A Special Inspirational Love Note:From My Heart to Yours

With Thanksgiving now behind us, and the Black Friday shopping madness kicked off this weekend as well, the holiday season is now officially in full effect. Part of my Thanksgiving was spent in quiet reflection, prayer and praise for the many things I am grateful for this year. Among my long list of things I gave praise and thanks to God for was you. Yes...YOU!!! 

Allow me, if you will, to share a little of my backstory of the last four years since Inspirational Love Notes first began with you. It will give you a better understanding of why I started doing this and how by doing so has brought me to appreciate all of you so much.
 
I created this blog in August of 2010. It was a Spirit inspired Divine Idea and a life rafter from God. I say that because I truly believe the idea to create Inspirational Love Notes was God's way of giving me something to float on and keep my head above the turbulent waters of life, I felt like I was drowning in, at that time. The idea to start this blog came during a time I felt life had blind folded me and tossed me into the middle of the ocean with no warning or swimming lessons. And I was desperately trying to find my way back to shore mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

If you live here in the United States I think it goes without saying that 2010 was a rough year for most Americans. We were still in the thick of our struggling economy and almost everyone in our country was being hit badly by the recession....including me.  I was experiencing my second lay-off over a two year time period that summer. On top of that, our Government was going through a lot of conflict with President Obama during the second year of his first term. And for some reason, still unclear to me, they decided to put a freeze on distribution of all unemployment funds, which was the only income for thousands of laid-off Americans...again, included me. That decision resulted in many Americans, myself included, suffering for months without receiving unemployment benefits at a time when finding new gainful employment was nearly impossible.

As if that wasn't enough to endure, that same dreadful year, my Father made his transition from this life unexpectedly. So, despite the fact that I was going through a serious financial hardship situation at the time, I had to figure out a way to get back to my home town in Michigan and be with my family as we laid my Dad to his final rest. That was in June 2010. Then just six months later following my Father passing my Spiritual Mother,whom I had a very close relationship with, made her transition from this life as well in December 2010. 

She was my anchor, my "go to" person, my confidant, my spiritual teacher, mentor, life coach and very dear friend. She was the first person I always went to for comfort, love and wisdom to help get me through all the other challenges life threw at me over the twelve beautiful years I had known her. There was no one in my life at the time who could compare to the bond I had grown accustom to sharing with her. Needless to say, I was devastated by the news of her transition from this life. Yet, I am grateful that I was able to be there by her side during her final days.

However, at the time of her passing, I was also going through a personal health situation that resulted in me having an out-patient medical procedure. So I wasn't even able to attend her funeral because my medical procedure was scheduled for the same day as her funeral service. Losing my Spiritual Mom, especially on the heels of losing my Dad, was the blow to my heart that hit me the hardest. It was also the breaking point of my emotional pain tolerance. It was the worse of everything else I had already endured that year. Because she was the first, and main, person who would have normally been there to help me overcome the other series of devastating events that unfolded back to back all within that same year.

Needless to say, I was drowning in an ocean of emotional turmoil and despair. I've always been a deeply spiritual person of strong faith. But I had never experience that much, or that kind, of loss, hurt, disappointment and pain all at the same time in my entire life. I desperately needed an outlet, a place I felt emotionally safe to express what I was feeling at that time and allow my heart to heal. 

Then I remembered, my spiritual practices have taught me that the best and fastest way to receive from the universe what you're most in need of is by giving that very thing away. So after countless nights of endless crying, grieving, and constant prayer for healing I was led in spirit to create Inspirational Love Notes for the following several reason. 

First, I created it as a means of using my talents and gifts in a way that would honor God through service to others while waiting for my personal prayers to overcome my intense grief, restore my broken spirit, and heal my severely bruised heart to be fulfilled. Secondly, since my childhood, I have asked God  to use me in a way that allows me to be a source of inspiration to other's. And to allow my unique talents and gifts to touch somebody else's life in a positive way. 

