BitterSweet

It’s 1:26 am. For some weird reason, I am always awakened during the 3^rd watch of the night just to be reminded to write this, or at least, type this! *gyah! Finally, on my 3^rd week of ignoring the tug, I am now writing it down. 

I am sure that as you read the title you are hoping that this post will be about chocolates or food, but its not! As a human, I am sure at some point you were able to experience difficult situations and off course difficult people. Dealing with them can sometimes be easy but most of the time it’s hard or should I say, challenging especially when it comes to a point that this people are hurting you already. Well, I may not have all the solutions to all your problems but may I recommend something that helped me cope up with it – Pray to God about them!

Yes! Pray about it! Not pray for it… pray about it! Tell on them to God. Learn to tell God what they’ve done to you, what happened and how pissed you are about it. I’m sure that most of us would rant about it first in Twitter or FB, second to our close friend, and third to our friends. Maybe you’re like “Me? Pray to God about it? Hirap na nga ako magdasal tas irereklamo ko pa kay God!” It may feel awkward at first but hey! HE CARES! Psalm 62:8 encourages us “Trust in Him at all times; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us”. If what we feel at the moment or what we felt was nice and sweet, the Psalmist would not have told us to pour out. There are some things in our heart that we need to let go– hurt, anger, doubt, bitterness, unforgiveness, and confusion. The goal is to pour out (let go) of the bitter waters that may want to linger in our hearts so that the sweet waters of God (i.e. peace, joy, kindness) can go back in and stay.

It may seem weird at first, but I am sure that as you try it and practice it, it will help you step back, process the situation and see if its really worth that wrinkle in your forehead.

A Daily Declaration for Affirmation and Success

SUCCESS PRESCRIPTION:  RECITE AND APPLY THESE PLEDGES THREE (3) TIMES A DAY for AFFIRMATION & RESTORATION

• PLEDGE #1:  Today I begin a new life by replacing my bad habits with good ones, for I NOW know I can do all things through Jesus Christ who Strengthens me.

• PLEDGE #2:  I have begun my new life by greeting each day with love in my heart because I am NOW transformed by the renewing of my mind.

• PLEDGE #3:  I will persist until I succeed at my new life's growth, for I know that if I ask often enough it will be given to me, if I seek diligently I will find, if I knock with persistence all doors will be opened unto me.

• PLEDGE #4:  I will reach my goals in life because I am God's greatest miracle, and greater is Jesus Christ that is in me than the evil that's in the world.

• PLEDGE #5:  Therefore boldly I will live each day as if it were my last with the confidence that all things will work together for my good because I love God and I an called according to his purpose.

• PLEDGE #6:  I will stay mindful that success requires that I must be a master of my emotions and this will be accomplished through my remembering that I am more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ who loves me.

• PLEDGE #7:  Armed with my new life in Christ, the weapon of love, the force of persistence, the confidence of being God's greatest miracle, the freedom of living each day as if it were my last, and the discipline of being master of my emotions, I will laugh at the world, for I NOW know that if I submit myself unto God, and resist the devil, he will flee from me.

• PLEDGE #8:  No longer will I be a slave to fear, pride, and doubt, but I will multiply my value one hundred fold and be a leader of men.  I will stay mindful to acknowledge God and He will direct path.

• PLEDGE #9:  Acknowledging God puts my faith in to action, and I will act now, for I know that faith without works is dead.

• PLEDGE #10:  To be a true success is a gift from God, therefore, I will remember to seek His guidance, and I will trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not until my own understanding.

I AM A WINNER!   I AM SUCCEEDING!

A repost from Boss the Movement 

Top 10 Lessons Learned for the Week

Actually, these are random notes to self that you might find useful for yourself too! 

10.In preparing for big tasks, events, or projects, always prepare yourself spiritually and physically. Pray and soak yourself in God’s Word for your spiritual prep. On the other hand, load up with Vitamin C and supplements to strengthen your immune system especially during stressful days.

