... Living inspired by the beauty of life, one post at a time.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Link up

Have you linked up to 'Inspire me' yet?

Inspire [in-spahyuhr] 
- to motivate and invigorate .... to inhale, breathe deep and breathe life into ... to draw forth and elicit action.



Live ardent, audacious, bravefearless, certain, significant ... inspired!


Link up here

destined, devoted, daring

then take a moment,
grab a cuppa 
and read some inspiring stories.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Dr S.M Lockridge

No means of measure can define His limitless love.
He's enduringly strong, he's entirely sincere, he's eternally steadfast.
He's immortally graceful, he's imperially powerful, he's impartially merciful.

Do you know Him?

He is the greatest phenomenon
that has ever crossed the horizon of this world!
He's the centrepiece of civilisation.
He's unparalleled, he's unprecedented!
He is the loftiest idea in literature,
He is the highest personality in philosophy.

I wonder if you know him?

He is ...
*indescribable *incomprehensible *invincible *irresistible


Words by the late Dr. S. M Lockridge

Bio - Dr. S.M. Lockridge (born Shadrach Meshach Lockridge, March 7, 1913 – April 4, 2000) was the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, a prominent African-American congregation located in San DiegoCalifornia, from 1953 to 1993. He was known for his preaching across the United States and around the world. (Source)




Link up with 'Inspire me' here

capture, celebrate, cherish

Saturday, July 23, 2011

a few favourite aha moments



This week I undertook some conflict coaching and mediation training as part of my professional development as a teacher. The Peacewise training I participated in offers Christian solutions to conflict, focusing on developing skills in the ministry of reconciliation. It was an eye opening experience. 


Perhaps the most profound (aha!) statement I was impacted by was this one .... ' All conflict originates in and is empowered by the elevation of SELF above others' - placing more importance on 'What I want!' .... how true is this? Conflict arises when our good desires over step the boundary and become demands to bend to our way, our wants and our will. What is in our heart influences how we act, what we say and how we behave. 




A few pearls of wisdom 
(and some favourite aha moments)

- Conflict offers opportunity to reconcile ourselves to the heart of others.
- Conflict reveals what is in our heart - pride, selfishness, SELF (wanting our way!)
- A problem gets bigger when we focus on it.
- Our soul must be nourished by repentance and forgiveness.
- Reconciliation brings hope and freedom.
- Peacemakers are people who breathe grace.

friday favorite things | finding joy


Blessed are the peace makers

Thursday, July 21, 2011

an inspiring thought


Where would your heart take you?

What adventure would you embark upon, what story would you write? .... what would you do?

You know that great big ole dream inside of you?
The one hidden deep within,
buried safely over the passages of time.
The one that comes to mind
when your alone...
the one that drifts back
from your subconscious
and reverberates throughout your mind.
That big magnificent dream
that whispers to you of so much more.
The one that scares you half to death!
Yep, that one that you think is just that - a dream!

Well its not!
Life is too short to worry about it
or the yesterdays, tomorrows or maybe's.
Stop wondering and just get out there,
now, I tell you.
Just do it!

Take hold of that God dream,
don't waste one more minute
of that special gift you were born with.
Begin the job only you can do.
You were born for this moment,
.... this time in history!

I hope you have enjoyed the 'Inspire me' series over the last few weeks. It has been a lot of fun. The 'Inspire me' series is now on hiatus. We are taking a break ~ looking forward to the next inspiring project. Ciao for now.

destined, devoted, daring
Weekly linky on hiatus.

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Thursday, July 14, 2011

Inspired and Invigorated


Inspire [in-spahyuhr] 
- to motivate and invigorate .... to inhale, breathe deep and breathe life into ... to draw forth and elicit action.

This week I am mixing things up and posting my bit of inspiration a little early. 

At the beginning of my holidays I was tired, flat and ready to bury myself under a pile of blankets and soothe myself with mindless TV drama and endless cups of hot steamy tea. I was in need of a little inspiration. I decided to be purposeful and intentional with my time. I didn't want to resurface at the end of three weeks and allow time to have slipped away without being fully present. 

I love writing but it takes up a lot of time, sometimes too much time. I really didn't want to get stuck in front of my lap top!! I wanted to spend time getting out and enjoying the world, fully engaging in moments of tranquility and serenity. I wanted to be audacious, fearless and brave. Ha!... so I thought.  (Okay I decided to be fearless and brave but not in the way you might think.) 

At first I was just getting out and about in the neighbourhood by visiting the park, the lake, the beach or the botanic gardens. I was even making it worthwhile by looking for picturesque views to snap but something very unexpected happened. (Firstly however, I need to give you a little background about me - I hate exercising!! ... hate being hot and sweaty!! ... and will avoid over exerting myself where punishing workouts are concerned... running - ugghh!!) Living in a humid, occasionally tropical climate means for most of the year we have deliciously hot summers and very short winters so exercising usually means hot sweaty work most of the time... eewww!! We are currently in the middle of winter (It's only really cold here for two months of the year and never below zero.... so what am I complaining about?.... bear with me :) 

It is sometimes a shock to have such cool, crisp air early in the morning and right on dusk when the sun still shines so beautifully throughout the day. It becomes freezing so very quickly. Usually I make sure we are bundled up inside so as to avoid the cool weather, especially as the chill sparks asthma with the kiddos.


