Psalms 46 - Be Still and Know

March 29, 2026 - La Casa de Alvarico - Sunday - 12:12 am  

In light of the Kona Storms that hit the Hawaiian Islands over the last (2) weeks.

Psalms 46 - Be Still

MY BELOVED – THE COMMUNITY AND ALOHA

My beloved,

There are moments when nature feels overwhelming—loud, disruptive, and beyond control.

The storms come in, the land shifts, and for a while everything feels unsettled.

We see the devastation; We see the mess; We see what has been broken; and it’s easy to stay there…

to question, to feel frustrated, to not understand the bigger picture.

But if we stay there, we miss what is happening right in front of us.

Because after the storm, I see the people.

I see the community rise.

I see what it truly means to mālama ʻāina—to care for the land, not because we own it, but because we are connected to it.

Not ownership… but stewardship.

Not obligation… but love.

And I see mahalo in a way that goes deeper than words.

Not just a simple “thank you,” but a grateful heart that recognizes we are not alone in this.

I see it in the small things.

A simple shaka from across the road.

A wave from someone we may never meet again.

A smile that quietly says, we’re going be okay.

A hug that holds just a little longer.

A honi—breath to breath—reminding us that life itself is shared.

I see people pausing for prayer…

some in the name of Jesus,

some in silence,

others simply standing in respect.

And still… there is unity.

I hear Hawaiian chants rising—not for performance, but for grounding.

I see hula—not for show, but as story, as memory, as connection.

I feel the gift of a lei placed gently around the neck—

not just a gesture, but an offering of love, honor, and presence.

No labels.

No titles.

Not just Christianity, not just religion, not even belief systems being spoken out loud.

Just people… loving people.

And in that, I see God.

Not forced.

Not announced.

But present.

Present in the hands that help.

Present in the hearts that soften.

Present in the quiet moments where strangers become family.

He appears through people as themselves.

Not perfect.

Not polished.

Just willing.

And this… this is the true meaning of Aloha.

Not just a greeting.

Not just a word.

But love that comes from the heart and moves outward—

in a shaka,

in a wave,

in a chant,

in a prayer,

in a lei,

in the way we show up for one another.

So maybe the bigger picture isn’t just the storm.

Maybe it’s what rises after.

A community that chooses love.

A people that care for the land and for each other.

A quiet reminder that even in disruption, there is restoration.

And in that restoration…

there is hope.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

As we see the storm, we see the devastation.

We see the mess.

We see the power of nature that has torn through the land.

But in this moment… we pause.

We take a breath.

Ha… the breath of life.

We inhale—slowly—filling our lungs until we can take in no more.

We hold it… just for a few seconds more…

And then we release…

Hasaa…

Again…

Ha…

The ancient breath.

The reminder that You gave us life, and You sustain it still.

And as we breathe, we begin to see differently.

We see You in everything.

In the land.

In the people.

In the community.

In our village.

Right now, we wait for You in this moment.

Waiting for Your presence.

Waiting for Your still, soft voice.

Because in being still, we know that You are God.

You are here.

You have always been here.

As we gather in this quiet moment, we come before You.

We intercede for everyone—

for those who have lost,

for those who are hurting,

for those who are weary.

Lord, we confess.

We confess our faults.

We confess the moments when we do not love Your people well.

The moments when loving is hard… when our hearts feel tired, distant, or closed.

But even there… You meet us.

So we ask for pervasive hope—

a hope that finds us right here.

A hope that reminds us You never left.

And not only that…

but a hope that moves us.

Show us the practical ways to be found in You.

To show up.

To love.

To serve.

Let us be Your hands and feet.

“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

Lord, let our hearts respond—

Send me.

We love You with an everlasting love.

And in all of this…we pray.

Amen… and Amene. 💕

Counting the Cost

March 25, 2026 | 9:32 AM | Starbucks Mililani Shopping Center

Luke 14:28–30

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?”

---

As a bookkeeper, I am all about “1 4 Da Records”—numbers matter. Having accurate and detailed records is vital to any business. They don’t just track performance; they reveal truth.

The record books show a business owner where they stand. They guide decision-making. They bring clarity—and in many ways, they provide peace of mind at the end of the day.

