solid ground or sinking sand...

Which do you stand upon?

TODAY...my husband & I saw first hand what happens when we TRUST in God.

We have been struggling for the past 2 years and facing enormous trials in our life.

But through it all...we prayed and asked God to continue to guide us.

We asked God that he see us through this hard time and bring us through BETTER than where we were before!!!

ALWAYS PUT GOD FIRST.....THANK YOU GOD FOR BRINGING US THROUGH OUR TIME OF PAIN TO THE SEASON OF WELL-BEING!!!!!

I rest on His unchanging grace.

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

"We pray for blessings, we pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while You hear each spoken need

Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears?

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this life

Are Your mercies in disguise?"

Song by Laura Story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmgV6mPvb0

Amazing Grace

My favorite song...speaks to my heart.  God LOVES me despite who I am, where i've been, what i've done.  He calls me to Him just as i am.  He is so good and so great....

    
                                                   

                                         

The only constant in a changing world....

There is a old quote that says "There is nothing in this world constant but inconstancy" (Jonathan Swift).

Mr.  Swift, you are WRONG!!! 

There is an older quote that says "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (The BIBLE)

Does that mean Jesus is out of date?  old-fashioned?  yesterday's news?
Of course not.

It means His promises are still unchanging.
He hasn't modified it, changed it, told you to now refer to section B, clause 316.09e.
He hasn't broken his promises.
                               

The Word of God is timeless and unchanging. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8

It means his love is unconditional, unlimited, complete.
Just because you have changed, doesn't mean He feels any different towards you.

                                     

Your status, station, rank, title, age, position, way of thinking, attitude, life, reasons may have ALL CHANGED....but JESUS remains the same yesterday, today and will FOREVER.

                                                       

      

Letter from my sister...

The following is an actual email from my sister.  I told her that my blood pressure was a little high and asked her what I need to change it back to normal.  The nurse in her sent the following email:  VERY LONG, BUT VERY VERY VERY INFORMATIVE and more importantly, VERY SWEET of her to take the time to EXPLAIN everything about BP to me....Thanks sis, you are amazing!

Dear Sheena & Nelson, Jubin & Jinu and Gchan

Finally we have all arrived to that place that we used to look at as if it was long time coming..... We all have blood pressure issues...Sad but true.... This letter is long....Before you erase this letter.. Please read to the end.. so it will add a few years to your life...

1.  What is BP... It is blood pressure not bharya pedi(afraid of your wife).. I had to explain it in English for Jubin.. probably still at the word bharya.. :) J/K

BP has 2 numbers.  Top number measures the pressure at which your heart is working to push the blood out of the heart.  This is called Systolic,  Normal range is (90-120).  Bottom number measures your hearts pressure at rest .  This is called diastolic, normal range is (60-80).   

2.  Why is BP important?  Our blood carries important nutrients and oxygen to our organs most importantly the brain.  If your brain does not get enough oxygen you have problems such as dizzy spells or worse... stroke

3.  How can I explain BP... hmm.. Think of a highway..If you have no road blocks.. you can travel easily.  If you have an area with a block..such as a car accident or police stopping someone.. The 3 way becomes a 2 way or a single lane, now think of the traffic build up.  Same with veins and arteries.  If you have blockages.. your blood slows down or pumps harder to push the blood out of your heart to your brain.     If your blood slows down...it can form a clot..  Blood has a tendency to clot when its stagnant.    This clot can completely block off any blood from flowing and that is why you have heart attacks.  Now if your heart is pumping harder to get the blood out, your heart might become weak.

4.  How can I explain a weak heart?  When we exercise our arms and legs get bigger.. similarly our heart is a muscle and if it works extra hard to pump the blood... over time.. it will get bigger.  For a heart,  this not good.   When the heart muscle gets bigger, the pumping effect becomes weaker.  This is called cardiomyopathy (diseased heart), when your heart does not function at same level your heart used to before.. it becomes kind of lazy and all the blood does not flow out of your heart, causing your heart to back flow into your belly and legs and lungs, making it difficult to breath... (This is called congestive heart failure)

5.  How can I describe a weak artery? ...  I can't think of any analogies... but let me explain it.. when your blood is being pushed through your artery at high pressure... overtime it erodes the inner layer of the arterial wall.  Then it tends to erode the next layer.. creating a pocket effect.  And if your blood pressure is continuously high.. it can cause aneurysm.... which overtime can burst like a balloon and there is no saving grace at this time...

