A Prayer Out Of Darkness

"The end of all good music is to affect the soul."
-Claudio Monteverdi-

In an earlier post, I wrote that there were three songs that guided me as I picked up the broken pieces of my life. The first song was The Warrior is a Child.

I cannot find the right words to describe to you how all three songs led me out of the dark. But on those times when I was desolate, I never really felt alone just by listening to them. Those were the times when I just listened... and listened well.

While the first song helped me find my courage, this song embodied my desperate call for help. It served as my prayer when I had no strength left to utter a word.

Until now, I cannot help being teary-eyed every time I listen to this song. Those days were my darkest. Yet the sun found its way to shine in my life again. Indeed, music is the language of the soul.

I am where I am now because of HIM... and all for HIS glory.

Lead me Lord
lead me by the hand
and help me face the rising sun
comfort me through all the pain
that life may bring

There's no other hope
that I can lean upon
Lead me Lord,
lead me all my life...

Walk by me Walk by me
across the lonely roads that i may face
take my arms and let Your hand
show me the way

Show the way to live inside Your heart
All my days,
all my life...

You are my light
You're the lamp upon my feet
All the Time, my Lord I need You there
You are my light
I cannot live alone
let me stay by Your guiding love
All through my life Lead me Lord...

Lead me Lord,
even though at times
I'd rather go alone my way
help me take the right direction

Take Your road
Lead me Lord
and never leave my side
all my days, all my life...

You are my light
You're the lamp upon my feet
All the Time, my Lord I need You there
You are my light
I cannot live alone
let me stay by Your guiding love
All through my life...

Lead me Lord...

Blessings to all,

The Angels Weekly Is Now On Entrecard

Ever since I started writing for The Angels Weekly, I found fulfillment like no other. I have seen how this ezine evolved and became the beautiful and elegant online magazine that it is now. This was all made possible by our Editor-In-Chief and Creative Director Kat Ritchie. Most of you know her from Candles Crafts and Whatnot.

This ezine is truly a labor of love. Despite their hectic schedules, all the writers come up with inspirational messages for the readers every week. Most of them are, after all, working mothers and wives.

What is amazing though is Kat's untiring devotion to make this joint endeavor work. I was a witness to her angst and sleepless nights (we are on opposite time zones) figuring out ways to solve technical glitches. I could only offer her moral support back then. She wouldn't sleep until she got to the bottom of the problem, unmindful of the fact that she also had a regular job to attend to in the morning. When I asked her why she was doing it, she said she didn't want to fail her writers who have sacrificed their time for the magazine.

And so there it is... an elegant ezine written by women for women. Your favorite bloggers in one read.

I am giving way to Kat's post now regarding The Angels Weekly. We know we have friends out there who might be able (and willing) to help.

The Angels Weekly is on Entrecard!

We have made it onto Entrecard!!

The Angels Weekly is now on Entrecard...And I hope you will all bookmark us and drop on us!! And you can even stop to read our great articles? Give us a review, let us know how we're doing? We look forward to seeing you over there!!

Oh, and by the way....have you subscribed to the Angels feed?? We would love it if you did!! We have been turned down by some directories and article places for not having enough readership or links...... Now, I know you are reading, but THEY don't, because you haven't subscribed to the RSS feed? Please click on the orange "subscribe to rss feed" button on the top right HERE.

I have met some of dearest friends on Entrecard, and I hope they will help me out here...... :)

And please let me know if you subscribe, so I can hopefully resubmit our mag to some of these directories!!

The Angels thank you for your support!!
Have a blessed day!
Take care,

And by the way, The Angels Weekly is always looking for women to write new articles. Do you have an opinion? Something you would like to say? If you do not have a blog or maybe you just feel like writing something completely different, you can do it in this ezine. Come and join us!


Blessings to all,

Making The Most Out Of Your Life

"Today is what matters most.
For some of you, there may be no tomorrow."
-God-

I have just read for the first time Francis M's chronicles concerning his battle with cancer (leukemia). I had to go to a room to cry... a battle well fought, a celebration of life. He died at the ripe age of 44, an age where for some life is just beginning like mine (I'm turning 42 this year). His blog was aptly titled "Francis M's Happy Battle." He left a wife, 8 children and an entire nation grieving for him.

Who was Francis M, you might ask. He was an icon to us Filipinos. I practically grew up seeing him in movies and in television shows playing roles that I could relate to considering that we were almost of the same age range. He wrote songs that described his love for his country. He was a selfless artist who believed that patriotism can be spread through his songs.

