My Munting Muni Muni - Diet before it's too late

One of my closest friends used to tell me if I didn't change my eating habits, I was going to get sick.  That was around 4-5 years ago.   He would gently remind me on many occasions that God has been blessing me with so many things but I will not appreciate or enjoy these blessings if I did not take care of my body.

I was classified as Obese 2,  diabetic and worse, I was stubborn and lacked self control.   With my loving junk food and having a sweet tooth, how could I say no to chips, ice cream, and pizza?   My friend would see me gobbling these yummy treats and say enough already since my cravings had been satisfied.  Did I listen?  Noooo!  I had to finish the entire bag of chips!  Or would have a double portion when one would have sufficed.

It was not as if I did not try dieting or exercising.  I tried swimming 3x a week.   Treadmill every other day.   HCG diet for a month.   Cohen diet for 2 months.   On and off for many years but to no avail.   On all four activities, I got sick and the momentum of losing weight would stop.

I remember crying out to God and asking for help again and again.  Others may be addicted to porn, gambling, smoking, drinking, or drugs.    I was addicted to food.   In my self assessment, I was also stress eating and had an instant gratification mentality.    When the workload was heavy, I'd leave my desk to find something to eat thinking I was hungry or that I deserved to reward myself (in my case with food).   If some people were called Anorexic, I guess I was the opposite of that.  This was really more of a mental and emotional problem rather than a physical one.

Sometime in the 80's, there used to be a toothpaste commercial showing a set of false teeth being dropped into a drinking glass half filled with water.  The voice over would say, "Sandaling pangangalaga o panghabang buhay na pagsisisi."   My sister and I would remember that commercial and laugh whenever we were too lazy to brush our teeth before going to bed.   That commercial was shown almost 3 decades ago.

Going back to the present, I have lost 40lbs. in a span of four months.  I also have breast cancer.   Apparently, I did not pay heed to the message of the commercial as much as I should.   As our pastor would say, you are free to choose but you are not free to choose the consequences of your (poor) actions.

Opting for naturopathy instead of chemo therapy, I don't eat as much as I used to anymore.   I shifted to an all natural diet without processed food.   Organic veggies as much as I can.   Nuts for protein.  Root crop or kamote for carbs.

Am I sad or depressed?  Honestly, no.    Am I regretful?  Of course.

But am I happy?   YES!  Because I am no longer a slave to food!     The bible says in Galatians 5:16-17  -  So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

I know it is only by the Holy Spirit that I am able to say no to the cravings of my palate.   Even up to now, I am amazed of how I can turn down lechon, leche flan, kare-kare....etc. laid down in front of me during parties or get togethers.   This is a testament of the love of Christ that He will indeed send a helper (through the Holy Spirit) for those whose trust is in Him.  All glory to Him and Him alone.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Power of being in a Christian family

"Praying for you." Words coming from so many people too numerous to count.  Makes me wonder.  Who am I that people will actually take the time and effort to pray for? 
But that is what belonging to a Christian family means.  People I don't hang out with.  People I rarely see or talk to. People I met just a couple of times...  When they find out I have cancer, they will immediately say they will include me in their prayers. These are not empty words of comfort.  I actually feel the sincerity of their concern and I am encouraged. 
Some people cannot be with you physically.  They cannot help you mentally, emotionally, or financially.  But when they pray for you spiritually, this encompasses the physical, the mental, the emotional, and the financial.  
There is a bond that binds us. Deeper than words can ever explain.  It begins with the blood of Jesus Christ that teaches us to love unexpectedly and unconditionally.  
I may be sick but I am in good hands. I am in God's hands.

My Munting Muni Muni - Pray to end well

As i grow older in my christian walk, I realize no matter how long you have been a christian or how active you were, everyone is susceptible and vulnerable to not ending well.

When we see who we thought to be mature christians giving in to sin, many automatically go into that silent self-righteous shock of "how could this be". This is a common reaction.

But for me, when I see a christian fall, I fall down on my knees in fear and pray. If this can happen to you, a christian who has been bearing fruit for many years..... this can happen to me too. I am no better than you. We are both the same, battling with our unspiritual wants, needing daily grace. 

As they say, it's not how we start the journey but how it ends. My prayer is for all saints to end well.

Excerpt from The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken

I asked whether,when and how the oppressed could truly threaten a totalitarian oppressor.  They offered this scenario in response:

The security police regularly harass a believer who owns the property where a house-church meets.  The police say, "You have got to stop these meetings! If you do  not stop these meetings, we will confiscate your house, and we will throw you out into the street."

Then the property owner will probably respond, "Do you want my house? Do you want my farm?  Well, if you do, then you need to talk to Jesus because I gave this property to Him."

The security police will not know what to make of that answer.  So they will say, "We don't have any way to get to Jesus, but we can certainly get to you!  When we take your property, you and your family will have nowhere to live!'

And the house-church believers will declare, "Then we will be free to trust God for shelter as well as for our daily bread."

"If you keep this up, we will beat you!" the persecutors will tell them.

"Then we will be free to trust Jesus for healilng," the believers will respond.

"And then we will put you in prison!" the police will threaten.

By now, the believers' response is almost predictable:  "Then we will be free to preach the good news of Jesus to the captives, to set them free.  We will be free to plant churches in prison."

"If you try to do that, we will kill you!" the frustrated authorities will vow.

