My Collected Thoughts along the Way

by Rafael Garcia

Overview

While poet Rafael Garcia admits that life can be hard, it’s also precious, particularly when one learns to see it through the eyes of the heart. We cannot let circumstances discourage us or bring us down. Life is full of ups and downs, and experiencing them is what life is all about.

My Collected Thoughts along the Way is a collection of poetry by Garcia exploring the challenges and the divine encounters that prepare us for our destinies. His poetry offers a series of thoughts and poems that he has collected along the way through all of his life experiences. Some of his thoughts were born in the midst of chaos in his life, while others arose from stress, loneliness, hunger, or cold. My Collected Thoughts along the Way offers hope, encouragement, and the reminder that you are not alone.

One Must

One must have dreams and goals.
One must aspire to greatness.
One must not be content with just the crumbs of life.

One must work hard and reach success.
But must of all,
One must stay and remain humble while and throughout
The whole process.
Specially when reaching ones
Dreams and goals.
Never forgetting where he/she has come from.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475967494
Publisher:	iUniverse, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/14/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	142
File size:	5 MB

Read an Excerpt

My Collected Thoughts along the Way

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By Rafael Garcia

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2013 Rafael Garcia
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4759-6751-7

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Chapter One

My Thoughts

To my dear ones
With love and lots of respects to each and every one of you.

My thoughts I have written.
My thoughts I have put together.
Some are up lifting and beneficial.
Some are just expressions of my heart.

Expressions when in times of pain
When in times of need
When found myself all alone and in deep depression.

Regardless of the circumstances, here my thoughts I've
Written and now share with thee.

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
With gratitude and tons of love and respect.

Thank you Lord,
For if it wouldn't been for You,
Your Love, Kindness,
Mercy, and Compassion,
I don't know where would I be.
Thank You so much my Lord.
This one is for You.


Tears ... Are Words From The Soul

Was flying high, Yet was brought low.
Hit rock-bottom, And was left alone.
Walked deserted and rocky trails.
At times they were stormy and cold.

In the midst of chaos,
Whether winter, spring, summer, or fall,
Didn't really know which way to go.
For everything seem the same, dark and cold.

Tho it was deserted, painful and cold,
I heard a voice, but didn't recognize it at all.
'Til I quieted my soul.

It was the Lord.
With stretching arms and sweet tender love,
He lifted me up and brought me back home.

P.S.
When there are no words,
When you find yourself alone,
Just pour out your heart
Before His throne.

Let your tears speak for 'yall ...
For when it comes to matters like this,
Know that those tears,
Are words from the soul.

Words from the soul that know what to say.
And believe me,
They touch the Lord's heart
Each and every day.


We Must

One must recover fully from a hurtful past
And from a poor mentality ...
That's if one really wants to truly spread its
Wings and truly fly high.
Fly above the winds.

Renewing ones self.
A must!!!


Understanding

One must truly understand
The cost and value of a commitment ...


We Must Consider

One must never judge nor put down anybody.
One must not judge others deeds,
'Coz you'll probably be doing the very thing
you are judging Your neighbor of.


Moving On

Learning to forget the mistakes from yesterday ...
Learning to move on and organize victory out of them ...


Psalm 63

In a dry and thirsty land,
Where there is no water,
My soul thirsts for You.

My flesh longs for You.
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.

Because You have been my help.
Therefore, in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
Because of Your loving-kindness,
My soul follows close to Thee.

I will lift up my hands in Your name.
And my lips shall praise You
Because of Your purest love
Towards me.

Specially,
When in times like this.


Being Real

It's not so much about what you are trying to say
Nor whom you are trying to convince.
Rather,
Is more about how you behave in a consistent manner and Daily basis.
It's about your testimony rather than your words.


Who Would Of Thought

Long journeys.
Long roads.
Lots won;
But twice as much lost.
Who would of said;
Who would of thought.
That throughout this journey called life,
I've suffered, and yet,
I've survived.
(Has to be Your Mercy ... Gots to be Your Love)


Embracing

We must taste defeat before tasting victory.
One must embrace what one lacks and where
One is at the time,
For by when we obtain and gain,
We'll terish and appreciate more what
Once we only got to dream and desire of.


