Sweet Sixteen!

 

Dear Little Sister,

Happy Birthday my beautiful you!

Today’s blog post is dedicated just for you! Wow, where do I begin? Time flies fast! I remember as if it were just yesterday when I’d wake you up and get you dressed for school. Now you have blossomed into a beautiful young sixteen year old who loves the Lord. I remember the fist fights we would get into when we would completely disagree on something. Those were the days weren’t they? I am very proud of the person you are becoming. Needless to say that you have matured so much in the past year, it is incredible. Today you turn sixteen years old and I’d like to give you some advice. Though I am only three years older than you, I for one have gone through enough to give you some pointers.

First of all, little sister, remember that nobody defines you; not the mirror, the media, your friends, hurtful words, relatives, etc., God defines you over all things. Keep in mind that things don’t come easy. Little by little you will start to see how wonderful the world is. Although you may not understand the reason why things happen and the answer to every question, know that God has a purpose for everything. Remember to appreciate the little things in life. Don’t take life for granted. Follow God’s path, for He knows what is best for you. Honey, I tell you one thing; living under the purpose of God is the greatest thing you can ever do. It’s an amazing walk full of adventure, thrill, new boundaries, and overall, a fulfilled life in the presence of God. My prayer is that no matter what happens to you in life, that you NEVER let go of God. This upcoming year I hope that you learn more. I know that things have been tough but remember that you can rely on God when you are too tired to do it on your own. Don’t fall for any guy who just talks sweetly to your ear. Be wise and know that God has the right guy at the right time. Remember that you are the daughter- a princess of the most high God, the King and that not any imposter will come and take you away, your father, the King will place Prince Charming at the right time, just be patient and see that waiting comes with advantages.

We both know that we are two different people. Though we were born from the same mother, we are different in every aspect imaginable. From physical appearance to our train of thoughts, we think as if we were from the other side of the planet. Know that I love because of that. Your beautiful brow skin, you amazing big brown eyes, your unbelievably healthy long dark brown hair, and your cute smile is exactly what makes you beautiful. I hope that you spend this day in admiring in awe of what God has done all around you. I love you soooooo much! Know that you can always count on me for anything! God bless you, my beautiful you.

Flash from the past pictures…

Breaking Point

I guess you can say this is my breaking point. I am tired, I feel fed up, and it’s time for change. I call it a new season.

This past year has made me stronger, so I think. I can say that I have been through many things that have built my character. Relationships with people have made me become a stronger person as well. Experiences that I have gone though have only made me wiser (maybe with some exceptions). The fact of the matter is that I am ready for the next level. Ready for whats coming, ready for more, and ready for breakthough. Though standing next to taller buildings may seem intimidating (hehehe).

This year I have learned that thinking before you speak should not be held under consideration but should be put into action. I’ve learned that public authorities may be wrong but that gives me no right to judge them. I also learned that you have to put oil in your cars motor in order for the car to function. The list goes on and on of my findings and musings of life. It’s made me stronger, shaped my character, and nonetheless made me the person I am today.

There have been times when I often wonder “What the heck am I still doing here?! God why am I here?!”. Times when I have felt weak and senseless have been many but God has held me through. Though I got to admit that there have been days when I wonder where God is. Days when I simply am waiting for His response, waiting for His word, waiting…

For the past month I’ve been praying for God’s direction in my life. It’s a point of my life where many things can happen. A point where things can change in an instant and that will possibly define my life. I asked God to show me His way, I prayed needing direction and approval for plans that I had. All He said was WAIT. My response was “Wait? God what do you mean wait?!! Wait? I can’t wait too long God, I need your direction and I need it now!”. The words once again vibrated in my heart, this time louder and more powerful saying WAIT. It couldn’t be anymore clear, I had to wait for God’s direction. My plans had to be put on hold, simply waiting on God’s plans to take control.

Little by little I was meditating on that word, waiting on Him. I soon started getting confirmation and direction to what He wanted me to do. Soon I was led by confirmation of plans and of His will. Now here I am… setting up for this upcoming fall to attend the Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas! I am ready to just simply do Gods will. Pray for me while I go on this journey trying to do Gods will!

The Greatest Love Story Ever Known

 

Have you ever heard a great love story? Most are like the Cinderella stories; Prince Charming falls for Cinderella and rescues her from a life of misery, living happily ever after. Some are the war love stories; where we have a Soldier, Marine, Pilot, or Sailor, go off to war, having time and distance be no boundary for this couple, they surpass the impossible and finally have each other, never letting go. The stories go on and on, melting our hearts, taking us back to our personal love stories, and once again (possibly) igniting that first love.

Though I am a sucker for such love stories, I have never heard a greater love story than the one where God plays the main character in. Which one is that one?

John 3:16- “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Let me break it down.

For God so loved YOU (you create part of the world)

That He gave His ONLY son- To die for your sins

Giving you the chance for an EVERLASTING LIFE

With one condition- If YOU believe in Him.

How can God possibly love you so much when at times you don’t even love yourself at all? Don’t you ever wonder what God see’s in you when all you happen to see are traces of overabundant flaws?

I know that at times all I see as a reflection of me are memories of the past that I allow to define me. Though what I see is what I think, but what God see’s is beyond you and me.

Let me give you an example… We see a couple walking together down the street and they seem to be just the complete opposite and you ask yourself “What did they possibly see in each in other?”. Obviously they must have been attracted to each other, though on the surface they are complete opposites. Sometimes ethnicity, height, weight, even economic class, along with social life all differs but they saw something in each other that others didn’t see. They might have seen the personality that others didn’t notice or your morals that others didn’t stand for. Whatever it was, they looked beyond the skin and into their heart… and that is exactly what God does. God looks right beyond the skin and looks into our hearts.

Like on my last post, I wrote about the love story that God wrote for us. His overflowing love for us is so amazing, yet we seize to acknowledge it. He wrote a book for us to be guided; he gave His only son for our salvation. It’s beautiful; it’s amazing how much our God has gone through for love.

How many times have I not stumbled, fell, broke, fell in the pig pen, and the list goes on and on of my failures… yet God never let go of me. How many times did I promise Him that I would never let go, that He was my everything but my actions spoke louder than those promises, they were just broken promises. Yet God knew I was going to fall, He knew I was bound to go through that road again and still held on.

This is what I call UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. Regardless of my situation, regardless of my condition, He loved me the same. He took me in, cared for me, held me tight and comforted me with promising words that would not be broken. To me, there cannot be any greater love story than this. Not only is it beautiful but it is true and real.

 

You and I Are Made to Worship

First thing that comes up when I wake up…

“You and I are made to worship, you and I are called to love, you and I are forgiven and free…” Chris Tomlin’s song, called Made to Worship. I grabbed my ipod and started looking for the song, turns out I only had one song of Chris Tomlin and it wasn’t Made to Worship. I sang it anyways.

God is so wonderful! Don’t you all agree!? He has created us to worship Him, He has forgiven us and set us free, He has created us for great purpose. Hope you may be encouraged with this song and may all of you be blessed!

Before the day
Before the light
Before the world revolved around the sun
God on high
Stepped down into time
And wrote the story of His love for everyone

He has filled our hearts with wonder
So that we always remember

You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see who we were meant to be

All we are
And all we have
Is all a gift from God that we receive
Brought to life
We open up our eyes
To see the majesty and glory of the King

He has filled our hearts with wonder
So that we always remember

You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see who we were meant to be

And even the rocks cry out
And even the Heavens shout
At the sound of His holy name
So let every voice sing out
And let every knee bow down
He is worthy of all our praise

You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free, yeah
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see, you and I will see

You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free, yeah
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see who we were meant to be