It is November 10, 2025 – 5:47pm local time, 1:47am Pacific / Washington State time. After struggling to find a sure area to work, with continuous electrical power and internet connection, we have finally settled here in the Baguio Country Club. I am thankful to the Lord for my parents, and my Mother in particular, for maintaining her membership here – Because of said membership, our family has complimentary nights to use – for our own consumption, or even to sell. We used one of those nights, tonight. In fact, we got two nights – they offered us a one-for-two promo, so we used up one night, and they gave us two nights to stay.
So just in case things still aren’t okay at home by tomorrow with regards to both the internet and electricity, I can still stay here. Actually, even if there was power at home by tomorrow, I’ll still work here. We already got the room, be a shame if I don’t use it. Only maybe tomorrow I’ll bring more stuff to do here.
As usual, the standing mentality for me, here and now, with all that is in me, is to rejoice, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for me in Christ Jesus. The standing mentality also includes for me not to be quenching the Spirit – that is, if the Spirit has anything to share or to say, I should heed it. I should also be staying away from being too quick to despise prophecies – I should be testing all things, and holding fast to what is good.
I talked about this in length yesterday – for us to discern what does come from the Spirit, it should be (1) of the wonderful works of God – ‘works’ being what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do; it should also be (2) testifying of Jesus Christ, and (3) glorifying Jesus Christ. Our basis for these conditions is from Scripture – the events of Pentecost in Acts 2, and John 15 and 16 to be precise.
Apparently that’s what we hold fast to, and anything that isn’t about that, isn’t immediately ‘evil’, but stuff we would probably do well to abstain from… and when we stay ‘abstain’, I suppose I say it in the same sense that we talk about fear, when perfect love casts out all fear – that is, it’s not to say that we will not fear, but it will not stay long – or longer than perfect love, anyway. It’s in that sense that we believe that all that is evil is temporary… and, therefore, all that is eternal, all that is infinite is actually all that is good, and all that we ought to be holding fast to.
It makes sense, doesn’t it? I mean, when we read the rest of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, we can rejoice always (all the time), and give thanks in everything (all events) because of God’s timeless goodness and everlasting love, applicable even in the most painful of (temporary) circumstances. The Holy Spirit of Truth that leads us into all Truth (and is also the same Spirit of Comfort) is infinitely faithful to us, in that He prays for us and intercedes for us in groanings we do not understand, among other things.
It’s in line with another revelation I’ve basked in ever since almost exactly a year ago, when I asked the Lord for something to hold on to for now, for 40 years ago and for 40 years ahead; It was a revelation, simply: Flow, Trust God, Thank God.
We flow, when we trust God and thank God.
Thanking God is a demonstration of our trust in Him, and in such trust do we flow.
Trusting God is seen in our giving thanks to Him, and the more that we thank Him, as in anything else we do in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, again, we flow.
I’ve been looking at my life as of late and I’m not necessarily as satisfied with all that’s going on. However, I do give thanks to God for these moments when I do have the time to intentionally reflect and ponder – I mean, in these times of frustration and anxiety, I am reminded of what really matters, and where I really stand.
…Because as it stands, life really could be so much better in all aspects… but even in this, I am reminded to flow, to trust God, and to thank God. Even in this, I am reminded to rejoice, to pray, and to give thanks. I am reminded not to despise prophecy; I am reminded to hold on and to cling to all that is good, and to abstain from evil.
And, while I’m at it, you’d think that these times would be perfect for me to rationalize a little more ‘evil’ in my life, to bring back the old stuff that used to give me pleasure, or at least I thought gave me pleasure – but, no. In fact, I’m actually giving God the glory right here and now because I’ve lost a huge amount of care and desire for such things… and it’s in these moments that really suck where I am actually challenged to see the goodness of God manifesting in my life.
