The Earth and Her Child

All year long I waited,

Month by month I counted.

Hoping and wishing praying to God,

To bring a better year to everyone.

Coming up with names that would fit you,

Asking my self what to name you.

Hope? Love? Faith? Or Joy?

You are many but you are one,

There is no one name I can give you.

All I know deep in my heart,
You are different and very special.

Bringing good news to everyone,

Sitting inside me like an unborn child,

Kicking, turning, waiting and hoping;

Counting the days sleeping and waiting,

Growing better, growing bigger,

the big day is coming it is getting closer.

Sweet New Year I cannot wait,  

Yes I admit I am impatient.

To see your face, to see your eyes,

To say welcome my new child,

To hold you and caress you with my warm hands;

To kneel on my knees and thank my God.

The world is waiting,

The world is hoping;

The world named you 2013.

Some want love, some want hope,

Some want God, some want change,

But you are everything to everyone.

Go on my child, go on and be born,

Bring good news to everyone.

"This is what the Lord Says-Your redeemer, who formed you in the Womb: I am the Lord, who has made all things, Who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself..." Isaiah 44:24 May the Lord be a head of you, on your side, behind you, through your heart and Soul this Coming New Year and forever...Amen. Happy New Year!

Image Credit: www.bereketdecor.blogspot.com 

Nothing is Impossible to God

“With God Nothing will be impossible ” Said the Angel to Mary the virgin who was about to conceive a child by the power of the Holly Spirit. Yes it is true nothing is impossible to God. The Christmas season, more than any other season is a reminder of the fact that God is capable of anything. When the Angel said “Nothing is Impossible to God” he meant “nothing”.  He didn’t say except solving your problems, except healing your sickness, except opening the closed door you have been waiting for to open...we can go on and on. But, why do we doubt? Why do we think our problem is so special and God can’t fix it?

If a Virgin Can conceive a child and still stay a virgin by the power of God, If God Can send his only son to come as a human to earth, If the king of king’s could make himself so low and be born in a Manger because he loved us, If God can send the star to lead the Shepherds, so they can go see the new born king. If Mary’s Cousin Elizabeth could conceive a child by the power of God in her old age after every one thought it was impossible for her to have a child…If God can do all of these and more, why do we doubt when it comes to our own problems?

Let’s not doubt my brothers and sisters…Instead let’s remember Christmas the birth of our lord is also the birth of hope, It is the birth of Joy, the birth of salvation, the birth of peace and yes of course the birth of “Love” Which is the greatest of all, and no one ever showed greater love more than Christ himself.

This Christmas season let's make it a point to renew our faith in God who makes the impossible possible. Let's also bring the good news of Love, peace, hope and Joy to everyone we come in contact with,  for there is no better present ever given than those. And when we receive those presents, may our song of praise be as beautiful as Mary when she received the good news.  

                                                             

                                                              The Song of Mary

My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my Spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

For he has regarded the lowly state of his maidservant;

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

For he who is mighty have done great things for me,

And holy is his name.

And his mercy is on those who fear him.

From generation to generation he has shown strength with his arm:

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things.

And the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

In remembrance of his mercy,

And he spoke to our fathers

To Abraham and his seeds forever”

Luke 1: 47-54

Season of Hope

Season hope season of love,

Christmas the birth of our lord.

He had come to mend the broken hearted,

Let us celebrate and be glad in it.

He had come to preach the good tidings to the poor,

To set liberty to those who are bound.

He had come to remove the problem called sin,

And to show us what love really means.

Season of hope, the plan of our lord,

This child is born in Bethlehem;

He had come to proclaim liberty to the captive,

This  is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation;

In his death he will purchase our redemption.

Joyful people the good tiding has sent his only son,

Not to condemn, but to set us free from our sin.

Let’s invite the poor to our heart,

Let‘s bring good news to everyone we meet;

Let’s tell them what this season is all about.

The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ,

The greatest gift of all we can receive.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the prince of peace." Issaiah 9:6

Visible Love through Shopping: Part 8

You better watch out, you better  be good,  Santa clause is coming to town…

With most companies December 19^th is the last day to do online orders, which means we really only have a week and half left to support all this fabulous companies who are in the business of changing lives. Here are today's picks...

