Organ Failure

Don't you just hate it when you are sick? When your head hurts? or for some people when their heart is not working the way it should? or when the liver fails? or when you need some type of organ transplant because the one you have just isn't cutting it. Don't you hate it when people die because something in their body refused to work the way GOD intended it to work? We hear countless stories of people who come together in an effort to find the cure of an illness and to increase the awareness of a disease.

Why then is it that the church has become so comfortable and indifferent about the body of Christ acting as independent entities? We are called the BODY of CHRIST. Look at yourself you are made of many parts, arms, legs, feet, toes, fingers, eyes, nose, you get the picture. You are not complete if you are missing a leg or an arm or an eye, you need all that to make you. Why then do we insist on being independent christians? independent believers? We are only called to be independent of the world and its fleshly desires but we are called to be dependent on each other for all of us together make the body of Christ, His bride.

When will we understand that we cannot function independently of one another. Just like if my liver fails and I don't get appropriate medical attention I will die. It is the same if a part of the body of Christ is failing the entire body will suffer. I am not a part of church that goes by a certain name, when I accepted Christ as my Lord and Saviour I became part of the body of Christ. That body is made up by many people, not just one ministry, not just one church. I might go to one church but I am a member, you and I are members, vital parts of the body of Christ.

You, make a difference. Whether you are making a positive, negative or no difference, you are affecting the body. Stop making excuses for your laziness and start doing what you were intended to do. We are ONE body with ONE voice and ONE purpose and our sole mission in life is to bring as many lives to Christ as we possibly can. We might not see the harvest, but it is our responsibility to plant the seeds.

Christ died for the WORLD. GOD gave His only Son for the world, so let's give Him what He died for, let's give Him the world.

New Garments

The day I died for you, I took your filthy garments and exchanged them for clothing worthy of royalty. You no longer need to dress as a beggar, for I have made you heir of a great King.

What are you doing trying to wear your old filthy garments? Do you not know that the day you called Me into your heart, I clothed you with My majesty? I made you one with Me and thus one with the Father. Why do you then insist on dressing like a beggar?

I took your shame that you may have My glory. I took your pain that you may have My joy. I took your illness that you may have My wholeness. I took your anxiety that you may have My peace. I took your loneliness that you maybe feel My Love.

I carried your sins, I stood in for your judgment that you may be reconciled with the Father. Don't refuse the garments that I now give you, please wear them for they were made specially for you.

They are holy garments for when you come into My presence. They are garments of praise for when you want to please My heart. They are garments of prayer for when you want to get My attention and they are garments of humility for when you want Me to find your irresistible. They are garments of holiness so you can behold My face.

written 04.08.10

by: Ana Martinez

Glory

"For GOD to be GOD, He must care about His own glory. God must prize Himself above all else, for to prize anything or anyone else more highly than Himself would compromise His worth---and therefore imply that He is not GOD after all."

Matt Redman (Facedown)

Still

"in quietness and confidence shall be your strength..." Isaiah 30:15

I stumbled upon this verse earlier this week and honestly I don't think it was a coincidence. What I have learned is that I cannot always be doing, I cannot always be talking, sometimes I need to learn to just be quiet, be still. It is then that I can hear His voice and allow Him to move and do as He pleases. It is only when I am still, quiet and confident that He will do something, that He is able to move, not because He can't move simply that He won't. If He is going to do something on your behalf, He makes it known that its by His power alone that it was done. He does not share His glory with any one or anything. So He'll wait for you to surrender. He'll wait for you to get tired of doing things your way before He acts.

written 04.01.09

Ana Martinez

33

Sin was the cause of death of Jesus Christ, not that He sinned but because of our sins He died (& rose again). He was as much God as He was man, He lived a holy life, He never sinned, He couldn't for He was the lamb who's blood must be shed. He was only 33 years old when He died, at the prime of His life. He had just started His ministry. He was baptized by His cousin, John the baptist. After being baptized the Spirit lead Him to the wilderness to be tempted for 40 days. It took 33 years of training to prepare Him for His calling. 33 years of living holy and loving every one including His enemies. 33 years trusting the Father, 33 years being dependent on Him.

