I LOVE YOUR BLOG Award

I am deeply honored to be given the "I Love Your Blog" award by Crown of Beauty. Thank you, Manang Lidj!

As instructed, I am to pass the award to seven others. I have numerous favorite blogs that I visit randomly and most of them have received the same award. So I am passing on the award to seven few that are worth a read. I can relate with the authors as I share similar thoughts, ideas, and experiences with them.

1. There’s no place like home. - Kelli is from Texas, USA. She is married with three young children. They are a christian, homeschooling family. I love her blog because I can see myself in her who loves her home and family. We share the same interests: baking, sewing, crafting, and most of all, loving the LORD!

2. Extravagant Grace. There is not enough words to describe this woman of God! She loves the Lord and that is reflected deeply in her writings. She is a wife and a stay-at-home mother of four children. She has a bachelors in English Writing Arts and is an editorial assistant for a science journal, a web designer and editor, and a desktop publishing designer. She is a freelance writer for Faith Lifts (that’s where I found her). Her experiences tell a message to all her readers, that God's love is amazing and His extravagant grace is available to all of us.

3. Fiddledeedee. If I want to have a good laugh, I come to this site. DeeDee is a fun loving writer, witty, full of surprises, yet, filled with amusing facts and realities about her life as a woman of God! She, too, is a homeschooling mom to her three children.

4. My simple kitchen. I love this site. Aimee is a great cook and her recipes are brilliant! She started this blog as a place to share recipes with her readers and to inspire to cook loving meals for our families. And of course, she loves Jesus!

5. Im an organizing junkie. Laura loves to organize! She is a mom to three active kids. Her tips and awesome creativity gives me ideas on making my house a home to my family.

6. Waking Up. Musings by a dreamer. Ariel Allison Lawhon is a writer, a novelist… and a dreamer. Her musings are deep that touches the recesses of the soul.

7. A few Scraps. Christina is thirty something…. So am I. She quilts… and so do I. She is a mother… me too! She is a nurse… and I am too!

According to Crown of Beauty, there are a few rules that go with this award. You have to pass on this award to seven other blogs. Just add in a short description of each of the blog and the reasons why you are giving the award to.

Rules:
1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs you’ve nominated.

Pass on the award, meet new friends, see how creative our God is in the unique lives of the people He has created... and have fun!

What about... DREAMS?

(In my dream, I saw myself on this ship... I think I know where this is at ... ah... that's between me and my God )

I was just reading a recent post of my friend’s: It will take Forever. Talking about dreams... there's this saying from a certain Asian guy that says, "Who looks outside, dreams, Who looks inside awakens". And another that mentions one of the three things in life that are never certain, "Dreams".

I dream a lot... you may say, I'm a dreamer. I am. I have dreams for my family, for myself and most of all, I dream that someday, I will arrive at the place and dwell in the house of my Heavenly Father forever!

Spiritually speaking, according to Bryan Carraway, in his article, “A Theological Look at Spiritual Dreams”, dreams are one of the most overlooked forms of communication used by God. The Word of God consistently reveals God as speaking to people through this universally experienced and mysterious phenomenon.

The Lord uses dreams for a variety of purposes:

- to warn global leaders of future events. (Gen. 41:1-8)- to provide revelation to His prophets Num. (12:6)- to warn us against certain decisions. (Matt. 27:17-19)- to reveal His divine destiny for our lives. (Gen. 37:5-8)- to answer our recent petitions and prayers. (I Kings 3:5-15)
Acts 2:17 confirms that God continues to use dreams as a means of communication in the New Testament age. Since this is the case the question must be asked, "Are all dreams from God?" Are we to wake up every morning looking for some hidden, spiritual message in our dreams? The answer is no.

Dreaming is a natural physiological function that is common to every human being and is necessary for maintaining adequate mental and emotional health. If one is deprived of REM sleep (the sleep cycle at which dreaming occurs) for a substantial length of time the person can incur serious medical and mental complications. So while most of our dreams are just the result of natural human functioning, every Christian needs to be aware that sometimes God uses this natural function in a supernatural way.