Oh, and before anything, I’d like to clarify (with myself, mostly) that when I’m talking about the manifestation of God’s goodness, I’m not necessarily meaning a complete turnaround of all my circumstances, nor am I meaning something that my eyes and ears and senses perceive immediately – no, here and now, it’s all happening… Again (and you probably guessed it) as I rejoice, give thanks, pray, flow, trust God, and thank God.
In every moment we can speak of the wonderful works of God.
In the recalling of the past, we can testify of Jesus Christ.
In all that is to come, we can glorify Jesus Christ, our Lord, and our Savior.
It’s November 11, 2025 – 12:08am local time, November 10, 2025 08:10am Pacific / Washington state time. Power’s back on back home, but I’m back in the Club because, well, this room isn’t going to fill itself, now is it?
Besides, this is nice. Alone time.
I have been thinking, though. Thinking in the line of what’s next, with regards to my so-called ‘standing orders’, the ‘current state of mind’, or what term did I use earlier? Ah, yes, not quite there, but what’s next, considering my ‘standing mindset’? What’s next, now that we’re flowing, trusting God, and thanking God? What’s next, now that we’re rejoicing, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in everything? What’s next, now that we aren’t despising prophecy, and now that we’re testing all things?
What’s next, now that we abstain from every form of evil, and cling to all that is good? What’s next, now that we’re speaking of the wonderful works of God, and that we’re testifying Christ, and glorifying Him?
And, really, I should be sleeping now but I really do want this out of my chest. On the drive home and back, I was thinking, it’s a solution to keep in mind, to the questions I think I have pushed back too far in the recesses of my mind.
Why did Dad die when he died? Why wasn’t I able to establish anything self-sustaining when I had so much? Why am I still staying in this job that I feel so bad in doing in the first hours of the shift?
Why did Maria want nothing to do with me anymore? I understand I treated her bad and wrong, taking her for granted when I should have recognized our meeting as an amazing opportunity. But was there anything else I said? What should I have done? What shouldn’t I have done? And what am I supposed to do now that I’ve apparently lost a huge chunk out of my life, considering how empty I feel now? Am I to take things back to before I met her? Am I to be who I was before meeting her, but considering all that I’ve learned since then?
The way I see it is that you take all of these questions and run them through the perpetually flowing, progressive river of life that is Christ, present in all that’s been mentioned in that ‘standing mindset’. I DID say that I asked for something to keep in mind today back to 40 years ago, and 40 years ahead.
And so it’s with all that mentioned that I say, and maintain – lift it all up to the Lord, and keep lifting it back up. Flow with the burdens as they keep coming back, just as you flow with the River.
It’s November 12, 2025 – 11:32am local time, November 11, 2025 07:32pm Pacific / Washington state time. Breakfast is over, the ladies of the house are back at the house, and I’m back at the hotel room. There’s a lot of reason to work back in the house, to be honest, but, well, this is the last afternoon and evening I have here so we’re making the most out of it.
It’s November 14, 2025 – 11:32am local time, November 13, 2025 7:32 Pacific / Washington state time. Fancy that, exact two days later. I’ve been back in the house since Wednesday morning, worked, and did stuff yesterday – And when I say ‘stuff’ I mean just slacking off and self-sabotaging myself, right before heading out – First, to a prayer meeting where I just reminded everyone within the sound of my voice (and myself, consequently) that all that we do and all that happens to us ought to remind us of the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work… and if we’re having trouble recalling, we’re sure to have the Holy Spirit with us at all times.
After that was done, and after dropping my Mom and the car back at home, I headed out again to spend time with my college friends, to lament with one of them at the wake of their recently deceased father. It was funny because, sure, these were friends from college, but the topics of our conversations included funeral plots (not only of our parents, but for ourselves), hair loss, blood work and blood tests, and if at this age you are taking some sort of maintenance, you aren’t cool.
Through all of it I’d like to believe two things were constant – (1) the standing mindset, well, stood, and (2) my head hurt the entire time but we soldiered on.
Before anything else I’m sharing a sort of ‘Interlude‘ that I inched in after self-sabotage, after a quick workout, and before getting ready to head out to that prayer meeting:
All praise and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior and Lord.