Sometimes I think we forget that Jesus was human. Yes He is the Son of God, He is God but He is also human. He became human for you and for me. So that He could know our struggles, so that He could be our intercessor, for how can you be an intercessor if you don't know what it's like to be in certain situation. He has felt loneliness, He knows what is it to be talked about, mocked and bullied. He knows what it is like to be hungry and to have a need. He knows what it is to be human, to be weak and desperate.

Jesus was a young man when He died, only 33 years old. He spent His entire life preparing for His ministry a great and wonderful but short ministry. We might have a calling in life but none of us know how long our training will be before we actually start walking in it. We can be called to have a wonderful ministry but like Jesus, for we are no better, have to be molded and trained.

He died young so that you don't have to die before your time. He became sin so that we don't have to pay the wages of sin (death). He did it ALL. There's nothing you and I can do to add to what He accomplished at the cross. The only thing left is for us to come to Him with an open heart, one that stands naked before its creator and says, "Here I am, use me, mold me, train me"

Being Fruitful On The Tree of Life

This world is in need of change, but it won't come from a great book, a new invention, or a cure of a disease. It will come by men and women pouring themselves out of everything that is within and lifting up holy hands and crying out to God for a complete infilling of His Spirit! -M. Morrissey 

            I sit here today writing this, short or long I do not know. For a long time now I have been dealing with the Words of Jesus and how He refers to us in the Gospels as branches, bearing either good or bad fruit. To bear fruit a branch must be connected to the tree, once the branch is broken off  it is given a certain amount of time before it dies; the branch cannot survive unless it remains connect to the tree. The beautiful thing about this life is that God has created everything, as long as it remains pure in its context, to support the word of God. I raise a question to continually ponder upon, can a branch on an apple tree yield oranges? Absolutely not! So why is it that so many Christians have continually failed to receive the fruits of the Tree of Life, Jesus Christ! Simply put, they are not connected to that Tree of Life but are connect to another tree.

            Upon some trees there sits an abundant amount of branches but they are all supported by the trunk. I want to chuck a random fact your way, according to Arbor Foundation Report, a mature leafy tree can produce up to enough oxygen in a single season that will support the oxygen intake for ten people in an entire year. What are you doing when God places you in a season of growth, causing you to yield what is going to affect hundreds, tens, or even one person a year. The whole heavens rejoice over one person accepting Jesus Christ as, Lord and Savior (Luke 15:10). If tree branches never produce leafs than oxygen would never be created and the world would die. Likewise, if we as Christians don’t allow what God has called us to produce to come forth from our lives this generation and the many others to come will simply die.

            This is not intended to form a religion, idea, or any other type of doctrine. I am simply expressing the length, width, and depth of a revelation that has been developing and is continually developing even as I write. Any words that men write should never replace the words of God that rest within the Holy Bible. I remember the quote I wrote as God spoke into my heart; a person could write a million books and still fail to define the fullness of one biblical scripture. This is meant to illuminate our hearts and minds as Christians and allow many, as I myself have seen, the severe need that we as Christians must meet. We must become the supply of life the world needs and the best way of doing this is to become a branch filled with. THE FRUITS OF HIS SPIRIT!

written by Michael Morrissey

A Beautiful and Elegant Countenance

Please visit the following website: http://www.elegantwoman.org/a-beautiful-and-elegant-countenance.html 
and read the following post entitled: A Beautiful and Elegant Countenance.

America

My beloved nation is under the judgement of God and she doesn't know it. How many of us Christians are crying out to God, "Oh Father that my nation may turn to You, let her heart go back to You, that she may be once again a nation under God." Our prayers are being answered but like everything in life there are not being answer in the way we would want it. It would be great if something supernatural happened and the hearts of people just turned back to God, but that's not how He works. His plans are greater than our plans and His thoughts higher than our thoughts.

