"How You React To Your Life's Misgivings Is Powerful..."

This writing regimen on writing a topic of your own choice with 500 words is kind of fun. You just write without the accountability of being precise or spot on with your writing. You just write your thoughts. It doesn't even matter if your words are not cohesive with the rest of your sentences. Just be spontaneous. Be free. What does that gonna look like?

Well, today is just the second day of 2019. And it still feels like 2018 is at bay in my personal calendar. It's not that I'm not excited about what this year may bring but there is so much at stake here. I'm doing the corporate Danie's Fast with my church for 21 days and I'm already having withdrawals with not drinking coffee, not eating red meat, no sweets of any kind and no social media and Netflix. Blogging is okay. Reading Christian books is welcome. Listening to K- Love and Air one radio is helpful. 
I look at this as a challenge and a discipline to my body and to my mind, heart & soul for I know that after the Daniel Fast, I feel replenished and more focused on the things that matter most. Isn't that what most of us want? Come to think of it, with all the constant distractions around us even when we're asleep; the things that we dream are all connected to what we do and how we use our time. However, we need the challenge to awaken our soul to do the things that are beyond our comfort zones. And in every challenge lies the misgivings. Can I really do it? What if I do it and go back to be a slob again? I believe that you owe yourself to be healthier this year in all areas of your life even if it means dragging your feet to do it.

This afternoon I went to see my mom who lives 17 minutes away from me. It's been raining all day. I hit a lot of puddles going to her house. She asked me to sew her jean pants and so I did with needle & thread. I also helped prepare dinner for her and my youngest sister. I love my mom dearly. However, when I talk to her now I have to be loud, otherwise, she can't hear me. She refuses to have a hearing aid that she's not going to pay. I don't quite get that. Don't you wanna hear your loved ones talk clearly? Because very oftentimes, she just keeps on talking and not listening to us.
And that results to miscommunication. A lot! But she's my mom. I am thankful every day that she is still alive. I have a lot of friends and high school classmates that their moms or both parents are no longer here on earth. And I know that puts you to misery especially at Christmas, New Year's & Thanksgiving.

So, I will tolerate the little inconvenience with the hearing loss and sooner or later, I would be in that situation. Let me tell you. Growing old is not a joke, it's a slow death. That's a myth to be growing gracefully. The pangs of aging are some kind of disconnection between your mind and your body. The only one thing that is intact is your heartbeat. Listen to it!

"I Pray That Your 2019 is Moving Forward..."

Attending a New Year's Eve Church Service has always been my end of the year celebration with my very good friend Senaida. Tonight we arrived 20 minutes early. The parking lot wasn't packed. We got seats 4 rows from the very front of the altar. Where we were seated was actually a good place to worship...
This is not our home church. Most churches were closed for the New Year's including ours. Thus, we decided to go to this church, a sister church. The Praise & Worship Team started with a song I never heard before. I just thought it was one of the Hillsong's. Or maybe an original song composed by one of the worship singers. And it went on to be a few more songs that I'm not familiar with. That's frustrating when you're just moving your lips but not singing the words. Finally, "How Great Thou Art" was sung to my delight.
Then I caught myself murmuring, complaining about their song choices. I can't be stoic I told myself. Whew! That was pretty bad of me to have that feeling, especially it's the last few hours to conclude before ushering to 2019. That convicted my heart. It's not about what I love to hear but the right attitude to ring in the New Year. Realizing my mistake, I asked God's forgiveness. I know that the enemy wanted me in his corner of selfishness, however, after giving it to God, my murmurings turn into true worship. I may not know the words, but I can still close my eyes, lift my hands and pray which are all forms of worship.
On the other hand, the preacher gave us a powerful message of us all moving Forward. That it is way too long for some of us to have stayed stagnant in our lives. That we remained unmoved with the things that are of God. Complacent maybe the word. Maybe even oblivious to the blessings that are unclaimed by us. We're not willing to move our faith forward...
I pray that we all delve in to reading His Word, get involved with church ministries that are close to our beliefs and less social media.
I believe we can all do that by the grace of God. It is not our own ability that we are able to do it. It is always the grace and the mercy of God that is our present help.
His love never fails...
That's my testament!

"You Are such A Gift To Me.."

The Wonder of His Love is unfathomable 

His grace is the outpouring gift of every day's plea

Jesus, You are the only reason for this Season

Celebrate Life by knowing He is our Savior!

"Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God and All These Things Will Be Added Unto You...

A canopy that shields the imprint of melancholy...
What do you think are they?
The peace that comes as a guest into your heart; it fades, hovers away...
That unrequited love, seemingly endless chase
That wilderness we're all familiar with-- withering time, sunken flesh, goals altered,
The poverty-stricken life.
   What else is on the horizon?
I see facets of deepening depression
I read them, I see them in the eyes of strangers
and I feel their pain.
There is the God that touches and holds your uncertainty
Let Him Heal You.
Today.

"No Matter What Happens..."

                    
               I don't know how I can drive my car without turning on to K- Love or Air One Music Radio. I'd rather have my air condition or heater not working on a 17-minute ride to & from work than not having my ears, my heart fluttering to music, to beautiful songs...To some of us, maybe this is kind of eccentric preferring physical convenience to spiritual bliss so there it is--I believe there's that medium of eccentricity in me that I find it to be a lifesaver. No wonder I consider myself not so susceptible to engulfing depression. Thanks to my great endowment for good music, for the outdoors and to the One Holy God that gives us all the gifts & blessings we don't even deserve...I say that because had it not been for the heartstring for music, the saving grace of His Word, having a very supportive, loving family & loyal friends and my lifelong relationship with poetry & Nature, I could have been a lost broken-hearted nomad! Or worst, finding me at the bottomless pit! Whew, Scary!

Well, I heard this new song last month. It's a living testimony we need to walk in faith that no matter what is going on in our lives, and whatever we've done, God's love for us is eternal. Romans 8:38-39  says, "For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thank You, Lord.

This "music meets heaven's" declaration.
Hope you love this song. I was so curious about the background musical instruments used for this music video. I thought I heard cymbals, sticks, maracas or shakers...Love how they merged to make such a beautiful melody, and the beat is on perfect cue. I think so, too.

"He Is Good In Every Season..."

For seven months, my creativity for words lay still in my brain...It's definitely not a writer's block. Still persuading myself that it might just be that I canceled out being one--an archaic writer. However, every aching soul deserves a second chance. We all do.
So it is already September! My heart leaps for joy every time I see shades of hope on the horizon. My feelings and emotions begin to line up like the popular idiom, "to have one's ducks in a row." 
Hope, you join me as I encapsulate the meaning & purpose of anticipating a great wave of September delights.
May the gift of the Lord's blessings be intentional in your life!

God's Faithfulness In My Mom's Life And Mine...

Mother's Day, Christmas & Birthdays are the only three celebrations of life that pull my heartstrings to the deepest. All the rest of the Holidays fall under the canopy of what they represent. That's for all I know...

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Every passing day, I
learn how to alter my ego esp. when I'm with my mom. It's not about me but it's about her that I would recognize; her fragile touch of affection I will always treasure, her vulnerability to life's fleeting moments as her frail body that was for a long time a very strong anchor physically and spiritually, now can only be outstretched by the help of a wheelchair, walker and our arms wrapped around hers. 

At 82, my "mamang's" mind is strong. I suffer from periodic memory lapses but she doesn't. She still an avid fan of Hallmark cards. She meticulously reads every line and when a specific word or phrase touches her heart, she'll buy them with no money issue. You know Hallmark cards are not cheap. Thus, I buy my cards now, too, for her as I take upon her beauty & sensibility on greeting cards. However, the most beautiful, enamored poetic and genuine message we could ever adhere to is in the Word of God, the Holy Bible esp. the Book of Psalms. Just getting it out there...

So, what would I want to share about my mother on Mother's Day? Not because she is my mother that I want to elevate and love her...She is my muse that never fades in my written spoken art. I can always reconcile to the truth of her loving ways even now that I'm also in the prelude of the pangs of aging. I only have her life to help me be encouraged and inspired.

I am truly thankful to God for my mom. She taught me to tithe out of the abundance of my heart; that all provision comes with obedience to the Lord; that praying without ceasing is a core life connection to God. When my 2 boys went to college, she was always by my side taking trips together to see my children. As a single parent, it never was a great struggle because of her steadfast and loving support. I never had a dull moment with her.

I am a better steward of what God has endowed upon my life because of my mom's spiritual beliefs. And I love her dearly...Praising God for my mom!

 Happy Mother's Day Mom and To All the Mothers in the World!