The Rock

 

©️ Off The Beaten Trek 

"2 From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety,

3  for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.

4 Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!" - Psalm 61:2-4 (NLT)

My family & I hadn't gone back to one of our favorite destinations in a very long time. We were truly grateful that we finally had the time to make this plan and the Lord made it happen. We packed our bags and off we went. 

The summer air was becoming warmer at each passing minute. By the time we were travelling a little over an hour on the road, hunger gnawed & made us crave for the bakery we used to go to. Grabbing some pastries, we took a quick break & satiated our hunger & quenched our thirsts. Off we went again to reach the halfway mark, competing against the growing number of vehicles converging in all roads.

One more stop for lunch. Unfamiliar faces sometimes stared as we took bite after bite of a combo meal. I wished the lady & the man across the table would smile as they stared. But I felt maybe our faces looked familiar to them thinking they knew my family & I. Or me specially. I smiled despite the lack of it from their penetrating gazes.

After more miles of seeing beautiful  hills and valleys, we finally arrived at our designated place. We rested a bit then started to take a walk and visited the little shops, some which stood the passing of time, while others had disappeared. But whatever corner we turned to, the Morro rock was the focal point & always was visible that drew anyone's eyes toward it. 

Some people stopped by the pier for a while. Others armed with their cell phone's cameras took a special pic. Others seemed to be busy with their own agendas like drinking alcohol or shopping in stores that lined up the street. Not a care to see the nice view nor the rock. Perhaps, they had seen this place many times but the busyness of things they wanted to do made them lose sight of the famous rock.

My heart beat in awe and excitement as I had this chance again of seeing it. A big rock that divided the bay and the ocean. The same rock that inspired me to start blogging back in 2008. 

In life, we can make plans all the time. But there's no guarantee that all will happen. We always have the choices to make daily. We have destinations we try to reach and achieve. We can be right at times but chances are we can also be wrong with some of those choices.

One thing is for sure...That we can go to different places but there's only one road which will always draw one back because of love it etches in anyone's heart willing to follow the calling. No matter how hard it takes to travel on that narrow path.

We mingle with people from all walks of life anywhere we go. As Christ's ambassadors, we are letters being read. We can travel to any destination but they're just all temporary places to be living in or to be visited. Only the Bread of Life can satiate the hunger of weary travelers and only the Living Water can provide true spiritual refreshment for the thirsty souls.

Someday, we are going to reach the end of the physical road. But it is always the Rock's love that will always lead us Home. Home that lasts forever. 

The Table Top Deco And The Tic-Tac-Toe Game

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A friend gave my son a gift of a tic-tac-toe game many years ago when my son was still in elementary. The "X's" and the "O's" were made of blue and red glass against the wooden base. I never wanted to hide it and just to re-arrange, I set it on the corner table and paired it with a table top decoration that serves as a reminder for me to be grateful each day.

I like to start my day to always be thankful, especially at these trying times when nothing is constant. Plans change. People do, too. Peace can become conflicts. Joy can turn to sorrows. Faith is being constantly pummeled and being knocked out with blows of worries. Days where hope is in a tug of war with doubts, fears, disbelief, distrust, dislike, and despair.

But there's my reminder. In a corner. To start my day with a grateful heart. As I do, my heart and mind is strengthened each day, knowing that God's grace always sustains me in all of my weaknesses. I look each time now at the "tic-tac-toe". It doesn't appear like a table top game anymore to me. They serve as a reminder also of God's invisible hugs and kisses. I feel His reassurance that no matter what occurs in a day, He is faithful and His promises are true!  As I thank Him, I feel that His blessings aren't always given. Sometimes, He doesn't give what we ask for but instead, takes something away that will expose our vulnerabilities that we think we can manage to tackle on our own.  That is also a blessing. If the Gardener prunes what is not productive in our grafted vine, the process is painful, but the removal is a blessing in order for a branch to yield fruits. 

He takes away my fears, my loneliness, my pride. How can I not be thankful each day when He died on the cross so I can live? So can you! Or anyone who trusts and believe in Jesus. 

So, there goes the table top deco and the tic-tac-toe game serving its purpose of helping me focus on the One Who never disappoints! Each day! Here I am thinking that love is shaped like a heart. But when I surrendered my life to Jesus, I know now, that love is shaped like a cross and formed by pierced Hands. 

