Darlene Nunez O'keefe : No Seashell Unturned

Are you feeling broken?

2011-12-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

"THere Once was a girl who sat on a wall
All the king's horses and all the king's men Couldn't break her fall
She was banished from the kingdom
Because of what she could't run away from
And hasn't been home since then" -me

Are you feeling a little like "Humpty Dumpty". I know for me, there are endless days
where I feel broken, torn down, and just worn out. You feel as though you are walking with
a huge cloud over your head that just won't go away. But what is reality? Is that reality?
Yes I've been hurting, but I breathe and wake up each day, I have two beautiful children
who adore me, ad so many other BLESSINGS I take for granted.
Someone onced asked me what my situation was, I responded ,"My situation is Jesus came and
died for the ungodly, that's my situation!" How awesome is that!
If you are looking at your own circumstances to bring you happiness you will never find it.Never.
If you are looking at what Our Savior Jesus Christ has done for you, my friends, you will find JOY!
And that's the truth =)

"In Him we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of our sins,
acccording to the riches of His grace.."
Ephesians 1:7

Encouragement For You

2011-10-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

"He Gives power to the weak and to those who have no might He increases strength" ISaiah 40:29

Encountering real suffering can be heart breaking and difficult. As I suffer through emotional and physical

pain I realize that I am not alone..others suffer as well. Knowing Christ is with me at all times, in the darkness and

in the light has brought me great comfort. I'm not alone. Do you feel alone today in your darkness? Let

the comfort of others, my story, those around you, but most of all Christ, allow the Light to shine in your heart.

TRULY, you are not alone. As I call out to God for strength and comfort, may you join with me in drawing

near to our Savior. He loves us, and we are not alone..in due time He will strengthen us and use our suffering

for His glory. Don't loose hope friend.NOTHING can thwart God's precious LOVE for you and I, not even

what you are experiencing..

"But God demonstrates His own Love for us in this: While we were still sinners, CHRIST died for us"

Romans 5:8

Fires of Sorrow

2011-10-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

Let me walk thru the fires of sorrow,
God has allowed me be,
where anguish has no name,
Let my light shine thru the pain;

Let me walk thru fires of sorrow,
where all my pride is burned,
a broken heart and a life lesson learned;

Let me walk thru fires of sorrow,
where the stormy clouds will bring rain
and sooth this aching heart tomorrow;

Let me walk thru fires of sorrow,
where lusts and sin are seared.
I am left holy and He is left revered;

Let me walk thru the fires of sorrow,
where all my woes are dust and I am brought low,
and I must then look to HIM in trust;

Let me walk thru the fires of sorrow...

Cancer is just a face

2011-09-21T09:57:00.000-07:00

To Feel the cool midnight breeze
or bask on the shoreline reef
-Cancer is just a face

To beat on drums, Play guitar
to look up at the stars
-Cancer is just a face

To hear bells play as I lay
in His grace
-Cancer is just a face

To help a hurting soul and change
a heart that's cold
-Cancer is just a face

The Light of Beauty I will always embrace
-Cancer is just a face

(to all my fellow sufferers..I LOVE YOU..A GOOD LIFE WELL LIVED is of better worth than that of just a long life)

When All Things Crumble

2011-08-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

Sustain Me

My heart breaks
My heart aches
My heart takes
only so much
I wake just to breathe
I sleep just to dream
I know you're still alive in me
When days have no meaning
I gotta keep believing
that you're still sustaining me
I can't wish for "happy"
so fruitless, so shallow,
give me something more to keep me
going each day
and so I ponder that light that leads me closer to you
that leads me your way.
I hurt and I sigh but you're there to dry
those broken tears away
I wept bitterly over life
and screamed till my lungs were blue
"where are you God, where are you?"
I sat alone with no one home
ready to end my time
It was then you spoke to me
You came like a dove upon my heart
reassurring me..
Today is not your day
but that everyday is my day to live in Him
in His care and in His love,
I have a purpose to fufill
Today it's His will
Sustain Me

Still Hanging In There

2011-03-03T11:40:00.001-08:00

I am who?

2010-06-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

I am

Beautiful not Bitter

I am

Strong not weak

I am

Pure not naughty

I am well written, Blundering no words

I am

Classy never Sassy

I am

Sweet never Sarcastic

I am Womanly and not a Girl

I am

Clear as Clarity.. Never Muddled nor Mixed

I am..

I am Lovely not the Vixen

I am the Heroe not the Villain

I am

AM I????

or MAYBE it was the other way around..

Time To Bloom

2010-04-12T10:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever planted a flower? Usually in the spring is when we enjoy the beauty of most plants,
but some flowers actually bloom in winter. The Japanese Pieris flower or Lily of the Valley Shrub are one
of those rare beauties. It can withstand cloudy days, wintery cold temperatures, and frosty nights.

I am a SURVIVOR. A survivor , a survivor of a broken home and divorce, a survivor of marital
hardship and unfaithfulness. I am a survivor of a mental and mood disorder. I am a survivor of cancer. I am a survivor of loved ones passing away, YET we are ALL survivors in some way or another. We all come to crossroads, we all face mountains and storms to a degree. BUT there is HOPE...

GOD WALKS BESIDE ME.. BESIDE US.
I've learned that God is FAITHFUL and that HE is REAL. That he sees my life and all it's imperfections,
and that HE DESIRES for me to come to Him. God doesn't want me to change myself, He KNOWS I am
to weak to do that, because He knows He can and will change me, HE WILL CAUSE ME TO BLOOM.

