THE REAL DEAL

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THE REAL DEAL, is it luck or love?

Just to keep it real… I am putting a spin on what’s really on the table this Thanksgiving holiday.

Ah… November… there are so many great things to say about it because it’s always a month to remember. Of all the days in this month can you guess which one I love the most? Coming from this natural born foodie, you may assume Thanksgiving is my all-time favorite because it’s the day we purposefully plan to give thanks for everything we are blessed to have loaded up on our plates but in truth, for me the greatest day of all is always the day after Thanksgiving. Not because of the big black Friday deals, but because of all that is leftover after spending a day of giving thanks for and with all that you love.

Of course, I relish the opportunity to revisit every thing I have been previously blessed to enjoy upon my plate each year but there is something amongst this year’s leftovers that I never considered giving thanks for… what life actually dished out.

Chips and Dips…

Recent events have caused me to lean in a little closer to get a real look at what I hold in hand and with all the chips on the table, I realized in my past love-life, I have more dips that have been dished out than I would like to choose from. Suddenly, looking at the hand I have been dealt, I am faced with two very important questions.

#1 Am I really, truly grateful for it all?

AND…

#2 Am I still in?

Take a look at your cards because it’s time to ante up. You may be sitting there, with a straight laced poker face, wondering how we ended up at a card table this year to give thanks… WELL… let me explain.

Earlier this month, on a trip to a lovely little chapel in Vegas, I had the honor of witnessing my sister make a vow to love a man not just for the rest of her life, but for the rest of his and into eternity. Now to be in love is one thing but to be “ALL IN”…. in love… is quite another altogether. You see, my sister had already spent more than 30 years enjoying all life had to offer with this man… so, in a heart to heart conversation with her I had to ask “Why now?” Without skipping a beat, she explained how she made him a promise a long time ago to love and take care of him for the rest of her life and since he asked… she couldn’t refuse. During their spoken vows, my sister now being well over the age of 50 and him being 79, I thought about the words they were agreeing to and what they really meant. And I believe this is the real reason people cry at weddings…. “For better or worse, in sickness and in health, I promise to honor and cherish you all the days of my life”. Saying I do, with the latter part of their lives together ahead, the reality hit me that they were promising to continue to love when all that life has to offer could start to lack it’s luster. In short… she was going all in.

With all the cards laid out on the table, in a moments time, I considered the hand I have been dealt and deliberated the good and the bad. Then I thought how it’s easy to give thanks and joyfully jump in when I know I am looking forward to partaking in all I favor and savor. Now, after I have had my fill on all that has been dished out and what is leftover is all that remains… am I just as eager or am I ready to fold? In other words do I count the joy in dealing with the times I am presented with the dirty dishes as much as I do the filled ones?

The gamble in choosing to love…

With all the ups and downs in life and love, realistically speaking, once you’re over the hill luck has little to do with it. You can count on seeing more of the valley than the mountain top, unless you’re committed to always look up!

For an enduring love, consider this…

James 1: 2-4

²Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Again… revisiting what is leftover today, I will wrap up my thoughts on whether true joy in life comes from luck or love, with a statement made by the mister that married my sister in Vegas. He said “to anyone thinking about asking me if I like to gamble… I don’t have to gamble because I hit the jackpot already!”

The short trip I took down the aisle in that little chapel in Las Vegas revealed more than just the things worth revisiting on memory lane. It reminded me that without a doubt, there’s no such thing as luck in my “loved-life”… and that is a glorious discovery.

The real deal is… the greatest truth in the pursuit for love and happiness is that neither come from the hand you are dealt, they come from the hand you are holding. “Say what?” you may retort, “Isn’t that the same thing?” To which I say…

My love… it’s not the same thing at all.

Thought on love #13:

Choosing to love all the time, in good times and bad is not easy but the reward in doing so is a joy that helps you through all the storms your love will endure.

The joy of my salvation… is knowing true love!

The Love Trip

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Bags packed and ready to go?! As we are on board for love to take flight, I have to know…

You need something good to chew on?

