If you’ll sum up your first 3 quarters of 2023, what word can you think of? 

YOU, O LORD, ARE FAITHFUL!  Even on those times when I’m not, YOU are unfailingly, unchangingly faithful.

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
    His merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
    How great Your faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:22-23 MSG)

The faithfulness of God is not just limited to the good things that we have witnessed happening to us. But in addition to these, greater wonder comes when those around us witness how good and faithful He is by the way He moves in and through our lives. He is always up to bless us and bless others through us.

Even in Genesis 12:2, God called out to Abram and said …

I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.

In the Voice translation, it says, “I have plans to make a great people from your descendants. And I am going to put a special blessing on you and cause your reputation to grow so that you will become a blessing and example to others.“

What He once spoken during the time of Abram still holds to today.  Why?  It is because He is faithful.  He is the Lord and He does not change.  He is reliable, loyal, steadfast, devoted, dedicated, constant, unwavering, utterly dependable and trustworthy.   “Our God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind.” (Numbers 23:19)  JESUS HIMSELF is THE SAME yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

When we receive this Word in our hearts by faith that we are blessed to be a blessing,  it changes us.  It gives us a new perspective that our lives are never lived in and of ourselves.  There are eyes around us to see His life lived in and though us, and ears to hear our words that carry the fragrance of His presence that make a difference when heard.   Ephesians 4:23-24 (TPT) says, “It’s time to be made NEW and BY EVERY REVELATION that has been given to us.  And be transformed as we embrace the glorious Christ within as our NEW LIFE and live in union with Him.” The presence of the Lord is the glory of the Lord that changes you and I to be like Him.  

When we believe and receive Jesus into our hearts, it is not only our guarantee for eternal glorious destination in heaven, but it is equally a reality for us to carry His glorious presence and bring down what is in heaven to earth. Is it not that our prayer includes, “Lord, let Your will be done ON EARTH as it is IN HEAVEN.”? What does it mean when Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is in the midst of you. “? (Luke 17:21)

Psalm 24:7-10 says …

“Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory.”

Gates and doors are openings. You and I are called gates and doors to receive the King of Glory and let His life be lived in and through us. I say, or you say, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) We are His co-laborers of His kingdom where the King of kings and Lord of lord’s domain is here to rule and reign on earth IN LOVE, and never apart from Him and His love, for everything that He does is because of His great love for us.

Some of my declarations each morning are these … that my eyes be opened to what He is seeing, my ears be opened to what He is speaking and my heart be opened to receive the implanted Word of God that is able to save my soul. And, that those around me will see HIS presence evident with me, for He promised that “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest, I will give you success and I will see your journey to an expected end in glory.” (Exodus 33:14)

This year, in one of my tours in Japan, I was with a bunch of tourists on a bus. I had a wondrous time though I traveled alone. I got to meet three jolly retired ladies from Brazil and others, too, who equally enjoyed such day. Two hours before our tour was over, someone approached me if I had a USB Iphone charger. Without hesitation I said “yes”, reached out to get it from my bag and handed it to her. As we were heading back to Tokyo, there were 2 drop off points wherein we can choose to get off. I was sleeping on the trip back so I guess the person who borrowed my charger didn’t see or recognize me … hmmm. When I reached my final destination, she was nowhere to be found. Oh my my my and I still had three more days left in Japan. Thankfully, I had another charger with me, but not the USB one.

Then, I thought, maybe she needs the charger more than I do. Her accent seemed to me that she is from somewhere in England. Anyway, I decided that night to release a blessing to her and that really made my heart joyful. I believe that when things like these happen, we can convert what is lost to become a seed when we release it to bless the one who has it or needs it.

A week later, I was back at work.  I was telling some of my wonderful stories to my colleague and that included my charger story.  Surprisingly, our messenger suddenly spoke out that he found an Iphone charger a few days back and he thought of giving it to me.  Oh wow!!!! Isn’t the Lord amazing?  The charger that I gave away was not even an original apple one, but what He replaced it with was a genuine apple charger.  Who can outgive our awesome Father Who knows what we need before we even ask? In appreciation, I gave him a monetary blessing, for I was so blessed for him to even think of me of all the people to give the charger to.  He could have easily sold it, too.

 A couple of days later, our messenger came up to me when no one was around and said, “Ma’am, you are really being taken care of by God.”  I was more than surprised with what I heard and I asked him why.  Honestly, I even forgot about the charger story already.  He said, “You see, you lost your charger when someone borrowed from you and didn’t return it, but God made sure to provide for you when He caused me to find the charger before you even came back.”  My heart melted when I heard those words.  He saw how the Lord moved and that was one of my daily declarations. All glory and praise to our Heavenly Father.

Our testimonies may be very simple and sometimes can easily go unnoticed if our awareness of His presence in our lives is at low point, but when we live and move and have our being IN HIM, HE WILL BE FOREVER MAGNIFIED and GLORIFIED even in the most common or even mundane things.

