poem ~ love is a choice

Love is a choice 
that you make every day,
To let someone in
to your hearts secret maze.

Love is a choice
that you make every day, 
To remove the mask most keep on 
thru their final parade.

Love is a choice
that you make every day,
To tear down walls
you've built in each various phase.

Love is a choice
that you make every day,
To give someone a chance
when they've hurt you for days.

Love is a choice 
that you make every day,
To give grace and forgiveness
and bask in letting go always.

Love is a choice
that you make every day,
For freedom is found
in its kindest of ways.

Love is a choice
that you make every day, 
To make the most of the moment
and capture memories mightily.

Love is a choice
that you make every day,
To feel it's beat vibrate
in the most astounding pathways.

Love is a choice 
that you make every day, 
In light or in dark
you can choose it's energy.

Love is a choice 
that you make every day,
Unconsciously or consciously
the results are on display.

Love is a choice
you make every day,
It can mend and repair
the demolished arrays.

Love is a choice 
that you make every day, 
Sometimes it's hard
to see the power you've claimed.

Love is a choice
that you make every day, 
To fight for what's right
and let truth speak greatly.

Love is a choice 
that you make every day, 
To tune into its frequency 
and rebound out courageously.

Love is a choice
that you make every day, 
To connect to your soul
and honor the space of individuality.

Love is a choice 
that you make every day, 
It can be seen as an outlet
to a high priced commodity.

Love is a choice 
that you make every day, 
You can hide it away
and loose out abundantly.

Love is is a choice 
that you make every day, 
You can't make it be received 
by others connected to thee.

Love is a choice 
that you make every day, 
You can't get it back
once you've given it away.

Love is a choice 
that you make every day, 
It's always yours to choose
nobody can take it away.

Love is a choice
that you make every day,
For in this is perfection
in the grandest of ways.

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #MistyWGilbert #TheSassyVoice #LoveIsAChoice #LoveOnPurpose #ChooseLove

poem ~ why do you

Why do you keep looking
for your past
in everyone you meet?

Why do you keep expecting
the same situations to happen again
just because they always did?

Why do you think that everyone
is going to hurt you
the way they did?

Why do you expect others
to treat you differently
then you treat them?

Why do you forget that 
not everyone is the same
because even you've changed?

Why do you remember 
all the bad things
as if there aren't any good?

Why do you search 
so hard for love
when love is right in front of you?

Why do you hold onto
the pain in your heart
when it hurts so much?

Why do you build walls
keeping out the very thing
you so desperately want?

Why do you keep living 
your life as if 
you don't get a clean slate?

Why do you look for life
in places filled with so much
limited grace?

Why do you keep living your life
as if you don't ever 
get to make your own choice?

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #MistyWGilbert #TheSassyVoice #WhyDoYou

poem ~ to the one

To the one who feels discouraged, I am with you.

To the one who is stretched too thin, I am with you.

To the one who who is worried and anxious, I am with you.

To the one who is lonely, I am with you.

To the one who is hurting, I am with you.

To the one who has lost hope, I am with you.

To the one who has a broken heart, I am with you.

To the one who is feeling overwhelmed, I am with you.

To the one who is stressed, I am with you.

To the one who is feeling depressed, I am with you.

To the one who doesn't feel there is enough, I am with you.

To the one who feels like the days are dark and the nights are long, I am with you.

To the one who cannot sleep, I am with you.

To the one who see's no end to this chapter, I am with you.

To the one who doesn't feel they can do this, I am with you.

To the one who is walking one step at a time, I am with you.

To the one who is looking for a small sign of change, I am with you.

To the one who is wants to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I am with you.

To the one who believes all things work together for good, I am with you.

To the one who is just holding on, I am with you.

To the one who is reading this, I am with you.

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #MistyWGilbert #TheSassyVoice #ToTheOne

If Jesus was your Facebook Friend

If Jesus was your Facebook Friend, how would you interact with Him?

Would you like or comment on His posts?

Would you send Him messages to have your own private conversation?

Would you want to spend time in person and post pictures of your time together?

Would you care what was going on in His life?

Or...would you not accept His friend request?

Or...would you accept but not follow Him and click the unfollow button?

Or...would you accept and follow but never like or comment?

Or...would you say you love Him and what He posts but say different things behind His back to others?

Or...would you make fun of and mock His VLOGS and His Trips to Visit others and the way He lives His Life?

What would you do??? What makes you think you would be different with Jesus then you are with me?

#ThePowerOfChoice #RelationshipsMatter #LiveIntentionally #LifeLessons #TheSassyVoice #ItsCalledSocialMediaForAReason

poem ~ the choice to believe

The choice to believe
even when the water's rising.