6.  Why am I describing all this to you guys?  I love you all.. and I don't want to see any one of us in these situations so early in our life.  If you think heart issues are only for old people.. then we need to change our perception.  I have taken care of many 25-40 year olds who did not take care of themselves and are on my floor waiting for heart transplant or on IV medications to make their heart a little bit stronger so they can live one more day for their family.   If we don't care for our selves.. then no one can help us.

7.  What can you do?  I don't know if you are thinking this or not... you might be thinking... geez.. all I have is a slight rise in my BP.. nothing to get worked up over...you are making too much of this.    Maybe.. but if your BP is constantly high, then you need to act now.. but heart attack.. stroke.. and aneurysms are all silent killers... sorry  but I have to use those words.  There are few things you can do... easily.. 1) lower the salt intake... remember.. where the salt goes...water follows and increases the blood pressure.  2.  Change your diet to low fat.. (this might be a little harder)..   I'll give you an example.. I hate oatmeal but for the first time today.. I had oat meal.. with some toasted almond.. not bad.. all the while thinking "for my health".  3.  Add exercise.. (something more harder and time consuming).   You don't have to go to the gym.. I actually looked up on you tube for core exercises.. such as abs, cardio and pilates... they show you 5-10 mins worth of different exercises that you can do in privacy but if you have your spouse.. you can make it lots of fun...lol!! 4.  Drink lots of water instead of soda or coffee...to cleanse out your body of unnecessary waste...  5.  Eat fruits(this is very difficult for me. but I am starting with a banana)... take your multivitamins and Omega... 

8.  Don't I have to loose weight...may be a question.  But if you start eating healthy and doing exercises.. weight will slowly come off.. people think they have to diet and loose all the weight.. No... diet is one letter added to "die".  We just have to choose "health"y way of eating.  

9.  I almost forgot. Invest in a BP machine preferebly ones that have both battery and electric attachment.. so you don't have to carry battery all the time.  You might also look for 2 different size of cuffs..  Larger for the guys and medium ones for ladies...   

10.  Sit down... you and your spouse... and track your BP atleast once a day for a week or 2... If you notice that your BP is consistently is high.. Time to take action.  Don't blame each other for high BP.. but support each other to become a better and healthier person.. I bet you... your family life will improve in every way...

11.  Also make sure you see your doctor...get some numbers... such as cholesterol... body mass index... get an EKG and echocardiogram (2 different tests) and tell the doctor you would like to know what your hearts function is ... 50-70% is good.. , check and see if you are prediabetic... (I need to do these things...easy to preach.)

12.  Pray together... I can not emphasize that enough... You may be strong... but when it comes to eating and exercising... we are weak... So ask God for self control... It says God has not given you a spirit of fear.. but of power, love and self control.  I did not write this letter to scare you but for you understand how important it is to take care of your health..  Think of what our spouse or children would have to deal with if we have a stroke or heart attack and we can't work... or we are not here take care of them... 

With love.... Sheeba... :)

P.S.  If you guys do take some action for a healthier life... let me know so we can encourage each other... If you have any questions.. don't hesitate to ask... if I don't know the answer.. I'll try to find it for you.

Next letter will be about diabetes..... I don't know when though... hehe

My sister, Sheeba! 

Heart of a man....

I must admit that before we had kids and my husband became a dad…I was worried about how he would handle being a dad. 

My husband never had a “lovey, dovey, huggy bear” relationship with his dad.  He wasn’t close to his father.  I don’t think it was the play ball and go to games type of relationship they had.  I’m sure my father-in-law did what he could have with what he was given in life.  He fed his kids, gave them clothes and provided them with shelter.  He brought them to America and gave them an opportunity for a better life.  He did what he could….he just didn’t give out hugs and kisses along the way. 

So….I was worried that my husband would be the same.  He would do what he needed to do to take care of kids but that closeness and sweetness and affection and hugs and kisses and saying the words “I love you” would be missing. 

Then came along the LIGHT and LOVE of his life….our baby girl Alexa.  She grabbed his heart from her first cry.  Its amazing how CLOSE these two are.  Every word that comes out of my husband’s mouth to her is written on her heart.  He prays over her and with her every night.  He smothers her with his love, shelters her with his care and protection, he is an amazing guide for her life, he deserves every ounce of love she gives out. 

