Grandparents & Great-grand parents

Today is my grandpa Cyril's birthday.  He will have turned 95 today had he been living.  He passed away on Oct 2, this year after a long, healthy life.  He was blessed with 5 children, 14 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.  A practical man in every way, he taught us so many things.  For example, when I take my toothpaste tube and press out the toothpaste, I think of him.  He used to press it out from the closed end of the tube... and as it finished, he's press it out flat so that there was almost no wastage of toothpaste when it was time to throw the tube out.  When I hear a door creak, I think of him.  At home, he used to oil the hinges of the doors so that it wouldn't make those ugly, creaking noises.  

Today I praise God for giving me grandpa, and all my grandparents for that matter.  My paternal grandma, Dulcie, will turn 86 years old on Dec 9, and I hope to visit her soon.  Praise God for grandparents.  It's a blessing for them and for us when they are able to see their children and grandchildren... and great-grandchildren.  Yes... thank you Lord for grandparents.

May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel.

(Psalm 128:5-6)

In the Splendor of Your Presence

Christian Clipart: Prayer

When all around me silently

draw curtains close and rest,

and sun to bed at end of day

cast shadows from the west

You pull my soul towards Your heart

You beckon me to come;

and patiently wait for this time

When I can spare some love.

This quality time that we share,

The secrets You reveal –

Make my poor heart soar into space

Beyond my frail belief.

You do not worry how I’ve been

or what mischief I’ve done

as long as at the close of day

repentance I avow.

When day is done and shadows cast

it is that special time.

No matter how much darkness lurks

around me Your light shines.

You take away my worldly stress

and clothe me with Your strength,

make blossoms sprout where fear and doubt

have tried their best to reign.

And now I humbly bow my head

acknowledge You my Lord;

There is no other one like You

who knows me inside out.

Your Spirit hovers o’er my being

my soul in tight embrace

I’m lost in love, one with Your heart

rejoicing in Your grace.

I thank the Lord for the night; when I can reflect on all that my day has been - and enter His presence, no matter how I have been, because I know the Lord embraces me with open arms and tells me that all is at peace.  I thank our Lord for the special prayer time(s) that each of us experience through out the day that gives us comfort of spirit and joy of heart. No matter what situations our lives may run into, I always find the peace I need when I spend time in prayer.  Praise God for prayer time.

I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for You alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.  Psalm 4:8

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)

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)