God's Splendor

Happy First Day Of July, everyone!

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What comes to mind at first glimpse of this beautiful image: God's omnipresent splendor, an aura of appreciation of His Mighty Hands. Flowers, Trees & Herbs in their own habitat 
 just like this have a grand captivity to my soul. And I'm lost for words...each time. It's no wonder that flowers are like the most romantic living epistle to my heart.

In Genesis 1:11-13 (KJV); And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 
And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day.                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                             

"The Anchor That Holds My Heart...to Safe Harbor"

The moment your child becomes a man is that time he becomes a testament of what you as a mother empowered him to become. For me, I believe that my passion for good,old/classical music has made my son indelible impression on his psyche. I didn't know till this particular event (Valentine's Day)that happened last year how my "taste in Music" turbo-charge his innate musical ability.I thank God for the unmerited Grace that He bestowed upon me as a single parent, raising two remarkable boys. To be able to share my basic skill in playing the guitar with Calvin and surpassed my level was a high end for me. Because of that, he expanded the guitar strumming to playing the piano and finally the knack for drums. Thanks to Google and some musicians at church and school choir experience. Now that he's completing a rigorous basic training in the Air Force, I really do miss him, his singing voice and his wit & humor. He is after all, my son who's after my own heart. Oh, I love my son so much.

"Mom's milestone moment"

"A New Journey To Embark..."

Letting go of a precious/beloved son on a Mother's Day Week to join the Air Force is a tough one. I know I'm going to cry a lot for a mother's sentiments are very sacred. Nothing outweighs a mother's love regardless how old your child/children may be...
But looking at my son, all I have is pure joy and pride. He didn't vacillate on this new journey. He was sure this is what he wants to do. Serving your country with strength and determination is an allegiance to patriotism. Now I feel other parents' prayer and to those whose loved ones are far away from home. I'm just overtly glad that even as a single parent, God has shown me what matters most: being a good mother is the greatest kind of stewardship God gave me. And I believe I raised my son well...To God I give all the glory!

"What To Do While Waiting For God's Answer"

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Sharing C. G. Trumbull's Insight via Streams In The Desert:

"God is going to test me with delays; and with the delays will come suffering but through it all stands God's pledge: His new covenant with me is Christ, and His inviolable promise of every lesser blessing that I need. 
The delays and the suffering are part of the promised blessing; let me praise Him for them today; and let me wait on the Lord and be of good courage and He will strengthen my heart."

My Personal Take...
Waiting patiently is everyone's "Achilles' heel" which attributes to an area of weakness or vulnerable spot. If we let our emotions and feelings of yearning dominate us, even our faith begin to fail and hope slowly departs.

What Would Jesus Want Us To Do?
"God sees every tear that falls; every whimpers that breathes in us and every prayer that we cried out loud and muttered." God implores us not to be consumed by the process of waiting. The Lord wants us to focus on His Word for His Word gives us eternal Bread of Life. His Word is unfailing and will not return void. When your spirit is vexed with exasperation, just give it all to God. And if there are people that you love that are ignoring your worth despite of you reaching out, it's time to cut them loose. You don't want to be with people that don't appreciate you or have neglected you. It's not worth giving yourself away to those who are weighing you down.
All we need is God's strength working through us. "You can take that to the bank."

What Works for Me...
I have gotten skillful in understanding the root or source of my emotions/feelings racing spirally. It really does take longevity to be real and stick with what truth is. Many times I associated my romantic fluidity to Astrology. Wait a minute, I said to myself, my Horoscope sign as a Sagittarius has no weight for gaining wisdom. As a Christian, that thought shouldn't even be entertained.
Now I can say that whenever I'm perplexed and discouraged, I hold on to the things that makes me whole, beautiful inside & out:
That would be reading God's promises about eternal life; continuing to believe in faith about the importance of family values; gearing on activities that are freeing and endorphin inducers such as jogging/walking 20 miles per week; immersing myself to more reading that makes me adept to everything that surrounds me; and listening to contemporary/soft/rock/classical Christian music and of course...lending an ear and a helping hand and reaching out to the needy. This, I admit, I have to move into the course of action, for Love is...

I think that it is very crucial that we stay physically, mentally, & spiritually fit. Thank God that I could play the guitar and knows when I'm out of tune...Playing a musical instrument is a good way of de-escalating brokenness even just for a Moment. And To God Be The Glory that He gifted me Teaching as my "Bread & Butter. Counting your blessings everyday is a big reminder that He is still on the throne. Please take this for me!

Let me close with this quote by C. S. Lewis:
"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts to us in our pains."
On a Final note, what was your most beloved-answered prayer? How long did it take for God to answer? Thanks for reading.

Love Always...Shing

"A Good Reason To Keep Believing"

I believe that God opens doors for new journeys and windows of opportunities for us to be better at life. There are no coincidences or what you call"they just happen" point of view. Nothing is insignificant and trivial on His sight. 
The Lord is big on giving second chances. God brings you the people you need to be with to accomplish His plan for your life. And because He loves us so much that even when we don't deserve blessings, God and His unmerited grace showers us in abundance.
I love the fact that He answers our prayers on His perfect timing. You better believe that. We may not see it as that but I have so much faith in His Word that He granted my earnest prayer. Even my prayers got second chances. And it exceeded all of my expectations.
Just when I thought of tossing and quitting and about ready to accept defeat and throw away my dream, He gave me you...

"Take Heart" On Second Chances

We're all guilty of not saying and doing the right choices in our lives. Some of our decisions are hasty for lack of maturity & wisdom. And of course there's that "flesh" and pride in the mix to obscure the right path we should have taken. 
There are also a magnitude of people like you and me devouring every excuse in the planet just not to be blamed for their present condition but in fact,  devoid of real accountability more so, responsibility for wrong and not so good actions.

        What I really Learned Today
Take heart before, during, and after you say and do something. Be honest and speak your mind through your heart. Seek the truth through your heart. The heart never lies...
There's an incredible peace, freedom and joy when we use the heart as the barometer in decision-making. You can never lose...
The same perspective I have with moving forward on second chances. Faced with it, I have no qualms pursuing second chances. I'm a Sagittarius. I speak my mind thoughtfully... I stand vigorously for what I believe to be true. That's liberty and commitment. 
I owe this to myself.
Today is the culmination of God's blessing, grace and wonder in my life. I'm still in cloud nine as they put it when you're overjoyed and ecstatic. Just when I was ready to accept my defeat, something beyond my imagination happened. Who knew I got my dream of owning my second chances today? What I do about it is all up to me. But I tell you this: there will be no regrets hovering for I'm taking my second chances with him. Final closure is within reach. Nothing is happenstance. Everything happens for a good reason.

Our God is the God of Second Chances. He hears our earnest prayers. He answers them in His perfect timing, never early; never late. There's a joy unspeakable in my heart, Today. Thank you Lord.