Lastly, I created Inspirational Love Notes because I wanted to help others who may be going through some of the same painful experiences I went through in 2010, or worse. I wanted to encourage others to hang in there and keep the faith when life gets rough. More importantly, I wanted to do my part to ensure that no one going through such painful and difficult times in their life as I did, in 2010 and other times in my life before and after that dreadful year, to ever feel like they're gong through it alone. I wanted to help other's heal their wounded places within and in their relationships with others by awakening the love light that is innately in all of us and has the power to heal all things.   

So, I started this blog and named it Inspirational Love Notes. My intention was for this to be a spin off of my radio show, Love Notes, that I created, produced and hosted here in Atlanta, Georgia in 2003-2004, that had the same concept of encouraging and inspiring others only through music rather than the written word.

Without a doubt, I have gone through and overcome a great deal of painful experiences over the last four years since I created this blog and began sharing  my Inspirational Love Notes with you. Yet, as the scripture says in Romans 8:28, "...we know that all things work together for good to those who love God."  This is one of my favorite scriptures that has stood the test of time. And it has proven true repeatedly in my life. I have come to realized that none of what I went through in 2010, the last four years since then, or my entire life, has been in vain. Nope...None of it! Because all of it has led me right where I need to be and prepared me for what I now realize I've been called in Spirit to do. All that I have gone through has brought me to this moment in time sharing the wisdom and lessons I have come to learn from it all with you. And for that I am so deeply grateful. 

Sharing my daily inspirational messages with you has allowed me to inspire others while heal my severely wounded heart and soul. It has allowed me to give my gift to the world by doing what comes to me so naturally. While spiritual growth is an ongoing process, I can say with great certainty, that since I started this blog and began sharing my daily inspirational love notes with you, I have received in return, the blessing of evolving spiritually and seeing my talent as a poet and writer grow as well in ways I never imaged. And for that I am also deeply grateful.  

I never thought when I began sharing my daily messages of love with you on my Facebook Group, Inspirational Poetry & Love Notes, that I would have the positive response from so many people as I now do. But it has  been a two way street. 

You all have been just as much a blessing and source of inspiration to me as many of you have let me know I have been to you. Your feedback is important to me. And many of you have shared with me how my positive articles, poems, and quotes have been so helpful to you while coping through your own personal life struggles you are working to overcome. So this Inspirational Love Note is a special dedication to you to express my heartfelt gratitude for letting me know we have been growing and healing together. 

As a result of your continuous support, by sharing my daily Love Notes with your Facebook family and friends, I am excited and delighted to share with you that I now have followers on my Facebook Group, Inspirational Poetry & Love Notes, from all over the world. For this reason, the time has come for me to expand the way I share my Love Notes with you. I have recently created an Inspirational Love Notes Page on Facebook that allows me the ability to reach more people.

With that said, I salute you and thank you for your continued support over the last four years. I look forward to continue growing with you and serving you. Most importantly, I look forward to continue being a source of light, love, and inspiration in your life and to the world through each and every one of you who read my daily messages and share them with someone else. Together we can heal hearts all over the world...one Inspirational Love Note at a time. 

So rather you're a new follower or already an established member of my Facebook Group, please click the link below and Like my new Inspirational Love Notes Page on Facebook to continue following me. 

https://www.facebook.com/InspirationalLoveNotes

Until next time...I surround you all in Love & Light! 



A One Love Production
By Anna MsPoet Hendricks
Copyright November 2014

Today is Your Day

Today is MY day! Today is the day I become the answer to my own prayers by boldly stepping out on faith and putting my faith into action toward accomplishing my goals. 

Today is MY day! Today is the day I stand tall with the confidence and assurance that God is indeed real and is with me and for me in ALL things allowing NOTHING to come against me and prosper.

Today is MY day! Today is the day I, FEARLESSLY rather than fear-fully, look squarely in the face of any "giant-like" situation in my life. I pull back my sling of truth attacking it with my five smooth stones of Faith, Love, Spiritual Strength, Divine Wisdom, and Trust in God. With the power of visualization through my minds eye, called imagination, I see each giant like situation in my life fall powerlessly to its death.

