Precious Prayer from my Backseat Angel

submitted for St. Paul UMC newsletter
originally written March 2007

...pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

-James 5:16 -

My usual chauffeuring schedule back in 2007 included taking our third son, Ian, to his high school around 7:30A.M. while I left Isabella at home with our eldest son, Phil, who did not normally leave for school until later in the day.  As soon as I got home from taking Ian, I prepared Isabella for school and then I took her around 8:30A.M.  But on Thursdays, during the spring quarter of 2007, Phil left for school before 8A.M. requiring that Isabella come with me when I took Ian to school.  Then we returned home to prepare before I drove her to school.  Isabella used to get a little car sick this early in the morning.  When we got home on this particular Thursday, she said: "I don't feel very well, Mommy."  I paused and said: "Let me pray over you."  And I prayed a brief prayer of healing for her.  Shortly after my prayer she said: "Mommy I'm feeling so much better.  Thanks for the prayer."  So off we went to school.

I went about my day and met with my new friend, Tessie, who came with me to my 9:30A.M, dance class.  Then we had a blessed fellowship over coffee.  Not long after that, it was time for me to pick Ian up from "minimum day".  Then Phil arrived home after his first class, since his next class was not until 3pm.  We had a wonderful mother/son bonding time over lunch at Yanagi Sushi.  Then I cleaned the house for a bit, and before I knew it, it was time to pick Isabella up from school.  Time certainly flew especially my day had been fun and fruitful thus far.

During our drive from school to home, Isabella and I normally talked about her day while we enjoyed the beautiful view of Pismo Beach.  Many times the awesome view made us pause in silence allowing us to absorb and savor the beauty of nature.  In our short 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 prayer: Dear God, please let my Mommy feel better, she's the most wonderful Mommy.  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."

Needless to say, I felt heavenly after my precious backseat angel's prayer.

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.

Battlefield of the Mind and Prayer

(submitted for St. Paul UMC February 2013 Newsletter)

Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer is our small group's first study for the year 2013. Though I've read the book in bits and pieces, and even had the privilege of attending Joyce Meyer's live teaching on the topic last September, I'm still excited to learn more and re-learn or be reminded of ways we can fight the “battle” in our mind. I believe that we all need constant reminders that we are in a daily spiritual battle but we have weapons that we can use against our enemy, one of which is prayer.

Ever since I came to know Christ, I am very joyful and thankful to declare that my life has taken the path of joy and peace. But that is not to say that I don't have moments when negative thinking gets the best of me. But through prayer and the study of His Word, I am able to snap out of my negative thinking quicker and quicker as I get to know Christ more and more.

As Joyce Meyer often says, I may not be where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be. I believe that this is a wonderful affirmation to remember as we begin the new year. With that said, I thought I'd write down three major changes or transformations Christ has done in my life.

1. I am not as easily offended. If I do get offended, by the grace of God, I am able to somehow quickly move past the offense, remembering Christ's words: “forgive them for they know not what they do”.
2. I am less judgmental. The cross made me realize that ALL have fallen short of the glory of God. We all have our own weaknesses and struggles and only God can change other people, not us.
3. Prayer has become a major part of my daily life. Sometimes I think prayer is just all I could do in moments when I can't really do anything. But the truth is, prayer is the best thing we could do especially in those moments. Prior to my personal relationship with Christ, I wouldn't think of prayer as my first response. If anything, it was my last resort. And let alone praying for other people! But these days, I am happy to say that I even learned, and now enjoy, praying even for strangers.

I have learned to use any and all available “empty” time. In our study of Battlefield of the Mind, I learned that we have to consciously choose what we think about. Otherwise the enemy will fill our passive minds with negative stuff. “Empty” time for me is while waiting, cleaning, or sometimes driving. My daughter, Isabella, is the one who actually showed me that I could pray for strangers while driving, when one commute day to ballet she pointed out a car pulled to the side of the road and said out loud: “I hope that person is ok.” Ever since then, we offer a quick prayer whenever we see someone pulled to the side of the road.

