Saturday, May 19, 2012

Ode to Arugula

O arugula
I so love ya
You might be bitter to the taste
but i will never put you to waste


You are also known as garden rocket
So small i can put you in my pocket
You have this peppery fragrant smell
So distinct it's easy to tell


You're so rich in vitamin A
Every time I eat you, my eyes say yay!
I love your bursts of flavor
Do go extinct? This is my favor


Oh arugula....
You make me sigh
I so love ya
I will never say goodbye




*Nearly 10 years ago, my friends invited me to go to a food trip with them to C's Italian Dining in Clark, Angeles, Pampanga.   This was where I met the love of my palate, Arugula.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Sound of Music


"Music has charms to sooth a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak."  - Act 1. Scene 1.  The Mourning Bride, 1697.

I bought a classical CD that I was supposed to give to my friend, but in the end,  changed my mind instead.   I realized, my friend being a classical pianist, she can play all the songs in the CD herself.  I opted to gift her with something else.

Good thing I changed my mind.  The CD turned out to be a gem!  Well, for me anyway...

For your listening pleasure, I compiled snippets from the tracks in the album.  Click the video to listen.

So there I was on my way home from work, listening to the album. When I realized I was so happy and at peace.  All that was lacking was a skip to my step as I got down the car to open the garage door.  And I wondered. Could the reason be music?

Many studies will tell you that indeed music has the ability to affect one's emotional and mental being.   The effect can be a positive effect or a negative one depending on the song being listened to.  While some have the uplifting effect, other music elicits rage, anger, and depression.

But the narratives I like best about music is found in the bible.

1. When God's anointing on Saul was removed because of Saul's disobedience, an evil spirit started to torment Saul.  So Saul asked his attendants to find someone who can play the lyre. And who should the attendants find?  The ever so famous David who composed many of the psalms found in Psalms!    When the lyre is played, Saul felt better.

1 Samuel 16:23 ..."David would take up his harp and play, then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him."


2. Did you ever wonder why we always start Sunday service with singing?  I'd like to think it started many years ago when God's people often started a battle with the Levites singing songs of praise to God before actually hurting anyone.

Numbers 10:9  "When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets.  Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and (be) rescued from your enemies."


3.  And lastly, the ever famous story about the falling down of the Jericho wall.

Jericho 6: 2-5, 20  2Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”  
(One the seventh day) 20 When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. 

When we praise God with music and singing, something happens in the spiritual realms wherein our physical eyes cannot see, but our heart of faith envisions.  Fighting doesn't always entail having a sword nearby.  When we sing (and pray)  we acknowledge that the battle is the Lord's.

Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. (Isaiah 49:13)



Friday, May 4, 2012

The Good and Beautiful God 003

Chapter Three: God is Trustworthy
Soul Training Assignment: Counting Your Blessings

Fifi's Ongoing List of Blessings:

April 29, 2012
1.  Roof over my head.
2.  Food on the table.
3.  Work that I enjoy.
4.  Family.
5.  Helpful and Caring Friends.

April 30, 2012
6.  Office having aircon in this hot weather.
7.  Having hot weather instead typhoons.
8.  Driving a car with aircon.
9.  Living in a tropical climate country.
10. Living in the Philippines.
11. Holiday May 1 which is tomorrow. 
12. Eating good food.
13. Sleeping on a nice bed.
14. Watching cable TV.
15. Has internet access.

May 1, 2012
16. Having hands.
17. Having feet.
18. Having eyes that see.
19. Having ears that hear.
20. People who help clean at home every 2 weeks.
21. Staying at home all day. 

May 2, 2012
22. Providence.
23. Leading a dgrp.
24. Mature and committed D12.
25. Kind and patient boss with his wife.
26. Hardworking assistant. 

May 3, 2012 (Let's go to the specifics)
27. My mom who taught us the value of being responsible and accountable, of having integrity.
28. My sister who's so careful of offending other people and adjusts well to their differences. 
29. My 2nd eldest brother who comes to our house when we need help even if he lives in Paranaque.  (Special mention of cleaning up the smelly dead rat who got trapped in the bathroom of the spare room).
30. My eldest brother who is very masipag in his job and doing errands for his family.
31. My sisters-in-law and brother-in-law who adjusts so well with our family's crazy jokes and antics.
32. My nieces and nephews who are very obedient and who always go with the flow without complaint when we have family outings or gatherings.

May 4, 2012
33. My D12 leader who rarely gets mad and is so patient with her D12 members.
34. My dgrp members who lovingly accepts me for who I am and who graciously forgives my short comings and faults.
35. Having office mates who have the teamwork mentality and quickly help even if its not part of their job description.
36. Having abundant water.  (Imagine if we didn't have water in this heat.) *Trivia: Did you know that Singapore doesn't supply their own water?  They need to import their water from Malaysia. 
37. My every so patient boss who encourages instead of criticizes when I need rebuke. 

Lastly.....
38. My one and only Jesus Christ who gave His life for me so that I can be free.
39. My Abba Father whom I can always be a Papa's girl to Him.
40. The Holy Spirit who convicts me of sin and who empowers me to obey God. 

Why only 40?  

John 21:24-25

24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

The world would not have room for the many things I am very thankful for! 

Thank you God!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Laboring on Labor Day

At a whim, some of my friends were convincing each other to go to Baguio last night since today is Labor Day holiday and we don't have work.   I was so tempted but I decided to decline since I really had something else planned today.

1 Corinthians 10:23  “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive. 

I'm so glad I decline!  Look how I spent my time today.   I cleaned my closet.  It looks so neat.  Hmmm..... I should have taken a "before" picture so you can see how awful it looked.


Additionally, since I cleaned up my stuff, I have a basketful of old clothes that I can give out.  


I also did some laundry too before cleaning up my closet.


So happily productive today!!!