Indigenous is one of my personal favorite shop that carries fashion forward, elegant, handmade, organic, fair-trade men and women clothing. Indigenous is committed to providing premium fair trade and organic clothing with a mission to elevate artisans in the poorest regions of South America to world renowned status in handicraft textile market while preserving rich cultural Heritage.

www.indigenous.com

Lemelem: Supermodel/ Actress  Liya Kebede who is also  Good will Ambassador for maternal, Newborn and child health,  discovered that traditional weavers in her native country of Ethiopia were losing their jobs due to decline in local demand for their good and wanted to do something about it. Recognizing the beauty, quality and historic Significance of their work, Liya started Lemlem as a way to inspire economic independence in her native country and to preserve the art of weaving.

www.lemelem.com

At Roozt every purchase makes a difference. All featured brands on this sight are fashion forward companies that are making a positive impact in their community, environment with their employees and with humanity as a whole. Also for every member who join Roozt site (It is free) Roozt will provide a meal to an American in need. One person one meal.

www.roozt.com

And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the lord. And as the spirit of the Lord works with in us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. 2 Coronthians 3:18

The 5 steps of prayer

I am to enter your gate in thanks giving,

This makes me so happy there is no more grieving.

Either I am happy or I feel blue and sad,

Specifically thanking you one by one;

For what you have done for me makes some so glad.

I thank you for what you have done throughout the day,

For my health, love, and peace; friends and family.

I thank you for the peace in my mind and body,

Even the little things you give me day by day.

I also praise you lord, for what you are every day,

For your undying love, glory and mercy;

For creating the world, and creating the sea,

For not lacking any thing because you are holly.

After thanks giving I confess all my sins,

Because of your mercy  you gave me salvation.

When I confess my sin I know I am wrong,

I become so clean, sin can hold me no more.

 I bow down and ask for what I need every day,

Though you know what I want, you like to hear me say.

I ask for my daily bread, and everything else I dreamed,

Expecting the best to give me what I need.

I pray for others even my enemies,

Once I pray for them they no longer will be.

I pray for the poor and I pray for the rich ,

My family and neighbors and my closest friends;

 Every one in my mind that needs a prayer,

I give you one by one to god my savior.

I spent some time reading the bible,

To hear you speak to me so it is not one way done.

I meditate and think and try to understand,

Your wonderful wisdom my soul needs so bad.

Starting every prayer with thankfulness makes our prayer life so much more enjoyable. Not only God is delighted when we open our prayer with thanksgiving,  it will also  make it easier for us to see our blessings and we become so much more appreciative of what we have. Daily prayer is as important to our soul as food is to our body. The best way to encurage our selves  to pray daily and make our prayer time more effective is to have an organized prayer. I found the 5 steps of prayer listed below very helpful. Which is why I wanted to share them with you.

1.       Thanking God for what he has done for us and who he is

2.       Confessing our sins

3.       Asking for our needs

4.       Praying for others

5.       Meditating on his word

Wsley L. Duewel said it best when he wrote about the importance of prayer "Time waiting on God in prayer is never lost. From your prespective there may be much waiting and apparent delay. From God's prespective your waiting in extended prayer is an investment."  so lets pray and encourage others to do so as well.

" Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, belive that you have recived it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your father in heaven my forgive you your sins." Mark 11:24-15

Visible Love through Shopping: Part 7

Only 3 more weeks left  for online Christmas shopping...let’s avoid the stress of shopping at the mall, while helping others who are in need by buying from this companies who are changing lives. Even if we can commit to doing as little as 25% of our shopping's from this websites, we can say we made a difference. Pleases feel free  to go back and revisit "visible love through shopping Part 1 to 6"  so you can have a wider selection.

One Mango Tree is a company that is owned by people who believe that economic empowerment provides the foundation for sustainable peace and development.  They go beyond fair trade to create jobs and improve quality of life in some of the most challenging environment in the world. They specifically look for people who lost their job due to factory closing and also women who are in displacement camps, former combatants and victims. The collections at one Mango tree includes, women clothing, handbags, scarves and hats.

http://www.onemangotree.com

Novica  is one of the largest e-commerce website that allows artisans around the world to sell unique, high-quality goods directly to consumers. These goods include home furnishings, apparel, jewelry, ceramics, art, and more...items that would often never make it to international markets at the prices Novica pays to artisans (and offers to consumers). Novica provides detailed information and stories about each artisan, which helps to cut out middle-men and establishes direct global connections that support entrepreneurs and small businesses in Indonesia, the Andes, Mexico, Brazil, Central America, India, Thailand, and West Africa

http://www.novica.com

Sole hope is  a children shoe company that is changing lives by providing close toe shoes to children in need in Africa and by  teaching the trades of shoe making   to homeless, recovering addicts, and non profits in the US and Africa. You can also adopt a child as little as $10 a month through this website.To those of us who cares about the enviroment; sole hope shoes are earth friendly and made from recycled material.  

http://solehope.com

"For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give — large or small — will be used to measure what is given back to you." Luke 6:38

The Beauty of Love

Love feels the  soul with happiness,

Brings everyone to togetherness;

It  fills the heart  with delight,

Sweeps darkness and brings  light;

Welcomes  kindness, and declares  peace,

Wipes envy and  replaced by grace.

