Thanksgiving Week - Day 8

 Well, Thanksgiving Week is over.  The turkey and the trimmings are all gone. The pies?...nothing is left...not even the crumbs...  Christmas decorations have started to popped, and...wait for it...wait for it...drum roll, please:  Christmas movies are back on in my house!!!! YAY!!!  At least the ones that nobody else wants to watch.  I'm still not allowed to even suggest the classics that we watch as a family.  I tried to sneak in a couple of flicks the Wednesday before Thanksgiving day...but I was halted at the sound of the first jingle.  "It's not time yet!" My boys yelled at me...so I abided...but the time has finally come! I can finally let my favorite streaming profiles be filled with suggestions of Christmas movies to fill my free moments and unwind...ahhhhh...

Which brings me to the last day of my thanksgiving week.  The day I want to praise the Lord and express my gratitude for time to rest.  For the first time in a long time...I was able to actually rest over the break.  I purposely did as little work, work as I could get away with.  I even ignored most emails...shhhhh...and it was wonderful!

I have to remember that resting is as important as eating or breathing!  Without proper rest, the body starts to fail.  I can only push myself so much.  I can only do so much.  And the key is: I am NOT indispensable.  No matter how many exclamation marks, flags and other "urgent/alert" symbols people may put in their messages, I do not need to let work run my life.  It is NOT THAT IMPORTANT! and neither am I.

I must put my priorities in order and remember what really matters.  The peace that is promised, the one that surpasses all expectations (Philippians 4: 7) will only come to us when we allow ourselves to sit quietly with the Lord, trusting His power and strength, not our own...as we thank Him for who He is and what He has already done.

Taking time to unwind, relax, meditate on His Word, hang out with our loved ones, play with the dog...and enjoying the moments that bring us rest and renewal is a blessing we must not reject, no matter how busy we think we are.  I am thankful for this truth...and I pray the Holy Spirit allows me to organize my life to make sure I carve out prime time to rest in His care during this season of my life...and maybe fit in as many Christmas movies as I possibly can before the New Years, when the ban starts again.  Amen!

Thanksgiving Week - Day 7

It is a glorious morning!  I can finally see the blue skies and the sun shining outside!  Sunny days always remind me of friendship.  I especially think of one of my dearest, best, most special friends in the whole-wide world.  She is truly my soul sister, and even though God did not put us in the same place, we have been able to keep our friendship alive and well over more than three decades. 

The reason sunny days remind me of her is because, when we were in school, - I met her when we all went to the Panama Canal College to have a year of intensive English training in preparation for our coming to the United States to go to College, I came to Western PA and she ended up in Nebraska...where we both still are all these many years ago. - At any rate, when we were at PCC, I didn't really have many classes with her because her English was way more advanced than mine, but we were roommates.  Her name is Indy, and she was and continues to be a ray of sunshine in the lives of everyone she meets.  Back then, I knew Indy had been in the classroom, because I would see a big, bright corner drawing of a smiling sun with the caption: The sun is shining outside, written by it on the board. That was Indy's trademark.  Little did I know that the memories of her chalk sunshine would stay with me, bringing me thoughts of thanksgiving for the friends that God has placed in my life.

And that is exactly what I want to offer my gratitude for today: friends.

We are not meant to walk alone through this valley of shadow and sorrow.  That's why the current physical distancing we are facing is so hard…we are not supposed to be isolated! We are the children of a God who is social: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We are created in His image; therefore, we crave the presence of others in our lives.  Loneliness is far too devastating for the soul, the heart, the mind and the body of human beings.  Friends are like angels from heaven who are appointed to us directly from God…and when they are not around, we grieve.

I don’t know what I would do without my friends, my prayer partners, my soul sisters, my steady hands, my counselors, my cheerleaders, my pendulums, my sounding boards, my reality checks, my hiding places, my road companions.  Life would be even harder than it is without friends.  Therefore, today, I want to lift up a big prayer of thanksgiving for the friends God has blessed me with: from the acquaintances who are meant to be with me for a moment, to those who are meant to be with me for a lifetime…I am grateful for each and everyone of them.  In the Precious Name of Jesus, Our Lord, Savior and Dearest of Friends. 

Thanksgiving Week - Day 6

 Well...yesterday was Black Friday 2020.  And, as the consummate shopper that I am...I did my part to help the economy.  All I'm going to say is that it was a very different experience...but, this thought brings me to my thanksgiving moment for the day (I know...I am posting this a day late...I hope you understand ;) 

I am grateful for our jobs.  Dan and I have been blessed with jobs that have endured the pandemic.  Even though I have not been in a classroom since March 6th...I have been gainfully employed and working harder than ever throughout the months of isolation. It was during this time also that I became the Chairperson of our Department.  Therefore, my responsibilities have quadrupled...and so has my stress-level.  However, I am grateful because, through it all, God has been Faithful, and He has provided everything we need and way beyond to keep my family and I safe, secure and lacking nothing.  