As I aim toward a higher destination in my relationships… there is one thing that can trip me up more often than I’d like to admit. That is what I choose to feed on along the way.

The truth of the matter is, where we are at and see ourselves going in our love life is often ruled by what we put in our own mouth. We can bring life or death to anything with the words we speak about it… to include our relationships.

Whether we are talking about what we have, want or plan in love and life… what we are, do and get is impacted by the very words we are consumed by in our mind about them and our ability to achieve them.

So how then, in a world full of people, situations and circumstances… that are negative 87% of the time and building walls to protect what we love… HOW do we reach new heights in our love for life rather than get dragged down? I believe listening to the words of love from the creator of life and taking them to heart is the best place to start. Afterall, who knows how to love every bit of life better than He who created it?

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Thought on Love #8

For a fruitful love life to take flight, be mindful of what is on the tip of your tip of your tongue because it can kill more than just your appetite.

Real good love is thoughtful and thought of on a completely different level.

Roman 12:2 King James Version (KJV)

²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Mmm…mmm…good love….

Worth taking a trip to the table!

ALL THINGS NEW

Meet the Maker

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Once upon a time… there was a girl.

Then one day that girl received a word and that word became her… “everything”.

John 1:1 In the beginning…. was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God.

In this brand new year, as I sit and sip my morning tea to break fast, I think about what is placed before me on My Whole Plate. I am a bit hesitant, due to the fact that I know (because my mother told me so), that the first things you choose to consume in the morning or at the start of your day, if it’s not morning for you, are important because they will be what your body pulls from to get fueled to get going.

So I ask… what do you choose to start off with?

After taking an overdue break from all the spoils of 2018, I want and need what’s good for me to march forward. What does the one that made my day have to say about facing it?

I’m glad to say….

Joshua: 1. 9. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Let this be a reminder for me and you… God is the Maker of all things new and He is there no matter where you have been or what you’re going through! Those are words you can count on.

Going Bananas for Love

A True Love Appeal

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It feels like forever….

Dear God,

Please let me know… “When will it be time to grow?” Your word says…

1 Corinthians: 3. 7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

So… how long must I wait to grow fruitful in love?

Waiting on your plus one?

Waiting for the love of your life to arrive can sometimes make anyone feel like they are going bananas! As prayers remain unanswered and the period of silence begins to feel like a life sentence of waiting, one can start to question in doubt. Especially if the wants and needs lists gets ever longer the more time marches on … This has led me (and maybe you too) to ponder the question …

“Am I asking too much?”

When others come to me for advice because they are struggling with doubt that God is going to move their mountain, I’m always in 100% belief that God is going to respond to their need. When they’re discouraged because they’ve been patiently pursuing to no avail, I remind them to just keep praying. “Ask and you shall receive!” I am quick to tell THEM. When it comes to my own unanswered questions though… I am quick to question myself more than Him. I tell myself “In God’s time, the answer will come.” However… I tend to wonder if there is a possibility that the love I am seeking is too appealing for me to ever receive.

“What am I waiting for?”

Let me explain to avoid confusion. What leads me to ask this is my experience thus far. I am made ever aware that God sees, hears and knows all. He also attends to every detail. He knows every need… and most important of all… He knows what he is doing. On more than one ocassion, the thought of whether it’s worth the wait has crossed my mind mostly because, as I ask for him to shine his light on my issue… I seem to be reaching for the tissues due to being prone to being examined more closely. As I appeal for a love that is deep and relationships that do more than skim the surface… He begins to peel back the layers in my own heart and life. Maybe the love He plans to give me is a little more uh… peeling than I bargained far. I’m feeling a little too exposed.

So… to end the suspense… my true love appeal seems to be turning into a true look at what’s already written on the walls of my own heart. With each step further in my journey to find a love for my own self, the real in this reveal is, I am no authority on the subject – We need to take a closer look at what’s already written on the subject of love by the one who pens the pages to prepare for what’s coming. It might take you a second or three but when you’re ready… come hungry….