Today is MY day! Today is the day I prepare and expect to receive my good and live my life more abundantly; overcoming all appearance of obstacle or adversity while claiming my absolute victory.

Today is My day! Today is the day I see the solution and resolution to every long standing problem or circumstance finally revealed to me. Today is the day I open my eyes with the ability to clearly see; all the beautiful, bountiful, blessings of God that are everywhere present around me at all times, thanking God for my portion of His goodness and grace that is both constant and sublime.

Today is My day! Today is the day I...Put an end to all stressing...See every burden in my life transformed into a blessing...Every area of stagnation move forward and start progressing. And today I am now professing...It is DONE! D.O.N.E.- Divine Order Now Expressing.

And since this day was created by God everything I mentioned above applies not only to me and my day but to you and your day too.

Until next time...I surround you in Love & light! 


A One Love Production
By Anna "Ms.Poet" Hendricks
Copyright June 20, 2014

An Abiding Love

 
You are more  than the choices you have made. 

You are more than the sum of your mistakes, 

past or present.

You are more than the situations 

or undesirable circumstances in your life,

many of which you unconsciously or consciously

helped create.

You are a child of the Most High God,

in whom He is well pleased,

despite the moments along life's journey

you stumbled and fell or missed the mark.

He is not keeping score of the countless

times you may have failed to rise to the

occasion;

because the only true failure

is failing to learn from each experience

you go through,

which helps you grow and develop the

wisdom to choose differently the next time around,

thereby, avoiding the same unpleasant outcome.

No, God is not condemning you

for your mistakes or human errors.

It is we who harshly hold ourselves

and each other in condemnation

through our personal judgments of self

and one another.

God on the other hand, loves you so deeply

and unconditionally that He gives you

the grace and blessing of a new day,

that brings with it the gift of a new beginning;

A new day that offers a fresh opportunity

with a clean slate to start over and try again. 

A One Love Production

By Anna "Ms.Poet" Hendricks 

Copyright 2014

Love Lesson's101: You Can't Receive the Blessin's Until You First Learn the Lesson's

The wisdom of the message on the above attached image sounds like simple common sense at first glance. Yet the statistics showing the astounding number of broken homes and families torn apart due to the increasingly alarming number of break ups, sparations and divorces is evidence that says, far too many of us are missing the boat when it comes to really understanding that, "good relationships don't just happen". They obviously take more mental, spiritual, and emotional time, attentiveness and investment, than the impatient, "drive-thru", society we've become is clearly willing to make for the sake of saving love anymore.

It both seems to me and deeply saddens me that we now live in a age where maximum results are expected in love and life with minium effort invested. Likewise, it's become too easy to throw in the towel and walk way when life and especially love don't seem to be progressing at the warp speed our, "microwave mentality", society has now conditioned us to adopt the new accepted way of living and approaching life and unforuntately...Love.

So I used my poetic license to creatively share some insights I've come to learn and appreciate from lessons taught by my life experiences with love and relationships. Some of those insightful lessons came very easy for me to quickly see, understand and apply. Yet, there were a few that felt like I was an oyster irritated by the sand trapped in its shell. 

Still, as frustrating as it was while going through those love lessons being learned, the blessings that have come as a result having those challenging experiences are priceless.
You see, my experiences in love that felt like the aforementioned analogy of the oyster and the sand came to bless me not hurt me though they felt deeply painful at the time. 

What I now know on a level of profound understanding within my being is that the oysters reaction to the undesirable, unwelcomed irritation he endures from the trapped sand in his shell, is what ironically produces his valuble string of pearls. We metaphorically call those precious gems pearls of wisdom.  Hence the title for my Inspirational Love Note for today, Love Lessons 101: You Can't Receive the Blessin's Until You First Learn the Lesson's.  

If you have a good relationship and you know it, be willing to invest the time, patience, and effort it takes to not just maintain it but sustain it. While you're at it, don't forget to sprinkle it with lots mutual affection, which means expressing your love in words, actions AND deed. 