When to know a dream is from God, i.e. a "spiritual dream," and when it's just a natural dream can sometimes be hard to discern. No doubt it's a very subjective experience but most of us have had the feeling that some dreams are not like the rest. The images linger, the emotions are strongly affected, and we get this feeling that what we just experienced is a message from above; a message that needs explanation. When we do receive a spiritual dream they are usually one of three types.

1. Warning Dream - This type is meant to warn us about some future attack from the enemy or some difficult time ahead. This could be a warning about a friend, spouse, or child. These are given so that we might pray and intercede for the individual. Often times the calamity is not decreed from above and through prayer the hardship can be avoided. Example from Scripture: Abimelech warned not to sleep with Abraham's wife. (Gen. 20:3-7)

2. Confirmation Dream - This dream simply confirms that what you believe to be true about a person or situation is in fact true. This type of dream is used to give you the emotional impetus to act on what you already know to be true but have thus far been unresponsive towards. Example from Scripture: Pilate's wife's dream confirming that her husband should release Jesus from custody. (Matt. 27:17-19)

3. Prophetic Dream - A dream which reveals the future concerning yourself, another individual, a nation, etc. Example from Scripture: As a 17 year old, Joseph dreamt about his future place of honor and high governmental service. (Gen. 37: 5-8)

Spiritual dreams are God's sole prerogative, so we must always be ready. When they do come we need to quickly record them and then begin to pray for the interpretation. Spiritual dreams when heeded, keep us in the will of God and remind us that we do indeed serve a God who knows us intimately and who takes the time to speak to His children individually for our own safety and care.

As for me, I consider it as a gifting. God speaks to me in my dreams. Having to discern a dream takes confirmation in my spirit and His word. Yet, oftentimes, God reveals Himself to me through a prophetic dream, just before an event in my life happens.

My dreams are simple, yet, they give me hope and encouragement. Most of all, my dreams are from within, which God, Himself, the dream giver establishes. Lastly, my dreams are always certain, knowing that they are from the Father.

Did Jesus Use a Modem?

I have heard this poem once recited on air at my favorite christian radio station. I thought I'd share this. It's a simple poem, yet points out to the realities of how much modern, high-tech world eats up most of our time rather than having an intimate fellowship with our God.

God bless you as you read this poem.

ooo00000ooo

Did Jesus use a modem,

At the Sermon on the Mount?

Did He ever try a broadcast fax,

To send His message out

Did the disciples carry beepers,

As they went about their route?

Did Jesus use a modem,

At the Sermon on the Mount?

Did Paul use a laptop,

With lots of RAM and ROM?

Were his letters posted on a BBS,

@ Paul.Rome.Com?

Did the man from Macedonia,

Send an E-Mail saying "Come?"

Did Paul use a Laptop,

With lots of RAM and ROM?

Did Moses use a joystick,

At the parting of the Sea?

And a Satellite Guidance Tracking System,

To show him where to be?

Did he write the law on tablets,

Or are they really on CD?

Did Moses use a joystick,

At the parting of the Sea?

Did Jesus really die for us,

One day upon a tree?

Or was it just a Hologram,

Or Technical Wizardry?

Can you download the Live Action Video Clip,

To play on your PC?

Did Jesus really die for us,

One day upon a tree?

Have the wonders of this modern age,

Made you question what is true?

How a single man, in a simple time,

Could offer life anew?

How a sinless life, a cruel death,

Then a glorious life again,

Could offer more to a desperate world,

Than all the inventions of man?

If in your life, the voice of God,

Is sometimes hard to hear.

With other voices calling,

His doesn't touch your ear.

Then set aside your laptop and modem,

And all your fancy gear.

And open your Bible,

open your heart,

And let your Father draw near.

~Authour Unknown~

Pastor Dudley's visit

Our church was priviledged to have with us, Pastor Dudley Rutherford of Shepherd of the Hills Church, USA last Sunday, August 10th. Pastor Dud's visit was made possible by the grace of God and the efforts of my very dear friends, Rodel and Maryann Concha.

Pastor Dud, you were a blessing!!!! Come back again and be assured that you have a family here in Bacolod, Philippines praying for you! God bless you and your ministry!!!

