Beauty of Nature

The beauty that abound
beckons my spirits
and whispers to my soul...




Slow down
don't let the beauty of nature slip by unnoticed



Take time
pay attention to the handiwork of the Creator



Take pleasure
revel in the grandeur of His creation



Linger
feel the nearness of God and experience His closeness


Indulge
let the magnificence of His creation nourish your soul

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 9/30/2007 1 comments  

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{On Greatness}

I was blessed with great guests this weekend
thank you ate Cecile, ate Pinky, Nana, Timothy and Krystn
for making us all feel great
and for your great influence

greatness is making others feel great!
-G. K. Chesterton

greatness is not measured by affluence
but by influence
-Pastor Ron Salsbury

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 9/30/2007 0 comments  

I'm Yours

This is one of my favorite worship songs
from New Life Church
composed by Kevin Ross

Verse 1
You, O lord
Created me and passioned me
You, O Lord
Have blessed me with ability

Pre-Chorus
So what else can I do
But give myself to You
And let my life display Your wonder
Everything I am is according to Your plan
I'm created to praise You

Chorus
Everything I have is Yours
I wanna live my life for YOur glory
I'm giving You my life, my dreams,
I'm Yours
Everything I hope to be
Is under Your authority
There's no where else I want to be,
I'm Yours

Verse 2
You, O Lord
Laid down your life as a sacrifice
You, O Lord
Have rescued me and set me free

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 9/30/2007 0 comments  

{Simply Grateful} 9/11/2007

for a husband who encourages me to take care of myself and go to the gym
for an opportunity to go to the gym (body flow class)
for a time to be still and renew
for a chance to show my love and support to my mom (helped her take a shower)
for my mom's ankle's slow but sure recovery

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 9/11/2007 0 comments  

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{Simply Grateful} 9/10/2007

for a wonderful weekend at the beach...watching Phil help Belle skimboard
for Immanuel's and mom's safe drive back
for my husband's love and understanding
for Ian's amazing 'out-of-the-blue' words of wisdom
for concerned calls from friends closest to my heart
for turning my weaknesses to draw me closer to You
for a home in a place surrounded by beauty that beckons and woos my spirit to renewal and contentment

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 9/10/2007 0 comments  

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Perfectly Imperfect

as inspired by To Dance With The Lord

I am perfectly imperfect
I know I battle my own demons

the lure
of being in control
of directing circumstances
most especially my loved ones.

the lure
so strong is its pull
and the constant struggle
leaves me drained, weak and dry

for how could my perfectly imperfect self
really control anything?

and in my total surrender
the One truly in control says to me
from John 16:33, Jesus said,
" I have told you these things,
so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I, Jesus, have overcome the world."

The power that created the universe
is bigger than anything in it
all I have to do is
let go and let God.

My external circumstances may or may not change
But only in my total surrender,
in my brokenness,
through my cracks
can the Living Water overflow.

I recognize now
this state of overflowing
requires continual "in-filling"
after all, I am perfectly imperfect,
leaking through my brokenness.

As long as I remember
to let go and let God,
He will bring me back to Him.

In my total surrender
In my perfectly imperfect state
I will dance with the Lord.

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 9/09/2007 1 comments  

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Rebellion

I woke up to a gorgeous day today, but my feelings didn’t match the weather. I didn’t get a good night’s sleep last night after having another heated discussion with Immanuel. I was so enraged to my core that even Isabella’s happy disposition irritated me.

Immanuel is so convinced that there is nothing wrong with his spur-of-the-moment, inconsiderate actions. It was as if he wants to prove he does not need guidance. I am so furious I couldn’t change him and make him understand to see things my way.

Then I started having stomach pains and I discovered I have my menstruation. I opened my daily devotional given to me by mom’s angel friend, Tita Rose. On my bookmarked page where I left off before we left for our vacation, it read: “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. The writer was sharing a similar experience she was having with her child. As I read, I felt a release, a moment of understanding, and I realized my own narrow-mindedness and rebellion. I wanted so much for Immanuel to see things my way that I closed my heart and forgot to trust God.