The choice to believe 
even if the sun stops shining.

The choice to believe 
even when the sky is crying.

The choice to believe 
even when the life jacket has a hole in it.

The choice to believe
even in the mud run.

The choice to believe
even when the climb is steep.

The choice to believe 
even when I'm all out of breath.

The choice to believe 
even when the gate is locked.

The choice to believe
even when the stepping stone is missing.

The choice to believe 
even when the answers aren't forth coming.

The choice to believe 
you're right beside me.

The choice to believe 
I will survive it.

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #MistyWGilbert #TheSassyVoice #TheChoiceToBelieve

poem ~ seek the truth

Seek and you will find:

Answers in your questions 

Solutions in your problems

Faith in your doubt

Courage in your dispair 

Hope in your journey

Light in the dark

Blessings in your pain

Peace in the chaos 

Enough in the little

Grace in the cruelty 

Strength in the fight

Justice in the outcome

Patience in the moment 

Truth in the midst of lies

Forgiveness in the most difficult 

Love in your hurt

Prayer in all things.

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #MistyWGilbert #TheSassyVoice #SeekTheTruth

poem ~ faith

Faith doesn't mean I get answers.

Faith doesn't mean I see the path.

Faith doesn't mean it's logical.

Faith doesn't mean I understand.

Faith doesn't mean I won't be challenged further.

Faith doesn't mean that love is easy.

Faith doesn't mean that I'll see the forest for the trees.

Faith doesn't mean it will all work out as I expect.

Faith doesn't mean it won't get harder before it gets easier.

Faith doesn't mean that there isn't truth.

Faith doesn't mean that life or the situation doesn't hurt.

Faith means I won't be attached to the outcome.

Faith means I know that someone is leading me through the dark.

Faith means that at the core I can have hope.

Faith means I will receive the strength to get to the next step.

Faith means that I won't feed doubt.

Faith means there is purpose in all things.

Faith means I must seek it with my whole heart.

Faith means I know there is a light ahead.

Faith means I can do all things.

Faith means that I have the power to choose.

Faith means I choose to believe regardless.

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #TheSassyVoice #Faith

Prayer 04.03.2017

Dear Lord,

Tonight I just want to say Thank YOU...Thank YOU.

THANK YOU...

For providing and surrounding me with great women of faith. When I was raised to believe that the only strong Godly women were those in the religious group I associated with for 36 years, you have shown me in so many ways how much deeper relationships with you exist, by people who do not just say they will pray for you, but actually pray with you.

For leading and guiding me, when I don't have the answers, but am determined to live in faith.

For showing me that when I open myself up to being vulnerable about my journey, you always bring someone into my life to speak more truth, light, love, grace, and mercy.

For giving me accountability buddies who help me transform and grow deeper into the Woman of Faith you are asking me to be. To work through those things holding me back. To face my fears. To have breakthroughs.

For believing in me when I do not believe in myself.

For helping me to create and live the life you want me to have.

For the love, joy, peace, harmony and forgiveness I have been able to experience since leaving a hurtful, abusive, and controlling childhood environment.

In reflection tonight, I just want to say Thank YOU! From the depths of my heart...I love you and appreciate you!!!

Your Daughter, aiming to live life courageously, generously, lovingly, authentically, and intentionally in freedom!

Misty Gilbert
#Prayer #PrayForOneAnother #PrayerChangesLives

Quotes

The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.
- Marcus Aurelius

#DontStop #StayFocused #LeadTheWay

poem ~ second chance

Oh to be given a second chance
to not expect perfection 
and withhold forgiveness.

Oh to be given a second chance
to love in everything
through practicing of this act.

Oh to be given a second chance
to not hold onto anger
fully embracing the compassionate.

Oh to be given a second chance
to let go grudges
and believe in resilience.

Oh to be given a second chance
to love beyond hope
and not stay in the dance of regret.

Oh to be given a second chance
to learn from the past
not letting encouragement lapse.

Oh to be given a second chance
to choose grace 
and give more than you can't.

Oh to be given a second chance
when others place limits
in the first glance.

Oh to be given a second chance
to connect the souls
making the boundaries collapse.

Oh to be given a second chance
the heart of the message
brings benefits to the max.

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #MistyWGilbert #TheSassyVoice #SecondChance

your relationship with God and People

[an excerpt from my blog post 2 years ago today that applies to all areas of life...and speaks to me again today with life circumstances I am facing...]