Not many people can say the same...it only takes a quick drive to see so many businesses that were thriving, now closed or barely hanging on.  The travel, entertainment and food industries have been the hardest hit.  Many of our favorite restaurants are gone...and, unless they change their formats, the rest will follow.  I just can't believe that some of the most iconic places to eat, like the Pizza Shop at the Outlet Mall is out of business!  The kids and I have been eating pizza there ever since Grant could chew it!  We stood in front of it yesterday dumbfounded...silently mortified.  All we could do was let out a deep sigh...

I see commercials on TV inviting people to go on a cruise and take a trip...in a desperate attempt to pretend all is back to normal.  But we know it is far from it.  We know it will take a long time before people feel safe again and decide to go on a leisure trip, carefree and ready to enjoy a hotel stay, an airplane ride, let alone a cruise (the memories of that ship full of sick passengers which no country wanted to give safe harbor to still linger way too fresh in everyone's minds).

I feel for those in the hardest hit industries.  I pray for their employees.  I pray that there is a way they can recover.  I pray we can do our part to help when the time is right.  I pray God has mercy on the world and releases effective treatments and vaccines soon.  And as I pray for all these things, I also pray for a spirit of thanksgiving to rise up in our souls so we can continue to be grateful for the blessings hidden in adversity...as we continue to trust His plan, even if we don't fully understand it.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

Thanksgiving Week - Day 5

 This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118: 24

Waking up this Thanksgiving morning, looking out the window at yet another gloomy, dark, grey, wet day, when all I want to do is stay in bed and complain, I read my devotional and it leads me to the Lord's proclamation on Psalm 118: 24.  And, as always, the Word brings to me exactly what I need:  the hope of Thanksgiving.

I'm not talking about the hope that comes once a year on Thanksgiving day.  The hope wrapped in verse 24 of Psalm 118 is the hope that comes with another day of life, for each new day yields "precious gifts and beneficial training" as we walk along the high road of thanksgiving with Our Lord Jesus the Christ. (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young)

And that's the hope I want: the hope that endures, the hope that is renewed every morning.  However, this is a hope that might be fragile and easily dissolved if we forget that we live in a fallen world.

Waking up to bad news may threaten our hope.  Waking up in darkness may deceive us into believing that there is no hope left in this world.  Waking up in sorrow may push us into thinking that hope is not possible in the evil days we live in.  The trick is to continue to walk on the highway of Thanksgiving.  Even in the midst of bad news...even in the darkness and sorrow of our evil days...Thanksgiving must light up the way as I remember that...

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever. Psalm 23

Today, on this Thanksgiving Day of the year 2020, a very challenging year for the entire world, I lift up my eyes to the Lord and thank Him for the Cross, our everlasting source of hope.  I thank Him for being Our Good Shepherd.  I thank Him for the Holy Spirit, God in us.  And I thank Him for the promise of His return. As we wait in thanksgiving, we rejoice for the day that He has made, so let us rejoice and be glad in it!  In Christ Name.  Amen!

Thanksgiving Week - Day 4

My Mom did not know how to cook.  The only things I ever remember her making were fried eggs, instant soup, toast and coffee.  She never cooked a full meal or even one dish of anything in her life. 

I grew up not knowing how to cook either.  It wasn't until I married an American man and moved to the US for good (the land where Mom is the maid), that I realized the importance of learning the way around the kitchen.  

I give credit to Dan...he had to put up with my experimenting for many years.  Poor thing...my learning curve was not too bad, but I know he endured many hardly-edible meals during the first seasons of our marriage.

Today, as I knocked on Dylan's door at 8am to get the Thanksgiving feast under way, I thought about the long road I've traveled.  

For a long time now, I have been cooking a full Thanksgiving meal for us 4 the Wednesday before, so we could have leftovers (it's been a while since we have had leftovers at the Dieter Family's Thanksgiving Dinner).  From Turkey to sweet potato pie and everything in between, I spend the day immersed in the kitchen, amidst savory spices and the aroma of deliciousness. And, since Dylan has an inclination for cooking, he often helps.  Today, he was amazing.  He stuck with me the entire time...except for the last dish...I noticed he was losing it, so I released him.  But, side by side, Dylan and I prepared a bountiful buffet that I hope will last for the next few days.

As I looked at my apron clad, teenage boy, I realized that was the blessing I wanted to highlight today.

At lunch time, we sat and enjoyed the feast...and then, Dylan and I took a well-deserved nap.  As I was falling asleep, I thought about my Mom, and wondered if she ever realized how much she missed out by never having had the chance of working in the kitchen with her children.  My guess is that she didn't, since that was just not something that was done back then in the environment where she lived.  But, I sure am glad I've had the opportunity to experience it. These are the memories that go into my treasure box, which I hope to hold dear and near my heart forever.

That's why today, I want to lift up thanks to the Lord Almighty for precious moments like cooking Thanksgiving Dinner with my son.  May God give us many more years when we get to do this again and again.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

Dylan mixing the Turkey rub, wearing an apron Rosa made for me many years ago.

