Pictures that inspire...

Thank you Lord, for the sky, and the beautiful way you display your creation. 

Image Credit:  Stacy Petrin Rowe


Sky blue -pink.
Who would ever have thought
of such a wondrous combination
of sky blue-pink

The clouds stretch out
from east to west in
heavenly display
of sky blue-pink

Your masterpiece in the sky
takes my breath away, and my eyes
they enjoy
this sky blue-pink

I cannot fathom Your love for me.
I will always strive to know Your Will
for you inspire my heart and beckon me
through beautiful sky blue-pink.

(poem written by me and inspired by Lori Walsh and Stacy Petrin Rowe)

Image Credit:  Jerusha Margaret

I've seen pretty rainbows
and beautiful sunsets too
but what I saw recently
divine mix of the two.
I stood awestruck; my thoughts soared
with the amazing evening hue
for the sky displayed its colors
the likes I never knew.

It burst forth into vibrancy;
The touch of God's own hand
displaying creativity messy
as paint poured out all sides
The result simply stunning,
Earth radiant at best
for in the setting of the sun -
a beautiful rainbow sunset.

The sight simply breathtaking,
no two sunsets the same
for should you take the time to see
they're very different.
Each evening the artist at work
takes out his easel and paints
and with a stroke of brush on page
Heaven's face unveils. 

(poem written by me and inspired by Jerusha Margaret)

And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.”   So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so.   God called the expanse “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.  (Genesis 1:6)

Just a Rose?

Here is a pic of a rose that I received from my friend W. Diane Van Zwol - as a gift with a blessing. 

Today I say a special thanks for all roses that are given out as gifts and as tokens of love that make us feel happy and for the gift of friendship that it brings.  

Lord God, I thank you for the beauty of roses, and for their varying colors and types that you have created.   I also thank you for all the gardens and spaces that they grow in, and reflect your beauty and love.  Thank you for the sweet fragrances of roses that are a blessing from you to us.  

Do you like roses?  I do.  Although they are not my all time favorite flower, I think they are very beautiful.  How about you? 

And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, offer it of your own free will.  (Leviticus 22:29)

In the Wrong Place? Think again...

This is a view of the landscape from outside my bedroom window.  Lovely blue skies, and the rugged, varying brown-shaded mountains all around inspire me to say "Praise God!"  There is not much vegetation, except for the artificially created garden spaces here and there and by the road side, but then this is more than what one can expect to see in a desert.

There are so many different races of people living around me... from different countries.  So many of them influence me, and help me be the person I am. 

Today I take time to say "Thank you Lord for the place I am in right now.  You know why I have to be here and what Your purpose for me is in this place. I thank you for all the people around me, whichever nationalities they may belong to... and thank you for all the blessings you give me because of my being here where I am right now.  Thank you Lord for this place"  

Is there something special about your place that makes you want to say the same?  Is there something about your place that will encourage another to want to praise God?  I would love to hear you share the simple joys of  you being where you are. 

Delight yourself in the Lord... And He shall give you, your heart's desires. (Psalm 37:4)

Good Morning, Lord

Today is a brand new day... another day for me to say "Good morning Lord.  This is me, Mandy, checking in."  How many times we wake up and go.. "Nooooo,  not morning already!"  I do that all the time when I have to wake up at 5:30 a.m. to get my son ready for school.  My daughter leaves an hour later. 

Most often when the house is quiet after that and I am alone, I can sleep on for another hour.  After that, its housework, cooking, laundry... etc. etc. - all the mundane and seemingly insignificant things of the day.  Nonetheless, these chores are the ones that keep me focused on family and make me think of their needs.  When I get the time after that, I read / research / write or play some game.  These days its been Rome or Age of Empires. Then there are the kids who drop by in the evening, or I spend time with the neighbors for a little while.  Sometimes, if I am in the mood, I might bake a cake.  Yesterday I picked up another baking mat from the store, and an icing pouch. I also bought some whipped cream.  Perhaps its time to bake another cake.  The last one was a Sponge Bob cake.  

All in all, what ever the day, I am grateful to wake up to a brand new day.  Another day -  to renew and make amends.  Another chance at fixing what went wrong.  Another day to 'live my dream'.

What is it about your day that you are thankful for?  What is it that despite the hectic schedules or a 24 x 7 busy routine, that you would like to say, "Thank you Lord for today"?  Every time we acknowledge God's gifts to us, it really must make Him so proud of us, come to think of it.  Sometimes when I say 'Thank you Father God", I feel like a little child.  I know you must do too. :)

Delight yourself in the Lord... And He shall give you, your heart's desires. (Psalm 37:4)

Why a new blog?

Home is where the heart is


Today I decided that I want to spend a few minutes each day thanking God for at least one thing in my life. Yep, one thing.  (Of course, we could thank God for more...)  But.... I want to make special mention of at least one thing.  (When I mean 'thing', I mean it could be people, places, things we do or have, etc.)

So...  here's my one-thing praise for the day. You with me?

Today I praise God for my home...  everyone and everything in it.  All that makes up my 'home'.  I can be at my best when I am at home.  There are so many things I am able to do, and so many kids (apart from my two) to make noise around and play, and remind me of how I probably was when I was a kid myself.  Ah! There's nothing like 'home sweet home'.

The above image is of the home I grew up in... 'Pearl Villa'. We lived there for about 20 years, and five generations were blessed because of this home.  My great-grandfather built this house and my kids had the blessing of being part of this place; part of where I grew up in.  We do not reside there anymore, but looking back, I am also thankful for all the times we were blessed with a beautiful home.

How about you?  Perhaps you'd like to share something about your home?  Or even share a link related to the message you want to convey?  Feel free ... and share what it is about your home that your are proud of and praise God for.

Delight yourself in the Lord... And He shall give you, your heart's desires. (Psalm 37:4)