jerrah

[jerrah]

My bridal musings and full story.. click this link :)

http://www.jayandjerrah.com/ever-be-the-wedding

[jerrah]

55 Days and I am tying the knot with my God’s Best!

Sharing with you the website I’ve created myself via Strikingly, where I got my domain on a free trial for 1 year! I just had to shell out an amount of $24.95 which they will refund at the end of the trial period, if ever I decide not to renew my contract anymore. Since I only need the domain until my wedding (as we decided to go paperless), I think it is a pretty good deal as paperless to me, means, efficient, free, and creative.

On the other hand, going from traditional to paperless is quite a challenge. For one, culturally, we value invitations and we treat them like postcards or love letters (at least in my family!) One aunt of mine even asked if we can print something for her as she wants a memento. Secondly, you would have to spend so much time in the details of your site. Every word, every widget, every icon, every photo. I’ve spent countless nights on this one.. unless of course if you have the money to pay for a website developer.

In retrospect, I think the benefits far outweigh the disadvantage.

On this note, I invite you to have a look at my wedding website and leave thoughts. :)

Till Next Time,

Jerrah

[jerrah]

Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed for His compassion never fails. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, " The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:22-26

[jerrah]

Something’s Cooking In The Kitchen : Katong Laksa

I am not that good in the kitchen but I am teachable and ever willing to learn. So when one night I was craving for this Singaporean dish, I saw myself looking for recipes online and voila! I was running to the groceries day after. Just a ‘lil introduction. Katong Laksa is a variant of Laksa Lemak from the Katong area of Singapore. I read and also observed myself (in comparison to Assam Laksa of Malysia) that the noodles are normally cut up into smaller pieces so as to avoid using chopsticks. It’s pretty much easier to enjoy with a spoon alone!

Laksa on the other hand means noodles in a hot soup.

INGREDIENTS:

Rice Noodles

Shrimps 200gms

Mussels 200gms

Clams 200gms

Tofu / Bean Curd 250gms

Eggs

 Coconut Milk

Laksa Leaves or Viatnames Mint & Lime Leaves

Fresh Turmeric, Galagal, Red Chillies & Lemongrass

Candlenut or Macadamia Nut

Shallots & Garlic

Dried Shrimp

Bean Sprouts

(from left to right) Coriander Seed, Star Anise, Dried Chili, Chili Powder, Dried Mint Leaves

2 lemons

2tbsp butter

small ginger

3 cups of water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

salt

sugar

METHOD

1.)  Make the Rempah Spice Paste by combining the following in a food processor:

1/2 glass of water

200gms Shrimp Paste

200gms Dried Shrimp

20 Candlenut or Macamia Nut

3tbsp Coriander Seed

3tbsp Star Anise

Dried Chillies & Chili Powder (add depending on the hotness level)

3 small turmeric

3 small galagal

3 stalks of lemon grass (white part only)

10 Laksa Leaves or Viatnamese Mint

10 shallots

3 garlic cloves

2.) Saute the Shrimp, Clams and Mussels in butter, garlic, ginger and lemon. Set aside.

3.) Pan-fry the tofu or bean curd until all sides are golden brown. Cut as desired.

4.) Prepare the soup by mixing 2 cups of water with coconut milk and chicken stock. I used McCormick’s Cream of Chicken instead of chicken stock. Add lime leaves, 3 pcs lemon grass and 1 small galagal. Simmer gently as boiling it too harshly causes the soup to thicken up really fast.

5.) In a wok, add vegetable oil and roast the rempah spice paste until the color changes. Be patient. Heat in low fire.

6.) Add the rempah spice paste to the soup and stir. Add as much as you want until you get your desired laksa taste :) Add salt and sugar to taste.

7.) Blanch the bean sprout with hot water. Drain and set aside.

8.) Blanch the rice noodle with hot water. Drain and set aside.

9.) In individual bowls, add the noodles and bean sprouts, shrimp, mussel, clams, boiled eggs, tofu and garnish with red chili, mint leaves and dried mint leaves. You can also add the roasted rempah spice paste to the side for more flavour.

Recipe serves 10. I kept the extra rempah spice paste in the fridge as it can last up to a week.

It was satisfying to be able to cook your favorite dishes but I was even happier seeing my friends slurp into their bowls. There’s something about food that brings people together and I want to be that bridge in any way I can. Also, 

Till Next Time. <3

P.S

I initially followed the recipe from Noodlies but I tweaked it a little bit since some of the ingredients are not available here in Doha. Enjoy and let me know your thoughts :)

[jerrah]

On Slavery

During breakfast, I had a small chat with an African woman. We talked about equal career opportunities between black & white, the life & works of Nelson Mandela- the great anti-apartheid revolutionary, the struggles we have in the Customer Service industry (I, being a cabin crew and her being a waitress), movies, weather (it’s winter in South Africa while it’s summer in Qatar!) and a lot more. While she was talking, I was trying to put myself in her shoe and I couldn’t imagine living in such a time of racial segregation. I learned that Apartheid literally means “apart-hood”, the state of being apart. If you’ve seen the movie, ‘The Butler’, that and more!

