Birthday Surprise! It's Sahrae.

Happy Saturday! With today's special post by Miss Sahrae Rivas, we conclude our Birthday Series for 2013. I have been very blessed by all the Birthday Surprises, and I have heard from many of you that the series has been a gust of encouragement for you as well. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, as today's post is for all the single ladies!

photo credit 

28... That’s how old I turned last week. A mere two years away from the so-called dreaded big three 0. It’s the age where the little Cuban old ladies turn their knees black and blue in prayer for you! The stigma of finding out you are still single and without hope of a prospect to can change your status. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I hear “póngase las pilas” meaning get your act together. I have been asked if I have picked out the names of my future cats! I even had a coworker tell me they thought of me as they watched the news the night before, the report being about an 83 year old woman who had gotten married, FOR THE FIRST TIME! I was then told that there is still hope.Really?! My response to all these antiquated ideas that I should be married with 5 children and 1 on the way is simply: I wouldn’t have it any other way!


I could sit around, and mope, and keep pleading with God as to when this seemingly long “single” stage of my life will be over. I could cry. I could even settle, out of desperation, for any guy. Settling whether to fill a void, or to stop all the questions, more like harassment, of when am I getting married. And its not to say that I haven’t made mistakes, but God has been good and faithful to me (because I wasn't of much help to myself obviously). Being single has not been a prison sentence; it has been an awesome season in my life of self discovery.

As single woman, we need to use this time wisely. It’s not going to last forever. I want God to use me. My prayer has been, "Here I am Lord, send me!" I desire for Him to use me to do great works for His kingdom, to overcome those works that seem impossible. I hope to live my single life mentoring and encouraging young girls. I want him to squeeze every last drop of my gifts and talents during this season of my life; because I know that it will end.

I’ve been blessed to have encountered amazing wives and moms who have spoken so much wisdom and truth into my life. However, the most common feedback I get from the majority is, how they wish they had enjoyed more freedom in their youth. Not that they don't love their husbands and children, but they have different priorities and responsibilities. I truly appreciate their honesty. It encourages me and reminds me to live my life to the fullest. Because I know the day will come when I can no longer travel to Haiti whenever I want. The day will come when I won’t be able to grab dinner with my friends or head on impromptu road trips. The day will come when I won’t be able to serve full force with no hesitation in my ministry. But that’s OK, because I know it means my ministry will have changed. It will mean that the man that God has been preparing for me, my match in every way, who will lead me and our Children in the ways of the Lord, will have arrived... and they will be my ministry.

My encouragement to you.
Don’t allow any one to lead you to believe that it’s shameful to be single in your late 20s, or at any age. Bask in the freedom!! Ladies, use this season to take notes! Soak up wisdom from Godly women... like sponges! I have a list I’ve entitled “future references notes”. I keep it in my head. It’s all the advice and insight I’ve received from woman in my sphere of influence about marriage and kids, and life. I am so grateful that I’ve had these years to take notes and learn from others mistakes, mishaps, and life so that I don’t make the same. I feel so much better prepared for not only marriage but life, as all this wisdom has been poured into my life.

God is perfect in everything He does. You can either endure your days wallowing and complaining to God. You could continue believing that He must have gotten you mixed up with the girl next door who wants to be single. Or you can spend your days believing that God has you here for a reason. Seek, knock and search for His will. Be distracted living a life that glorifies Him. Enjoying the fullness of the abundant life He has before you. And before you realize it, the person God has for you is walking alongside you, hand in hand.

While in this season of my life, I am ready to go wherever God calls me; to do whatever He tells me. I’m not going to spend my days wishing, hoping, and waiting. I’m going to spend them laughing, loving, and living! I know God is good, I know He is faithful. So until the day arrives when my status changes from "single" to "married", I want to spend these years shinning my light for Gods glory. I encourage all my fellow ladies to do the same, live a life of reckless abandonment for the King of Kings. Live your life like there is no tomorrow. I am 28... and Single... and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

sentence tuesday

It is a foolish woman who expects her husband to be to her that which only Jesus Christ Himself can be: always ready to forgive, totally understanding, unendingly patient, invariably tender and loving, unfailing in every area, anticipating every need, and making more than adequate provision. 
-Ruth Bell Graham 

a bit broken and anxious

Hi Friends.
So happy to be writing to you. I pray that you may be found resting, hoping and rejoicing in God's Word.

My heart is heavy, a bit broken and anxious- all for righteousness sake. The lack of love and compassion among Christians is sad. There seems to be more judgment than grace. I by no means intend on pointing a finger and not have three pointing back at me, I fall short too.






God is Holy.
God is Perfection.
God is Blameless & Spotless.
God is Creator, Maker, Author & Giver.
God is Beauty.
God is Light.
God is Life.
God is Deliver.
God is Liberator.
God is Freedom.
God is Father.
God is Spirit.
God is Son.
God is Just.
God is Judge.
God is Hope.
God is Love.
God is Mercy.
God is Grace.
God is Forgiving.
God is Compassionate.
God is Relentless.
God is what we are not.