As for free time while waiting for Isabella's ballet class to end, I have learned to observe and look for any prayer need. Sometimes it's someone trying to parallel park on a busy street. I pray for both the one trying to park and patience for the one waiting. Sometimes it's a parent having a hard time with a misbehaving child. Other times it's a motorist getting a citation, or worse, getting towed. The list can go on and on. And before I know it, Isabella's class is over. I have found that praying is the best way to make use of my empty time and the best way to fill my thoughts with good stuff thereby coming out victorious in my own “battlefield of the mind”.

Personal New Year (Birthday) Thanksgiving

(submitted for December 2012 Church Newsletter)

The month of November is a special month for me. Not only is it Thanksgiving, it is also the time when I get to celebrate my very own personal new year...my birthday! With that said, I thought I’d share my “Personal New Year’s Thanksgiving” including some of the things that I have learned thus far over 45 years of a blessed life and over 26 years of equally blessed marriage and motherhood coupled with some of my fave Scriptures and quotes.

Count your blessings, name them one by one, ….see what God hath done! 

Thankful for: 

• God’s goodness and love (my saving grace....though unearned and undeserved, is always ever unconditional and unending) 
• Jesus Christ (my Rock and Redeemer) 
• Holy Spirit (my Guide and Counselor) 
• Word of God (my daily bread) 
• Prayer (my lifeline; “oldest form of wireless communication; no busy signal, always available, never a dropped call”) 
• Family (my first-hand teachers on love; “The love of family is life’s greatest joy”; “Love is the only thing that can be divided without being diminished”)
• Friends (my angels on earth) 
• Health (my wealth on earth) 
• Home (my refuge and shelter on earth; “All the riches in the world cannot equal a home filled with love”) 
• Writing/journaling (my reflections and testimonies of God’s faithfulness in my life) 
• Quiet time (my time with God; In His presence is fullness of joy - Psalm 16:11) 
• Bible Study Group and church (my brothers and sisters-in-Christ) 
• The beauty of nature (my favorite art; How Great Thou Art!) 

Some of my Spiritual Do's and Don'ts: 

• Don't think of how far we have to go; Do think of how far we've come. (“I may not be where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be” – Joyce Meyer) 
• Don't wait until everything is perfect before we decide to enjoy our life everyday; Do enjoy where we are on the way to where we're going 
• Don't compare and judge ourself and others; Do realize we all have strengths and weaknesses and therefore need one another 
• Don't take on cares; Do cast off our cares on HIM. (To do what I can, and leave what I can't to God. To let go and let God)

On Marriage: “The gift of weathering the seasons of life together is only experienced when we do not give up in the dry seasons.”

On Motherhood: To embrace the differences amongst/between our children. To notice and to love what is already good in each them. To be attentive and to completely savor every season/phase of their growth. (they grow up fast)

On Life: To be aware and fully enjoy the richness of everyday life; To have an expectant heart....The best is yet to come!!!

Thank God We Are Not The Same

(submitted for November 2012 church newsletter)

Have you ever heard a sermon at church and the message pertains to a situation that you are currently experiencing? And it's as if God is talking to you right then and there? Doesn't it give you goosebumps of gratitude and awe all over?

I elbowed my husband during the sermon at the recent Heritage Sunday to point out the title of the message: "Thank God, We Are Not The Same!" Though the focus of the message was more about embracing the diversity in the church, the title hit home for me as it pertains to my recent complaints and frustrations toward the "differences" between me and my husband.

You see, my husband and I are polar opposites. Besides the obvious age (15 years my senior) and cultural (I'm Filipino and he's American)gaps that we have, my husband is a night owl and I'm a morning person. His top choices for TV shows and movies would be my least, and vise versa. And while I love to go out and big crowds don't bother me, my husband would rather stay home especially if there's even a slight chance that there would be a big crowd. The list can go on and on.

Like a diverse church united by the same Spirit that established the very first church (Acts 2:1-13 The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost), over the years (26 years and strong), the same Spirit empowered our marriage and we have learned to respect our differences, to compromise, and to focus on our similarities and the things that bind us together.

By the grace of God through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have even learned to like some of the things that the other enjoys. And most importantly, I have come to realize and embrace that there are wonderful gifts that a polar opposite can bring. The gift of our polar opposite can fill in our blanks, challenge us to stretch, and even complete us.