Thanksgiving Week - Day 3

 Today, my devotional reading said: "Thankfulness takes the sting out of adversity." (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young) And one of the readings it pointed to was from Ephesians 5, a portion of which I'm reproducing below:

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5: 15-20

I think these words are mightily appropriate for our current reality at all levels: world-wide, as a nation, as a state, as a family unit, as an individual.  We are living in times of adversity, and in my opinion, the greatest adversity is "because the days are evil." The warfare we face is within the spiritual realm, where good and evil are embattled for our souls.  However, even though the war and our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6: 12) We still have a role to play.  And we are to play it in a smart, not foolish way.  We ought to be sober minded.  We must be in Scripture, with the Psalms and songs of praise always on our lips; and always giving thanks to the Lord for everything carrying the Name of Jesus in our hearts constantly.  

That's how we take the "sting out of adversity."  We put on the Armour of God and live everyday with thanksgiving regardless of how evil seems to be taking over the world.  

Today, I am thankful for the things we can do in the midst of all the adversity caused by the pandemic and the political environment that surrounds us and isolates us and divides us.  Specifically, I'm looking at my own efforts to stay sober and in the Word, with songs of Thanksgiving in my lips.  Today, I'm giving thanks for the fact that despite the social and physical distance we are imposed I can be a part of a Bible Study with a small group of brothers and sisters in Christ through the use of technology.  I am thankful for those who had the initiative to get the Bible Study started.  I am thankful for the invitation.  I am thankful that I have a job that allows me to host the connection online.  I am thankful that I am carving out the time to participate.  I am thankful for the time to be digging in the Word and above all, I am thankful for the Hand of the Lord drawing us near Him...offering us the peace of His presence.

Today, I offer thanksgiving for the efforts of all of God's children who are making a conscious and intentional decision to stay sober, open His Word and give thanks for everything.  May the Holy Spirit continue to bless us with strength to remain in Him regardless of our circumstances so He can turn adversity into joy and peace.  In the Precious Name of Jesus, Our Lord and Savior.  Amen!

Thanksgiving Week - Day 2

 I woke up this morning with a smile, because one of the first thoughts that popped into my mind was that Grant will be coming home tomorrow.  After his first semester away at College, having been home only really 2 weekends and 1 other time so he could vote in the general elections...he is coming home for a long break...and I am over the moon about that!

Dan asked me jokingly if I was already stockpiling on his favorite snacks and treats, to which I proceeded to detail everything I had already purchased and what I still had in my list.  He laughed at me and then we started reminiscing the day we dropped him off at his dorm, back in mid August, and how hard it was to come back home and see his empty room...

So, today, as I think about thanksgiving week, I would like to lift up prayers of praise and thanksgiving for the family God has given me to share my food, home and shelter with.  My heart is full of gratitude as I think back when I was young and didn't even think I would get married, let alone have kids.  I think back to the years of our early marriage when we definitely thought it was not in God's plan for us to have children.  I think back on the years of struggle.  I think back on the joy of receiving two boys.  I think back on seeing them grow up.  I think back on having them beg for a dog.  I think back on me saying, "ok" to the dog.  I think back and I realized even in the struggle there are meaningful and miraculous blessings: me not just being a Mother, but also, loving a dog...who knew?

Whatever your family looks like...wherever they might be at this year...whichever means you use to connect with them this Thanksgiving...let's praise the Lord for giving them to us. Whether they are blood related or not...whether they are humans or furry...whether they are near or far...whether they are physically present or virtually on a screen, let us praise the Lord for their existence.  And even if we feel alone, I pray that we realize we are not.  We are never alone if we belong to the family of God.

 

Thanksgiving Week

 It's another cold and gloomy morning.  The whole world seems to be in turmoil.  Uncertainty is the only certainty.  Instability and fear of what's to come plague our hearts and minds.  And in the middle of this, I heard Adam Marshall, his wife Chelsey and their precious baby boy Titus, a missionary family from our church, give a most wonderful testimony of Thanksgiving in the midst of trial and challenges.  "This was a good year," Adam concluded...and I was inspired.  If a young family who solely depends on the financial support from others, facing enormous problems of all kinds that ranged from having a premature baby in the NICU for months, and not knowing where they were going to live afterwards, seeing donations drop in an economically difficult year, dealing with the Ministry Director's health issues to having to completely redesign the ministry due to the pandemic,  can declare "this was a good year" so can I.

