Contentment is the key!
I really like following the daily devotions on the UCB Ministries’ website. They are always so encouraging, uplifting and inspirational. And the truth is, I really need all of those this week!!! 
So, today’s devo was about contentment, which is a huuuuge work zone in my life.
I know many of us, (esp. women I think) struggle with that. So I thought I would share Bob Gass’ wisdom with you today:
“Contentment is the key to a happy marriage.
When asked what makes us contented in marriage, we inevitably point to things our partner does, or their characteristics, that please us.
When asked what makes us discontented, we indicate what they do, or are, that displeases us. We focus on what’s right or wrong about them, making ourselves happy or unhappy.
But contentment is an inside job! It’s how we react to others. Our attitude is the real issue. The problem’s not what we see or hear, it’s how we see or hear it: ‘…The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear… with hearing’ (Ecclesiastes 1:8 NAS). The eye and ear – our perceptions – are the culprits. That’s why God says, ‘…be content with such things as ye have…’ (Hebrews 13:5 KJV). We must choose to see things differently, in ways that don’t make us unhappy. The controls are in our hands, not our partner’s!
Contentment is a choice. ‘…I have learned… to be content’ (Philippians 4:11 KJV). We learn contentment by considering how much harder others have it, asking God how He wants us to use our challenges and lacks for our growth and our partner’s growth, and – remembering Erma Bombeck’s advice – ‘The grass usually looks greener over someone else’s septic system’.
Benjamin Franklin said of marriage, ‘Keep your eyes wide open beforehand, and half shut afterwards’. Finally, we can learn contentment by praying for the courage to change what we can (especially our own attitude), the grace to accept what we cannot (most things are acceptable when we stop resenting them), and the wisdom to know the difference.”
I say, big AMEN to that!!!
Yes. I choose to be content today….and it feels good
Ⓡⓔⓚⓐ
Healthy Avocado Cole Slaw Recipe
What you’ll need:
•½ head of cabbage, finely shredded
•2 carrots, grated
•1 avocado, mashed (OR use 2 Tbsp of Earth Balance light mayo instead)
•2 celery ribs, chopped well
•4 green onions, thinly sliced
•3 radishes
•2 Tbsp ground mustard
•one pack of Stevia
•1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (or lime juice)
Seasonings:
•1 tsp sea salt
•1/4 teaspoon pepper
•1 tsp garlic powder
•1 tsp paprika
•1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
•3 Tbsp water
•Fresh herbs (cilantro/parsley for garnish)
What you’ll do:
1 Shred/grate/chop up all the veggies by hand (or in a food processor).
2 Add the mashed avocado (this adds a really creamy texture and nutty flavor to it) and whisk in the rest of the ingredients. If you’d like a creamier and smoother texture, use your blender.
3 Toss in the seasonings and garnish with some fresh herbs. It’s great on top of salads, or eat as a side dish.
Avocados are really healthy, but usually pretty expensive. So try to stock up when they are on sale! Mash them with some lime juice to prevent discoloring and freeze them in little zip lock bags for later. I do it all the time and it works! 
Jello for dinner!!!!!!!!!! :)
Only 2 more weeks left of this semester!!!!!! Yaaaay!
But wait! Doesn’t that mean TONS of homework, class presentations and stressful exams? Yep. You got it! Boooo! 
So I apologize already now for the coming days. Just bear with me. Things will get back to normal! They will! Eventually…
But until then…I’ll be in survival mode!!!! ʘ‿ʘ
Meal 1 of the day: Whole wheat toast with a grilled egg, a side of hot multigrain cereal and some grapefruit pulp.
Plus my energy fuel that I can’t don’t want to live without: coffeeeeeee!
Meal 2 of the day: spinach & veggie salad (radishes, carrots and tomato) with some creamy potato soup (from the freezer), topped with grated Amish Cheddar Cheese. Quickie and yummy! 
Snackie: Hot, multigrain cereal (left from today’s breakfast) with some icy cold almond chocolate milk, topped with shredded coconut. It was the first time that I tried it like this, but I’ll def. have it again! 
Meal 3 of the day is waiting for me in the fridge. And I’m pretty sure it’s calling my name!! 
Sugar-free strawberry jello….Wowee! 
…with some frozen, sliced strawberries…Yumm! I soooooo love fruity jello for dinner.
Light and delicious! 
I’m not so crazy about the sodium content and the food colorings in the jello mix, but I think it’s OK to have it every once in a while.
I mean, com’on! There’s only 10 Calories in it, for the whole box!! You can’t beat that, right? Plus the strawberries of course, but those are also low in calories (and are an excellent source of vitamin C and dietary fiber!)
So, is it dinner time yet?
By the way. Did you know that there are more than 600 varieties of strawberries? Seriously!
Food for the soul
It was a tough, long week, and but I’ve been so encouraged and rejuvenated by the lyrics of this song.
So I really wanted to share it with all of you out there who are experiencing difficult times right now. Just know that you are in my prayers.
And think: What if the trials of this life are really His mercies in disguise?
…That sure opens up a new perspective on things, no?
The Lord is good. All the time!!!!!!
May you have a very blessed Sunday, Friend.
✿ Reka
Blessings by Laura Story
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?
We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe
‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?
And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?
When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It’s not our home
‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?
“But this precious treasure — this light and power that now shine within us — is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies.
So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” 2Cor 4:7-10