Another testimony that I want to share is about my RED SNEAKERS.  Oh yeah … many may think I’m weird for desiring to have an Onitsuka Red Sneakers to be specific.

For the longest time, I have been going to this Onitsuka store in a mall to look for a red pair hahaha!  And one day, I said to myself that I am not going to tell anyone about this. It is between me and my Daddy God.

It’s so funny that after I told myself that no one should know, I got an invitation for lunch by my best friend since high school. She’s the type of someone who has numerous pairs of shoes, literally.

On the day of our lunch, I suddenly got this strong unction to message her if ever she has sneakers to dispose.  I kept wondering anyway how she disposes them as she has A LOT!  I said, I’m size 7 1/2, just in case. 

Thirty minutes later, she responded … “ohh but I’m size 6 1/2 only!”  I said to myself … oh well .. at least I obeyed the unction in my heart.

A couple of minutes later, she uploaded a photo of a pair of ONITSUKA RED SNEAKERS in size 6 1/2 and mentioned that she only used this pair once. My heart started pounding like crazy! Because of its specificity, I told her to bring it regardless, Hahahaha! And she did!

When our lunch was over, as I was driving home, the first thing that came into my mind was to take my driving shoes and compare it with hers, size-wise. Oh my my my …. her red one is slightly bigger than my driving shoes … that means … IT SURELY WILL FIT! And it did!!!

As I told her the story, my friend was super stunned! She said, “Oh how specific your wish is and the Lord gave it to you?” And then she started to tell her own side of the story.

She said, ” I was about to say I have no pair of shoes that will fit your size and style.  Plus, I was running late.  But, before I could say “no”, the Onitsuka Red Sneakers suddenly flashed in my mind, yet I was hesitant because I’m size 6 1/2.  When you told me to bring it regardless, I thought it was a “useless thing” to do because I’m one size smaller.  But, instead of telling you that I won’t bring it, I packed it and brought it.  My action overrode my thinking.  And now … I can say, it was the right time for the pair to meet its rightful owner.”

When I shared this story with one of my cousins, her reaction was … “that’s weird!”! How can size 6 1/2 fit you and it’s even bigger than your driving shoes? Oh well, if God can fill Peter’s boat with a net-breaking, boat-sinking catch of fish, if Jesus can feed a multitude with five loaves and two small fishes, can’t He expand size 6 1/2 to fit me?

Obedience has its way of putting us at the right place at the right time, doing the right thing with the right heart to receive what He has for us. If I had not moved when prompted to message my best friend, I wouldn’t have had an amazing testimony of His lovingkindness. Truly, when we hear His voice, may we harden not our hearts ♥️.

Many may rationalize this truth, negate or talk me out of this testimony and reduce it to the level of their intellect … maybe it’s a big size 6 1/2 or it could be wrongly stamped, but I choose to be amazed at our Father’s goodness and faithfulness and approach this with a child-like faith. I choose to believe that He made it in such a way to perfectly fit me inspite of it being size 6 1/2. And as a piece of advice, never let anyone rob you of His awesome wonders shown to you and through you. Guard your heart with all diligence and keep your joy.

It’s not just about me being blessed by this Red Sneakers, but my friend saw and experienced how extraordinarily the Lord moved … as many may describe it as … “God moves in mysterious ways.” 

How awesome is our God that even the secret desires of our hearts He desires to bless us. If He knows the number of hairs in our heads, how much more the things that we like. I’m not saying we recklessly ask Him for anything, but He knows what deeply matters to us that will draw us nearer to Him and also draw closer to Him those whose eyes He opened to witness His loving hands toward us.

He is our Loving Father Who never even withheld not even His own beloved and begotten Son, Jesus Christ, because of His great love for you and me. Jesus came that we may HAVE and ENJOY LIFE, in abundance to the full, till it overflows (John 10:10 AMPC). He came that we may be able to experience His glorious presence that comes with everything that He has, providing for us according to His glorious riches.

These are just a couple testimonies of His faithfulness for the first three quarters of this year!  How expectant are we that the last quarter will be much more than what we could dare think, dream or imagine?  Our God is a God of progression.  He takes us from strength to strength, from testimony to testimony, from glory to glory.  And yes, … the best is yet to come! We haven’t seen anything yet.

Oh what a beautiful way to live this life with His love and His faithfulness manifested because He is The Word made flesh and dwelt among us in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit resident in us.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for always being mindful of us, even with the littlest of our desires, and You meet them with Your awesome wonder. Thank You for giving us Your only Begotten and Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, that we may have and enjoy this life that You have given us. Thank You, Jesus, for withholding nothing, not even Yourself at the cross, that we may experientially live and move and have our being in You. Your finished work made the way. You are The Way, The Truth and The Life. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for always leading and guiding us in the way we should go that we may continually be aware of Your presence that fills us and makes us whole. Amen!

Photo Credits: Edna Arriola; NZ