My husband to those who don’t know him….gives an impression of a tough, rugged, hard-shelled, don’t want to talk to anyone type of man.  But put his baby girl in front of him and watch him MELT in her little hands!!

Anyone is capable of change….when there is something good worth changing for….you CHANGE your heart, your mind, your life!

….and he LOVES Jaeya too….but she is mommy’s girl, so that’s another blog! 

Funny Church Slogans....

While searching for cute slogans & mottos for a project....I came across these, i thought they were really cute, catchy & funny!

“Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!”

“Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins.”

“Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!”

“Have trouble sleeping? We have sermons — come hear one!”

“People are like tea bags — you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are.”

“Come in and pray today. Beat the Christmas rush!”

“No God — No Peace. Know God — Know Peace.”


“When down in the mouth, remember Jonah. He came out alright.”


“Sign broken. Message inside this Sunday.”

“How will you spend eternity — Smoking or Non-smoking?”

“Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives”:

“Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world.”

“If you’re headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns.”

“If you don’t like the way you were born, try being born again.”

“Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon.”

“This is a ch_ _ ch. What is missing? U R”

“Forbidden fruit creates many jams.”

“In the dark? Follow the Son.”

“Running low on faith? Stop in for a fill-up.”

“If you can’t sleep, don’t count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd.”

For Snowflower….

...  a person I'm proud to call my friend.  

A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one’s heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away.


~ Arabian Proverb

The word ‘friend’ is tossed around so often and so carelessly that it has lost its true meaning and value.  Nowadays, every person you meet is your “friend”. Certainly, we accept them on Facebook as our friend. 

Over the years, I have been very selective of who I call my friend.  This is not because I think I am better than anyone, or think that my company is so valuable. 

Everyone wants to have friends, the more the merrier.  I’m the opposite.  I don’t want hundreds of friends…I want just a few.  I don’t want to be popular, I want to be genuinely accepted for who I am. 

I have had many, many acquaintances.  And many, have been really good people with whom I’ve been able to share my thoughts, my joys and my sorrows with.  But when times of change came for either me or them, the relationship slowly withered away through no fault of mine or theirs.  I cherish the times I’ve had with these people. 

Unfortunately, from experiences, I have learned that some “friends” are fair-weather friends.  They are friends with you during all the good times but when troubles come along, they are nowhere to be found.  I am just as guilty as being a fair-weather friend to others.  I don’t think anyone is completely perfect. 

I’ve been “friends” during my younger years with absolutely foolish, horrible, ungodly people.  They were acquired by doing stupid things to either be “cool” or “accepted” and even "loved".  Friendship with these people showed me how fast I can fall down, be robbed of self-esteem, morals and values, and sheer grace...and none of them will be there to pick me up.  “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful”.
Psalms 1:1

I have also had friends that I’ve “bought”….meaning , the friendship depended on the stuff and items they received and not the friendship derived from the individuals themselves. 
Well, sure enough, friendship with these people don’t last very long.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Then there was Snowflower….a person I met in college.  We were both shy, both minority Indian women who were in this male dominated college.  We didn’t become friends overnight….in fact, the process was long and took MANY, MANY years.  I realized that a good friendship is developed over time like fine wine.  This person was someone willing to point out my faults and shortcomings and not just agree with me at all times.  We have a few things in common and many things uncommon.  But we take both and make it work!  We have allowed each other to learn from mistakes, not picked up all the pieces or put them together.  Sometimes despair and hopelessness makes you stronger. 

The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.
~ Henri Nouwen

I can’t say that we haven’t exchanged angry words or had disagreements.  Maybe she doesn’t know it, but with her words, she has sharpened me into a better person.

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

We never competed to be better than each other….we accepted our place and position in life.  We have encouraged each other to do our best and be the best with what we are given….with this we have watched each other grow from college kids to strong women.

When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.
~ William Arthur Ward

We have given each other space to change, grow and make mistakes.

We have respected each others privacy, been honest, and been trustworthy.  We have listened at the right time, we have remained quite at the right time. 

Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don’t say.
~ Anonymous

In order for friendships to continue to evolve and grow, we have to encourage each other in all areas of life:  body, mind, soul, relationship with others, and spirituality.  We have to listen with an open mind.  Give advice that is well-thought of and not hasty, ones that brings peace into their hearts. 

I challenge everyone to place extreme thought and care in choosing your friends. The friends we choose will influence us in some way or another. We want the influence they have on us to be positive. The most positive influence that could be made is one that will help us on our pathway to heaven. True friends should help, not hinder, your faith as you draw closer to God.


