HO`OMANA is Hawaiian for Spirituality. From the beginning of Life, until death, and everything in between: Poems, Dream & Nightmare Interpretations, Music, My Close and Far Moments from God... et cetera.
So it's been over a year since I last posted anything here. It isn't that I didn't try. I have drafts saved of journal excerpts that just never reached publish-worthy quality, IMHO, but then I know I can be my own worst critic..
So much has happened in my life since last April/May. I have learned so much about my church, about God, our Heavenly Father, His son Jesus Christ, and His Plan of Salvation. I am constantly humbled, inspired, edified, repenting for something, and growing ever more eternally closer to Him. I've grown in my prayers and in my ability to tune in to hear and *feel* Him better when His Holy Ghost speaks to me. I've made lifestyle choices to change many habits that were revealed to me as not up to His standards. In doing so, I've had to sacrifice many things I used to enjoy. There are a few things I still can do and I no longer take them for granted.
I pray that I will be inspired with His words to elaborate on many of my lifestyle choices and changes in future posts.
If there is one specific area I am *feeling* prompted to elaborate on before ending, it's about how I am able to *FEEL* Him and *know* that it is truly Him speaking to me.
Growing Closer to Him
Means
Trusting in The Lord.
I recently watched a movie I hadn't watched in a long time & it was interestingly refreshing to watch it from my Latter-day Saint point of view. In the 1998 movie City of Angels starring Nicolas Cage (Seth) & Meg Ryan (Maggie), there's a scene where Seth explains it in a very simple way to Maggie:
City of Angels "Touch"
http://youtu.be/FEq2C-LTOK0
(At about 1:50 into the video)
Seth: You're an excellent doctor.
Maggie: How do you know?
Seth: I have a feeling.
Maggie: Well, that's pretty flimsy evidence.
Seth: Close your eyes. Just for a moment. (He takes her hand and with his finger running across the palm of her hand asks...) What am I doing?
Maggie: You're touching me.
Seth: Touch. How do you know?
Maggie: Because I feel it.
Seth: You should trust that. You don't trust it enough.
Trust can be a big word for many of us in today's world. For so many people, it doesn't come naturally, nor easily. . .But with courage and daily practice, it will get easier.
So, I'm watching a whole bunch of Glee music videos with my daughter and she's telling me who's who and I'm trying to learn who isn't who, as well as put faces to the voices and names that I have so often heard about from her. We're on YouTube and just randomly exploring the suggested videos in the right margin. I'm not a huge Glee fan but my daughter is and has been to the point that she has their music on her cell phone and a rotation of wallpaper images for her laptop.
I really enjoy how they take so many "old" songs and create their own up-to-date theatrical versions. Many of the songs they sing can really bring back some memories. From songs like "ABC", originally by the Jackson 5, to their mash-up version of Duran Duran's "Hungry Like The Wolf/Rio". With the recent passing of one of my great personal favorite singers, Whitney Houston, I felt especially very appreciative of their versions of her earlier songs. Then, we reached a song I've heard my daughter play before but this song, as I learned today, is actually a Glee Original song called "Get It Right".
As we watched Rachel singing, I was listening to the lyrics and I can't say the exact part of the song that did it, but my eyes started welling up with tears. I've asked myself these questions on several occasions through out my life.
[CHORUS] What can you do when your good isn't good enough? When all that you touch tumbles down? 'Cause my best intentions keep making a mess of things I just wanna fix it somehow But how many times will it take? Oh, how many times will it take for me To get it right
There are so many phrases in this song that really hit home for me. Can anyone else relate?
There's a different non-glee song that is trying to come to my mind that has a similar phrase in the lyrics but I can't seem to think of it just now. Uhmm...Lemme come back to this....
Complete lyrics to the song is below the video player:
Get It Right lyrics
What have I done? I wish I could run. Away from this ship going under Just trying to help, hurt everyone else Now I feel the weight of the world is On my shoulders
What can you do when your good isn't good enough? When all that you touch tumbles down? 'Cause my best intentions keep making a mess of things I just want to fix it somehow But how many times will it take? Oh, how many times will it take for me? To get it right To get it ri-igh-ight
Can I start again with my faith shaken? 'Cause I can't go back and undo this I just have to stay and face my mistakes But if I get stronger and wiser I'll get through this
What can you do when your good isn't good enough? When all that you touch tumbles down? ... But how many times will it take? Oh, how many times will it take for me? To get it right
[Bridge] So I throw up my fist Throw a punch in the air And accept the truth, that sometimes life isn't fair Yeah, I'll send out a wish Yeah, I'll send up a prayer And finally, someone will see How much I care
What can you do when your good isn't good enough? When all that you touch tumbles down? Oh, my best intentions keep making a mess of things I just wanna fix it somehow But how many times will it take? Oh, how many times will it take? To get it right To get it ri-igh-ight.
