Expect miracles.
By: Gabriela Yareliz
There was something about Humacao that reminded me of Florida. Maybe it was the bright colors, sunshine and this feeling that I was in a Calgon, Take Me Away! body spray commercial. A citrusy type scent. Yes.
“Be authentic in the way you live life, talk to those who hurt you. Engage in honesty and love, open up and ask those in your life why they are distant. Life is short, it gets muddied by lies and fear.
Be courageous enough to reach out to others, seek forgiveness and redemption in your community. We have been given an opportunity each day to love those around us, all it takes is one step.
Healing starts with communication, communication comes with humility, and humility only comes when we are willing to lay down our lives for others.
Love right now, not tomorrow or the next day, love in this moment and watch it become something beautiful.”
T.B. LaBerge // Go Now (via tblaberge)
By: Gabriela Yareliz
Today, our Bible study focused on the topic of holiness. Holiness is an important aspect and attribute of God, and it’s important for us to allow God to make us holy, if we really are to reflect who He is.
All of us sitting around the circle with our Bibles and lesson study books looked relieved at the fact that holiness is a gift from God. Our role is to come to Him and to allow Him to transform our hearts.
Still, many of us felt a bit burdened in knowing that in life we deal with very real issues and character flaws. Issues that may embarrass us or make us feel devalued. We struggle with our own pride, narcissism and our failures with others whom we love. Marriages face their potholes, relationships face their detours and sometimes our relationship with ourself is harsh, exacting and unforgiving.
A point in our Bible study was:
“Too often we are self-centered in our religion. We focus too much on our victories and on our defeats rather than [focusing] on God, who alone can give us victory.” Instead of looking to ourselves, we must look up to God. (Page 75; The Holy Spirit and Spirituality; Adult Sabbath School Bible Study)
Hebrews 12:14 tells us: “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Sin separates us from God; therefore, it’s inevitable that if we are close to God, His holiness manifests itself in us.
We studied in the book of Job, in the prior quarter, that being blameless means to live righteously with the light we receive from God. To be blameless before God is not to be flawless but to be spiritually mature and where He wants us to be.
How is it that we can be blameless? We all want this holiness and know that it will require humility and surrender to God. God doesn’t ask us to become holy to approach Him. Instead, He asks us to approach Him and let Him transform us.
What does holiness look like in practical terms? For those of us who end up bickering with a loved one; for those of us who maybe let the flesh desires take hold and we are intemperate, perhaps even in the way we eat; for those of us who aren’t quite patient or kind and prefer pettiness or revenge– how do we, the real humans in this drama, show fruit of holiness?
We discussed today that holiness is based on our relationship with God. It starts with relationship and end with relationship. It’s a journey, a race, a process, an endurance. It’s trying again, over and over again. It’s opening God’s word and seeking His promise and what we have been called to.
I was encouraged by Galatians 5:22-23, which discussed the fruits and attributes that embody holiness. And we must have all of them because when one is missing, something is off.
When we reflect the whole character of God, we reflect:
Love;
Joy;
Peace;
Patience;
Kindness;
Goodness;
Faithfulness;
Gentleness;
Self-control.
I don’t know about you, but I really want to embody these traits and live them out genuinely.
I thought it would be neat to pray, asking God, for each trait, one by one. Really thinking about what each one means; striving to see how we can live this out practically in the day-to-day. Asking God for His gift and power to reflect Him.
Holiness allows us to behold God. It transforms us. It was what we were created for, therefore the restoration of it in us has got to be one of the most powerful experiences of all.
By: Gabriela Yareliz
If you are a cat lover, you’ll enjoy wandering the Old San Juan. You will find these little guys in the most unexpected places.
In the bed of a truck:
Governor’s mansion, La Fortaleza:
By: Gabriela Yareliz
These are some of my favorite views from our walks around San Juan. That cemetery left me in awe.
We climbed up on the wall, in efforts to get closer to this incredible view:
We started walking up the hill, toward the fort, and then we happened to look back. We all gasped in awe. This is what we saw:
By: Gabriela Yareliz
Our first outing in the Old San Juan was lovely. The sun was bright, the sky was blue, and we got rained on a bit by an impromptu shower that lasted five minutes.
The cathedral where Marc Anthony got married:
By: Gabriela Yareliz
This observatory is definitely a must-see for the beautiful view and for educational purposes. The ultimate stop for nerding out. Bring walking shoes, because you will burn off your breakfast on the hike up the hill. They have neat interactive games, videos and demos to explain how the observatory and outer space works, plus knowledgeable staff on hand. There is also an impressive collection of meteors with information about where they were found. You probably won’t think about the night sky in the same way again.
By: Gabriela Yareliz
Can we take a minute and talk about Erin Andrews? She is fantastic. She was born on the same day as me (that’s not why she is fantastic, but I think it’s pretty cool). She is a fellow University of Florida College of Journalism graduate. Florida girl. She also has made it in an industry that is tough for women– reporting, and not only reporting but sports reporting. She reports from the sidelines, looking fabulous.
She has been in the news, lately. She had a tough year with her stalker case going to trial. She suffered a violation of privacy that brought her much suffering. And most recently, she revealed that she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016.
She was battling cancer while reporting from the sidelines and while co-hosting Dancing With the Stars. I read in her interview that during her trial, everyone kept telling her how strong she was, and it wasn’t until her cancer diagnosis that she began to believe it and tell herself that she was strong.
She would tell herself, “Hey, I have cancer, but dammit, I am strong, and I can do this.”
She didn’t miss a game.
Andrews is now clear of any cancer she had, and she recently got engaged in December. Personally, I am hoping this will be her best year yet. She deserves it. This is a woman who embodies strength, with courage, beauty and brains to match. #warrior
By: Gabriela Yareliz
Playa Chiquita is one of those places you walk around quietly and try to absorb and memorize as much of the scenery as possible. It’s gorgeous. The water was rough, blue and stunning.
This couple was having its own photoshoot:
Playa Chiquita had an important message for all of us:
“The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.” Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
Pay attention to the simple and to the extraordinary.
Happy Monday!
GY
GABRIELA YARELIZ 