Quote of the Day

“Even
After
All this time
The Sun never says to the Earth,

"You owe me."

Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the whole sky.”

- Hafez

xoxo

Ramona

Issues of the Heart Part II

Last week I started talking about the heart... again. I think there is almost not one day recently where I don't ponder about the heart in one or the other way.
And today I want to do the second part of what I started last week.
There are seasons in our lives where our hearts get troubled, where we deal with stuff in our lives but it is up to us to not let that define our lives but know that it is only for a while.
I wrote about the importance to run to God, to have God ordained friendships and to not underestimate the power of the local church. All three of which I believe are essential and crucial in dealing with the heart issues.
But those are also the things that will be most under attack when we go through those seasons. Yet I want to talk today about four things that will help us come through what we're going through and will give you my thoughts on them:

"And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. Please open your hearts to us. We have not done wrong to anyone, nor led anyone astray, nor taken advantage of anyone. I’m not saying this to condemn you. I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you. I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles." (2. Corinthians 6:18, 7:1-4)

1. Keep a clean heart
Make sure that whatever you are going through to keep a clean heart ("...let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body and spirit."). If somebody hurt you don't go out talking bad stuff about them. Make sure that from your side of the perspective you keep things clean and holy. I find that in those times we go through things the best way to get over it is to allow the Lord deeply into our heart, clean out all the bitterness, despair and hurt and bring His light into our hearts to heal and restore what has been broken.

2. Keep an open heart
This one is so important. It happens so easily in those times our heart is troubled to just shut it down, build a wall and be hardened. But I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to keep an open heart ("Please open your hearts to us."). Yes we are still risking being hurt again but we are also making our lives bigger and following the promises the Lord has for us. Open your heart and be open to the road He is leading you on. I wrote more on that subject a few weeks ago here.

3. Keep a loyal heart
I am in fact a very loyal person when it comes to the friendships in my life and I think it is sooo important to stay loyal especially with the God ordained people in your life ("I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you."). Even if you are going through rough times together with them. Do not allow any bitterness to come between the friendships. Be loyal to them and be loyal to your church family as well.

4. Keep a teachable heart
I believe that whatever we go through or whatever the issues might be it is very important to stay teachable because when you do you keep staying soft and open to change. And God will put people into your life to speak right into your life and point out those things to work through. Stay teachable because it will allow you to come out on the other side of the tunnel a better and stronger person.

To close this off I just want to encourage you that whatever it is you are going through don't let it define you, but work through it. Keep your heart clean and open, stay loyal and teachable and know that the Lord will always be with you and carry you through it all.

xoxo

Ramona

picture via because trees grow around their wounds and keep reaching for the light.

Thursday Tunes

The following song is one which expresses my deepest feelings and love for God. We sang it last week in you(th) and I don't think it ever spoke to me this much as last week.
So I spare you with more words and let the music do the speaking:

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Take all of me
You broke the night like the sun
And healed my heart with Your great love
Any trouble I couldn't bear
You lifted me upon Your shoulders

Love that's stronger
Love that covers sin
And takes the weight of the world

I love You
All of my hope is in You
Jesus Christ take my life
Take all of me

You stand on mountain tops with me
With You i walk through the valleys
You gave Your only Son for me
Your grace is all I rely on

I love You so, and I give up my heart to say
I need You so, my everything

xoxo

Ramona 

Issues of the Heart Part 1

Spring so far has really been about the Heart. Following your heart, allowing it to heal and carrying it in the palm of your hand.
So as I listened to Brian Houston's message about "Only for a while" I knew I had to share some things with you. The message basically is about the issues of the heart and how those issues determine the issues in our lives. How the two are inseparable.
I want to do this in two parts and then add it to my Inspirational Thoughts.

"When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside. But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you." (2. Corinthians 7: 5-7)

There are times in our lives when we face conflicts, where our hearts are troubled and we struggle. It is very human. It might me heartbreak, issues at work, issues with friends.
But how we deal with it and how we look at it is crucial. Is this issue going to determine the rest of our lives or is it only for a little while? Are we going to work through those things or are we letting those things define who we are?

In the message I listened to, Brian Houston talked about three things which are important when it comes to dealing with issues of the heart and I want to share my thoughts on each of them:

1. Run to God
When faced with issues like a heartbreak, losing friends, having lost a relative it is absolutely crucial that we first run to God ("But God, who encourages those who are discouraged..."). He will give us comfort and joy in times of sadness and grief. He will lift our spirit and will calm our storms inside.
I have experienced this every single time I had to work through stuff. Every time I did praise and worship my heart felt lighter. Every time I spent time with the Lord, even just lying on the floor crying He would sooth my spirit and give me rest.