I often find myself praying for my wonderful nation that is America. She was founded as a nation under God, a nation that trusted in the Lord, how did we get so far from Him? We have rebelled against our God by worshiping other idols. An idol is anything that takes your focus off God, so that could be a job, material possessions, family (it's not bad to love your family we are commanded to love one another but we are not to replace God with our family), TV, etc.

In the book of Amos Israel is being corrected, God is trying to bring them back to Him and this is what He says:

6 “I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities,

and lack of bread in all your places,

yet you did not return to me,”

declares the Lord.

  7 “I also withheld the rain from you

when there were yet three months to the harvest;

I would send rain on one city,

and send no rain on another city;

one field would have rain,

and the field on which it did not rain would wither;

  8 so two or three cities would wander to another city

to drink water, and would not be satisfied;

yet you did not return to me,”

declares the Lord.

  9 “I struck you with blight and mildew;

your many gardens and your vineyards,

your fig trees and your olive trees the locust devoured;

yet you did not return to me,”

declares the Lord.

  10 “I sent among you a pestilence after the manner of Egypt;

I killed your young men with the sword,

and carried away your horses,

and I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils;

yet you did not return to me,”

declares the Lord.

  11 “I overthrew some of you,

as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,

and you were as a brand plucked out of the burning;

yet you did not return to me,”

declares the Lord.

  12 “Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel;

because I will do this to you,

prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

  13 For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind,

and declares to man what is his thought,

who makes the morning darkness,

and treads on the heights of the earth—

the Lord, the God of hosts, is His name!

He wants us back and so we are going through financial difficulties and we are going through everything we are going through because He is trying to get our attention but it breaks my heart because He is saying to us "I cause the market to crash, the housing crisis was a waking call yet you did not turn to Me"

How long till this nation turns back to GOD. America when will you realize that you were a nation dedicated to God, therefore you are His whether you like it or not, you were created/formed as a nation under the God Almighty. How blessed are we to be His possession! All I can pray is God let Your will be done concerning my nation, I plead for mercy on her behalf.

Let Us Return

Come, and let us return to the LORD; 

For He has torn, but He will heal us;

He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

Hosea 6:1

How many times have you been wounded and in pain and your last thought is of returning to the God of Love. Our pain is so strong we direct our attention everywhere but His throne, why? Why are we so stubborn? His word says that if we go to Him, He will come to us, like the rain He will come to us. Is that not something to rejoice about? I know not all of us like rain but think of a really hot summer day, humidity is at 100%, there are no clouds in the sky and the sun is right on top of you, if you are like me you are going to wish for rain. And when that rain comes it will be refreshing, that's what Hosea means when he says, "...He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth" (Hosea6:3)

We serve a loving God and if we turn to Him, He will surely turn to us. But sometimes it is the state of our heart that keeps Him away. How would you feel if God told you: 

O Ephraim, what shall I do to you?

O Judah, what shall I do to you?

For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud,

and like the early dew it goes away.

Hosea 6:4

Replace Ephraim and Judah and use your name instead, "O Ana, what shall I do to you? for your faithfulness is like a morning cloud" those are really harsh words. He longs for a faithful relationship with you. Just like we expect our husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend to be faithful to us, He expects and demands the same from us. He will not be fooled if you only give Him lip service He can tell where your heart is and if it's not completely surrendered to Him, He doesn't want your pitiful acts of "righteousness". Instead He says to you, "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6). Let's not focus so much on what the world is going to say and let's focus on what God is going to say about us. The Pharisees followed the law, they were devoted (at least they appeared to be), they fasted and prayed but they did it so others would see, they were looking for the praise of men and not of God. Let's not be like the Pharisees, let us live surrendered lives, lives that please God. Let our praise and honor come from God and not man. For it is written, "woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets" Luke 6:26

Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, 

"Return to Me, says the LORD of hosts, 

"and I will return to you," says the LORD of hosts.