And with utter consistency, the house-church believers will reply, "Then we will be free to go to heaven and be with Jesus forever."

Death as my teacher of Life

There is something about death that matures a person immediately.  When a loved one dies, whether immediately or suddenly, the veil of idealism fades away.  Gone is the naivety that everything lasts forever.  You are left with a somber note that death is real.

Ecclesiastes 7:2

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.

When my dad died last 1988, I was only 14 years old.  I wasn't close with my dad but he was the first person closest to me to pass away.    From an immature age of 14, my mind aged to that of an adult.  But this was unknown to me during that time.

I am now 40 years old.   Here are some of the things I have learned about death.

1. The issues you once thought important become petty.   You argue less because you suddenly realize that wanting to always be right isn't that important after all.

2. The things that you used to call cheesy lost its cheese.  What once was awkward for you to say to your family, now become part of your lingo like I love you and I care for you.  If before you rarely had time, now you make time.

3. It is not true that you are not affected when someone in your family dies.  Whether you "hate" the person or not.  You are affected.  Perhaps you don't realize what his/her death means to you  right away, but you are or will be affected.

4. The effect of someone passing away is not the same for everyone.  Some cry. Some are deadma or in denial.  Some laugh it off.  Some get angry.   Some get depressed.  Some hide  and can't be reached.   However way they mourn, it is not for us to judge.

5. There is hope.  The pain fades as the years go by.  However with that being said, the tears don't totally disappear.  You find yourself remembering at odd moments in your life and cry.

I have learned that the death of a loved one is not always the cessation of life. Sometimes it takes the death of a loved one for a person to starting living.  We start to ponder on the true essentials by asking ourselves, "Is this all there is to life", "where will I go when I die", "why did this happen to me", "is there a God", "does He listen to my prayers".  

Death is a certainty for everyone.  It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, famous or not.   But how you live your life and the legacy you leave behind is what matters.  For me personally, there is only one legacy that I want to leave behind.  That I have lived a life pleasing to God.

This reminds me of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.  (John 3:16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.)
Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for our sins so that those who believe in Him will have life.  With Jesus' death came life.  He died so that we may live.  (John 10:10 I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.)

My wish for those who are still alive is in Psalms 90:12
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

The living should take this to heart.... 

Weighing Scale

In this day and age, there are many kinds of weighing scales being used for various purposes. Some are used to measure density.  Some are used to measure solid while others are used for liquid.
Weighing scales are also called many names depending on its function or usage. The strain gauge scale is mostly used in the kitchen, while the commonly seen retail scale makes sure that the weight you are buying is appropriate to the price you are paying.

But for me, the weighing scale I like best and always use is the old-fashion balancing scale.

No, I don't use it to weigh myself because it would take a truck to balance it with my weight.  Nor do I use it to measure food: solid or liquid.

The thing I weigh most using this kind of scale are the decisions I make in life.  With so many factors to consider in making just one decision, I need to carefully "balance" and "weigh" the pros and cons before deciding.   This is where my favorite old-fashioned scale comes in.

In my previous blog, I mentioned that everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.  This is true in making decisions because not all options are in black and white.  Often times these come in shades of gray.

Like spending for instance.  With the Christmas season just around the corner, I really enjoy giving gifts to others.  However I need to ask myself, "Can I really afford giving gifts to all the people I know?  Do I have the financial back up to spend?"   On one side of the balancing scale, I'll maybe put "no gift" and on the other side of the scale I'll probably put "will she get hurt"?  If my friend's or acquaintance's need for affirmation weighs heavier than not giving her a gift, then I'd include her in my budget.  I praise God that most of my friends are  not sensitive and they know I love them with or without a gift. :)

Again 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 says...
²³ “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive. ²⁴ Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

As I lead a small group of girls, I also share to them the same principle when it comes to making decisions.   I ask them to make a mental list of the pros and cons of any decision that's in the "shades of gray" category.  I ask them to look deep into their true motives before proceeding with any decision.  Like who benefits more when you do or don't do this?

I realize that having a gauge is important because it made me realize I can be selfish and busy with things that are really about myself and not for others.  Especially with areas that are considered shades of gray, I realize that some of my decisions seek my own good, but not the good of others.  I hope the balancing scale works for you as it does for me, too when it comes to making decisions especially in the gray areas of life.

Good Friends Give Good Feedback

Last October 2, I met with some of my friends at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Greenhills.  I really appreciated the effort they took to meet me at such short notice.  I only called them during the day but they were able to make it that night.  

This is what they reminded me.

1.  You cannot please everyone.
2.  Some people have more troubles than most.
3.  We need to understand and accept our friends no matter how imperfect they are.
4.  Assumptions can camouflage themselves as fact.  Get your details right.  Open up. Communicate.
5.  We're getting old.  Don't sweat the small stuff.
6.  When you have it good, don't just let go.

I am reminded of a verse in 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 that says a person can do anything he or she wants but this doesn't necessary mean it's beneficial or constructive.   No one should seek their own good but for the good of others.

Our pastor often tells us that we cannot control others but we can definitely choose to control our attitude and the way we react and act towards difficult people.

It was really a fruitful night.

My action plan:   Take a deep breath.  Sigh.   Be more understanding and accepting.   But most of all, learn to love.

Thank you to my beautiful and HONEST friends :)