Faith God Can Never Be Outdone In Generosity 5:00 AM You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. -Psalm 23:5 God can never be outdone in generosity. Tested, proven again and again. He always wins. Always. When you give one, he pays you back a hundredfold.When you give something away, it's as sure as the rising of the sun upon the earth that God will pay you back. That's why I'm inspired to give back regularly. Because then, blessings after blessings pour forth even without me asking for them. It's a contest we will never win with God. We can never and will never out-give Him. How can we if He owns everything and we are just stewards of His resources? I'm glad that despite my imperfections and unfaithfulness sometimes, He remains faithful to His promise.Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. - Malachi 3:10 Do you have a similar story?
Lux Thinking Aloud A Letter To The Most Difficult Person In My Life 6:14 PM If you don't value yourself, you allow harmful people to steal away your time, or your health, or your peace, or your purity, or your freedom, or your money, or your dignity. -Bo Sanchez A Letter To The Most Difficult Person In My Life I release you. Or rather, I release myself from your grip. I free myself from your prison. I am walking out. I have given you all the understanding and attention you needed. I have been empathetic with your struggles. I have so selflessly and generously given you my time---which is needless to say, a part of my life. I have offered you genuine friendship, but you choose to walk all over me. You seem to be too preoccupied in your own world. You want people to listen when you talk, but you can't lend your ear to others. Unless they say something of your interest, or if they say something good about you. You despise those who point out the wrong you have done. You hate criticisms no matter how constructive they are. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but you are far from perfect. You have been one-sided. You are too quick to to see the wrong in others and judge them for their weakness and fault. You miss the speck in your eye because you're busy pointing at the log in your brother's eye. You need to check yourself in the mirror again. I've had enough. I am giving up, not because I don't care but because I love myself too much I am not allowing you to hurt me and treat me unjustly anymore. I have to keep my self-respect and dignity intact by not allowing people like you to use me when you need me, and ignore me when life is going well for you. When I let people into my life, I give my all. But, I'm wiser now and I have to stop when I see it being thrown away. I'd rather give it to those who also want to keep me in their lives for better or for worse. Because that's what friendship is about. It's a give and take. I hear you call people "friend" and trash talk them behind their backs. I see how you measure people according to your rules like you're a judge, like someone with the authority and the privilege to do so. I know your story and I have to say, some things you do are worse than those you look down on. But, that's not my issue anymore. You're not my burden to carry. I won't let your negativity steal away my joy. I won't let your your dark clouds ruin my sunny day. I don't want to be angry with you because it will only mean you affect me, that you're above me, and that you have control over me. That, I can never allow to happen. This is my life and I choose to live it according to my own terms. That is, to do more of the things I love and to let go of what's not contributing to my total well-being. This is my emotions and I choose to be happy. To fill my life with positive vibes. To be free. Thank you for showing me what I never wanted to become. Thank you for reminding me again to value and love myself first. I am going out of this prison I watched you build around me, hoping you'll someday stop and change. So goodbye, and thanks for the lessons. I wish you well. See also: Unsubscribe From Other People's Drama Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Life Lessons What Design-Your-Own-Doughnut Has Taught Me About Life 11:52 AM Designing a doughnut is so much like designing your own life. Here's how we designed doughnuts at the Krispy Kreme booth and what I've learned through it about life: Design-Your-Own-Doughnut Life Lessons Step 1 First, wear your gloves. The staff told me to make sure that I wear the gloves securely to avoid getting chocolates in my arms or sleeves. Life Lesson: The gloves represents the Word or your principle in life. If you put on God's word or stand by your belief, you can be sure that nothing can shake you or lead you astray. In life, we have to be cautious. Always on the look out and be sure to protect ourselves from dangers that lurk around. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:10–12) Step 2 Choose a doughnut. Don't hold it too tightly. We all know that Krispy Kreme is really soft it almost melts in your touch. Life Lesson: Life is a choice. Treat your life with utmost care. Hold it delicately in your hands because it is a precious gift. Don't be too hard on yourself. Step 3 Dip the doughnut into the melted chocolate. Ah, the smell of the chocolate is so inviting. So tempting. But, too much chocolate is bad for you. Life Lesson: Sometimes, the world can be so tempting, pulling you into its sublunary pit. You indulge into worldliness and get overwhelmed, lost and covered by it's shallowness that you forget who you really are. You can no longer recognize yourself. Step 4 Put the doughnut on the table and decorate with sprinkles and icing. Life Lesson: After falling into the mud of life, you've got two choices. Either you let yourself sink deeper and be lost completely, or you get up, and sprinkle your life with joy and goodness. You may not be the same person as you were before the trial but you can turn the ugly into something beautiful and colorful. You can still color your life. It's never too late to start over, turn things around and be the better version of yourself. Step 5 Take a picture of your creation and post it. After designing the doughnut, I thought I just made a mess. I thought it wasn't good enough. I was never an artistic person. But a stranger saw it and told me it was beautiful. Sometimes, we judge ourselves. We set a standard too high to reach...even for us. But, someone out there would give anything just to have what we have. Someone appreciates us as we are. We are too blessed, but are too blinded by criticisms that we don't see it. After learning your lesson, document it. Write it on a journal so you would always remember. And don't forget to share it to the world. Be a living testimony that good things can still result from a bad experience.Be a living proof that your past does not define your future.Turn your mess into a beautiful message. Show your battle scars and proclaim how beautiful it has made you. You don't know how many souls you can heal, inspire and motivate by just sharing your imperfect story to the world. Your life may be a little messy right now, but you can still make it beautiful. How are you going to design your life? Last weekend, I attended the Blogapalooza 2014. The activity I enjoyed the most was Design Your Own Doughnut at the Krispy Kreme booth, which inspired me to write this article. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Events Blogapalooza 2014 - My First Blogapalooza Experience 10:53 PM Blogapalooza 2014 is my first Blogapalooza experience ever. To sum it up in one word, it was legendary! I was hesitant to register at first because I thought my blog is not that "big" yet. I'm glad I tried. Your blog doesn't have to be trending worldwide for you to enter Blogapalooza. Blogapalooza---rescheduled last October 11 due to the typhoon last month---was held in SMX Convention Center SM Aura in Taguig. It was also my first time in SM Aura. I arrived early and was like a kid on first day of school. Excited, a little apprehensive but generally happy to be there. (Click individual image to view in full size) Booths of sponsors showcased their products and services with their own gimmicks and offerings. Food and drinks were not a problem as there were free taste from sponsors. My friend Misai and I played Pop-A-Zit at the Flawless booth and got ourselves cool prizes; Flawless Stem Cell day and night cream and a pink beach towel. (Below) Misai having her feet assessed at Dr. Kong's booth. I had mine done earlier before she arrived at the venue. They offer this service to their customers at their store branches. This is accurately done so that you'll know which type of feet you have so you can buy the shoes with the right design and fit for you. Cool! My favorite booth was that of Sample Room. It's so girly! Sample room was created to allow bloggers to sample a product first before buying it at full price. You only pay the shipping fee which is 100Php and they will deliver the product for you to try and make a review of. Aren't they thoughtful and considerate? Check their site here. Other giveaways and displays we found exploring the venue: bowlers and shades from Easy Taxi pillows from Globe board games from Game Time wellness products from YSA cool shoes from Crocs Habitat For Humanity new look of Jergens Caronia nail products. They gave us samples after we posted our photo at their booth on IG. Natural stress buster Lactium. They gave us free samples. I think Misai found a new sideline Spotted: YouTube sensation Bogart the Explorer One of the fun activities I enjoyed was designing my own doughnut at the Krispy Kreme booth. 1. Wear your gloves. 2. Grab a doughnut. 3. Dip into the melted chocolate (heavenly!). 4. Sprinkle and design. I thought my design was a mess, but a stranger commented that she liked it. So, I guess there's still beauty in the mess that I made. :) (Read What Design-Your-Own-Doughnut Taught Me About Life) We stayed to listen to sponsors and endorsers who introduced their services and products. Bloggers and other celebrities also talked about the influence and importance of social media to consumers and public in general. The highlight of the event (for me) was the free food sampling and tour at the new Niu by Vikings. Oh, gosh it was a delight to both the palate and the eyes. The food were sumptuous, the ambiance so cozy, the service was superb and the variety of food and drinks to choose from seems endless. We were also given a voucher which entitles us to get a 10% discount on our next visit! Here are some of our pics. We were so satisfied we had to take a selfie. ^_^ It was an unforgettable and lovely Saturday. I was so full---of food, knowledge and enjoyment. Our muscles were sore carrying around the freebies, and we were so sleepy after filling our tummies at Niu. I went home exhausted, but I slept happy. I can't wait for Blogapalooza 2015!!! Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Rants Ramblings: It's One Of Those Days 1:07 AM If it's not making me productive, happy, or feel good, I don't have time for it. It's one of those days when I try with all my willpower to remember that difficult people deserve my kindness and understanding more than anyone else. It's when I try to remember the lessons I've learned from listening to inspirational talks and reading good stuff. It's when I have to look past and play deaf to people begging for attention. Like toddlers having tantrums trapped in an adult's body. It's when observing people, which I often do turns meh. It's when people look down on other people just because they sin differently from them. It's when people act righteous and self-important, focusing on other people's speck in the eye when they have a log in their own. When I have to ask myself again: why do people dish it out if they can't take it? Some are just plain one-sided. It's when character is put to the test, at which most undoubtedly and miserably fail. Once again I have to take a deep breath, and recall the lines: "It's their inner battle. It must be very, very, very hard to be living in their heads." It's when I have to stop myself from retaliating, and remember that some people are just. not. worth. my. emotions. It's when being a Christian is something I would most gladly give up temporarily, but can't. Because, what's the essence of being a Christian when I'm only good with people who are good to me? Even pagans do that, right? But, oh, I said that through gritted teeth. Today is when I question yet again the sincerity of the people around me. Who remains true when you're out of earshot? Why can't we just be consistent? Why do we associate honesty with bitchiness and settle for fake smiles and insincere hellos instead? So, yes, today is also the day I'm reminded why I'd rather be anti-social. Content to be on my own. Shut off from the rest of the world. Shrug and be like, whatever. Because the smiles I see are just as scary as the monsters behind those friendly masks. Because if it's not making me productive, happy, and making me feel good, I don't want to make time for it. Because though I have faith in humanity, some people seems hopeless. Have you had one of those days? See also: Unsubscribe From Other People's Drama