I got reminded that there is another form of slavery out there that’s even worse. I shared with her that it is not limited to the color of our skin or the collars we wear in our workplace. We are in bondage to our own selves- our messy past, our insecurities, our dreams, sins. Maybe you have been in that situation when you really, really, wanted to change or quit a bad habit, but then you see yourself doing it again and again until you settle in that saying, “Old habits die hard” (I used to say this to myself when I was trying to quit smoking!) or maybe something in the past is reminding you that you are unworthy and unacceptable..

The LORD said to Pharaoh in Exodus, "Let my people go so they can worship Me!”

Sin is serious because it hinders us from our walk with Christ. It takes away the joy of our salvation.

The bad news is, sin is a kind of slavery that we cannot resolve on our own, much as we can recognize it from the onset. But the good news is, when you accept JESUS in your life, He is the great Mandela. 

John 8:31-36 ..you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.. When the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.

Maybe I am blessed that I was not born in this part of the world in such a time of injustice but it is an everyday battle between the desires of my flesh (world-thinking) versus Jesus-Focused thinking. And only by the grace of Christ that I am able to move forward with joy in my heart.

Today, I wrote this entry in my journal and I am sharing it with you:

Do not settle in your “Egypt”. Know that it is the Lord’s will that you break free (from the bondage of sin) and break through (for His glory!). Your identity is settled and secured in Christ. You will outthink, outsmart, and out-love the the world for His glory.

Sun drying the card I made for ‘Conqueror’. I couldn’t pronounce her African name so she said it’s okay to use her English name. Talk about name power! Is there a greater Name than Jesus?

In Christ,

Jerrah <3

March 26, 2015 | Johannesburg, South Africa

[jerrah]

Re: Two Years And Counting - every time you don that cap, you bear the responsibility of service - that is, to ensure the safety of your passengers. Not a lot of jobs give that much privilege of serving and making a difference. =) Wear it proud, and safe flights!

Thank you for your kind words!

[jerrah]

Ladies,

'Guard your heart for it determines the course of your life.' Proverbs 4:23

A real man of GOD will not leave you in a hazy situation where you cannot tell exactly what stage you are in (are we in courtship or merely friends?)

He will lead you with full clarity. He will protect you and will never cause you to stray away from your Father. (Romans 16:17)

Just wait.

This man of GOD will pursue you. He will lay down his intentions on you. You do not have to orchestrate events so that he may fall for you because the One who created both your hearts have done it a long time back! (Psalm 139:16)

Just wait and focus your heart and undivided devotion to the one who LOVED YOU FIRST. (1 John 4:19)

There are many things in this world that we are unsure of.. let love be not one of them!

[jerrah]

Two Years And Counting

I can still recall the 6 months period of waiting that GOD intended for me to go through in order to build my character to prepare me for the life of a Cabin Crew. It is amazing to think that in retrospect, His sovereign will really brought out only goodness in my life as it is written in Romans 8:28.  After I was hired for Qatar Airways (June of 2012), I failed my medicals a couple of times. I had to go through a series of blood tests in order to prove that I do not have anemia of any kind. For some reason, my RDW (Red Blood Cell Distribution Width) did not meet normal values.. It costed me money, time and sleepless nights. I had to be keen on my diet and take a lot of supplements to increase my RBC. Blood extractions after blood extractions... There was even an instance when the medical director of the clinic to where I was assigned to bluntly offered his own blood in a closed door meeting saying, "just so you can pass and leave Phil already". I politely declined not because I was afraid of getting caught. I know that if it was the LORD's will for me to be in Doha, then I do not have to fake anything. I knew in my heart the cry of Moses in Exodus 33:16-17. The LORD's Presence was, is, and will always be better than a job, a relationship, a dream.

It was true after all, that the longer you walk in the garden, the more likely you will smell the flowers. During the season of waiting, GOD revealed to me the weight of my salvation. That Christianity is a serious thing and I couldn't assume that I am saved just because I grew up in a Christian household. Yes, I was achieving my plans but something did not seem right. I began to examine my walk with Christ and I have seen a life of failure... in fact, a terrible mess.  I saw the double faced life that I was living. I repented from all my sins and again, surrendered my life to CHRIST. I got baptized  on the 4th of August 2012 at 10AM with a friend from high school whom I've had a long standing conflict with.

Now, she is my prayer and mission partner. (I am looking at our Dubai & Bangkok Trips together as I write this!)

