name my Abba Father gave me in 1992... as part of His promise to reveal to me who I really am,  the way He intended me to be!

You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord.

A royal diadem in the hand of your God.

-Isaiah 62:3

Truly His promises are true.

I woke up a few minutes ago with a song playing in my heart.

It is an amazing feeling... to wake up with a song in my heart.

It is without doubt the birthday song that Father God is singing over me!

There are many more things I would want to say on this my birthday blog post... but sometimes understatement has a deeper impact than overstatement.

There are times when less is more.

Today is one of those times for me.

Each birthday is an opportunity for me to celebrate my heavenly Father... Abba Avinu... and thank Him for creating me... redeeming me... and re-creating me.

It is never about me. Always, always... the glory goes back to the One who holds my heart in His hands. To Him alone am I eternally grateful for my life.

Below is the song Abba Father was singing over me when I woke up.

Provision for the Vision

image source



Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, 
and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. 
So Abraham went and took the ram, 
and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 
And Abraham called the name of the place, 
The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, 
"In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided."
- Genesis 22:13, 14




Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak,
and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.
- Habakkuk 2:2, 3

Today the one week Family Foundations-International/School of Ministry (FFI-SOM) came to an end.

It was hosted by the FFI Philippines national office, with a total of 52 participants from various parts of our country, as well as Hong Kong, Norway, and the UAE.

Words escape me at this point. The whole week of receiving fresh insights, as well as fresh revelation, from the heart of God was definitely a life-transforming event for me. But again, this is one of those many times when to put into words what the Father has done in my life is not going to do it justice.

I have often realized that "words" are only the handle by which we grasp what God, or another human being, is trying to communicate to us. The truth is that God communicates to us Spirit to spirit... not by words.

Words are merely the handle by which we try to grasp what He wants to convey.

It is but understandable that words will never be adequate to explain the deep things of God.

Scripture is written word, but there is so much to it than just mere words. There's life flowing between the lines… there's living truth… there's fresh revelation being given to anyone who is hungry to receive.

Suffice it to say is that the SOM confirmed so many things I had been seeking confirmation for.

God confirmed the vision He placed in my heart years ago that He had called me to be a channel of healing and a redemptive agent in the lives of people I encounter. I am in the right ministry, working with the right people. Together, we have been raised to minister to the bride of Christ in the end times. I am on the right track when I seek to receive deeper training and equipping.

There is no time to live in offense or unrighteous judgment.

There is also no time to waste in useless pursuits.

Every minute counts.

What joy this gives my heart to realize that God will not allow me to lose sight of what He has called me to do.

But more than merely doing an assignment, Father is calling me to be.

A daughter of the King.

But also, more importantly, one of the five wise virgins waiting for the arrival of the Bridegroom... lamp ready, an extra supply of oil on hand.

The SOM came at just the right time that we needed it. Many of us received encouragement, affirmation, hope.

Where there is a vision, there surely is a provision.

I am reminded of the story of Abraham in Genesis 22, where God calls him and asks him to offer his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice.

Looking for a suitable photo to post with this blog entry, I came across the image I posted above. I quote here some of the words from the site:

When God called Abraham to sacrifice Isaac He was essentially testing Abraham's heart to see which he would hold in highest regard: his own relationship with the Lord or his relationship with his beloved son.... Likewise... we too are put to the same test. Through His Word and through the prophets, the Lord Himself has given us precious promises with regard to our own children, our churches, communities, and nations.... A spiritual battle rages in which the enemy is certain that we will not uphold the most important commandment of all to the point of sacrificing our 'Isaacs' whatever they may be: beloved sons and daughters, powerful ministries, or the earthly nations in which we live.... We are put in a position where we are forced to choose between following the way of fear, or the way of God's love. source

I understand this much: In my life, God gives a vision. My heart will be tested time and again, to see if I will stay true to the vision.

A vision is huge... but God gives us glimpses of it… bite sized pieces revealed according to His time frame, according to how much our hearts can receive.

