… twenty eight years and forever, through God's amazing grace
Being face to face with the legendary Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris was such an exhilarating experience. Although I was surprised at how small the scale of the painting was compared to the other enormous masterpieces; yet her demure face just elicited that poignant moment touching the soul with such an overwhelming joy.
let’s face the challenge … join Sue’s a word a week
The earth merged to water …
and fire to the wind.
feeling alive at Ailsa’s travel theme challenge for the week!
Reading a book is like an escape from the usual of everyday life. Once one is tangled in the written word where stories are related and lived, reality seems to take a backseat and the unfolding drama concludes as real.
Yet, there is one book that I ultimately escape to and find my niche of peace and solitude …
share a picture that means escape to you …
Each one was geared for the trip. No matter how different or how eclectic … each heart was united in the thought and excitement of a new venue to explore and realize the dream of another family escapade.
The Gota Village in the Caramoan Peninsula was a forty-five minute plane ride but the long trip of more than four hours over land and water was grueling. The season we decided to take on the adventure was a poor choice because it was rainy and there were only glimpses of sunshine kissing the beach holiday good-bye leaving it bleak and drab.
But the whole week of travel in the Bicol region, commencing at the Gota was still acclaimed as perfect … somehow, but God’s awesome grace, we remained grateful for the opportunity of travel even in miserable circumstances.
Let me share two beautiful perspectives of the village where we stayed … imprints of how God stamped our family time worthy of meaning and inspiration, HIS love always imminent.
A rustic countryside on the way home to the city. Bob and I were serenely enjoying the ride, taking on the breath-taking view of the province north of Manila. The silhouetted mountain backdrop complemented the greenery of the landscape making the entire vista a sight to behold.
Mountains, in the natural sense, is the large heap of land mass with sloping sides meant to protect an area from weather forces. As I read, they are pushed up as the tectonic plates shift, piling up heaps and forming these ranges.
In a deeper reflection, mountains are formed in our everyday struggles. They can be viewed as obstacles or challenges to be hurdled and in the end, survived. As I spoke my heart in Ailsa’s prompt, let me reiterate my sentiments:
Beyond the mountains of everyday grind,
We should see the Lord and not be blind.
Traversing only the pathway,
That leads to HIM never astray.
Trust is a word that is very difficult to embody in a photograph because it is like a figment, an illusion that is never tangible. Yet, what better defining moment can TRUST be shown or felt, but in a sanctified experience like a wedding day.
Of course, the team of a bride and groom has their years ahead to embark on a journey based on trust. There are those who fail to uphold the conviction; yet, in forgiveness another chance at happiness is always pursued. But there are more who just give up and trust no more.
Life in marriage is a trust intensified understanding between two people in love, but because of our sinful bent, it is more often jeopardized. The hope in a third person, who can and will factor in the faith of trustworthiness, is in the being of the Lord Jesus. In this regard, then and only then will the resolve of trust becomes less of an illusion or a figment but transcends into a reality … for always.
… join us in FrizzText’s short reflection/story tagged T
In Corinthians 5, verse 18:
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (NLT)
There are many things that hinder our life from becoming more meaningful because they are worldly. They are ultimately beneficial to us because it gives us a better chance to enjoy life. But do these things really do?
If taken away, will they still make us joyful?
If given away, will they still make us feel fulfilled?
Most times when troubles happen because we are seemingly lacking, we despair. We forget that our lives are temporary; thus, our troubles and problems are the same. Why not make these burdens allow us to look beyond them and fix our gaze on what is to come hinged on our eternal freedom of pure joy in the Lord. In humility, we can make these setbacks as stepping stones to trust God so that our vision will focus on seeing HIM as the perfecter of our faith and the purpose of our life.
Nature acts as a pattern for art.
The details of the innate form or contour of a created being or thing serve as a blueprint for the expression of art. Most inspirations come from the enjoyment of something seen as beautiful on a glimpse or viewed in awe. A pattern is a reflection of what our eyes see translated to what our hearts say.
share a picture which means PATTERN to you!
It is indeed a sign that my wish had come true! I have for the longest time hoped to embark on an adventure that is so different from what Bob and I are used to … which is an island escapade. Then, God upheld my heart’s desire, HE granted me a grand journey.
This particular signage said it all!
join us for more fun fotos at Cee’s challenge …