A few weeks ago, I also chanced upon the blog of Lisa, a cancer patient (she called herself a three time cancer fighter) who was chronicling the end of her battle. Her blog was called "Clusterfook- It Is What It Is." I waited for her next post to leave a message but it was too late. That post was her last. She died a few days later. She was survived by her husband Dude (John) and 2 beautiful daughters.

How many of us have taken our existence for granted? How many of us have ignored that inner voice telling us that we are meant to do something far greater than what we imagined? How many of us have reached the end of the line regretting the wonderful moments that we wasted?

Do we even have to wait for cancer or any life-threatening disease to unfold before our eyes to make us appreciate life? Do we have to wait for a deadline to be able to do what we are meant to fulfill in this lifetime?

Have you loved your children enough? Have you shown all the people you care for how much you love them? Is it necessary for you to hear it first from them before letting them know how much they mean to you? Have you said "thank you" where it is due?

Don't wait before it is too late. You are given your time here on earth to do all that. You are supposed to experience light, love and peace while you live. If you live in the dark, you have the light with you to lead you out of it.

Muster the courage to face each morning with a grateful heart... if you have nothing else to to be grateful for, be thankful at least that you are still breathing. There are people out there who are praying for a few days' extension. One day to them would make a BIG difference.

To the families of Francis M and Lisa, please accept my sincerest condolences.

For those of you who are in the dark and still trying to figure out what life is all about, I pray that time won't run out on you. Life is short. Make the most out of it. If you don't know where to begin, start by saying "I love you" and mean it from your heart.



Blessings to all,

Are You Too Busy To Listen

"You were too busy creating those
beautiful words in your mind
to PRAISE ME that you forgot to LISTEN...
It is only in the deepest silence
that you can find the answer."
-God-

Sometimes our burden weighs us down and that's when we remember to pray. We utter words of praises in the hope that He will look upon us with favor. And He always does... even without fancy words.

But why do we still feel heavy despite the fact that we have already knelt down in front of Him, offered our sorrow and uttered our praises? Why do we hunger for an answer that doesn't seem to come no matter how hard we pray? Why doesn't anything make sense at all?

Have you thought for one moment that MAYBE... just maybe... you didn't give Him a chance at all to talk to you? Perhaps your mind was racing to catch every word of praise that you can muster or of weariness just to let Him understand how heavily your present situation is affecting you.

You don't go to a friend to give her a compliment and just turn your back after saying your piece. You don't go to a counselor, tell him all your problems and leave his office without waiting for an advice. Of course, you wait for a reply.

The same thing goes with prayer. As in any communication, God also wants to respond to you. But how can He do this when you were probably too busy to listen to what He has to say to you? Can you imagine, you let Him wait for you to finish what you wanted to tell Him and just when He is about to give His response, you conclude your prayer and stand up to leave.

Remember this:

"It is only in the deepest silence that you can find the answer."

Empty your mind and START LISTENING!



Blessings to all,

Keep on Dancing... The Music Plays On

"I gotta keep dancin'... smilin'...
to keep from breakin' apart...

I gotta keep dancin'... smilin'...
to cover up my broken heart..."
-I Gotta Keep Dancing by Carrie Lucas (1977)-

I dance. I dance when I'm happy. I dance when I'm sad. And I dance like crazy. I don't care if you like it. I dance only for myself. The heavier I feel, the crazier I get. And it makes me feel so good.

Here in the comforts of my home, I dance alone. My kids are used to it now and it always leaves a smile on their faces. They grew up watching me dance. They have even memorized the lyrics of my favorite tune- the Dancing Queen (Abba)- like a national anthem of sorts. :D

Give me an upbeat tune and you'll see me swaying to the beat- be it disco, trance, house, hiphop or whatever.

I was home alone tonight. So I danced and it felt soooooooooooo good. Do these songs sound familiar to you- Dancing Queen by Abba, I Gotta Keep Dancing by Carrie Lucas, Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You by Teri de Sario, I Love The Nightlife by Alicia Bridges, Last Dance by Donna Summer, Souvenirs by Voyage, It's Raining Men by The Weather Girls, Rhythm of the Night by El Debarge, A Night to Remember by Shalamar, Breakout by the Swing Out Sisters? Oh yes, they are all in my playlist... and more. All disco hits of the 70's and the 80's.

In those darkest moments of my life, I danced like there was no tomorrow. As each wave of pain or anxiety hit me, I bumped it off with every sway of my hips and swing of my hands. Eyes closed, feeling every rhythm, tears flowing down my face. I didn't care at all.

Now I understand why James bought me my boom box. He knew me too well. He even used it to his advantage several times. He knew I could not resist my music. Good old disco.

Now I feel like dancing again :D In the meantime, keep on smiling...




Blessings to all,






Image source: Dance Therapie from http://www.dance-therapie.ch
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