The more you ask yourself the hard questions and find your own answers through prayer and seeking Gods will in your life, the more you will realize that the answers come and that everyone will have an opinion as they view your life through their lens and their own personal experiences. The more you keep this in focus and use the comments, feedback, and insight as additional guidance but not necessarily the written plan God has for your journey, the more you won't let the differences they bring up to oppose you and stop you from pursuing [your] life.

Yes, many people will challenge you. Disagree with you. Tell you you are wrong. They will do their best to pull you back from facing your fears, your dreams, your desires, and your vision that you have for your life. They will believe they have better wisdom than you. Yet, if you will appreciate having them in your life as a tool to help sort out the answers, knowing these people are not the answer, but they can be used to influence you, you will be letting these situations have their perfect work. When it is tested against God's ways, then and only then, will you be following Gods will for your life.
#WhoseVoiceAreYouListeningTo #BeCourageous #FollowGod #LiveIntentionally

poem ~ grace

Grace
when you are blessed for no reason.

Grace 
when you get something wonderful you don't deserve.

Grace
the action that brings peace to a situation you deserve punishment or consequences for.

Grace
the only reason to excuse anything.

Grace
the benefit to anyone who asks for it.

Grace
we all want it but rarely give it.

Grace
what would our lives be like without it?

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #MistyWGilbert #TheSassyVoice #Grace

poem ~ in a crisis

The process of a crisis
is breaking us down
And shaking us out,
Removing any certainty
but many times adding to doubt.

When in the moment of a crisis
as hard as it is to believe
Beyond everything you see,
There is a benefit of shifting 
the energy in me.

When you face a crisis
you must focus on what's real
For in this moment of truth,
You uncover the realization 
the intensity of events so surreal.

To make it through a crisis
you must see things in a different light
And focus on what's important,
For that my dear friend
is enough to handle for the moment.

But even in a crisis
there are miracles to be seen
For when you get slammed with loads of bad stuff,
You can still hold onto the dream
and find gratitude in all things.

As you live in a crisis
and shake out the excess
Somehow it's easier to see more clearly,
The ones around you 
who love you most dearly.

When you're in a crisis
it seems like it's an endless tunnel
To endless questions that cycle,
Wishing answers to come 
to shape the options for this mile.

No matter your crisis 
there is always the hope
That once you live through this moment,
You will heal and be safe again
and know you don't just have to cope.

Your crisis will come
and it will go
But the lessons it leaves with you
Follow you
wherever you go.

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #MistyWGilbert #TheSassyVoice #InACrisis #ThePowerOfChoice

poem ~ the sea of life

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Entangled and weighed down
by everything bothering me?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Broken to pieces
or able to be healed freely?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be,
Living washed out and tired
dreading the life around me?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Destroyed by the storms
or captured by their beauty?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Built up by words of hope
or torn down by my surroundings?

In the sea of life ,
will I choose to be
Riding the waves with ease
or drowning in doubt continually?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Silently considering the truth
that abounds so openly?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Living from the heart
knowing I've been set free?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Alive and connected,
fully able to be me?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Filled with hope and love
for everything in and around me?

In the sea of life,
will I chose to be
Growing in freedom and grace
living authentically?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Blinded by nothing but love
sharing so all can see?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Pursuing what matters most
or hiding intentionally?

In the see of life,
there are options you see
For nobody is forced
to be anything lovely.

In the sea of life,
the choice is up to me
Whether I live abundantly
or die ever so silently.

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #MistyWGilbert #TheSassyVoice #TheSeaOfLife #CreateTheLifeYouWant

poem ~ beautiful soul

You're a beautiful soul
I want you to know
Don't let life get you down
Or make you feel out of control.

You're a beautiful soul
From the inside out
If you would only keep this perspective
As you drown in your doubt.

You're a beautiful soul 
That's felt lots of pressure
But the truth is you're being developed 
In infinite measures.

You're a beautiful soul 
With a strength in your heart
That's not gonna quit
No matter the darts.

You're a beautiful soul 
With the capacity too
To love beyond those
That continually hurt you.

You're a beautiful soul 
I hope you can see
That it really is a choice
To live and be free.

You're a beautiful soul 
With a heart of pure gold
It sometimes is difficult 
To break through the mould.

You're a beautiful soul
With so much potential 
Keep living your life
But remember the essential.

You're a beautiful soul 
That's finally found its voice
Don't stop for the ones 
Trying to take away your choice.

You're a beautiful soul
I want you to feel
The impact of love
Is something really real.

You're a beautiful soul 
Believe me it's true
There's nobody just like
The uniqueness of you.