2. God ordained relationships
Do not underestimate the importance of God given friendships ("...encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. His presence was a joy..."). This could be a mentor, a good friend, people on the other side of the globe who you trust. God puts people strategically in our lives. Do you have God relationships? People who will speak life and encouragement? People who will just be there with you through the hard times?
I know who my God-ordained friends are. I know who I can call in the middle of the night crying.
Find out who these people are in your life.

3. Church family
We all belong to the Body of Christ. His Church. But do you belong to a local church family. A church that you are part of? It is not only sitting under the Word every Sunday, but it is church life. Building, encouraging, serving and growing together. Never underestimate the power of a church family in your life ("... but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you."). Your connect group. Your youth group. Whatever you are part of. Get yourself involved. Stay close. The encouragement will come.
I basically grew up in a church at it was always the place I would feel safest when going through hard times.

At the end here I just want to encourage you. If you are going through some rough times with heart issues and you don't know when it is going to end or when the pain will stop. Know that it is only for a while. Have the attitude of an overcomer and trust the Lord that He will bring you through it and that you will in fact see the end of the tunnel. Run to him, allow those God ordained people to speak into your life and stay close to your church family.

xoxo

Ramona

PS: The plant in the picture is my plant of hope. It had died this Winter because of the cold. And when I cut everything off I could see that new life had already come forth at the end of this Winter. It is now growing and flourishing again.

Cease the Day

Yesterday I spent the day with two of my amazing artist friends. I had stayed over night so there was lots of talking, eating and dreaming. Yesterday we all just slept in and had a big breakfast with pancakes, bacon and eggs and strawberries. More talking. More dreaming. More looking into the future as we all embark on new adventures and get ready for new seasons in our lives.
After breakfast we went to Alyssa's art studio to paint a little. Well, they painted and I read a book to them. It was one of those perfect days where you loose track of time and place. You just live, enjoy the moment. It is exactly what happens with great friends. You just do life together. You challenge and encourage each other. You dream together and you don't necessarily need to do that much but rather just be.
I will miss them dearly as the three of us will be seperated after this summer.
Here's to a day ceased. A day of freedom. A day of community. A day of dreams.

xoxo

Ramona

A Weekend in Austria

As some of you might know part of my family is Austrian. And you might think Austria is really close and it is but my family lives far east of Austria in a beautiful wine region so it takes about 11 hours to drive there. Anyways I love my family there and the times spent there are always special and relaxing and it is just good to be with family.
I don't get to see them all too often so I try to savor every moment I'm with them. This past weekend my oldest cousin got married and it was the most cultural wedding I have ever been to. There was so much baking and making and preparing that it turned out to be a really beautiful wedding. And at the core of if two people in love made a covenant to spend the rest of their lives together.

xoxo

Ramona

PS:  Sadly my SD card is broken so all the photos are taken with my iphone and edited with Photo Effect Studio. You can also follow my instagram @ramonasebald

Keep your Eyes on the Prize

Before I get into what I is on my heart to share let me just say this: I want to be the girl in the picture. Seriously, isn't she just so classy and cool and feminine at the same time? I definitely want to rock this kind of outfit soon!

Anyways, yesterday we had our church's praise and worship night. And there was one thing I so stronly felt on my heart: "Keep your eyes on the prize".
"No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Phil. 3.13-14)

This is one of the verses which has stuck with me for many many years and I was yet again reminded of it yesterday.
Sometimes we get so tangled up in all the things going on, disappoinments, broken dreams, relationships, and changes that we forget the core of it all which is to follow Jesus. With all that we are. We do not focus on what is going on in our lives, but what lies ahead. The things He has called us to be and and to accomplish but not for our own glory but to be His Hands and His Feet on this planet.

And maybe you don't know where you're going yet or what His "Calling" is for your life - I don't know all of it either - but the main thing is to stay close to Him and His Heart. That is when you embark on great adventures with Him. He will take you places you've never been before and see things you've never seen before and fulfill your dreams in such a way you did not even dare to dream or imagine. He is the One who makes the impossible, possible!