For years I have been asking: "God, please change my husband" when I should have been praying: "Thank you God, we are not the same".

Solitude: A Renewal Ritual

(submitted for October 2012 church newsletter)

Life throws us "curve balls" every once in a while. You know, those times when all of a sudden things seem too overwhelming to handle? When that happens we are thrown out of balance. The enemy targets our time for solitude because those off-balance moments are the enemy’s playground.  I have learned that it is during those very "busy" moments when I need a time for solitudeeven more. Only when I pause and take time in solitude, to pray and process the whirlwind of emotions that always accompany those "curveballs", can I regain my equilibrium and bring me back in balance.

Jesus practiced solitude throughout his life and ministry.  He sought solitude prior to preaching (Mark 1:35, Luke 4:42), after hearing about the death of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:13), after feeding the multitude (Matthew 14:23), before choosing His disciples (Luke 6:12), and at the end of his life he sought solitude in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36).  If Jesus Himself needed time to be with the Father, how much more do we need this time?

Solitude is a primary spiritual discipline. Dallas Willard says, “solitude is generally the most fundamental in the beginning of the spiritual life, and it must be returned to again and again as that life develops.”  If we are to grow spiritually, we need to continuously practice the discipline of solitude preferably on a daily basis. Solitude has become my foundation for the practice of other disciplines such as meditation, journaling, and prayer.

Solitude rarely happens unless it's scheduled. Therefore, the first most important step is carving out the time.  Log it in your calendar as “appointment with God”. Anytime that works best for you is the best time. The important thing is that you take time.  Pretty soon you won’t need to log it in anymore, because it will become a natural part of your schedule.

I like to think of solitude as one of my renewal rituals and a time for some R&R (rest and reflection). Rituals allow us to create our own ways or strategies of doing things that inspire us and that work best for us.  We can uplift or elevate the way we do ordinary things so that a simple task rises to the level of something special - as in putting the “extra” in the ordinary, making it extraordinary.  As a stay-at-home mom, I spend a large portion of my time keeping the home clean.  I have learned to incorporate cleaning as part of this renewal ritual.  I may not be sitting still, but my mind is free and open, allowing a time for solitude and prayer.  To elevate the task, I may put on my special apron, play a soothing music, or light a sweet smelling candle, allowing an enriched sense of well-being as I take delight in a clean home that exudes serenity and invites more solitude. Which brings us to the next step: finding your own place of peace and comfort.

Retreating to your own place of peace and comfort can be one of the highlights of solitude. You could dedicate a corner of a room (perhaps by the window?) and possibly decorate it with a comfortable chair or chaise, coupled with a nice lamp and table for tea, and maybe a beautiful basket for fave books and journals?. Or it could be in the warmth and comforts of your bed.  You can possibly add a luxuriously soft blanket and pillows (just be careful not to fall asleep:). Or it could even be in the sanctuary of your car which has become the more common spot for me. When lived in Pismo Beach, I parked by the beach after I dropped the kids off at school and indulged in the beauty of God's creation.  These days, I park in San Francisco after dropping Isabella off , either by the ballet with the view of the beautiful Opera House and City Hall, or by the marina with the view of the awesome Golden Gate bridge.  Anywhere it may be, I look forward to it everyday. As I go to my place of solitude, I am excited about what will happen and I wait expectantly. I know my time there would be something rich and fruitful. It is a place where I retire for renewal and a place to commune and delight with the Lord.

Testimonial

presented at St. Paul UMC, Fremont, CA May 20, 2012
http://www.stpaulumcfremont.org/testimonial-imelda-phillips/

and submitted for Jul/Aug 2012 newsletter

photo by: Namu Williams Photography

When Ate Lolita Flores, our Bible study group leader, asked me to do a testimony, I tried to think of a reason why I couldn’t. But you see, that’s just the thing...when you are part of a Bible study group, the “I can’t” becomes “I can”.

So I thought I'd start with an introduction of myself before Christ (my “B.C.” life). I'm an only child, born and raised in the Philippines.  I grew up attending an all girls’ Catholic school so I can say I have always known OF Christ.  But my understanding of Him was confined to the usual "head" knowledge. Unfortunately we all know that mere head knowledge is not enough to get that deep joy and peace that only comes through a personal relationship with the Lord.

