Lesson Learned

 I met a sister in Christ yesterday during a small group meeting (there were only 4 of us). As I haven’t been in Church for a while, hibernating for personal reasons, the two younger ladies and I met for the first time. One is in a very difficult moment in her life. Though her story is different, I could well identify with her as I went through similar instances in my Christian journey. I say instances because I realized that I went through different heartbreaking situations three times in the past. It is in the third experience that I learned my lesson and became who I am now in Christ.

To suffer from feelings of rejection and abandonment with the nagging feelings of guilt and condemnation is never easy. As I spoke to the younger woman who listened intently, I could see her eyes on the verge of tears every time a word hit home. I could see myself in her. I was in her shoes and so I knew what it felt like when someone spoke a word of hope no matter how simple. I remember well how a brother’s pat on my back with a simple, “How are you?” actually brought me to tears. That was over two decades ago and yet I could never forget it.

Wish I could say that after the experience I became wiser and stronger. Unfortunately, no, because if I did, then I would not have fallen into another heartache which became my worst nightmare. But praise God, I finally learned my lesson.

As I was giving advice to the young lady through text messages, I could see myself again trying to hold to the people whom the Lord brought to me to comfort me. I remember hanging on to those handful of brethren which made me feel ashamed for bothering them with my almost never-ending pity party; and this is what this young lady was telling me in her response. This then reminded me how I actually turned around to start my journey to healing. It was one simple step but looking back, that was the most significant step I made that brought me to where I am now.

I remember around 9 years ago telling the brothers and sisters who went their way to meet me for the nth time just to listen to me, that I’ve had enough; that I no longer want the devil to have his way and I didn’t want to be in the defensive anymore; that I would rise up in the Lord and face him squarely and turn the table against him.

The fight was long and hard like taking two steps forward and one step backward, but by His grace, I kept on. The issue didn’t change overnight, nor in a week or a month or even a year after, and not even today. But I have won because I have come to know and learned to fully trust the One who loves me and died for me that I am not anymore easily moved by whatever happens around me regardless of who accepts or rejects me. I found myself and value in Christ.

While the Lord truly uses people to help us through the difficult times (and He didn’t stop sending friends my way), and I am forever grateful to everyone who each played a role in the course of my healing, it is still Yahweh who ultimately delivered me from the pit.

The lesson I learned is summed up in this thought which the Lord gave me three days ago. I didn’t realize the value of the statement then when I posted it on FB but now I know.

Don’t depend on anyone for no one is absolutely dependable; don’t look for happiness in someone for everyone is bound to fail you in the long run. Stand on your own feet but make sure you are standing on the unshakable Rock, Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, the eternally reliable, dependable and trustworthy God and Lord. He alone can hold you and lead you securely unto eternity.

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Google Image

⁵ Thus says the Lord:

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
And makes flesh his strength,
Whose heart departs from the Lord.
⁶ For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,
And shall not see when good comes,
But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,
In a salt land which is not inhabited.

⁷ “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
⁸ For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Love and blessings in Yeshua,

Cynthia 

A Testimony of Healing

Ocean Jet

It was 7:09 in the morning today, Philippines time, that I was on board the Ocean Jet, seated beside my 72-year old mother. We were on our way to Cebu from Tagbilaran to apply for a passport for her. It’s her long time dream to travel overseas and this trip to Singapore is the first time. Yahweh is great for giving Mama not only the opportunity to travel abroad but also for the privilege of witnessing my brother’s first solo exhibit outside of the country come September this year.

We went to Cebu last Monday but the passport application was unsuccessful because of some lacking documents. Yesterday, the last important document that we were waiting for was finally delivered, just in time for today, Friday, the last working day of the week.

I was praying for the document to arrive because had it not been delivered on time, I cannot anymore accompany Mama since my kids and I will be leaving for Dumaguete on Sunday, ending our month-long vacation in Bohol. And Yahweh willing, we will be flying back to Manila towards the end of the month in time for the opening of classes for this school year 2017-2018.

Yesterday, everything was set and we were ready for the trip this morning. Mama went to bed early while I finished my laundry. I went to bed around 10 o’clock but Mama was up again, said she was hungry. She had tea and a piece of pancake which my daughter prepared for her. I was already falling asleep when she said that her blood pressure was slightly high. I didn’t mind as I thought it would normalize in a few minutes. Moments later I heard her calling my nephew to wake up as she might need a trip to the hospital because her blood pressure kept going up even after taking her medicine. I got up, found her sitting on her bed already feeling bad and getting pale. I took her hands; they were very cold even after the aircon was off. I held them tight while praying. I rubbed and massaged her cold feet as well with liniment. She took another reading of her blood pressure. It went down from 180/100 to 160/100, still above normal.

