Solitude by the Sea

Early in the morning, by the sea,

I sit in solitude

The affairs of the world never reach there;

Everything is quiet and calm,

All the nonsense has been swallowed up by the sea.

The sun glints through the surface

Like glitters of twinkling stars dancing on the waves

And my heart is pierced in a moment of peaceful beauty

Like a glimpse of heavenly paradise

After that day I became a seeker

And I was never the same

Bench of Comfort

Jeremiah 3:33

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

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

I feel so fortunate living in a place where the beauty of nature abound, where I can find sweet escape and be on vacation every single day...truly a blessing I am so very grateful for. I pray for my heart to be guarded against apathy and callousness. Heaven forbid that I might grow accustomed to such magnificence and take it for granted.

Related Post: Meditation Spot: Miracle in a Normal Day

This is the day....

Every single day is a gift
See it gratefully
Every single day is filled with potential
Enter it expectantly
Every single day is a golden opportunity
Use it wisely.

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.

Wonderfully Made and (OMG) Officially My Gift

Psalm 139:13-14 

For You created my inmost being; 

You knit me together in my mother's womb. 

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

I share this heavenly conversation with my daughter, Isabella, when she was 8 year old:

Isabella: "Mom did you know, Pheewee (term of endearment for her big brother Phil) told me, that 4 people are born and 2 people die EVERY SECOND?!"

Mom: "hmmm really?!" 

Isabella: "Yes! so isn't that amazing?! God is really working hard! He makes 4 people every second, and then, He has to turn the ones who die, into angels! And, He does that on top of watching over all of us!" 

Mom: "WOW!" (was all I could say)

Isabella: "And! I am so glad, when God made me, He put me in your stomach, and gave me to you!!!"

Mom: (blissfully stunned!)

Isabella is our 4^th child after 3 boys with an 8-year gap from our 3^rd son. We certainly didn’t plan a 4^th pregnancy nor were we adamant on having a girl. As a matter of fact, on each of my previous pregnancies, I begged God for sons because I was scared to raise a daughter in this world. I felt I was not mature enough and equipped to bring up a daughter. Having said all that, one might think that she’s an “accident” or an “oops” baby. To be very honest, when I first found out I was pregnant again for the 4^th time after almost 8 years, I got shocked and worried instead of happy and excited. My thoughts were that I have to start all over again just when I could finally do things for myself again (like go back to work or school). Selfish eh? By the way this was all during my “B.C.” life….my life before Christ…hence, my selfishness and fears (and maybe a hint of discontent?). Little did I know then that, just like our boys are precious blessings from Him, Isabella would be the gift of an angel daughter who would be an integral part of my spiritual journey to enlightenment. In line with Pastor Anne’s series on ‘Does Everything Happen for a Reason?’, we have learned that it is false to assume that whatever happens in life is God’s will and plan. But when it comes to the birth of a life, we can be assured that we, each and every one of us, are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of our Creator. So, no, Isabella is not an “accident” or an “oops” baby. She’s an OMG!....as in Officially My Gift!

Dear God, In Your image, You made us. How humbling, How empowering, How amazing! Help me to see, that In loving myself, Imperfections and all, I'm loving you as well. And thank you for putting an angel daughter in my stomach:)

Breathe

The aftermath of the holidays
left my house in a disarray
and my soul overcrowded
supermom lists
and new year's resolutions....

then this:

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!
-Joseph Scriven-

Thank you dear God
that you are just a prayer away
all that we need is readily available
anytime, anywhere
we can breathe in the breath of life

In my most frenzied moments
I breathe deeply and restoratively
long and luxurious
imagining my breath as a lullaby
soothing and calming
at the same time invigorating and rejuvenating
as I listen intently
every breath as notes
dancing, floating
like snowflakes
each unique and special
every inhalation controlled and conscientious
inhaling love
exhaling worries and anxieties
slowly easing my pressures
turning my tensions into tranquility
I am untroubled once more
amidst all the frenzy
serenity floods my spirit.

Thank you dear God
for the energizing breath of life.

Happy New Year

Year's end,
threshold of the old and new.
Clean pages of a bare calendar,
ready for a new chapter.

May the passing chapter
serve as an anchor
remembering lessons learned
God's unfailing mercy and undying love
His constant nurturing
all through and despite our constant turning

To put into perspective
the aches of the past
allowing the pain from our darker moments
to serve as launching pad
into a promise filled tomorrows
for we surely know
time and time again
when the light comes
we are never the same

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...

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.

A Sense of God

As inspired by: {Spiritual Awakening}

In the beginning
a sense of God
handed down from generations
of traditions, 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 apathy.
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 and welcomes me back.

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.

Bench of comfort

Perfectly Imperfect

as inspired by To Dance With The Lord

I am perfectly imperfect
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

and in my total surrender
the One truly in control says to me
"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." (John 16:33)

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.

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

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.

{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.

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.

Consoled by an Angel

a link from my sister 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

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

on decision-making

{when in doubt...seek the truth}-link from an angel friend

In today’s shopping expedition, a book entitled Change Your Home, Change Your Life caught my eye. I didn’t get a chance to stop and browse but it looks like a decorating book. Its impact on me is more than about changing my home through decorating. I thought of our relocation. Talk about life changing! Deliberation on relocation was very difficult because change is difficult.

Then this quote:
Each decision we make, each action we take, is born out of an intention.

So I believe that my decision can't be wrong since it is born out of good intentions. And whether or not I get what I intended, I know I will learn something from this decision and it will lead me and my family to what will ultimately make us happiest.

When in doubt
seek the truth
in seeking
we find
and we are set free
free to change
our perception
our faith
a faith that provides
a renewed sense of strength
a strength that joins a great force
a force from the source
the source of ultimate power
the power that invalidates doubts
reveals the truth
and sets us free.

{To My Children}

Dear Phil, Immanuel, Ian and Belle,

I thank God for you every single day. I thank HIM for giving me the best children any mother could ever have and hope for. I thank you, my babies (you will always be my babies), for helping and teaching me to be the best mother I could be. I love you beyond measure, or, as you so cleverly put it, to infinity and beyond.

You're sent to me from above
All four of you whom I truly love
As I scan and look
through the pages of my scrapbook
From baseball to cub scouting to taekwondo
I thought I was molding you ...
All along you were honing, shaping
my skills on parenting
I thought I was leading you...
All along you were honing, shaping
leading me to the best I can be
To others I'm a supermom it seems
No, not even in my dreams
never did I see
a mother I could be.