Servanthood in the Workplace

My being a nurse can be exhausting, frustrating, and degrading at times. Please don’t get me wrong. I am talking about some things that I encounter in the workplace that I often find difficult to deal with: co-workers and subordinates, doctors, nursing procedures that I have to perform for the first time, among others. By the time I begin an eight-hour rostered shift, chances of me getting a break in between is not possible. Meal breaks are usually done at the end of the shift! You don’t find me sitting down once I am on the move. Not that I don’t like what I am doing. Nursing is one of the best things that ever happened to me. I love being a nurse but the cost of being one is what’s stressful.

Division, tension, conflict; I encounter them in the workplace, a hostile environment for me as a christian. My mission is to portray Christ without stepping over the line of professional standards. Yet, it’s not easy. My weapon is to consistently be in prayer and to make a decision daily to “love and serve” others. If I remember that God himself assigned me my workstation, I will desire to do my best.

I remember the message my husband delivered during the yearly banquet for Operation Care Ministry earlier this year. There were several keys that he mentioned that made a significant impact in my life:

He stressed that if we want to find leaders in our midst, we find them among those with a servant’s heart. That’s an incredible thought. In church, I see them with smiling faces all the time while going diligently about their work. I never hear them complain and criticize others. They usually do the menial tasks. Yet, they work hard with excellence in whatever they are doing, without expecting anything in return.

If you want to be a servant, be available. In 2 Timothy 2:4, it says, “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier”. A soldier is always ready to jump into service when called on. Being a servant means giving up the right to control your schedule and allowing God to interrupt it whenever He needs to.

Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others and always sensitive to others’ cries. When we see a need, let’s try to seize the moment to meet it, just as the Bible commands, Galatians 6:10 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers”. When God puts someone in need right in front of us, He is giving us the opportunity to grow in servanthood.

We do our best with what we have. If we have a servant’s heart, we don’t make excuses, procrastinate, or wait for better circumstances. Servants never say, “One of these days” or “When the time is right.” They just do what needs to be done. Ecclesiastes 11:4 “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap”.(NIV) If we wait for perfect conditions, we will never get anything done. God expects us to do what we can, with what we have, wherever we are.

We don’t choose the kind of work we want to do. In Colossians 3:23 it says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men”. The size of the task is irrelevant. The only issue is, does it need to be done? If we want to excel, we don’t chose a work that’s convenient for us. It is in these small services that we grow like Christ. In the scriptures we notice that Jesus specialized in menial tasks that everyone else tried to avoid: washing feet, helping children, fixing breakfast, and serving lepers. Nothing was beneath him, because he came to serve. It wasn’t in spite of his greatness that he did these things, but because of it, and he expects us to follow his example (John 13:15). Small tasks often show a big heart. Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks.

Servants are faithful to their work. Servants finish their tasks, fulfill their responsibilities, keep their promises and complete their commitments. They don’t leave a job half undone. They don’t quit when they get discouraged. They are trustworthy and dependable. Many people don’t know the meaning of commitment. These days, commitments are often too lightly made.

Servants displays humility. Servants don’t promote or call attention to themselves. Instead of acting to impress and dressing for success, they “put on the apron of humility, to serve one another” (1 Peter 5:5, TEV). If recognized for their service, they humbly accept it but don’t allow the recognition to distract them from their work. We must have a submissive spirit toward our employers, doing what we are asked to do without complaining or criticizing, building their trust in us. When we show we can be fully trusted, we "make the teaching about God our Savior attractive" (Titus 2:10).


1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

God shaped us for service, not for self-centeredness. Without a servant’s heart, we will be tempted to misuse our giftings and abilities for personal gain. Having a servant’s heart will reveal the depth of our maturity and it is seen in our life. The measure is our willingness to serve.

Our faith must be real, not fake. We must be honest and truthful, sincere in our desire to let the light within us shine for Christ in the workplace. If we are serving others as Christ would do, opportunities to share our faith will come. If we continue in prayer and in His Word, He will guide us as we bring the Good News into the workplace.

We can portray Christ and raise the standards in the workplace.