Some minutes later Mama was still not relieved. It was 12:00 midnight. While observing her, I kept praying and asking the Lord if He would hear me and heal her. Papa was already up and by his looks, I knew he was very concerned. He rubbed Mama’s hands and back. Her breath was short and rapid as along with the high blood pressure she was also complaining of heartburn. She wanted to see the doctor. I had to make up my mind and obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit to pray once again, to take authority and to rebuke everything that’s attacking her, otherwise, the hospital trip would ensue that could likely lead to the cancellation of the trip to Cebu in the morning.

I sat down in front of her on the bed. Holding both her hands I praised and thanked the Lord for listening and answering my prayer. I heard both Papa and Mama agreeing with me as I prayed by the leading of the Spirit. The prayer lasted about 10 minutes which I ended by reciting Psalm 23.

I told my parents that it’s okay to go back to sleep as everything would be alright. Mama checked her blood pressure right after our prayer. It read 133/100. Praise Yahweh God! Mama exclaimed, “The power of prayer!” I answered, “The power of God because He is real!”

Mama was observing herself for a little while. I heard her told Papa softly that if she won’t feel total relief, they would go to the hospital. I stood in the gap quietly and as the Lord led, I prayed in the Spirit. Finally, I saw her relaxed. She removed the pile of pillows she used to lean on and slept normally. I could hear Papa softly snoring. They were both asleep. I went back to bed praising Yahweh for another miracle. I looked up the time and it read 1:30. I could not tell how long before I finally fell asleep but I didn’t really care because I was just happy and grateful watching both my parents sleeping soundly.

Mama woke up very early as usual. I woke up a quarter before 5:00 o’clock. My first question to her was, “Are we going to Cebu as planned?” She said, “Yes, because now I’m feeling fine, not sensing anything wrong!”

In two hours we got to our destination safe and sound. Since Mama is a senior citizen, she was privileged to not go through the long line and so was done in less than an hour. Before the day ended, we were already back here in Bohol. All through the day until this moment that she’s already asleep, my dear Mama has not complained of anything unusual.

Thank You, Father, for healing Mama and for the successful trip to Cebu earlier today. Thank you, for being our present help in times of need. Thank you that even if I do not always sense Your nearness, You truly are just a prayer away. Thank You, that once again You showed me that You are always with me and I can rest assured that when I pray, You listen and answer. Forgive me for the times I doubted about hearing Your voice. And thank you for not condemning me for being slow of understanding. Most of all, thank You for loving me unconditionally. I love You so much, my Father and my God!

Love in Yeshua,
Cynthia

A Quick Note and Testimony

It has been close to six months since the last time I published on this blog; and getting back is not easy. I lost my momentum although not the desire to write and share the things I learned from the Lord. Praise Yahweh for not giving up on me.

I want to thank all of you, brothers and sisters, who took the time to contact me through this blog or email and would like to ask your forgiveness for not giving you answers as I thought I would be able to write on this blog soon. But, obviously, it took me such a long time to sit down and write.

Anyway, I got sick last year and that’s the primary reason for my absence. It started off as  an unusual fatigue in the early part of June last year and gradually itensified as the days went by. Without detailing the symptoms, I was hospitalized in August and was diagnosed with Grave’s disease that caused hyperthyroidism. I was still sick when I posted the last article about the “Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem;” and praise the Lord, I was still able to attend and do my part in the event last October.

Although the medicines worked, I remained physically weak and didn’t regain the weight I lost which was about 10kgs because I would not take those medicines dutifully. In my last visit to the doctor over two months ago, he said that I would need to undergo radioactive iodine treatment to stop my thyroid from producing excessive iodine. He explained that it was safe though it meant causing the thyroid in the long run to stop working altogether thus creating the opposite situation of a hypo thyroid; safe in the sense that the lack of iodine is not harmful and can easily be supplemented compared to a hyper thyroid that could affect the other organs adversely when not treated. Both cases didn’t sound good to me and I thought I could pray and ask the Father to heal me.

Well, I returned to taking the prescribed medicine which was really effective. But as very typical of me, I rebelled against depending on pills to keep me in shape so I acted on my conviction that the Father could heal me. I went to the Lord in prayer, desperately asking Him to restore my thyroid to its normal function. Filled with the Spirit, my faith soared and by His leading I opened my Bible to see what He would tell me; and alas! I looked straight to the highlighted word in 2 Kings 20:5 that says, “… ‘I have heard your prayer and seen your tears and I will heal you.’…”

Yahweh gave me the word He gave Hezekiah after he desperately prayed for healing. I thanked and praised Him and told Him that I would just finish off the medicines for the next three days and won’t buy anymore but trust that He already healed me. From that day forward, about two months now, I never suffered from any symptom. I don’t look sick and feel sick anymore. I am physically normal and that’s all because of His faithfulness. Praise and glory to Yahweh!

I will end this note for now but will be back soon. Thank you for all your prayers and for remembering me during my absence. The Lord bless and keep you all.