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #MistyWGilbert #TheSassyVoice #BeautifulSoul

I would have lost heart...again...and again...

I would have lost heart...when I got diagnosed with Moderately Severe Depression February 2017, unless I believe this would help me learn more about myself and help me love myself more.

I would have lost heart...when I didn't have the strength to do my everyday chores, due to endless fatigue and sleepless nights, unless I believe that I can have gratitude in all things was something I could actually do and not just a good idea to implement or talk about.

I would have lost heart...when I gave $23k to a Girlfriends Non-Profit to fund projects I am passionate about after my 1st Mission Trip, leaving $300 in my Business Checking Account, cutting me out of her life with no chance of discussion, reconciliation, forgiveness, unless I believe that true love never fails and that this doesn't have to be just left to Jesus.

I would have lost heart...when I was questioned in a deposition about forging someone's signature unless I had a clear conscious and knew I had never forged anyone's signature at any time ever in my whole life and somehow God would have the truth be exposed.

I would have lost heart...when I decided to terminate my Medical Billing Services after being in the Industry for 20 Years and it being one of the main sources of revenue in my business for almost 13 Years, unless I believed that God was working out a better plan for me to have less stress in my life, even if that meant not having any discretionary income and even having to implement a very tight budget which meant no monthly travel like I've done the last 2 Years.

I would have lost heart...when people criticize what I post on Facebook and don't try to learn my perspective, don't see my heart, don't want to love even in disagreements, don't appreciate my vulnerability and desire to create connection, unless I knew that to make a ripple effect like Jesus means you won't be liked or be received much of the time and that the truth is that God is asking me to follow Him, not you.

I would have lost heart...in ALL of these things and more, unless I believed that when you experience a breakdown this allows you to fully have a breakthrough, to more fully grow into a deeper, courageous, beautiful and loving person if you let it.

...unless.

Unless, I believed God would be faithful to complete His work in me.

Unless, I believed God would help me get through this too.

Unless, I believed I could hold on and find strength to whether this storm, pain and challenge.

Unless, I believed that I would become stronger by all that I am facing.

Yesssssss...

...I would have despaired and lost heart, unless I had not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord! ~ Psalm 27:13 AMP

#TheSassyVoice #DontQuit #KeepTheFaith #GodsPlan #HaveFaith #Believe

poem ~ my heart

You took my heart
and squeezed it too
Until it was all
black and blue.

You didn't think
I'd feel it bleed
You poked so hard
but there was no need.

The knife blade deep
into the wall
The pain so strong
911 you must call.

The heart ripped open
bleeding everywhere 
You act as if
you couldn't care.

If you only knew
what you held in your grasp
Could have been protected
instead of thrown in the trash.

Surgery done 
to make it new
To bring the strength
and the beat back true.

The heart is tender
and easily won
Yet it takes one wound
for it to become undone.

Yet I wonder if
in the midst of moans
If we would feel 
the resilient undertones.

The heart is made
to live for hope
To find its strength
as you cling to the rope.

Don't let someone
who crushed it deep
Make you forget
the benefits to keep.

Life can be hard
the impact brutal
Your intentional choices 
completely crucial.

Stay true to you
each day you draw
Breath into your heart
don't keep it raw.

The choice is yours
what will you do
To live connected
to the inner you.

Feed it with love
and forgive always
For this is key to life
to build the best of days.

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #MistyWGilbert #TheSassyVoice #MyHeart #LoveOnPurpose #ThePowerOfChoice #ChooseLife #CreateTheLifeYouWant #LiveIntentionally

life lessons from yoga ~ part 2

I love approaching the every day things I do in life with an intent on how to apply the lessons to other areas of my life.  One of the things I love about Yoga, is the way my Yoga Instructor creates illustrations that bleed over into other areas of my life.  That enhance my life and make me live more connected, deeper, fuller, thriving, and sustaining moments.

One of these such lessons was this last week in which she said that air does not become breath until it reaches the lungs.  And it does not become energy until it reaches the stomach.

Think about that.  You are breathing air.

But if you do not breath it deeply into your lungs, it does not become breath.

And if you do not take that breath deeply into your stomach, you do not create energy.

Sounds simple.

Until you catch yourself holding your breath on an intense phone call with a client when they are chewing you out, telling you that you are lying, that this project is taking too long, that they have given you everything you have asked for.

Until you hold your breath wondering if that person is going to stop at the red light or plow right through and hit you.

Until you catch yourself only breathing into your throat, feeling the short, shallow, lifeless energy in your body.