Listen with your ears NOT your ego and an open heart of compassion and understand. Always be kind and considerate to one another. Disagree without being disagreeable (there is a BIG difference). 

Focus more on your commonalities not your polarities. Be willing to be wrong sometimes. Also, be more concerned about how you make your partner feel than you are about being right. Remember you always have a choice to be right or be happy. So what good does proving that you're right if the end result is you being alone at night. 

Never take each other for granted. Always do little things together to help you remember what sparked your initial attraction that led to you falling in love in the beginning. Spontaneously leave each other hand written Love Notes on any given day of the week to keep the element of surprise alive and keep each other inspired by your mutual love.

Be attentive to each others needs and desires. Show your level of commitment by showing genuine interest in the dreams, passions and personal interest of each other in order to get to know each other better. Never stop having a genuine thirst to learn more about each other. 

No matter how long you've been together you can never know everything about a person and assuming you do is just another form of taking your partner for granted. Anything you really want to understand you must study and this truth applies to your personal relationships as well. So study your partner like a good book you enjoy reading and can't put down. 

Remember, just like anything in life you desire to succeed at, love is a full-time that requires the full-time effort of both people involved. So you must be willing to make your relationship a top priority and bring your A game even after the honeymoon phase is over. Which means, don't bring half-hearted effort to a full-time job. Think about it this way, when you prayed for someone special to enter you life you expected God to send his best. Therefore, be willing to always give your best to your relationship and your partner because they are the answer to your prayer and God's gift to you. Which brings me to my next point.

Never take any opportunity to love and be genuinely loved in return lightly. It is always a blessing from God that should be held closely and treated with an attitude of gratitude. This is wisdom it would especially behoove you to take heed to in the rare occasion you are doubly blessed to no only have an opportunity to love and be loved but to share this experience with someone who is a really good person that truly loves you, and accepts you as all your area's that still need work, wholly and completely.  

Lastly, remember this if nothing else you've read here today, a love that grows is a love that knows how to accept responsibility and take accountability for your part active participation in creative whatever the relationship has become. Therefore, pride has no place in a relationship where the mutual goal is to win the race.  Admit when you've made a mistake and remember that words have the power to heal or kill. 

So always choose your words carefully and speak to each other respectfully because the long-term damage caused by a temporary angry outburst is not worth the expensive price you later end up paying at the expense of the broken trust, emotional distance and break down in your bond your relationship will suffer. Keep in mind the wisdom of Proverbs 14:1, Homes are made by the wisdom of women, but are destroyed by foolishness. 

So instead of arguing and bickering all the time, a better alternative is to not take yourself, each other, or life so seriously. Spend lots of time having quiet pillow talk to increase you intimacy (which doesn't necessarily mean it has to lead to sex all every time). Laugh a lot with other and at each other. Never stop praying with each other and for each other daily. After all, a family that prays together really does have a better chance at staying together. 

And I save this one as my absolute final love lesson because I just can't emphasis it enough. A love and relationship that thrives, not just barely survives, is one that knows forgiveness is the key and actively practices forgiving one another constantly. 
So if you think you have a good thing standing before you and you still genuinely love each other despite all you've been through. Then never give up...never say die....never let go...never say goodbye. God is still well able because He's still the Most High. So keep you heart open...put your trust in God...and give love one more try. 

Until next time...I surround you in LOVE & light! So always keep your heart open and let your love light shine bright. 


A One Love Production
By Anna M. Hendricks
Copyright 2014
Reference: Holy Bible, Good News Translation, http://www.biblegateway.com/

The Tie That Binds: A Poem for Humanity

Order our steps dear Lord throughout this day,

in everything we may do, think or say....

Help us to see only the glory of you

in all things I pray...

Direct our steps Lord in a good and orderly way

Teach us...guide us...let your love abide us

Lend us your wisdom

and in our affairs of the heart remind us,

that your Holy Spirit is the tie that binds us

Help us to forgive and heal our wounds

both present and past...

