Farm Life

Last Sunday my family and I went to our grandparents' for a visit and to celebrate Easter with them. I'll be posting photos of my grandparents later, first I want to show you what I saw on the farm. I live in a city and these got me all excited. :)

I missed this calf. He's only a couple of months old. Last time I saw him he was half his size. He's really friendly and playful, and loves to eat vegetables so they have to keep him away from the vegetable garden. Haha!

Here's a hen with her chicks. She laid and hatched her eggs in the neighbor's property. They locked her up and claimed her as her own. My grandmother fought for her and eventually got her back. My abuela is one tough cookie. :)

A crown fit for a queen.

/

Can you now guess what this is?

A baby pineapple. :)

Whom Do You Seek?

Text: John 20:11-18, Jeremiah 29:13

Mary.

She looked for Jesus even after she saw that the tomb was empty. I could only imagine what she felt at the time. Maybe she was afraid that her Teacher's body was stolen. I could imagine that she was confused. I could imagine that she had little understanding of what was happening. Peter and John reached and inspected the empty tomb, they believed and went back home. Mary Magdalene stayed and looked for Jesus. She did not know what was happening at the time, she did not know that the Son of Man must die but will rise again on the third day after his death. She looked for Him and found Him.

God does not hide from us. If we seek Him we shall find Him.

I love the prophet Jeremiah's letter to the captives in Babylon. Hebrews that were taken from their homes, their families, their country. They might have felt terribly alone, fearful, and sorrowful. But here is what the Lord told them through Jeremiah:

I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me. I will let you find me.” This message is from the Lord. “And I will bring you back from your captivity. I forced you to leave this place. But I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have sent you,” says the Lord, “and I will bring you back to this place.” (Jeremiah 29:11-14 ERV)

  Not everything or everyone we seek will give us hope. He is our hope. We can trust Him for He has plans for us, plans that will prosper us and not hurt us. When we don't understand let us seek our Lord with all our hearts, and we shall find Him.

He Is Risen!

I am so excited to start this new plan from She Reads Truth. 

I can hardly wait. :) 

I hope you join us. :)

Day 8: Alive!

Text: Luke 24:1-12; 1 Corinthians 15; Isaiah 25:6-9; Matthew 28

I am so excited that I do not know exactly where to start. Participating in this Holy Week plan for the lenten season by She Reads Truth has been very meaningful to me. The texts from the Bible in this plan are not new to me and yet, in some amazing and awesome way, they are. I just feel that the Holy Spirit is with me in this, teaching me new things, bringing to light truths that I have taken for granted. I have been guilty of not finishing plans, but I am so happy that I stuck with this. And it isn't really something so hard to do. I feel the love that the SRT community has. I feel welcome, even though I don't comment often. And I learned a lot. Thank you, sisters.

I have been waiting for Easter to come! The devotionals each day for this week has been leading to today - the climax! He is risen! He is alive! My heart is overwhelmed with so much joy that we are a witness of this event, this truth. The gospel is true!

We need not be afraid of death anymore. Our faith has meaning because He lives! 

But let me tell you something wonderful, a mystery I’ll probably never fully understand. We’re not all going to die— but we are all going to be changed. You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes—it’s over. On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At the same moment and in the same way, we’ll all be changed. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal.

 Then the saying will come true: Death swallowed by triumphant Life! Who got the last word, oh, Death? Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?

 It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God! (1 Corinthians 15:51-57 MSG)

 You can stop searching the graveyard for the hope, the love, the life you long for. HE IS ALIVE.

Resurrection Sunday is more than the miracle of a man coming back to life.
It is the fulfillment of a promise.
It is the irremovable seal on God’s vow of love to His children.
It is the resurrection of hope.
It is the definitive declaration that the Love we long for is not dead. ~ She Reads Truth

Day 7: Silence

                                   For if we have been united with him in a death like his, 

                             we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 

                                                               - Romans 6:5, ESV

Day 6: Finished

Text: Isaiah 53:4-11, John 19:16b-37, John 3:16

In a sham of a trial with an unjust verdict, He shows us that this is how God intended for His only Son to be sentenced. What they meant for evil, God meant for good. John shows us God – working out His purposes in this poor, fallen world. In a situation where God seems to be completely absent, He has been present for ages. 

And when Christ breathes His final words before His death, “It is finished,” He not only indicates that the worst ordeal – bearing the wrath of God against sin in the place of His people (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) – is literally over, He has also completed the work of salvation for His people. ~ She Reads Truth

He did it all. It is finished. Paid in full. He has delivered us. We are set free. For whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Unimaginable. For my King to die for me, a sinner, to ransom me. I can't begin to fathom this. I can't understand why He would do such a thing for me.How great is His love for you and me. Lord, I am ever so grateful.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17). He is the answer to what we are looking for.

It is the worst and best of all human deaths. For on this tree he bears our sins in his body (1 Peter 2:24), “the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). And now it is finished. ~ Desiring God

Day 5: Denial

Text: Mark 14:26-31, Luke 22:54-62, John 18:10, John 21:17

Like Peter, I fall short. It is only by God's grace that I can stand. Still He calls me friend, daughter. There is nothing like His love, there is none like Him.

The same Peter who denied Christ three times is the one God used to help establish the early Church. 

As you seek the Lord in the coming days in preparation for Easter Sunday, remember God’s great love for Peter. He was a disciple – a great friend to Christ – and yet he fell short. Very short. And Christ loved him still – and called him to do great work for His Kingdom! 