Yet what happens when you learn concepts like this?  It helps you to focus on your body.  To control the things we can and create a Mind Body connection so that you get the most out of the air around you, so that you have breath within you, and ultimately have energy to flow out of you.

To live life.  To live in the moment.  To feel alive.  To fulfill the tasks you have for the day.  To create abundance.  We need air.  We need breath.  We need energy.

Today, I want to ask you: Are you utilizing air and turning it into breath and converting it to energy?

Will you stop and take 3 deep breaths.

Close your eyes.

Resonate with how it makes you feel.  What changes when you do this?

I want to encourage you to don't be shallow in your connection to your breath and creating energy! Utilize the tools you have been given to give your body power.  Will you join me in doing this in your own life as I do it in mine?

#TheSassyVoice #ADifferentPerspective #BeMore #ThePowerOfChoice #LifeLessons #YouGetWhatYouFocusOn #CreateTheLifeYouWant #Yoga #YogaLessons

poem ~ you've been given

Because someone loved you so much
You've been given life.

Because someone loved you so much
You've been given a clean slate.

Because someone loved you so much
You've been given grace.

Because someone loved you so much
You've been given incredible blessings.

Because someone loved you so much
You've been given a new image.

Because someone loved you so much
You've been given strength and power.

Because someone loved you so much
You've been given the key to freedom.

How will you live with what you've been given?

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #MistyWGilbert #TheSassyVoice #YouveBeenGiven

love my friends

Today, I want to express extreme gratitude for my friends!

I love my friends.

The ones who help me do things that are too hard for me right now to do on my own. And for understanding that this is hard for me when I have always taken care of myself.

The ones who speak love into me as I walk through a rough chapter, helping me to keep my focus when I have lost the direction, motivation and determination to stay the fight.

The ones that lift a hand to do a chore that I do not have the energy for it.

The ones that speak my love languages, knowingly or unknowingly.

The ones that hug me and say I care. Be you. Keep sharing your message. I love you. You matter.

The ones that encourage me to love me and rest.

The ones who will take time to meet for coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner, a concert, church, or stop by to say hello.

The ones who send text messages.

The ones who call and if I don't answer don't get pissed off.

The ones who understand and when they don't, seek to understand deeper because they aren't gonna loose sight of who I really am, not getting upset over one comment or post I make on Facebook.

The ones who understand the emotional and physical pain I am going through. And if they don't, who just simply say I am sorry. They aren't trying to fix me.

The ones who know that I want a deeper level of transformation.

The ones who believe in me. Maybe even more then I believe in myself.

Thank YOU for being in my Circle of Friends.
#Gratitude #GratefulHeart #HeartOfLove #CircleOfFriends

poem ~ not alone

You're not alone,
I'm right here with you.

You're not alone,
I see the choices you have to make.

You're not alone,
I know the pressure of the day.

You're not alone,
Even when it feels like it.

You're not alone,
I deeply love you.

You're not alone,
I'm showing you signs on how to take the next step.

You're not alone,
I've heard your fervent prayers.

You're not alone,
I see the needs you have.

You're not alone,
I've heard your cry of desperation.

You're not alone,
This moment too shall pass.

You're not alone,
You don't have to play it safe.

You're not alone,
I see the pain in your eyes.

You're not alone,
Let me carry this for you.

You're not alone,
I'm writing your unique story.

You're not alone,
I created this beautiful day for you.

You're not alone,
There is meaning in everything you experienced.

You're not alone,
Just keep breathing. Deeply.

You're not alone,
Hear the still small voice inside you.

You're not alone,
Take heart and be courageous.

You're not alone,
Strength comes in facing your fears.

You're not alone,
Joy comes when you look up.

You're not alone,
Choose faith over doubt.

You're not alone,
Consider all the great things that have been done for you.

You're not alone,
You've been given incredible freedom.

You're not alone,
Look up and see beyond the clouds.

You're not alone,
There is purpose in your pain.

You're not alone,
Peace is one of the benefits of faith.

You're not alone,
Even when you feel like giving up.

You're not alone,
Continue to be brave.

You're not alone,
I'm filling your heart up with love.

You're not alone,
The key is on your pocket.

You're not alone,
I can trust. In you. In me. In them.

You're not alone,
I'm not afraid.

You're not alone,
You will never loose the battle because you're on the winning team.

You're not alone,
I've made an imprint on your heart.

You're not alone,
Don't loose heart in the fight.

You're not alone,
For you are an overcomer.

You're not alone,
I made you a promise.

You're not alone,
I am never gonna leave.

You're not alone,
Will you believe me?

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #MistyWGilbert #TheSassyVoice #NotAlone