“When I lay these questions before God I get no answer. But a rather special sort of 'No answer.' It is not the locked door. It is more like a silent, certainly not uncompassionate, gaze. As though He shook His head not in refusal but waiving the question. Like, 'Peace, child; you don't understand.” ~ C.S. Lewis

Growing Old

The aging process is kind of a "wake up slap of time on one's face". A period to re-evaluate what truly matters the most in a person's life's journey. Time that doesn't seem to bother a younger, goal- oriented life has become a reflective moment that runs so fast each day, like sands slipping through the fingers.

It is a sudden pause to make a choice to let go of temporal things and value those things that aren't seen. Things that have eternal weight. 

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13, NLT)

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NLT)

Growing old is an opportunity to realize that life fades like a flower. Each sunrise that greets and reminds one about a new day and a step closer to face the end of a temporary journey and step one day in an unknown territory of eternity. Unknown if that heart isn't willing to surrender to what's obvious from the beginning that there is a Creator Who loved a rebellious humanity unconditionally.  Each sunset sets the time to reflect even more as life's busyness halts that day and can be an opportunity to address a hovering thought of doubts of existence and life's purpose.

"3 What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. 6 The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. 7 Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. 8 Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.

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 9History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. 10 Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. 11 We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now." - Ecclesiastes 1:3-11 ((NLT)

13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NLT)  (emphasis is mine)

The Change

hot fries on my lap

My son advised for me to take a break from cooking. He wanted me to just rest. Him and my husband wanted to pick up something for lunch yesterday. My husband suggested the old diner where we always went for burgers and fries.

After running an errand, we proceeded to drive toward that diner we frequented pre-pandemic. Post- pandemic, we still went but always through the drive-thru. Not because we were afraid of being with people but because it was more comfortable eating at home to savor the labor less meals.

Paying at the window, my son handed a $50 whole bill for $28 we owe. The familiar guy, despite the mask donned on his face, who usually happened to take our orders each time, cheerfully gave a change of $22 which my son quickly gave to his dad, sitting on the passenger side, as my son prepared his hands to receive, anticipating for our bagged lunch be handed over to him through that window. I saw my husband looking at the dollar bills intently as my son paid attention also, wondering why his dad was holding the paper bills longer than he used to. No wonder! As my husband counted the change, an extra $20 bill was hidden behind one which that guy gave.

There were no second thoughts between the three of us. We knew surrendering that extra $20 bill was the right thing to do.

"Excuse me!", my son uttered as he softly raised his right hand to get the guy's attention.

"I gave you a $50 bill and I'm supposed to pay $28," he added, as the guy now was closer to the square window, the whiff of freshly-fried potato fries spilling toward our car.

I could see a little annoyance through his eyes even with the dark blue mask he wore. I felt he might be a little offended that my son, waving all the paper bills change he gave in front of him, was challenging his accuracy regarding the money exchange. 

With a sure, slightly arrogant tone, he replied, "Yeah! But I gave you $22 dollars!!!" 

"No!," my son replied.

"You gave me $42, so here's the other $20 back!" 

Those hurt look kind of gaze was immediately replaced with a grateful kind as his voice cracked and didn't know how to thank my son. How to thank all of us.

As someone else handed him our order, I heard "Thank you guys" many times from him and ended with a wish for us to have a nice day.

Moving out of the drive-thru, my husband started a prayer. We all thanked the Lord Who deserved to be praised first for giving us strength to always do the right thing in what would always be pleasing to Him. Secondly, for the bagged lunch He blessed us with.

It was a good teaching moment for our son, and also to my husband and I, that we must continue to walk in integrity despite these evil times. I could only hope that the guy learned something, too that assessing the whole scenario first would be helpful than jumping to conclusion that he didn't make a mistake. I prayed that it softened his heart to know that there was nothing wrong about being corrected if it would improve towards some kind of growth on his part in dealing with their customers. 

I didn't want to write about this. I wanted to keep it between me and my family. But this morning, I felt the need to do so as the Lord made me feel that we all fall into traps of temptations. There are many kinds. 

It's not our own strength that will help us get out of them. It is His.

It's not the change (money) that was a big deal. It's our hearts, (especially if calloused) that need to change and be softened by His grace. 

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. - Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)

10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?" - Luke 16:10-12 (NLT)

When Life Give Lemons

How quickly any life's journey can be turned upside down! I know. I have been there. My family has been there these past few months. Or years... Well, since the pandemic hit the whole globe!

