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A steady Hope through the storms of life

March 19, 2025 Merlin Gonzales blog, Message No comments

The first two months of 2025 will remain etched in my heart forever.

My heart is heavy…

and it must be.

It feels like the weight of the world is pressing down,

and maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be right now.

My heart aches, and it has to.

Yesterday, I received a brief letter from a dear friend with this quote: “When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.” In these past few weeks, I’ve found myself reliving every precious moment with my parents. Now, they are more than memories, they are treasures forever engraved in my soul.

The waves of emotion, the ebbs and flows, have left their mark on my spirit. The sorrow, the grief, they’re not things I can run from.

They demand to be felt, to be carried…

something sacred in the pain…

the pain that leaves scars that cannot be ignored.

Yet, through the prayers, the cards, and the heartfelt messages from friends and loved ones, I’ve been carried from one stage of my soul’s journey to another.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

There is indescribable comfort in God’s presence, a steady hope that holds us through the storms of life. He grants us strength and gently reminds us of His unwavering promises, even when everything feels uncertain. Despite the heartache, confusion, and unanswerable questions, I cling to the truth that God is with me in every step of this journey.

I hold on to the living hope in Christ, a hope that will be forever etched in my heart, guiding me through this pilgrimage.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” – Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)

To you my friends, families and loved ones, thank you for being there with me and my family. Your thoughts and support provided me strength and healing.

God bless you!

Merlin

Unimaginable truth

March 4, 2025 Merlin Gonzales a Study on God's Dominion, KIOM, Latest News No comments

It was only 43 days, from January 16th to February 28th, 2025.

They are with Him now

Just 43 short days between losing my father and my mother. It felt surreal—impossible, even. My mind couldn’t fathom the weight of it. “This can’t be happening,” I whispered to myself, barely holding on to the last conversation I’d had with her just two days before. Yet, here I was, standing on the edge of an unimaginable truth.

I wept until my body ached and there were no more tears left to cry. My heart, heavy with sorrow, was plagued with endless questions. How can I possibly accept this? Where do I run from this unbearable truth? The grief consumed me, and in the silence of my brokenness, I turned to God with every doubt and question I could muster.

And then, God whispered back: “This is not about you but about them and Me.”

I felt a strange, sudden stillness. In my anguish, I was reminded of the words from Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart.” It was a small comfort, knowing my parents’ lives were ordained long before my heartache. But the pain still lingered, sharp and relentless.

My relationship with God became raw, exposed in ways I hadn’t known before. I was weak, unable to navigate this on my own. There was no one left to shield me from the storm. I realized then that this was a journey I now had to walk with God first… then with my loved ones and friends.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

Every day felt fragile, a reminder of the fleeting nature of life. But I also felt the depth of God’s love more than ever. Each breath, each moment, was a gift from the One who created us in His image. His love would never fail, not even now.

Journey Through the Tunnel: Pathway to Promotion

February 15, 2025 Merlin Gonzales a Study on God's Dominion, KIOM

A tunnel to promotion…

This past year, I have been crying out to God for many hours every day. I’ve prayed, worshiped, read the Word, and soaked in sermons; I worked hard as well. I sought the Lord with all my heart, and just as David did, I have strengthened myself in Him. I’ve experienced dark times before, like when I was betrayed by one of FHL’s partners. It was a season filled with despair, but God turned it around.

Running away

In 1 Samuel 22, we see King David hiding in a cave, fleeing from King Saul, though David had done nothing wrong. Saul’s jealousy drove him to try to take David’s life. Yet, amid this trial, David found strength in the Lord.

King David hiding from King Saul

David went hiding and his family and many others joined him—those who were in distress, debt, or discontented—and he became their commander. “All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.” – 1 Samuel 22:2 (NIV)

To the darkest cave

The organization I founded, Faith Hope and Love Community is in some kind of distress and debt and discontented. It has been challenging but God has a way of bringing transformation from the darkest caves, and I believe I am about to see that transformation unfold.

The experience I am dealing with currently is nothing compared to King David’s. I can only imagine the immense stress and persecution David must have endured from every side. In his desperation to escape from Saul, he found refuge in the land of the Philistines—Israel’s enemy. Despite this, David’s loyalty earned him the trust of Achish, the son of the King of Gath. As a result, Achish gifted David the city of Ziklag. Together with his army, David fought many battles for the Philistines, achieving great victories (1 Sam. 27-28).

