Inspiration From The Little Things

I Won't Be Blogging Here Anymore

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:22:00 +0000

Hey everyone! Just a quick post to let you know that I won't be blogging here anymore because I have a new blog. Here it is if you still want to follow along:

http://inadifferentplaceblog.wordpress.com/

God bless! :-)

Living In A Toxic World

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 02:30:00 +0000

For what will it profit a man

if he gains the whole world

and loses his own soul?

— Mark 8:36

There is a little bit of renovation going on at our shop.

(We decided to make it a spa instead of just selling health and beauty products.)

I stayed there for a while, waiting for a customer who called me up and told me that he would pass by to buy some of our products.

But as the renovation is ongoing, I refused to remain inside the shop because the smell of newly varnished wood and the dust from drilling the concrete walls made me sneeze and cough and gave me a headache.

Toxic for my body, toxic for my health.

Things I had to avoid to keep myself from getting sick.

Toxic…

But not only our bodies encounter toxins –

Our souls do as well.

Sin… the worship of worldly things like money, fame, and power… neglecting God…

Toxins of the soul.

I’ve honestly come across such toxins the past couple of days.

And oh how the temptations are so strong.

I’ve been obsessing a lot about money lately…

About how I can earn more.

I thought about it from the time I wake up in the morning until I fall asleep at night.

Such hunger seemed insatiable.

I also spent less time with God.

I haven’t been conversing much with Him these days.

When I’m tired, I slept right away, as if sacrificing a little time for God was an option.

Toxic…

My soul is toxic.

I’m glad I realized it this early because it appears like my goals were no longer aimed towards spending eternity with God.

Instead, they became shallow…

Worldly…

Empty.

God not being the center makes it all so empty…

Meaningless.

My soul is toxic…

And I needed to be cleansed.

I have learned that the value of work and things decline when they are done only for ourselves.

But they begin to have a much deeper meaning when all the good things we do are done for God’s glory.

May we offer all the things we do to Him… the One and Only.

God bless.

:-)

I Had To Be Reminded To Blog For Myself

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:23:00 +0000

First of all, thank you so much to everyone who left their comments on yesterday’s post.

It feels so great to be reminded that I should be blogging for myself first and foremost.

It’s something that I’ve been forgetting about lately because I’ve been caught up on the number of followers and whether or not people will like what I post.

Evidently, they are such shallow reasons for wanting to blog.

How self-centered could I be?

I’ve been unreasonably pressuring myself when in fact, blogging should be enjoyable and therapeutic for me.

And more importantly, I should be doing it because I love doing it.

I must admit that of late, I haven’t been that interactive with other bloggers.

I honestly couldn't focus on reading other blogs because I am so distracted by a lot of work-related thoughts.

So I am truly grateful to you, my dearest friends, for still taking the time to read my posts even if I’ve been absent in your blogs for days (or weeks even).

Thank you so much for all the encouragement.

God bless you all.

:-)

The “Unfollowers”

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:22:00 +0000

I lost one blog follower last week on Google Friend Connect.

And then I noticed two less likes on my facebook page, too.

It sounds like I’m making such a big deal of it, am I not?

Well, maybe I am.

I guess it’s not supposed to be a big deal, right?

Most especially for a blog like mine which isn’t actually a business blog.

But I must admit that it bothers me sometimes.

Sometimes it makes me wonder if I posted something offensive which made that person click unfollow or unlike.

Sometimes it also makes me think that such person was probably bored with my posts, which eventually made him (her) decide not to follow me anymore.

Such thoughts.

I may say that these numbers on such social media platforms don't really matter that much.

And that they really don't define the quality of my blog.

But then I guess when you see those numbers on your blog, it becomes inevitable not to notice them and not to use them as a gauge on how well your blog is performing.

Just like last week…

Losing followers. People unliking my facebook page.

These must be telling me something.

And it was also those last couple of days when I really had to focus on work and sacrifice a little bit of my blogging time.

Coincidence?

So I guess the numbers getting less is indeed a reflection that the quality of my blog is declining.

I’ll take it as that.

No hard feelings on those who realized that my blog sucked hehe

No hard feelings on myself, either, for neglecting my little blog because of work.

Just a realization that the number of followers do matter somehow.

At least for me.

What about you? Do the number of blog followers / twitter followers / facebook page likes matter to you? Have you ever unfollowed a blog or unliked a facebook page? If you did, for what reason?