As soon as my husband was to retire, we had our plan to downsize. We even bought a new house in Florida. But before the ground was even dug and its foundation prepped, my husband had a change of mind and we decided to cancel the plan. Unable to visit his aging parents and family back in our country, he had a mixed feeling of wanting to move there and be settled when our original plan was to retire here where we've been residing for so many, many years. 

I get it. A sudden change of life's routine can be stressful and overwhelming. Like him. From being a busybody to all of a sudden, merely has no work to do like he used to.  Except to eat, sleep or fix whatever needs to be done in our house. My husband is the type who loves to do something and make useful of each passing minute. Slowly, that period has been subtly stealing my husband's joyful heart. At the same time, his mind is being filled with worries of life. All the worrying and all the unknowns manifested with lesser appetite, broken sleep at nights, and having no interest anymore with the things our family used to enjoy. It became a cycle. Happy in one day. Sad for more. It took a toll on me and our son also. My son and I felt helpless seeing a stranger we used to know as my husband, his Dad.

How true of that phrase... "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!" But how do we make lemonade? What is the proper way to make lemonade that will overcome the sours of this ever changing life's journey?

Happy conversations, enjoying each other's companies, laughters always saturating each corner in our home, strength from our triple binded cord, our shared daily petitions morning and night... They all suffered.

We still pray. We know that is the vital lifeline we hold on to, to make our purposes still work.

I know the way that no matter where we go, our ultimate destination is never in any place of this earth. I know the truth that no matter what we plan or what step we take, God is the One Who directs that. I know the life that in this dark valley we're walking on, His Light will guide us and will never leave us alone in the dark.

So... When life gives us lemons...No!!! We don't make lemonade. We seek God first! The One Who promised to those who love Him that He would never leave us nor forsake us and would be with us up to the end of age...

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. - James 1:2-8 (NLT)

Like God And Like My Mother

" ¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." - Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

 

 

I remember my mother as I prepare meals for my family now.

“I don’t know how to cook and I wish grandma taught me because she cooked well,” I often tell my son whenever he likes something I have cooked. Opening cook books and with the availability of many cooking blogs nowadays, I try to recreate and somehow, manage to copy a particular meal.

Taking a pause from sewing a masterpiece for a particular client, the dressmaker’s (my mother) breaks consisted of scouring through her pots and knives, after going to the market with her bamboo woven basket she filled with what she would make for that day for us. Day. After. Day. She chose this huge “kawa” (big wok), I would say her favorite among her pots. I knew when she selected that, she would be concocting a huge dish, not just for us, her children, but some to be given away to relatives, neighbors, and some friends, far or near our house. That was how she was. She labored in front of a hot fire under that “kawa” as she started sauteing, then adding ingredients one after another until the good aroma arose from that huge wok and got carried all over by the wind. She never demanded for me to help her. She would just ask for me to cut some vegetables or prepped other things when she needed an extra hand.

“Do and finish your homework,” she would often say. Innocently, I never knew at that moment how much I was missing when reading or solving math problems than assisting her in the “kitchen” or standing, ogling at her “kawa” being used in the backyard because it needed an open space. Those were the days when she would tell me to add a handful of potatoes or other vegetables, or a pinch of salt or sugar or pepper. There were no exact measurements. But her cooked meals were always great and people would often ask her how she made them.

kawa

 

I left the country and finished school. Until one day, I had a rendezvous with my parents and remembered to ask my mother about a particular recipe she used to make and I missed.

“Just grate the papaya. Add a little bit of vinegar and sugar. Then, put some raisins and carrots. Taste it. If it’s still sour, add a little bit more sugar…”

“Mom! It seems hard with no measurement.”

She laughed. I couldn’t oppose her infectious laughter as she was the expert in home- tested and many good recipes.

My mother has been gone for almost 22 years now. As I prepare daily meals, I taste her hardship of preparing what to make for my family as she did for us. It isn’t easy. Especially now that the prices of commodities are a lot higher, I try to make nutritious but budget conscious meals. In between my chopping I try to master now and re purposing leftovers, I now know that my mother’s talents of sewing beautiful dresses and her great cooking which she often shared to welcome guests, loved ones and friends, and to bless sick ones who couldn’t get up to make a meal was her God given ministry. She always created and cooked things with love. She was the aroma that people missed when she passed away.

“This is good, mom,” my son uttered as he tasted the kung pao tofu I made.

I know I don’t have that talent before. But God has shown me that there is nothing impossible when we ask and when He grants anyone to have a particular talent and becomes a ministry, then, nothing is ever too late to learn and bless others in return.

I want to imitate my mother… And I want to imitate God...