Zechariah 1

Metro Praise

Metro Praise Grand Opening!!

Title of the message

Great worship

A passionate pastor

&

Beautiful people

They had a full house all the glory to God!

After service they spend some time hanging out

they cafe called "Mission Cafe" they sell all types of goodies and the money goes to support missions, what a great idea :)

Lady Malinda Prince Sapp

Lady MaLinda Sapp

I watched her homegoing service via the internet this afternoon and it was beautiful. So many great stories about Lady MaLinda were shared; she was an incredible women of God and she will be missed. The world might say that she lost her battle against cancer, but I assure you she didn't lose anything. We serve a God that knows all things, there's nothing that happens without Him knowing.

As I watched the service a women took the stage and what she said was so powerful, she said "What do you do when God doesn't do what you want Him to do? What do you when you feel He has disappointed you?" she went on to say how do you go back to this God? and that my friends struck me. 

First of all who are we to ask such question, God is God and regardless of what happens or does not happen He is worthy to be praise. But let's be honest we have all been in this place where we feel like God has not come through  (at least not the way we expected Him to), there's a sense of disappointment. We placed all of our faith in Him and we are hurt when He apparently doesn't show up. Oh how foolish of us, how easily we forget His goodness and His words, after all it was Him who said "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" Hebrews 13:5

Oh my soul will put its trust on You!!! For You alone are the source of my strength, You alone my God hold my world in Your hands and I will trust You and You will quiet down my soul with Your Love!!! In my darkest moments and in my driest season I will choose to worship You, I will declare Your goodness and Your greatness. There's no one like You my Lord and my Saviour!!!

MaLinda Sapp funeral: Jonathan Dunn performs "Here I Am"

Love Defined

How many of us have ever been in love or at least thought we were in love?

LOVE: an intense feeling of deep affection; a great interest and pleasure in something.

That's just a way the dictionary defines love. Now let me tell you how God defines love. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Love was defined at the cross, where innocent blood was shed for the world. God manifested His love for the world at the cross. He did not withhold anything back but gave it all, He gave His only Son. He is not like us, He didn't give us His leftovers, He gave us ALL He had, He gave us His ONLY Son. 


I don't know about you but that's LOVE!!! There's no greater love than this, you can search for it and trust me you will NOT find it. No other human being can give you this type of love. God's love is everlasting, it was given to us while we were still sinners. 


Oh the LOVE of GOD, so perfect, so honest and real. He will never leave you because something better came along. God is faithful, He will never cheat on you with anyone else, He will always think you are beautiful. He will never do anything to harm you (although sometimes you might hurt, He will never do anything to hurt you). He takes everything (the good, the bad and the ugly) and He turns it into something beautiful.

GOD'S LOVE IS PERFECT

It's been a while

I have not posted in a long time (4 months), quick update:

1. I graduated, yey!
2. I went to Punta Cana for vacation in July
3. We had an international convention at our church (www.maranathausa.com)
4. We had extreme camp (youth camp)
5. Some bad news- I had two funeral in the month of August

Overall, life is good and God is faithful!

Today I went to the grand opening of Metro Praise the church is beautiful, the people are great and the word is passionate. Pastor Joe is a great man and he lives his church motto "Loving God, Loving people" The love for God is evident and so is the love for people. I had a wonderful time at their service, the atmosphere is laid back and I just loved it there. However, I already have a wonderful home church (Maranatha) but it was nice celebrating with our fellow brothers and sisters.

I'll post pictures soon!

Happy Mother's Day

The First Presidency issued a statement: Motherhood,' they wrote, 'is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.

Because mothers are essential to God’s great plan of happiness, their sacred work is opposed by Satan, who would destroy the family and demean the worth of women.' " Russell M. Nelson, “Our Sacred Duty to Honor Women,” Ensign, May 1999, 38

Happy Mother's Day!!!