But this principle doesn’t stop at business.

In life, if you don’t count the cost, the consequences can be just as serious. Decisions made without clarity can lead to confusion, misdirection, and even failure. A business can be run into the ground—and so can our time, energy, and calling—when we move without intention.

Taking the time to pause, review, and understand where you are changes everything. It allows you to plan wisely, move strategically, and finish what you started.

---

Prayer

Lord, help me to focus.
Teach me to slow down, review, and manage my time well.

You have placed many things in my heart, and I want to be intentional. Give me the discipline to count the cost and the courage to follow through. Help me to do what is necessary to move forward—so that I may honor You and be a blessing to others.

---

1 4 Da Records

Prepared for Battle

February 21, 2021 ~ 4:56 pm ~ Starbucks Mililani Town Center

Proverbs 21:31 

"The horse is prepared for battle, but Deliverance and Victory is from the Lord."

This verse reminds me of the movie Braveheart and the scene where Mel Gibson is in a field and is on the front line, with all the horses and soldiers lined up waiting for the battle to start.  This was a pivotal moment of the movie, Mel Gibson prepares the soldiers by giving the most inspirational and iconic speech to his men.  As the camera pans out to the men, some brave, some scared, and some who were young that you know as a viewer that they've never been in battle before.  Just like the movie, in biblical times, horses and chariots were essential for warfare. Soldiers would spend time training, strategizing, and preparing for battle. However, no matter how well-prepared they were, the final outcome rested in God’s hands. 

As he spoke out: "Sons of Scotland! I am William Wallace."

Soldier: "William Wallace is seven feet tall!"

"Yes, I've heard. Kills men by the hundreds, and if he were here, he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse. I am William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are.

"What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?"

Soldier: "No! We will run, and we will live."

"Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live… at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that, for one chance—just one chance—to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom."

It's been so long since I've seen the movie but this scene gives me goosebumps because it takes really brave men to fight this way.  I can only imagine how it would be an honour just to fight along side of Mel Gibson's character, William Wallace.  With the Russian / Ukrainian war going on for far to long, we need to pray that God will deliver and give victory, He is Ultimately in control of what's going on. 

Lord, I pray for deliverance and victory over all wars and battles that are going on.  Thank you for your safety and protection, comfort and joy, grace and mercy, and a deep and unconditional love for your people, whatever the side a person is on.  I pray that the Victory is yours, I pray for all of your people who are fighting many battles, in Russia and Ukraine, in all countries and those who are fighting Spiritual Battles. Thank You for reminding me that while I must prepare and work hard, true victory comes from You. Help me to do my best in all things while fully trusting You with the results. Give me peace in knowing that You are in control, and no matter what battles I face, You are my source of victory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.  

Victory is from the Lord, we just need to Trust, Obey, and have Faith.  

In Memory of Pastor Will Fejeran

February 2, 2016  {Tuesday, 11:32am}

Psalm 27:1

"The Lord is my light and my salvation-so why should I be afraid?  The Lord protects me from danger-so why should I tremble?"

There are many things that a person can be afraid of.  People have phobias and fears that are very real to them.  This passage says that the Lord is my light, he shows us the way and brightens our path so we can see clearly.  Jesus died on the cross to save lives through forgiveness of sins, so the Lord becomes our salvation!  If we are faced with danger, the Lord protects us!  With that we can be confident, not afraid of anything, of even death.

This past week, a pastor from the Rock Church in San Ysidro killed himself for unknown reasons.  My heart is heavy since hearing this news and I feel for his family.  Death brings about so much pain and anguish only God can heal it all.  Pastor Miles spoke about this in his sermon on depression and mental illness.  Regardless of how he died, his sins were forgiven so we can be assured that he is free of the pain he felt and rejoicing now in heaven.  All we can do is to pray for God's light to shine through to this family and for healing in their hearts.  Pastor Will was a good man, a true worshipper of God Almighty, but most of all, he loved the Lord.

Heavenly Father, Please be with the Fejeran family in their time of need.  They trust in you, depend on you, and they truly love you.  Thank you for the life that was given in the time that he spent here on earth.  I pray for his soul, his family, and his friends that are deeply saddened by his departure.  Thank you for being the light and the salvation, so that we can be assured of your love to us through the death of your son Jesus.