If we can get together and say “No” to hate,

If we all would welcome love to our heart;

Denying the worst bringing the best,

We can make this world a better place.

No matter what they say and what  other do to us,

Let’s fight them with a sword of love.

Let's draw a picture let’s paint together,

Let's sing a song of love bring a smile to sadness;

Giving, caring, and not expecting,

Singing like a bird flying and walking;

Field with love ready to serve.

Yes we can fill the earth with beautiful hymns

No matter where you are in heaven or earth,

Make sure you love others show them kindness;

So they see only mercy never ever meanness,

Treasures of love that comes deep from the heart.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7

Image Credit: Irene Sheri

 

Falling Gracefully

I was walking alone and I stumbled on rock,

I fell gracefully  in the hands of god.

I relaxed my muscle and I rolled up my head,

I was bruised a little but it didn’t feel that bad.

His hands felt so soft and yet very strong,

Everything was ok there was nothing wrong.

I felt so safe and secure and continued to walk,

Protected by him around the clock.

From the outside it may look really bad,

But I wish you could all see, the peace I feel inside.

My faith was strong and my fall was all planned,

I was protected by the almighty God.

Don’t try desperately to avoid your fall,

Unless you want to have a painful run.

Plan your fall a head have faith in your heart,

He will wait for you so you can land on his hands.

"One often observes a fear of falling in people. Yet even the best of competitive figure skaters can fall. We also meet with falls in everyday life. One has to learn how to fall painlessly. What does a painless fall consist? It is a directed fall, which is to say after losing balance we direct the body so that it lands on the side where the least damage will be done. As we fall, we relax our muscles and roll up, protecting the head. A fall that follows in accordance with this principle is not dangerous. On the other hand trying desperately to avoid a fall often causes a painful spill at the last moment, when there is no chance to prepare for it."  (Z. Osi’nski,  W.. Satarosta, speed –and Figure-skating.

One way to prepare for a fall is getting to know God personally. If we already have a relationship with him it will become natural for us to fall gracefully, and it will keep us from panicking when things go wrong.  We will not be afraid because we know for sure the almighty god is there stretching his hand to catch as. Daily prayer and reading the scripture will make our fall as easy us a butterfly landing on a beautiful flower.

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."  James 1:12

specspaces.com, glithiefmdude.com, liferelounge.com, latimesblogs.com,Grangcoop.com

How I Love Thanksgiving

Oh how I love thanksgiving!

It is time to tell you how I have been feeling.

You know I am grateful every single day,

But it is different when I have the whole day;

To be thankful and to remember,

To  laugh, hugg and pray  together;

It has been so long since we have seen each other.

Thank you friends and family for being a part of my life,

I am so grateful to have you by my side;

In good, in bad in sadness and laughter,

We have shared the worst and we have shared the better;

May god bless you all forever and ever,

May he bless your dinner may he bless the hour;

May he fill your lives with sunshine and laughter.

 Let's eat….

Turkey, chicken, cornbread dressing ,

Pecan pie, homemade banana pudding;

Tossed green salad and cranberry sauce,

Mash potatoes next to broccoli and cheese;

Kernel corn- for those with a bad teeth,

Pumpkin pie and of course macaroni and cheese.

What a lovely tradition what a lovely holiday,

I wish we could do this every single day.

"O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker." Psalm 95: 1-6

Photo Credit: moneysavingmom, savvyhousekeeping, recongnitionheroes.com

 

Thank You

Loving you is so easy and full of contentment,

There is no fear or disappointment;

There is no heart break or judgment.

One thing you ask from me is to wait and be patient,

And to love you with my mind, my soul and my heart.

You are my breath and my only desire,

who's been always there through my problems;

You wiped my tears and you covered my flaws,

You sat beside me listen to my cries;

You offered to help me to carry my burden,

Just so I could be free you sent your only son.

I know I am loved through your mercy,

Not by what I do or how much I try;

not by what  I have done or how much I cry.

Through your undying love and through your amazing grace,

You have set me free from the earthly blame;

What more do I want lord what more can I ask,

except to say thank you, and to serve you all my life.

Thanks giving is just around the corner. Let this be a week of thanks giving.  Let’s be grateful each day for what God has done for us, and let’s pray for those who don’t have much and to those who have so much but don’t  really know what they have.