As A Physician

One must not use his/her knowledge to put down people.
One must not use it nor take advantage for his/her own benefits.
One must by all means and somehow,
"Be as a physician.

A physician of souls,
Healing and sharing with the truth of the gospel."
-Bishop T.D. Jakes-

And we must do so with love;
Kindness; prayer; tenderness; and compassion ...


One Must

One must have dreams and goals.
One must aspire to greatness.
One must not be content with just the crumbs of life.

One must work hard and reach success.
But must of all,
One must stay and remain humble while and throughout
The whole process.
Specially when reaching ones
Dreams and goals.

Never forgetting where he/she has come from.


Hasn't Been Easy

Hasn't been easy.
But am not the same from yesterday.
Must say.

Every sacrifice; trial; sorrow; and isolation;
Always leads to a better and brighter future.

... For in life there cannot be the bad without the good.
Nor there can be the good without the bad.
There cannot be enjoyment on the sweet without the Bitterness of life.
And vice versa.

No matter how long nor old we get,
We still gots lots to learn and share.
To our love ones, friends, neighbors and haters.

We gots lots to learn and share ...
And there will never be a better way to share,
Than by our actions and out way of living.

If we are to leave something behind,
Let it be a good legacy to our youngsters.
A good example.

For what's the point of leaving them a car if they have no Gas?
Or money without the knowledge of how to earn it?
What benefit will it bring them?
What future will await for them
If we do this harm to them?
Let us leave them
The map that leads them to greatness.


We Value

... We value and cherish that which we have lost.

Like silver and gold,
Life has been testing our love.

Lots have been our ups and downs.
But we have always come around.

Just like they said,
That which is worth keeping,
Is worth fighting for.

'Mo than a friend,
'Ma other half.
The one that completes me.
That, you've become.

Who would of thought
That through life hardest lessons,
One is truly made?

One truly learns and understands
The truest meaning of life.

'Ma eyes have been open.
Hope is not to late now but,
Lord,
Grant me the opportunity to hold her
In 'ma arms one 'mo time.

Provide me the wisdom
To built her a house
Where she'll be protected all of the time.

Tenderness and love
Put in 'ma heart.
Help me and teach me,
To truly take good care of her.

For 'mo precious than riches,
Is a woman of good virtues.
And no doubt she is full of them.


The Touch Of The Master

"The best nurses are the ones who have been patients themselves.
They have more compassion for victims.

The touch of a fellow pilgrim,
Lets us know we are not alone in our plight."
-Bishop T.D. Jakes-

Through rocky trails; cold nights;
Loneliness; pain; winter; spring; summer; or fall;
All we need is someone to give us love.
Someone who could take away the pain and cold.

Came as a man; Suffered Himself.
Knows hunger; pain; loneliness; and cold.
Tho was winter; spring; summer; or fall;
He didn't complaint @ all.

With sweet tender words,
Healed the sick and gave them hope.
With truth and compassion of the heart;
Touched millions and gave them life.

Even 'till this day,
He keeps reaching many
With His sweet tender love.

The touch from the heart,
Is the one that knows no boundaries.
The touch from the soul,
Is the one He can only give to us all ...

The touch of the Master,
The sweet and purest of all ...
That's the touch from the Lord.
There's no greater love.


Circumstances

Long journeys; Crucial times.
Lots of pains and loneliness ...

Rocky trails; Desolate land.
Lots tears; No one around.

Funny how many times circumstances like this,
Lead us to meet people in places like this.

Strangers become friends;
Sometimes they even become bros.

That depends on God's purpose and ones' call.

Few might of been the words,
Yet, lot have learned.

You are a good friend,
There's no doubt at all.

Keep your faith alive;
Never let Him go.
For there's lots good stuff that you and I still ought to do and learn.

"Isolation leads to elevation"
-J.Franklin-
Bitterness; lack of love; loneliness; pain;
Struggles; and so for;
Are just part of the process when one has been called.

Never give up; Never let go.

Keep your head up, and faith alive.
For @ the end,
There awaits for us,
The Promise Land.


