Jesus Will Rule in Our Hearts!!!

picture I took inside the St. Johannes Church in Neumarkt

A Belen, the Holy family statues in Neumarkter Christmas market

May He rule from sea to sea....Psalm 72:8

Each December, Santa reappears, and children wish that Santa ruled "from sea to sea". Each Advent however, those of us who are older and hope for more than the fulfillment of our Christmas wish-list renew our longing for Christ, the Son of God, the King of Justice, the Hope of all Humanity. Eagerly we wait for the day when "there will will be no harm or ruin," when Jesus will rule in our hearts, in laws, in customs, in education, in politics and most of all in our families.

The One who can truly bring the peace and love of the Christmas season doesn't have a North Pole address. He is much closer and more faithful than Santa Claus, who only appears once a year. He is found where we least expect him, every time we need him- in the mangers of our lives.

But don't let His poverty and hiddenness fool you. "He shall rescue the poor man when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him......The lives of the poor he shall save." (Psalm 72:12-13)

What a Nice Day today!

shopping stores in Neumarkt..very colorful!!

back of St. John's church, built in 1586

the altar of St. John's church in Neumarkt

Gothic style ceiling...see that very big post..really magnificent!!!

The altar of Hofkirche in Neumarkt

The Hofkirche, built in 1418

Last Sunday, my Brazilian friend called me that she want to meet me in Neumarkt. We agreed to meet today, Tuesday. She wanted to show me the house they had just purchased. It is located in the center of Neumarkt where a lot of businesses are. She wanted to make a Bistro or somewhat like a Fast food in the first floor.That was also a furniture store before. It is a big house where the second and the third floors are also apartments. I really felt happy for her.

We also went shopping around. Everytime we meet in Neumarkt, we always go eating in a Chinese buffet restaurant there. Not a bad idea because the buffet only cost 7 Euro excluding drinks. Of course compared to Philippine buffet, this is quite expensive. In Germany, this is I guess the cheapest buffet I always go into.

Josi, the name of my Brazilian friend have to hurry going home because she still have to take care of her two sons after school time. We really had a nice day since the sun was also shining even if it was very freezing cold.

To burn up the foods I had eaten in the buffet, I went alone walking. I had been hundred of times in this city especially when I attended the German language course before. I used to drive here everyday to attend the course but had never been inside the churches. There are a lot of historical churches here in Neumarkt. I went inside today to the two big churches , the St. Johaness (St. John) and the Hofkirche.

They also have a small Weinachtsmarkt (Christmas market) there. Compared to Nuremberg's Christmas market, Neumarkt is very small but it was still nice there.

I attached here then, the photos that I made in today's escapades especially the churches there.

These Busy 'Days To Come'

* In days to come.....Isaiah 2:2

This is just what we're thinking about as Advent begins, isn't it? All of the "days to come" from now until Christmas. For many of us, the struggle will be the same we've gone through in years past: trying to hold the line against the pressures to entertain, to be entertained, to purchase gifts, to cook, to decorate. They are intense. We know we should be attending to our spiritual lives above all, preparing the way for the Lord in our own hearts.....but when???

In days to come.
Notice what Isaiah says will happen "in days to come." Not: you will do things that will please others. Not: you will achieve and accomplish. Not: you will earn God's favor. No, in "days to come" God will give a great gift.

Perhaps that clear a path through the busyness. In days to come, we might let go, listen and let God work wonders.

Lord in days to come, fill my heart with joy.

Important Reminders Before leaving the House!!

As I am writing this blog, I am watching at the same time, a German TV Program, Galileo. I just want to share to all of you some very important reminders especially before leaving at home. I really like this program since it gives the viewers very concrete information or happenings in relation to our day to day living.

To avoid burnings/fire in the house be sure to check all electrical equipments. Be sure to unplug it. These includes cooking machine, burning ovens, irons, etc. According to Galileo's test regarding the Top 10 cause of fire in the house is putting water to a very hot burning oil. So please especially to women who usually do the cooking, never leave oil in the pan when cooking. It can also cause fire.

It's Christmas time now, obviously most people have Christmas lights burning at home even overnight. Be sure to turn it off before sleeping. Do you know that the only daughter of Senator de Venecia in the Philippines was dead because of fire in their house. The cause of the fire were the Christmas lights. As much as possible, don't leave burning candles near the Christmas tree with Christmas lights. This is also very dangerous and belongs to Galileo's Top 3 cause of burnings.

To those who are cooking with gas tank, please always turn it off after using. This is especially during summer time, when people use it for grilling/barbeque.

I really appreciate watching the TV program Galileo as this also reminds me of very important things. That's the reason why I also want to share this to all of you guys especially to all my friends out there. I am hoping that I give you some insights to save your long earned investments and most especially our dear loved ones. Merry Christmas to all of you!!! Wishing you too a happy, bountiful and debt-free New Year!!!! God bless us all!!!