And, as a first step to declaring 2020 a good year, I want to start a week-long Thanksgiving Celebration, when I would like to dig deep into my heart and express my trust in the Lord by lifting up my gratitude for all that He has blessed me with...to make the darkness, the gloominess and the chills of fright disappear, because, a "thankful attitude opens windows of Heaven." (Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young)

Therefore, today, I begin by thanking the Lord for faithfully meeting my most basic needs: food, shelter and clothing.  As I look in my kitchen, the bounties of His harvest overflow.  All the groceries are purchased, and I'm about to go get a home-grown, organic turkey in a couple of hours so we can have a Thanksgiving Dinner at home this week.  There won't be a Dieter Family Reunion for thanksgiving for the first time in the almost 30 years I've been in this family...but we will have Thanksgiving at home...and it is a home the Lord has blessed us with, and which we love.  We are not going to be dressing up in brand new clothes for the day, but we have closets packed full of great selections that we are thankful for.  So even though life is different this year, we have all we need and more.

As I see the joy transpiring through the wide smiles of Adam's family, I praise the Lord for planting the gift of mission in the hearts of His Children.  We watched him at home through simulcast, another blessing we are so thankful for, and shared memories of when Adam was a teenager in Dan's Sunday School class.  We have no words to express how proud and thankful we are of him and all he has accomplished.  We are surrounded by blessings.  We just need to open our eyes and see that, indeed, this has been a good year...no matter what.

God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46: 1

Praise the Lord, O My Soul...Praise the Lord, Amen!

Psalm 27-Kind of Day

 I love the Psalms.  It might sound trite, but, if there is a book where I can find refuge, that book is the Book of Psalms.  I believe that God inspired David to write these precious words so people like me...so many years later, would know where to go when they felt lost...as a reminder of what's important: not spend our life chasing after the things of this world, but to seek the Face of the Lord.

Today, as my devotional reading pointed me toward a particular verse on Psalm 27, I ended up reading the entire Psalm, and realized, today, is a Psalm 27-kind of day, so I would like to share it here, hoping it brings comfort to those who read it:

The Lord is my light and my salvation—

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked advance against me

to devour me,

it is my enemies and my foes

who will stumble and fall.

3 Though an army besiege me,

my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me,

even then I will be confident.

4 One thing I ask from the Lord,

this only do I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble

he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent

and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted

above the enemies who surround me;

at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the Lord.

7 Hear my voice when I call, Lord;

be merciful to me and answer me.

8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”

Your face, Lord, I will seek.

9 Do not hide your face from me,

do not turn your servant away in anger;

you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,

God my Savior.

10 Though my father and mother forsake me,

the Lord will receive me.

11 Teach me your way, Lord;

lead me in a straight path

because of my oppressors.

12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

for false witnesses rise up against me,

spouting malicious accusations.

13 I remain confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.

This entire Psalm speaks to me today, but particularly the last two verses.  Verse 13 brings me hope in God's promise of revealing His "goodness" to us while still here on this earth.  A beautiful sunrise, a graceful deer that barely escaped our car's advance, the sound of the voices of our loved ones, the warmth of an embrace when we thought we were alone, the whispering in our hearts reminding us that He is near...the goodness of the Lord is all around us, in the here and in the now.  Sometimes, the weight of the world and our current circumstances threaten to sink us, blurring our vision; but the goodness of the Lord is with us.  We might just have to wait a bit longer.  But we wait in Him and pray for His strength, and wait some more.  

It is said that when something is repeated in Scripture, it means, it is extremely important.  The repetition is meant for emphasis and attention.  Well, as I see the phrase "wait for the Lord" repeated in verse 14...I tend to actually lose heart...because I don't like waiting...but, today, it is causing me to really understand that sometimes there is nothing else to do but to wait...and it is in that waiting period when God finally makes it clear to us that the strength not to lose heart comes from Him.  He wants us to really see.  When things go by too fast, we can't truly appreciate it...it is in the wait when it is cemented in our souls that He is Lord.

May we remain confident that we will see the "goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."  May we be able to "wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart...and wait for the Lord." In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

Opening Our Eyes to Victory!

 Isn't it wonderful, how in the middle of a gloomy morning, when things are not looking particularly up, the Word of God brings us much needed cheer and encouragement?

That's what could happen everyday if we get in the habit of spending some time in Scripture...even if just a couple of minutes...even if just a few verses...the Word of God "will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it," says the Lord in Isaiah 55: 11

So, this morning, as I was contemplating another hard, complicated, exhausting day at work full of battles, disagreements and discord...when I was already feeling small and weak even before seven o'clock...the passage about Elisha being persecuted by the men from the enraged King of Aram brought to me wonderful words of hope that reminded me I am not alone.  When Elisha's servant saw nothing but an army of enemy horses and chariots ready to strike them, full of fear, he asked his master, "what shall we do?"  Elisha replied:

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

2 Kings 6: 16-17

Can you imagine being the servant?  One second your heart is filled with fear and despair, because your eyes can only see threat and defeat...and the next, the veil comes down, and you are able to see the truth!  What a wonderful sight! The soul rejoices and confidence returns because we know, for sure, that we are victorious!

Can you imagine being Elisha? Always being able to walk around with your eyes open to see the truth, knowing that we are victorious no matter how bleak things look from the perspective of those whose eyes only see the things of this world...