Enjoy Harmony in Your Home - Part IX

Bust clutter. Rid your house of clutter that’s causing stress in your environment. Rather than trying to tackle a big job all at once and becoming overwhelmed, schedule small bits of time to regularly work on getting rid of clutter, room by room, until your whole house is organized. Prepare for your work by having trash bags, storage bins, etc. on hand. Eliminate what you don’t want, need, or use. Concentrate on what you use, need, and care about. For every item you handle, ask: “When is the last time this was used, worn, or played with?”, “Does it deserve space in our home? If it weren’t here, what would be here instead?”, “Are there memories attached to it?” and “What will I do with it – fix it, sell it, store it, toss it, or donate it?” Be sure to follow through on your decisions promptly to avoid second thoughts; put objects you’ve chosen to keep in their proper places and drop off donations and take out trash soon after de-cluttering. Set deadlines for your work to stay on track. Every time a new items comes into the house, take an old item out to make room for it. Think and pray about why you’ve accumulated too much stuff in the first place, and how you can avoid cluttering your house with more stuff in the future.

Tilapia deadly than bacon? You gotta be kidding me!

(Steamed Tilapia with lemon-butter sauce, a few spurts of mayo and pickled relish)

Two nights ago, I was in the company of great and wonderful friends composed of couples involved in different ministries in our church. As usual, the women talked about the daily grind of motherhood, wife to our husbands, other than attending to our careers. Our favorite topic is food, of course, and seems that recipes are always and forever exchanged, trying out new formulas and acquiring newfangled tastes.

I was surprised, however, when one of our men mentioned that Tilapia (sometimes referred to as sunshine snapper, cherry snapper, Nile Snapper and St. Peter's fish since it is thought to be the fish St. Peter caught in the Sea of Galilee, tilapia has been farmed in Israel for about 2,500 years) is more deadly, more fattening, and more dangerous to eat than bacon! You gotta be kidding me! My favorite protein-rich fish is deadly? I was fumed by this thought! How is that possible? I have been eating Tilapia all my life and I’m hearing this?

I was dedicated to find out more about this shocking news for this has really saddened me. Eliminate this favorite of mine from my diet and you'll find me marching down the street along with other freedom fighters! This is outrageously insane!

Tilapia is a freshwater fish that is abundantly cultured in the Philippines. They are also now being introduced in the southern regions of the United States and other tropical areas such as Hawaii. They are sold live, fresh and frozen — whole and fillets. The fine-tasting meat typically is white, although the meat of red skinned tilapia may have a reddish tint. A most agreeable fish, tilapia is great on the grill, broiled, baked, pan-fried or stir fried. In addition to its versatility, pleasant flavor and low calorie count, the retail price of tilapia remains reasonable in comparison to other seafood, thanks to the efficiencies of modern aquaculture. Tilapia also is known for taking on many of the flavors of the ingredients it’s cooked with. For example, cooking in a stir-fry with soy sauce and veggies gives it an Asian flair. Many cooks even combine it with "fruity" flavors such as cherries or lemons.

I have to wonder if researchers at Wake Forest University are second-thinking the wisdom of their statement that "the inflammatory potential of hamburger or pork bacon is lower than the average serving of farmed tilapia."
On the one hand, it certainly got the attention of the press. Hundreds of blogs and news outlets immediately ran with the obvious headline: Tilapia worse than bacon! Then, all the health experts had to go on record, saying how ridiculous it was to suggest that bacon is a better choice than tilapia.

In a nutshell, the researchers were simply pointing out that all fish are not nutritionally equivalent and that the American Heart Association's blanket recommendation to eat more fish in order to reduce risk of heart disease may be overly general.

We hear a lot about fish being a good source of omega-3 fats, which are anti-inflammatory and are thought to be a hedge against heart disease. But we usually don't hear much about the omega-6 content of fish. Omega-6 fats are pro-inflammatory and are generally thought of as "bad."

For one thing, some fish, such as salmon, are very rich in omega-3, where are others, such as tuna, grouper, and snapper, contain much less. More importantly, though, certain fish, especially farmed catfish, tilapia, and salmon have very high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, including a particularly inflammatory omega-6 called arachidonic acid. (This is likely due to the vegetable-oil enriched diet fed to farmed fish.)

Three of the most commonly eaten fish (tuna, farmed tilapia, and farmed catfish) actually contain more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids. And (drumroll, please) some of the tilapia sampled for this particular study contained more arachidonic acid (and less omega-3) than bacon or hamburger. Which is how they ended up with the statement, "the inflammatory potential of hamburger or pork bacon is lower than the average serving of farmed tilapia."

