Is There Anything that’s Troubling You Today?

Hello there! :)

Thanks for dropping by. I’ll be posting about my next food treat soon, hopefully tomorrow (Tuesday), since I am currently working on a special project. But, before you go, I’d just like to share one of the verses that deeply encouraged me this past week.

It says in John 14:27:

“I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So, don’t be troubled or afraid.”

I just love how God emphasized in this verse the fact that the world can never give us the gift of peace that God gives. It reminds me so much of the security that I/we have in Christ… and not in the world’s applause or our own achievements and comfort.

From godizcandy.blogspot.com

This verse amazes me because it shows how Jesus still had peace despite his situation. At that time, He knew that he was going to leave His disciples soon. He also knew about the suffering that he was going to face. (Four chapters later, we see Jesus being arrested already.) However, in spite of the pain that He felt and the situation that He was in, He was still able to honor God with his obedient heart. Moreover, He was able to comfort and guide His disciples before He left earth.

“Why was Jesus able to do these things??” I asked myself.

And God helped me to realize that it was actually pretty simple. JESUS HAD PEACE. That was it. He had peace knowing that His Father still is God. He had peace knowing that His Father’s love for Him will never change. And, He had peace knowing that His Father was in control of the situation He was in. The peace that Jesus had wasn’t based on His circumstances, it was based on who God is. :)

 

Is there anything that’s troubling you today?

Find peace in the presence of God. Rest in who He is.

 

Encourage yourself one treat at a time. :)

THURSDAY TUNE #2: The Upside of Down

I’ve listened to this song at least 10 times a day for the past month (since the first time I learned about it). :) The Upside of Down by Chris August — one of the most uplifting songs I’ve heard this year.

 

The downside of being up is my inside is empty of

the one thing my heart truly needs

When I feel invincible

a million miles from miserable

It’s always all about me.

I don’t know why I don’t love You like I should,

like You would through bad and good, oh,

[Chorus:]

Funny how we figure out where happiness is found

In the midst of this sadness I’m closer to You now

And that’s the upside of down,

the upside of down

It’s all switched around,

I lost and I found the upside of down.

You are more in my less, You are strength in my weakness

I’ll never go back again

And then Your sunshine ends the rain

and I return to my old ways

Why am I a fair weather friend?

I wanna be the one to love You like I should,

like You would through the bad and good, oh,

Funny how we figure out where happiness is found

In the midst of this sadness I’m closer to You now

That’s the upside of tragedies

knowing You’re holding my heart always, always

I may be down but I’m finding there’s joy in the pain, in the pain

Funny how we figure out where happiness is found

In the midst of this sadness I’m closer,

I’m closer to You now and oh

[Chorus]
The upside of down It’s all switched around,

I lost and I found the upside of down

The Upside of Down by Chris August :)

 

Psalm 16:11 “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is FULLNESS OF JOY; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

 

THURSDAY TUNES:  https://encouragingtreats.com/thursday-tunes/

Encourage yourself one tune at a time. :)

I Did It My Way

“I knew it wasn’t the right time. I knew I should have waited more. I knew I should have obeyed. But even if I knew those things, I did IT anyway. I did it my way.”

 

“I flipped the fish.”

 

I was frying two boneless bangus fish for lunch one afternoon when God reminded me of the importance of obedience. I knew how to properly fry fish. My mom taught me two things when it comes to frying fish: First, the oil must be appropriately hot before putting the fish in the pan. Second, once the fish is frying in the pan, we have to wait for the right time before flipping it over, to fry its other side.

I was frying the first fish for two to three minutes already when I decided to take a peek on the side of the fish that was being fried. It seemed like it was almost done, but I knew that it still wasn’t cooked thoroughly. I remembered mom’s instructions and I knew that I needed to wait more before I could flip it. However, the hint of pride in me took control and I assumed that I knew better at that moment. I eventually flipped the fish to fry its other side.

Unfortunately, when I tried to turn the fish over, a lot of its meat got stuck to the pan. It was a disaster! I ended up with a weird-looking bangus and had less fish meat to eat. I thought to myself: “If I only followed mom’s instructions and waited a bit more, I would not have ‘ruined’ the fish. :( ”

God then spoke to my heart and showed me how it is comparable to experiencing the consequences of disobedience in the other aspects of my life. Moreover, He reminded me of some reasons why I should learn to obey Him more:

Job 36:11
“If they obey and serve him,
they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity
and their years in contentment.”

 

Being Obedient helps:

  1. Protect us from certain dangers, unnecessary pains, and regrets. (e.g. too much oil absorbed in the fish, difficulty in flipping/cooking the fish; heartbreaks, sin, bitterness, etc.)
  2. Us be good stewards of the resources that God has given us. (e.g. not wasting the fish that mom bought; the time used for cooking; the kitchen equipment/ingredients used; money; etc.)
  3. Us fully experience God’s blessings in life. (e.g. being able to cook a whole fish properly and enjoy eating it afterwards; blessings in the workplace, in relationships, in the decisions that we make; etc.)
  4. Us bring joy and honor to God. (e.g. shows how we value God and His thoughts and decisions more than ours; humility; surrender; trust; contentment; etc.)

Thankfully, I still had a second bangus to fry! By God’s grace, I learned my lesson and was able to fry it properly and beautifully. I gave this fish to my younger brother who was eating lunch with me, while I ate the first fish I fried. I somehow still enjoyed eating it because although it was a ‘messed-up fish’ and it reminded me of the consequences of my pride/disobedience, God reassured me that His mercies are new for me each day. By His grace, I know that every day, I can trust in Him, knowing that His ways and plans are way better than mine and obey Him with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

 

Are we doing it our way?

Are we obedient only when it is convenient?

Is there anything that is hindering us from obeying God at this point in our lives?

 

Psalm 119:10 “With my whole heart have I sought you: O let me not wander from your commandments.”

 

 

Encourage yourself one treat at a time. :)

THURSDAY TUNE #1: All the Broken Pieces

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

THURSDAY TUNE#1: All the Broken Pieces by Matthew West

Did you feel, feel it break
From all the weight of your mistake?
You never knew how much it cost
Feels like your innocence is lost
So much for the perfect life
So much for the perfect day
It’s like no matter how you try
Perfection’s just too far away
So lift them up to Me

All the broken pieces
All the broken pieces of your life
All the broken pieces
All the broken pieces of your life

Did you hear what I said?
Did you read the words I wrote down in red?
I was broken once for you
And no one loves you like I do
And that’s the beauty of this grace
It can put the pieces back in place
And shine reflections of forgiveness
In a million different ways

I can take even your greatest mistake
Every scar, every tear, every break
And I can turn it in to something more beautiful
Than you have ever seen
So lift them up to Me

 

 Encourage yourself one tune at a time! :)

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About Me

My name is Nicole Obligacion and I started this blog because I was inspired by Hebrews 10:24 and Hebrews 3:13. I love to eat, cook, bake, read the Bible, and encourage. :)

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