You know what?  We don't have to be the servant...always needing someone to open our eyes so we can see...we can be Elisha.  How?  By trusting God's Word.  He has told us that we have already won!  We just need to believe it, so our eyes can be open to this truth...so every time we are confronted with the threat of defeat, we focus on Christ's Victory rather than on the enemy.  Every time we fear battle, we can come to the Word and remember we too can see the fields full of horses and chariots of fire all around us.  Nothing can touch us...for the One who has already won the war is with us.  Even if by the eyes of the world we lose...we are triumphant!

I want to remember this today.  I want to walk with my eyes open and in confidence that what the Lord has promised is true...remembering that who the Lord has set free, is free indeed! (John 8: 36)

Debt to Love

 Over ten years ago (years are really running all together for me now, so it might be closer to 20...), I gave Dan a book by financial guru, Dave Ramsey.  I can't quite remember exactly if it was Total Money Makeover or Financial Freedom.  The truth is that it doesn't really matter which one it was.  They are all basically about the same principle: living a debt-free life.  Needless to say, Dan was hooked! 

Dan saw Ramsey's ideas as a source of inspiration.  Though the concepts are based on common sense budgeting techniques...it does take an act of tremendous determination to enact them.  Dan has had and continues to have such strong resolve...me...on the other hand...not so much.

"The borrower is slave to the lender"! Dan would repeat to me like a mantra, over and over and over and over again this portion of Proverbs 22: 7 which is Ramsey's guiding principle.  And I would sneer back at him, and call him "Budget Nazi."  Yeah...those early years to financial freedom were lots of fun!

In my mind, we were freeing ourselves from debt, but enslaving ourselves to a rigid plan that didn't allow for living...which caused me to ponder whether we could really, truly be absolutely free in this life...

This past Sunday...our Pastor read a portion of Romans 13 that contained a huge revelation to me: Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13: 8)

I'm still pondering this statement.  Paul is proclaiming that, indeed, we must be debt-free in this world.  However, he is also reminding us that there is one debt we would never be able to settle: the debt to love one another.  He is telling us that this is a "continuing debt."  It is a debt we will always owe for as long as we live. 

People call the Dave Ramsey's Radio Show to proclaim themselves financially liberated.  Young and old alike scream at the top of their voices, over the phone: "I'm debt FREE!!!"  Well, Paul is telling us that we will never be able to declare that we are done paying the debt to love as long as we walk on this side of eternity.

Jesus paid it all, absolutely.  But He also charged us with this command:  

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” Matthew 22: 34-46

This is why Paul tells us that love fulfills the law.  Jesus is Love and He fulfills the law...and He is in us...therefore, we cannot stop giving love, because He, who lives in us, is Love.

It's the never-ending circle of agape.

It is common sense.  But, at the same time, it is extremely challenging as it convicts us because it goes against our selfish nature.  And it takes an incredible act of will...the will of God, and the work of the Holy Spirit, for us to be able to enact and activate love in us the way Jesus commanded. He knew that.  And that is why He gave us Himself in the Holy Spirit...the Helper who is the Only force that can move us to love continuously, in spite of our weaknesses and rebellion. 

Eventually, over the years, I have accepted the Dan Dieter's principles of financial independence, and I am most grateful that God has endowed my husband with such spirit of discipline and strength.  But, we also realize that some debts we will never be able to pay...so we make efforts to give the budget to God, for everything that we have belongs to Him, and our budget represents our lives, so we pray He would fully use it to continue to pay our debt to love while in this life.

My Proclamation

This morning, as I read my little devotional, I was reminded of how much I love, LOVE 2 Samuel chapter 22.  It is the chapter when David sings to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. (2 Samuel 22: 1)

David's song occupies pretty much the entire chapter.  It is a full out song of praise, prayer and thanksgiving.  It is a declaration of God's might in the king's life...and by default, it is a declaration of God's might in our lives.  As a child of God, spiritual heiress of David, I claim this song as my own; and today, particularly, I claim the following excerpt: 

“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You make your saving help my shield;
your help has made me great.
You provide a broad path for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way." 2 Samuel 22: 31-37

I claim all the promises in these verses.  And I make them my proclamation of Trust.  Even if I feel lost, confused, scared, I trust that God's way is, indeed, PERFECT!  Even if I find myself an outcast, rejected, alone, exposed, defeated, I trust that Our Lord Almighty will, indeed, be my refuge and that His saving help is my shield.  Even if I feel like a slug, not getting anywhere, too slow to get to safety, too tired to escape my enemies, I trust that He will make my feet like the feet of deer and make me stand on the heights.  And, as I see the dark clouds of war gathering in the horizon, I trust that He will train my hands for battle, for the battle will be fierce...but I'm not afraid, because

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
from violent people you save me. 2 Samuel 22: 2-3

Feeling of Exile

 It has been over two years since I've been able to visit my native Panama.  This is the longest I've been away since I first left...about 30 years ago...

