Hi Friends. 
I heard a great teaching by Alistair Begg this morning and had to share. Enjoy and be blessed! 

Restored And Forgiven

ALISTAIR BEGG

 | 09/25/2011

Alistair Begg, Pastor of Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio, and teacher on the national radio program,Truth For Life, teaches from the Book of Mark on the subject of Restoration and Forgiveness. The ultimate healing that we all can achieve is the healing of our relationship with God, giving us life and saving us from eternal damnation. Ransomed, Healed, Restored, Forgiven, are the attributes that correct our spiritual condition.

Scriptures: Mark 1:35-45

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Click on the link to listen: Restored And Forgiven: Alistair Begg

Lyrical Friday - Forgiven & Loved

Happy Friday!
I absolutely love Fridays: Uth Nation & Lyrical Friday.

This week's song is a catchy one. These lyrics are so encouraging to me and I pray that they do the same for you. I won't say much more, I'll let the lyrics speak for themselves .

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1 


(please pause the music player on the sidebar)
Forgiven and Loved, Jimmy Needham



Tell me I'm forgiven and loved
'Cause I hear it from the street corner priests
On our God has b
But my joy has been a holiday and my pieces almost passed away
Tell me I'm forgiven and freed

Oh I've tried and tried to rectifiy my hopeless situation
But the bottom line, I still have work to do
And now I'm workin' nine to five like I can earn my own salvation
But there is no condemnation in You
No

Oh whisper to me now that it's for real (oh)
'Cause in this silence of these walls
Righteousness lost its appeal
Dirty deeds have done me in
Oh but that can't stop the faithful friend
Giving mercy once again as you heal
Here it is I'm feelin'

Oh I've tried and tried to rectify my hopeless situation
But the bottom line, I still have work to do
And now I'm workin' nine to five like I can earn my own salvation
But there is no condemnation in You

Oh He died, He died to rectify my hopeless situation
And His blood commands my guilt to leave
Now on Calvary I stand, empty pockets, open hands
Oh there is no condemnation for me
Oh I've tried

Child you're forgiven and loved (5x)

*Photo by Ariel

oh happier day...

I have felt your prayers all throughout today. Wow, I haven’t felt this free and strong in a very long time. Thank You for your prayers. Thank You for your words of acceptance and support. You have truly encouraged me.

He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing.

Job 8:21

You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.

Psalm 139:5

Guess what I did today? I picked up the HEAL study guide and worked on lesson 1. Wow, I have been beating myself across the head for not starting this sooner. Someone reminded me today that His timing is perfect.

I don’t think I will ever comprehend why God would choose me, ME to accomplish His work. At times I truly believe that He should bring back Balaam’s donkey, for that donkey would be better fit than myself to do many of the things He has called me to do. Today at College group (which is ROCKING!!!) we studied and discussed Matthew 8. The entire chapter for the most part is about Jesus healing various people. One in particular hit close to home. Verses 14 & 15 talk about Peter’s mother in law, v: 15 “But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.” One of the girls pointed out that she found it both interesting and encouraging that as soon as she was healed she began to serve. As she spoke this observation I felt Jesus tell me, “I am healing you, get up and continue serving.” It was the recall of Raquel for the 975,267,534,608,734,678, 118, 812, 456th time.

Today was a happier day. It’s weird to explain, but I have felt held by the Lord, a warm embrace. Have you ever felt cradled by God? El Roi, the God who sees me, not only knows all my ways but He holds me too. The journey continues though and I will continue to journal it for you. Thank You for joining me and running alongside this crazy girl who desires to be a lily among thorns.

