Poetic Preaching

Recently, I have been going to a new church in San Diego called C3. 

 I really enjoy the modern atmosphere, club-like feel of the auditorium and the plethora of Australian accents!

What grabs my heart the most is the experience with God that I get every time I am there. 

I've been to many churches and none have grabbed me so intently and deeply as this. 

I feel like I have the Holy Spirit on tap and I drink til I am full every time I go. 

The pastor says some very thought provoking things and I catch myself taking notes every Sunday! 

When I look back at what I've written, it appears like poetry, which is why I've shared. 

Hope you enjoy!! 

***

Notes from 12/8/13 

Genesis 22 

Abraham offers his son Isaac to God

In the school of life 

God tests me 

To increase me 

To bless me 

And promote me 

It's not about what I possess 

It's what possesses me 

What I can't give 

I don't own 

It owns me 

What's the meaning of life? 

To give life meaning. 

Give till it hurts! 

Go into the market and create a harvest that will bless the kingdom of God. 

Deuteronomy 8:18 

Money is a wicked master 

But a wonderful servant 

*** 

What do you think? 

xo, 

Ms Panda

The Summer Day

"Tell me. What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
-Mary Oliver, poet The Summer Day

"Am I My Brother's Keeper?"

The wisest man I've met in Belize told this story after dinner tonight.

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.

What food might this contain? He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning, "There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me.  I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house."

The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow.  She said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse.  I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.

That very night, a sound was heard throughout the house; like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught.  In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife.  The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned with a fever.  Everyone knows you treat a fever with a good chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.  To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.  

The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.  So many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

In the book of Genesis, Cain said this about Abel, his brother to our God: "Am I my brother's keeper?"

We are all involved in this journey called life.  We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

Remember: Each of us is a vital thread in another person's tapestry; our lives are woven together for a reason.

Blogathon Haiku Day 2012

Today is Day 21 of the Word Count Blogathon and the theme is HAIKU!

This style of poem, which you can learn about here, is composed of 17 sound units

divided into three parts - one with 5 units, one with 7 units and another with 5 units.

Here is one I wrote in Calligraphy for my pen pal:

Here are some I wrote today while I waited an hour at the DMV:

I love my haikus

They roll off my mind like wheels

Spinning in control

Poetry is life

A writer's means to speak it

A reader's glimpse in

Visual headlines

Written thoughtfully to see

What I am feeling

Haiku anywhere

Sitting in the DMV

Waiting to be called

It's 5-7-5

All it takes to come alive

In the haiku world

Spinning, twirling free

The sun shining down on me

Day after eclipse

The moon blocked her face

We poked holes through paper plates

The same as sixth grade

What a day it was!

I wrote a meaningful blog

And changed perceptions!

Today is a new day!

Full of opportunity

And love in my heart

Thanks for being here,

For reading the poems I write -

An eclipse of mind.

xOx,

Ms. Panda

Some of my favorite haiku posts from the past:

Numbers and weekdays

Mix so nicely in my mind

Imagine, Twosday.

Spiritual toys...
Play with them every day
and watch your light grow.

I see the word "love"

On the phone pole in the street

Just as you call me

She finds prince charming
Only exists in her books
But keeps believing

A moment to think
Of a thing called love, in ink
How shall I write it?

Karma maniacs

Cashin' in and styled out

On universe gifts

Aren't you curious
To know and live God's purpose?
It's why you are here.

Relax and enjoy
Trust that he has brought you here
To show you the way

My Favorite ALL-TIME Haiku:

Honest to a fault
I wear my heart on my sleeve
Like a truth tattoo

Sea of Change

So many things going on,
Not able to fetch a decent night's sleep.
Wrote a poem about the gypsy in me.
These days prove the difficulty of an unsettled lifestyle,
Especially after being so physically and emotionally close to my family the last three years.

My heart is heavy.
My poem is it's plea.


Sea of Change

This change is a change
of pace
Which the universe did
so unexpectedly give

My heart of gold
Sleeplessly weeps with heavy heaves
My chest grieves
As I begin to finally see what is now me

Moving forward
As my soul lingers in my recent memories
I stare into the high seas
To set sail could be the death of me

Still, I remain at bay
Ready, but steady - taking baby steps
To repair my worn down ship
A list of things to fix

But most important on my list
A new plank for my ship
Perfect to spring from
When the new tide comes

When the sky clears
And the sun melts my fears
It'll be into a calm sea I leap
Washing the uncertainty off of me.

Life - Its Days Like This...

that make you never take life for granted again!


Take this post for what it is worth.


You never realize what you truly have until it is snatched away from you and you aren't allowed to hold, touch or love it any longer.


Life is too short - if you worry, worry about telling your loved ones how much you love them often.
If you cry, cry because you are so blessed to have a warm, comfortable bed to sleep in at night.
If you ache, ache to always do what is right.
Karma always catches up with you.  Do you want it to be good, or bad?
Let the good wolf live in you.


"Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier."
-Mother Teresa
Amen.

Pandagram

Hello there!

I just wanted to share this wonderful feeling I am experiencing with you all...in the form of a "Pandagram!"

I got permission to use this amazing image from graphic artist, Jenikah at SoooGoodStudios.  You can see how she developed the concept and image on her blog titled, "Amanda the Panda-gram" here.

Love and happiness can only be experienced fully when it is shared unselfishly and so I am writing today to give just that.

Yesterday as I waded through the muddy waters of my errands, I managed to maintain a sparkling attitude and by sharing a little of what I had, I released the flood gates of good karma.

Some were small gestures, like giving my mechanic a hug for he lost his cousin the night before and was struggling through the smoldering hot day in that garage.  He appreciated it so much that he text me thank you.

However, one gesture in particular made quite the nice karmic ripple.

As I own a hypochondriac black lab, Lucy, I have become quite the regular at the vet's office down the street.  By befriending the vet techs, I managed to score a pretty constant supply of colorful bird feathers.

So, as a thank you to my vet tech friends, I dropped off a couple of pairs of feather earrings for them.

Giddy with excitement, one of them put the earrings on right away and within an hour she had three custom orders for me!!!

I love life!  Thanks for being a part of it :)

"Life is like the surf, so give yourself away like the sea."
--Luisa from Y Tu Mama Tambien.

xOx,
Ms. Panda

VIPness

This post is an ode to people with good karma, LIFERS (Living It Fully Everyday, Remember Smile), the brilliant universe we live in and the wonderful bouts of fate that cross my path quite often. 

LTD PEOPLE!

Live.

The.

Dream.

(With The Expendables at Warped Tour 2011, Bonner Springs, KS)

Fate is a mind state

Think anything can happen

And sure nuff it will!

I am determined

Every step of the way

To participate

This lil' panda bear

Makes new friends everywhere

Smiley eyes, repeat :)

I met lead singers

Lead guitar and bass players

And chilled on their bus

Better than backstage

Is a place called "Bus City"

With a bar that's free

Expendable guys

And pepper filled edibles

Mingling on tour

New friends mean new songs

Something to listen to now

When you are long gone

Why do we reflect

So perfectly what we see

Ourselves in others?

I've never seen you

But I know you are like me

Your cocked head told me

Why are we drawn near

To things we've only dreamed of

And given a test?

I won't forget it

When I see it in your eyes

That look is alive

Elevate yourself

You deserve majestic love

Fill your heart with light

Is it clear, my love?

Can you hear these songs I sing?

My heart beats for you!

Don't crave abundance
Simply recognize it here
In and around you




I draw happiness
With a mental light pencil
On a blank canvas




The light that I seek
Comes from the sun, the moon and
The soulshine in me.




Peace,
Ms. Panda