The absence is puncturing a deep hole in my heart, and I can't patch it up.  I fear I might bleed out and die. I know I sound melodramatic; but I really miss Panama.  I miss the people, my family, the sounds, the smells, the sights, the sunshine, the warmth. I feel like I'm in exile.

I know the implications of the word "exile" do not apply to my circumstances.  However, there are times in everyone's lives that a sense of exile emerges from the depths of one's heart.  The imposed distance that we are all experiencing in the current circumstances, for instance, leaves us feeling as if we were far away from home, does it not?

Home calls us, whatever "home" is to us...and we can't go...that is exile.  And it hurts.  It deeply hurts.  It is agonizing.

Panama is calling me and I can't answer.  School is calling Dylan, and he can't answer.  Thanksgiving gatherings are calling families, and we can't go.  Church is calling, and we might not be able to come either...loved ones are leaving us, and we can't even say goodbye.  It is too much to bear.  We are not meant to be far from home.

This gloomy morning makes me feel the weight of the distance even more.  But, there is hope!  I have to believe that Hope never is far away.  And my hope is that there is One calling me whom I can answer.  There is One calling me, and I don't have to keep away.  There is One calling me to whom I can run and cling, because He is ready to embrace me in His wide open arms.  

He made me, He chose me, and He calls me...and, because I belong to Him, I hear him and I can come to Him always. (Isaiah 43: 1)

 Praised be the Lord, The One who calls us and shows us our way back home.  Let's hang on to Him, and trust that soon we will be released and be free...no more exile.  May we all hear His voice and answer His call.  May He soon lead us back home.

Scriptures to Live By

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16: 33

I cling to these words today, for I believe challenging times are ahead, and my heart may be too weak to endure it.  That's why, instead of lingering on the problems, I must dwell in His Word.  That's why, instead of focusing on the future, I must stand on the Solid Rock and seek His Presence in the present.

The future does not belong to us.  It belongs to the Lord.  When we make the future our center, we enter a space that is not part of our realm.  That can cause all kinds of anxiety as fear for what we cannot control, but only imagine, overtakes us.  

That's not what we're called to do.  We are called to seek Him and trust His plan.  Even if the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, His steadfast love will never depart and His peace will never be removed, the Lord, Our God of compassion reminds us. (Isaiah 54: 10) 

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Habakkuk 3: 17-18

These are all words I will live by in the days to come.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6

And, May the God of hope fill [us] with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit [we] may abound in hope. (Romans 15: 13) And let the peace of Christ rule in [our] hearts, to which indeed [we] were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3: 15) Amen!

Leaving the Results to God

 I've always been terrified of tests...any kind of tests.  Exams at school, medical tests (these are the absolute worst!), evaluations at work (talk about anxiety), presidential elections (enough said)...even silly questionnaires in ridiculous Teen Magazines made me nervous.  The reason tests are such fear-inducing elements in my life is because I don't handle well the period afterwards:  waiting for the results.  That's the real test for me...that, seemingly, never-ending moment (be it minutes, hours, days, weeks, months) when I'm done with the test, when it is out of my hands...and all I can do is wait.  I fear that more than most things in life.

I forget too quickly how God has been Faithful before and how He cannot help it but to continue to be Faithful forever!  This means, the same way He has been with me through all the tests I've had to go through so far, He will continue to be with me through all the tests I still will endure.  This also means that, even though the tests are hard and I have no guarantee of the end results; my faith will carry me through as His Presence is made evident, so I must just do the best I can, do my part, take the test, hand it in and leave the results to the Lord!

Whatever happens, He will be with me and He will protect me.  He will speak to me, and as His child, I will listen to Him whispering in my ear.  I will hear Him saying:  

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

2 Corinthians 12:9

Even if the whole world as we know it collapses due to society turning its back on God and His ways; like the Israelites in the times of the Kings, who rejected His covenant, torn down His altars, and put His prophets to death with the sword (1 Kings 19: 14), the Lord will be with His children.  He will take care of His remnant. He will rise them up, and continue to speak to them in the still, small voice of His whispering.  He will reserve for Himself, and preserve those who do not bend the knee to the idols of this world (1 Kings 19: 18). And, in spite of the results of any test, He will call those who belong to Him and we will hear His Voice (John 8: 47).

I'd like to quote something I read yesterday:  "we delight in success.  But we may despair when we seem to fail.  Keep doing what God has called you to do, and leave the results to Him.  He has your name in His book!"  - because, ultimately, that's all that really matters: to have our name written in His Book of Life!

May God grant us whatever we need in order to endure the agony of tests. And may His Presence be evident in special and supernatural ways as we deal with the anxiety of the results, knowing full well that He IS in Control, that we ARE His children and that He WILL keep us in the shelter of His Strong Tower.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

By Faith We Run Our Race

 Hebrews 11 is often called the Faith Chapter.  It is the chapter that reminds us of the "Great Cloud of Witnesses" that surround us (Hebrews 12:1) and it is a good chapter to read today.