But this year I changed my perspective and challenged a mind set. I decided to push myself out from the safety of my little cocoon world... pulling my weary body from the comfort of a nice warm bed, I intentionally ventured out into the cold cool world. Wrapping myself in a scarf I began pounding the pavement. At first I had two running conversations in my head .... 'What are you doing, your crazy!' (Just keep going) ... 'This is crazy???' (This is cool - literally) ... 'Wow my fingers are numb' (Look at the beauty around you, take a deep breath, push through) ... 'Oh, my teeth are chattering!!' (Oh look, fish are jumping out of the water, the water looks like glass - actually thats really breathtaking) and so it went for the first week. By the end of that first week I discovered something about myself that I never knew - I actually enjoyed walking in the cool, crisp air with the sun waking over the horizon or filtering through the trees at dusk. It was actually invigorating, really inspiring and dare I say - intoxicating! ... By week two I started to feel alive, truly fully alive in forever and I was doing it minus the hot sweaty body (BONUS!) 

Week three I was actually exercising and enjoying it, even looking forward to it (Surprise!), probably for the first time since, uummm, possibly since childhood!


This week I was inspired by 
brisk walking 
cool, crisp air ... invigorating!
people walking their dogs ...  dog walking people are friendly people.
fluffy clouds ... love how they flit across the sky.
my kids donning roller blades and coming with me (their inhalers safely tucked inside their pockets.)
walking at the beach
sitting on the rocks gazing out to sea ... peaceful.
dappled sunlight
a swan on the lake - so graceful
me -  I actually attempted running!!
my daughter cheering me on... really inspiring!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Happy Birthday .. my darling girl



capturing an opportunity * celebrating the beauty of life  * cherishing the everyday. 

***

Sweet Sixteen ...

So proud of who you are
my lovely.

... a few favourite moments this week.


Love you honey bun - sugar plum .... hip hip hooray!!


Breakfast out ..... a chilly morning except for the warmth of good food and great company.


Movies and dinner too .....amazing bbq spare ribs!!



Fun with family and friends.... celebrating sixteen wonderful years.


A fun day .... laughter, delight and spontaneity... Happy happy birthday Sunshine!!



capture, celebrate, cherish

friday favorite things | finding joy

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Sweetness for the soul ...


'Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.' .... this thought from Proverbs is why I started blogging. Fifteen months on, I still feel the same. I believe that a kind word  has the potential to bring healing and wholeness to a weary soul. That it can open up the heart and soothe the soul. 

Pleasant, kind and gracious words are sweet, delicious and delightful. They embrace, console, relieve and heal. Intentional words of grace, hope and purpose are food for the inner part of us, giving life sustaining energy to our core. These kind of words have creative power and can change mindsets, bring hope and give new direction. The body requires energy to function and grow and it is sugar  that provides this energy to the body. Without this energy our body becomes listless and lethargic. So to our soul without the sweetness of life giving words becomes silent and despondent. It fails to thrive…..we fail to rise.

Intentional means to purpose and plan concentrated and deliberate attention. With this thought in mind I want to ensure that my words are intentional and that I extend words that grow (put out shoots) into the very heart and soul of those in my world. 

A healthy soul needs to be fed invigorating and refreshing words in order for it to successfully prosper and grow. As parents we are required to feed life-sustaining words into the very heart and soul of our children. As spouses we can grow the heart and soul of our loved one through a concentrated, deliberate and gracious word. As a friend we can purpose to offer heart and soul words into our relationships. 

I want to make sure my words are:
Pleasant – satisfying, agreeable and enjoyable.
Kind – indulgent, considerate and helpful.
Gracious – benevolent, courteous, merciful and compassionate.

What intentional message will you give today? 
How are you generous with your words?

This is why I post here.

destined, devoted, daring

Friday, July 1, 2011

Inspire me - Friends




destined, devoted, daring

Today for 'Inspire me' I wanted to give room to honour a few beautiful and beloved individuals, people who really do inspire me beyond words. Wonderful, warm and caring girls who live life graciously, valiantly and bravely... who in varying seasons of life and despite their circumstances and struggles of ill health, a bitter divorce, a lost job, no baby, an empty home or an absent Dad are facing life's adversity with great courage. The storms of life have blown fierce and strong but still they remain rooted and grounded. Arising from the midst of heartache they smile at the future.

You too may know this girl! The one who stands resolute, face turned towards the sunrise, her eye focused on the future.... she embraces the new dawn with expectation and hauls herself over each new obstacle in her path refusing to give up or quit. She may be your mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend or perhaps she may even be you!


My dear friends,
I honour you today.

Today I was inspired by your courage, tenacity and grace
So brave of you to stand so tall .. a smile upon your face
For I glimpsed a light inside of you - it shone so brilliantly
Thou the way has been quite rough - you live life valiantly
The storm did not contain you nor did it keep you small
I saw a girl who walked with hope - A girl who gave it all
A girl embracing all her dreams
A life of purpose it would seem
So my friend, I cheer you on and love all that I see
For I know your heart is well and you are truly free.
© Copyright k.weight 2011


capture, celebrate, cherish
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