Wednesday, November 30, 2011

These days

I have been going back and forth on whether or not I should do a Calendar again this year counting down the days to Christmas. I wasn't sure if I could come up with something inspirational again this year. But I have decided to do it. Mostly because it helps me remember and appreciate these days. This season. The reason why we celebrate Christmas.
So... starting tomorrow I will post something each day until the 24th. It might be songs, videos, quotes, thoughts. Whatever inspires me each day.

xoxo

Ramona

** picture taken on a trip to the Vosges in France

Monday, November 28, 2011

Change

I knew there would be change. I knew that change was going to come. I felt it, I could almost grasp it. It lingered around the corner at the advent of this Fall season.
And now I feel myself left in chaos hoping that soon the great changes will come to happen. I still feel them, they still linger. And I hopefully keep moving forward finally able to see it. That thing. That change. That answer that is just around the corner.

xoxo

Ramona



photo via


Friday, November 18, 2011

A Reminder

Sometimes you have to listen to music again to remind yourself of the feeling and the thoughts and the decision based upon that very moment when you first listened to that music.
Today I have to listen to Dvorak's symphony No. 9 "From the New World" again and remind myself what choices I made going into this season, this Fall.
I cannot allow myself to be stolen of these decisions, these very deep dreams and this urge for something greater than I can fathom.
I remind myself of the choices after my trip to India and I remind myself of the Epic life I want to live.

Of the New World by Ramona Sebald on Grooveshark

xoxo
Ramona

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

In your Shade



As most of you have probably figured out I am currently reading Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge again. And it is just perfect timing because somehow I just needed to hear some things again. Very different things than I learned the first time I read it though.
The thing is I want to be a woman after God's heart. I want to be the Proverbs 31 woman. Some of you might say, "Oh Ramona that's too high of an aim" or "Ramona, these are just symbols" or "Ramona, come on really?" Yes really. I want to be the kind of woman that when I enter a room God's love and grace and His anointing are shining so much out of who I am that people will be attracted to me. Not because of me and all the great things I can do, but because of God through who I am what I am.

In the chapter Beauty to unveil they really explain what it means to be with a beautiful woman and is not the outward appearance but beauty that comes from the inside. And there is one line that really got me and encourages me to be eager to become like that. "You find room for your soul. It expands. You can breathe again. You can rest. It is good. That is what it is like to with a beautiful woman. you are free to be you."
Actually it is like being a tree.

And yes being that. Being at rest and offering this beauty to others is risky. Really risky. As you open your heart to share with others, to invite others to eat from your fruit or sit in your shade is a leap of faith. You don't know if they will respond at all or if they will come and cut of the branches or throw away your fruit.

Nonetheless I know how important it is to offer that beauty even if it hurts sometimes. Even if branches are cut off or destroyed. But I am planted on a riverbank (Psalm 1) and like that one quote in one of my favorite movies The New World "Think of a tree how it grows around its wounds. If a branch breaks off, it don't stop but keeps reaching towards the light."

We must offer beauty. We must invite and share.

xoxo

Ramona

PS: Listen to some new songs on my Current Soundtrack
PSS: Have a look at my Travels
PSSS: I watched this beautiful movie yesterday
PSSSS: Picture from my sister's bachelorette party in July.

Monday, November 7, 2011

The North Wind and the Sun


"The North wind and the Sun had an argument one day. They disputed which of them was the stronger. A traveler came along the road at that time, and the Sun suggested a way to resolve the argument. Whoever was able to cause the traveler to remove his coat would be the stronger. The Wind accepted the challenge and the Sun hid himself behind a cloud. The Wind began to blow. Yet the harder he blew, the more the traveler clutched his coat about himself. The Wind sent rain, even hail. The traveler clung even more desperately to his coat. Finally, in despair, the Wind gave up. The Sun came out and began to shine in all his glory upon the traveler. Quite soon the man had removed his coat. "How did you do that?" asked the Wind. "It was easy," said the Sun. "I lit the day. Through gentleness I got my way." 

- out of Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge

Friday, November 4, 2011

Just your ordinary girl?


Ever heard girls say, "I guess I am just your ordinary girl..." or "I am just simply the girl next door" or "I am just your average girl..."? Well I did and sometimes even used to say these words in my mind as a defence or explanation for I don't know what :-)
And then the other week it struck me: Ordinary? Simple? Average? I don't want to be that (and I certainly am not!)!
So I looked it up and here are some definitions of these words:

or·di·nar·y [awr-dn-er-ee] adjective
1.of no special quality or interest; commonplace; unexceptional: One novel is brilliant, the other is decidedly ordinary; an ordinary person.
2. plain or undistinguished: ordinary clothes.
3. somewhat inferior or below average; mediocre.
4. customary; usual; normal: We plan to do the ordinary things this weekend.

sim·ple [sim-puhl] adjective
1. easy to understand, deal with, use, etc.: a simple matter; simple tools.
2. not elaborate or artificial; plain: a simple style.
3. not ornate or luxurious; unadorned: a simple gown.
4. unaffected; unassuming; modest: a simple manner.
5. not complicated: a simple design.

av·er·age [av-er-ij, av-rij] adjective
6. of or pertaining to an average; estimated by average; forming an average: The average rainfall there is 180 inches.
7.typical; common; ordinary

I certainly do not want to be defined by these adjectives as a woman. I want to be a worldchanger, different, breathtaking, unusual, luxurious, beautiful, tender, elaborate, colorful, special!

Because I believe that is how God sees me. That is what defines His creation. And I am part of that creation and of His being an artist. And I don't think that any artist would call their piece of art unspecial or plain.

Therefore I just want to encourage you that before you say things like that about yourself. Rethink. Change your mindset about yourself. You are not ordinary, simple or average. You are special, extraordinary, complex and beautiful! God wanted you!

xoxo

Ramona

PS: picture from last Christmas with my best friends! We are anything but normal!

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