You may be wondering if Christianity in it's truest form is real, if Jesus is real. You may have a ton of unanswered questions in your life. Well PLEASE don't just take my word for it. GO AHEAD, ask HIM,
with an open heart and HE WILL ANSWER YOU. I promise. GOD REVEALS HIMSELF TO THOSE
WHO ARE SINCERE ABOUT KNOWING HIM. Why? BECAUSE IT'S HIS WILL FOR YOU TO KNOW HIM, LOVE HIM, AND REALIZE HIS PRECIOUS LOVE FOR YOU..

Today God is asking me something. God is asking me to THRIVE not just SURVIVE. Because
He has a purpose for me. A PURPOSE FOR YOU.

The Japanese Pieris plant can BLOOM in all kinds of weather . SO MUST I, and you can too.
So how are you doing today? Are you just surviving or are you THRIVING? The definition of
THRIVE in the dictionary is to grow vigorously : FLOURISH and to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances.

ENCOURAGEMENT: HE WANTS YOU TO THRIVE AND STOP JUST SURVIVING.
So ask Him to reveal Himself to you today. He knows YOU ARE NOT PERFECT, so no fancy prayers
or fancy words, just come, with an OPEN HEART and OPEN MIND. Don't be afraid. He knew you would ask :) Here is a sample prayer below if you don't know where to start. Just find a quiet place or stop where ever you are.

Prayer:
Dear God, I don't know why things happen and at times it's hard for me to understand life , and there are things I am bitter or hurt and in pain over.
I ask YOU GOD, if YOU are REAL, PLEASE show me who YOU say YOU are, a GOD of Love and Truth and Justice. I confess my unbelief and even defiance toward YOU. And Jesus if
it is true that YOU DIED on the CROSS for me and ROSE again ,then REVEAL it to me. MAY YOU
HELP ME TO THRIVE in YOU and just stop surviving in this world.
IN JESUS NAME,
AMEN

GOD BLESS YOU on your JOURNEY. HE IS WITH US. WITH YOU. TODAY and ALWAYS.
Darlene

Everyday Beauty

2010-02-26T17:22:00.000-08:00

Bible in Basic English
For the rest, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things have honour, whatever things are upright, whatever things are holy, whatever things are beautiful, whatever things are of value, if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, give thought to these things.
Philippians 4:8

Have you ever sat outside a playground near a park or school and listened to the chatter of little voices
playing? Is it not a beautiful sound? The innocence. The unbridled laughter of chasing the other, or skipping rope. Playing tag near the monkey bars. Getting that feeling in the pit of your stomach as you race down the slide. Giggles you can't contain.
The laughter of a child, such a beautiful noise...

Have you ever strolled along the shore of the beach , waiting for sunset? You pause and look at the golden
rays, reflecting and shimmering across glistening waters. Frothy waves rumble over shiny seashells, they form foamy bubbles that tickle your toes. The tiny waves recede back into the gills of swimming sea creatures down under.

One time , as I was learning to surf; a dolphin popped it's head just above water, dove back under and swam right past me! Not even 3ft away! My heart just about gave out, because at first glance from the corner of my eye I thought
it was a shark! But it's one of the most memorable moments I've had. I pictured for a moment all the beautiful amazing sea creatures God created. I was thankful Mr. Dolphin didn't kick me out of the water, for
my obvious lack of surf skills. Or was that what he was trying to tell me:)

Have you ever seen the city from way up high on a nice clear day or watched her begin to come alive at night, with all the tiny little lights and zooming cars make glowing strings of light flash across the freeway? Amazing..

Have you ever walked past a bakery and just allowed the smells and aroma from the fresh baked goods
to permeate you and cause you to linger and bask in it's goodness? Picture all the scones and breads and sweet temptations being freshly brought out of the ovens! It's aroma rivaled that of any fine perfume bought in Paris! Oui Ouah ! Wouldn't you agree? Oh the simple things!

Have you ever watched the face of a weary homeless man, sit down to take a bite of the first fresh hot meal
he's had in days? After making his way down cold streets, cold stares and pushing and bearing the weight of his life's belonging on one little shopping cart, he's finally made it to the shelter. The sweet serenity that naturally comes over his being is one that brings sweet serenity to my soul.

Have you ever sat up close to a nice warm fire on a chilly night? Warming your hands in it's embers glowing, the crackling sound so soothing, the heat so inviting, sending shivers away. Don't forget sharing stories with friends and loved ones over a nice
toasty cup of Mexican hot chocolate ! Que Bueno !

How about the moment you came to the realization that God was truly real? And it wasn't a realization you had come to on your own. It was like the lightbulb went on and that the absence of this realization, or
revelation had been alienating you from a life of true love, hope, and inner peace?
It was a strange awareness that God had been trying to get your attention many times, but all the phoniness and wax of this world could no longer plug your ears, or rather my ears. For the first time your mind and
heart were listening. Like a love crashing down on your shores of ignorance, an eager yet patient love, waiting just the right moment, just the right season, for you to be ripe. For you to be picked, for me to be picked. I look back
at that moment and now see all the times God watered my thirsty heart,my lonely and sad heart, when no one else could fill me.
It was an another ordinary day for some other, but for me, it was my day.

And Today? Well today I try to take God for His word. Taking one day at a time, because I have cancer

and I have a chemical imbalance ( Bipolar affective disorder) and today I feel them both, bearing it's
weight on my shoulders. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. Amen? Amen!