This is the chapter that defines faith as: [the] confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11: 1

Faith is not about "seeing" with our eyes the materialization of what we desire.  Faith is knowing God is able, and that He can, and that He will do all things, possible and impossible, according to His Plan even if we never get to see them in our lifespan.  

Like the hall of fame of faith listed in Hebrews 11, we might not get to see or receive all the things that are promised, but we know that all His promises will be fulfilled because He is Faithful and all His promises are true...regardless of whether we witness them or not.  By faith we know that: God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11: 40

It is our faith in His perfect plan what keeps us strong even if we realize, it is not for us to see it unfold. 

What do we do with the disappointment, then? How do we manage the disillusion of not being part of those who will witness the complete fulfillment of His promises? We keep the faith...it is our faith what will allow us to:

...throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12: 1-3

Let's engrave this perfect words in our hearts, minds and souls.  This is the only thing that matters.  Everything else is superfluous.  Everything else withers.  Everything else passes away and is forgotten.  

May we be empowered by the Holy Spirit to see with the eyes of our faith what is beyond our current circumstances, so we can stay strong on the One Whose Name is Faithful, and we can endure the race marked out for us...whether we get to cross the finish line the way we dream it or not.  In Jesus' All-Powerful Name.  Amen!

Jesus is Always Working in the Background

 This morning, I read a wonderful closing prayer in the devotional booklet: Our Daily Bread that I would like to reproduce here:

"Father in heaven, please help me to believe that You are always working in the background doing far more-and much better-than I know or understand."

This is my prayer for today, and for everyday...for every instance when we anxiously await for whatever events we are fearfully anticipating: a doctor's phone call, a meeting at work, a conversation with a long-estranged family member, the possibility of the end of a relationship, the future of your children, the results of an election.  Whatever it is that is causing us great stress due to uncertainty and anticipation, we can rest assured that Jesus's got it!  He is working in the background...ALWAYS!  He is moving and shaking things.  Nothing happens on any realm without His knowledge.  Nothing is a surprise to Him.

The devotional also reminded me of something that is key:  "God has always known or hearts far better than we do.  So He didn't entrust the fullness of His plans even to those who saw His miracles and believed in Him."  This statement is paraphrasing verses 23-25 in John 2...and it is mind blowing to me.

I think I might have read this verses many times; but I believe today is the first time I really have truly allowed them to speak to me.  John records these words in his gospel to wrap up the scene of Jesus clearing the Temple courts in chapter 2.  That is one of my favorite stories about what Jesus did while walking on this earth as a man.  I love it so much because I can relate to Jesus' actions completely.  He is speaking to people like me, who have a fiery temper...and it's like He is saying to me:  Gisela, there is a time when I will use you, because there will be a moment, when I will need someone explosive to overturn tables for me."  

I don't know if I'm right...maybe I'm just trying to justify my lack of self-control...but, pondering on all of these this morning, when I'm still riddled with anxiety, makes me realize that God's plan is never fully revealed in one linear act. He knows what is in each person's heart.  He knows what we can handle. He knows how much to reveal at the perfect time.  And, above all, no matter how unstable and uncertain things look, He is always working in the background.  He's got it all in His hands.  He fights our battles and best of all, He is already victorious!

May we be able to rest and find comfort in knowing that the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with us always.  And may we remember that His Grace, IS sufficient.  Amen!

Waiting for the Lord

 Waking up this morning to the anxiety of not knowing who won the presidential elections is causing me to feel unwell.  This is not a healthy state of mind for anyone.  My spirit is shaking and the cold chills of fright run up and down my spine.  I brace myself, but fear overcomes me. I trust the Lord, but I wonder...

What can I do? How can I put my mind at ease?

Everytime I experience the wild emotions I'm feelin this morning, I go to the Psalms.  Drawing nearer Him by drawing nearer to the Word is the only thing that can truly quiet my heart.  Psalm 27 is speaking to me in a very profound way, especially the last two verses:

I remain confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27: 13-14

I remain confident that the Lord is near; therefore hope is near, like CH Spurgeon said...nothing should make hope dissipate, even if the results of the elections are not what I had desired.  No election outcomes would change the fact that Hope is near because God is near. 

My confidence in the nearness of God gives me hope that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Right here and now...I will witness His goodness, because God is Good, and all the time He is Good!

And, my confidence in his nearness and goodness will equip me for the wait that still remains.  As I wait, my confidence and trust is in Him, and in Him alone.  No man that ever lived compares to the Lord.  No politician would ever be my savior or the savior of the world.  I belong to the Royal Family of My King...and no president would ever change that.  Therefore, I wait in confidence as My King gives me the strength and the heart to wait upon Him, and Him alone.

May Our Lord hear our voices when we call.  May He be merciful to us and answer us.  May the Holy Spirit guide us as we Seek His Face, for Your Face, Lord, is what we must seek.  In the Precious Name of My Jesus.  Amen!

