{Simply Grateful} 10/27/2007
....for a fun family time at the beach (Pumpkins on the Pier)
....for the soothing loveliness of our blooming rose garden
God hath not promised
Skies ever blue,
Flower strewn pathways
All our lives through;
God hath not promised
Sun without rain,
joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.
But God hath promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the labor,
Light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy,
Undying love.
-Annie Johnson Flint
My prayer:
Dear God,
Right now these flowers are in bloom
Soon they will wither and fall but they will bloom again
As I delight in the constant renewal of life
may it serve as a silent reminder of your promise
not of flower strewn pathways all our lives through
but of your constant presence and undying love
and help me remember that though we plant and water,
it is you who provides the life and growth.
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 10/27/2007 0 comments
Labels: Personal Thanks
{Simply Grateful} 10/22/2007
....for an opportunity to share a church friend's grief and show our love and support in her time of loss
....for Isabella's memorable birthday (through the graciousnes of ate Cecile she will forever remember and rave of watching the HS Musical on ice with her BFF on her 8th bday)
....for a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate covered pretzels from thoughtful ate Pinky that came in an opportune time of my chocolate fit
....for a wonderful dinner full of FUN (through the kindness of ate Pinky) in the company of my BFF and her whole family (it was very nice meeting her beautiful and wise mom & dad for the first time)
....for a chance to witness the joy in the sweet eyes of two wonderful girls as they spend time together during a sleep-over and most of Sunday
....for hope as my "lost sheep" start showing some signs of maturity
....for a safe drive back
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 10/22/2007 0 comments
Labels: Personal Thanks
Bench of comfort
He sits down beside me
and puts His arm around me
His comforting strength wrapped around me
like a soothing blanket
Speaking to me with such tenderness and compassion
helping me to be aware of everything around me
showing me things I need to see
pointing my thoughts toward a new perspective...
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 10/10/2007 1 comments
Labels: My Poetry
Dance with Jesus
When you stumble,
fall on Jesus.
When you are lonely and your sadness is unbearable,
cry to Jesus.
When you are happy and you can't contain your joy,
dance with Jesus.
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 10/10/2007 0 comments
Labels: My Poetry
{Simply Grateful} 10/09/2007
for a chance to watch the sunset with Isabella after her dance class
for a friend who inspires me to take photographs
and who continues to encourage me to write from my heart
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 10/10/2007 0 comments
Labels: Personal Thanks
A Sense of God
As inspired by: {Spiritual Awakening}
In the beginning
a sense of God...
handed down from generations
of traditions,
of beliefs and practices.
As time went by
life's distractions got in the way.
Pursuing possessions,
storing treasures on earth,
clouding that sense of the One
Who created it all.
Then a threat of losing it all
knocked me off my stupor.
A sudden emptiness
gave way to a longing
to bring back that sense
of the One Who gave it all.
The hunger for possessions
gave way to a yearning
for that sense of the One
Who provides for all I need
Who loves me unconditionally
Who forgives me and welcomes me back.
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 10/08/2007 0 comments
Labels: My Poetry
A True friend
You know you have a true friend
when you feel safe...
...to call for no reason
...to unload your bundle of irritations
...to share a humorous and embarrassing moment
...to just be yourself
With a true friend there is rest, comfort and acceptance of your soul
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 10/04/2007 1 comments
Miracle in a Normal Day
The whirl of day-to-day activities...
...getting the children up and ready for school
...preparing breakfast
...driving them to school
...doing dishes
...cleaning house
...paperwork, bills and phone calls
...picking up the kids
...supervising homework
...taking them to classes and practices
then starting all over again the next day
at times overpowering
at times overwhelming
Thank you, dear Lord, for leading me to a beautiful quiet place
where I can...
...find time to slow down and decompress
...find peace and tranquility
...find respite to gather strength for the day
...find You, feel your presence and hear Your voice
whispering to me
opening my heart
enlightening my soul
for these, my whirl of day-to-day activities,
are opportunities to give unconditional love
bringing me to the realization
that my everyday living
ordinary as it may be
is an extraoridnary testimony
to Your faithfulness and love.
Dear God,
Thank you for showing me the miracle in a normal day.
Posted byImelda@Inspired Simplicity at 10/04/2007 1 comments
Labels: My Poetry
Beauty of Nature
beckons my spirits
and whispers to my soul...
Take time
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
Labels: My Poetry
{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
Labels: Personal Thanks
{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
Labels: Personal Thanks
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
Labels: My Poetry
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
Meet the ladies of faith from our table
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
Labels: My Poetry
Quest for Greener Grass?
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
Labels: My Poetry
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
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