Monthly Archives: October 2008

Oct 31 2008
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Church, History, Life

Happy Reformation day!

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his list of 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany, and more or less unintentionally set into motion the series of events that we now call the Protestant Reformation. Roughly half of the Christians in the world today worship in churches that exist because of Luther’s actions.

I think that it is important to remember those who were persecuted, died and stood strong in the faith of Jesus Christ! We all have a role in church history! I pray that we Christians of the faith stand strong in perilous times. Stand firm in Jesus the author and finisher of our faith

QUOTES BY MARTIN LUTHER

“Faith is a living and unshakable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake.” M.L

“Blood alone moves the wheels of history.” M.L

“Faith is permitting ourselves to be seized by the things we do not see.” M.L

“I am afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the heart of the youth.” M.L

“Grant that I may not pray alone with the mouth; help me that I may pray from the depths of my heart.” M.L

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” M.L

“People must have righteous principals in the first, and then they will not fail to perform virtuous actions.” M.L

“Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.” M.L

“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.” M.L

 

Maranatha!

 

 

“Christ wants not nibblers of the possible, but grabbers of the impossible.” — C.T. Studd

Oct 29 2008
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Hubba Chubba, Life

Hubba Chubba

Maybe it’s because I’m sick and really have nothing else to do but think about the thing’s I’m lacking in? or maybe It’s because it’s colder outside and I bought a new white coat (suuuper cute) that makes me look like a giant marshmallow (jet puffed has nothing on me)? Whatever it is? Something has got to change! So I have decided to start a diet and to eat healthier! I’m gonna do it! I have to! My job offers a great deal through 24 hour fitness and I’m so tempted to join. But, what would kill me is finding time to go to the gym and having a personal trainer is just unrealistic. This whole working out/eating healthier is a lot harder than it looks. The fact that I live with a Jr. high girl who is in the most ENERGETIC state of her LIFE and wants to jog a gazillion miles a day with me ( I guess I do have a personal trainer)  🙂 is definitely a perk. The last time I went jogging with Elisabeth, I felt like I was on the Biggest Loser and she was staring me down as I started to slow down and would get in my face and say “C’mon you can do it! We’ve only been jogging for 10 min. jeez” Yep, that’s me alright, the pathetic runner, who can swear up and down that she loves jogging, but when it comes down to doing it, tells young energetic girls like Elisabeth (that girl has drive-she’ll drive me to begging her to stop. For the love of doughnuts STOP!) “I like running at my own pace -more like walking at my own pace” I will not tell you how I almost puke if I run to much. Yeah, we won’t go there.  But, now I have a goal-stick to it Amber, stick to it! There are so many different thing’s that are telling me to pursue this. Diabetes runs in my family, Mexican people just tend to be over weight anyways (it’s all those beans and tortillas) and I’m just plain uncomfortable and discontent with myself. So, With the help of the Lord (that’s the only way this can be done) I am striving to eat healthier, work out more and feel better. Plus I think when you work out more, you don’t get sick as often (and I’m ALWAYS sick) I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. Say good-bye to “Hubba Chubba” and hello to “Hubba Hubba” ahaha! just kidding-sort of 🙂 I’ll keep you posted!-unless I do horribly and will then avoid posting anything that would bring up this dreaded subject again.

Have a blessed day!

Oct 28 2008
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Life, Prayer

The Greatest Gift

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13

 

Reading the words that Paul wrote, is like reading a love letter from a significant other, someone very close, someone who’s trying to win your heart over, someone who is whispering wait for me. Truth be told, I love a good love story. I could type one out for you right now, but it wouln’t do any justice compared to the ultimate love story. Jesus’ perfect love for us will forever remain unmatched. It is that Love that He has so freely, generously and willingly bestowed upon us, because He believed that the only way He could gain our heart was to give His own, and even then it wasn’t for sure that He would capture the heart of all that He desired. But, He was willing to claim the heart of the faithful few. I want to have a love like that, a love that pushes me to the limit, a love that say’s “I will go where you want me to, even if it causes death.” But, here I am saying so freely that I’m willing to die for the Lord, when I find it’s a bit harder to LIVE for Him. Let us pursue the Lord passionately! As Christ approached the cross with willingness, love and purpose, we too should pursue Him with that same drive.

Day After Day

Day after day I’ll search to find You, Day after day I’ll wait for You

The deeper I go, the more I love Your name

-Chorus-

So, keep my heart pure and ways true as I follow YOU

Keep me humble, I’ll stay mindful of Your mercies Lord.

 

I’ll cherish Your Word I’ll seek Your presence

I’ll chase after You with ALL I am, cause one day I know I’ll see You face to Face

-Chorus-

 

wanting more, giving more.