He Lifts Me Up

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:26:00 +0000

Photos: My sister’s artwork

What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?

— Psalm 8:4

It took a while before I got up from my life’s coma.

Most of the time I remained passive…

And waited for God’s miracle to change my life.

I kept praying to God that He would do something…

And I expected Him to do all the work.

When nothing happens, I would often ask Him why.

And then I wonder what it is that God sees in me…

How He never ran out of love for me despite all of my shortcomings…

Sending His Holy Spirit to whisper words of hope whenever I felt like giving up…

And words of enlightenment every time I felt confused.

And when all faith I have in myself was lost…

He came to my rescue…

And slowly, He built my self-confidence…

Until I started believing in myself again.

It’s amazing how much God loves me.

And because of that love,

I am where I am right now.

With God guiding my path,

I continue to write the story of my life.

It doesn't mean the story would be perfect…

It doesn't mean falling is evitable…

But when I do…

His great love will help me get through.

Sing, O heavens!
Be joyful, O earth!
And break out in singing, O mountains!
For the Lord has comforted His people,
And will have mercy on His afflicted.

— Isaiah 49:13

It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:40:00 +0000

And behold,

you will conceive in your womb

and bring forth a Son,

and shall call His name Jesus.

— Luke 1:31

Where have all the other months of 2012 gone?

It seems the winds of time blew them away…

So swiftly have the days left our midst…

And soon this year will again come to a close…

With a new one about to greet us…

And surprise us.

Where has our time taken us?

Oh how our minds have long been adrift on life’s twists and turns…

And we’ve been too focused on chasing time…

Rushing…

Meeting deadlines…

Planning for the days ahead…

Too busy to even notice the days passing.

December won’t be able to command life to slow down…

But may our minds take the time to step on their brakes…

And reflect on the important message that this Yuletide season brings…

Do not be afraid, for behold,

I bring you good tidings of great joy

which will be to all people.

For there is born to you this day

in the city of David a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord.

— Luke 2:10-11

It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year…

A blessed December to you all.

:-)

Photos: King’s Court Building I, Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City, Philippines

Believing In Oneself

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 16:47:00 +0000

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John,

and perceived that they were

uneducated and untrained men,

they marveled.

And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

— Acts 4:13

The issues of self-esteem and self-confidence has always been a dance…

The forward and backward steps of the cha cha…

Whenever I feel insecure and unsure of myself,

I take a step backward…

And when I gain a small amount of confidence,

I find the courage to move forward.

But I realize that I am yet to master the dance routines…

And many times it was a lot easier to take the backward step…

Which was more certain…

So the move felt a lot safer…

Unlike the more risky, more complicated forward steps…

Sometimes they can bring you to a cliff –

On the edge… nearly falling… perhaps failing

Without you being able to foresee it.

Those setbacks threaten me…

And they make me lose faith in myself…

Worrying that…

I may not be strong enough or good enough to handle them.

And then I remember reading my friend Dana’s blog posta few months ago…

And her words that taught me a valuable lesson…

“I’m supposed to trust God before anything else, I do. But after that comes in trusting yourself in the path of God...”

I was awakened…

Photos: Super late posting of images taken on my birthday last September 5, 2012.

The Hiatus

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:36:00 +0000

I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,

and on Your wondrous works.

— Psalm 145:5

It’s been a while since I tapped the keyboards…

To tell you a little bit of my life.

In all honesty, I do miss the online world a lot,

Most especially the world of blogging.

I miss the blogger and introverted side of my personality…

The introspection…

The deep thinking…

The reflecting.

Work grabbed me by the hands and required my full attention,

Taking away my focus on other things.

I got busy training and acquiring new work-related skills…

Creating new connections –

Meeting new people, making new friends…

Facing new challenges, committing mistakes (yep)…

Hopefully, growing.

Life became a mixture of hectic, scary, and exhilarating.

But I do my best to become a stronger and much better person…

Through the lessons I learn,

Through the confidence I gain as I overcome each day’s trials…

A much better person for myself…

For other people…

For God.

Life won’t promise an easy journey…

But God assures us that we need not go through the journey alone.

Photos: Acupoint Therapy Training by the Philippine National Association of Acupoint Practitioners (PNAAP) held in Makati City, Philippines

Preoccupied

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:59:00 +0000

Now in the morning,

having risen a long while before daylight,

He went out and departed to a solitary place;

and there He prayed.