A Lily Restored- part 5

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39

Hi my Friends. I am honored and humbled by your response to my God story. I thank God for you and your acceptance of me. I did not want to share with you or anyone the accounts that I have invited you to read, it really was God’s leading. I don’t like to share intimate details of my life, and I did with reservations. Although, I must say through this experience, God has bandaged some wounds. Last weekend when this crazy idea came about, I thought, “No Lord. No one would care and no one needs to know. This is between you and me, us four (Father, Son, Spirit and Me) and no more.” None the less, I knew that it was God calling me to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that my labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

I want to conclude this series with one of my favorite Bible stories found in John 9*. Jesus is walking with the disciples when He notices a man who had been blind from birth. The disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him (verses 2-3). I can relate so much to that blind man, I know you can too. So many times I have questioned God as to why I had to go through certain situations or even questioned Him about a current one. Am I being punished for something that have done or not done? Why are you allowing me to go through this? God, have I sinned? And that answer may sometimes be a yes, for I am not exempt from the consequences to my dumb actions, but most of the time the Lord’s response is, “Raquel, its not that you have sinned, but that my works  may be revealed through you.” OHHH, I get it… I think!

We must continue with the story of the blind man in order to fully understand. The scripture tells us that Jesus spat on the ground and made clay with His saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay (verse6). I can’t help but feel at times, like the blind man, trials, guilt, shame, persecution feel like dirt and saliva. And I almost want to shout, “Really Lord? Is there any other way?” But we can’t question His methods when we know His track record, and it is always for our good.The Lord will use all kinds of methods in pursuing you. So, now that we are stained, tainted, filthy and beaten down, what’s next? Jesus gives the blind man a command, to go wash himself in the pool of Siloam (verse 7). I find his obedience both sweet and faith filled too. He went and came back seeing. What an awesome picture of the blessing that is produced, when in our own trials, as a lily among thorns, we wash oursleves with the Word of God and we step out in obedience. I love it!

What takes place next is where I can fully understand why I endured hardship, heartache, blindness, hunger, tribulations of all sorts. The people in John 9 notice the difference, they see a man who was born blind now being able to see. They question Him and He shares what Jesus has done for Him. The people take the blind man to the Pharisees for investigation and even call in His parents. It’s so cool, this man who once was an outcast, limited by his disability, depressed I’m sure, feeling useless and without a purpose, confused and worn out, was now joy filled with joy, boldness, courageous and even preaching! This man, redeemed, set free and given a new opportunity declared before all that He was once blind and thanks to Jesus, now he can see. He made statements like, “If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” What this man may have seen as a God forsaken curse was really part of God’s divine plan and workmanship. Our lives should always reveal God's glory to a dying world. Ok God, I really get it. Let your will be done!

This wonderful story has helped me understand that the bitterness of my past happened so that God would be revealed. As insane as the following may sound to you, I prayed one year, “Lord teach me to suffer. Allow me to go through heartaches that I have not yet experienced so that others can see you in my life.” Let me tell you, that year was the last time I prayed that prayer. But I thank God for answering it. Not only did others see Jesus sustaining me and building me up but I learned how to depend on Him alone. He is all that I need.

On my trip to Italy, I learned a valuable lesson. To make a long story short, a native Italain asked me what I thought of Italy. I told him, “Italia is beautiful.” To which he responded, in the most respectful way, “No, you make Italia beautiful.” Those words impacted me in a tremendous way. Not in a fleshly, romantic way… I heard the voice of God speaking to me. I heard the Creator of Heaven and Earth say, that I, the woman who betrayed Him so many times, was still beautiful to Him. The lesson learned was that no matter what, I was, I am and will forever be worth dying for to Jesus. It reiterated to me, that no matter what I do, what I don’t do, what ever I say or don’t say God will love me always. It was a total Hosea 2* moment.

God has been so good to me. As a child I was born with a deep desire to help people but I went about it the wrong way. Jesus has given me purpose and a calling greater than anything I could have imagined: to go out and make disciples of all nations (that may be the supermarket at times, not just another country!).  He has restored broken relationships. Like my sister and I, we are best friends now, by choice. I love my sister more now, than ever before. My love for her is an overflowing fountain that I know will never stop flowing. She is an amazing woman who loves God more than life itself. She is a blessing. I couldn’t ask for a better sister than her. Papi and I are a work in progress and our love for each other is expressed in a very weird way but it’s growing. Anorexia is a sin, an addiction, it blinds, it binds and destroys. I have to constantly renew my mind with His Word. The thoughts are always there, even though it's been over 12 years. Once you've tasted how good the Lord is, I think you don't care for the pleasures of this world... but the Spirit is willing and the flesh is weak so I pray pray pray! And God promises a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13) always! I am His workmanship and He is not done with me yet. My aim is that when I get to Heaven, to hear my Prince, My Jesus, Redeemer and Lord say to me, “compared to other women, You Raquel, my beloved, was a like a lily among thorns. Come in.”