After my first year of college, we migrated to the US. The following month, I enrolled at a computer school in San Francisco where I met my husband who was my instructor. We got married the following year. Yes, it was fast and I was only 18 years old. And my husband will tell you (as he tells everyone) that I wrote him a note (on a Hello Kitty stationery) saying, “I came to America to find a blue eyed American with a Harvard education, and you’re it”. Looking back now, I can’t believe I did that. But you see back then, my motto was: “what Imelda wants, Imelda gets”. I’m telling you all this to make a point at how shallow my then mindset was.

We started our family right away. We are now blessed with four wonderful children. But as a very young wife and mother during my “B.C. life”, I was focused on the accumulation of wealth and I led a "trying-to-have-it-all" kind of lifestyle.   We moved several times in search of the bigger and better home.  But my level of happiness and satisfaction was all superficial.  There was no real deep joy and contentment. In other words, as Pastor Sun Hee so cleverly preached, I felt WEIRD rather than WIRED and FRIED rather FIRED.

Well my opportunity for that came in 2004 disguised in the form of financial difficulty. The kind of opportunity which, as Pastor Sun Hee described, took me from being bored, bland, and burnt-out to being bewildered, amazed and astonished.

In the spring of 2004, after 18 years of lucrative computer consulting business, my husband lost his major consulting contract and we also lost our entire savings. So there was no means to replenish the pot (no job), nothing to draw out from (no savings), and our eldest son was then entering College. For someone so focused on material wealth, I was in total despair and it brought me to my knees and I wrestled with God with my why, and how, and what questions. And in my “wrestling” came the beginning of my enlightenment and transformation.

Around that same time my mom met an “angel” in the person of Tita Rose Agana during one of her walks. Tita Rose became instrument of my spiritual journey. She introduced us to Ate Lolit Flores and the Fremont Bible Study Group. God started to slowly reveal Himself through the study of His Word.

I remember the very first verse that God impressed upon in my heart: “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” Psalm 37:4. Through the study of His Word, I slowly came to know the incredible love of God through Christ, giving way to a deep hunger and delight for His Word; and He started changing the desires of my heart.

My husband continued to be without a consulting contract for 2 years. In 2006 we were forced to sell one of our homes (the big one which I thought was my dream home). As I continued to delight in the Lord, my focus turned to HIS promises and the positive effects of my husband’s “joblessness”. I saw how it allowed my husband quality time with our children.

We ended up moving back into our smaller home, our then rental property. It was a Divine appointment that not only rescued and released me from a superficial and exhausting lifestyle (cleaning a big house is not all that fun; no wonder I felt “fried”), it turned out to be the best course of action after all. We sold our home for so much more than what it would have sold in the economy that followed, allowing us to purchase a home in Pismo Beach close to Cal Poly where our eldest son attended College.

It was there where He revealed to me the kind of life that He came for us to have, one that is overflowing with riches of the heart that nothing and no one can ever take away that causes us to get bewildered, amazed, and astonished, even in challenging times.

And it's only by spending time in His Word that I get to really know HIM and learn to hear His still, small voice, to release control, to “let go and let God, to “be still, and know that He is God. And a Bible study group allowed me that opportunity. I look forward to Fridays when our small group enjoys fellowship, sharing praises and burdens as we study and get filled by the Word of God. I love my small group and I am in awe of their unequalled and instant support. Like when I recently suffered a back pain. One quick text and they were all praying for me. And as if their prayers were not enough, they personally came to visit me to lay healing hands including healing massage…I am truly grateful.

I may not be where I need to be, but thank God I’m not where I used to be (as Joyce Meyer would often say in her messages). Through my Bible study group, I have come to enjoy quiet time, reading devotionals, and listening to inspirational talks, allowing me to continually take delight in the Lord.

In closing, and in conjunction with Pastor Sun Hee’s recent messages, through the study of God’s Word, the power of the Holy Spirit took me from feeling WEIRED and FRIED (from relying on my own powers and pursuing treasures on earth) to feeling WIRED and FIRED and having the courage in declaring the awesome love and saving power of God. Thanks be to God.