– Mark 1:35

At one corner of the shop lies a part of my everyday world.

My so-called office…

Where looking through the glass door reveal scenes of daily life.

My focus momentarily shifts to automobiles swiftly moving down the street,

Their engines roaring, horns honking as if the road was their territory.

And then my eyes will be captured by people passing by…

Some curiously taking a peek at what’s inside the small establishment,

Some bold enough to enter and find out what it can offer,

While some kept their gaze fixed on the path they are treading,

Unmindful of this little nook which quietly stood at this side of the city.

My attention returns to the large space enclosed by the shop’s sturdy walls,

While subconsciously listening to upbeat music being played on the radio,

Keeping me company until this temporarily lonesome job is over for the day.

And as the day comes to an end,

Conversations at home were centered on this small family business which just opened two weeks ago.

It all makes me miss being consoled by silence so sacred,

Where all I hear are the mute whispers of the air that surrounds me,

The rhythmic and calm beating of my heart,

My breathing peaceful and relaxed…

My body still…

And that soulful connection with the depths of my being…

That heart to heart talk with my conscience –

The sound of her warm and gentle voice…

And her unfaltering wisdom which can only be deciphered by a mind quieted from the distractions of the outside world.

Silence…

Lately it has been so elusive.

Ready Or Not

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:57:00 +0000

[ i hope my photos colored your world ;-) ]

Instead you ought to say,

“If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

— James 4:15

Each day little by little,

I am learning to accept one important truth:

That one can never truly be prepared for what may come.

We may plan ahead…

Make the necessary preparations as much as our human capacity will allow.

But what happens the next hour or even the next minute…

It remains a mystery…

Until that hour or that minute arrives…

And surprises can just come and catch us off guard.

The only thing that we need to be ready for…

Is to face the unknown…

Embrace it…

No matter how scary that may seem…

Because the only things that are certain…

Are uncertainties…

And God’s love…

“My thoughts are not your thoughts,

nor are your ways My ways,”

says the Lord.

— Isaiah 55:8

His plans are best…

We should let Him take the lead.

Where Strength Dwells

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 14:18:00 +0000

Help us, O Lord our God,

For we rest on You,

And in Your name we go against this multitude.

— 2 Chronicles 14:11

I'm not ready...

I don't know if I can do this...

These are the thoughts that greet me every morning.

I say my prayers...

The negative feelings remain...

And I tell God,

"I don't think I'm good enough for this."

Backing out would always cross my mind.

But I get up and face the day anyway.

I find that sometimes fear and self-doubt are inevitable.

But as the minutes pass by,

And as each small hurdle is overcome,

The fear and self-doubt slowly fade away.

The insecurity that holds me back gradually disappear,

Replaced by strength I never thought I had.

Surely the Lord is in this place,

And I did not know it.

— Genesis 28:16

God is with me.

The One That Moves Me

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 15:00:00 +0000

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven,

as of a rushing mighty wind,

and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

— Acts 2:2

My limitations are all too familiar…

I knew them so well…

So much better than those I call my “strengths” –

Most of the time they remain at the background,

Doing their best to catch my attention.

But my limitations sounded more convincing…

More credible…

More ME.

The last few days, I nearly succumbed to emotional stress.

Oh how I longed to spare myself from all the hassle.

The temptation was strong…

I wanted to escape.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit,

whom the Father will send in My name,

He will teach you all things,

and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

— John 14:26

Then a voice tells me…

DON’T…

And although filled with so much reluctance,

I carry on and hold my breath as I take each step.

I would soon realize it was the Holy Spirit…

And that He guides me every step of the way.

A Troubled Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:24:00 +0000

Do not worry about tomorrow,

For tomorrow will worry about its own things.

Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

— Matthew 6:34

It was sunny and humid and the world stood still.

The day was purposefully designed to be laid back,

Hence, allotting time for rest and relaxation.

But my mind took off and drifted somewhere else.

And as if it had its own built-in time machine,

It wandered to the days that are yet to happen,

Frantically skimming from one day to another,

Imagining the possible scenarios which rattled me more.

My present was abandoned and left to suffer on its own…

Every second, every minute, every precious moment –

I let them all slip away…

And my day has gone to waste.

I got too busy living for tomorrow…

But how can one possibly live on a day that has not yet arrived?

How could I have focused more on the what if’s,

Instead of what is?

