The Sun Rises in Bangladesh

 It was the biggest sun I've seen!
My camera couldn't capture the sight as we were moving very fast so I used my friend's more advanced camera and though it worked well, still it's nearer and clearer to behold with my naked eye.

 It looked like a red fire ball above the misty green field.
The country's banner then made more sense to me.

Verses came flooding to my mind as I behold such magnificent and powerful thing that could scorch the whole earth!

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
 for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22 (NIV)

 Because of tender o f God's tender mercy, 
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, 
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, 

and to guide us to the path of peace.

Luke 1:78-79 (NLT)

As we drove fast at dawn from Dinajpur down to Khulna for 12 hours,

the sun traveled with us to the extreme side.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 
so great is his love for those who fear him;
 as far as the east is from the west, 
so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 

Psalm 103: 11-12 (NIV)

So, now when I wake up in the morning, I'm reminded that the sun also rises in Bangladesh, 

even more beautifully.

This is How Father Feeds the Birds in My Garden

 

I would have been sad to see the pomegranate in my garden last season had I not understood the ways of the Lord.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,

 yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 

Are you not more valuable than they?

(Matthew 6:26)

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?

Yet no one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

(Matthew 10:29)

\

Slowing Down in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the busiest place in Asia and it's not easy to find a quiet place there to slow down and unwind. Everybody seems running and one can easily go along the flow.

I can feel the rush whenever we visit Hong Kong. Our schedule is always filled and we find ourselves hopping from one train to another.

"Take me to Victoria Harbour." That's my request to my husband whenever we find time between our meetings. It's my favorite place to relax a bit and breathe salty air.

 It's always a crowded place. Many people go there to do the same thing I want to do. Relax and take photos!

"Why am I running?" My friend, one day, stopped and asked herself this question. "I'm not late, and I still have plenty of time." So she started pacing her steps, walking slowly...and then started to run again.

"I don't know how to slow down anymore! " She said this to me with a big sigh.

People in highly wired countries like Hong Kong, where everything is so efficient and convenient, are supposed to have more free time. Supposed but not true. They pay for this convenience and it's not cheap, so they must work harder.

"Time is gold." One friend said. "We cannot afford to waste it."

I'm back in Bangkok , another mega city that never sleeps. Now I'm thinking...what kind of life do I like, a convenient city life or a laid back and quiet life in the province?

Return unto thy rest, O my soul,.... 

(To a quiet and tranquil state after much distress)

for the Lord has been good to you. 

Psalm 116:7

Weeping may last for the night.....

 Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, 

And give thanks to His holy name.

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; 

Weeping may last for the night, 

But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

Isn't it a beautiful truth to know that our trouble and weeping is just for momentary? 

No matter how dark the night is, there's always a morning that follows.

Dh and I had a breakfast at the hotel by this river yesterday morning. That's when this photo was taken. We were to attend an important meeting. It's a gathering of established foundations serving in our host country. Yesterday, we officially became a member of the league of foundations. Dh was called in front of a big audience to receive the certificate. We were full of joy. Though we wept for many dark nights to see this charity foundation coming through, it finally came to pass. And we can only say, God is faithful. God is good!

Here are some of the thoughts I scribbled in my notebook while, at the same time, trying to decipher everything said in the local language:

• Philanthropy is a privilege not only for the rich and influential people nor servanthood only for the lower in rank. 

• Our Foundation is an avenue where people from all levels of society, rich, poor and those in the middle, meet to build a happy community.

My joy is to see more people find their JOY when morning comes.

This is my entry for Scripture & a Snapshot this week.

Thanks to  Katie for hosting this beautiful meme.

Simply Hibiscus

I have five different colors of hibiscus in my garden. And I'm looking forward to adding more colors.

Yesterday, I saw another kind, and it instantly became my most favorite. I love the curls in its petals, and its pink color is so sweet. But it's not for sale....

I used to think that hibiscus is the simplest flower, but after seeing this showy kind, I've changed my mind.

Still, it remains my favorite.

I'm linking this post to the following beautiful memes:

Rose Garden

Who would think of the passing of time when you are on a bed of roses? Well, at least, that's how I felt when dh took me to a rose garden. I come alive when I'm out there, taking a moment to smell a flower.

It's an inexpensive leisure yet the pleasure is priceless.

 Taking photos of flowers is one way of nurturing my "green pasture" within.

Take some time to look at flowers closely.

Nature has it's own way to bring you closer to its Creator.

