Just wanna pop in real quick to say I'm still alive, haha! Been having low energy since last week, and this week, I finally knew why: I caught the kids' virus! :I I should have known that my increased sleepiness and no motivation to do anything (including Bible reading, boo) were signs because the kids exhibited the same things before they came down with viral colds. They're better now while I'm still on the mend, spending lots of time in bed.

Hopefully I can post by next week, and proceed to finish the Gospel of Mark. I'm at the part where Pontius Pilate is questioning Jesus so I'm almost done. After Mark, I'll study 1 and 2 Thessalonians by Paul. Why Mark and Thessalonians? Coz these two are the earliest written gospels in the New Testament, and thus represent a much clearer (and truer) picture of the early Church.

[ Sunflower artwork above by our eldest child :) ]

The month of November saw terrible events happening from all over the world c/o Islamic extremists (Beirut bombings, Paris attacks plus Mali hotel hostage-taking yesterday!), and it had a lot of people wondering if we are in the end-times already. I wondered too (since June actually), and personally, I think we are truly in the end-times. All I'm really waiting is for the "abomination of desolation" to occur, and then it's fast going from there according to doctrine.org and other websites: the rapture of the Church (believers) / Day of the Lord --> 7 years of tribulation for those who were left behind (the Anti-Christ will appear here) --> Jesus comes back to reign for 1000 years in New Jerusalem (Millennial Age) --> final war with Satan / Armageddon --> all of believers in our heavenly bodies will live eternally with Yahweh.

I have to admit that I've always thought Revelations was the only book that details the end of the world (as we know it). Turns out the books of Mark (my favorite!), Matthew and Luke contained prophecies too, as well as Paul's letters to the Thessalonians and Corinthians. There are also detailed prophecies in Ezekiel and Daniel, among others. I am not a Bible reader before, sad to say, and I'm currently rectifying that mistake these days. Blessedly, the Holy Spirit has guided my Bible studying sessions, and I'm learned so much Truth about who Jesus Christ truly is, His salvation message for us, and of course, about the end-times which involves the rapture and tribulation. Christians today, however, are divided on when rapture will occur-- pre-tribulation, mid-, or post-?

As noted previously, I have been re-reading the Gospel of Mark, and writing down my thoughts and questions in my journal this time around. The following text are (from my journal, 10/19/15):

I've been mulling over this verse for more than a week now, and the similar one in Mark 9:34. To be sure, part of being a servant means to humble yourself, and NOT desire to be the first or to be great. But the qestion remains: how can I be a servant? Is it putting my kids and husband first before my career? (I'm a licensed medical doctor but currently a stay-at-home to raise our kids.) Is it staying put at our family home to please my parents even though I want to have my own household? (I'm an only girl and my parents are quite clingy to me, lol!) Or is it literally serving the poor and needy by participating in outreach programs and/or donate money / time / goods?

I have stumbled on an amazing website that offers FREE 3-minute retreats to set the tone of your day right, or change your ungodly attitude in the middle of the day, or just plain spend at least 3 minutes of your day in the stillness of the Lord. It's complete with relaxing music, scripture, and questions that will delve into your current state of faith. 

The website is run by Loyola Press, a Jesuit ministry. Yes, the same order as Pope Francis. The site also offers teaching tools to form the Catholic faith, online study guides for Language Arts, and also sells books in its online shop. It also has a Spanish version! But, of course, my favorite is their 3-minute daily faith retreat :) Go, try it and reset your day!