Truly, the LORD restores (Joel 2:25)

I then understood what it really means by Grace. Law can only bring you far but GRACE will surpass death. In fact, it resurrected and lived again in our hearts up to this day.

I had all the reason to worry if I will make it to Qatar Airways. Out of thousands that applied during my time, what could possibly be the reason for them to keep waiting for this girl's blood to become normal! But because I was preoccupied with my new found "love", I found joy in waiting. I told myself that QR would just be a bonus. I have found my prize in the harvest. GOD brought old friends back in m path to minister to them and build a lasting connection. There was no need for me to go to the mission field to live out the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20) I began with my friends.. old classmates, ex-colleagues.. them who used to be my drinking and "yosi" buddies.. The "bad girl/bad boy/ bad trip" night outs  have been replaced by real & fruitful conversations in coffee shops, restaurants and our respective houses. Without the alcohol and loud music, I was able to know and care for my friends in a deeper way. Now my conversations are intentional. 

Part of walking in the Presence of GOD is provision. Since I am the breadwinner in my family of 7, I couldn't afford to be out of job for a long time but just as GOD provided manna to the children of Israel in the desert, I was able to taste and see His goodness during the waiting season. He provided an online job so I can have a flexible schedule for the people that I was ministering to. It is worth mentioning that the last salary I got from my online job was Dec 21st, a day before I left Phil. Indeed, where the Lord leads, He feeds! 

Last but not the least, I was also able to reconnect with an ex-colleague and was invited to a 'Worship Night' where I got a word of confirmation from one of the Pastors, "You will travel the world for the glory of GOD." Just a few days later, I got my most awaited clearance! And soon enough, my one way ticket to Doha was in my mailbox. 

Today, I am living that prophecy. I can hold my head up and say, "I worked hard for this! I deserve this!" but I couldn't because it would be a big lie. I have done nothing to deserve what I have right now. This is GRACE.

Now that I am celebrating my second year in the Aviation, I couldn't help but give back to the LORD all the glory. This kind of love cannot be silenced and shouldn't be kept. I know full well that I am exactly where He wants me to be. My path is set and purpose is clear. I am a Cabin Crew to become a vessel. The LORD is truly expanding my territory as He bring people- from different nations- to my path. Now I stand on His word in Isaiah 54:2-5

Enlarge the place of your tent,     stretch your tent curtains wide,     do not hold back; lengthen your cords,     strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left;     your descendants will dispossess nations     and settle in their desolate cities.

Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.     Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth     and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. For your Maker is your husband—     the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;     he is called the God of all the earth.

Two years of faithful GOD. Two years of exciting journey with my amazing JESUS.. from glory to glory.

I am your Cabin Crew. This job is not as easy as it seem but I do not work for men. I work for the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Like you, I was once lost but now I'm found. I am still a work in progress but I am confident that He who began a good work in me will bring it into completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6)

TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!

P.S I will share with you the wonders and wanders of my travels in a separate blog.. soon! :) 

[jerrah]

I remember I stopped reading fiction when I was in college. I wanted to look smart-er and my speech wise-r but as I mature in my walk with Christ, I realize that no wisdom can ever overtake that of the Bible. It is GOD's breath. Alive. Active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb 4:12). Is it not just a quote book. It is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. It is the LORD's instruction, correction & discipline (2 Tim 3:16).

Having a Bible with colorful highlights (of my life verses) and side notes & a cute bookmark used to be cool to me. But the cooler thing is, when we carry it into action for without obedience, as James put it, is like looking at yourself in the mirror and immediately forgetting what you look like. (James 1:22-25)

Tonight I am thankful of the Bible. It is still the best selling and my favorite book of all time. It can probably be one of the best gifts you can give to someone this season. Desire it and Pray about it!

For it is the LORD who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose (Phil 2:13) 

[jerrah]

"I am all He says I am and He says I am His own." 🎧🎶 "Fear not for I have redeemeed you. I have called you by name. YOU ARE MINE!" Isaiah 43:1 such an assurance! You are free. You are worthy. You are loved. You are new again. 😍

[jerrah]

Hard to decide if I like it better at day or night. You are such a stunner! #TorreAgbar #BCN #Catalonia #aroundtheworld #cities #byfoot #traveldiaries #JTravels #October2014 #Arcitecture #AvingdudaDiagonal #JeanNouvel #buildings (at Torre Agbar)

[jerrah]

Who Is Jesus?

The Bible, from cover to cover, answers this:

Old Testament:

– In Genesis, He is the Creator God.

– In Exodus, He is the Redeemer.

– In Leviticus, He is your sanctification.

– In Numbers, He is your guide.

– In Deuteronomy, He is your teacher.

– In Joshua, He is the mighty conqueror.

– In Judges, He gives victory over enemies.

– In Ruth, He is your kinsman, your lover, your redeemer.