Compassion

Gone through hell ... Been hungry ... Been by myself ...
Been hurt ... Been ignore ... Been alone ...
Been thirsty ... Been sick ... Been at the end of my days ...
Been desperate ... Been cold ... Been controlled by ...
Been put down ... Been judge ... Been isolated ...
Been at Gods mercy.

Compassion, nobody has have on me.
Compassion its Biblical.
Compassion I've expected.
Yet, always been rejected.

Compassion, I've shared.
Compassion, it's always been there.
Compassion seems for me not to care.

Lord, I ask You; please allow me to come near
and make things Better than yesterday.
Lord, I ask You, to please help me understand and
Know your will all of my days.
Above all, to truly learn that my life
Depends on You and nobody else.


It's Not About ...

It's not so much about serving nor doing.
It's not so much about religion either.

It's more about an intimate relationship between
Man and God Almighty.

Living a sacrificing life of devotion and reverence towards God.

It's about laying down our lives in the altar
For the fire to come down.


    Lord, Help Me

    Lord knows the fears.
    The pain ... The tears and the words that now seem so long gone.

    Lord knows 'ma deepest desires ... Deepest dreams and wishes.

    Yet, can't seem to understand why doesn't anything seem to go 'ma way.

    Lord, help me see and understand the lessons You
    are sharing and teaching me along the way.

    Teach me to rely on You and trust You.
    Especially when everything seems impossible.


Remembering

@ times trying to free 'maself from the memories from yesterday,
I tend to get caught up like an insect in a spider web.
Don't understand why?
Yet, have survived. Have gone through hell here on earth.
Still standing tho. Still waiting on 'ma Lord.
@ times I wonder for how long tho.
But when that happens, I remember His Grace. I remember how
He has carried me on. How He has gotten me up.
How He always has lifted me up.
And that's not 'coz of who I am. But 'coz of who He is and
His eternal love for me.
Thank You Lord.


He Was Always Near

Was a deserted land
After being full of blessings of all kinds.

Wondered day and night;
Hoping end or help might come.
But nothing came around.

Her memory wanted to washed away,
Yet, didn't know she was closer each day.

'Ma mind they wanted me to lose;
'Ma life I wanted to end.
Funny thing,
None of us got
What we all desired at the end.

The Lord was always near.
He came close
And grabbed me near.

Not whining nor complaining,
Just wondering why He loves me so much
And why He always holds me so dear?


    Your Presence

    Your Presence form above washes and cleanses me.

    Lord, please take me to a deeper place of understanding where I must quiet
    'ma soul and learn to listen to Thy voice.

    Where I must lay everything down and die to 'maself.

      Where I must say, 'mo of You and less of me Lord.


In The ...

In the darkness of 'ma days,
I ask Thee to take me in Thy hands ...

In the darkness of 'ma days,
I ask Thee to be merciful of me ...

In the darkness of 'ma days,
I ask Thee,
To let it be more of You and less of me.


Their Own Unique Potential

Their own unique potential ...
Hard for them to develop it if they don't know what it is
Nor what's its max.
Their own unique potential ...
Could break them lose and set them free.
Only if they discover it and use it appropriately.

Their own unique potential ...
Sad to say that today,
The young are taught nothing about honor,
Nor how to discover and developed
Their own unique potential ...

Sad to say that the young dream no 'mo.
Have respect no 'mo.
True respect that is.

Sad to say that the young are being
Mislead in the wrong way.
Sad to say that today no one
Seems to notice nor care about our
Youngsters of these days.

Many being called; Many being drafted.
Many being send to the fields of wars
Without the proper tools and training.
Whose fault?

Same is true in church today.
Many expect and call the young.
They expect them to be fruitful and strong.
Yet, no proper tools nor training.
Whose fault?

They are alone ... They are cold ...
Night for them seems long.
No one goes nor calls.
They lift up their eyes.
They lift up their souls.
Crying out to God while winter falls.

But, today I say to them all,
To the youngsters all over the world,
'Yall not alone.

True, life struggles may seem hard at times,
But know that it is in those moments that one can truly
Learn, discover and know what one is truly made of.

Is there that we gain wisdom, knowledge; sharpened our
Skills and so forth.