The Word Became Flesh

(submitted for St. Paul UMC June 2012 newsletter)

Our present bible study at Fremont Bible Study Group is on the Gospel of John. I remember when my husband and I traveled to Greece in 1995. We went on a cruise of the Greek isles including the island of Patmos and we visited the cave where the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation. Just even thinking about it now gives me major goose bumps. Unfortunately I didn't feel it back then because I was not yet in the Word and was not “in tune” with the Holy Spirit. I remember all I could think of at that time was getting out of that cave so I can go shopping. So sad. But I do recall my husband feeling in awe at that moment and I thought he was weird. Sad, but it is now a wonderful testimony and affirmation to me of 1st Corinthians 2:14, which says, "the man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."

I missed the deep joy then, but thank God for His grace, I have it now!!! Praise the Lord!!! I now have the kind of deep joy that surpasses understanding. The kind of deep joy that I pray for everyone. The kind of deep joy that can only come from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

God continues to reveal so many things to me during our bible study and I get so overwhelmed. I can't even imagine how the Apostle John must have felt during that time in the cave when he was writing the book of Revelation. I, too, desire to write what God is somehow impressing upon me through the study of His Word. But it is so overwhelming that I feel like I will be mumbling and I'm afraid no one will understand what I'm trying to say. But wait! I cannot say no one will understand because 1st Corinthians 2:14 says only the people without the Spirit will not understand. Kind of like what the Apostle John said in John 1:5- "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."

So I'll give it a shot. Here goes. I learned that God reveals just the right amount of information to just the right person(s) at just the right time. In His own perfect time.

Even the book of Revelation, or the whole Bible for that matter, is still not fully understood to this day. The Apostle John wrote what was impressed upon him by the Holy Spirit. Maybe he even had some of the same fears I'm having now. Fears that people might not understand and that they may even think he's foolish. But discernment and revelation was neither up to him nor anyone of us. It is only God who can and will reveal just the right amount of information to just the right person(s) at just the right time....the most opportune time.

Just like when He gave the law to Moses. Even the law was only half of the puzzle then. The fulfillment of the law, Jesus, came later. Hence, v. 17: "For the law was given to Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

This verse also reaffirms to me the awesome character of God. The law that was given to Moses displays not only the holiness of God but also His goodness and sovereignty. The law also demonstrates the unrighteousness of mankind. None of us can live up to the law. The magnitude of the law shows us how holy our God is, and how sinful we are. If there is no sin, then there's no need for law; and vice versa. And here's where we see God's sovereignty and goodness. He knows that we cannot live up to the law and that the unholy cannot come to the Holy.  Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Grace is the unmerited favor of God. This clearly shows His goodness. While we were still sinners, He sent His only Son. The Word became flesh. Hence, the purpose of the Book of John: To proclaim Jesus' true identity and make Him known so that all may come to repentance.

v.12: Yet to ALL who RECEIVED HIM, to those who BELIEVED in His name, He gave the right to BECOME children of God.

link to photos from the trip 

Learning to Dance in the Rain

(submitted for St. Paul UMC May 2012 Newsletter)

  One rainy day in April 2011, during one of my daughter, Isabella's, rehearsals for the San Francisco Ballet’s production of Coppelia, I learned a lesson on “dancing in the rain”. We decided to take the train rather than our usual drive to San Francisco. We elected to take BART because it was going to be a long rehearsal and I didn't want to have to worry about parking issues. When we got out of the train, it was pouring rain. I told Isabella: "Let's stop at the library and wait for the rain to pass.” She said: "But Mommy, we don't know when the rain will pass. Let's just go for it." So we did “go for it” and toughed the rain. As we were walking the 3 long blocks to SFB, the rain seemed to have gotten worse, and I could feel the water seeping into my boots. I was so concerned about Isabella's feet and tights getting wet. By this time I started losing my peace and getting irritated, opening a door for the enemy to come in. I got upset at Isabella for suggesting to "just go for it" instead of stopping at the library. I was actually upset at myself, but I just had to put the blame on someone else (confession). In her efforts to calm me down, she said: "Mom, remember you always say to enjoy the moments? And this is a rare moment when we get to walk in the rain! Let's have fun with it and we'll always remember it."   Well, I will surely remember that ever so precious moment. I learned yet another treasured lesson from my angel daughter.
 