9. Smile! I read somewhere that it’s therapeutic.

8. Obedience to God als o means resting in God. You cannot enjoy your inheritance without it.

7. We must learn to rest if we want to learn how to soar.

6.  Always choose that which will build your faith

5.   In troubled times, its not just enough that you cry out, you have to cry out to God.

4. The series Jane by Design is so cute! (Yes, maisingit lang!)

3.  True friends will make ways to be there for you

2. I have the best hommies (roommates) in the world

1. God is good all the time. 

Inspiration Thursday: SMILES!

These kids and their smile are just so adorable!

A child's smile if one of God's greatest blessings

a smile a day keeps the glooms away

Photos taken by REN (me) in Real LIFE Feeding program

The Induction Cooker Day 2

More Spam  

Truly, people will notice when you start doing something new. My officemates saw my packed breakfast for Day 1 and requested that I cook for them. So here I am now, cooking more spam! Pat said that spam should not be eaten everyday but since its one of the best breakfast and comfort food, I would like to suggest a three or four times a week spam breakfast. Haha, just kidding, that really is unhealthy!

I am using a non-stick aluminum frying pan for my induction cooker that's why I use less or a very small amount of cooking oil for cooking a dish, but for some of the batch of spam this day, I wasn't using cooking oil anymore but there's just so much oil in the pan. Come to think of it, the spam that I use already has less fat. There's a lot of natural oil in a slice of spam than you know!

Scrambled eggs are part of the meal so after cooking the spam and eggs, 20% goes to my hommie and the 80 is off to my office. My officemates liked it. Haha

Waking up while it is still dark

I always hear this verse in proverbs 31 that talks about the wife of s noble character's early morning habit - waking up while it's dark (She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family-Proverbs 31:15 NIV 1984). I do that once a week (Wednesdays) but I rarely have time to notice it since I'm busy preparing for work. I woke up earlier today, earlier than my usual Wednesday wake-up time that is why amidst my rushing to the kitchen area, I was able to pause for a while and say to myself "now it really is still dark". The night lights are still on while you see Mr. Night do some turnover with Mr. Day.  

I like the way it was serene in my lil space. My hommie is still sleeping and I get to worship and play music while I'm cooking. I do my quiet time after the frying and all. It was one of those moments that I was thanking God for giving me a reason to happily get up. It's been a while since I felt enthusiastic about waking up and I really thank my Abba for it. this is one of the things that wake me up in the morning, the excitement and anticipation of cooking, not just for yourself but for others as well.

How about you? What wakes you up in the morning? 

The Induction Cooker - Day 1

Last Christmas, Patrick, my boyfriend gave me an induction cooker. After 4 months of displaying it in our condo unit, I decided to use it and go back to one of the things that I like doing most... Cooking! 

Since it takes 21 days to create a habit, I am devoting 21 days to cooking breakfast (or should I say, instant breakfast) using my induction cooker and I will be blogging about it so that I could have happy memories of my induction cooking days before I 

get to have my gas stove.

Proceeding to Day 1 - Spam and Eggs

I found myself automatically waking up early for this! Since its my first day to cook, the easiest way to go about it is to fry! Haha

Thanks to Tito Mads' (Patrick's dad) Spam goods, I was able to make my Day 1 breakfast - Spam and eggs. Cooking in an induction cooker was easier since it uses magnets to heat the pan and the pan really heats fast. My Spam frying was shortened into 3-4 minutes (induction cooker timer at minimum heat), 5 minutes if you want it toasted! 

I cooked 2 types of eggs for this morning, since I have two hommies (my condomates) who have different egg preferences. 
One's sunny side up and the other is scrambled. I usually go for scrambled but my preference vary depending on my mood.

After cooking the eggs and Spam, I placed some of it in my lunch box and some of it in a plate for my hommies so that I can share 

my first day of cooking to them.

I consider it a fair start for my first day of frying. I hope to post more cooking stories soon! Till next Induction Cooking :D  

"This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot" Ecclesiastes 5:18 (NIV)

Versus

God has His ways 

and 

it's always higher and better than ours.