Through all our fears, You are the light that guides our path.    

He fights for you

February 1, 2016  {Monday, 11:34am}

Exodus 14:13

"But Moses told the people, 'Don't be afraid.  Just stand where you are and watch the Lord rescue you.  The Egyptians that you see today will never be seen again.  The Lord himself will fight for you. You won't have to lift a finger in your defense."

The ruler of Egypt had just let the people of Israel go from the land of Egypt, where they were all slaves.  Moses pleaded with Pharaoh to let his people go but he refused, only to have various plagues and finally the deaths of the first born sons.  As the Israelites escaped and ran from Egypt to worship the Lord, Pharaoh began to regret his decision on letting the slaves from leaving.  So he gathered up all of his best chariots and charioteers to try to get them back.  God lead the Israelites to the edge of the wilderness between the Red Sea.  As they saw Pharaoh's army chasing after them, they began to doubt the will and power of God.

There are many times in my life that I doubt and lose trust of what God is doing in my life.  I feel as if I'm stuck between the edge of the wilderness and the Red Sea with nowhere to go.  It is here where God meets me the most.  As for the Israelites, he sent Moses to raise his staff, and in God's power, the Red Sea is parted in half.  This is where I need to remember most, that God fights for me, there is a Moses somewhere lifting up his staff and the sea will part, I will be walking through the dry land and God will destroy the enemy.

Heavenly Father, I'm sorry for those times that I doubt you and lose my trust in you.  As I am faced with dilemmas and issues that arise in my life, help me to remember that I won't have to lift a finger because you are the one fighting for me.  Thank you for my life and everything in it.  Strengthen my hope and trust in you, help me to depend more on you and not myself.  Teach me your ways and soften my heart and mind to take in what lessons I need to learn and help me with the discipline that it comes with it.

You don't have to do anything, the Lord fights for you.  Trust him.        

Follow the road of truth

January 30, 2016 {Saturday, 11:37am}


Psalms 25:4-5

"Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.  Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me.  All day long I put my hope in you."

In times of despair and suffering, most times we do not know which end is up.  There are so many issues and emotions that run through a person, it seems as if you are spiraling out of control.  David, the writer of most of the Psalms truly knew how to depend on God, worshiping him in the good and the worst of times.  In this verse, he asks the Lord to show him the right way based on the truth, not his emotions or feelings but the true way to go.

Sometimes as we read the bible and seek God's truth, it still gets confusing.  The good news is that there is hope.  Hope for the future and a plan in our lives.  Jeremiah 29:11 speaks of this hope and future, they are not for disaster but for the good.  Asking for guidance is the best prayer to have, it gives us hope in Him who knows what the plans that he has for us.

Heavenly Father, guide us in your truth, lead us into the path of righteousness not the ways of disaster.  Help us to keep the faith, hope and especially to remember the love you have for us through it all, the good and bad times.

The road less traveled may be the road God leads us on.

Fear of the Lord

January 16, 2016    {Saturday. 12:16pm}


Proverbs 1:7

"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."

Solomon was a very wise man.  He had a vast majority of wealth, he prospered in all that he did, and he build the Lord's temple.  In the first verses of Proverbs, he gives the reason why the book was written in the first place.  The reason for the book of Proverbs is clearly stated in verse 2, it is for teaching wisdom and discipline, to help with understanding and insights to become wise.

In this scripture, to have a foundation, we must first fear the Lord.  Fearing the Lord does not mean to be scared of Him, but to have a deep reverence and respect for God.  I've prayed for the fear of God in my life, and what that means to me is that fearing the Lord comes with an appreciation of the things and people of God, his will in my life, and relying on his perfect timing.

Dear Heavenly Father, I am sorry for not having the fear of you many times in my life.  Please help me to obey your word, have your desires in my heart, and to have a deep respect for you.  Sometimes I feel that I do not because of my experiences in my health and that creates doubts and questions of your goodness.  I can have faith in your goodness because for you not to be good goes against your character of being God.  And I know that you are a good God.  Thank you for wisdom, knowledge and discipline.  Help me to be more disciplined and to fear you more.

Fearing the Lord begins by me having discipline and desire to know Him!