So, fix your eyes on Jesus, the beginning and the end and He will lead you through this amazing adventure called Life.

xoxo

Ramona


picture via

Progress and Change and things which stay the same

I have talked a lot about change over the last months and there is still a lot of change happening. In myself, with others and I am only now starting to fully come to terms with all the change happening. Sometimes you don't even have to understand or be able to answer all the questions but rather be thankful for the things which are still in place, be graceful with yourself and keep going in life with the dreams and plans God has put on your life.

And yet there are some things that will never change. Like friends gathering around a table. Friends who are so different from each other as can be and yet share a life, share memories. Friends who have learned to accept their differences and have learned to love the otherness of each other. I believe there is something profound and beautiful when gathering around a table to eat. It is more than community, more than food. I cannot pinpoint it but it's there and I always want to be able to share the table with my best friends.

Last weekend we not only celebrated my friend's wedding but we also got together to celebrate a friend's birthday. We had breakfast and laughed and dreamed about the future. We went for a walk in our beautiful region and bought fresh strawberries from street sellers.
Those are the things that will not change: The friendships, the memories, the connection and the growing together.

xoxo

Ramona


 

The Fog has lifted

 7am. Fog still lies over the city but soon the sun will warm up this place and light will shine through.

xoxo

Ramona

Follow your Heart

As I have said yesterday, today I want to talk a little about following your heart. At least as far as I can talk about it.
Have you ever been in a situation and people just told you, "just follow your heart and you'll be fine". And if you're anything like me you might have at some point stopped and asked yourself what that actually means.
It seems like last year has been all about following my heart and learning to dream again and now this Spring it is coming back to me. My heart that is. Telling me to listen. To not get hardened.

I have actually always been very much in tune with my heart often throwing reason and overthinking out the window and trust that what my heart told me was the right thing to do.
At the same time I believe the closer you are with God the more you will know His voice and your heart will give a co-witness with His spirit.
I believe following your heart mostly has to do with trust. Trust. And isn't that often the key or the issue?
Maybe we have been disappointed so many times when we trusted people that even unconsciously we have built up walls around our heart. Walls of self-protection that we will not hurt or be disappointed by this.

So I guess in order to really truly follow your heart and trust you have to let go of all these walls. You have to break them down, carry your heart barren before the Lord and TRUST Him that He will protect you. Not yourself. But His protection. That even though you put yourself out there, let go and carry your heart vulnerable in the palm of your hand you know that it will always be protected in God's hands.

That is what following your heart means to me.

xoxo

Ramona


picture via

Thursday Tunes

Alrighty, today's Thursday tunes are little bit of pop music because I think we all need that every once in a while. I've known the song for a while now and since this week seems to be about the heart that song couldn't be more fitting. It is called Follow your Heart by Nathan Angelo.
Find the lyrics below and check back tomorrow as I'm going to share some thoughts on following your heart.

 
You say, "I'm done
I'm giving in
My bags have all been packed
I've lost my will to win
Should I move on
Or should I stay right here
Cause it's hard to find your way
When nothin's ever clear"
When you look at your life and where you've been
And you're wonderin' why you did what you did
You won't think twice if you just live by what's inside
Follow your heart
It'll never lead the wrong way
When you're fallin' apart
You'll know you're in the right place
When the goin' gets tough
And you're thinkin' it's enough to turn and walk away
Follow your heart
You won't ever be the same
You say, "I've tried
I've been down that road
It always takes me to a place so far away from home
And you don't know how much it hurts to fall
I'd rather save a little love
Than take a risk and loose it all"
Follow your heart
It'll never lead the wrong way
When you're fallin' apart
You'll know you're in the right place
When the goin' gets tough
And you're thinkin' it's enough to turn and walk away
Follow your heart
You won't ever be the same

xoxo

Ramona

3 Things

"In the long run, the sharpest weapon of all is a kind and gentle spirit." - Anne Frank

xoxo
Ramona

To be continued...

Last Fall I talked about great changes. I told you that I felt something was on the verge of happening. Something grand. Something I had been waiting for for a very long time. And indeed everything changed last Fall. But not like I expected. I expected an immediate change. I imagined it to just happen to be solved and there in the palm of my hand to be grasped and seen and touched. But that was not God's plan. I was right about the change but so wrong about its undertaking.
In the darkness of this Winter in the attempt of writing new chapters in life and finding new adventures I might have lost sight of that very thing that I knew of last Fall. Change. The start of something big. The beginning of something grand.