My prayer is that you would have heard from God through my story. No matter where you came from, no matter where you are today- God wants to be revealed through your life. I would like to encourage you to share your story. I challenge you also, to take inventory of your life through Song of Songs 1:7:

“Tell me, my love, where are you leading your flock today?

Where will you rest your sheep at noon?

For why should I wander like a prostitute

among your friends and their flocks?”

Are you being Spirit led or self led?
Are you surrounding yourself with the flock of God or with the wolves, even with wolves in sheep’s clothing?
Are you being fed by the Shepherd?
Are you resting in His presence? In His promises? In His hope?
Or are you like a prostitute who sells herself short of her worth in God?
Are you wandering aimlessly through this life?
Or are you living the life God created you to live?

I am excited for all that God is about to do in You, through You and around You as you live as a Lily among Thorns. May you be captivated each day more and more by Jesus as you seek to know Him and make Him known. May He be revealed through every area of your life now and forevermore.

Love- Raquel
PS- You, make Italia beautiful : )

*Click here to read John 9  and Hosea 2:14

The Beginning of the Lily Life - part 1

One generation shall praise Your works to another,

And shall declare Your mighty acts.

Psalm 145:4

Hi readers.

I wanted to share my story with you. Today I will share up to the day that I came to truly know God as my Savior. It's not something I share often, but earlier this year, through this verse in Psalm 145 God prompted my heart to share. There are many things that the Lord permitted in my life that I find no profit in sharing or the need to give in depth details of, however, some things I will be transparent with. Sharing my story is not going to be easy, I am holding unto His strength as I obey His command to declare His mighty acts in my life. Because I tend to write as much as I talk, I won't promise to keep it short and sweet, just sweet : )



In the beginning...

God said, "Let there be beauty" and I was born! Ok, maybe that wasn't the way it all began. I am the second of three children born in New York to a very hardworking married couple. I grew up in a Catholic home with a fear of grieving the Virgin Mary, but even that didn't stop me from being the mischievous and rebellious child that I was. I have always been strong-willed and like the Spanish saying goes, "no tenia pelo en la lengua" in other words, I freely spoke my mind. I was often referred to as "El Terremoto" or "The Earthquake." Needless to say, I was the middle child, the black sheep, the strong yet forgotten child.

In School, my report cards would read like this, "She is very disruptive in class." Teachers either disliked me or loved me. They learned early on that if they gave me tasks to do I would behave better. I bullied the bullies. Yes, as you read it. I didn't like anyone getting mocked, picked on or harassed and I felt called to defend those who were in need. While in Kindergarten, I went to my sister's second grade class and while Mami spoke with Anelle's Teacher I took the liberty of giving the class bully a beat down and left him with some bruises to remind him that being a bully was out of the question while I was at PS 132 Juan Pablo Duarte Elementary. With that said, I was popular. The bullies wanted to keep me on their good side and the weaklings wanted me for protection. I was the friendly bully, people liked me and I liked that.

But at home things were different. I was the middle child, often neglected by my older sister and younger brother who were always playing together. They formed an alliance with all the teddy bears and I wasn't allowed to be a part of that clique. They called me "La Pea" and so I was left alone. The only time I had Ernie as a brother and friend were times that he and Anelle would fight. I would enjoy those moments, because I was his place of comfort. I was Raquel, no longer to be called La Pea. But as surely as the coming of the sun, they would get over their disagreement and I was shunned, till the next argument. My playtime consisted of playing Barbie by myself or helping Mami clean. I always knew that she wouldn't reject my presence. Papi was also a good outlet. He is the fashion industry and he passed on to me his creativity. As a child, I was Daddy's little girl, helping him out with all the fashion "homework" he'd do at home.