The heart has to be tested, shaped, prepared, cleansed... whatever needs to be done for the vision, the God-dream, to be fulfilled.

For the fulfillment of the calling, we need to raise a standard of righteousness in our own lives and in the societies that we live in, that we may be able to stay true to the vision, which as the prophet Habakkuk writes, will surely come. 

I cannot hold on to my Isaacs thinking they rightfully belong to me.

Or that I am entitled to them.

Certain beautiful things in my life are good to have, such as comfort, resources, a beautiful family, friends, church, ministry. But they have to be placed on the altar.

It is a test of the heart.

Abraham is a prototype man of faith, I have often said that. He was able to raise a standard of righteousness, of obedience.

He chose God over himself.

Only then was the provision for the vision revealed to him, the ram caught in the thicket.

I am amazed at what God has done in my heart this past week. Words could never explain what happened.

But I am so thankful I was a part of it. My life is eternally changed.

Five days ago, we celebrated my grandson Joyful One's fifth month of life.

Together with five friends from Davao, we had lunch at Chicken House. The photos I share below were taken on that day.

Since I am doing a series on the names of God for the twelve monthly blessings that I will be giving my grandson, very much on my heart at this time is to give him a blessing from God as his Jehovah Jireh.

It is so easy to assume that God provides for everything we need as His children. While that is true, my own heart convicts me at this time that Abraham's provision, in this case a substitute ram that spared his son Isaac from death, came when his heart proved that he loved God above all.

More than he loved himself.

Abraham's unconditional obedience caused the solution to manifest in his realm of influence. That ram became the substitute for Isaac who went free. Now that Abraham's highest loyalty proved to be to the Lord Himself, he was free to raise his son into his God-given destiny. source

What a message this story speaks to my heart!

This is a prayer of blessing I speak not only for my grandson, but for myself, and each and every member of my family: my five children and my three other grandchildren.

I want to bless you today my dear grandson, Joyful One, with a relationship with Jehovah Jireh in the way that Abraham knew his God.

Grandson, raise a standard of righteousness in your life, that you will be willing to let go of whatever Isaac may stand in the way of your giving Father God the best obedience you can give.

It will not be easy for you in the times your generation lives in. I pray that the odds will not deter you.

I pray that God will empower you to live out your divine calling, wherever He has placed you.

Son, this world is not our home. We are only passing through.

May you never drive your stakes down too deeply.

May you never be motivated to live with a warped view of who God created you to be.

May financial concerns never force you to give up on the original call of God on your life.

May unforgiveness never harden your heart or embitter your soul, that you will be trapped in a self-made prison that prevents you from living the freedom that Christ gave His life for.

May you never be content with small dreams… but only continue to aim high and reach for the stars that God has promised to give you, even before you were born.

May you constantly live your life with an awareness that heaven is your true home, but there are kingdom assignments that you alone can fulfill on this earth.

Grandson, may you truly know God as the Jehovah Jireh… who will never withhold from you the provision that you need for your God given vision to become a reality in your life.

Love always,

Nana

October 8, 2014 - Day of Birth - In His Time

November 8, 2014 - One month old - If God Be For Us (Jehovah Sabaoth)

December 8, 2014 - Two months old - In Whom We Live and Have Our Being (Jehovah Shammah)

January 8, 2015 - Three months old - Faithful and True

February 8, 2015 - Four months old - To the Three in One: My Morning Song (Three In One)
March 8, 2015 - Five months old - Provision for the Vision (Jehovah Jireh)

April 8, 2015 - Six months old - The Father's Embrace (Abba Father)

Growing the Fruit

image source

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 
patience, kindness, goodness, 
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 
Against such, there is no law.

- Galatians 5:22, 23

Today my granddaughter Shalom, Peaceful One, turns one month old.

It has been a privilege being able to hold this tiny baby in my hands often the past weeks, and praying a blessing over her.