Oct 24 2008
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Life

Reminiscent

Hello readers! Today is a new day as apposed to yesterday and the day before I have a fresh outlook on life. I just got done entering the 252 sales orders that were so generously bestowed upon me (It was like Christmas). I decided to take a quick look at a friend’s blog. I actually don’t even think she knows I keep up with her blog (I’m not a blog stalker, I promise.) I haven’t talked to her since May at my nieces graduation at Bible College. This girl was  one of my first dorm babies and I was her dorm mama. It was my third semester in BC and I was nervous to have the responsibility of 4 girls’ lives (spiritual and physical) I remember when I had first met her I thought she was the cutest girl and so sweet. She was from Tallahassee, Florida and boy-o-boy I could hear it in her accent. I remember her mom pulling me aside and asking me to take care of her baby (WOW! pressure). I had received my 4 girls, all unique and totally different. One is married now, another is working and dancing her little heart out, the third is living in Italy and just got back from Norway, and the last one is living life to the fullest in good ol’ Whittier. It’s the thirds blog that I follow and enjoy every sweet word that she types. I feel like a little piece of my heart is there. The thing’s she writes and feels are thing’s I desperately want to articulate. Looking back on that third semester of BC my heart misses the moments I had with each one of those girls. Jogging with Tylen just to get her to talk to me, eating empanadas with Kate we’ll talking about our goals, driving to the beach late at night with Laura  well running through the water, and enjoying my conversations with Kristina when we were in our room alone. God has been good to me. He’s allowed me to be apart of these girls’ lives and in some way or another,  whether impacting in a big way our small way, the Lord allowed me to have a part in their lives, and for that I am grateful. The neat thing is, that after a year and a half later these girls are still impacting my life and I’m sure they have no idea, which is even cooler. A neat thing that I read in Laura’s blog (*preface* She had been ministering at a Norwegian Christian High School.)

“We were all enraptured into the lives of these people- and for some reason they grabbed onto us as well. Through out the week we had opportunities for the students to come and we would do worship (with a guitar, not an organ) and just share our hearts and lives- being completely open and available for whatever they needed. As I mentioned before- nothing was mandatory and was optional for everyone. Yet, every time we had an event- our jaws would drop and our hearts rejoiced as the students and staff pilled in.”

A verse that she quoted out of Exodus 33:14-15 was very encouraging to read:

“And He said, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’
Then he said to Him, ‘If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.’”

I desire that the Presence of my Lord be with me wherever I go, even in the little tasks of life. To consult Him and share with Him all that goes in in my day to day life. I think it so sweet to be able to have that type of intimate relationship with the Lord and that He’s accessible. “If Your Presence does not go with me, do not bring me up from here.” Wherever the Lord leads next, I pray that it’s by His Spirit alone and not in my own. If Your Presence is not with me Lord than cause my feet to never move, never. Keep me close to You!

Reminiscent.

Oct 23 2008
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Prayer

Commitment

“Prayer is a work to which we must commit ourselves if we are to make

 sense of our lives in the light of eternity.” 

                  -TerryGlaspey

 

 

 

Oct 23 2008
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Life, Prayer

Wanting more, but needing less!

Yesterday was quite a day for me. So many thing’s happened that I won’t/don’t want to even get into (partially because I’m embarrassed) As I was driving home on I-67 I started to cry. I whispered gently “Why am I unhappy with my life.” The whole day to day routine is becoming more and more distasteful to me. It was magnified yesterday. On the surface everything looks good, but deep down (where it matters the most) I’m ugly to the core. I’m so tired of this wretched man that I am. I want the Lord to come and sweep me away at times. I’m finding more and more that NOTHING satisfies like the Lord. But then there’s this part of me that wants to be lazy in my walk and just let all those little dirty rags slip in. Yesterday well talking to my sister I told her “I’m totally fine with being angry, bitter and not doing anything about it.” Foolish me, I swear I’m such a dork at times. In my anger and frustration I acted like a fool and said thing’s I know I shouldn’t have. The Lord seems to place these really sweet, loving people who encourage me constantly and are living examples of patience and self-control (it kills me) I want to have those very same characteristics. But, in order to get more of Christ. I’m needing to give less of my flesh, of me (my plans,goals,needs) Seriously the verse in Romans 7:15 “For what I will to do, that I do not practice.” Everything I desire to do for the Lord (be more patient, kind, generous and so much more) I do the exact opposite. I have a felling the Lord is testing my patience and boy does He humble quickly. In love, but He seems to be pretty quick with me.

Well, Lord hear I am! I’m not much and I need a lot of work. There’s a piece deep down in my heart amidst the dirt and rubble of my heart that still desires to offer up more. But i feel as If it’s fading at times. Lord I believe you can do ALL thing’s, but help my unbelief.