It's Freezing Cold Again!!

really very beautiful!!!..my Bromeliads before in Mindanao

me in year 2000. model of my plants kuno!!!

small garden of our house in cebu.no place for planting it's all water around

different plants like san francisco, orchids, roses,mayana,cactus etc. in my garden

euphorbias.. took this picture after the big ones were sold
since I am leaving midsayap
and will be assigned to epcibank cebu in 2002.

imported varieties of san francisco from bangkok,thailand

that's me again modelling my Cherub's garden (name of my garden before)

hundreds of varieties of Bromeliads, family of pineapple plants.
I had before thousands of them.

As usual, I went shopping for groceries today. This is already my routine every week. As I go outside the house, it was really freezing dry cold. I went inside my car, turned on the engine and saw that the temperature was -3 degrees centigrade. Oh well, I have to accept it that I already live in a very cold place. But I guess, the weather now here in Bavaria, Germany is very better compared to US and Canada where they are having ice storms.

I was a bit scared seeing tonight in TV Nachtrichten (news), Canada's weather situation. It is snowing right now very hard there. Even the vehicles cannot drive on the streets because of heavy snow.

As I went shopping, I saw some flowers in the grocery store. I really love these flowers as I have thousands of them back before in the Philippines. These are especially the Bromeliads family of flowers and the Euphorbias. Aside from my work before in the bank, selling plants and flowers is my sideline. That was my hobby turned into business. Won't you believe that I earned more money in my plants and flower business compared to my salary in the bank. Besides that I really had fun in doing it, I also earn money.

I also attached here the photos of my plants back before in Midsayap.
Got to go now, it's sleeping time!!!

p.s. will attach later the photos from the bromeliads once I upload it.

KeYs to YoUr RoOm

Just want to share to all of you guys this story!!!!

Thomas B. Costain's book, The Three Edwards, depicts the life
of Reynald III, a duke in what is now Belgium. Reynald was
commonly called by his nickname, Crassus, which in Latin means
"fat."

He and his brother Edward had a violent disagreement, and as a
result, Edward led a successful revolt against Reynald.

He did not kill Reynald; instead, he built a special room at
his castle and imprisoned him but offered him his freedom on
one condition. If he could walk out of the room, he was free.

Edward offered to restore his title, kingdom and property.
That seemed a fairly easy imprisonment sentence but there was
one big problem. None of the doors and windows of the room
were locked. They were near normal size but Reynald was not.
He was too fat to fit through the doors or windows.

Edward knew Reynald well. Each day he sent Reynald a rich
assortment of meats, breads, pies, pastries and other
delicious delicacies. Since Reynald was now confined to a
small room where even walking and thus exercise was limited,
he did not get slimmer but grew fatter making his predicament
even worse.

Accused of cruelty Edward remarked, "My brother is not a
prisoner; he may leave when he so wills."

Reynald was released ten years later when Edward died in
battle. By then his health had so deteriorated that he died
within a year. He was a prisoner of his own appetite and
easily available food.

Within these pages are keys to your room.
You may leave the room whenever you so will.

~The first story in FAT2Fine - The SPIRIT of Weight Loss~

The Kaiserburg in Nuremberg

The other part of the castle which also have two towers.

foot of the Imperial Castle with its colorful sandstones

the two towers of the Kaiserburg built with warm red sandstones

view on top of the castle. Church of Our Lady is with the tallest tower.

The beauty of sunset viewed on top of the castle. Clouds were formed like a wolf trying to catch a piece of bone.

pix taken as we are about to go up to the castle

I always love interesting and historical places. In my previous blog about Nuremberg, I had written that I had been to Nuremberg several times. Yesterday was only the first time that me and my husband visited the Kaiserburg commonly known in English as the Imperial Castle.

Crowning the outcrop of warm red sandstone from which much of Nuremberg is built, the Kaiserburg goes back to the city's founding years in the 11th century. Kings and emperors resided here for 500 years, and the sprawling complex of buildings was added to, demolished and rebuilt throughout this time. Thus, the old five-sided tower dates from 1040, the two-tier Imperial Chapel from the 12th century, and the stables (now the youth hostel) from the late 15th century.

Directly below the castle timber-framed and gabled houses are crammed up against the ramparts. When you are at the top of the castle, you can also view the whole city's picturesque. Yesterday as we were there, the sun was also setting. The beauty of the sunset was really very astonishing. As you can see in one of my photo here, above the sun formed clouds that looks like wolf or dog trying to catch a piece of bone. That really amazed me and my husband too. We stayed there until it was dark and also saw the beauty of the city in the night with its colorful lights. Yesterday's trip to Nuremberg was really worth reminiscing.