Isn’t God good to show us over and over again, even amidst the trial of His Son, that He loves us? 

When we are weak, He is strong. And He wants to use us in the great outworking of His plan for His glory! ~ She Reads Truth

Day 4: The Betrayal

Text: Psalm 41:9, Matthew 26:47-56

Judas betrayed Jesus, and yet Jesus called him friend. It is just like our Lord to teach us to respond in love even in His darkest hour. This truth humbles me. This is a lesson I find so hard to learn and to practice. I often feel that I need to be justified whenever I feel that I an wronged. I seldom respond in love when I am irked. I often respond in impatience, sometimes in anger.

I forget that I too have my Judas moments. 

It's remarkable to point out that the price for which Judas betrayed Jesus was 30 pieces of silver, about a month's wage. How many times have I chosen work over Jesus? How many times have I pushed Him aside and chose myself?

Still He calls me friend...

And in His love He honored His Father, just as He had promised through sweaty, bloody tears in Gethsemane. Christ’s submission to the Father’s omnipotent hand was unwavering.

In His love – not just for Judas and not only for the Father, but for us – He was led to His trial. And He was sentenced to death.

Your betrayals and mine – His blood covers it all. And He calls us “friend.” ~ She Reads Truth

Day 2: The Temple

Text: Isaiah 56:7-8, Jeremiah 7:8-11, Matthew 21:10-17, Luke 19:45-48

"After Jesus tosses out those who would pervert the temple of God into a temple of wealth and greed and convenience, He does something revolutionary: He invites the Least inside." ~ She Reads Truth

 Matthew 21:14 is a verse I have overlooked so many times. After Jesus threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling, then there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus and He healed them.

"The blind, the lame, the children all come in and Jesus welcomes them, heals them, confirms their place among Him. He cleared out those who profaned the temple and ushered in those who humbly sought after God." ~ She Reads Truth

And are we not God's temple? Are not our bodies His temple?

 Lord, I pray that you take out the robber, the thief in me. Humble me and cleanse me, Lord, that You may use me as a channel of your love for the people around me. I know, Father, that You use vessels no matter how broken they are just as long as they are clean. Cleanse me, Lord. Please use me. Amen.

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1

Day 1: Holy Week: Hosanna

My heart is fickle. I love the Lord with all my heart but my heart is fickle. Even in loving Him I fail to do so perfectly. Only by grace, only by grace can I offer my feeble praises. It's not about me loving and praising Him. It's about Him loving us and offering us salvation no matter how weak our heart and faith is. How great is our God! 

"When our hearts betray us like the crowds eventually betrayed our Lord – He still saves. 
Hosanna in the highest! Salvation belongs to our God." ~ SheReadsTruth

Text: Matthew 21:1-11, Psalm 118:19-29, Revelation 7:9-12

Holy Week

"Let us be wrecked, be changed, and find ourselves in humble worship of our Savior." ~SRT

Easter is coming!

11 Years of Friendship

Tums' mini me. :)

That rare moment that I can be included in a photograph. :)

Some photographs are more beautiful in black & white.

I love candid shots. :)

Is that a grimace?

Why so serious?

Stethoscope?

Our neurosurgeon receiving updates from his minion, er, junior.

I have to change the settings in my camera, too much blurring on the sides...

Selfie... :)

I just love love love large windows, natural light, and happy smiles that reach the eyes. :)

And this is how you hide double chins if you do not k now Photoshop. :)

Those dimples...

Isaiah 53:5

I am so awestruck and humbled by how much God loves us all. We did not choose Him, He chose us. And while we were not yet born, not yet sinners, He died for our sins. For you. For me. He made a way for us to get out of the mess we are in long before we knew we needed Him. There is nothing like His love. His grace is truly amazing. Be glorified, Lord.

Spring Has Sprung

No, we do not have spring.

No, we do not have cherry blossoms.

But we do have bougainvillea! 🌸💕🌸💕🌸💕

Anchor

Anchor (Mindy Gledhill)

When all the world is spinning round

Like a red balloon way up in the clouds

and my feet will not stay on the ground

You anchor me back down

I am nearly world renowned

As a restless soul who always skips town

But I look for you to come around

And anchor me back down

There are those who think that I'm strange

They would box me up, and tell me to change

But you hold me close and softly say

That you wouldn't have me any other way

When people pin me as a clown

You behave as though I'm wearing a crown

When I'm lost I feel so very found

When you anchor me back down

There are those who think that I'm strange

They would box me up, and tell me to change

But you hold me close and softly say

That you wouldn't have me any other way

When all the world is spinning round

Like a red balloon way up in the clouds

and my feet will not stay on the ground

You anchor me back down

Who's The Boss?

Meet the catfather. Or is it the fatfather? 😜

Thoughtfulness Makes Me Happy

I was pulling another all-nighter last night, slaving away doing what I should have done last year - completing the requirements for my board certification exams - when the boyfriend offered to give me a break.

He took me to The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf which was only about 10 minutes away from where I'm staying. I got to stretch my legs and relax for a little while.

I just love the unexpected respite.

I love you! :)

Can You Be Happy For 100 Straight Days?

Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. (John 10:6-10 MSG)

Yesterday I joined the #100HappyDays challenge. It's been going on for a while now, and I'm joining the band wagon. Yippee! I think it's a great idea. We have so much to be #grateful for and #happy about. Let's start counting our #blessings.  You can visit 100happydays.com for more details. 

These two fellas here are Sherlock (the Basset Hound) and Bingo (the Aspin, as in Asong Pinoy!) aren't they adorable?