We are the broken, empty, hurt, scarred, needy, helpless, lonely, lost, confused, tired, sick, ailed! These, these are Your people and we are in desperate need of You!

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly. ” Jn. 10:10

I’m desperate!

Oct 17 2008
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Life, Prayer

Bring Your A-game!

Boy-O-boy! If there were ever a time for me to bring my A-game it would be now! These past few months of my life have been busy. There are times I feel like I’ve been running like a chicken with it’s head cut off ( mama- sorry I didn’t mean to bring up childhood memories). Last night I told my friend  “I feel like I’m NEVER home” to which her reply was “you NEVER are” I agreed “You’re right.” I feel like every minute of my day has been occupied with something other than silence. But looking back to about 2 1/2 years ago and remembering the two jobs (starbucks & the gym) I had, and also commuting to Garland to take a couple of night classes at a local Calvary Chapel and somehow still being involved in church as much as I wanted and could be. I don’t remember being as tired as I am now, with just one job and no heavy commute. This has prompted my heart to ask the Lord “Why am I so tired Lord?!” I just don’t get it? Life seems to be kicking me in the booty lately and frankly I want to kick back and tell it to back off. Now don’t get me wrong I love all that the Lord has placed in front of me, every bit of it. What’s so frustrating and is making me wish I played soccer or baseball just so I can hit something is my flesh! Uhhh I hate my flesh, especially the parts that say “I’m tired and wish I could stay home this Wednesday night” or “I wish sleeping was a profession?”  Seriously, who am I?! I’m reminded of a song by Grand prize:

 Is my life what you had in mind
I feel I’m falling behind
On the outside I look fine but
My heart is dark as wine
I look to you to pull me through the
Quicksands of my life
So why am I lonely
Since you have risen

Be the Shepherd of my soul

Oh my God what went wrong
I’m thirsty and I long to be filled
With your love that only comes from above

My heart can be so ugly at times (a lot of the time) It hit’s me like a freight train at times and all of a sudden insecurities rise and all other kinds of junk. I wish that only the Lord would come in and flood those areas of my life and making no provision for the flesh. There are these times I want to run away with the Lord and just vacation with Him on some lonely mountain top. I know I sound like a dreamer. But what I fail to realize is that He is ever near. He makes His home in the hearts of those I serve along side with, the men and women who also have this desire to go and just be alone with the Lord but are eager to make Him known. We are His people! This may seem a bit sensational. But it’s who I am It’s who God created me to be, to love deeply, to feel deeply and to run towards Him in a way that only I can. Be the Shepherd of my life. Guide me Lord! And if needed break me until I only rely on You.

It’s time for me to gear up and bring my A-game! Please pray that I would give my first fruits to the Lord. I long to be in the Word more and sadly I feel that has not been priority. Please pray!

Grace and peace.
 

Oct 07 2008
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Life

Oh, Sweet Autumn Day

 Oh, how I love the color and scent of Autumn! The leaves all mirror the color of the sun and the wind brings forth a fragrant, warm, whimsical, sweet scent. My senses come alive and I find myself becoming a little more poetic and amazed during this time of the season. What amazes me more is that my God, my Elohim created all of this and made it so beautifully and in perfect order so that creation complements our Amazing Creator. I simply love the Lord and that He is constantly displaying His masterpiece before me. I only hope that I am as pleasing to His sight.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

Inspired.

Oct 06 2008
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Life

Ecstatic

 

God Is so good! Not just in the times when thing’s are going great. Also amidst the doubt and pain. He is constant! I have yet to tell my parents this (Mom and Dad if your reading this…I have a suprise for you!) I’m going to California to visit my parents and to show a good friend of mine who so generously paid for my ticket 🙂 what the great state of California is like. This will be my fourth time going to California this year. God has been good to my parents and I in this area. I’m deffinetly a Mommy and Daddy’s girl and enjoy every opportunity that I get to see them. What I appreciate about my parents is that they’re willing to let the Lord lead me as He wills. At first this was a very difficult thing for them to do and with time and prayer I think It has become easier for them. I am so blessed to have family and friends who love me and a God who loves to lavish me with gifts. He doesn’t have to, but He does. And for that I am deeply grateful.

 

Elsa, I know you sneak onto my blog sometimes (when work isn’t demanding…like that ever happens!) So, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your giving heart and also the adventure that you have to venture out and do something crazy… like go to California for a weekend just because! I hope to have a drive and passion for life the way you do! And to live it to the fullest. You are an encouragement and someone I call My Dear Friend! I love you girl! God Bless!

Much Love and Appreciation!

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