Rules on "How to Find the One"

We always want something, don't we? We're always in the position of continuously and routinely 'needing' something, craving for that 'something' that will ultimately 'make' us happy and fulfill us.

And it always comes a time in life when your only need is of a partner. A soul mate. A husband. A wife. A friend and a lover that can be with you forever, enriching you and beautifying you. That will see you as God sees you and love you with that love that will move mountains today and tomorrow. And it seems like the more you 'need' this person, the more it looks like the person doesn't even exist.

It feels like you were procrastinated to be single. And lonely. Alone. Always single.
Your friends fall in love and get married. They are having the best times of their lives (or so they tell you). And you feel 'left out'. You wonder what is wrong with you. You pray even harder and louder. You look over your shoulder every few seconds - just to check the guy behind you off 'the list'. You desperately pray and pray but the heaven is silent. Always silent. Annoyingly silent.

I have felt like that for a long time. I was the last one that met 'the one'. All my friends had met their 'mate' and started happy families. But somehow I was left behind. I felt sad, annoyed, unloved and so lonely. Whenever I acknowledged God, I decided to speak His words into my life over and over again: words of blessings, words of happiness and enjoyment. Words of peace. And then, I relaxed and I let it all go. I was ready to become a nun. Happily, my hubby came along soon after. And everything changed.

I encourage you to reach to your heart and plead to God for what it is there. There will be a time when God will answer. God's answers are "YES" and "A-men".

In this post, I am going to give you few hints of how to prepare to meet the one.  I have years of dating experience (a tiring and a not very satisfying hobby, I tell you) and I have observed many couples meet, interact and blossom together.

So, how should we prepare to meet the one?

"Rules":

1. Stay where you are!

Stay in your calling. Do not flee to greener pastures just because there are no available guys/girls in the circles you move. Do not feel pressured to swap churches and emigrate to places with a higher density of 'the one'. While getting involved in more activities that you feel called to it's advisable allways; please know that God will meet you where you are.  If God gave you a calling and placed you somewhere, then that's where you need to be. You do not need to go and do things that are not 'you', so be yourself and be patient. Stay where you are!


2. Be honest at all times!
Be honest with yourself and with anyone you meet. Being honest with anyone you meet might appear that it leaves you vulnerable (which can easily happen to foolish people). But honesty makes wise and humble people stronger.  Honesty can make you stronger.When you are honest, people are honest to you too. It's a heart thing.  Let them know you as you are; you will see that only some will stick to you. Be thankful for these, they are your team, rely on them!

3. Be open to anything!
Be open to life and what comes with it! Some people preach cautiousness and they sell you this frame of regulations that your future spouse should by all means 'comply with'. What I feel is that dating is such a personal thing that only personal rules should stay valid. You are an individual and you should make your selection based on what you believe in, feel called to and ultimately want to. Being open gives you the benefits of a non judgmental approach -which frees you from any preconceived ideas. This state of mind and attitude makes you fully expectant and recipient of God's unending grace.


4. Do something about it!
It is funny and childish to see people believe that Prince Charming or Princess Juliet will one day just fall off the skies in front of them. It is so funny and intriguing to realize that we prepare for our careers and our house down payment but we never seriously prepare for our married life. As we prepare for a job, polishing up our resume, selecting our clothes and doing our hair, so we should prepare for dating. What matters most in a resume is the skills and knowledge you have - and these have been learnt over a period of many years. What matters most in dating and marriage are matters of heart and character - and these take time to get accomplished too. So this is where your preparation should start: working on these 'life skills' that we'll make you have a blessed life.

Then, just do something: make yourself visible and pleasant wherever you are. Keeping your heart close to God and praying at all times, let your character shine! And you can even try online. It is a bit interesting, but over the last few years most of my friends met their spouses online. Other did through common friends and blind dates. God can use anything and anyone to resource.


5. Wait expectantly!
Waiting should'n be passive and depressing. Waiting should just be a personal preparation for a life in two. Work hard, stay in shape and be beautiful, get involved in church or in whatever your call is. Decide to be the best whatever you do and wherever you are and decide to help others do the same.

The fact is, God works in miraculous ways and He loves making all things new. God wants to give you a special love story that is not like anyone else's. He wants to make your love story unique and He is working on that. So please worship Him, make Him your best friend, pour your heart to Him and be open to receive His gift from Him - it will come!

We have examples in the Bible of might women of God who waited expectantly. I personally love the story of Ruth. Ruth felt called to take care of Naomi and to follow Naomi. She followed her calling and was honest about it. Ruth was open to leaving behind any bit of familiarity and comfort: she left her country for a foreign and poor one. She was open to working hard and she worked hard. But Ruth did not like being a foreigner, a widow and a poor woman in this new country. Ruth decided to change her future and boldly did something that many would not: she humbled herself asking to be helped. And she was did get not only her prayers answered, but she was blessed beyond any of her wildest dream.

