Team Jobi Inc.

One day closer

2013-10-01T16:32:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends! So, today we are one day closer to meeting our baby Blue! At 34 weeks I must say that I am feeling more pregnant than ever. Blue has me resting ALOT and losing energy really fast, but I know this tiny huge blessing in my tummy is worth it all!

I am so grateful for this small window of time God has given me to prepare my body and my heart for mommy-hood. The highlights of my days right now are the sweet, quiet mornings I get to spend with Jesus...dreaming, worshipping, nature walking, imagining all that Blue will get to be in his or her life. Sometimes things seem so still... like the calm before a magnificent storm, waiting in eager anticipation for something tremendous, something mighty, full of power, wonder, glory, life. I know these moment are timeless. And I am honored that God would choose me and our family for such a time as this. Bring on the RAIN!!

My sunrise walk.. I think God is SMILING

Stay tuned. Something amazing is about to happen....

Beautiful Changes

2013-08-27T13:40:00.001-05:00

Our family is doing great - God is SO good to us! My apologies for this very delayed post. We're in the middle of a big change of seasons, and it's about to get even better with baby Blue's arrival in November!

One of the greatest transitions has been my recent "promotion" to Stay-at-Home-Mom. After lots of prayer and affirmation a few months back, I felt God releasing me from my full-time job at Gateway Church and into full-on preparation for His plans and dreams for our family. This includes full-on preparation for baby: rest, sleep, exercise, birth boot camp, and tons of learning about natural, healthy childbirth and parenting. I'm three weeks in, and I have to say that I am finding so much joy in this new job role of mine!

Pregnancy "perk": Protein galore!

Another huge reason for having these last few months at home before Blue's arrival is the opportunity for me to pursue the next big part of a life-long passion: a Holistic Health degree. Since being in Texas, the Lord has revealed so much to me about His heart for healing, health, wholeness, and vitality in every part of who we are: Spirit, Soul, AND Body. I am excited to get this huge educational piece under my belt that will greatly help to equip me for a ministry of Divine health and healing. Stay tuned for lots more to come on that!

Joseph is already the greatest daddy that I know. He smiles at, talks to, and prays over Blue all the time! It has been a real gift to see a new joy in him already, along with his amazing commitment to me and Blue through his rock-solid trust and obedience in where the Lord has him right now as the leader of our family. I've got to be the most blessed wife on the planet - it certainly feels like it!

August 25th: 28 1/2 weeks

I'm officially in the last trimester and stretch of this pregnancy. It has been quite the journey and continues to be a new adventure every single day. AND, I know the best is truly yet to come! We are praying and believing for HUGE things for Blue's birth, delivery, and destiny. God is about to do so many amazing things and I cannot wait to share yet another incredible testimony about our Father's extravagant goodness, richness, faithfulness, and love toward us!

Blue's first big gift: a car seat!

Going & Growing Strong

2013-07-23T16:53:00.003-05:00

We are tremendously happy to report that Baby Blue is healthy and growing strong! This baby moves like crazy, and has particularly taken a liking to repeated late-night flips and somersaults. This little one is barely 2 pounds and already throws a punch like a full-term infant (or so we think).

Mommy has been feeling worlds better since about18 weeks. Running and working out has taken on a whole new meaning and experience. I'm so grateful for renewed health and strength, and to be able to catch early-morning run sunrises once again. Maybe one day I will write a book and share my insights on being fit and pregnant... it's so important! I'm learning a ton.

I may be pregnant, but I can still flip a tire!

I must say that my husband continues to get handsomer and handsomer as the days go on (if that's possible). He's got the daddy "glow" and it shows! We've been having fun exploring the World of Baby in stores, books, and registries. It really is a whole new world of wonder, excitement, anticipation, and dreams. I don't think we've ever been happier than now. God is incredible!

A giant thank you to our army of pray warriors backing up the continued health and development of the precious life of our little bundle. We can't wait to meet this baby Blue. He or she is going to be something so special! Yay God!!


July 21st: 23 weeks and counting (that's my future baby diaper bag!)

Blue?

2013-06-19T11:30:00.000-05:00

We have decided to name our baby "Blue" ... for now at least. It's the nickname that Blue got when we announced our pregnancy as "Our little BlueBonnet," with all the pretty Texas bluebonnet flowers in the background. We love bluebonnets (can you tell?)!

Since then, we have noticed that this little nickname of Blue's has raised come curiosities as to the gender of our baby. Whereas some may associate the name "Blue" with "boy," we figured that a clarification was probably in order to clear up any sort of rumors that this little one of ours is indeed a little Joseph in the making.