In fact, I would agree with that statement. However, I think I'd stop short of promoting bacon as a healthier choice. Although it may be lower in arachidonic acid, it's a whole lot higher in fat and calories. Excess calories can easily lead to fat storage which leads directly to inflammation.

So let's keep this all in perspective here, shall we?

1. Bacon, while perhaps not directly inflammatory, is high in fat and calories (not to mention sodium) and should probably be enjoyed in moderation.
2. Fish is a great source of high quality protein and can be a good source of beneficial omega-3 fats-- good for the heart!
3. If you're eating a lot of farmed tilapia and catfish (especially if you're doing so in an attempt to reduce your risk of heart disease) there are other fish that are probably better choices, such as wild salmon, sardines, and others.

So, my verdict? I’ll eat my Tilapia, steamed, and enjoy the benefits it gives to my body… only in moderation!

Ayos!

Enjoy Harmony in Your Home - Part VIII

Create healthy meals and fun mealtimes. Aim to plan and cook healthy, delicious meals for your family regularly, and to enjoy eating those meals together as often as possible. Involve each family member in planning menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then post the menus in a prominent place, and shop for all the ingredients in advance. Have everyone pitch in to help prepare the meals as much as possible; assign everyone a job (even young children can help wash fruit and vegetables or set the table). Make eating together a high priority; try to arrange your schedules around eating at least dinner together whenever you can. Ask each other questions to encourage interesting and positive conversations at the table.

Christian the Lion

I’ll bet you’ve never seen a pet like the one in this Video of the Day. In 1969, two friends, John Rendall and Ace Berg, purchased a lion. At the time, Christian the lion was a 35-pound cub. He had been born in a zoo. The friends raised Christian in their London home. All three hung out in a friend’s furniture shop on the weekends.

Within a year, Christian had grown to 185 lbs. Rendall and Berg realized they couldn’t keep him much longer. But they didn’t know what to do with him. A chance encounter changed that. Two actors from the film Born Free walked into the furniture store.

The actors recommended a conservationist, George Adamson, living in Kenya. Christian was soon in Africa. There he was rehabilitated and released into the wild.

In 1974, Rendall and Berg decided to visit Christian one last time. He was now a wild animal. Adamson told them it was doubtful that Christian could be found. No one had seen him in nine months.

The two flew to Kenya, anyway. On the day they landed, Christian appeared outside Adamson’s camp. Somehow, he knew. He waited outside the camp until Rendall and Berg arrived.

This video was taken during their reunion with Christian. What a story! What a video!

COLD White Walls and Shiny Floors

(What shall the future hold? My thoughts about nursing in a foreign land away from home)

Soon will there be long hours of walking, long walks of caring
When the sun sets, the shiny floors, everyday will I stride
With medical supplies, in my hand I shall cautiously grasp,
My long hair twisted in a bun, tied with a net, sheltered with a cap.
There’s no time to sit, my busy hands never go empty
A peek of my sunken eyes, will they ever grow sleepy?
As I stroll by the white walls, in my mind,
I wished, I was home with you that day!

Just a glimpse of a one long night,
Attending to a client, his eyes, so deep.
With an IV line on his left, his height about six feet.
So strong a physique, now frail, lazy and weak.
If he smiles, will mine eyes turn misty?
For I know not the extent I will long for thee.
Swiftly I shall turn away, with cold tears,
unfathomable what may surround me.

I shall take his vital signs, his cold hands held unto mine
With moist eyes, while I take his pulse rate
Like the ocean waves, rhythmically,
I shall flow with his heartbeat.
What may I know but of this man I know not?
What’s with the man that I feel in my gut?
Oh my love, will I hold you beyond the day’s tomorrow?
Will you still be, for we have vowed and said forever?

Ah, somber mystery of this man’s eyes unspeaking
Is that a mirror of an enigma,
Of life’s love with my spouse?
Why, where has this left mine heart seeking?
For I know the secret since the world has known.
And now, where has this left mine spirit fleeing?
The rite of promises, yet they are all unknown.
Alas! To the cross, I lay them down, answers He will have shown.