But for the special Grandmother's blessing that I pray for each of my grandchildren on the first twelve months of their lives, I have chosen twelve character traits of the Lord Jesus, starting with the nine facets of the fruit of the Spirit.

Spiritual gifts are needed for ministry, but even much more important than the gift is the fruit of the Spirit…

Fruit is the fertile soil in which the gift operates.

Without the foundation of a fruitful life, the gift is shallow and meaningless.

Spiritual fruit requires obedience and nurture. It doesn't happen overnight, and one can't certainly force it to come. There are certain conditions that make fruit bearing possible.

Spiritual fruit comes only when the branch remains connected to the trunk allowing the life-giving sap of the mother plant to flow unhindered. Nourishment provides a a healthy environment for the leaves to remain green, and for the fruit to grow at the right season.

This day I pray for love to continue to be a vital part of this little one's character.

Love. It is the heart of Abba Father for a lost world. God so loved the world that He sent His only Son Jesus to die for us, that we should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Love is willing to give of its best. Love does not withhold the best that it can give.

Love is not selfish… true love is selfless.

I am always amazed at the enduring quality of love as described by the Holy Spirit in the Love Chapter of 1 Corinthians 13.

Love is:

          patient… 

                    kind… 

                              not envious… 

                                        neither boastful nor proud.



Love does not dishonor others.

Love is not self-seeking.

Love is not easily angered.

Love keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Love:

     ALWAYS protects…

     ALWAYS trusts…

     ALWAYS hopes…

     ALWAYS perseveres…

Love NEVER fails.

My beloved granddaughter,

How I pray for you on this special day, that LOVE will be an integral part of your growing up years.

That love will shape your inner character...

And build a strong hedge of protection around your heart, that it will give you the security and depth of spiritual insight that you need in life.

Perfect love casts out fear… how I desire that love will be the strong foundation of your character.

Your father and your mother and your big brother love you so much… and so do I… 

but all the love that we as human beings can give you is nothing compared to the unfathomable well of love that is in the heart of your Creator and Maker, God Almighty.

You are deeply loved, dear Peaceful Child… so much more than words could ever express!

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

Undivided

Micah Olivia
 sixteen hours old

February 8, 2015, 9:03 a.m.

For to you a child is born,

To you a daughter is given,

And joy shall be upon her shoulder,

And her name shall be called bat-shalom!

~ Terence Ha

My fourth grandchild was born at 3:02 p.m. yesterday, February 7, 2015. 

Weighing 5.11 pounds, she looked tiny... but when I first saw her in the observation room, two hours after her birth, I sensed so much peace and tranquility surrounding her.

A few weeks before her arrival, I had already begun asking God how she was called in heaven. I did not receive an immediate reply, but each time I would pray for her and her mom God-given, there would be a quiet sense of peace on my heart. It was as if my Abba Father was assuring me that everything would be fine.

A gentle feeling of peace would wash over me.

I began praying for God's peace to protect the mother and the baby in the last few weeks before the scheduled birth.

God-given had not been well the past weeks. She has had a hectic schedule at work, and she developed a cough, probably due to a compromised immune system.

I continued to pray for God's peace to keep them both safe.

Her heavenly name was impressed upon my heart about a week ago... She will be called Shalom, the Peaceful One.

One day before the baby was due, Forerunner developed a fever, together with frequent bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. He complained of abdominal pain and headache. In the evening, he had to be hospitatlized to make sure dehydration did not complicate matters.

The next morning, God-given had to be prepared for her C-section delivery later that day.

Naturally my heart was heavy as I prayed for God's protective hand to be upon them all.

Once again, Abba Father has proven Himself faithful. As of last night, Forerunner was much better, and just before she was wheeled into the operating room, I sensed that God-given was at peace and emotionally ready for the birth.

Shalom was born yesterday... and her birth brings so much peace to my heart.

According to Strong's Concordance 7965 Shalom means:

completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect, and full. In modern Hebrew the obviously related word Shelem means "to pay for," and Shulam means to be fully paid.