Then I called my friend Paz and shared the experience. As the mother of Immanuel's girlfriend, and having teenagers of her own, we are both walking the same path and going through the same difficulties. She also shared similar experiences personal and otherwise. The conversation provided much needed additional comfort and enlightenment.

Dear God,
Please forgive my rebellion, for wanting things my way
Thank you for sending angel friends and for an uplifting book serving as a reminder.
Please give me the strength I so need to not give up on Immanuel and to have enough left to care for the rest of my children.
Please give Immanuel, myself, and my husband, the strength, patience and wisdom we need to understand each other.

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 8/18/2007 1 comments  

Fill Your Cup With Faith

This is the theme of New Life's 2nd Annual Ladies Tea and Luncheon. My friend Tessie asked me to help her set up a table. I got there "filipino time" and the table was already set up when I arrived. There were over 30 tables set with different motifs from tuscan to victorian to hawaiian, which is our table set up. Tessie did a great job setting up and decorating the table.


Meet the ladies of faith from our table
our very gracious and elegant host, Tessie Rosen

It was a nice fellowship and luncheon followed by an inspiring guest speaker.

"Is your cup empty or even cracked?" Sometimes we don't realize that our cracks are being used to drip "living water". When we look back we see flowers growing, watered from our cracked pots.

"I'm drinking from my saucer because my cup has overflowed".

Fill Your Cup With Faith

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 6/09/2007 0 comments  

Count Your Blessings

Count your blessings...

The people...
...the parent who nurtured you
...the friend who consoled you
...the stranger who lent a helping hand

The moments...
...a child's hug and kiss
...a soothing cup of tea
...an inspiring book

The familiar
...the sky above
...the warm sun
...the green grass

The unfathomable...
...God's undying love

Count your blessings
like a well watered garden
nurture contentment
and grow in gratitude

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 5/19/2007 0 comments  

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Quest for Greener Grass?

The grass is not greener on the other side....


....it is greener where it is watered

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 5/08/2007 0 comments  

Broken yet Complete

As I explore and ponder...
...my thoughts and feelings,
...dreams and aspirations,
...problems and frustrations,
these journals have become...
...a sweet release from life’s complications
...a silent reminder of hope
...a resource in time of need
in moments of confusion, self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, fatigue and hopelessness

would I allow fear and desperation to fill me with hatred and despair?

through the admission of my brokenness,
I am reminded of my humanity.
In this awareness of my human frailty,
I am drawn to HIM
I meet HIM at the cross
at HIS feet,
in my brokenness,
I am complete.

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 5/02/2007 2 comments  

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words of wisdom....recalled

Isabella wanted to read me a story one night. I said ok but I will also read my book.

Isabella:
"But mom you cannot do two things at the same time and focus. Master Choi said that. And I want you to really listen to me. So could you please not read your book at the same time?"

Well, that prompted me to immediately put my book down. I'm so glad I did...I got to experience a child's passion for reading...she read with inflection and deep feelings...what a blessing!

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 4/11/2007 0 comments  

The Word of God

The bible is...as necessary to spiritual life as breath is to natural life.
There is nothing more essential to our lives than the Word of God.
~Jack Hayford~

A man has deprived himself of the best there is in the world
who has deprived himself of the Bible.
~Woodraw Wilson~

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 4/03/2007 0 comments  

The Fog...A reminder of Hope

It’s been foggy for the past couple of days. It’s the first time I’ve seen it like this since we moved here. I always marvel at the splendor of the seascape whenever I glance outside. But the last couple of days I can’t even see past the next house. Well, today, the fog finally subsided and I can see the ocean again. The sight is like a breath of fresh air. This allowed for an even deeper appreciation for the majestic beauty that abound.

Our problems are like the fog. We need them so that when it passes, and it will, we can have a deeper appreciation of life and glorify Him who created and sustains it. We need to see past our problems, past the fog, and believe in the knowledge that there is hope, that it is temporary and will come to pass, that there is a blue ocean past the fog.