"God, the blessed and only ruler, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen" 1 Timothy 6:15-16

Photo Credit: Steve Mccury, randomhouseofprayer.com

Visible Love through Shopping: Part 6

Sex trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry. It is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world. With over two million women and children sold into sexual slavery each year, it is a global crisis that must be stopped.

http://empowermentstore.org  is a company that sells products that supports survivors of modern day slavery. It is a part of the Somaly Mam foundation which is a nonprofit charity committed to ending modern day slavery in North America and around the world. The Foundation goal is to eradicate human trafficking, liberate its victims, and empower survivors so they can create and sustain lives of dignity. Somaly Mam supports survivor rescue, shelter, recovery, and empowerment programs globally, with a special focus on Southeast Asia, where the sex trafficking of women and children is a widespread practice.

Even though the company sells Jewelry, clothing and accessories; the focus of this post will be the three  books available in the website. If you are already looking to buy some books for the holidays, by shopping from this website you will be able to do two things at once. You can educate others or yourself about sexual slavery, while helping fund that allow somaly Mam foundation to support a great cause.

Half the Sky: Written by Pulitzer prize winner Nicholas D. Kisristof and Sheryl WuDunn. The book takes you through Africa and Asia to meet the extraordinary women struggling there, among them a Cambodian teenager sold into sex slavery and an Ethiopian woman who suffered devastating injuries in childbirth. It shows that how a little help can transform the lives of women and girls abroad. Through these stories, the authors help us see that, the key to economic progress lies in unleashing women’s potential. They make it clear how so many people have helped to do just that, and how we can each do our part. Throughout much of the world, the greatest unexploited economic resource is the female half of the population. Countries such as China have prospered precisely because they emancipated women and brought them into the formal economy. Unleashing that process globally is not only the right thing to do; it’s also the best strategy for fighting poverty.

The Road Of Lost Innocence: Written by Somaly Mam. A fascinating and beautiful memoir of tragedy and hope–by a woman named Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world.  The book takes you through a true story of a Cambodian women Born in a village deep in the Cambodian forest, Somaly Mam was sold into sexual slavery by her grandfather when she was twelve years old. For the next decade she was shuttled through the brothels that make up the sprawling sex trade of Southeast Asia. She suffered unspeakable acts of brutality and witnessed horrors that would haunt her for the rest of her life–until, in her early twenties, she managed to escape. Unable to forget the girls she left behind, Mam became a tenacious and brave leader in the fight against human trafficking, rescuing sex workers–some as young as five and six–offering them Shelter, rehabilitation, healing, and love and leading them In to  new life. The Road of Lost Innocence is a memoir that will leave you awestruck by the courage and strength of this extraordinary woman and will renew your faith in the power of an individual to bring about change.

Traffik: By a renowned photographer Jean Roy. If you would  like to help stop human beings from being bought and sold,  this book will give you all the  pictures  you'll need to get motivated:  its one thing to read about this stuff, but another to have that connection to the human face. Photographer Norman Jean Roy put his creative talents to good use in Cambodia in 2008, where he caught on camera the plight of exploited women and girls.   All the photos (like this girl who is on the book’s cover) are of real people; real victims with heart-wrenching stories.  So we can all Look into their eyes and remember their faces.

 

It may be hard for some of us to face this stories and to look at this pictures. It may even  be one of those things we would rather not think about, or pretend as if it doesn't exist,  but we have to remember the only way to advocate is to educate. Compare to the pain this people go through in real life, shading a few tears by living their stories through a book is the least we can do.  Any benefit?  Yes.  awarness plus  motivation  to become a better person and live an action field life.

"Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." Galatians 6:4

The Perfect Sun Light

The perfect sunlight surrounding my heart,

Feeling warm and cozy in this rainy night.

I am sitting in dark but it feels full of light;

People are shivering, somehow I feel alright.

The trees have no leafs and flowers are dying,

The sky is cloudy and the wind is blowing;

But my view is so clear with a beautiful sky,

Green leaves every where it is hard to deny.

The perfect sunlight, keeping my heart so warm,

People are rushing, but I feel really calm.

They don’t want to get wet, they are running so fast,

I am not so worried the sun is in my heart.

The beauty around me it is so overwhelming,

My heart is rejoicing and the sun is shining;

My view is striking it is really stunning,

I am so grateful to have such blessing.

God’s love is so much like a beautiful sunny day. It’s neither too cold nor too warm; It is comfortable, peaceful and just the perfect temperature. No matter how bad the situation gets around us, no matter how cloudy, dark or rainy the day seems to be, his love is always there to cheer us up and give us a sense of peace.  As it is written on Isaiah 60:20 "Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.” If only we are able to recognize him and turn our face from darkness to light we will be filled with a beautiful, peaceful, sunny days for the rest of our lives… “In the same way let your light shine on others so they may see your good work and give glory to your father who is in heaven.” Mathew 5:16

Photo Credit: every pictureblogspot.com