 

“Don’t pray that God would teach you how to love like He loves; pray that He would fill you with Himself and that He would love in and through you. Don’t pray that He would teach you to have joy; pray that the living God full of joy would enter into you. Don’t pray that He would teach you how to be peaceful; ask for the God of peace, the Prince of peace to infill you. Because if you try to imitate in your own strength, you will be a miserable replica. But if you allow the impartation of Jesus Christ to overtake you, suddenly it all works because it is Him imitating Himself, and He is very good at being God.” 

― Eric Ludy 

The Shield

 

“The Lord doesn’t take us to another or new place if we’re not ready…”

Those words were spoken clearly in a soft hush to my mind and heart as the more tolerable heat from my morning coffee touched my mouth. I haven’t blogged in a very long time. The season of drought came to my life for the past months and years. No! I didn’t stray away from my Savior!

The ever bold, daring manifestations of all kinds of evil swept over all the nations. It destroyed livelihoods, death stole many lives not prepared to depart from this world, and the broom of lies kept sweeping all truths under the rug of darkness. History was being changed to conform to what would fit to the evildoers’ narratives, as idols of many kinds were formed and created while the One, true God was being deleted.

My energy was sapped as my family and I also transitioned to a life of being done with school and retirement from work. We wanted to downsize but all of a sudden had confusion where to go. What to do. Constant darts of misunderstanding, worries of differing degrees, anxieties and issues that threatened our stable union were thrown daily to weaken the strong bond we shared as a family.

I learned so much though since that day I died and surrendered to Christ. He gave me life. In my spiritual battles, He taught me His weapons one by one over the span of years. He made me feel His protection that surrounded me wherever I was. He never failed supplementing for our needs even during hopeless cases that He proved time in time again that He would always be the Greatest Provider of all things. I knew that I wouldn’t need anything else because He was my All in all.

Despite the hurt we all experienced and arguments we never had before, we knew by the end of the day that we couldn’t and shouldn’t give up in folding our hands and letting out our petitions in unison to reach the ever, always merciful throne of God. Healing and restoration always came through flood of tears that often washed away the pain in our broken and battered hearts. His love was always the healing balm that soothed our wounded hearts. He always came to lift up and lighten up the unseen weight on our shoulders. He wiped away every drop of tears that hours before were blinding our visions all the more. We were facing battles daily and often, our choices were the first to be attacked. Clear at the breaking of dawn, only to end up in confusion once more by the end of the day. But we all knew as a family, losing everything even with our plans wouldn’t matter compared to losing Christ if we chose to not listen or replace Him with something else in our midst. 

 

I know we were going through such testing for the dross in our lives to be removed.

“Polish and maintain your Shield…” was another reminder that ensued. 

 

 

Shield of faith…

The very part of His Armor that guards us against all unseen darts that will always try its best to penetrate and corrupt believers in Christ, along with the other target which is the breastplate of righteousness. We need to guard it with all we got especially at these trying times. How can one go to another place or take a new task if one isn’t ready and weak even before starting? How can one emerge as a victor in every trial if one easily drowns in worries, anxieties or confusion? Those darts that will always attempt to destroy His gift of faith.

Let us be careful in how we live our daily lives. For believers today, if not careful and reliant on the Lord could become the unbelievers tomorrow...Some already are in that state today! Let us stay strong in the Lord’s mighty power!

Sing A New Song

 

My attention while reading this morning’s news was interrupted by a subtle sound of chirping coming from a tiny bird outside the window, with its blinds still hiding the sleepiness in the household. The constant chirping became louder until its highest pitch was reached, alerting my ears at that moment. I paused reading a particular news which wasn’t always good news lately. Well, for many years, starting a few years back. I haven’t heard those chirping for a while. Quiet in cold winters, then seemed to come alive as spring season blooms to cast joy over the dead of the winters.

The loud chirping brought those familiar tunes I heard whenever I was going through a trial. Those what seemed to be monotonous sounds were actually bringing me pulsating hums of joy as if raining down from up above. They would always cheer me up as I was about to wake up or in the middle of the morning as I sipped my cup of coffee. The notes reaching my ears were no different than from what it did to my either low or battled spirit in the past. Chirp...Chirp… Chirp…

Suddenly, words formed in my deepest thoughts as if each “chirp” was being decoded at that moment…

“Sing a new song…”

“Sing a new song,” was the news I heard coming from a tiny creature, busy greeting the early dawn before the sun busted out of the Eastern skies and cast its warm rays and brighten up the slowly fading darkness from the long night before.

