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God has given all of us a garden to tend for, and here is a little piece of mine. This is a place where I would like to share my thoughts and things I learned from my daily Bible devotion and studies, and experiences of my journey with Jesus and His family. I hope you’d be able to chill and enjoy some raisins and apples from my little garden.
Taste and enjoy the sweetness of His word, and find strength in the Lord.
Also check out the Raisins & Apples YouTube channel for available Bible devotional videos.
Latest from the Blog
Come and sit awhile with Him, the Spring of the Living Water (John 4:7-15)
A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews… Continue reading Come and sit awhile with Him, the Spring of the Living Water (John 4:7-15)
How Far has Love Come to Bring Me Home? (John 4: 1-6)
Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of… Continue reading How Far has Love Come to Bring Me Home? (John 4: 1-6)
Go! Team Jesus (John 3:31-36)
He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets… Continue reading Go! Team Jesus (John 3:31-36)
The Joy of the Greatest Man, John the Baptist (John 3:22-30)
After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).25 Now a discussion arose… Continue reading The Joy of the Greatest Man, John the Baptist (John 3:22-30)
For God so Loved the World (John 3:16-21)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in… Continue reading For God so Loved the World (John 3:16-21)
When life gives you lemons, keep calm & shine on (Philippians 4:21-23)
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Philippians 4:21-23 ESV When life gives you sour lemons, what will you do? Some would welcome them; some… Continue reading When life gives you lemons, keep calm & shine on (Philippians 4:21-23)
Blessed be the cheerful giver (Philippians 4: 14-20)
Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.… Continue reading Blessed be the cheerful giver (Philippians 4: 14-20)
The Secret of Contentment (Philippians 4:10-13)
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to… Continue reading The Secret of Contentment (Philippians 4:10-13)
Rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4: 4-9)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses… Continue reading Rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4: 4-9)
My joy and crown (Philippians 4:1-3)
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. 2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the… Continue reading My joy and crown (Philippians 4:1-3)
Happy New Year! Keep learning and keep growing (Luke 2:39-52)
And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the… Continue reading Happy New Year! Keep learning and keep growing (Luke 2:39-52)
Turning sorrow into strength (Luke 2:36-38)
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and… Continue reading Turning sorrow into strength (Luke 2:36-38)
“In Christ alone, my hope is found” (Luke 2:25-35)
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s… Continue reading “In Christ alone, my hope is found” (Luke 2:25-35)
Why the family of carpenter? (Luke 2:21-27)
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.2 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord… Continue reading Why the family of carpenter? (Luke 2:21-27)
After the Herald Angels sing (Luke 2:15-20)
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17… Continue reading After the Herald Angels sing (Luke 2:15-20)
Good news of great joy (Luke 2:8-14)
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for… Continue reading Good news of great joy (Luke 2:8-14)
#Blessings: Grand finale of the day – Beautiful sunset by the Master Painter
12/12/20: Today I just want to share a few photos that I took catching the tail of sunset tonight. As I was standing by the shoreline, I was stunned by the view before me. For a moment, it felt like I was looking a a panoramic view of an oil painting, done by the hand… Continue reading #Blessings: Grand finale of the day – Beautiful sunset by the Master Painter
Thank you, Lord, for this day you have made (Psalm 118: 22-29)
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who… Continue reading Thank you, Lord, for this day you have made (Psalm 118: 22-29)
Gates are open, enter with joy! (Psalm 118: 15-21)
Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly, the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!” I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord. The Lord has disciplined me severely, but… Continue reading Gates are open, enter with joy! (Psalm 118: 15-21)
Shelter in His everlasting love (Psalm 118: 1-14)
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!2 Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”4 Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”5 Out of my distress I called on the… Continue reading Shelter in His everlasting love (Psalm 118: 1-14)
Praise Him, the God of all nations! (Psalm 117)
Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord! Psalm 117 ESV This is the shortest psalm with only two verses, and it is the shortest chapter of the entire Bible. There are 1189 chapters in… Continue reading Praise Him, the God of all nations! (Psalm 117)
What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? (Psalm 116 12:-19)
What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of… Continue reading What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? (Psalm 116 12:-19)
#Blessings: Give thanks for the Colors of Fall
11/19/20 – Took a stroll around the neighborhood and found myself indulged in the colors of Fall. Despite of what the world is going through in 2020, Fall didn’t fail to make its grand entry, and God still sends these beautiful colors, every year. As we enter the 8th month of the pandemic and anticipating… Continue reading #Blessings: Give thanks for the Colors of Fall
#Blessing: Good morning again! Sunrise on the 1st day of November, 2020
11/1/20: It’s the first day of November, 2020 already, and the 8th month entering the shelter-in-place order! What a strange year we are having! Global pandemic, political divisions, separations among ourselves, sicknesses and death around us… Things just kept crashing over at us like waves in the storm. Daylight saving ended today, and with that… Continue reading #Blessing: Good morning again! Sunrise on the 1st day of November, 2020
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