At the Colour Conference on the very last night I was reminded of it again. I needed to be reminded. And where better could it come from than God's word. It speaks life and truth and it spoke right into my heart.
I am going to share those verses from 2 Corinthians 8:10-20 out of The Message translation:
"So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it. Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands. This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even."

So, here's to the change that is still happening. Here's to finishing what has begun. And lastly here's to continuing to follow my heart for I know it has been in the right place.

xoxo

Ramona

Time of Refreshment

As every year I went to the Colour Conference in London. It is always a very refreshing time. Time away from my daily life and all the things going on.
This year I had the chance of visiting friends in Worthing which is right by the coast. It was a beautiful day. One of those days where you are completely out of everything and time is of no importance. I saw the ocean, the castle where The Young Victoria was filmed and had a beautiful time.

I still have a lot to process from this weekend, but that is a good thing as I had today off and will have tomorrow off too. There will be lots of journaling, praying and pondering.

Hope you too had a great weekend.

xoxo

Ramona

Thursday Tunes

I know I have shared this song before but it still get to me every time I hear it. There is a beauty and poetry and depth to this song that just gives me goosebumps!
It's called Trees (Hallway of Leaves) and is by Sleeping at Last:

It's just beyond those trees...
The place I've been dreaming of.
Will you follow me?

Trust me, I know where I'm going.

It's somewhere here within the leaves...
There must be some mistake...

Trust me, I know where I'm going

We'll cut a path out for us
Through the green seas,
We'll make hallways of leaves

I know it seems it was just some crazy dream
And I know my eyes were closed
But this dream feels more real to me
Than life itself.
My ear is pressed upon this wall,
For behind it is that place.

The door is locked...
I'll do whatever it takes

(you have to) Trust me, I know where I'm going.

Will you follow me?
Will you follow me, still?

In the moments that I feel
We're closer than ever before
The world drops out from under our feet.
But I believe the darkest of fights
Prove we're almost there.

There is always something there
to take our hearts like thieves
There is always something there
to take our hearts (But nothing matters.)
There is always something there to take

When we arrive
We will hear
Voices sing,

Nothing matters.
Nothing matters anymore.
Nothing matters anymore, anymore, anymore.

It's beginning to get dark.
But don't worry,
I know where we are,
I know where we are.
Will you follow me, still?

xoxo

Ramona

Tough Choices

Today I was thinking about making the though choices. The kind of choices where in your heart you know you have to make them in order to grow. This could be leaving things, a relationship, people behind, changing certain ways of thinking. It is all about working on your character in order to become who God intended you to be. In order to reach the full potential He has planted within you.
It kind of reminded me of when I did the series about Heros and how they were all willing and ready to make the tough choices. No matter the cost.

There have been many times in my life where I had to make these kind of choices and it was never easy. But it was always worth it. I have chosen to be obedient to God. Always. John 15:1-4 have sort of become leading verses when it comes to making the tough choices. Because I want to be cleansed in order to produce more fruit in my life.
Although these choices were hard and believe me they were and they were always made in tears and pain, they always helped me grow. Every. Single. Time.
And oh the joy that awaits you at the end of that hard journey, of pushing through the pain, of dealing with the thoughts you want to get rid of. The joy of standing on top of the mountain, knowing you've made it. You've grown. You have gotten closer to God and closer to your God given purpose.

I guess I just want to encourage you (and myself of that matter) today to not be afraid to keep making the hard choices. Start being obedient to what the Lord tells you. Don't be afraid to lose something when in the end you are gaining everything.

xoxo

Ramona

PS: I'll be in London for a couple of days for the Colour Conference! But I have some great Thursday Tunes scheduled for you on... well Thursday :-)

PSS: Also I updated my current Soundtrack and Inspirational Thoughts. Hope you like it

Kony 2012 - Part II Beyond Famous

I don't want to say that much more, but today is April 20th.... so... watch part 2 of the campaign and decide for yourself what you are going to do about it!

xoxo

Ramona

Thusday Tunes

About two weeks ago I was randomly listening to music in the morning and this song came up. I've never heard it before on my playlist (probably because I have a whole bunch of new music). I paused because the song just got me somehow. It was one of those moments when your sould connects with music. It has been on my daily playlist ever since and I have to share it with the lyrics with you. It is by Adam Agin and is called "Please don't leave quite yet"



Underneath my bed there's a raincoat
Packed with scarfs and books Just go look
But don't let the storm slow you down
No honey, don't let the storm slow us down
It'll slow us down