This pattern continued as I grew up, insecure and with the attitude of raging beast. I don't remember when or how it came to be but anger and bitterness grew to be a big part of who I was. Looking back I hid it very well, I always did. I became the leading actress in my life and I vowed to never let anyone in. I was changing and not for the better. I surrounded my self with the wrong crowd. I was involved in very illegal business, never consumed (get the point). I was failing my classes, as usual. I disrespected teachers. I shoplifted. I would dress differently behind my parents back. I wore make up that Mami forbid me to wear. I cursed like crazy, as if those words were the extended American alphabet. I was a mess. My rebellion though at the time was about to take a turn for the worse.

My Grandmother and some Aunts had surrendered their lives to Jesus a few years prior. Their prayers were answered when my Parents joined the wagon and accepted Jesus into their life in 1994. I did not like this conversion. And I certainly did not like God for taking my parents away. As a family we began to church hop. My parents were then on a search for a church where the Holy Spirit would ground them in sound doctrine. Mean while, slowly I was being forgotten more and more.

My Parents did find a church, a great one too. Because it was so great and Jesus was being preached I repelled it. Even though I wasn’t a Christian I would tell people that I was because my Parents now were. I would hear God being preached and instead of joy an uncontrollable anger would take over me. I was angry at God for the past. I was angry at God for things I could not understand. I was angry at God for "making" me stupid. I was angry at God for allowing me to get involved in horrible things. I was angry at God for not being wanted and for not being loved. I was angry at God for making me who He had created me to be. It was in that anger that I turned to what would be the last of me.

And here goes the hard part, the part of my past I rather not share. Between being insecure and feeling out of control I researched and concluded that the solution to my problem was to stop eating and be Anorexic. I planned it all out and figured that I could start by skipping one meal a day. Gradually I dropped one meal after another. My plan was successful and I had completely stopped consuming food. I was on a liquid diet for some time, until that was too much for me and so water it was. One day turned into a week that turned into a month and another and so on. The tables turned as I was the one rejecting people in order to not give an account for my sudden loss of weight. My parents were working and attending night school so it was easy to hide from them. Every one was busy with their agenda while I disappeared.

I remember weighing myself at the beginning and end of a certain week and having loss ten pounds in 5 days. That was the ultimate high. Finally I was in control of my life. I had a few complications, like dizziness, hard time breathing, weakness in my bones, sleepless nights, being parched, delusional at times, not focused, discoloration of pigment in my skin color and bad breathe. That was the price I was willing to pay to be in control but even that wasn’t enough. I was empty and wasn’t alive. I was more like a dead woman walking, barely even walking at that. My schedule consisted of school, sleeping during classes, then home, shower, nap, watch TV, go to sleep. One day though, I was interrupted.

That day, I came home from school. Was alone for some odd reason and went to take a shower. As I came out I felt weaker than I ever had. I couldn’t walk straight, my legs were giving out and so I held on to the wall and tried to make it to my room. As I reached the hallway everything around me began to spin, faster each time. The lights became brighter, to the point where there was no distinction between objects. I tried to yell for help but I had no strength to yell. I turned into my room where I fell on my knees. I was gasping for air and with every second my life slipped from my grip. With the little that was left of me I cried out to God, “Take control of my life. I can’t do this on my own.” Immediately, it was as if something breathed consciousness into me. The only way that I know to explain it, is in Genesis when God breathed life into Adam. I could not stop crying, on my knees. I couldn’t stop asking God for forgiveness and thanking Him all at once. He gave me life, literally.

I dressed myself and ran to my dresser where I had shoved the Bible that my parents had bought me earlier that year. The book that I once threw back at them became the bread of life to me. I opened it and began to read, “You are fearfully and wonderfully made…” Psalm 139* was my first read. I closed it and thanked God some more. I opened it again, this time it was Ezekiel 36:16-30*, “I have saved you, not for your sake, but for my holy name’s sake…I have cleansed you… I will give you a heart of flesh for your heart of stone…” After much crying, much repenting and forgiven much by my Lord, I went to the kitchen, made myself a peanut butter sandwich and served myself a cup of milk. The journey of being a Lily among thorns had begun.

Tune in tomorrow for the rest of my story…

*Click here to read Psalm 139 & Ezekiel 36:16-30