Moments of rejection

But then came the moment when the Philistines prepared for war against Israel. David and his men were ready to fight, but the majority of the Philistine leaders rejected him, fearing that David might turn against them in battle (1 Sam. 29). In an instant, David found himself rejected—not just by Saul and his own country, but now even by the Philistines.

When David and his army returned to Ziklag, what they found shook them to their core. Smoke filled the air over their city. “David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way“ 1 Sam. 30:1-2, (NIV). David’s men were so devastated that they even talked of stoning him. But, in the face of despair, “David found strength in the Lord his God“ 1 Sam. 30:6 (NIV).

Victory Awaits Those Who Believe

I urge you to do the same—to continue strengthening yourself in the Lord, as David did countless times. And just as David inquired of God, you too must seek Him for guidance. 1 Samuel 30:18-19 says, “David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken… Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back.”

FHL’s journey, like mine, is filled with testimonies of God’s unwavering faithfulness. There were times I went without a salary for six months, on the brink of losing my home and facing bankruptcy—but God always made a way.

About David… after all the trials, rejections and even on a brink of mutiny, the next scene of his life was becoming King. And if you read further, the foundation of his kingdom was built by the”mighty men of David” – who in the past were distressed, in debt and discontented.

You are on the Pathway to Promotion

It is our obligation to encourage one another. Though you’ve been on your Journey Through the Tunnel of challenges, God has been using this time to strengthen you so you can carry the weight of the promotion that’s coming. You may need to adjust—not according to your own plans, but to God’s. No matter what, do not lose heart! God’s promises never fail—for each one of us. Your breakthrough is coming. Strengthen yourself in the Lord! The question is, “Do you believe?”

Is It God’s Will or Just My Own Desire?

January 3, 2025 Merlin Gonzales a Study on God's Dominion

I have this issue…

Maybe you’re struggling with it too.

How do you know you’re truly on the path God has for you?

How do you know you’re truly on the path God has for you? You trust in His promises, but doubts creep in—”Am I just making this up?” or “Is this really from God?” Sometimes, it’s hard to discern if the voice you’re hearing is God’s or just your thoughts. And you wonder, will the answer come now or in the distant future?

Uncertainty clouds your mind. And in moments of challenge, these questions often become the core of our faith journey.

Let’s dive into Deuteronomy 30:9-14, where God offers clarity and reassurance about His will, promises, and our path forward.

“9 Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors, 10 if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” –

God gives the Israelites a clear promise of blessing, prosperity, and favor, along with a commandment to obey His word. (Prosperity is not limited to financial abundance, though that may be part of it).

The Promise:

Verse 9 emphasizes God’s desire to make His people prosperous in all areas of life. This includes:

The work of their hands (their labor and efforts will be fruitful).
The fruit of the womb (their families will thrive and multiply).
Their livestock and crops (their livelihoods will flourish and provide abundance).

God’s blessings are comprehensive—He wants to bless their work, their families, and their land. The phrase “The Lord will again delight in you” is a powerful reminder that God longs to have a deep, joyful relationship with His people, as He did with their ancestors. He delights in blessing those who obey Him.

The Condition:

Verse 10 tells us a condition. Obedience is the key. God desires not just surface-level compliance but wholehearted devotion—obeying Him with all your heart and soul. This means a deep, sincere commitment to follow His ways and live according to His will. The blessing is not automatic; it requires a turning of the heart, a commitment to live by the commandments given in the Book of the Law.

The Simplicity of Obedience:

When God gives us command, we also provides us ways to accomplish His will. In verses 11-14, God is reassuring the Israelites that His word is accessible and close to them. The commands are:

Not in heaven (so they don’t have to send someone to fetch them).
Not beyond the sea (so they don’t have to travel far to understand them).

Instead, God’s word is already with them. “The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” This means they already know what to do—the commandments are present within them, the ability to obey is within their grasp… and the promises are sure.

Is it God’s will or is it our own desire?

I hope this short exposition of the passages gives us more clarity and builds our faith: God desires to bless His people, but these blessings are tied to their obedience and their wholehearted devotion to Him. The commandments are not meant to be a burden or an unattainable goal. Rather, they are near, familiar, and possible to live out daily.

In essence, God is showing that obedience leads to blessing, and this obedience is not out of reach. It’s not a distant or impossible task—it is simple, close, and achievable through the heart’s willingness to follow Him.

