All posts tagged: Christ

A steady Hope through the storms of life

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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)

A serene, peaceful scene depicting the contrast between night and morning. On one side, a dark, starry night with a lone figure kneeling, looking weary and sorrowful, representing the weeping that endures through the night. On the other side, the warm glow of dawn breaking over the horizon, with soft golden light illuminating a peaceful landscape. The figure is now standing with a slight smile, arms raised to the sky, symbolizing the joy that comes in the morning. In the background, soft rays of sunlight touch blooming flowers and a gentle stream, signifying renewal and hope.

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

 

 

 

Merlin GonzalesA steady Hope through the storms of life
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Unimaginable truth

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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.

 

 

Merlin GonzalesUnimaginable truth
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Laptop from Heaven

On December 10, 2024, I had another spiritual encounter—one that tested my faith and taught me about trust in the unseen.

That afternoon, I had returned home after running errands at a hardware store. As I unloaded my purchases, I made a startling discovery: my laptop case, which I always carry with me due to the important information stored inside, was missing. Panic set in immediately. I frantically retraced my steps, remembering that I never leave my laptop in my vehicle. Surely, it must have been lost somewhere between the checkout counter and my vehicle.

As I unloaded my purchases, I made a startling discovery: my laptop case, which I always carry with me due to the important information stored inside, was missing. Panic set in immediately. I frantically retraced my steps, remembering that I never leave my laptop in the car.

I quickly called the store, hoping someone had turned in a laptop case. But their response was disheartening: no one had reported finding one. Filled with anxiety, I drove back to the store to check for myself.

When I arrived at the Customer Service desk, they confirmed what I feared: no sign of my laptop case. Determined not to give up, I scoured the entire parking lot, examining every cart in sight. But despite my efforts, the case—and my laptop—was nowhere to be found. Throughout the day, I called the store multiple times, hoping for good news. Each time, the answer was the same: no, nothing had been turned in.

Desperate, I decided to file a police report. The detective assigned to my case was empathetic and assured me he would do everything in his power to find out what had happened. He even followed up several times to gather more details. His concern brought some comfort, but the worry still gnawed at me.

Later that night, I managed to reach the store manager. He told me that the police had already contacted him, and he had alerted all of his employees to keep an eye out. He promised to let me know if anything turned up.

That night was agonizing. I spent hours remotely clearing sensitive files, trying to protect my personal and business accounts from potential identity theft. My mind raced as I considered the implications of losing so much valuable information. Sleep was elusive, as I battled with thoughts of what could happen.

The next morning, I woke up with my mind still in turmoil. Yet, amidst the chaos, I held onto the words of Jesus: “Do not worry.” I repeated this to myself over and over, convincing myself that somehow, everything would be alright. I didn’t know how, but I trusted that it would.

An hour after arriving at my office, the phone rang. My heart skipped a beat when I saw that it was the hardware store calling. I just knew they had found my laptop. Sure enough, the voice on the other end confirmed it—the case had been located.

Later that afternoon, I rushed back to the store with a mixture of hope and relief. As I walked down the aisle, I spotted a woman approaching me, her face warm with a smile—and in her hands was my laptop case. In that moment, all the anxiety and fear melted away. I thanked her profusely and asked where they had found it. She explained that an employee had discovered the case late the previous night, abandoned in a cart at the back of the store. I smiled and, overwhelmed with gratitude, said, “I believe in miracles.” She grinned and responded softly, “Merry Christmas.

Standing there, holding my laptop, I felt more than just relief. I was reminded that, even in the most uncertain and worrisome moments, there’s a greater plan at work—one that I may not always see, but I can trust.

In the days that followed, I spent time in conversation with the Lord, reflecting on why He allowed this to happen and what lessons I needed to learn. As I thought about the sequence of events, it seemed impossible that a person collecting carts could have missed my laptop case. The store had been thoroughly searched, every employee notified, and even the police had gotten involved. Yet, despite all that, the case was found.

I choose to believe that God returned my laptop, whether it had been stolen or simply left behind. The most curious part is that I cannot clearly remember whether I left it in the cart or if someone took it while I was shopping. What I do know is that my prayers changed the outcome, and God showed me favor in how the story ended.

This was not the first time such an incident had occurred. It was the third. On each occasion, something I had lost was returned to me, always with details too unexplainable to ignore. There is no doubt in my heart that divine intervention is real.

Praise God, and I am grateful to the angels who assist and protect me.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thank You, Jesus!