Be anxious for nothing,

But in everything by prayer and supplication,

With thanksgiving,

Let your requests be made known to God.

— Philippians 4:6

His Words were overpowered by the screams of my worry.

And I need to pay more attention…

Focus…

So that His Voice may get through my ears,

And penetrate my heart…

Everyday single day.

In Good Hands

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:09:00 +0000

Worry can get the best of us…

It nearly got the best of me this morning.

I woke up worrying about so many things.

My emotions were in a roller coaster ride.

I was honestly freaking out inside,

Like a child scared and wanting to hide from it all.

The thought of the day ahead was just so overwhelming.

The uncertainties drove me crazy.

What if things go wrong?

Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.

— Psalm 37:5

I was clenching life by its throat using my hands.

But should I be?...

Didn’t God design life to be free to move on its own?

And I should just be going with the flow?

With God’s flow?

I prayed to the Mighty Being above,

Dear God, please give me the strength I need for this day.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

And then the Holy Spirit gave me a different kind of strength…

The strength to surrender it all to God,

And let Him take hold of life instead.

To take hold of mylife.

Miraculously, I was able to breathe.

Each day is truly a test of faith –

A test of how much we are willing to do…

And also of how much we are willing to let go.

The Beauty Of Falling

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:03:00 +0000

A few days ago, I fell… again.

Adding another crack to my already scarred heart…

As if the tissues long repaired weren’t enough.

And new wounds had to be inflicted every now and then,

Get healed, form a new scar…

My heart remodeled and never the same.

My troubled mind wonders,

How many times do we have to lose our wings while we’re up on air?

Or sink under the depths of the ocean, drowned by our pain?

The thought of the next fall can become haunting…

As the memories of the previous one(s) are etched in our soul…

And sometimes we search for ways to hide and save ourselves from another cut.

But when does God come to our aid –

Is it when we are able to climb the ladder with ease,

Or when one of its steps crack and break and leads us to the ground?

When do we feel God’s mercy wrap around us –

In times of celebration or in moments of depression?

When are we most deserving of His comfort?

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,

a stronghold in times of trouble.

— Psalm 9:9 (NIV)

His love shines…

When we become one with Him through our wounds.

And His love will remain…

For we are together with Him in redemption.

The strength to get up again and move on a better human being…

Renewed…

Never the same…

All because of His grace…

That’s where beauty resides.

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

— Habakkuk 3:18 (NKJV)

Of Scars And Bleeding Wounds

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 14:00:00 +0000

My eyes overflowing with tears and my heart heavy and burdened,

I uttered the words…

I am so tired of getting hurt again and again.

And I wept.

That midday I felt weak, vulnerable, and afraid…

And so frail –

One with the universe…

One with every being under the vastness of the sky…

One with you… and you, with me.

Everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes

— REM, Everybody Hurts

We are all wounded…

We all have scars…

At some point, we all bled…

For no mortal will ever escape the portals of suffering —

It is intertwined with our being…

Because of sin…

And because of our human limitations.

Oh how I sometimes wish it would end…

And the poor would no longer go hungry,

Children would no longer experience the world’s cruelty at such a young age,

There would be no more diseases and humans would no longer feel pain,

And people would no longer hurt one another.

But…

How can one shine if he remains under the brightness of day?

Aren’t lights only switched on in the black of night?

And isn’t the beauty of fireflies better appreciated when they fly in the dark?

People are like stained-glass windows.

They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,

but when the darkness sets in,

their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.

– Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

But the words echo…

I am so tired of getting hurt again and again…

Weak, vulnerable, and afraid…

So frail –

Fully human…

Because of sin…

And because of my human limitations.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

— Matthew 11:30

There is Someone bigger than our sufferings.

Someone mightier than our pain.

Someone whose strength never wanes…

And Someone whose love never falters…

Thank You, JESUS.

Come to Me,

all you who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

— Matthew 11:28

Broken

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.

— Matthew 5:4

Every cell in our body is interconnected.

As a group, they are called a tissue –

Something I learned from my science class back in third grade.

And then my science teacher taught me more…

That a group of tissues form an organ.

And a group of organs are collectively called an organ system.

Different compartments of the human body,

Yet they are interdependent on one another,

For one cannot function properly without the other.

Interconnected…

A connection…

Connect…

There is something that needs to bridge the gap.

A bridge…

Something that’s needed to be able to reach the other side.

For one cannot function properly without the other.