That we may find peace in our hearts at last

Lastly dear Lord, yet most importantly,

remove the veil of judgement from our eyes,

and awaken our consciousness that we may

all begin to clearly see...

In Truth and in Spirit we are one big family,

that must overcome our human differences

and learn to live in harmony.

Until next time...I surround you in Love & Light! So remember to keep your heart open and your Love light on. 

A One Love Production
By Anna "Ms.Poet" Hendricks
Copyright 2013

Thanksgiving:The Perfect Time for Gratitude and Forgiveness

"To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the sun."  ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

With the end of November bringing with it Thanksgiving, which officially kicks off the Holiday Season, it's usually the time of year when we begin to reflect on all the things in our lives we are grateful for and appreciate most. However, it's also the perfect time to take inventory of our hearts and ask God to reveal to us who or what in our lives we need to forgive, release and let go. It is the perfect time to take notice of the relationships, beliefs, attitudes, habits, situations and/or material things in our lives that we've out grown.

So as you contemplate and prepare your menu for this weeks Thanksgiving feast, try adding a little gratitude and forgiveness to your list of perfect side dishes to compliment your turkey dinner this year. Give thanks for all that you have while also forgiving all that has left you feeling hurt and release that which you no longer need.

To resist the cycle of change, that is part of the natural process of life, is like trying to swim against the tide of an ocean rather than relax and go with the flow and direction of the current, which would require a lot less effort on your part. By continuing to hold on to things out of fear of moving forward, despite the clear evidence life is showing us that it's time to move on, we do more of a disservice than good to both ourselves and those involved in or affected by the situation.

When we look to nature as an example of how to actively practice non-resistance of the seasons of change in life for releasing and letting go, we see how the tree's do no fight with the change of season from summer to fall because they know that the onset of fall means it's time to shed their leaves. If you watch closely during this process it almost seems as if the trees open up and embrace the change, instead of resisting, as they effortlessly allow the leaves to change color from moist rich green to a dry blend of red, russet and yellow as they gently detach from the tree branches and gently float to the ground.

When this process is complete the once fully blossomed trees now appear to our human eyes to be left standing with bare and barren branches leaving the tree looking lifeless. However, from the perspective of the tree, I imagine it probably feels much happier, lighter and free with all those leaves finally gone and no longer weighing down its branches.

Such is the case with releasing the relationships, thoughts and things that represent the leaves weighing down the branches of our lives. Using the aforementioned example of the trees knowing when to shed their leaves with non-resistance, it would behoove us to also practice non-resistance when the time comes for us to let go of whatever is holding us back from freely moving forward to the next season of our lives as well. And there's no better time to take inventory of what needs to be released from our lives than now.

By expressing gratitude for what you have received and surrendering that which you no longer need back into the universe you are not only allowing that person, place, or thing to move on to its higher good, you are also making room for the next wave of blessings that's sure to come in your own life as well. So in the end, it benefits all involved to practice non-resistance to this natural process of release, letting go, growth and change.

Yet, until we reach a state of self-mastery consciousness, which most of us will probably not achieve in this lifetime, the art of non-resistance to such major shifts and changes in this human experience is much easier said than done. This is why I believe supports groups are so successful because there is power in working together as a group of people with the same end goal in mind who are also on one accord in consciousness about attaining that end goal.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the sun." So let's use this time and season that's ripe for forgiveness and healing to purifying our hearts, cleanse our minds and sweep out the debris of negative thoughts, judgments, beliefs, perceptions, and resentments that have been cluttering up the floors, doors and closet spaces of our minds.

Let's  bring this last week of the month to a close by being a support to one another for growth and healing. Together let's prepare for the high expectations of our glorious future in the coming new year, by willingly releasing what needs to be released, letting go of whomever we need to let go, and forgiving whoever or whatever we still need to forgive. With an open and non-resistant heart, attitude and mind, let's surrender it all to God. In fact, let's take this opportunity of this Thanksgiving Holiday to put our faith and trust back in the infallible hands of God where it rightfully belongs, rather than placing them in the imperfect hands of people, things or situations.

