ancore! 🇵🇭

Silver or gold have I none…

A memory came to me today and it softened me. It moved me to remember the humility the LORD looks for in anyone.

I realized today how well He knows me, and how He is protecting me from pride.

Years ago I was in a stage play, in supporting parts. I remember one of the cast members, let’s call him Sir.

Sir had a certain quietness about him. He was an honorable man, and he and his wife were well-respected in the community.

He showed up for every rehearsal and was agreeable enough to have his character dubbed in another person’s voice.

In real life, Sir was rich. Yet in our play his role was that of the disciple who had nothing of his own to give—except one thing.

This was Sir’s part:

“Peter looked directly at him, as did John. ‘Look at us!’ said Peter. So the man gave them his attention, expectivmng to receive something from
them. But Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!’” Acts 3:4-6 Berean Study Bible (BSB)

I can only wonder what those words, “Silver or gold I do not have…” did to him in real life—a man who had money and the means to help people. And yet his role as Peter, asking the lame man to look at him and helping him walk in the name of Jesus, leaves an impact that lasts a lifetime.

I know it does. Because years later, here I am crying my heart out, seeing the needs of people (and animals!), having no money or resources of my own, feeling helpless, down, and weary—yet now empowered.

Here is the rest of the Bible story:

“Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭BSB‬‬

At this moment, perhaps you’re Peter. You’re being asked to help but you have none, except Jesus. Go ahead and reach out to that friend, that family member. Pray with them. Pray for them.

Or perhaps you identify with the lame man. Looking to people for help. Waiting for anyone to take your right hand and help you up.

Let me be Peter to you. Look at me. I have no riches to give you. Yet this one treasure I have, I share with you:

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I pray that whatever cripples you, whatever keeps you down, whatever pain you are carrying—get up and walk!

Believe Him. Receive Him. He still heals today.

Meekankeekan

Meekankeekandiritdibidibiditditdit…

You were the gentle, furry one.

In a house that often hummed with the energy of a young boy, a hardworking husband, Lunar’s playful chaos, and my noisy brain, you moved through the days like quiet water.

Soft paws. Soft presence. The orange cat who didn’t demand the spotlight but somehow made the whole room feel steadier just by being in it.

You never needed much. A warm spot. A slow blink. A quiet corner where the world could keep spinning while you simply existed.

I am grateful for the wonderful memories I had of you being either my mews or my meownager as I steadied my hand thru calligraphy, answered the next email, or grasped the next word for my journal.

I love pink and you became the furry boy who loved pink. Your carrier was pink. Your pail was pink. Your mat was pink.

One of your nicknames was Boboy Keekan, the tiniest and the only boy in MeeMee’s litter of four. I thought you won’t survive, but you outlived them all.

When we transferred homes, I remember how you quietly sat in your favorite pink pail as other passengers gave you a quick glance. You were chill that way.

I’ve wanted for all of us to grow old together but throughout our three moves, we’ve lost your mom and your sibs along the way.

You were like a son to me, I loved you way before I even became a mom to a human.

During my pregnancy, you were always present for our morning walks and kept me company most nights while Dadad worked hard for the family.

Before I gave birth, I left you in your favorite corner by the kitchen door and told you I’ll be back. When I returned from the hospital, you were gone and didn’t return for three months. Thank you for coming back when you did, Meekan.

Thank you for the ordinary moments that became a little softer because you were there. You chose to be there.

For the way your calm balanced the noise. For being the gentle constant for us for 12 years. For teaching little Kuya Hope how to be kind.

I’m always just trying to figure things out, Meekan – you knew that – and you never failed to remind me of the art of being present, of doing nothing, of being chill.

Meekan, I hope you knew I loved and cherished you exactly as you were. Thank you for making me feel that way, too.

Themeemees now officially signing off.

Love clarifies.

While humility and mutual accountability are essential, it is crucial to “put your hope in God” FIRST.

Not humans.

Not institutions.

Not programs.

You don’t owe anyone an explanation for your decisions and how you choose to live your life.

I understand this one thing about the algorithm: every like, every comment, every article, every second you spend on the videos or reels that pass your timeline, create patterns.

Your rants, your raves, your highlights, every one of those are stored.

I admire how one married celebrity shared that she and her husband separated for 6 months but nobody knew. THAT is a superpower.

What is more noteworthy is the fact that even when they separated, neither of them dated other people.

When they got back together for the sake of their child, they both admitted they had “no feelings” for each other anymore. Yet they decided to try again.

Today their marriage is much, much better. She’s humble enough to attribute it to the LORD – not because of a support group or any human being.

Don’t get me wrong. Sharing accountability, fellowship, and giving others the opportunity to bear your burdens with you is God’s design for His church.

However, will the people you share your burdens with truly pray for you? Or will they simply prey on your vulnerability?

The Bible says “Love protects”; “A wife must not separate from her husband”; “God hates divorce.”

How does a married person obey God when it becomes painful to stay?

If your marriage feels heavy today yet you desire to obey God, to “remain in Him”, this is for you.

If you’re feeling unloved, tired, unseen, unappreciated, disrespected, neglected and you think being away from your spouse, even temporarily, would help, this is for you.

“Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Pray FIRST. Then talk with your spouse.

Not your bestie.

Not your churchmates.

Not your family of origin.

Not your children.

And certainly not your in-laws.

Your spouse IS your primary accountability partner. Pray for each other, pray with each other. Communicate.

NEVER disclose your marital issues to anyone outside of it, especially on the internet space because the devil feasts on the algorithm.

Protect your spouse even when you’re annoyed. Zip your lips when you have nothing good to say about him or her. Your husband or your wife is NOT your enemy.

Put your hope in God! In Him, you never have to suffer alone.

God’s love protects you. His love disciplines you. His love never fails and His love clarifies His design: what God has put together, let no man separate.

Let’s pray.

Father God, when our marriage feels more like a bed of nails than a bed of roses, help us to trust that You have called us to keep our marriage bed pure and undefiled.

We acknowledge that You have put us together for Your purpose and Your glory. Protect us from pride and deceit and help us to love each other as You love us: faithfully, unconditionally, wholeheartedly. Though it’s a bit blurry, may our marriage be a picture of your covenant-keeping love with Your people. Help us to be humble. Help us to trust and serve each other, and may our children see, know and love Jesus through our lives. Your faithful love endures forever, Father God. Help us to enjoy Your love together. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Come Holy Spirit. Amen.