Love in Yeshua,

Cynthia

 

 

My Heart’s Cry

Deuteronomy 8:18, Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, 1901 Bible card published by the Providence Lithograph Company (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This article is different from all the rest I have written because this is not about anything that the Lord is showing me prophetically. This is about my heart’s desire, my daily burden- the burden to know my God and King more and more deeply; the burden to please only Him and to glorify Him regardless of anything; and the burden to be the best that I can be in Him and for Him, for the glory of His name!

I am writing this down to share what my heart is so preoccupied with every single day. I pray that everyone reading this will be blessed. I believe that every true child of God can say amen to what I am sharing here.

Another reason I bare my heart is to make it clear that what I write in this blog is from my heart as the Lord puts the burden and guides me so that only what the Father wants written shall be written; for I am not seeking praise from men but Him alone. Only the Father’s affirmation really matters.

From the time I open my eyes in the morning till the moment I sleep at night, nothing fills my thoughts more than the thoughts of Him. This is not to say I don’t move about normally for I am perfectly normal, doing my chores regularly, taking care of my children and interacting with all house members as any normal person does. But when I am not talking to anyone, not reading or writing my thoughts again rest on the Lord even while doing something with my hands. My heart often speaks to Him and longs for Him. My heart aches with longing for my God and Father. My heart is restless for my desire for more of Him is so deep. The thirst seems unquenchable that I always long to be alone with Him in prayer and worship.

The fear of the Lord is very real to me.  I fear that my heart isn’t pure for that would certainly obscure my vision of Him and block my ears from hearing Him; for according to the Lord, only those with pure heart will see God. I fear that my heart may deceive me as He said that “the heart is deceitful above all, who can understand it?”, thus, I always ask Him to examine my heart. I know that I cannot trust my heart/self so I yield to Him completely and always ask Him to remove anything and everything that He sees may separate me from Him.

I am not perfect and falter from time to time. But sin to me is such a horrible thing that I cannot live with it a minute longer. I do not hide anything from the Lord for I know that there is nothing I can hide from Him. The issues of my heart are ever before Him. My struggles are known to Him. I do not pretend to be alright when I am not. I simply cry out to Him when things look unfair.

I don’t want to be separated from my God. My everyday prayer unto the Lord is that He would draw me deep into His fullness. I know I cannot fully know Him for His infiniteness is beyond human wisdom but that doesn’t deter me from wanting to know Him as much as my finite nature can grasp. So my desire is to be soaked in Him, submerged deep into His heart; and if I should be lost, I want to be lost only in His presence so that when I turn to the right or to the left, I would still find myself in Him.

When I think of my life, where I am now and what I have accomplished so far, I know that I am nothing and have nothing to boast and brag about. I have no accomplishments to display to the world because I was not created for this world. I am not intellectually poor but I have not achieved success in the world’s definition of success for every time I was headed for success, I withdrew and backed down. The reason is one and the same – fear that success would lead me deep into the world and away from God.

This thing has puzzled some of those who have known me, especially my family. I have been misunderstood and many times I tried to give in just to fit in. But every time I gave in, no one would see my struggle and I suffered in silence. This was what happened when I backslid. While everybody thought I was doing well with my career, my inner person suffered deeply. When I gave up my career, people were wondering.

The Lord bound me in Him but this is the kind of bondage that I never want to be freed from. He created me for Him. Even when I was a child and before the Lord revealed Himself to me in a very personal way, I always had the feeling that I was going to serve God. That feeling I believe is the reason I grew up with such goal in mind so that nothing in this world could ever distract me; that despite the backsliding and wandering, the Lord still brought me back to where I should really be in Him and for Him.

Excellence in this world is not my forte; but excellence for my God and for His Kingdom is what I am crying out unto Him every single day. My one desire is my God.

My Prayer

Father, I come to you. Again and again I come to you because my heart is crying out for more of you. My spirit constantly groans.  Daily my soul hungers and thirsts with deep longing for you. A glimpse of you is more precious to me than anything in this world.

I love you, Lord, you know I truly do. I know it is you who makes me love you with such love that binds me with you.

My life cannot fully express what you have done to me. You have drawn me close and constantly draw me closer; and the closer you draw me the more I long for you.

As you have drawn me deep into your heart, nothing else matters to me. This world loses all its attraction as your glory enfolds me in all its brightness.

I will forever praise you and worship you, my God and King!

Psalm 139

This Psalm by David is one my favorite chapters in the Bible for it expresses the heart of one who is so caught up in the love of God and His awesome, infinite wisdom and omniscience.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20139&version=KJV

139 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

² Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

³ Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

⁴ For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

⁵ Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

⁷ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

⁸ If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

¹⁰ Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

¹¹ If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

¹² Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

¹³ For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

¹⁵ My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

¹⁶ Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

¹⁷ How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

¹⁸ If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

¹⁹ Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

²⁰ For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

²¹ Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

²² I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

 

Much love in Yeshua,

Cynthia