To all the women, who have had the divine privilege to become mother's may God continue to bless you and give you the strength necessary to do all that you do. May He give you the grace and ability to love even in the most difficult of times. 

NO compromise

Christianity as you know it is corrupt and it has abandoned the principles which Christ Himself set. Christianity has become just another religion when it was meant to be a relationship and people are right Jesus did not judge but was moved to compassion we find many of examples in the New Testament but He also stood for righteousness and holiness and SIN regardless of what sin it is, to Him and to GOD it's still sin. He died on the cross for the sin of the world, He willingly gave up His life for sin.

Let me just ask you a question and please just for argument sakes play along. Let's say you were walking down a road and I saw a big hole ahead of you and I thought that you could get hurt by falling into the hole. Is it then not my responsibility not necessarily as a friend but as a person to warn you about it? I can sit here and quote scripture to you but what good would that do? I am NOT against the homosexual, I am well aware that they are humans, I am NOT against liars, and thief because they are also humans but what I am against and I am called to be against is SIN. Because of SIN my Savior had to die on a cross, because of it He suffered what I needed to suffered, because of it innocent blood was shed so I wouldn't have to shed mine. I am not calling out homosexuality and perhaps this note wouldn't have bothered people if instead of homosexuality I talked more of lying, stealing, gossiping and adultery, next time I'll make sure I speak of all of them equally for they all are sin.

Of course they are some people that because they read of Jesus in a religious book or history book, they think they know Him. But its more than just reading. Its a lifestyle, its a relationship. It's about prayer, fasting and actually seeking Him. Jesus preached a gospel of forgiveness and compassion but it was forgiveness and compassion WITHOUT compromise. If you read the New Testament when He was moved with compassion and healed someone or saved someone He told them to go on with their lives and sin no more. I dare say that I am following the steps of Christ for He stood at the gates and proclaim "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand" I am proclaiming truth as I know, not MY truth for there's none in me, but I am proclaiming His truth and that is that HE died on the cross for the sins of the world. That's my notion of truth.

TRUTH

I am sorry to let my homosexual counterparts know that you CANNOT both be a believer and a homosexual. I love you all with all of me and if I had to give up my life for you to see the truth then I will do it. But you cannot proclaim yourself a CHRISTian and also a homosexual. They just don't go together.

I have homosexuals friends and I am not one to point fingers because we have ALL fallen short of the glory of God. But He has made a way and that way is His Son, Jesus Christ. We are ALL sinners but HIS love has set us free from sin. And YES, homosexuality is a sin just as lying, stealing, committing a murder, and gossiping are sins. SIN is sin, there's no such thing as a little sin, ALL sin regardless of how you weight it, required the SAME price and that price was the precious, guiltless blood of JESUS.

MY sin, YOUR sin. Cost the life of the only begotten Son of GOD. So please don't label SIN small or big. SIN is and it will always be SIN and there's only ONE (1) way to the Father and that is through the blood of His PERFECT, SINLESS SON, JESUS CHRIST!

LOVE

To love GOD is to hate sin. 

To love sin is to HATE GOD!

How many of us see it that way? How many of us DARE see it that way?

Are we too much in love with our sin that we cover it up?

Are we too attach to it that we protect it even from God?

Where is the love that we confess to have towards the Father?

And I am not talking about you (if you feel that applies than praise GOD) but I am talking about myself.

Where is the LOVE?

Where is the PASSION?

Where is the true DESIRE to please HIM?

WHERE?

What have we done with it?! 

OH that HIS people would love HIM. 

OH that HIS people would desire HIM as much as HE desires us!

What would this world be like?

If the world is in ruins, its OUR (the church, the body, the bride) fault.

What have we done with the gift of salvation?

Going back to the 1st love

This video is something we all who call ourself Christians need to hear. 

Because we have taken our salvation too lightly.

He PAID the price in full, there's nothing you and I can add or take away.

He did it all, when He was at the cross He said, "it is finished"

Now it is up to you and I to be a clear reflection of Christ.