I have a feeling God’s already got the meals ahead planned.

Second Guessing the Guests

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When is it too early to talk about betrayal? Do we have to wait until after supper?

Still open? Trust that I am not trying to close the door on any extended invitations but we have been on a getting to know one another basis for almost two months now and I am not one to wait until all the guests have had their fill to bring out what’s best for all at the table. So, let me just say; I keep trying to put this behind me but from where I am sitting betrayal is not a thing of the past.

The question of the day; when I know I have let go of what I lost and I have put the circumstantial evidence of how it was lost in its place (the past) why does the betrayal remain? Is the one who betrayed me still seated at the table or worse… on the throne of my heart?

Break it down…Who betrayed who?

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“I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart” as Michael Corleone plainly put it in the movie “The Godfather”….

….It was not God, The Father

We all want love that is true, right? The first step to discovering the truth about love is to reveal who the liar is. When dealing with betrayal the concern most of us immediately address in our mind is “who done it.”

When someone has done me wrong I want to pin point where the fault lies so I can put more than my finger on them. (cough-cough) When I discover who did the dirty deed, with an extended index finger I bring it to my attention to make sure I don’t forget. However, when pointing out the fault of another, there are three other fingers pointing right back at me.

Know this…

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

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As a result, I feel exposed, busted and disgusted with the thought that the real culprit is me. The questions that follow go something like this. “How could I be so naive? Where did I go wrong?” and finally, “What did I do to deserve this?” The last question made the list by popular demand.

When wanting to learn more about love, questions are good, but the most important question of them all (I’ve had to ask myself) “Who are you asking?” When inquiring within… who am I expecting to get the answer from… me or Him?

Let me just put it all out on the table.

True story… if you’ve already had the misfortune of experiencing betrayal, like I have… it’s near impossible to reverse it. Whether you were betrayed by yourself or by another, it will be constantly in the rear view. Anytime you reflect, it’s right there to skew your view of love for yourself, others and God in the future. So how do we see past it? We have to remember two things: Who prepared the table we sit at and where they are seated.

Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart…”

Knowing someone is capable of betrayal is inescapable, each and every one of us is. Our own hearts tell us we can never trust ourselves again, much less anyone else. It’s a lie meant to decieve us into believing there is no hope. What I am trying to get the answer to is….how do we protect ourselves from the enemy that lies… if already inside the gates? Here is the whole truth…

Jeremiah 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know…

Getting back to the bread about to be broken… God knows what is about to be served. If we are able to recognize that we need to feast on what he has for us alone… He can handle everything else, liars and thieves will get their just dessert!

Just trust who is on the throne of your heart. Jesus, the chosen gatekeeper, is seated at the table with us… right in the place we have given Him. He knows us and our guests better than anyone. No need to worry. If you have invited Him… there is no second guessing!

Heavenly Love

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Stargazing

Note to self…. I am on a journey into the deep, distant galaxy of my heart’s desires. It may be lightyears from now before I see everything I want to come to fruition. My aim… to fulfill more than my belly while I am here on this earth. My thought is, with everything I have been served I know there is more to my life to come, as a whole. While I wait, I am learning to find myself still and at rest with the one I have for searched for forever.

With my sole-mate…

At the soul of the matter, I’m told if I abide I will dwell in His house… where goodness and mercy flows… all the days of my life Psalm 23:6. So I am following His lead, navigating through a sea of stars, wading a bit outside of my comfort zone, as He has taken my hand and made His promise to never let go.

So… as I sit and watch for what’s coming next, another day and one more taste of what life and love has in store; I am starstruck with every spoken word He speaks and I am sustained to remain at the table He has prepared. With present company in attendance I want to be getting the message across. I hope to share more than what you see at first glance. Go ahead and grab a bite, the bread of life is broken and placed at the center for us to partake of it.

Once again… it’s time to sup with the king! Being fed is what makes my heart sing!!!