I encourage you to be as Christ-like as you can be.
May we be known not for what we are against, but for what we believe. We aren't here to point out someone's sins (believe me they are very well aware of them) but rather, we are here to point them to Jesus. Let's not continue oppressing the hopeless or weak with our so-called "Christianity" and self-righteousness. On the contrary, let's abide continually with the Lord Jesus, so that the fruits of His Holy Spirit may be sown in us and flow through us to those who are poor in spirit. May the Love we have placed our faith in, be the Lord that transcends all sin.
Read this awesome testimony, click HERE.

What God has cleansed you must not call unclean. Acts 10:15

Loving the Unlovely

Hola.
I've been quite sick these past few days. Slowly recovering from a nasty virus.
I wish I had great insight to share with you or even a wonderful story. But I don't. This virus had me shut down. So dear friends, this post comes not from me but from Nichol Naranjo from She Ministries.

Loving the Unlovely
Written by: Nichol Naranjo

Growing up I had two women in my life that filled the role of the grandmother I didn't have. I'm thankful for them both, and learned many things simply by watching them.

One of these women was very dominant, opinionated, independent, and unstoppable. By many, she would be considered a "strong" woman. She lived a life of hurt and heartache, and sought to please no one. Her opinions could be heard a mile away.

The second woman I grew up with was quite the opposite. She was quiet, kind, the most selfless woman I know. She lived to serve others. By many, she would be considered a "weak" woman. She also lived a life of hurt and heartache, sharing her home with an abusive husband.

The difference in these two women is that the latter loved God so much that all she could do was love, even her cruel husband.

As a little girl, I thought of the gentle, quiet-spirited one as a woman of weakness. It frustrated me that she loved and served her husband when he could be so mean. He didn't notice her servant's heart. But God did. It wasn't until I became an adult that I realized the woman of quiet words yet loud actions of love was actually the stronger of the two. You see, she drew her strength from the Lord and she died to herself daily. Her husband later asked her forgiveness on his death bed and accepted Christ. She loved him till the very end. Today, her face still radiates His love, joy, and peace.

She lived out 1 Peter 3:1-4: And because of that today, her children call her blessed.

Busted

Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. -Acts 10:28

Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism." -Acts 10:34

Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. -Acts 10:44

Hello my lovely readers.
The Lord has me reading the book of Acts. It's a great book, filled with little treasures. I refer to this book as a Jewelry Shop, so many valuables are found in it. In chapter 10, I came across a very precious stone. In a summary (though I really wish you would read it for yourself), in a vision God tells Peter to not call unclean that which He has made clean (verse 15). God leads Peter, in a very cool way, to Caesarea. It is there that through Peter the Gentiles hear the good news and recieve the Holy Spirit too.

As I read this precious jewel of a story I heard a sweet voice name a specific person to my heart, we'll call her Jenna.

"Lord why do you bring her up?" I asked Him.
He answered, "I have made her clean, why do you contiue to treat her as if
she was unclean?"

BUSTED!!! I felt like curling up in a ball, in a desperate attemp to hide from the Lord. It had never hit me that I was being judgemental and bitter towards someone whom I considered to be unworthy, unclean and dirty. I had failed the Lord once again. I was confronted with my sin and asked the Lord for boldness and courage to picked up the phone and call Jenna. During that phone call I opened up, confessed and asked for her forgiveness. I was so broken. She was loving, forgiving, humble and meek. The Lord did restore our relationship.

So, who is your Jenna? Is there someone in your life whom you have labeled unclean? Or have you labeled a stranger as unworthy? Christ died for all, equally. Peter in this chapter makes mention that God shows no partiality, so why should we? That lady that really gets to your nerves needs to be shown grace, mercy and love. The individual that hurt you so deeply needs to see Christ vivdly through you. The lady in the corner, she needs to know that God does care for her. That other religion and culture is dying because we are too angry or scared to approach them, and love them courageously. Whether it be the tattoo covered person, the homeless, the lady in the grocery line, the guy who just hit your car or your friendly neighbor, they all need to know Jesus. I know that some people make it real hard to love them, trust me I know, but I also know that we can do all things through Christ who strenthens us (Philippians 1:6). And as for that stranger that you feel you can't approach, 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that He [God] has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power (yeah!), love (I recieve it!) and a sound mind (I need it!).

I challenge you, to not call unclean that which God died to make clean. Be quick to love. Be quick to talk about Jesus. And if you are holding a grudge, set yourself free by forgiving that person and if led by the Lord ask that person to forgive you too. Remember the Gentiles of Caesarea, who came to salvation because Peter chose to look beyond the earthly.
Who can you love today?
Who can you share Jesus with?