Going back to the song that these lyrics was reminding of - I had blogged about this particular song before but I believe it was a private/friends-only blog on a different site a number of years ago. Any who, the song is by Stacie Orrico and it's called "Strong Enough". The questions that are similar in this song are:
Will my scars forever ruin God's plan? ~~~ and ~~~ Please can I have one chance to start again?
Complete lyrics on screen:
I believe the two songs are telling us to be strong, have faith, & to not give up on ourselves. No matter how much we mess up, as long as we continue to *DESIRE* to try again and to HO`OPONOPONO (make right) things in our lives, eventually life will work itself out in the end.
~*~ Jeremiah 29:11 ~*~ "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)
I had to work Saturday so @0600 HST April 1st, this is the first talk I was able to hear. This month, I'll be re-watching/hearing all the Sunday Sessions plus getting to hear the Saturday Session talks! I realize I have been away from blogging/writing for a long time. I've changed aLOT. ToBeCon't..
pick a number 1 thru 6 or just simply PLAY any or all of these six "blip" songs that I blipped today [27JAN2010], in any order You feel like.. either after OR *while* ..you read the two Bible Verses and my Poem below!
Note: ALL links in my blog should open in a new tab. If you're not familiar with blip.fm, press SPACE BAR or the "PLAY" link to play song/video. 1)RT @FLOW828: "All the windows of my heart I open to the day." ~John Greenleaf Whittier #quote (via @Chillami) ♫ http://blip.fm/~jtfbi [ok, except I blipped this 1 ystrdy: 26JAN2010]
2)RT @FLOW828: RT @M_Hutchings: Become a fan & help promote positive body image: http://bit.ly/NzKlr & ....let the thoughts th... ♫ http://blip.fm/~jvgzp
3)RT @FLOW828: #lyrics You have a Way of moving me .. & it takes my breath away .. You are the thunder & I am Your LIGHTning!! ♫ http://blip.fm/~jvhyv
4)RT @FLOW828: Ephesians 6:12-13 #bible ~ "Love is a battlefield" #lyrics We are young.. We are strong.. There's no Way this w... ♫ http://blip.fm/~jw6nd
5)RT @FLOW828: Ephesians 6:12-13 #bible ~+~ #lyrics Why does love always feel like a "Battlefield"? U better go &get Your Armor! ♫ http://blip.fm/~jw7as
"Those who sing, pray twice!!!!"
6)RT @FL411: iLuv this Five For Fighting song ~> #lyrics "chances" are... only what we make them... and all I need =) ♫ http://blip.fm/~jwnys
Ephesians 6:12-13 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Poem: "Love Heals Us"
Aloha ke Akua.
God is Love. Love is a part of Life.
Life is Change. Change is a Process.
The Process is What Heals US. What Heals is our Emotional Scars and Wounds.
Our Scars and Wounds preserve His Work because His Work is not easily recognized
by us immediately.
In time we learn awareness
and the Battle signs.
We learn awareness of His battles for us
By Way of the Holy Ghost
Reminding us how
Each one of our Scars and Wounds
Have come to pass.
We are healed
By Way of the Holy Spirit
Telling us the truth and wisdom
In the Order of His Ways.
In being healed
We are able to love again and again
With more strength than before
In the knowledge of His truth and wisdom
by the mightiest power of
The Aloha Spirit.
written by ~-FLoW+~ Wednesday, 27-JAN-2010 8:40pm -10:04pm HST
Right now, to be honest, I am not a "devout" practicing Catholic but there are specific "doctrines" that my Personal Spiritual Faith is based on.
Spiritual Works of Mercy ...AND... the Corporal Works of Mercy
This blog is not being posted for me to get into "Apologetics" so if you don't know what the Works of Mercy are, feel free to do your own research and self-discovery. Y'all are more than welcome to post and share your findings in a comment and we can go from there. =)
Have an awesome and Blessed Day and Happy New Year everyone!
My God, You desire to make me eternally great. You want me to reflect Your perfection in my daily thoughts, words, &actions. May I begin at long last to be a reflection of Your love in everything I think, say or do. I desire to be patient, kind, thoughtful, helpful, & long-suffering, just as You have been w/me, a sinner. In spite of my selfish nature, I want to love You as You deserve. In all things let me never forget Your wisdom &goodness, so that I may always consider &follow what pleases You. My model in all this is Jesus, Your divine Son. He is the model of perfect charity.
Let me strive each day to become more like Him &less like myself.
AMEN.
Monday, November 23, 2009
(Define: S.M.I.L.E.)S.M.I.L.E. = Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal -- [from the Book Of Mormon] -- For me, "Spiritually Minded" is: The Way of looking at all situations & events in life just like how Jesus spoke in parables. Spiritually Minded IS a higher level of consciousness of thinking and awareness of being. In my book, Jesus, Confucious, Buddah, Ghandi, Dalai Lama are all examples of highly enlightened and Spiritually Minded people and beings. [mobile post: Nov23,2009 07:30am status: incomplete]