Thanksgiving

I'm thankful that we were able to go for a family picnic during the weekend. It was rather a spontaneous decision but it worked alright for all of us.

I'm thankful for marrying a family-man who does not only understand the value and importance of spending quality time with our children but also takes delight in it.

I'm thankful for my children who has learned to find contentment in simple things and appreciate the beauty of nature and respect it.

I'm thankful for public parks and places where we can enjoy relaxing time watching birds flying by and feeding fish in the lake.

I'm thankful that amid busyness and mounting concerns, I'm not only staying sane but also having peace within.

Only God can give me these things so my thanksgiving is for Him!

Lantana: My Childhood Flower

It's scent is not pleasant but it brings back happy memories of my childhood. This flower used to fill my basket during Flores de Mayo or May Flower Festival where we throw flowers in the air and sing songs of adoration to God. It was a religious ritual brought by the Spaniards to my home country. I was too young to understand the meaning then but the feeling of being part of a community (of children) doing the same thing was satisfying and it comes back whenever I smell the scent of this flower.

How about you? Do you have a childhood flower?

To pick a flower is so much more satisfying than just observing it,
or photographing it ...  So in later years, I have grown in my
garden as many flowers as possible for children to pick.
-   Anne Scott-James

Bridal Bouquet

White Roses. How simply elegant for bridal bouquet!

My niece has good taste. She made sure everything in her wedding was the best. (See more  photos of the bride here and of the ceremony here.)

I know, Michelle is still in the dreamland after her successful dream wedding ceremony and reception a month ago. But I just would like to send this words to her and her husband, Mark, that a good marriage is far more important than anything else that happened on their wedding day.

There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.  

~Martin Luther

Scripture and a Snapshot

This butterfly was quite energetic. It kept fluttering around. It took me a while to finally frame it! It was flying knee-high so I had to crawl on the ground to get a good shot of its beautifully designed wings. Its Creator is amazing, isn't He?

Our Garden Story

When we moved in to our rental house more than 2 years ago, the yard was all weeds and with few fruit trees. All green; no signs of fruit or blossoms. We cleaned the yard, and started planting flowers and pruned the trees.

I spent my first hour of most of my mornings in the yard. I had a picture in mind.

 This is exactly what I wanted to see! A mosaic of sights that I see everyday.

Our butterfly garden is not yet complete but it is already attracting beautiful butterflies.

More than the happy butterflies fluttering about, I'm amused to see my girls and their friend having tea in the garden. 

Sometimes, my garden is brought inside the house. It's flowers don't only fill my vase but also adorn my chocolate cake.

Three weeks from now, we'll be leaving our unfinished garden behind, and in our new house, we'll start a new one.

"God almighty first planted a garden.
And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures."

- Francis Bacon

Sky, Flag, and Plane

We're back to the Bangkok Immigration Office last Monday. It took us the whole day to get our visa extension. This gorgeous sky was a consolation after long hours of waiting to get our passports stamped.

The red and blue flag is flying high. It is, as the country's economy is still soaring despite the political storm months ago. The services at the immigration are a lot better and faster now than before. It was just an unusual day for us because many expatriates came on the same day. We hope and pray that they give us a whole year visa next time instead of 3 months each visit.

Did you see the plane? I like it when there are little surprises when I'm taking photos.

It's been a long busy week. Thank God it's Friday!

“There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; 

there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul.”

  Victor Hugo 

Tea Invitation

Let's have some tea in my garden someday. :-) 

Skywatching in Chantaburi

I had a grand day skywatching at Pa Chai Len, Chantaburi, Thailand. I brought 2 cameras with me to make sure nothing escapes my shutters. Nah! No camera is yet invented to equal the power of our naked eyes. I've seen more than these.

"God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good." 

Genesis 1:31

From The Garden

I just came back from a 2-day holiday in my friend's farm. I had delightful moments in the garden, enjoying the beauty of flowers and butterflies...basking in the wonderfulness of His creation. 

It lingered a while..long enough for me to take delight on this moment.

 I paused, closed my eyes, took a deep breath... and thanked God for a time of rest.

The butterfly counts not months but moments, 

and has time enough. 

~Rabindranath Tagore

Read more..

 

Yellow Waterlily

I always pass by this corner whenever I go to our community library.

It's an ugly nook where old tires and other junkies are piled.

But one day, this yellow flower just caught my eye.

Who would expect to find such beauty in this corner.

The by-standers chuckled when I stopped and took some shots.

I didn't mind. This beauty is worth more than an embarrassment.