I was worried for Isabella’s feet and tights getting wet. Well, they did get wet, but the War Memorial Opera House is fully equipped with a washing machine and dryer, and the staff gladly took care of her wet tights. And there was plenty of time for me to take care of not just her wet feet, but also her blessed spirit. We took time to reflect on the priceless wisdom offered by that particular, memorable moment. So as it turned out, my getting worried, upset, and irritated was a complete waste of energies and time. 

This quote came to mind: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain". 

We can choose to be happy as we wait for the storm to pass.

John 16:33 
"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 10:10b 
"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." 

Dear God, Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to overcome the world so that in Him we may have peace. Thank you Jesus for coming so that we may enjoy life to the full even during the “rains and storms” of life. And thank you for an angel daughter who taught me how to “dance in the rain”.

Revelations from Buffing the Floor

(submitted for St. Paul UMC September 2012 Newsletter)

“Mom, why do you buff the floors every day? I think there’s something wrong with you”. This is what my middle son jokingly told me one cleaning day.

You see, as a “seasoned” stay-at-home mom, I have become quite efficient when it comes to cleaning our home, to a point that I buff the floor almost every day. My children would probably argue that it's not efficiency; rather more like OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). They termed my OCD tendencies “Monk-ing” taken from the TV show “Monk” about an obsessive compulsive detective. Anyway, my children often say: “Mom is Monk-ing again”.

My choice of a dark cherry wood flooring for our home didn't help my OCD tendencies. The floor looks beautiful when it is clean and buffed. Unfortunately, every little dust and most specially foot marks, become very visible and they bug me to a point that I sometimes end up all upset at my family (confession time) if they fail to put slippers on and leave foot marks on our newly buffed floor.

So as I buffed the floor, I pondered what my son told me. Could there really be something wrong with me? I think I do have borderline OCD (ok sometimes it seems more like full blown OCD:). There may be some truth to what my son said: I must be getting some type of enjoyment from buffing the floor to be doing it that much. Then the answer stared right at me as I buffed away (one of those aha! moments). Because I also love to reflect, meditate, and pray so much, floor buffing allows me that extra time! And then I realized that I do the same thing when I take a shower, fold laundry, wash dishes, or vacuum - anytime I'm doing something that sort of frees my mind to reflect, meditate, and pray. I call these action prayers....prayers while in “action”.

Then there are those prayers I term my resting/waiting prayers: those graceful moments taken while I'm resting (i.e. tea/coffee time, or when I can't sleep, or during my quiet time) and while I'm waiting (i.e. at the doctor's office, or waiting for Isabella at dance, or just about anytime I'm waiting). So, basically, I have been blessed with a very reflective personality and that, by the grace of God, I am able to use any available time in getting to know HIM more intimately. So now every time I see dust or foot marks on our floor, instead of getting all upset, I remind myself that it is another great opportunity to “meet” with God. And so I blissfully buff away, all to the glory of God.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not human masters.
 - Colossians 3:23

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:)

Too Blessed to be Stressed

Daily Message from Shell Beach Elementary's Project Wisdom:
Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?
Make it a great day...or not. The choice is yours.

Isabella is blessed with a positive attitude and a happy disposition. Very rarely would she get upset or get negative over something. But one day in third grade we picked her up from school upset and frustrated with some of her classmates who backed out of their agreement to join in their school's talent show. I reminded her of her usual reminder to me during my own times of frustration: "remember you're too blessed to be stressed". You see, she's the one who gave me that phrase to help me in my own times of stress. Teary eyed she responded: "but mom, right now I'm too stressed to be blessed". She made me realize that those words she quotes, go both ways. When we focus on our blessings, our stress fades and loses its grip on our heart. On the other hand, when we focus on our stress, our vision is clouded and our blessings are blocked. Then came some words of wisdom from her big brother Ian: "It's sort of like seeing a glass half full or half empty". I had him explain that to his sister. Isabella resorted she will focus on the glass that is half full because she chooses to have an attitude worth catching...she chooses to be "too blessed to be stressed".

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.