Closing 2018

If I could only choose one name to describe God this year, it would have to be Redeemer. He has redeemed my life in so many ways. He has been liberator, deliverer, rescuer, and preserver. This year He opened my eyes to see that despite spiritual ups and downs, He has preserved my calling and my dream. What once seemed hopeless and forgotten, was redeemed in a new and unexpected way. 

It will be five years in May 2019, that I endured an almost crippling spiritual divorce (there is no other way to describe it than by calling it as such). Depression and bitterness settled in my heart, BUT God plowed through every so gently and with great patience. I suffered spiritually in seasons of dessert living while my Bible remained closed, BUT God continued to satisfy my hunger and thirst through the faithful teaching of the Word and worship at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. It was and will always be my oasis, my place of refuge and relief. 

My image of the church had been shattered, BUT God painted a beautiful picture of what the church truly is through the Bible study group He has called Josie and I to lead. We were broken women who needed to study the Word together with other broken women, and God has used each life as a paintbrush to paint community, love, and truth in our hearts. 

And just when I was satisfied with how He had redeemed what was broken, He redeemed what was forgotten. In November of 2017, I filled a card to serve at Christ Fellowship. Though I was extremely apprehensive about doing so, I did it out of obedience. Five months later I received a call. And in that conversation, what had been tucked and sealed away in the hidden chambers of my heart was brought to surface. And the verse the Lord gave me in January 2018 made complete sense to me in that moment: “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you...” 1 John 2:27. The anointing still abides in me! I set no expectations other than to wait on Him and walk in full obedience. 

Oh, sweet Jesus, you truly redeem what is broken, hopeless, and forgotten. 

My encouragement to You: 

He can do the same for you. 

Hope, believe, and persevere in hardships. 

Don’t give in and don’t give up! 

Walk in obedience and He will make all things new. 

Lyrical Friday - God Be Praised

[photo credit]

Happy Friday! I've had to wait all of November to share today's post with you. The words you are about to hear and read are more than a song, they truly are an anthem that my soul can't help but sing!

The first time I heard this song, it was sung live in a church service. It was as if I was transported to Heaven and all God's people sang in one voice, one accord to our King of Kings. The lyrics of God Be Praised, by Gateway Worship, can only be described as powerful. And as I shared this song with others, they too shared the same sentiments. There are days when my soul is weary and upon crying these words my soul is revived and I can't help but sing.

I pray that God Be Praised may become an anthem for your soul; more than a song, a piece of sacred praise, holy devotion, and a patriotic stand.

David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 1 Chronicles 29:10-11

O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple. As your name deserves, O God, You will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is filled with victory. Psalm 19:9-10

Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. Psalm 113:2 

Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. Psalm 145:2-4

God Be Praised, Gateway Worship


You saved my life from death
When I was all defeated
You spoke Your promises
And brought life to my weakness
Came as a conquering King
And You warred for my freedom
My soul can’t help but sing
Hallelujah

You opened up my eyes
For the first time I saw You
Your love commanding life
And deserving devotion
You told me who I am
Now in faith I believe it
My soul can’t help but sing
Hallelujah

You’ve made a place for me
Silenced all my accusers
Leading me forth with peace
Filled with joy I will follow
Your cross demands my life
Now Your grace is my anthem
My soul can’t help but sing
Hallelujah

Hallelujah, we’re redeemed and made free
By the blood of the Lamb We have won
Hallelujah, we will sing victory
Jesus conquered the grave
God be praised

Birthday Surprise! It's Monica part 2

Happy Friday! Welcome back to the Birthday Surprise series. Today Monica will be sharing with you part two of her journey in Montana and Guatemala. Be blessed!

photo credit 

When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.- Genesis 22:9

   During my experience with Ignite, the Lord opened my eyes to how big the Church really is, all the people and the work that’s going on for His Kingdom and all that’s being accomplished as well as all the souls that still needed to be shown His love and compassion. I found myself falling in love with unfamiliar people and places and being very confused as to what to do with my new found desires.

   

At first I was kind of frustrated  “ God, I had my life planned out already I was going to go to school for this many years get my diploma in this, serve you in this way, get married eventually and who knows I might even thrown in a few kids somewhere down the line, why are you changing the plans on me know? why are all of these new desires suddenly popping up, they don’t even logically match up with anything that is naturally me!” ( which looking back now, isn’t that how God usually works? Gotta Love Him for it)

   But the new desires where there none the less, the Lord grew my perspective of who He was and just what He was capable of and just how sovereign He was in my life and in everyone’s life as well, God has a plan and nothing can really stand in the way of HIs will getting accomplished.

