Hush, hush my mind

Sharing some parts of my quiet time for today (Matthew 24; Luke 21; Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:2-10).

Ongoing war in Israel. Families and children being killed left and right.

Earthquake this morning at 8:24am.

A Filipino “drag queen” who used ‘Ama Namin’ in a party (and said ‘Thank you for coming to church’ after the performance) got jailed but is receiving tremendous financial and “moral” support.

I think news can either be alarming or sobering, burdensome or encouraging, depending on how I perceive and receive it.

Matthew 24:8 says “All these are the beginning of birth pains.”

I need to continually sort thru whatever I read, watch or listen to, and file them into little compartments or bin them out.

It can be overwhelming to think about what I’m thinking about. It drains me.

If things were all up to me, I could probably cocoon myself to death.

But as a wife and a mom, I cannot do that.

Giving birth (even with epidural) is painful, messy, beautiful.

The LORD prompts me to pray. He admonishes me that His Word is true. That He is a shield to all who find refuge in Him.

And yes, be transformed by the continual renewing of my mind.

Mental health is possible when the mind is filled not with news but with the truth of God’s Word.

A joyful perspective is possible when I am heavenly-minded.

Weekday Getaway

Our little one woke up almost as soon as I was ready to get outside.

Those purple flowers open each morning then close in the evening. Do you know what they’re called?
The ‘mountain cat’ welcomed us the previous night and greeted us in the morning. Kitty lingered until we checked out.
We were a bit early for breakfast.

When our little one was told that lumpiang shanghai (spring rolls) weren’t available, the threenager replied, “No problem.” The restaurant manager smiled.

The breakfast didn’t sit well with our little guy’s tummy but that didn’t stop us from having a great day still!

We explored the Pueblo del Amor field and gathered dried leaves for our online playgroup that Thursday.

Mt. Malarayat paints a picturesque venue for team building or family outdoor exercises.
Makahiya or Touch Me Not plant. Various studies show these are medicinal.
They have a barn!
Tractor driver pretend play.
The day’s canvas.

Nature has a way of inspiring us to be a better version of ourselves. It invites one to slow down and reflect on the things that really matter.

Pueblo del Amor not only inspired and recharged me; it reminded me of the kind of adventures I’d like our family to have. I’d surely love to go back.

A Life of Art

Your life without a computer: what does it look like?

Art comes in various forms.

I am not an expert on art, I am not an expert on anything except my own life.

With its many twists and turns, life they say imitates art but in reality, art imitates life.

The greatest Artist I know is an expert on sunsets and sunrises.

His canvas? The whole of creation.

And that includes you and me.

Have you ever considered yourself a canvas? If you haven’t until today, this is something true about you: you are God’s masterpiece.

Yes, you are.

Before you were even a tiny dot in your mother’s womb, He already knew you.

He has determined the dates of your birth and death and where you’ll live.

He knows exactly how many strands of hair are on your head. He doesn’t mind what style or color you flaunt it with, or if you shed it all. He loves you.

He created you and I to create.

And to create, I must.

I build as I become.

I write even when He’s already written all there is I need to learn.

Without AI or a computer, perhaps my life would be much slower. Quieter.

I wouldn’t be able to go a million miles beyond the confines of my home and perhaps some nearby beaches.

I’ll be practicing more of calligraphy and my native alphabet.

I’ll probably have more time cultivating a garden or perusing books, smelling its pages, each turn like music to my ears while my mind watches the text come alive.

Perhaps I’ll be at the shoreline each day and never miss a single sunrise and sunset for the rest of my days.

I can paint alone or let the Master paint on me. Let Him color me with His love.

And as He colors me, I will become colorblind to mankind’s differences and marvel at the one thing that connects us all.

It isn’t a rainbow. It isn’t a microchip. It isn’t a digital imprint.

It’s the blood He shed thousands of years ago, for you and I, and even for those who are yet to be born.