Let's stop loving to the pleasures of the world and let us love Him wholeheartedly.

She is powerful

I love her. She was an amazing woman after God's heart. I love the relationship she had with the Holy Spirit. Her passion. Her desire to please Him. She is such an inspiration.

If we only had many more like her today! What glorious days we would have. The Holy Spirit wants to move in the midst of His people but doesn't have a vessel that is willing to be used by Him.

Oh to have Him!

In the Splendor

Bless the Lord (Son of Man), I am sure this song has been out forever now but I just came across it this weekend when I was on my way to prayer Mountain a property my church has in Mount Carol (approximately 3 hrs way from the city). The place is beautiful one of these days when I go, I'll snap some pictures of the property if not just go to the link. It is truly a place where the presence of God abides. If you go to the mountain and you don't feel God then let's just say you should check yourself. GOD makes Himself known in that place. We have many activities there, youth camps, women retreats, men retreats, prayer watch. I love going to the mountain, it is peaceful and the best thing (or worse depending how much you love your phone) there is no signal so you can detach yourself from your phone, welll you are sort of force to, but it's great!

I pray you have a blessed Sunday!

GIVE

Girls love shoes!!! I love shoes, but what if you didn't have any and you had to walk miles to get water? What if you had to walk barefoot to school? What if you didn't have any shoes? If you are like me (and I am sure you are) you have tons of pairs of shoes in your closet some that you haven't worn in months others in years.

TOMS to be honest with you, I have seen the shoes before but no one told me of the great cause it supports. I will be buying my first pair of TOMS (this ones) =] I think they will be nice for the summer!

Life without shoes would suck and it would be painful. Make the lives of a child in need easier by
purchasing a pair of TOMS!

=]

I don't know if any of you fast. I did a 40 hour fast (all day monday and today until 2 pm) and it was a bit challenging because I have never fasted from all food ever. I have done the Daniel 21 day fast where you restrict what you eat (can't eat dairy, sugar, processed food, etc) it's pretty much vegan on steroids. But I have never done just water fast so it was interesting. I finally had some food today and it was yummy. I am extremely full now. 

Anyway if you want to do a fast make sure you know what your petition is (why are you fasting? what answer do you want from God?) Fasting is one of the many weapons Christians have, the other are praying and giving. We need to do all three prayer, fast and give. 

Well I hope you all enjoyed great weather, I am in Chicago and we had great weather today!

Happy Monday

GOD is good. I woke up yet another day and I am extremely happy. The sun is out, its a little cold but at least it's not snowing. I pray you all have a wonderful week. 

Read your Word, get lost in His presence and just remember:

Be blessed!

Beauty for Ashes

He gives beauty for ashes

Strength for fear

Gladness for mourning

Peace for despair

When sorrow seems to surround you

When suffering hangs heavy o'er your head

Know that tomorrow brings

Wholeness and healing

God knows your need

Just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes

Strength for fear Gladness for mourning

Peace for despair

When what you've done keeps you from moving on

When fear wants to make itself at home in your heart

Know that forgiveness brings

Wholeness and healing

God knows your need

Just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes

Strength for fear Gladness for mourning

Peace for despair

I once was lost but God has found me

Though I was bound I've been set free

I've been made righteous in His sight

A display of His splendor all can see

He gives beauty for ashes

Strength for fear Gladness for mourning

Peace for despair 

Crystal Lewis

BOOKS

If you like to read here are some great Christian books:

I absolutely love Francine Rivers, this book is about the 5 women mentioned in Jesus' lineage in the first chapter of Matthew. 

About the book of Hosea

If you want to fast but don't know how or what the meaning of fasting is read this book. It also tells you the importance of fasting and why every believer should read it.

