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 forget to enjoy them.
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
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
Wait in expectation
Psalm 5:2-3
Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 2/26/2007 0 comments
Living in The Power of Hope
Living in The Power of Hope
is the topic during service today
a timely message in my recent state of turmoil and distress
I am reminded to humble myself
and come to the One who brings comfort
Proverbs 3:34
God resists the proud
but gives grace to the humble
A lot of times, our distress is brought about by pride
trying to put on "God mode" when we try to handle things on our own
putting things on our shoulders and toughing it out, so to speak
when all we need to do is humble ourselves, surrender and bring it all to God.
When we lean on Him, we experience hope....
2 Corinthians 3:12
Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
....And boldness brings freedom
humble=surrender=hope=boldness=freedom
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 2/25/2007 0 comments
Labels: Sermon Notes
Consoled by an Angel
He hears and He answers....for my sister angel
In my moment of despair and anguish
In the middle of the night
I cried out...
Psalm 77:1-2
I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
When I was in distress,
I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands....
He reached out and extended His mighty hand
He cradled me through the comforting words of a dear friend
I was consoled by an angel
No halo over her head
No wings
No light shining over her
But what she radiates is an energy from inside
brought about by love and compassion
her empathy and companionship
provided stillness to my soul
restored through the eyes of hope
I was lifted and hopeful once again
in my moment of helplessness
I was gloriously helpless
consoled by an angel
Forgive me Lord
for despairing
forgetting in my moment of anguish
your words and your promise
Thank you Lord
that no matter what time of day or night
I can call on you and lean on you
Thank you for sending an angel friend
as an extension of your hand
providing comfort
in my time of distress
Psalm 94:19
When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul
Snuggle in God's arms.
When you are hurting,
when you feel lonely,
left out,
let Him cradle you,
comfort you,
reassure you of His all-sufficient power and love.
-Kay Arthur
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 2/25/2007 1 comments
Labels: My Poetry
On Reflection and Meditation
{On Reflection}
Follow effective action with quiet reflection.
From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.
-Peter F. Drucker
A quiet reflection with a thanful heart
recognizing that all that there is
and all that we are
is by His power
{On Meditation}
Holding the word of God in your heart
until it has affected every phase of your life...
... This is meditation.
-Andrew Murray
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 2/07/2007 1 comments
{On Faith...}
Little faith will bring your soul to heaven;
great faith will bring heaven to your soul.
-Unknown
Faith is to believe what you do not yet see;
the reward for this faith is to see what you believe.
-St. Augustine
Faith sees the Invisible,
believes the Incredible,
and receives the Impossible.
my thought:
Faith attaches itself to our plans
and we begin to fearlessly decide
{...And Anxiety}
Every tomorrow has two handles.
We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety
or the handle of faith
-Henry Ward Beecher
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith;
and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
-George Mueller
{...And Miracle}
For the truly faithful, no miracle is necessary.
For those who doubt, no miracle is sufficient.
-Nancy Gibbs
Faith does not, in the realist, spring from miracles,
but miracles from faith.
-Lloyd John Ogilvie
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 2/07/2007 0 comments
On the wings of prayer
On the wings of prayer
I soar to new heights
I am in communion with my Maker
and the cry of my soul
beholds joy beyond measure
my soul ascends
and I am cast away
on the wings of prayer
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 2/06/2007 0 comments
Labels: My Poetry
{On Change}
Out of difficulties grow miracles.
-Jean De La Bruyere
All change is a miracle to contemplate
Growth requires change, change brings forth growth
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 2/06/2007 0 comments
Live Life...
...and feel God's pleasure
link to: Tag at the Park
John 10:10b
"I have come that they may have life,
and have it to the full."
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord
and He will give you the desires of your heart.
There is not in the world a kind of life
more sweet and delightful
than that of a continual walk with God.
-Brother Lawrence
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 1/20/2007 0 comments
No need to doubt
{On Decision-making}
James 1:2-8
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,
not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives generously to ALL without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
But when he asks, he must believe and NOT DOUBT,
because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord,
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Responding to trouble with trust is the difference
that turns one person better and the other bitter
Trust eradicates any doubt
and doubt turns to hope
expecting and knowing
that God will act
and will reveal His goodness
and His greatness
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 1/20/2007 0 comments
HIS greatness
In last Sunday's service' opening prayer,
the pastor asked us to reflect on the song we just sung.
Particularly on the lyrics, how great is our God.
He asked us to think of His greatness
in our everyday lives, while driving...etc.
and tears of joy welled up as I meditated on the awesome wonder
I feel everyday I drive my children to and from school.
I bask in the beauty of God’s artwork and am filled
with absolute awe and admiration deep within my heart
and I pray that may it never depart, may I never lose that sense of wonder.
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 1/16/2007 0 comments
Key to Happiness
My mom & I attended service
and the message is entitled "A Healthy Perspective on Life".
It's part I of a series called Healthy, Balanced and Free.
The message called to mind new year's resolution(s).
And mine for 2007 comes from Matthew 6:33
But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness
and ALL these things will be given to you as well.
I resolve to live for Jesus and to know HIM more.
The message also called to mind a quote:
"there is no key to happiness
the door is always open"
A happy, healthy life is
a matter of perception,
a matter of faith.
If we truly believe
then happiness is inevitable.
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 1/07/2007 0 comments
As another year comes to an end,....
May we...
....Remember the Reason for the Season
and take time to reflect on its true meaning
....Celebrate the birth of our Savior
Rejoice!
....Offer Him our gift
discover our gift and live out His divine plan
For...
What we are is God’s gift to us
What we become is our gift to God. - Eleanor Powell
And...
Every happening, great and small,
is a parable whereby God speaks to us,
and the art of life is to get The Message. - - Malcolm Muggeridge
...Receive and believe The Message
for He is the Truth
...Walk with Him
for He is the Way
... Invite Him in so that He may live within us
for He is the Life
Merry Christmas & A Blessed New Year Everyone!
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 12/21/2006 0 comments
{Walk your Talk}
"You call ME Master and obey ME not;
You call ME light and see ME not;
You call ME the Way and walk ME not;
You call ME life and live ME not;
You call ME wise and follow ME not;
You call ME fair and love ME not;
You call ME rich and ask ME not;
You call ME eternal and seek ME not;
If I condemn you, blame ME not."
"It is not how high you can jump that matters,
but how straight you can walk when you hit
the ground again."
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 11/14/2006 1 comments
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