– In I Samuel, He is the root of Jesse.

– In 2 Samuel, He is the Son of David.

– In 1 Kings and 2 Kings, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

– In 1st and 2nd Chronicles, He is your intercessor and High Priest.

– In Ezra, He is your temple, your house of worship.

– In Nehemiah, He is your mighty wall, protecting you from your enemies.

– In Esther, He stands in the gap to deliver you from your enemies.

– In Job, He is the arbitrator who not only understands your struggles, but has the power to do something about them.

– In Psalms, He is your song–and your reason to sing.

– In Proverbs, He is your wisdom, helping you make sense of life and live it successfully.

– In Ecclesiastes, He is your purpose, delivering you from vanity..

– In the Song of Solomon, He is your lover, your Rose of Sharon.

– In Isaiah, He is the mighty counselor, the prince of peace, the everlasting father, and more. He’s everything you need.

– In Jeremiah, He is your balm of Gilead, the soothing salve for your sin-sick soul.

– In Lamentations, He is the ever-faithful one upon whom you can depend.

– In Ezekiel, He is your wheel in the middle of a wheel–the one who assures that dry, dead bones will come alive again.

– In Daniel, He is the ancient of days, the ever- lasting God who never runs out of time.

– In Hosea, He is your faithful lover, always beckoning you to come back–even when you have abandoned Him.

– In Joel, He is your refuge, keeping you safe in times of trouble.

– In Amos, He is the husbandman, the one you can depend on to stay by your side.

– In Obadiah, He is Lord of the Kingdom.

– In Jonah, He is your salvation, bringing you back within His will.

– In Micah, He is judge of the nation.

– In Nahum, He is the jealous God.

– In Habakkuk, He is the Holy One.

– In Zephaniah, He is the witness.

– In Haggai, He overthrows the enemies.

– In Zechariah, He is Lord of Hosts.

– In Malachi, He is the messenger of the covenant.

New Testament:

– In Matthew, He is king of the Jews.

– In Mark, He is the servant.

– In Luke, He is the Son of Man, feeling what you feel.

– In John, He is the Son of God.

– In Acts, He is Savior of the world.

– In Romans, He is the righteousness of God.

– In I Corinthians, He is the rock that followed Israel.

– In II Corinthians, He the triumphant one, giving victory.

– In Galatians, He is your liberty; He sets you free.

– In Ephesians, He is head of the Church.

– In Philippians, He is your joy.

– In Colossians, He is your completeness.

– In I Thessalonians, He is your hope.

– In II Thessalonians, He is your glory.

– In I Timothy, He is your faith.

– In II Timothy, He is your stability.

– In Titus He is your reason for serving.

– In Philemon, He is your benefactor.

– In Hebrews, He is your perfection.

– In James, He is the power behind your faith.

– In I Peter, He is your example.

– In II Peter, He is your purity.

– In I John, He is your life.

– In II John, He is your pattern.

– In III John, He is your motivation.

– In Jude, He is the foundation of your faith.

– In Revelation, He is your coming King.

Let not the ever changing world view change your God-view. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 

[jerrah]

Thankful today for this friendship & sisterhood. It has gone a long way! Indeed, the love of Christ changes us at mabuti na lang binabago Nya tayo araw-araw! 🙌👭 "Is God asking us to do anything more than what He has already done? Hasn't He gone a long way in accepting us? If God can tolerate my mistakes, can't I tolerate the mistakes of others? If God allows me, with my foibles and failures, to call Him Father, shouldn't I extend the same GRACE to others? In fact, who can offer grace except those secure in the grip of grace? If God doesn't demand perfection, should I?" In The Grip of Grace, Max Lucado #bestgift #freegift #grace #friends #acrossthemiles #sistersinChrist

[jerrah]

"Man is naturally a religious being. His heart instinctively seeks for God whether he reverences the sacred cow or prays to the sun or moon; whether he kneels before wood and stone images, or prays in secret to his Heavenly Father, he is satisfying an inborn urge." Freeing to know that there is a Name above all illusions of worship. #NoOtherName #butJesus #jonleave #traveldiaries #stonehenge #bucketlist #wandersandwonders #wanderland #aroundtheworld #cities #history (at Stonehenge)

[jerrah]

A friend did this for my birthday. Amazed by how some people really have the eye and hand and heart for art.

[jerrah]

You know there's a lot going on up there. Your head's all cluttered up. So many thoughts that have gone unspoken but your mind is mildly empty.. so much to say but nothing to write down.. #quietlips #busyminds 💤🙇💭 (at Starbucks Frankfurt Römer)

[jerrah]

ENLARGE the place of your tent, STRETCH your tent curtains wide, DO NOT HOLD BACK. LENGHTEN your cords and STRENGTHEN your stakes. Isaiah 54:2 ✈️🌍 #TellTheWorld