Oh how we all need to have that connection…

With our fellowmen…

With God…

Because no man can ever stand alone.

Although stubbornly, he tries to do that…

Thinking that he is probably strong enough to be on his own.

Only to realize that when he falls…

He is all by himself…

And there is no one else there to catch him,

To nurse him when he is wounded.

But sometimes,

He desperately longs for company…

Yet no one else can be found.

And no matter how he tries to reach out,

No one hears him cry when he is bruised and bleeding.

How does he ask for help?

Where does he run to?

How does he cross the river’s turbulent waters and reach the other side?

A bridge…

For God loved the world so much

that He gave His one and only Son,

so that everyone who believes in Him

will not perish but have eternal life.

— John 3:16 (NLT)

A connection with Jesus…

Allow Him to fill the gap between our wounds and broken hearts…

Allow His love to dry our tears.

In our brokenness, let us search for Him…

And we will be healed…

And be made whole.

God already created the path…

He already built the bridge…

He only needs our footsteps.

deniece williams - healing | Muziboo

Being Human

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 14:00:00 +0000

When they hear,

Satan comes immediately

and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

— Mark 4:15

I am flesh and blood.

And carved with my existence is the propensity to ask questions;

To lack understanding to some things visible –

To violence, cruelty, injustice, depression, oppression…

To people…to myself;

And to doubt that which I cannot see and what is yet to come.

Could it be because the future is always uncertain,

And I wish to be freed from the overwhelming feeling of not knowing?

Or because there could be pieces of the puzzle from our past that are yet to be found,

And I long to put those pieces together to see a clearer picture?

Sometimes the answers tend to be so elusive,

And I am forced to hang on until they are finally revealed to me.

At some point, the answers unfold without reluctance,

Yet they don’t seem to be enough and I continue to search for more proof.

If that’s how it is with the things I see,

How much more will it be when it comes to believing in God,

And trusting in His plans that only He knows and understands?

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

— 2 Corinthians 5:7

But I am human.

And along with being human comes limitations…

Not excluding the limitation to comprehend what life throws at me.

Sometimes it is wise to just leave it at that…

And just believe.

Stricken

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:00:00 +0000

But I say to you,

love your enemies,

bless those who curse you,

do good to those who hate you,

and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

— Matthew 5:44

Doors shut with a bang…

And chairs and plates slammed in rage,

As if hurting inanimate objects was a good substitute to hurting people.

And then the noise would die down.

And silence would fill the once chaotic atmosphere.

And I would realize I was alone…

Thank God, I was finally alone.

Just when the outside world goes back to being unshaken,

The inner turmoil would again surge to an uproar…

My anger soared to unlimited heights.

My mind spun around and my heart raced in sheer terror.

I sat down, my elbows pressed against the table in front of me,

And my forehead rested on my palms, trying to still the quake within.

I closed my eyes…

Love your enemy as you love yourself.

Soon a debate with my conscience ensued.

Yet she remained steadfast as she spoke more words of wisdom…

If someone throws you a stone, throw that person back with bread.

Then all my thoughts would dissipate into thin air.

Breathing…

Breathe…

Breath.

The Meet Up

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:39:00 +0000

No longer do I call you servants,

for a servant does not know what his master is doing;

but I have called you friends,

for all things that I heard from My Father

I have made known to you.

— John 15:15

Saturday nearing lunch time…

I stepped out of the house with an open mind,

A receptive heart,

And a calm spirit…

An open mind…

Ready for a much deeper understanding of the world;

A receptive heart…

To accept graciously the good that life has to offer;

And a calm spirit…

Free from destructive negative forces that come from within.

All these without the emotional disguise I usually wear when I’m around other people,

I had a lunch date with my friend, Ellen,

And I embraced the day as it is.

I brought my camera but didn’t really take much pictures…

I wanted to be fully present in the moment…

Savoring my meal and enjoying our conversation,

As we reminisced the old times and caught up with each other’s lives.

And then my loneliness will be washed away.

And I see myself come alive as I find comfort in those brief moments.

And for a while I can forget that I’m a traveler in a vast desert of sand,

With my shadow as the only company I have.

Because to my friend,

I mattered.

And Then I Had Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 14:39:00 +0000

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,

so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

— 2 Corinthians 4:10

Friday morning…

I received a Facebook message from my friend, Ellen:

“Ill be in La Union this weekend, you want to meet up?”