"Do not be anxious of evil men, nor desire to be with them;" Proverbs 24:1

I pray that God will bless my friendships and continue to help me on my path to also being a better friend.  What is your experience with “friendship”? 

why should we trust in God?

….when things all around us seems to be falling apart? When our finances are diminished?  when we are burdened with worry, over-whelmed with fear, and don't know what tomorrow brings?  When others seem to HAVE IT ALL while you face unemployment, foreclosure, sickness, and emotional roller coaster rides? 

I TRUST IN GOD BECAUSE I Cast My Cares on the One Who Cares for me.

I Peter 5:6-7 says, Therefore humble yourselves [lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 

I know that my ATTITUDE has a lot to do with my worry-free life.  I know that my children watch my husband and I as we deal with our problems.  I also know they emulate behaviors they see from their role-models.  Concerns, crisis, and problems will always come up, but with God's help, we can live above all of it and enjoy life. Cast your care on the Lord and say, "God, I trust You, and I'm going to enjoy the life You have given me."

I have been SO inspired by the Nick Vujicic story.  He is a man with NO ARMS, NO LEGS, and NO WORRIES.  He has way more limitations than I do….but his happiness, trust in God, and love for life is so inspiring….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3LFBqvvW-M

I also trust God because HE gives me peace and rest.  

Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest.

When we're overloaded, over-burdened, over-stressed, over-worked, over-taken with the cares of this life—struggling, laboring and worrying—we need some help. Our minds need to rest from worrying about how to take care of problems, our emotions need to rest from being upset all the time, and our wills need a rest from stubbornness and rebellion. So we need to be humble enough to call out to God and say, "I need help!" Your beginning doesn't have to dictate your ending. Get God involved in every area of your life and allow Him to lead you into rest. 

I trust in God because he is ALREADY THERE.  He knows my needs, HE knows my every concern, He provides according to his mercy and grace.  HE IS WITH ME.  He holds us in high-estimation and promises to always be there: 

Isaiah 43:1-4:  Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by my name; you are mine.  When you go though deep waters and great troubles, I will be with you.  When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.  When you walk through fire of oppression, you will NOT be burned up.  For I am the LORD, YOUR GOD, THE HOLY ONE of Israel, YOUR SAVIOR….you are PRECIOUS to me, You are HONORED, and I LOVE YOU. 

Philippians 4:6-7: Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

Finally, I TRUST IN GOD because not ONE of his promises has ever FAILED me. 

2 Corinthians 1:10  For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

And I trust God because he promises me a bright future:

Jeremiah 29:11-12   For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD.  They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  When you pray, I will listen. 

I challenge you (and myself) today to trust in God’s perspective on our lives and not lean on our own strength, our own understanding, our own wisdom of how things are suppose to be. He can see things and knows things that we can’t see or possibly know.  He sees the whole picture because…well, he’s the artist…..But if we know Him, we can trust that He knows what He’s doing in every situation and in every aspect of our lives. And if we trust Him, we can know that He will indeed fulfill every good promise He has made to us.   

"As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him" (Psalm 18:30).

"The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him" (Nahum 1:7).

                                                  

iPood

Ready, Set, Poop!

Change is not easy, not for 2 ½ year olds either.  Our daughter, JJ, is on the verge of trading in her diapers for big girl underwear.  But she hasn’t fully decided if that is what she wants.  I’m sure JJ also struggles with having to change.  She wants to be like her big sister and walk around with underwear.  But I know how much she LOVES being mommy’s baby.  So, she has days when she poops in the potty and most days when she….doesn’t!  I know its any day now, and I know she’ll make the change when she is ready…so no pressure JJ, no pressure. 

To my JJ:  Thank you for trying everyday.  You are getting closer to becoming a “big girl”.  But don’t let that scare you….because no matter how big you get, you will still always be mommy’s baby.  

Kneadlessly Simple?

"And wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart."     Psalms 104:15

While I was cleaning out my fridge to make space for new and healthy foods...i came across this....sandwich buns from 6 MONTHS ago!!!   Look how fresh and soft it still looks!! 

This CANNOT be normal, right?  6 months later and still no mold or hard as a rock??!! I checked the packaging for a list of ingredients and well, after picking up my jaw off the floor, I decided I will NOT eat all these chemicals or feed it to my children!! 

I was hoping and praying that making bread would be simple and well, IT IS!!! 

I could not believe how many easy bread recipes are on the web!  I came across many knead-less bread recipes and decided to try making it.  

And voila.....HOMEMADE delicious and healthy bread!! 

Not that I'm an expert on bread-making and only been making it for a few weeks....I cannot tell you how simple it really is.  I make both white bread and wheat bread....and will NOT go back to buying chemical-induced bread again!!  

Here are a few recipes I have tried.  I hope you will try it too!! 

Artisan Bread

Adapted from ”Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day,” by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoë François

• 1 1/2 tablespoons yeast
• 1 1/2 tablespoons COARSE salt (kosher or sea salt)
• 3 cups lukewarm water
• 6 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour, more for dusting dough (*you can replace about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of white flour with any whole grain flour with great results).
• Cornmeal




1. In a large bowl, mix yeast and salt with 3 cups of warm water. Add flour, and stir to combine completely. Cover dough with lid (but not airtight, gases need to escape).  Let dough rise in a warm place for at least two hours, until it rises and collapses (up to 5 hours – or even overnight won’t hurt it). 

 2. When you are ready to use it, throw a small fistful of flour on the surface and use a serrated knife to cut off a piece of the size you desire. (The authors recommend a 1 pound loaf – which means cutting off grapefruit-sized piece of dough). Turning the dough in your hands, stretch the surface of the dough and tuck in under. The surface will be smooth, and the bottom with be bunched. 

 3. Dust a pizza peel (or any flat surface --such as a cookie sheet) with cornmeal. (This prevents sticking, and adds a nice, rustic crunch. You can use flour instead, but you’ll need to use a very generous dusting). Allow dough to rest on the pizza peel in a warm place for 40 minutes – longer (up to an hour and a half) if you use some whole wheat flour in place of the white, or if you make a larger loaf. 

4. Twenty minutes before baking, preheat oven to 450 degrees with baking stone (or overturned baking sheet) inside on the middle rack, plus a shallow pan on the top rack. Throw a small fistful of flour over the dough, slash it 2-4 times with a serrated knife (in a cross, a tic-tac-toe, or a fan), and slide it into the oven, onto the baking stone. Throw 1-2 cups of tap water into the shallow pan, and quickly shut the oven door to trap steam inside. Bake for 30 minutes, or until crust is well browned and bread sounds hollow when you knock on the bottom. 

              5.  Store the remaining dough for up to 2 weeks.  Each time you take out a batch to bake,
              let it sit in a warm place for 20-30 minutes.  Then bake at 450 degrees for 30 mins.

Watch the authors on youtube showing how to make the bread:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcG4PpG1LcQ&feature=related

KING ARTHUR BREAD RECIPES:

King Arthur's Flour recipes are phenomenal!!! I tried a few:

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/bread

Healthy Cabinets

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."                         ~Romans 12:2 


It's so easy to get caught up in customs and rituals of this world.  We buy and consume enormous amounts of food with the excuse that its for Thanksgiving, Christmas, our birthday, labor day, independence day...and pretty much every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.   I am so guilty of over-buying, over-eating, and over-doing all the holidays and pretty much every day!  


As a family, we decided to stop the unhealthy cycle.  We needed to stop eating all the junk that is supposedly so good and tasty.  The last week of December, we threw out leftover bags of chips, cookies, cakes, and any opened bottles of juice or soda.  Whatever was unopened, we will be giving it away.  
Ex: Thanksgiving Spread! 

We went shopping and we bought healthier foods and snacks.  
We replaced chips and cookies for fruits and nuts.  
Home bakes sweet-potato and jicama chips instead of store-bought potato chips.  
I told our kids that if they really crave cookies and chips, that I will make it for them from scratch. This way, I know the ingredients that go into food and I can control the portions they eat.  


We normally don't drink soda but we had a few bottles from having Christmas and other parties at our home.  We decided to get rid of it anyway because well...temptation always has a way of getting us.  


We dusted off the juicer machine and will use that to make fresh juice instead of store-bought juice.  


This won't be easy, as our family loves to SNACK....but I truly believe that because we are doing this together as a family, we will be successful.  More importantly, teaching our young children about healthy habits will really set them in the right path for their future.  


Feel free to tell me what healthy changes you have made in your home and share ideas that I can try too! 

All the junk food we had in our cabinets and fridge!

This is what we replaced the junk with! Fruits and Nuts...