It was not just “chirping.” Those notes were a reminder to my “feeling sick for many months now.”

Life has been really tough for most of us during this pandemic. I had been sick. Not from Covid-19 but from the evilness I had seen and heard and discerned from the hidden parts. I had been sick of evil plans subtly erasing God in any event and history, and to have contorted ideas be accepted as the norm.

Day in, day out, where thousands were quick to rush to judgments, or to commit evil as if they were the good things. Even self-professed Christians became blind and deaf, fooled by the spiritual enemies’ lies that they couldn’t hear the Shepherd’s Voice anymore and His Truth.

“Sing a new song…”

God’s perfect reminder for me this morning, as I was still curled up in bed, weary and sick from spiritual battles around me. His reminder to let me know that despite this turmoil you and I have been in, we must not be weary worshipping and singing a new song from our hearts. As we sing Him a song, He rejuvenates our bodies, minds, souls, and hearts. He irons out confusions for they’re not from Him. He bandages the unseen wounds we carry with His love. He makes a way for those areas we think have no way out.He gives refreshments with His love and grace in battered bodies and souls as we always wear His Armor.

“Sing a new song…” A reminder for us to never give up standing for and doing what’s right in His eyes. To not go with the flow of evilness. To not read devastating and depressing news but to persist in sharing the Good News to those who come across our paths.

“Sing a new song…”

“Sing our Song!!!”

“Sing the Song of Refuge, our Power, and our Might!!!”

I Am Sad

 "God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him." - Acts 17:30 (NLT)

"Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes." - Proverbs 19:2 (NLT)

"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." - James 1:5 (NLT)

"You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding." - Proverbs 8:5 (NLT)

This is a sad time. That there is really not a clear winner in our Presidential election. It hasn't happened before. The counting of votes that should have been done by Tuesday night was... well, extended to many days by some states. What appeared to be a leading contender well ahead that night was surprisingly overtaken by the opponent the following day. In a matter of a few hours in the middle of the night when everyone or most people were asleep, were awaken by what was a visibly total loss of the current leader.

I am sad like you. Perhaps, I am angry like you. Why is it taking a long time for the declared winner to start working since the media endlessly reported about the failures of the current leader's handling of the so called pandemic known as "COVID 19?"When so many people, they said, died and were infected by it? 

Yes, I'm tired like you. I'm tired of wearing masks and putting myself in confinement of my home when sometimes, all I want is to go get a few grocery items, sans my mask and be able to clear my throat without people nearby looking at me like I'm causing death to those who surround me.

Yes, I don't feel good like you. Of seeing "peaceful protests" continue and in a peaceful way, burn buildings, physically assault people who happen to be in those gatherings, peacefully confront quiet diners, who perhaps, are so excited to go out finally and enjoy a quiet dinner, people who are wanting a much needed rest, only to be awaken by peaceful yells of profanities and hateful statements.

But... I still rejoice...

I know that what I see is unseen. I know that the true enemies like to roar like lions! 

I know that there are so many working in the dark and many people are quick to believe what they see, what they hear.

Yes... I am sad... I am angry... Knowing that this election was stolen. But God's plan will prevail! And as for us believers, who do you choose to serve?

Don't Be Deceived!

 

 

"Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant." -Galatians 6:7 (NLT)

 

"As I have observed, those who plow iniquity, and those who sow trouble, reap the same." -Job 4:8 (NLT)

"If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves." -Galatians 6:3 (NIV)
 

The Strawberries

 

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” – Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

“Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.” – John 7:24 (NLT)

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.” –1 Corinthians 14:33 (NLT)

 

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5 (NLT)

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:2 (NLT)

 

 

Not everything that appears good is beneficial. I can attest to that after sorting out the strawberries my husband brought home from the store. Oh! The clear tub that housed the 2 pounds worth of craved fruits smelled heavenly! The fruits I was staring at were so red and its leaves attached on top were green. Until... I opened the tub to wash each fruit. I usually wash them and remove impurities, drying them completely before storing in the refrigerator. After picking up six of them, there were a few in the middle hidden from the transparent tub with mold. I tossed them out to the trash where they belong. 

 In this trying times in our nation, be careful not to be deceived. I pray for discernment and God's wisdom for His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. Not everything that you hear is beneficial. May God guide you as you make decisions where it's called for. Remember, we are to please God not men. God bless.