I scoop my old, slightly cracked black Nokia cellular phone to text her a “Yes,”

Allowing myself to morph into the social being, which has long been dormant and dusty.

The whole night I anticipated hearing tales of her travels to other parts of the globe,

Whether it be gallivanting the cobblestone streets of Europe,

Or listening to the accent of a native from the land down under.

Anything but the story my heart narrates day in and day out would be a breath of fresh air.

Since the other week,

I and my other friend, Wiji, have been exchanging email messages…

Where she later influenced me to start reading Eat, Pray, Love…

And to consider doing Yoga for my well-being.

“I try to do travel often…” and…

“When you get to see how beautiful the world is, it just puts things in perspective.”

These were some of her words.

They’re my angels.

Not the kind who drive evil spirits away.

But they are protectors in their own way…

They save me from myself.

Getting Up From The Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 02:00:00 +0000

I will restore to you the years

that the swarming locust has eaten.

— Joel 2:25

I count the days…

And I realize it’s been four days since I’ve been feeling limp with sadness.

For four days I’ve been so sapped out of my energy.

And it bothers me…

It bothers me that I may not wake up from this emotionally distressing dream.

I do not wish to stay asleep forever…

Treading nightmare after nightmare.

Just before I could even begin to think that life could be over,

I was led to Ann Voskamp’s words by some Divine Power.

She said,

“Jesus’ grace is the one-way love that gets you back to Joy.”

And peace swept through my body like energy from the Heavens.

I look out the window,

And I witness the sky glisten because of the sun’s light…

Just when I thought there was no more beauty in the world,

That sight reminded me I had eyes that could see clearly –

I had only shut my vision down.

How will I discover the beauty that surrounds me if my eyes were closed?

How will I explore what’s on the outside…

If I keep myself trapped and focusing on the uglywithin?

God makes all things beautiful as He chooses to dwell in beauty.

May He find His way to my heart…

And remain there.

My Heart Cries

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 03:49:00 +0000

I will never leave you nor forsake you.

— Hebrews 13:5

Sometimes I feel like a butterfly who lost her wings,

Or a little bird locked in a cage struggling to break free –

A creature forbidden to soar high up in the air…

To see the beauty of the sky…

To reach up and touch the clouds…

And to dance with the sun.

Sometimes when I look out the window,

I feel like a criminal behind bars –

Sentenced to dwell in hell…

Body tied up in metal chains…

And joints already began to swell.

With only her mind kept unleashed,

She daydreams of the world outside the prison cell.

In the darkness it seems there is no God,

No angels to rescue me from the pain.

And I am left alone with my shadow.

But I’ve learned that…

The Teacher is quiet when His student is taking a test.

And somewhere inside the deafening silence of the room…

He watches over me.

And Then You Said Goodbye

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 03:25:00 +0000

Through Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

— Psalm 119:104

Dear September,

You arrived at my doorstep uninvited,

With nothing else but your own story to tell.

I let you in with my arms wide open,

With no expectations,

But with a flicker of hope…

That somehow you’ll bring me something good.

Little did I know that you carried a part of my destiny –

One missing piece of the puzzle.

And the future showed me a peek of what’s in store.

You came and went at lightning speed,

And your days flew by, all rushing to leave.

Yet you left a mark…

A portion of your wisdom –

A treasure that will remain with me through the ages.

I am changed…

Forever.

Sincerely yours,

Irene

How was your September?

God bless.

:-)

Sometimes I Win, Sometimes I Don’t

noreply@blogger.com (Irene @ In A Different Place) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 03:44:00 +0000

In Him we live and move and have our being.

— Acts 17:28

Tuesday…

I attempted to be brave.

But I failed.

My anxiety was too strong.

I didn’t face the challenge –

I ran away.

But then it was just a bad day.

And a bad day comes to an end.

Tomorrow holds promise.

The sun rising again will bring a different kind of hope.

And more courage will spring forth.

And the following day it did…

I was embraced by calmness.

And an encouraging voice telling me,

Today you can try again.

With God’s grace,

I was able to step over that small hurdle.

And I emerged victorious –

I finally renewed my driver’s license.

The courage to drive again is a different story.

But thank you so much for all your prayers and encouraging words on this post and this post.

They really helped me a lot.

Please continue praying for me…

Because this won’t be the last challenge –

There will be more.

Thank you.

:-)

Take care and God bless.

:-)