The Man from the Town Called The Oak

 Everything I know about being strong to a fault I learned from my Dad.  He was larger than life.  Born in a place called The Oak, he was an oak of a man.  His presence was imposing and his voice carried through space, making walls shake and people tremble.  You may think I'm exaggerating, but the "man of the 4 Gs" Gonzalo Gaspar Gonzalez Gordillo was an intimidating man.  As his youngest child, however, I was able to know really well how, inside that rough and stern exterior lived a gentle soul, filled with love.

As a child growing up, I idolized him as I feared him...because he always showed me glimpses of his tender side while teaching me how the value of an unblemished reputation leads to being respected as a person of integrity and strength: his greatest goals in life.  As an adult, I saw his struggles.  I witnessed his pain.  I wiped his tears.  And for years, I offered him my listening ears so he would not carry his regrets to the grave.  

Today, a day full of uncertainty, when our nation goes to the polls to elect the person they consider best fit to guide this country through the incredibly choppy waters of the present and the many storms still ahead, I celebrate my father's birthday.  I miss him terribly.  When I lost him, I felt as if the floor had been removed from under my feet.  I felt as if I had lost my compass.  Today, years after his passing, I know my compass is not lost, for it is inside of me. The memories of the man God destined to be my father on this earth live in my mind, reminding me of the importance of remaining strong without forgetting to show love.  

The compass, however, was not my Dad.  He might have pointed me to it...but, though my Compass once hung on a tree, He is is bigger than the man from the town called Oak.  And He is King of King and Lord of Lords.  And no matter who wins today, Jesus Reigns!

Let's be strong and courageous.  Lets allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. And may we do what His people are supposed to do:  pray, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways; so He may hear us, forgive us and heal us.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Distractions

 To say that I have been distracted lately is a large understatement.  Work has taken over my life since late August.  Actually, pretty much since March really, I have been consumed by work and its many challenges.  First the pandemic forced education to restructure its entire modality of distribution.  At the same time, I was transitioning to a role of more responsibility, a transition that has not been smooth or uneventful.  Challenges of all kinds have arised as I have become the Chair of our Department: financial, relational, professional, you name it.  We are witnessing many colleagues losing their jobs around us; and while I Praise the Lord my job is pretty stable at the moment...there are no guarantees...plus, the pain of seeing those we know being left out in the cold...makes the situation much dire for us all.

And that's just stuff at work, right?  I still have all the everyday worries and tasks that go hand in hand with being a Mom and a Wife...and way, way, way at the bottom...a housewife (One of the few benefits of the physical/social distance we need to keep is that the chances of someone popping up unannounced are pretty small, so nobody has to endure the trauma of seeing my messy house).

Many times I've just wished I could quit my job.  I was very close to it last week...

This morning, as I read more about King Solomon's life I began to think about how the biggest danger of distractions is the fact that they have the ability to take our attention away from what truly is important: keeping our eyes on Jesus...seeking Him first.

King Solomon was the wisest and richest man to ever live.  He had God's blessing.  He was anointed by the Most High.  God even appeared to him a couple of times!  But...he got distracted and things began to go south for Israel.  For starters, all that wealth.  Reading through the descriptions of how he built his palace and all the material treasures he accumulated is insane!  So much gold, silver wasn't even valued! But then...the worst thing for him was the women: 700 wives and 300 concubines...for a grand total of 1,000 women as part of his household.  Yep, attempting to keep 1,000 women happy would not leave much chance for anyone to think of much else...notice I said "attempting"...

Sigh...

I have no clue what he was thinking.  Where did all that wisdom go?  I mean, really?  The wisest man in history...1,000 women?  I don't get it.  

And, of course, most of them were from tribes and groups that were forbidden.  God had told the israelites not to intermarry from this list of groups of peoples...but...here comes Solomon...the wisest guy in town, thinking he knew better than God.  And God had not given that command for capricious reasons.  God knew the pull a spouse has, and those tribes and groups of peoples were not followers of the Almighty.  They had their own idols that they worshipped.  God knows how fickle our human hearts are and how easily we are swayed by those we love.  That's why it was best not to enter in relationships with those who could take our eyes away from Him.

But Solomon thought he could handle it, I guess.  But, he couldn't, of course.  So, soon, he found himself so busy building temples and altars for the gods of his many wives, that before he knew it, he was worshiping those gods too.  His mind was distracted...so, unlike his father David, his heart lost its way and didn't know how to chase after God's own heart anymore.

I certainly do not want that to happen to me.

After considering quitting my current position as Chair, I decided to stick with it until I finish up my term in 2023...if God allows.  But, I must keep my priorities straight.  Distractions would come and go, but as long as I am aware of Him, I must not let them take over me.  My goal is to put myself in the Hands of Jesus and let Him lead everything I do.  I want to do this job as if onto Him...and in order to do that, I must surrender to His holy guidance.  May His Word be the light to my feet and the lamp to my path.  And may the many distractions in our lives never usurp the place of He, Who Must always sit in Throne of the Most High.  Amen.