Starting in high school:
Then, came college:
Memories: Feliz and Gabby
Thursday Badinage: March 3, 2016
“I met the woman I desperately wanted to marry […] I am very aware of how good it is when life is good, and I try to celebrate that because I am very well aware of the times that life isn’t so good.”
“From the first day I met Amal, I began preparing for the most important phase in my life. For me there is no greater joy in the world than the idea that we’re going to stay together. Never did I ever dream that I would have such a beautiful, successful and fulfilling life and also be able to find a woman as wonderful as Amal.”
George Clooney being adorable. The Clooneys, America’s royalty.
[Images from E! and NY Daily News]
Women’s Month: Katharina von Bora
By: Gabriela Yareliz
First day of March! March is Women’s Month, and throughout the month, I like to feature notable women who marked history, show boldness, take up action or causes, or minister to people in a special way.
The first woman I want to feature is one my mother told me about, Katharina von Bora. I hadn’t heard much about her, except an anecdote. Haven Today, a great podcast and radio show, featured her, and I learned a lot about her.
Katharina von Bora was a former nun. Not just any former nun, but a former nun who married a former monk; a monk by the name of Martin Luther
She was convinced of Protestant belief by Martin Luther’s tracts, and as a result, she and some other fellow nuns escaped the convent they belonged to.
Luther began marrying off the nuns to good Christian men, but he couldn’t convince Katharina to marry any of her many suitors. Katharina had a better idea…
She basically made it known that she wouldn’t marry anyone but Martin Luther. (The woman knew what she wanted– and can you blame her?!) Luther was concerned about whether he’d be able to provide for her, but he ended up convinced that marrying her would be a great idea. (He would get into in-depth Biblical theology discussions with her. The best kind of relationships stem from friendship.) When they married, von Bora was 26 and Luther was 41.
Katharina was a pillar in Luther’s life. He always acknowledged her and treated her as an equal, and he included her in his journey, physical and spiritual. She made gardens and brought light into his life. She ministered to people all over town and cared for others. Both had cute, playful nicknames for each other and embodied the faith they professed.
Both were filled with wit, love and light. This household reflected, as Luther said, “Marriage is a school for character.”
One time, when Martin Luther was depressed, von Bora put on a black dress and stood in the doorway. Luther was alarmed and asked her Who died? She replied, God apparently, or Dr. Luther wouldn’t be so sad. (Paraphrase). This action and comment called Luther out of his darkness. She had a way of reaching him and uplifting him.
We often think of Martin Luther as the revolutionary, but he himself stated he would not have been the man he was without Katharina. Both revolutionized the world, together.
I love Katharina von Bora’s life story. She was decided, knew what she wanted, a Bible scholar in her own right, strong, caring, young and filled with beauty of character that flowed out of her and changed people’s lives. The month of March is all about women empowerment and inspiring ourselves to become the best women we can be.
Katharina’s life shows the power of a woman who is filled with faith, and how she can inspire and change the world.
[A special thanks to those involved in the Haven Today podcast! Information reflected here came from Professor Russ Reeves, of Providence Christian College in California, and Charles Morris, host of Haven Today.]
What is Holiness?
We are called to be holy and consecrated. But what does “holy” mean? I think the following quote illustrates holiness beautifully:
“Holiness is not rapture; it is an entire surrender of the will to God; it is living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; it is doing the will of the Heavenly Father; it is trusting God in trial, in darkness, as well as in light; it is walking by faith not sight; it is relying on God with unquestioning confidence and resting in His love.” Acts of the Apostles, pg. 51, Ellen G. White
Monday Inspiration: February 29, 2016
Hi friends!
This Monday is the last day of February. *party hands dance move*
The year of 2016 is fluttering away before our very eyes. Last week was one of the most intense weeks I have had in a while, but I want to share with you that God is so good and so worthy of praise. In Joshua 1:9, God repeats a promise, and He says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed…” I know we have talked about this before, but the reason why God tells us to not be afraid is because He Himself is with us wherever we go. I know it’s true.
This week, cling to that promise! He is with you. God’s ‘no’ prepares us for His perfect ‘yes.’
“The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His works.” Psalm 145:17. I love that thought, “He is kind in all His works.”
And with that– let’s rock!
