Month: May 2020

Flashback to December, 2019: I had no idea that I would see the color of sorrow, or taste its bitterness in the early days of 2020; I was not prepared to live in such a surreal time as this…

Life is a mixture of different colors—at times the hues are brilliant and breathtaking, at other times all is drenched in darkness, and numbness and emptiness overwhelm.

Grieving over a loss of a loved one is greatly painful. Yet even in times of grief, hope sees stars, and love can hear the rustle of a hummingbird’s wings, as it looks for signs from the loved one’s spirit.

Loss for some might mean a loss of time, money, a marriage, or the loss or the many dreams planned for this year. Rest assured that dreams will be realized, though they may take another form than what was expected.

I’m encouraged by this verse in the Bible, [Psalm 30: 5] 

“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

A famous quote voices pain and loss like this, “In the absence of light, darkness prevails.” Yes, it does. But eventually the murkiness moves on and the light peeks through the doleful clouds, making life even more beautiful. We can appreciate the return of colorful moments, when the memory of our loss provides a reminder of the preciousness of life and it’s many blessings. The laughter of your loved ones, the smile of a stranger, the smell of the flowers, or the warmth of the sunshine brings you hope and joy.

With all that we have been through already this year, I’m beyond grateful for the voice of TRUTH that whispers in the depth of my soul. I take comfort in the knowledge that we shall meet again. We will rejoice behind these four walls and behind the Veil in this season.

I have learned so many lessons, since my head has been bowed down in pain.

Prayerfully I say, “But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” [Micah 7:7]

How could anyone cast stones at her, condemning her without knowing her story? Judging her, as if they never faced pain and challenges in their own life. Yet, through her painful smiles, she eagerly waited to know the purpose of her life and hoped one day to be lifted up from the ashes of this world, so she could save her children from the same dusty road of life.

Her story may not be unique; many can relate to her pain. Before this woman was honored with the crown of motherhood, the ride of life took her through layers and layers of adversity and distraction.  At times, she felt as though she was walking through the remains of a fire—a fire caused by misguided early life-choices. The haze from the embers made her wonder if she herself was a particle of ashy dust.

Although a tug-of-war ensued within her, she had come to realize that she must gather the courage to stop bowing to the wishes of others and stop listening to the lies. Instead she began to let the Spirit of righteousness clear away the ashes of her painful journey. While she was hoping for a power to lift her out of the land of pain, heaven was calling her. She knew in her heart that God was telling her, “Get up, it’s time to move and rise.”

As the smoke around her was dimming her sight, she became aware of the hope of the Invisible world [Heaven]. The Word of God says, whoever will draw near to God, He will draw near to them. Trusting His Word, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, she started moving toward God. As she did, He began to reveal His mystery to her.

 She was being transformed from the inside out. She was no longer walking in the valley of ashes. She was now walking under the shadow of the Lord’s beauty. It was there she found her worth. The Lord taught her how to shield her babies with tender prayers. Although her children would at times be enticed by the rules or trends of this world, her determination to teach her children to live a God-centered life never wavered. 

As a mother myself, speaking to any dear children who may be reading my words, I ask you – Do not underestimate the power of your mother’s prayers or the strength of her love. And please do not make her cry, for you do not know the storms she has endured in her life. But know this: Her love always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Her love never fails her children.

Happy Mother’s Day, my friends!

How do we receive mercy in time of desperation? From Whom do we seek it? We’re all at some point in our lives broken by someone or something, and in need of mercy. This thought leads to more questions: If mercy is the expression of God’s love, how should our love be expressed? Are we a merciful person?

To answer these questions, we need to look at our lives closely and see how merciful God is toward us. God’s mercy is fresh every morning and his mercy alone can defeat evil.  His favor is continuously shown through grace over and over… God’s love confirms that mercy and grace are both closely related to each other, yet there is a difference between the two. Grace is: the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God bestowed upon humanity. Mercy has to do with His kindness and compassion. In verse [Psalm 9:13-14] David cries out to God, pleading for mercy to show kindness and withhold the judgment he deserves.

There are times in life when we face incidents that suddenly shake us to the core of our being. We don’t know what to do, and don’t know how to receive/give mercy. Whether we’re walking closely with God or not, in time of desperation we still find ourselves saying, “O God have mercy on me!” In these times, we are asking God for forgiveness, to pardon us in our transgressions.

I cannot comprehend how someone can act in a way that is so horribly wrong and still be allowed to seek the mercy of God? How can He forgive those who commit unthinkable crimes [rape, murder, theft, abuse]? Does one who causes great pain deserve to be pardoned?

What about those daily battles and conflicts in our lives? Are you a merciful person? For instance, what if someone has hurt you; it could have been for many reasons—perhaps things weren’t going right in their lives, they were frustrated, and unable to control their life circumstances. I don’t understand why some people attack others instead of fixing their own problems but it happens.  Are we able to forgive someone who has wronged us, as we grieve the loss they have inflicted? As a believer, all we can do is to hand them over to God and the law.

It is hard for us to admit that we cannot solve a problem or overcome an obstacle, but it is often in our moment of helplessness when God can best deliver. He delights in a broken heart that humbly seeks His advocacy.

After David begged God for mercy, he continued to remind God in [Psalm 25] not to forget his mercy. This reminder is not for God’s sake [God will never forget or abandon his children], but our sake. “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, …” Amen!