The sound the furnace makes irritates you
I promise by next spring we'll replace it
But dont let the winter run you out
No honey, dont let the winter run us down

It'll run us down
It'll run us down
It'll run us down

And all I want it to get better
I swear I'll work to make it better

So please don't leave quite yet
So Please don't leave quite yet
Oh Please don't leave quite yet

Don't Leave
please don't leave quite yet
Don't Leave, Don't Leave
Please don't leave quite yet

xoxo

Ramona

Spring... at last

It was a very long Winter. One that was preceded by a very colorful Fall full of changes which left me with barren trees and new chapters to be written. New beginnings to be made.
But it was a process of finding out what stories I wanted to write, what new dreams I wanted to dream. And at the end of this Winter I felt stuck as though I could not enter into the full bloom of Spring.
Then on one eventful weekend I felt the shift. Something was lifted and Spring began. In my heart. In my soul. It was that moment where I new that everything was going to be ok. New life would spring forth, new dreams would be awakened and even though I didn't see it yet I knew it was there.
Therefore I finally feel able and ready to fill you in on what Spring has been so far. It has been very eventful already filled with friends, family and food and laughter and making some beautiful memories:

Those first warming rays of sun right after Winter. The time when you get rid of warm coats and hats and you go for the first Spring walks. The air is fresh and filled with scents of blooming flowers. It awakens the sould and refreshes the spirit. I love how God created nature in that way.

The Alps were still covered with snow as we went for a boat ride in Switzerland. We let the sun warm our faces and listened to the water as the boat floated through it. One of those days that feel like being on holidays. As though our world, this daily routine feels miles and centuries away.

On the Easter weekend I invited all my friends for an outdoor Spring brunch. It was still very cold outside. We made a fire and made scrambled eggs, bacon and sausages. We ate in the forest and celebrated Spring. We listened to the birds and balanced on cut down trees. We drank hot coffee and laughed and ate.

Spring has finally arrived. I anticipate all the new things it will bring. It is a new season and new beginnings are ahead of me.

xoxo

Ramona

On being a hopeless romantic

People who know me well know that I constantly have some sort of movie going on in my head. My life consists of stories. It consists of motion pictures and I have a very vivid memory.
It's raining outside and I'm dreaming of dancing in the rain with my future husband. It's sunny and I go biking, put on red lipstick and imagine riding into the sunset, being free like a bird. Or I see the wide open land and imagine picknicks with best friends.
I have been like this since I can remember.
I have always had the urge for something epic. Something beyond my wildest dreams.
And believe me. My dreams have always been big and wild and crazy - naive even.
I romantisize my life, dramatize it and and I am a complete optimist always hoping and waiting for that Happy Ending.
Then there came people into my life, the so called realists. They seem to see the world as it is. They don't believe in fairytales and even though they dream they stay so called realistic or with their feet on the ground. They don't believe in happy endings and seem to never be overly optimistic.
I've had them laugh at me, call me dumb - maybe not to my face but with their body language. They've told me I was naive and crazy to believe all I'm talking about. They try to crash your dreams and fantasies by telling you none of what you are talking about is going to work out and how unrealistic you are.
In the past this has been really hurtful for me. I couldn't deal with it and felt like people were not taking me seriously. But they didn't see the depth of my heart and my thoughts and had no right to judge.

I am 27 years old. I have had my fair share of disappointments, heartbreaks, unrequited love. I've been through all of it. Several times.

But, I have never given up on my dreams. I have always come out stronger than before. I have always decided to keep on dreaming. I have chosen to not let my heart be hardned through this.
I have chosen to live with a heart fully exposed, fully vulnerable and fully soft. Does that mean that I let everybody step on it and hurt me? Of course not. But I offer my heart freely. I offer my heart to be shared. I allow my heart to love again. Deeper and stronger than all the times before. I am not afraid to risk being hurt again. As a matter of fact that's what happens when you make yourself vulnerable. You get hurt. But I'd rather feel the pain than not feeling anything at all.

All this to say I will not give up on being a hopeless romantic dreaming of kissing in the rain and dancing in the kitchen. Because honestly I believe these dreams will come true. Yeah, life will be in the middle of it and I'm not there yet, but I will not give up on these dreams!

You may call me crazy, naive, a dreamer missing out on reality. Yet, I don't care. I live a life in which fairytales actually do happen.

xoxo

Ramona

pictures via 1 and 2