He is worthy of all worship, worthy of all adoration. He saved us by dying for us. He guaranteed our reconciliation by rising from the dead. He ensured our righteousness by ascending to heaven, and sealing us with His Spirit.
We give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, because of all He has done.
In spite of all that we’ve been doing, all we’ve going through, all that’s being done against us, all that’s happened and all that will happen… The finished work of Christ has placed us upon a sure and solid Rock, fixed us upon a firm Foundation.
It’s November 14, 2025 – 11:40am local time, November 13, 2025 7:40 Pacific / Washington state time. I’m actually back at BCC to join my Mom as she hosts lunch for her female friends and us male drivers/companions.
Internet at home is busted. I went to Converge to report the issue, and to my horror, they mentioned that their estimated time of resolution was within 7 (freaking) days. And I don’t even know if that’s 7 days or 7 business days. Fingers and toes crossed that something good happens to the internet before Monday, but if ever, I’m already thinking of backup locations.
Shutting down for now and getting back into typing later, but not before I say:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.
His mercies never come to an end.
They are new every morning, new every morning.
Great is thy faithfulness, o Lord; Great is thy faithfulness.
Amen.
It’s November 15, 2025 – 9:23am local time, November 14, 2025 5:23 Pacific / Washington state time. I believe it’s time to wrap this all up because I’m just droning on and on, on this one.
This has been quite the interesting week. I’m back in BCC – breakfast, this time. Being here five out of seven days makes you just a little bit complacent and callous about how this place is just a blessing, overall. But I suppose I’m expressing some appreciation by whipping out the laptop and letting things out of my head and chest. Definitely expressing appreciation for the coffee they have here. Good stuff.
I just also want to share that yesterday at lunchtime, right after I typed all that I typed, work reached out to me to see if I could come in because the usual fellow who took my shift for the rest of the week was a no-show. Took me some time to respond to that because I put into consideration all the appointments that were already setup, the gear (or lack of gear e.g. my headset) I had with me at the time, and the internet at home being busted. Eventually I responded, and told them I was good to go – only to be told that, within that time it took me to reply, they found someone else.
Earlier this morning they reached out again because they just wanted to be sure in case our friend called out for today’s evening shift as well – and I saw in other correspondence that they found someone to help out. I still responded to tell them that I was okay as a backup, and also let them know that I was having issues with the internet, and I was ready with a backup.
With all this happening I had that whole Godfather 3 scene in mind – you know, the one with the old Michael Corleone with clenched fists – ‘just when I thought I was out they pull me back in‘; And I get to thinking, it’s actually no different from any other time that they don’t reach out – I’m actually at work even when I’m not at work, because even when I’m off I’m catching myself psyching myself out so I’m ready for the 3 days I DO work.
With all this and everything else that’s happened this week, and all the questions I still have in mind, and with this realization of work being a more permanent fixture in my head, and with what’s to come tomorrow – right, I’m leading worship tomorrow and my performance at practice has certainly left a lot to be desired, and yes, I’m not going to inflate that or expound on it any further beyond saying that that’s ANOTHER thing in mind…
…I’m thankful for the Holy Spirit, as a Helper and a Friend that sticks closer than a brother, certainly close to me during these times. Standing mindset still present as one of those oddly specific 30-series GPU rigs of (recent) old, mining Etherium converted to Bitcoin right before the shift from Proof-Of-Work to Proof-Of-Stake last September 2023 (or was it 2022?); Standing mindset still present as default programming and default settings… But It’s the Holy Spirit that certainly helps, even during these times when I assume that I can still help myself.
The Word and the Spirit – it’s all that I have in this existence that is of ultimate and premiere value. The questions still linger. The darkness is growing darker and heavier. Chaos spreads, and danger approaches closer and closer to home – but through it all, the Word remains true. The Spirit remains faithful.
God help us all.
Amen.
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