So, all my single ladies, there are better times to come, and there are dreams to be fulfilled.
Let's just not praise God for His Sovereignty: 

Wedding cake!!!

34:1 I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise.

 I live and breathe God; if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy:
Join me in spreading the news; together let’s get the word out.
God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears.
Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him.
When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot.
God’s angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray.
Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see-how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.
Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.
Young lions on the prowl get hungry, but God-seekers are full of God.
Come, children, listen closely; I’ll give you a lesson in God worship.
Who out there has a lust for life? Can’t wait each day to come upon beauty
Guard your tongue from profanity, and no more lying through your teeth.
Turn your back on sin; do something good. Embrace peace-don’t let it get away!
God keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan.
God won’t put up with rebels; he’ll cull them from the pack.
Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you.
If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.
Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time.
He’s your bodyguard, shielding every bone; not even a finger gets broken.
The wicked commit slow suicide; they waste their lives hating the good.God pays for each slave’s freedom; no one who runs to him loses out. (Ps. 34:1-22 MSG)

He's always holding your hand

Turning 29

I AM turning 29!!!

Now, when I'm approaching my birthday, I've realized that I've never cared much about my birthdays. 
I grew up in a family who didn't make a big deal out of them. We celebrated with cake, juice or ice cream and that was all. We got kisses and hugs from everyone in the family and sometimes my parents used to give us some birthday money (which was nice). I loved the simplicity of it or I kind of grew to love it. I liked how there was no fuss about it and there was no present expectancy. Birthdays were all about being together as a family (and eating cake).

And if I have to think back, there are only few times I did even have a celebration. Birthdays were small priorities and no one planned around them. And life moved on as it always has.

But right now as I'm turning 29, I realize that this is the year of big changes. I will celebrate these big changes that re-shaped my life. I am happy and content not only because I married the smartest, sweetest and most generous man on earth (and I'm not even saying anything about his looks), not only because I enjoy the challenging company of the crazy dog or because I simply love our new house. All these make a delicious bite of the famous 'American pie' but I believe the pie is greater (and bigger) than the slice I am having right now.

So 29 marks the beginning of 'the change'. Recently married, with a husband, a dog and a house to take care of, I sometimes find it hard to believe that it is me 'possessing' all these. I have long given my old self up and I quickly became the person I had to be. I am no longer the urban lady working like a slave 5 days/week, shopping Saturdays and doing church on Sundays. I  became the country housewife who works when she pleases, does weekly grocery shopping with the husband and tries to do church still. My obsession with dresses, shoes and bags instantly had to stop - it was replaced with a passion for healthy family living I guess. It is not about me anymore, it is about the family.

I am no longer praying for a future husband and my purpose in life to make more sense. I love my husband and my purpose in life makes more sense -but not enough yet.

I no longer complain about my job, but I pray I get a job.

I'm no longer the loudest of the group, but I'm the most quiet of any new group.

I'm no longer in charge of anything. And it's quite a relaxing feeling -knowing that I am where God wants me to be it is still empowering. Right now, when all my plans, desires and wishes depend only on God, I can somehow have the freedom to give them all up. I realize it will only be Him making them happen.

Embarking on this journey of starting my life all over again, far away from any familiarity, I decide to trust again in the plan that I do not see. With the many things I still surrender, I find my self dying and my faith growing stronger and wider. In this context of turning 29, I'm experiencing a new re-birth. It is painful and it is worth it. And all I can say is: it is getting better and better! In spite of everything that goes on around the world, God always manages to take us from better to better. Thank you, great and personal Designer!

I will be probably celebrating with tea and cake, so who won't you invite someone over and celebrate the miracle you are walking in? Also, pray for the bigger one that is about to unfold!

Happy cake day everyone!

 

Exercise can affect your genes

So now I am going to shout out loud this word that everyone fears: EXERCISE!!!

What do you feel and imagine when you hear/read the word 'exercise'? Sweat drops touching the ground with the speed of the sound? The classic running on the treadmill like there's a lion chasing you scenario ...and puking sooner than expected? Tired, angry people that drag themselves along to the gym only to feel more depressed by how much they cannot do?

Oh well, we're living in a world where self image is important like never before and where everyone seems to always proudly comment about how fat they are. While I believe there is nothing wrong with acknowledging the true composition of your body and wanting to do something about it, I think that nowadays we use excuses as a form of 'exercise' (and the only 'exercise' unfortunately). And even if not everyone's dream is to be a marathon runner, we all long to like our bodies. As the Holy Bible says, the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit: we are to nourish and take care of our bodies (the body is a temple!!!).

As everyone seems tired of trying the next famous diet, as everyone gets depressed by that pound that just refuses to drop off at our feet, as everyone just gives you that 'you've got one life and you need to enjoy it' grin, we are all just losing hope.