True clarity often emerges in the darkest moments.

God’s promises are sure, and when we obey His word, we align ourselves with the flow of His blessing, favor, and delight. The fulfillment of His promises—prosperity, joy, and abundance—are always contingent upon our choice to live according to His will with all of our heart and soul.

Your 7th Day is Coming!

December 27, 2024 Merlin Gonzales a Study on God's Dominion

“Prayer changes things” is something we often hear. And while it’s true, there are moments in life when it feels far from true.

Have you ever found yourself praying day and night, pouring your heart out over something incredibly important. You wait in anticipation, your prayers brimming with hope— only to be met with what seems like silence from God. I know this uneasy feeling well, I’ve been there countless times.

Bright hopes for the New Year

Bright future is ahead

As the New Year approaches, many of us carry our prayer requests in our hearts. We long for change—better relationships, a better-paying job, improved health, vacation to an exotic place, perhaps even a new car. We make our resolutions, hoping the new year will bring the breakthrough we’ve been praying for. But, month after month, nothing seems to change.

It’s hard, and the waiting feels endless!

Keep the Faith

Yet, in the midst of all this, there’s a deeper lesson in patience, perseverance, and trust in God’s perfect timing. Sometimes, His quietness is preparing us for something greater than we imagined. Hold on… even when it feels like nothing is moving—because God is working behind the scenes in ways you can’t yet see.

Preposterous

In Joshua Chapter 6, the Israelites, under Joshua’s leadership, prepare to capture the heavily fortified city of Jericho. God gives Joshua unusual instructions for how to conquer the city: for six days, the Israelite army is to quietly march around the city once each day, led by seven priests carrying trumpets made of rams’ horns. After the first day, nothing happens—the walls remain the same, and there is no visible progress or sign of victory. This same exasperating experience happened for the next several days, things look as it was before, nothing appears to change but they continued to quietly march with their seemingly blind faith.

For nearly a week, Joshua and his people had marched silently around the walls of Jericho, doing exactly what they were told, but nothing happened. They might have felt ridiculous, walking in circles, with their enemies taunting them from the safety of the walls. With each passing day, it seemed more and more hopeless. Back at camp, the murmurs could have grown louder. People may have secretly questioning Joshua’s leadership, wondering if he really had a handle on things.

Maybe even Joshua shared those doubts, feeling the weight of disappointment pressing in. Perhaps his mind raced, questioning whether he had truly heard from God. He may have been replaying every step, every prayer, wondering if he’d gotten it wrong. Doubts, like whispers, might have filled his heart—what if he misunderstood? What if they had just wasted six days? What if the enemy was laughing at them, secure in the thought that the Israelites’ God had abandoned them?

But despite the questions and the potential for discouragement, Joshua remained faithful. He trusted God, even when the plan didn’t make sense.

The shift

Then came the seventh day, and the plan shifted. Joshua might have thought to himself, “Did God change His mind? Maybe the first six days were a mistake.”

Nothing is impossible with God

Despite it, the Israelites march around Jericho seven times, and at the end of the seventh lap, the priests blow their trumpets, and the people shout loudly. Suddenly, the unthinkable happened – the walls of Jericho collapse completely, allowing the Israelites to charge into the city and claim victory!

This miraculous event emphasizes that God’s timing and plan were perfect, even though it may have seemed like nothing was happening during the first agonizing six days. On the seventh day, with obedience and faith, the walls came down, showing that God’s power can bring sudden and total victory at the right moment.

Your seventh day is coming

Just like the Israelites who marched around Jericho, when things don’t seem to make sense and everything feels stagnant, remember—God is working behind the scenes. In those moments of waiting, He’s building something deeper in us, strengthening our faith and teaching us to trust fully in Him. He calls us to surrender our future into His hands.

Your seventh day is coming! Keep persevering in prayer and continue to walk in His steps. The hope He gives will never disappoint, and His promises are sure. He has not forgotten you!

Sometime it just take another step

I am praying for you. As the new year approaches, choose to believe in the power of prayer and obedience, even when you can’t see the results. That “suddenly” you’ve been waiting for could be closer than you think—greater than you ever imagined. Keep looking forward, keep digging, keep the faith because your seventh day is just around the corner! Pray, be strong and courageous… believe.

Happy New Year and God bless you!

Merlin