Old School Love

Back to School

Rock and Rule!

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I’m sorry for the break but we had to get ready for school.

Are you ready to rock this school year?

Ready or not… the bus is here. It’s time to get back to class, hit the books & earn more from the teacher than dirty looks. Some think school rules. They love the challenge and welcome the change of facing another school year. While others feel it’s totally lame and to them going back to school is like going against the grain.

So, what goes through your mind when thinking about heading back to school?

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Are you the “ho-hum” summer daze dreamer saying “I March to my own drum and don’t want the end of summer to come.”… just wishing that, with one giant exhale, you could wish the present a few more months away?

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Maybe you are the “hi-ho” personality type ‘A’… that’s saying “Carpe Diem! I have waited all summer for the chance to seize the first day…” and you’re staring at the vision board of every achievement ahead already hanging on your bedroom wall.

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Or perhaps you’re the “oh-no” which way will I go type, saying “I can’t go back but don’t want to see what’s next… now I’m stuck on this emotional roller coaster track…” and you’re flinching with every step you take in fear that it’s not what’s best.

Don’t believe the hype… You’re not alone!

Don’t be fooled… you’re not the only one that feels the way you do about school. After all, we are all learning every day, whether we like it or not. No matter how you approach back to school season …when it comes to learning lessons in love and life no one is absolutely in love with getting schooled, but going back to school can be cool if you know someone who makes the learning meaningful and fun. That’s right! You guessed it!! You are one smart cookie! The key to making learning special is found in relationships.

Whether you’re just jumping in or you’ve done it before and now you’re at it once again… the process of learning something new… even if it’s just about you, is constant and never-ending. If you say you’re a pro and there’s not much you don’t know then you’ll soon have another thing coming. In other words, for you to really rock and rule in school you’re going to need to do more than just look sharp. You need to get sharp and stay sharp!

Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)

¹⁷Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

B.I.B.L.E. = Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

I don’t mean to take it so far back in time but I always have to go there… “staying sharp” way back when the bible was written was best achieved with the help of another. That’s some real old school love for you to carry in your backpack on this lifelong journey of learning.

Friends for lifelong learning

I made mention before about the importance of having friends in your life that feed you what’s good… and we’ll be defining “good” food as we get to know each other more but what I am hoping you will chew on today is… we all need someone.

Whether the grade level you’re facing today is…Pre-K, Middle school… or Senior year, always keep in mind that to be at the head of the class it means you will always need the others behind you.

The First Bite

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“An unexamined life is one not worth living.” Socrates

Fancy meeting you here….

Introducing myself this way is unexpected for us both, but if there is anything I hope you get out of what I put into written form on these pages…. It has to be that in life we should always look for the unexpected.

I’ll be the first to admit, I am no expert at what I am doing here and I really don’t like to be hit with anything I don’t see coming. Usually, it’s in those suddenly chaotic, how did I get here moments that the real us comes into full view and if I am being totally honest, I’m not certain you’ll like what you see… which worries me. I’m sure you can relate, to some extent and I’m probably stepping a little outside of the boundaries I’ve securely placed around my so-called life… to let you have a taste of what I have on my whole plate on a daily basis. However… it is my time to have a life worth living! So feel free to examine the spread I lay out on the table.

Table for two or three… including me?

The topics I share, I hope will give you something to talk about with others. They will have a whole lot to do with my every day walk through life. The doing’s, the going to’s, the thinking of’s and tidbits of my secret soul-searching time-out’s from lessons learned and leaned on. I am a mom, a christian and a traveler at heart with an anchored spirit. With what I serve up… I aspire to intrigue and feed you what your palate craves and needs. After all, what is life without an appetite for what you love?

Come again… come often!

When you get to know me… you will learn, I love to be fed! Secondly, my inherited Filipino foodie background means my all-time fave comfort food is bound to be best indulged within a crowd. In other words… invite others please! My best recipes are reserved for friends and fellowship.

Until next time…. I hope this was love at first bite!