But there is hope. The hope that you have in your spirit (that all things are possible through God who gives us the strength) must be made practical in our day to day life. Where there's a will, there's always a way of achieving it. The fact is that people, scientists, and doctors have been very intrigued by the obesity epidemic which hit the developed countries in the last few decades. While many have linked it to the food we eat and to the static lives we enjoy, obesity remains a complex phenomenon that no one has quite resolved yet.

But, the great news is, there are doctors with a heart for humanity and if they refused to produce a more powerful diet pill, they looked elsewhere for answers. 

Juleen Zierath, a contemporary professor in clinical integrative physiology, was the one who discovered how exercise can change our genes. (And we all know how important genes are today, everyone is out of shape because of bad genes).

Juleen Zierath holds both American and Swedish citizenship and is well known worldwide on the research on metabolism and diabetes. She is a professor of Clinical Integrative Physiology at Karolinska Institute since 2001 and also works at the Departments of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, as well as Physiology and Pharmacology. She is the first female Chairman of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine, and the Nobel Assembly will make its decision to award the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on October 7, 2013....so please stay tuned in.

In the study published in Cell Metabolism on 7 March 2012, she discovered how inactive but healthy men and women can change their DNA minutes after engaged in exercise. It is not science fiction, but please keep on reading.

The researchers worked with 14 young, sedentary men, and women and asked them to work out on an exercise bike that measured their maximum activity levels. Researchers compared the muscle-related genes before and after the exercise. After the exercise the participants'  DNA showed less methylation - a molecular process in which some chemicals called methyl groups settle on the DNA and inhibit the cells' ability to switch on certain genes. The more intense the exercise -  the less methylation was shown. The less methylation - the more you help your DNA 'forget' about those fat, bad genes and help your body 'create' fat burning genes. 

In other words, you CAN teach your DNA not to store fat and you can significantly improve your overall fitness levels as long as you engage in high-intensity exercise (your heart needs to pump at an 80% increase of your normal resting heart rate -every gym machine usually has a heart-rate chart displayed, so look up what is 80% for your age).

The high intensity exercise intervals do not need to exceed 20 minutes and do not need to be repeated more than 3-4 times a week. So, you just work hard (heart-rate 80% above normal) but only for 20 minutes and only 3 times a week. This is great news, isn't it? Finally, we are not told to run until we drop (that should only be used for shopping, right?).

I think it is great news seeing science and research coming up with something achievable, doable and effective!!!!!  I think that this theory has been around for a while (Fit Curves and interval training promoters use it) but now we have the scientific research so we can even get eager about trying it out!!

Exercise is already known to induce changes in muscle, including increased metabolism of sugar and fat. Our discovery is that methylation comes first. Our muscles are really plastic (...). We often say "You are what you eat". Well, muscle adapts to what you do. If you don't use it, you lose it and this is one of the mechanisms that allow that to happen. (Juleen Zierath)

There was also research presented at the Integrative Biology of Exercise VI meeting in Colorado last October that demonstrated that high-intensity intervals burn more calories in less time. This research recommends 30 second sprint intervals at maximum exertion, followed by four minutes of light pedaling to recuperate.

So, it is time to exercise! The research is supporting us! 

The high intensity training (that both research studies used) can change our DNA and help us lose fat, and it helps us burn more calories too. There are more health benefits linked to the intensive training, and some of these are insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, as Dr. Mercola mentions. He also revealed a study that showed that doing only 3 minutes of high-intensity exercise a week, for 4 weeks, can lead to a 24% improvement in insulin sensitivity. Also, 

Another important benefit of high-intensity interval training is its ability to naturally increase your body's production of human growth hormone (HGH0, also known as the 'fitness hormone'. HGH is a synergistic, foundational biochemical underpinning that promotes muscle and effectively burns excessive fat. (...) (high-intensity intervals) also plays an important part in promoting overall health and longevity (...). (Dr. Mercola)

 So, I hope that this was helpful to you and that you're thinking about when to start exercising. I can only add that every journey is different and starting small is still doing something. Sometimes the body needs time to teach you how to breathe when running or it needs time to get to a certain speed and high intensity. The key is to keep exercising at your best - you will always do better and always get better.

Happy exercising planning, everyone!

Exercise is medicine, and it seems the means to alter our epigenomes for better health may be only a jog away (...) (Juleen Zierath)

 

Resources:
http://healthland.time.com/2012/03/07/how-exercise-can-change-your-dna/#ixzz2aOLhKfXa

http://healthland.time.com/2012/03/07/how-exercise-can-change-your-dna/#ixzz2aOMADACl

http://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/abstract/S1550-4131(12)00005-8

http://www.mercola.com/

http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2013/05/31/burning-calories.aspxhttp://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2766&l=en

http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2766&l=en

http://www.nobelprizemedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PRESS_RELEASE_ENG.pdf

http://erc.europa.eu/succes-stories/exercise-changes-chemical-marks-dna

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413112000058