Yes, it looks intimidating and to be honest it might be just a little, but the Word of God says that without holiness no one shall see the LORD (Hebrews 12:14)

If you have read any good books please let me know!!! =]

Great Day

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. It was gloomy in Chicago, the sun didn't come out today but nonetheless it was a beautiful day. If you are reading this whether or not you think you had a great day, you did. You woke up this morning and that is enough to make any day a great day!

Keep a smile on your face always, know that you are beautiful, love yourself, know your worth and live life, enjoy life! 

Remember to be the light to this world, we believe in someone that said that He is the light, so if we walk with Him that same light is also found in us!!! 

photo via flickr daddysbabygrl75 (my account @ flickr)

Jesus, the Light of the World

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12

GOD bless you!!!! 

Rain Down

Looks like tonight, the sky is heavy
feels like the winds, are gonna change
Beneath my feet, the Earth is ready
I know it's time, for heavens rain.
It's gonna rain,


Back to the start, my heart is heavy
Feels like it's time, to dream again
I see the clouds, and yes i'm ready
To dance upon, this barren land
Hope in my hands, 

~~~~~~~~~~~~
SPRING is coming!!! I am trying to study for my finals next week and I am having a hard time. It is raining, thundering and I am excited!!!! =] GOD is watering the earth and soon Chicago will be dressed in green!!! I love Spring and I am excited for this summer. I graduate in June and I have a trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in July.


As the raining days begin try to keep an optimistic attitude, gloomy days does NOT mean you need to have a bad day. Instead think of all the flowers and the green trees and the green grass and the beautiful weather! 


Oh GOD is good!!!! I love thunderstorms (when I am inside and not driving) =] 

Happy Wednesday

This morning it was cloudy and it looked like it was going to rain, it is now 4 pm and the sun is out, the sky is beautiful and the day is PERFECT. I love Chicago when the weather gets nice. God is so good!

I love walking to the train every morning. Next time you are not in such a great mood, walk around for a little. If you are at home walk around your block, if you are at work get up from your desk and just for 5 mins detach yourself from everything else that might be going on and just breathe. 5 minutes, walk and meditate on God's goodness, thank Him for waking you up and giving you another day. We need to remember not everyone that went to sleep last night woke up this morning, so for that be thankful!

God is good!!! and He is good ALL the time, no matter how you are feeling He is still good, HE doesn't change ever, it is us that are overwhelmed with our surroundings and we forget that He is our hiding place, our refuge when things get out of control.

Enjoy your Wednesday and just give God all the glory!!!

Remember we only get ONE life to live, so please live it in a way that you won't regret!!! enjoy every minute, laugh at the bad things and just enjoy LIFE!!!

=]

We have so much to smile about, but for some strange reason we choose to focus on all the bad things that might be going on in our lives. We forgot to be thankful for waking up, every time you are faced with a circumstance just smile and give God thanks for waking you up. If you were dead you wouldn't have any problems, you wouldn't have to think about the 44541326664 things on your to-do list. So rather than complain just SMILE

photo via lisaluvzzzz flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fluffyboo2/2665524211/

Taste & See

GOD is good. Regardless of what we do, what we are going through, how we feel one thing remains true and that is God's goodness. Many times we allow our circumstances determine our view of God. We forget that He doesn't change, He is the same. He will always be faithful, loving, kind, merciful.

Let's not forget that God is good, even when things around us are falling apart and we feel as if God has forgotten about us, I assure you He hasn't. Instead of complaining when bad times come take the time to meditate on what is going on and what lessons you can learn from all the chaos. We live in a world where bad things will happen, the bible doesn't promise us that everything will be perfect. I have yet to find a verse that says the way of the LORD is perfect and we will always be happy and trials will never come our way. There's an entire book of a man, a perfect and holy mad that suffer lost after lost, his name was Job. So let's be realistic and let's admit, bad things will happen but what determines the outcome is how I react to it. Will I let whatever circumstance defeat me or will I remain unmoved? Will I let go of God at the sight of trouble and try to do things my way or will I hold fast to His promise that He will never leave or forsake me?

Let's not walk away from God in our darkest moments, this is when we need to run and declare that He is our refuge, our fortress in time of trouble. We can hide under the shadow of His wing. God is good, let's not forget that.

how HE loves us!!!