Merlin GonzalesLaptop from Heaven
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Lesson learned from trimming vines

No, this is not about how to trim vines growing on your brick wall.

First of all, it’s a lot of work to have vines growing on your walls. However, it is pretty. My wife always tells me that we have the most gorgeous house in our little community. So, I have a mantra that I recite when trimming the vines… “I love my wife, I love my wife, I love my wife…” This is about life’s application based on simple practical reflection. During Spring, our Boston Ivy grows like the vine at Jack and the Beanstalk. Throughout the years, I have had to trim it at least 4 times! Yesterday, I decided to trim it for the 2nd time this year. I was very meticulous. Then, after I finished the entire trimming, I noticed a small vine that I missed!!

You can be so particular in details and miss the big picture. This is similar in life, we can be so into the nitty-gritty, and in the end, our wasted exhausting emotion was not necessary.

Let’s not go too extreme on this notion. Details are very important in life.

My message is Balance. We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world. It’s ok to be imperfectly perfect. There’s always room for improvement, learning, and acknowledging our humanity. It is more exciting to know that there are always new things to learn as we go through life being imperfect than assuming we have arrived at perfection.

Merlin GonzalesLesson learned from trimming vines
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You are Not the center of it all…

I received a call in September 2021.

It was a surprise call. ” Would you like to go to Israel…, all expenses paid?“, a friend of mine asked. I thought he was kidding! No one would offer someone an all-expenses paid 10-day trip to Israel, especially, I haven’t heard from him for a while.

It was for real!

After exchanging phone calls with my friend, I knew it was for real. However, I tried not to be too excited because it was too good to be true. In spite of my feelings, I went ahead and prepared everything for the trip in December – my passport, my credentials and everything. However, just 2 weeks before we were to depart, the COVID restriction did not allow us to leave.

I was bummed out!

This is not going to happen

I was right“, I said to myself affirming that this trip was not going to happen. I was bummed out nonetheless. Then right after Christmas, my wife and I contracted Covid. Then in late January, my hope was renewed when I received an email from the sponsoring ministry – @IsraelCollective that we are going to Israel on Feb. 7th!

My hopes suddenly raised up to higher expectations!

On Feb. 7th, 2022, I found myself in an airplane en route to New York on to Israel.

At Mt. Of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan Riven and Bethsaida.

Days later, I was taking pictures of the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, Jerusalem, the Temple walls, Bethlehem, etc.

Perhaps I will share with you more of the details of my trip but this blog is not about my trip…

… it is about what God is doing in our lives.

It was not solely about the journey

I believe in popular saying to enjoy the journey. However, after my wonderful journey to the Holy Land, I found out it was not so much about the trip…

… it was about God’s message to me. It was not about the location but about the condition of my heart… about my personal relationship with Jesus. Although I can say that I walked where Jesus walked and proved to myself that there is a Dead Sea and the Mt. of Olives, what hit me the most was “the Jesus in flesh” – the people who chose to be in a land where most people thought it was a peaceful place, a holy place in the earth.

On contrary

Most of us thought Israel is a peaceful place to live. It is not! While I was there, Syrians launched missile to Israel but they intercepted it. We visited the borders of Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip… I can tell you from what I gathered, Israel is in turmoil more than the US. As Steve Khoury, a second generation Pastor of the largest Arab Evangelical church in east Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, wrote in his book, “It the Backyard of Jesus” Close encounters with death haunt me everyday, keeping me in touch with the reality that without Christ my battle is already lost.

However, I felt safe walking alone at night in the small and dark streets of Jerusalem or Tel Aviv than the streets of Indianapolis, the surrounding countries are at war against them. Somehow, the rich history of Israel, mainly the Jews in the Old Testament, the birth of Jesus and the expansion of Christianity, the Muslim conquest of the Levant that led to the submission of Jerusalem in 637-638 AD, the series of religious wars or the Crusade that started in 1099 AD and countless religious, political and cultural interactions, the inhabitants learned to live in diversity.

Our lives

There are random things that happen to our lives and we try our best to fit them in our small boxes. Sometimes we make our judgment based on our limited perception and experience. We live a world where ourselves come first before others. However, the Scripture says we should honor others – It is better to give than to receive, to be first, you have to be the last, treat others as you would want to be treated…

God is the center of the universe, not us.

So in this short  message, I hope that you saw what God is doing in our midst. He is omnipresent and knows what we are going through in our lives. You and I are not the center of the universe… it is God!

Merlin GonzalesYou are Not the center of it all…
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