beautifulandhappy.com

Are you embattled right now? Having some crossroads? Life has lots of problems, yeah. But how we deal with them makes the difference. Does worrying makes our problem a little less? Of course not! Rather, we are putting more lines into our face - wrinkles! So how should we deal with our problems?

I just found the answer - be a COFFEE! Yes, you read it right, BE A COFFEE, not drink a coffee! How? Watch this nice presentation on motivation. I came across this very nice powerpoint while browsing for motivational slides that I could show to one of my classes. I am so glad I found this one and I just can’t help but share it will all of you, too.

Ooops, after you watched it, I hope you could tell this to yourself when some trouble comes your way:

I AM A COFFEE, THE HOTTER THE WATER, THE BETTER I WOULD BE!!!

I really love this song by the Eraserheads. This was really a hit during my college days, around 1989.  I tried to learn how to play the guitar by playing E-heads songs, but I am not really into playing instruments or even have a musical ear.  So to make the story short, I didn’t learn to play guitar! Also, Eraserheads was the only band I saw in concert in 1990.  The concert was held in the university where I am teaching now.  It’s a premonition I guess, that 18 years later, I will be a professor there.

Anyways, I really love this song because even if the melody is simple, the lyrics really made an impact to me back then (and until now - I still know the whole song by heart).  In particular, the first stanza continues to inspire me specially during hard times:

Lift your head, baby don’t be scared
Of the things that could go wrong along the way
You’ll get by with a smile
You can’t win at everything but you can try.

We go through different problems and sometimes it seems there’s no way out or everything just always go wrong that all doors have closed.  However, if we just face all our problems with a smile (even if it’s so hard to smile when we’re problematic, right?), we could face our problem on a different perspective.   If we just take a deep breath, try to smile and have an optimistic outlook, what seems to be a heavy problem, could be dealt lightly because we would be more focused on finding the possible solutions to our dilemmas.  Of course,  faith in God is also the number one armor - because God doesn’t give us problems we can’t handle.  If that’s the case, then that’s enough reason for us to smile despite adversities, right?

Going back to Eraserheads, I am glad that Ely Buendia survived his heart attack last year, and more glad that the E-heads will have a reunion concert this August 30 at the CCP open grounds.  All the original members will be there to perform all their other hit songs like Ang Huling El Bimbo, Toyang and Alapaap.

Ooops, before I end this let me remind you, start your day WITH A SMILE!!! For sure you will have a whole nice day!

To my dear blog friends, I am again moderating the comments for this blog. So if you don’t see your comment after you submitted it, it will surely appear after I approve each of them. Sorry for such hassle, but yesterday, somebody posted a comment on this blog (I already unapproved it) and used my nickname (maline) to log and even my email address to post this comment on my earlier blog Look of the year:

Couldn’t believe you even thought of joining….i dont have a second thought that you even won’t go thru the initial screening…u need to consult a “dental”surgeon” and get teeth implants…u damn need a complete overhaul first… u might wanna use the money you got from the tax office in Australia which you forged, pretended that you worked as a houskeeper, and thus gave your identity to someone else…if they found out about this….that’s it! There goes your dream of a nice future! Be careful! Is this the kind of person who believes in God? Don’t think so.

In reply to this comment, I am posting an open letter to this impostor friend, who have tried to use my name, hacked my emails and friendster account, tried to ruin my family by maligning me to my husband, sending me bitter and sarcastic sms, and always giving me prank calls. I am posting this open letter so my real blog friends will be warned, just in case this somebody use my identity again. So here it goes:

Dear “Friend”,

I am writing you today, and I hope you could read this letter, and hopefully set everything straight. I am writing now in bullet form just to show you the differences in our writing style and paragraph compositions (foremost, i don’t use ellipsis in my sentences). Anyway, here is my message to you my dear friend:

1. I would like to thank you, that in those numerous times that you harassed me in different media - sms, calls, emails, friendster, and now my own blog - my faith strengthens the more. After each harassment, I silently utter a prayer for you that all the hatred in your heart stop. I admit I got irked when I learned you sent malicious messages by hacking my emails and when I started receiving those nasty messages from you. I am only human, so I naturally got upset of course. But not anymore - gosh, it’s almost two years now that you are pestering me - I am so used to it that I am not affected anymore. In the first place, God has given me this trouble (and you!) because He knows my capacity and I can handle this.
2. You try to threatened me before in your texts about the things you claim that I don’t know about my husband. You said when I know everything, I will surely cry a river and I will be miserable. My dear, you don’t have to threaten me because I might already know the things that you are trying to hide. A marriage, or any relationship, is not always a bed of roses. There will always be problems and challenges - these are all the spices of life. But staying in our marriage is our decision - despite all the challenges we face. You don’t have any right to dictate us what to do or what we should feel. I always believe that God put us together, and we have been through many trials before. Love is patient and kind, I just hope you find that kind of love in your heart.
3. You said I am not strong enough. Then, you don’t really know me and I am sure you don’t. God is my strength and I know myself better, and like what I replied to you before, your opinion doesn’t matter to me. There are lots of life challenges that i already went through before, but always God has been my refuge - ALWAYS!
4. Yes, I admit, I have a terrible set of teeth , even if I had braces years back. But it’s not the set of teeth that defiles a person, but what is going out of his/her lips. And you are right, I need an overhaul. I hope someday I could have one - better yet, I wish of getting a make over from The Swan or Extreme Makeover. That would be cool but still, despite these flaws, I believe that I am beautiful! In the eyes of God, everyone is beautiful! Nobody is perfect, and for sure you are not, too, and you have insecurities and imperfections yourself.
5. I never pretended to be a housekeeper because I really worked as a housekeeper in Australia while finishing my Masteral course! I am not ashamed of it because that’s a decent job and I don’t have to prove to you anything, including my capabilities and worth as a person. All the other false accusations you told me via sms, I just hope after you sent them, you are happy. I pity you, because for two years, you are holding grudge against me for reasons I don’t know. I hope every time you try ruining my reputation, you are happy and you have your peace of mind.
6. You said, hide and seek, because you don’t want to tell me who you really are. This is only your game and I am not into this game. You may continue hiding, and I am not actually looking for you, because I know, in the right time, everything - everyone- will be revealed and everything will end. But I am sure, that right now God knows what you are doing, God knows what you are thinking, God knows what you are planning to do next against me and my family, and God knows who you really are. I am contented with that so you are the only one playing your silly hide and seek game - that’s cowardice of hiding.
7. I know you are trying to jeopardize all our plans in coming back to Australia. That’s alright. I have a strong belief in God’s better plans for our family - this is enough assurance for me and Albert. So if an Australian dream is not for us, be it. Surely, God will put everything and everyone in their proper places, in His own right time! For sure, if God closes a door, He will surely open lots of windows! Yet, we are still thankful that we’re given the opportunity to experience the life Downunder.
8. I know after you read this blog, you will do everything to get even, and most likely, I will get sms tirades from you again and pester me with calls - I might even get another death wish from you. I just hope when you call me again, please answer so I could hear your beautiful voice. But in spite of all of these, I will continuously pray for you that you will be happy with your life even at my expense. God has the full control of everything - that’s enough for me.
9. So for all the nasty things that you said against me and for all the wrong judgments you told about me, I just continuously pray for you because in the end, it will only be God who will judge us all. He knows the truth and He knows me more than anybody else.
   
10. Finally, let me thank you because every time I receive your cynical sms messages, answer your prank calls, or even find out the other negative things you brilliantly set up against me, I realize how lucky I am because God is testing my faith and resilience. Again, THANK YOU! Because every time you mock me in your messages, I get to assess how blessed is my life and how strong I am spiritually. And I never thought I could be this patient and forgiving - that despite all the things you have done to me, I am not harboring hatred for you. You have become an instrument to test me. So I just wish you find true happiness and peace of mind.

God bless to you and all your loved ones, and I hope they (and you, too) won’t experience this similar adversity.

Sincerely,

Maline (the real malinesky - beautiful and happy!)

I got this nice email from my dear BFF Chix, and I can’t help sharing it with you. I hope we all learn a thing or two from this post, and realize there is God who is always there taking care of us. If you’re feeling so down and overwhelmed with your worries and problems, read on. For sure, this is the dose you need.

God bless you all!

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TEN REMINDERS FROM GOD

Effective immediately, please be aware that there are changes YOU need to make in YOUR life. These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life. I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. Please, follow these 10 reminders:

1. QUIT WORRYING:

Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?

2. PUT IT ON THE LIST:

Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can’t help you until you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do-list is long, I am after all… God. I can take care of anything you put into My hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.

3. TRUST ME:

Once you’ve given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.

4. LEAVE IT ALONE:

Don’t wake up one morning and say, “Well, I’m feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here.” Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It’s simple. You gave Me your burdens and I’m taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don’t you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and just let Me do my job.

5. TALK TO ME:

I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I’m in control. But there’s one thing I pray you never forget. Please, don’t forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU! I want to hear your voice. I want you to include Me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest friend.

6. HAVE FAITH:

I see a lot of things from up here that you can’t see from where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I’m doing. Trust Me; you wouldn’t want the view from My eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much h bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

7. SHARE:

You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven’t heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.

8. BE PATIENT:

I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle something on My to-do-list? Trust in My timing, for My timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in only six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.

9. BE KIND:

Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please, know I love each of your differences.

10.LOVE YOURSELF:

As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only — to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes My heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me. Don’t ever forget. ouch someone with your love. Rather than focus upon the thorns of life, smell the roses and count your blessings!

And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary - Paul The Apostle

I brought my youngest son the other day to his summer classes. I was reviewing him their past lesson about things colored green and blue. I pointed to him what’s the color of the sky. He said white, referring to the clouds. I said, no the sky. Finally he said blue, asking me further why heaven is blue! That’s the hardest part! Why kids are so good in asking hard-to-answer questions like that? All i got to answer him was, because that’s how it was created, blue. He said, ahh, but I don’t know if he understood what I answered.

Now that I am sitting here in front of my laptop and thinking of something worthy to write, I realize there is more to that answer. Yes, that’s how God created the sky - blue. When we actually look up to the sky (nope, we don’t see Superman) we see the marvel work of God in creating that beauty, right? I don’t know if you have the same felling, but when I look up to the sky, I sort of feel some sense of peace and calmness. So beautiful! More so, when we are looking up toward the sky we feel that beyond that clouds and that blue sky, there is heaven. Well, scientifically of course, beyond the earth’s atmosphere is the outerspace!

One of the things I appreciated when I was still mountain-climbing in college was the feeling of being so close to God when we reach the mountain summit. It’s like, after all the toils in climbing up - the bruises, the physical and mental challenges - when you reach that top and feel so close to the sky, all those hardships are gone. Of course, we don’t need to climb a mountain to enjoy and appreciate the sky. All our problems are like mountains that we have to climb, right? What we just have to do is keep on going and don’t forget to look up - just trust everything to HIM!

Let me share you this nice poem:

Look Up Toward Heaven
With your arms raised,
look up! toward heaven.
Say, Father I receive.
Father, in the name of Jesus;
you are praised.
In Jesus I believe.
In heaven are where our
treasures are.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, has
prepared the way.
The Spirit of Truth is at
your side.
Never very far.
Trust in the Father.
To our faithful Jesus, who is
our King,
humble yourself, and give
praise.
Look toward heaven above.
Open your humble Christian
heart, and receive.
Our Creator’s eternal love.
In Jesus, I pray you believe.

by Jim Smart