God is good and we forget His goodness and how much He loves us. I hope we never forget how much He loves us. Remember that we were bought with a price, we were not cheap and our salvation is precious. It was the blood of Jesus that sets us free, it is the blood of Jesus that gives us freedom to come before God's presence and just be loved by Him. It is that blood that gives us the right to come before the Father and it is in His presence that we receive His love, forgiveness and mercy.

Let us not take the blood for granted because without it there is no salvation, without there is not redemption, without the blood there is no HOPE! 

Give up the illusion

Devotional for today from Sarah Young's book Jesus Calling:

GIVE UP THE ILLUSION that you deserve a problem-free. Part of you is still hungering for the resolution of all difficulties. This is a false hope! As I told My disciples, in the world you will have trouble. Link your hope not to problem solving in this life to but to the promise of an eternity of problem-free life in heaven. Instead of seeking perfection in this fallen world, pour your energy into seeking Me: the Perfect One.

It is possible to enjoy Me and glorify Me in the midst of adverse circumstances. In fact, My Light shines most brightly through believers who trust Me in the dark. That kind of trust is supernatural: a production of My indwelling Spirit. When things seem all wrong, trust Me anyway. I am much less interested in right circumstances than in right responses to whatever comes your way.

I have told you all this that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

Light shines in the darkness for the godly.

They are generous, compassionate and righteous.

They do not fear bad news;

they confidently trust the LORD to take care of them.

Psalm 112:4, 7

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on Haiti

Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them

I denied myself by fasting for them

but my prayers returned answered

I was sad, as though they were my friends or family

as if I were grieving for my own mother

Psalm 35:13-14

I am sure we have all heard of what happened in Haiti, we have seen images that have left us speechless. So many people dead, so many without a home, without family, children without parents, parents without their children. What has happened has truly shaken the entire world.

I am part of Maranatha World Revival Ministries (http://maranathausa.com/index_english.htm) and we have 16 churches in Haiti, 12 have been accounted for, 6 pastors died and an entire congregation perish the day the earthquake hit. They had service that day and the church was full, there we no survivors. Our Ministries around the world are sending whatever they can to Haiti, money is easiest thing to send right now. We have churches in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) the national director of the Santo Domingo has been crossing the border to Haiti to bring medical supplies and food to the people. $1000 has feed 200, 12 children have been placed in homes in Santo Domingo and by the end of this year our church (headquarters in Chicago) plans to have a orphanage for all the kids that were left without parents. But that was only the beginning of what this ministry is doing to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

In times of crisis is when the body of Christ needs to arise. We need to cry out for our nation and for this world, things are not going to get easier and it is our duty to stand in the gap, in prayer, fasting and supplication. We need to cry out, ask for mercy. We need God's mercy.

May God bless you and please keep the nation of Haiti and our nation in prayer. We all need it!

a New habit

From the book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, a devotional:

I WANT YOU TO LEARN A NEW HABIT. Try saying, "I trust You, Jesus" in response to whatever happens to you. If there is time, think about who I am in all My Power and Glory; ponder also the depth and breadth of My love for you. 

This simple practice will help you see Me in every situation, acknowledging My sovereign control over the universe. When you view events from this perspective-- through the Light of My universal Presence--fear loses its grip on you. Adverse circumstances become growth opportunities when you affirm your trust in Me no matter what. You receive blessings gratefully, realizing they flow directly from My hand of grace. Your continual assertion of trusting Me will strengthen our relationship and keep you close to Me.


2  I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
Psalm 63:2

 10  Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power.
He will rule with a powerful arm.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.

 11  He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will carry the lambs in his arms
holding them close to his heart
He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

Isaiah 40:10-11

 7  I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!

 8  If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,* you are there.

 9  If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

 10  even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.

Psalm 139:7-10