"It takes violent moments and challenges to bring home
The merits and victories obtain.
We are to accept the challenges instead of bowing-down.
The heavier the load, the stronger,
The faster and wiser we'll become".

-Bruce Lee-

Be discouraged not, for life hardest lessons are necessary
For us all.

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger,
Wiser, talented, skillful, mindful of many things,
Better people and successful if positioning ourselves and
Minds the right way.

Remember, "Skills without strength are incomplete."
So is having wisdom and knowledge without applying it.
Is like having a car without gas and so for.

The thing is, is up to us to become the best
We could ever be.
If we reposition ourselves and make the necessary
Changes in our lives.

Let us learn to let go of people and things from the past
That keeps us from moving forward.

Let us know and depend on God alone.

God is there and will always be there for you and with you.

Open your eyes wide; Open your ears.
Let God guide you; teach you; and direct you.
Know your own unique potential.

God is your help.

PS.
To all 'ma youngsters around the world,
With love and tons of respect ...
God bless 'yall.


"Let It Be Say ..."

Words come and go.
Some well said and some just don't.

Many hear them and many just won't.

But what's the point of hearing many words, and not truly
Digesting the truest and purest essence of them all?

We may not be as wise as Salomon was. In fact, we might
Not even be people of many words.
Yet, with humbleness and sincerity of the heart; if we are
To say only one word,
Lord, let it be say with the essence of truth, passion and Love.

For better is one word well say, than
Thousands that make no sense.


You Are Not ...

... You are not who you have become
Due to the circumstances
And patterns of life ...

Reality is, you were not meant to be
Who you are right now
Due to those patterns.

You were created to be much more than that.

You can create your better you and future
By changing the old with the new.

By repositioning yourself.
By taking off the old feathers and letting
New ones grow.

Even if you are to bleed some more.
But just remember, change is necessary at
All levels and stages in life.

We decide to keep on living in that situation
Or move on to a better and brighter future.

Create possibilities and learn to unlearn the learned.


'Mo Than ...

'Mo than 'ma friend,
He is 'ma bro.

Lots ups and lows.

We've been through hell
Here on earth.

Yet, storms were necessary for us to be
Trained and prepared for where we are and ought to go.

Greatness has and will always have a high
And greater price to be paid.
Not all can pay it tho.

But this guy, this guy Lord,
Has it all.
This guy Lord,
Was one of the greatest gifts
You have blessed me with
Among many 'mo.

Thank You Lord.
Lots have I learned,
And no doubt,
Lots still ought to learn.

Bless him tons 'mo.
And wherever we are to go,
That we grow strong in that brotherly love.

Love You 'ma Lord Jesus.


Shake Dust Off

Lots up and downs ... No doubt ... Highs and lows ...
But mainly lows ... Lot lost 'coz of what the wing blew Away ...
Yet, He remained in control and always made a way ...
Show must go on, gotta shake the dust off ...
For journey still long and He'll be in control.
No doubt ...

Yet, hurts tons ...
God Knows ...
But I believe He is and always be in control ...


Can't Seem

Can't seem to understand; can't seem to put it together.
Yet, I know what I know; and I saw what I saw.
Regardless, 'ma mind is still sharp,
Thanks to the Lord.

Tired and exhausted, but still sharp, No doubt.
They chopped 'ma wings and locked me down.
Like an eagle in a cage.
Wounded; Bleeding;
Barely breathing.

Yet, still standing thanks to Him.
I'll spread 'ma wings once again.

To the South, to the North, to the East, to the West,
I'll be flying once again.


Learning

Learning to stand still ...
Learning to quiet my soul ...
Learning to listen to His voice
While we are still in this world ...


Keeping

Keeping faith alive,
Keeping my head up,
Not knowing how nor why,
But I just know,
I must.
For it ain't over,
Til is over.


As ...

As the waves hit the shore,
Lord,
Teach me to stand firm
On the Rock.
For by doing so,
I know my foundation will be solid and strong.


Letting To Love And Letting Go

Learning to love
While one learns to let go ...
Hard task ... But we must do so.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from My Collected Thoughts along the Way by Rafael Garcia Copyright © 2013 by Rafael Garcia. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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