Wow!

That's just a wonderful name, if I may say so myself.

a bouquet of cupcake roses for God-given

February 6, 2015... eve of her baby's birth

I pray for you dear Peaceful One, that your presence in our family will bring unity, and peace, and harmony, healing, and joy.

Your name Shalom means contentment, completeness, well-being, wholeness.

I declare that you will live up to your name and you will be a peacemaker as you grow up.

Your heart will be whole for God's kingdom, and you will be an agent of unity wherever you go!

In a world riddled and torn apart by division and strife, I pray that in everything you do, your heart will be undivided, and will be led forth by the peace of God! 

A song for my dear Shalom, my first granddaughter (one of your Grandpa Ernie's favorite songs):

Undivided (by First Call)
We may worship different ways
We may praise Him and yet spend
All of our days living life divided
But when we seek Him with open hearts
He removes the walls we built
That keep us apart
We trust Him to unite us

In our hearts we're undivided
Worshiping one Savior, one Lord
In our hearts we're undivided
Bound by His Spirit
Forevermore undivided

It doesn't matter if we agree
All He asks is that we serve Him faithfully
And love as He first loved us
He made us in His image
And in His eyes we are all the same
And though our methods they may be different
Jesus is the bond that will remain

Related post:

Peace, Not As the World Gives
Day of Birth - February - Shalom: Undivided
First month - March - Love
Second month - April - Joy
Third month - May - Patience
Fourth month - June - Kindness
Fifth month - July - Goodness
Sixth month - August - Faithfulness
Seventh month - September - Gentleness
Eighth month - October - Self-Control
Ninth month - November - Prudence
Tenth month - December - Dependence: Heart of Mary

Precious Gifts from Above

Each of my grandchildren touches my heart in different ways.

God has blessed me with three, so far. And today my fourth one, the first granddaughter, will be born.

I love them all in a special way.

Today is a day of rejoicing for our family with the little girl's arrival. We have been waiting for her with glad anticipation.

But, at the same time my heart is heavy. Just last night, my first grandson Forerunner had to be hospitalized for fever, vomiting, watery bowel movement, headache, and abdominal pain.

His being sick at this time was never in the picture.

But, again... as always, what can I do except trust God for He holds all the seasons and circumstances of our lives in His hands.

I am asking Abba Father for the complete healing and speedy recovery of my grandson.

Forerunner and his cousin Full of Hope

He spent two weeks with me recently. Each night we would sing a lot of songs from YouTube, for he has grown up to love songs. He has a sweet and beautiful voice.

Below are some videos I have listened to early this morning, to remind me of the precious love of Jesus for my dear grandson, and of some of Forerunner's favorite songs that we would sing together at bedtime.

Peace, Not as the World Gives

The Olive Tree Ceramic Tile Mural of Jerusalem

Peace I leave with you;

My peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your hearts be troubled,

neither let them be afraid.

-John 14:27

February is a special month for our family.

On Saturday, the 7th of February, God-given will give birth to her and First Born Son's second child, a girl.

They have chosen a very beautiful name for her. But to honor my children, I will be quiet about it for now, since I believe it is the parents' prerogative to reveal it first.

This little one will be my fourth grandchild, and my very first granddaughter.

We are all looking forward to that day... just three days away!

Already, a spiritual name has been placed on my heart for her. 

She is Shalom, or Peaceful One.

I have prayed for her often since the day I found out she was being formed in her mother's womb.

Just thinking of her brings so much peace to my heart.

She is a miracle baby, and together with her father and mother, I rejoice and praise God for His goodness in giving our family another baby.

Praying for a smooth and safe delivery for dear God-given. 

Asking Abba Father to watch over all the details of the brith, especially that the surgeon's hands will be guided as she performs the C-section.

Hold this baby in your loving hands, Abba Father.

Please join our family as we celebrate the arrival of this baby girl, Shalom.

She will be a constant reminder to us of God's peace.

Two special songs for my fourth grandchild: