Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Food Cupboard People

I have noticed that they are at least two types of Food Cupboard People. Food Cupboard People are people who have to manage the food in the food cupboards in their lodging and are also responsible for providing a meal for themselves and their family. There are some of us who believe that there is never any food in our cupboards even if there is food and some of us who believe that there is always food in the cupboard even if it is a morsel of food. By the way, these two types of persons are people who generally have the means to have food in their cupboards.

I was speaking to a friend of mine one day and she said she always have to go to the supermarket. I enquire to why this was the case to which she said that she never have food in her cupboard. I, on the other hand, try NOT to go to the supermarket too often in the month as I have a strong sense that I ALWAYS have food in my cupboard. I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that when I open my cupboard I will find a meal for my children and me. Being a Food Cupboard Person that believes food is ALWAYS in my cupboard I do find a meal every time I open my cupboard.

Firstly, I try to keep my supermarket visits to a minimum for financial reasons. Every time that I visit the supermarket I buy more than I had intended and with rising food costs this means less money that I can save to invest. When I do not visit the supermarket I am force to be creative with the food that I already have in my cupboard. This brings me to my second point, which is why I always have food in my cupboard, or at least why I feel this way. This is as a result of me using the food in the cupboard in creative ways to provide delicious meals. Food can be prepared in different ways with the use of different ingredients to provide a new flavour to an old dish or surprise (!) a new dish.

I do one large shopping a month and I try to let it last. I buy what we like to eat and stock the cupboard on the monthly shopping so I reckon that we should like what we have in the cupboard. I replenish fruits, vegetables and ground provisions at a vendor where ever possible so as not to have to go into the supermarket. I use what I have in my cupboard and I clean out the refrigerator often creating new meals. I could be a gourmet cook! Well, just two weeks ago I made a corn beef and sweet potato roti and it was delicious!!

I thank God that children come into this world small giving me the opportunity to train their taste buds. So my food combinations are eaten for the most part.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

How to be strong by standing still

In the secular world it is believed that if we work longer and longer hours we accomplish a lot – we get better paying jobs, we are raised into positions of more status and responsibility, which carry the luxuries, and this is what we call being successful. If we push more weights while we exercise we build more muscles and we become more beautiful. If we study harder we are smarter.

But that is the way of this world. God’s ways are the complete opposite to ours and while we continue to work harder and longer to accomplish what we want before we died we find ourselves more stressed, visiting the doctor and take pills more often, consuming alcohol in larger portions, doing drugs (which is illegal in some countries), running from one woman/man to a next and never seeming to find that happiness that is everlasting. We are constantly searching.

Why is this? It is because this is the way the world tries to solve its problems and exalt itself but a look at the scriptures tells us that this is not the way to happiness or to serving God.

But first, a belief in the true and living God is required. Hebrews 11:6 says “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Then the way we grow strong and be happy is to serve God. Psalm 46:10 God says, “Be still, and know that I am God:”

And in James 1:2-4 the apostle Paul says “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

The world goods and all it has to offer is only temporal and does not offer true happiness and added to that our hearts are failing from fear in all realms. You can be strong by waiting on the Lord Jesus of Nazareth. Psalm 27:14 says “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

The way to be strong is by being still and waiting on the Lord.

All scriptures are taken from the King James Version of the Christian Bible.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Changing a Perspective

It is said that you do not get a second chance to make a first impression.

While this is true and an individual should always behave in a manner that will depict who and what he/she is like and what he/she is about, I will argue that there are second chances. As a human being with the power to conform, change your perspective and have new beginnings we are given chances to change our image from a bad one to a good one.

But what happens when we have made a good impression at first, or we have a good reputation that gets tarnished over time or from a foolish act? How can we then “Chance the Perspective” of the people around us or the public? Human Beings can have very short memories and operate in a manner such that you can do good things all the time and they will hardly notice but the moment that you have done something that they do not like, you are seen as the worst person to have existed.

To regain the good ground where on you formerly stood requires work. Here are a few things that can be done:

· Begin with a plan of where you want to go, what perspective you want known.
· Apologize for your behavoiur and be sincere.
· Do not try to cover the obvious wrong with misconceptions. People are not foolish.
· Be patient and work diligently at your plan.
· Remember that what ever you do they are always going to be a few people who are not going to like you anyway. Get over it.