    Half way through my time on the field, while I was translating the story of Abraham and Isaac for the Kids program curriculum down in Antigua, the Lord had me experience my own Isaac sacrificing moment. Was I really willing to offer up my Isaac to the Lord, my life, the plans I had made, all of the promises I believed the Lord had given me or the desires that I believed where God given, was I willing to give that all up if He asked me to? Or did I value the gifts more than the Giver? 

The Lord brought me through a season of doubt, events where lining up in a way that made is seem like those newfound desires in my heart were never going to happen, and it looked as if I was going to be left hopeless and shattered, and that feeling of hopelessness and panic at the thought of not having what the Lord had ( I believed) promised me left me broken. 

    Broken not at the fact that I wasn’t going to receive my desires or that I had misheard God, but Broken at the fact that I had placed my eyes on the promises and not the Promiser. My hope was not on Him who redeemed and saved me ( not to mention Loved me unconditionally) it was on His promises. The Lord used that moment to instill in me the importance of placing my hope in Him, not on the things that He can give me.  Yes the Lord provides for us, but the motivation behind my relationship with God has to be Love and gratitude not what I can get out of it. 

    I ( in my own way) tied my promises to the altar and ran a knife through it. The most interesting thing about this passage to me is that God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, but stopped him before he could run the blade through. God is not a liar, and yeah we’ve all heard it before “God was just testing Abraham to see if he would do it”, but how did God know Abraham would really plunge the knife in? How did He know Abraham wouldn’t turn the knife at the very last second? For me the answer lies in the fact that the Lord looks at the heart, and the Lord knew Abraham would sacrifice Isaac physically because he had already done it in his heart. True sacrifice happens within the confines of the heart. 

       My challenge for the duration of my time in Guatemala as well as now that I am home is making sure that when I wake up each morning I put my eyes and hope in Christ, not on anything else, because when my joy is dependent on the God who never changes ( or fails) there’s no person or circumstance that can take it away.

Guatemala 2013

God's Little Girl

Hi Lovelies!
For more than a year now, I have been carrying a letter in my wallet. I'm not sure if I carry it with me to share with someone who may need the encouragement or if its more to remind me that I am loved. What makes this letter so valuable is not who wrote it but the truth behind the words written.

At the time it was written, I was preparing for a teaching on guarding our (valuable) feminine hearts. I asked a good friend of mine (whom we shall call Mr. Man), "If you could talk with my girls, what would you say to them about their value and worth?" He shared with me amazing things but in the matter of five minutes I had forgotten every point He made. So I prayed, "God, if it is your will for Mr. Man's words to be shared with my girls, place it in His heart to write it on paper." Lo and Behold, God had began that work in his heart and a few days later he asked if e he could write them a letter. I know that this letter comes not from my friend but from God's very heart. It's not only for my youth girls, or just for me, but for all of us! Be blessed dear sister by knowing and accepting your value and worth in Christ!
-

Thank You Myleen for this pic of Emma! 

-
To God's little girls, 
You are God's little girl. Never forget. See yourself the way God sees you, for His thoughts are what matter. No man, no boy, no one can ever take that away from you. You are worth more that your weight in gold, but even gold has no value in the mouth of a pig. Don't ever lose respect for yourself. No man can conquer you, except for He who has conquered death. He alone should reign in your heart's throne room. 
-
"For your Maker is your Husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name. And your Redeemer is the Holy one of Israel; He is called God of the whole earth." (Isaiah 54:5) Guard your hearts. Men are pigs, foolish and putrid. May you be so lost in God, that in order for a man to find you, he must first be close to God. 
-
You are His little girl. It is not your fault you are hurting. Rise Up! Though now you may be bleeding, never forget His Words: 

"Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." (Mark 5:34)  "I have blotted our your transgressions, like a thick cloud, return to Me, for I HAVE REDEEMED YOU." (Isaiah 44:22) 

Never forget your first love. Never look down on yourself. You are and will forever be beautiful jewels, the apple of your heavenly Father's eyes. 
-
I love you ALL, 
Mr. Man 
-

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.