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 3/17/2007 0 comments  

Piggy Back Ride with Ian


"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow,
yet we forget that he is someone today."
~Stacia Tauscher~

Oftentimes we get so busy raising our children
we forget to enjoy them.

Dear God,
Thank you for wonderful moments such as this.
May I always remember to enjoy my wonderful
children you have entrusted to my care and love.
And thank you for an angel friend,
for giving her the talent and passion
in capturing and sharing this delightful memory.

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 3/16/2007 0 comments  

{On Eternity}

God hath given to man a short time here upon earth,
and yet upon this short time eternity depends.
-Jeremy Taylor

May we use our short time here upon earth....

To seek Your face
and know You intimately

To enjoy your blessings
and be filled with gratitude

To see you in every person, place and thing
and love each other and all that there is

To keep your promise in our hearts
and realize what might be

To long for the longing
and believe the best is yet to come.

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 3/16/2007 0 comments  

A Precious Prayer from my Little Angel













On Thursdays, Phil leaves for school before 8am,
requiring I take Isabella with me when I take Ian to school.
She gets a little car sick in the morning. When we got home
she said: "I don't feel very well, mommy".
I said: "Let me pray over you". About 5 minutes after my prayer
she said: "Mommy I’m feeling so much better. Thanks for the prayer."
So off we went to school.

I met with my new friend, Tessie, and she went with me to my 9:30am dance class. Then we had coffee together and talked for a while. It was time for me to pick up Ian (minimum day today) shortly after that. Afterwards, Phil and I had lunch at Yanagi Sushi (he comes home after his first class as his next class is not until 3pm). Then I cleaned for a little bit and....


... it was time to pick up Belle. We always talk about her day and then we enjoy the view during our drive home. In our moment of silence, I inadvertently uttered out loud to myself: "I’m not feeling very well". Isabella’s precious voice from the backseat: "You just need prayer mommy and you’ll feel much better. Let me pray, Dear God, let my mommy feel better, she’s the most wonderful mommy, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My soul, overpowered with a sense of spiritual ecstasy,
seemed to have soared to heaven
to give an ever so tight embrace
to the One who makes all things possible
for bestowing heavenly moments such as this
for His unfathomable sovereignty, goodness, and mercy.

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 3/12/2007 0 comments  

{On Happiness and Contentment}

It is not how much we have,
but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness
-Charles Haddon Spurgeon

They are not poor that have little,
but they that desire much.
The richest man, whatever his lot,
is the one who’s content with his lot.
-Dutch proverb

Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want,
but the realization of how much you already have.

Happiness is not where or when, but here and now!
-Zig Ziglar

Happiness: Always has been; Always will be...it's what we make it.

The happiest of people do not necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything.

There is no key to happiness;
the door is always open

my thought:
A happy life is a matter of choice,
a matter of perception,
a matter of faith.
If we truly believe
then happiness is inevitable.

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 3/08/2007 0 comments  

Crying...a cause for gratitude

We should be thankful for our tears;
they prepare our eyes for a clearer vision of God.
-William Arthur Ward

This reminds me of the time when I took speech class.
One of my speech topics was about how suppressing tears
can be toxic to our health. I remember Belle during the last day of school
when she saw her first grade teacher, Mrs. Tom, crying.
She said to her: "It's okay to cry Mrs. Tom, because you need it to release toxins in your body."
(she heard me practicing my speech too many times she memorized some of it:)

So even crying is something to be thankful for.

To be always in a thankful state of heart before God is not to be considered a high plane of spirituality but rather the normal attitude of one who believes that all things work together for good to them that love God who are called according to his purpose.
-William Law

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 3/07/2007 0 comments  

{On Humility}

Humility is confidence rightly placed
-Pastor Ron Salsbury-


a humble mind is the soil for a grateful heart
where no seeds of discouragement can grow
-Imelda Phillips-


"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble"
1 Peter 5:5b-7

Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 3/06/2007 0 comments  

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