And to help us stay focused on this "end goal", to free ourselves of anything blocking us from having and keeping an open and receptive heart of love, all of my Inspirational Love Notes, shared with you through my poems, articles and quotes, for the rest of this week will be in alignment with the theme of renunciation and renewal. Let's heal our hearts and move forward in love together. After all...as children of the Most High God we are more than worth the effort.


Until next time...I surround you in Love & Light! So remember to keep your hearts open and your love lights on.


A One Love Production
By Anna M. Hendricks
Copyright 2013

The Three keys to Unlocking Your Blessings

What a joy-filled day it is when it's a day you begin by giving praise and thanksgiving to God for all that you have, everything He's already done, and the promise of blessings you anticipate in your heart that by your faith you know are still yet to come. What an awesome feeling it is to wake up in the morning, go about your day, and go to bed at night with your mind and soul at peace. What an even greater feeling it is to have your heart and spirit filled with the assurance that all is well and in divine order despite what appears to be going on outside you or around you because you know your blessings are on the way.  And the three keys to unlocking your blessings are forgiveness, praise and an attitude of gratitude.

With so much madness and mayhem going on in the world in which we live today you have to have something solid and dependable to stand on. After listening to all the negative stories we hear repeated daily on the news, at work or even on social media websites, we need something to give us the reassurance that despite the overwhelming constant changes going on in the world, everything is going to be alright. Otherwise, you're prone to lose your mind, become deeply depressed, and overcome by fear, doubt and uncertainty about the future.

Without the reassurance that a higher power much bigger than us is at work and always working in your favor, you will become consumed with worry over what's going to happen to you. Or how you're going to take care of your family. Before long, without even consciously realizing it, your mind becomes so focused on trying to figure out the future that you're no longer living fully in the present. When this happens, you begin to overlook the good in your life and take for granted the blessings you already have right in front of you now.

But when you have a strong relationship with God and a solid spiritual foundation to keep you grounded, the negative things unfolding around you in the world don't have the same affect on you. The depressing stories you hear in the news everyday won't cause you to become paralyzed with fear. Even the unpleasant or challenging circumstances in your own personal life won't have the power to break your spirit or penetrate your soul. While all these things may temporarily cause you to feel down they won't be able to take you out. Why?

Because when you know that our Divine Creator and the God you serve is much bigger, greater, stronger and more powerful than any person, situation, employer, health issue, financial situation, or government system in the entire universe, you're able to rest assured that no weapon formed against you can prosper. You will also know that the governments of this world can stay shut down as long as they like. Because the Kingdom of God never shuts down, never turns you down, never shuts you out, never cuts you off, never lays off, or closes it's doors. Nor does it ever fire. Rather, it fully employs and always has a perfect position for you open for hire.

In essence, what I am saying is when you know that you are a child of the Most High God you trust that God is well able to meet all your needs regardless of  what's happening in our physical world. When you have faith in the promise of  Gods word, according to the Holy Scriptures, that He will never leave or forsake you you will also know that everything is always working together for your highest good. When you come to the realization that while the world is ever changing God is the one constant in the entire universe you will believe undoubtedly the scripture in 1 Corinthians 2:9 that says, "But as it is written, The eye has not seen and the ear has not heard and the heart of man has not conceived the things which God has prepared for those who love him." And when you remember that God's word can not return to Him void, you will begin to stand on the aforementioned scripture as your Truth unwavering until the supply for your need manifest.

An even better example, is when you have a personal testimony from a similar or worst situation in your past that God brought you out of  better off and further ahead than you were when the situation began. You can refer back to that experience as confirmation that what God did for you before He is well able to do for you again.

Until next time...I surround you with Love & Light! So remember to always keep your love light on.

A One Love Production
By Anna M. Hendricks
copyright October 2013
References: Holy Bible, Lamsa Aramaic Translation