My Prayer This Morning (For This Nation)

 

¹ O Lord, hear me as I pray;
    pay attention to my groaning.
² Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God,
    for I pray to no one but you.
³ Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
    Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

⁴ O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness;
    you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.
⁵ Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence,
    for you hate all who do evil.
⁶ You will destroy those who tell lies.
    The Lord detests murderers and deceivers.

⁷ Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house;
    I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.
⁸ Lead me in the right path, O Lord,
    or my enemies will conquer me.
Make your way plain for me to follow.

⁹ My enemies cannot speak a truthful word.
    Their deepest desire is to destroy others.
Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
    Their tongues are filled with flattery.
¹⁰ O God, declare them guilty.
    Let them be caught in their own traps.
Drive them away because of their many sins,
    for they have rebelled against you.

¹¹ But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them sing joyful praises forever.
Spread your protection over them,
    that all who love your name may be filled with joy.
¹² For you bless the godly, O Lord;
    you surround them with your shield of love. Psalm 5 (NLT)

I have a deep longing to go back to my old posts and through the past written words, they become my daily devotions and prayers. This morning, my eyes stopped at Psalm 5. My prayer today. There is no amount of lockdown that will ever stop God's work in each person He chooses for His plan and that person, who in return, chooses to obey God.The true lockdown isn't about stopping the COVID. It is a deceiving plan to mask freedom and faith in God. The unseen slavery is if one allows sins to be his/her master.

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)

 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. " - Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." - Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

I Don't Want To Forget To Say "Thank You"

 (I have written this back in July 4, 2014 and I feel that this is still timely in what's going on in our country. I trust the Lord wants me to re post)...

 

The bright, already hot rays of the sun greeted my barely-opened eyes. I hugged my husband briefly, still asleep, and whispered for him to go back to sleep. As I started to wake up more to reality of facing another day to more depressing news. Day. By. Day.

My heart felt sad as I realized how the news about illegal immigration (and now, countless rioting of what was supposed to be "peaceful protests") had been constantly overpowering the other “what-should-be” news like celebrating the freedom we enjoy this very day. Like remembering those countless lives who willingly sacrificed, not only them serving in the military, but also the families behind them, to preserve the freedom this nation enjoyed.

My mind was clouded by then trying to reflect on my own journey. Of coming to America with a big dream of enjoying the freedom it had and knowing that it was a land full of opportunities to those of us who were not born here. A land truly blessed by God and as far as I knew, was founded on Christian principles.

“Good morning,” a soft greeting cut through my busy mind as my husband’s weary and rough hands tried to envelope me as I slowly got up, not forgetting for a minute where my mind was going. My heart becoming more sad. As I touched his hands, rough now from years of experiences. Of being in Iraq war. And other destinations wherever the military assigned him. And as we welcomed our child, he got out of the military to be more with his family and to fulfill a higher dream. If I had to write about each of our journeys, this space would not be enough. I just knew. We both came here, following the due process or law that this great nation had established. It was not an easy trek. But what great tastes of victory to be handed that “citizenship” that many aspired for.

And what even more joy to be able to profess your faith without risking your life in this place!

This morning, as I remember the white-haired veterans and those who might have lost a limb or more and the ones who died. All of those serving in the military, near and far. The families that also had to sacrifice. Facing each day, not knowing if their loved ones would be able to return. Those foreigners, like my husband and I, who came here the long way, but through the legal process. The Christians who still believe in God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus being One. I’m tired of hearing the laws. I’m tired of hearing God’s Word being thrown to those who try to oppose and show their courage to stand up for what was right. I’m tired of all the irresponsible actions the government and people must and must not be doing.

For as an American and as a Christian, I know we all have that duty to obey God first. I very well know His commandment to love Him first, then love others. But my question is…

“Are we loving others in the right way?”

We can all argue. But this place is becoming more tolerant of sins while yelling God’s commandment to love on my face.

As Christians, you and I know this is not our home. But as we are still living down here, we have responsibilities to obey God first and the government. Its laws. For God was the One Who put it there.

This morning, I would probably still turn on my t.v. though I already know what news to expect. But I want to shout “Hurray!” for those who are willing to stand up for what is RIGHT. And no! I don’t want to forget to say “Thank You” to those veterans who never get the treatments and respect they all deserve. “Thank You” to all of your families who sacrificed like you did. “Thank You” to all the military and law enforcement who give their all to preserve the freedom we enjoy and to protect this land against oppressors.

Most of all, “Thank You, God!” “Thank You, Lord”.

God Bless America!