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt
“It won’t be early. But it will be worth it.” Dr. Tony Evans
(Photo by: Luca Vieri)
“I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground.” Unknown
“Love is a rare rose, the perfume intoxicating– picked by fingers oblivious to the thorns.” Michael Faudet
“So this is love; so this is what makes life divine.” Cinderella
“Oddly enough, it’s the storms that whisper His name, the storms that make His presence most known. So prepare yourself when the seas of life begin to grow restless because you might be getting ready to encounter God; what a heartbreakingly beautiful thing it is to behold.” T.B. LaBerge// Go now
“Our pleas to God are always based on his graciousness and never on our own merit. This is one of the basic lessons of faith. And since we can rest on the unchanging character of God’s love we are secure in that love.” Dr. Ralph F. Wilson, Psalms: Crying out for Rescue
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)
“Some things have to fall apart to make way for better things.” Ted Mosby
“To believe that you must hide all the parts of you that are broken, out of fear that someone else is incapable of loving what is less than perfect, is to believe that sunlight is incapable of entering a broken window and illuminating a dark room.”
Marc Hack
[Images from Tumblr]
Leap Year
‘Leap Year’ is a ‘top 10’ movie for me. It always makes me smile, and this is just the perfect time to watch it.
Magical things happen when we let life surprise us, and we surrender control.
Anna: Jeremy and me, it didn’t work out.
Declan: I’m sorry.
Anna: Well, when my 60 seconds came around, I realized I had everything I ever wanted, but nothing I really needed. And I think that what I need is here. And I came all this way to see if maybe you might think so too. And if you do… Well, I don’t really have any plans past that, which is new for me. So, Declan O’Callaghan, and I should probably learn your middle name, here is my proposal. I propose we *not* make plans. I propose we give this thing a chance and let it work out how it works out. So what do you say? Do you want to *not* make plans with me?
Declan: [confusion becomes amusement, and he walks away]
Anna: [gathers herself, and then to the restaurant patrons] I guess that’s an Irish “no”.
[and rushes out of he restaurant]
Declan: [catches up with her at the sea] Mrs. O’Brady Callaghan. Where the hell are you going?
Anna: You said no.
Declan: I did not say no. I didn’t say anything.
Anna: You walked away.
Declan: I was gettin’ somethin’
Anna: Really. That was a good time to go get something?
Declan: Yeah, it was actually. I was gettin’ this.
[pulls a ring from his pocket]
Declan: I wouldn’t be holding this ring if it weren’t for you. I reject your proposal. I don’t wanna *not* make plans with you. I wanna *make* plans with you.
(Script quote from IMBD)
[Images from Tumblr]
San Antonio Adventures, Pt. 2
By: Gabriela Yareliz
Visiting the Alamo was memorable. This property is absolutely gorgeous. Old world charm.
Luis’ profile.
My favorite kind of selfie. This Mexican folk art boutique was exquisite.
Meet me by the river!
Thank you, San Antonio. You were clean, friendly, gorgeous and a perfect summer adventure.
San Antonio Adventures, Pt. 1
By: Gabriela Yareliz
In 2015, thanks to a friend’s extreme kindness (he heard us sing from Florida to Texas on a road trip) and my family’s sense of adventure, I had the opportunity to visit San Antonio, Texas. It was beautiful. I loved it so much. Texas left a fantastic impression on me. I would visit again in a heartbeat. Maybe, I watched too much Cristela, but I got it. I now know why Texans love their state so much.
In Texas, Mexican culture is palpable, and the heat was oh-so-sweet. San Antonio is one of those places that makes you want to dance in the streets. The River Walk makes you feel like you are in a really, really good dream.
Something that made Texas extra special was the fact that the Seventh-day Adventist Church was having its General Conference Session, so the city was bustling with Adventists from all over the world. It was great to meet brothers and sisters in Christ from around the globe, and it was special to run into old friends.
Cesar Chavez! Si se puede! I was so excited to see this.
Two sets of twins. Brothers from Kenya with my brothers.
Strapped in for the ride. We did way too much karaoke back there.
Me at the ADRA prayer wall. I left a prayer for my brothers and sisters in immigration detention centers. #solidarity
So much color on these streets.
The highlight of our trip was riding in the little boat at night. Magic! Our driver was so funny.
I’ll be sharing more of San Antonio’s beauty.
Stay tuned.
Reflections Before Bedtime #74
“When I remember You upon my bed, and meditate on You in the watches of the night; for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:6-8
That Boy
“Many boys will bring you flowers. But someday, you’ll meet a boy who will learn your favourite flower, your favourite song, your favourite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won’t matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart.” Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows
[Image from Tumblr]
