birthday surprise! It's Anelle.

Happy Wednesday to you. 

Are you in for a treat or what! Last year, I asked my sister, Anelle, to be the closer for the birthday surprise series (read her post here) but this year she is one of our starters. My sister in three words is: wise, intelligent and God-fearing. So you know she has got a good word for us today. I am confident that God will bless you!

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“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” James 1:27
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“Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor which I have always been eager to do.” Galatians 2:10
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“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25
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“If you continually give, you will continually have.” Fortune Cookie from Pei Wei
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I was going to write about circumcision. I was. On Sunday, I found this really great passage in Galatians 5 about freedom in Christ and about how anyone who tries to take us away from our freedom should go circumcise himself. It’s classic stuff. I was very excited about it. I was so excited that I decided to write about it for this blog, and I was going to share it in my teachers’ devotion at work, too. But, God had other plans. At school, I ended up reading from Psalm 25, and here I get to talk to you about a sort of project that God has undertaken in my life for the past year or so: Becoming a Generous Person.

When I say generous, I’m not talking just about giving to the needy. For whatever reason, I’ve always had a heart for the poor and for the orphaned. My issue is being generous with everyone else.  As we tried to figure out what I could write about (beside circumcision), my sister, Raquel, said, “don’t be afraid to be vulnerable” which didn’t make sense to me since generosity isn’t one of those things that you only talk about in same-gender meetings. I said that I could talk about what we’re doing in my class with World Vision. She pointed out that being generous isn’t just about sharing your stuff; being generous is also about sharing your time, sharing your gifts, sharing your space, sharing your service.  That hit home. I have a hard time sharing myself with others. As a sanguine-melancholic, I love people, but I love them at my convenience. Lately God has been pushing my limits in this area. He’s put me in a number of situations this past week alone where I have had to step out of my comfort zone and share my gasoline, my Saturday morning, my Tuesday afternoon, my Sunday night. He’s made me be generous with my affection, with my beauty sleep (!), with my money, with my ears, and every time He has paid me back. He’s paid me back with free coffee, free sushi, free ice-cream (free food is my love language), and with companionship. He’s allowed me to bond with people that I would have otherwise overlooked. He has given me His peace and His presence.

It’s my prayer that God may continue to stretch me in this area. What about you? Where do you stand when it comes to generosity? 

little princess

Yesterday was a wonderful day. My dear Mother, her best friend, my Aunt, her daughter (my cousin) and I went shopping together. Not only did I see beautiful jewelry, but I got to take a few pieces home. Yet the most valuable and treasured keepsake I have of this day is not a tangible jewel but a picture and a lesson.

My little cousin is 7 years old and is fitting of the title, "Little Princess". She is vibrant, smart, funny and like all little girls a lover of all things shiny, sparkling and pink! Every shop that we went to there was something that she liked. Whether it was pretty or tacky in our eyes, it was beautiful to her. She tried on countless bracelets and if given the opportunity she would have tried on every piece of jewelry in that entire Mart.

My Mother's best Friend has a heart of gold. She is a generous giver of her love, her friendship, her time, her talents and yes, her money too. And every shop we went to she wanted to buy a gift for someone, my little cousin being one of them. Indeed, she did buy her little girl sets and some adult jewelry for her to play dress up with. My little cousin learned rather quickly that if she wanted something all she had to do was make sure that our dear friend knew it. LOL I told you she is smart!

This morning the screen on my phone lit up and there was this picture of my little cousin and I. A huge smile came upon me as the Lord spoke to me, "You are my Little Princess. Talk to me, what is it that you want?"

So often, We get caught up in the distractions and affairs of this life that we forget that we are God's Little Princess' and He wants nothing more than to spoil us with His love, His goodness, His grace and His blessings. He has His best for you, for me!

You are God's Little Princess. Take Delight in YOUR God, YOUR King, YOUR Daddy! What matters to you, matters to God... so talk to Him. Tell Him what you lack. Tell Him what you want. Don't be afraid to ask for BIG things. God is greater than our dreams.God is greater than our disabilities and our infirmities; greater than failures and shortcomings. God is greater than our debt. God is greater than our insecurities. God is greater than our faithlessness. God is greater than that which we fear. God is greater than death. He is greater than the box we put Him in, He is limitless. And don't you ever forget that every good and perfect gift comes from our wonderful Father, so thank Him.

Childlike faith is what Jesus requires of us.
Like my little 7 year old cousin, let's look to God, the one whom is the giver of all good things, and humbly share with Him our dreams, our desires, our hopes, our petitions and thanksgiving.

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

30 Hour Famine

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

 “The King will reply,

‘Truly I tell you,

whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:35-40

Hi beloved Friends.
Uth Nation (youth group I serve at) is joining with 30 Hour Famine and raising money to feed those starving and without hope. Our youth group will be feeding the kids in Haiti.

"Students around the world loving God and fighting hunger. It’s that simple. Every year, thousands of students unite to do the 30 Hour Famine. They learn about hunger - and then they do something about it. They raise funds. They experience hunger for themselves. Best of all? They help save lives."

The best part is that you can help!
Here are the easy to follow instructions:
1. Go to http://www.30hourfamine.org/
2. For more information before giving, go to the About (on the top left hand corner) or click here.
3. To make a donation of any amount go to Donate (on the top right hand corner) or click here.
    > click: Search for a student or group (Orange button) or click here.
    > Search me as : First name: Raquel // Last name: Rodriguez // group name: Uth Nation
4. Once you've clicked on my name a new page will open (this one) and on the bottom right hand corner it will say: Make a gift! <-----that's where you want to go.
5. From then on I'll let the Spirit of God lead you as you give, to the least of these.
    > A detailed description will be found on this page, explaining how each gift amount will bless these kids.

For the remainder of February and March we will be raising funds. It doesn't just stop there. 30 Hour Famine organizes exactly what its name is, a 30 hour fast. Our youth group will be hosting a lock-in at church for the kids in youth who have collected a minimum of $30. That night will include: educating the kids on famine/poverty/hunger, devotion time, games and more. We will be starving for food. So please, prayerfully consider joining this great cause.

Thank you for you help and spread the word!