We do not know whether Blue is a boy or a girl, and we will not know officially until November. We've chosen to be SURPRISED. It's a decision we've made together, and we're beyond excited at the anticipation of what such a gift will mean. Ask me at the end if it was worth it (I'm confident it will be a resounding YES!)


June 18: 19 weeks

Until then.. feel free to keep sending in your votes as to the gender of baby Blue. We are thoroughly enjoying everyone's speculations and reasonings :0)

Future daddy in our new glider

The Mighty Call of a Mother

2013-06-07T12:33:00.001-05:00

Many of you know that the first trimester of my pregnancy was one of the greatest physical (and spiritual) challenges of my life. Looking back, I know that it was all a direct attack of the Enemy to steal joy, health, strength, and life from both myself and baby Blue.

Well, what Satan has intended for harm, God has (and continues to) make into something powerful and beautiful! The devil has messed with the wrong Momma! The poem below pretty much sums it up. For all you mama's and future mama's out there... be encouraged and take heart! Your calling is one-of-a-kind!

"My willingness to carry life is a revenge, the antidote, the great rebuttal of every murder, every abortion, and every genocide.

I sustain humanity. Deep inside of me life grows.

I am death’s opposition.

I have pushed back the hand of darkness today. I have caused there to be a weakening tremor among the ranks of those set on earth’s destruction.

Today, a vibration that calls angels to attention echoed throughout time. Our laughter threatened hell today.

I dine with the great’s of God’s Army. I made their meals, I tied their shoes. Today, I walked with greatness, and when they were tired, I carried them. I have poured myself out for the cause today.

It’s finally quiet, but life stirs inside of me. Gaining strength, the pulse of life sends a constant reminder to both good and evil that I have yielded myself to heaven and now carry its dream.

No angel has ever had such a privilege, nor any man. I am humbled by the honor. I am great with destiny.

I birth the freedom fighters. In the great War, I am the leader of the underground resistance.

I smile at the disguise of my troops, surrounded by a host of warriors, destiny swirling, invisible yet tangible, and the anointing to alter history.

Our footsteps make our land for conquest.

We move undetected throughout the common places.

Today, I was a barrier between evil and innocence.
I was the gatekeeper watching over the hope of mankind, and no intruder trespassed.

There is not an hour of the day or night when I turn from my post.

The fierceness of my love is unmatched on the earth.

And because I smile instead of frown, the world will know the power of Grace.

Hope has feet. It will run to the corners of the earth because I stood up against destruction.

I am a woman. I am a mother. I am the keeper and sustainer of life here on earth.

Heaven stands in honor of my mission. No one else can carry my call.

I am the daughter of Eve, and Eve has been redeemed.

I am the opposition of death.

I am a WOMAN."

(from a weekend message at Bethel Church)

A Brand New Season

2013-05-23T11:57:00.001-05:00

It's a new season in the Team Jobi household! 2013 has brought many exciting new ventures our way, the greatest, most beautiful one being the appearance of our first BABY on the scene! Baby "BlueBonnet" is due this November, but we're already having fun talking and singing to baby "Blue" as he or she grows and moves around in my yet-to-be-seen mommy tummy.

May 22nd : 15 weeks

I am sure that learning how to be great parents will be a life-long, persistent pursuit, but we are looking forward to the ride! We stand completely in awe of our Heavenly Father's marvelous timing and intentions for us, always. We know that the best things are yet to come... we can only imagine!

Thank you to all of you who have been faithfully praying for my health and for the life of baby "Blue." We are so grateful for the showers of attention, love and support that have been poured into our lives during this time. Your prayers are powerful and we're forever grateful.

With Love,
Joseph & Cobi

A Beautiful Valentine Day

2012-02-14T21:05:00.000-06:00

Today is a day worth celebrating in the adventure of our new life here in Texas. After some freezing weather and snow on Sunday, the sun burst forth on this beautiful 14th day of February, 2012, and OF COURSE we took advantage of it! We got out on our backyard walking/running trail and took in as much of the sun as we could get. We know ya'll want to see pictures, so we did our best to capture some of these beautiful memories of our first Valentine's Day as the Mr. and Mrs.

My early-morning surprise Part 1...

On our way to the trail...

Jesus lives next door, of course

The beautiful winter trees

God's "little" reminder

Who's that hunk?!

Happy Coconut Cream Pie!

My early morning surprise Part 2...

...yep, it's official... I have the sweetest, most handome Valentine in the world!

We love you all so much... this Valentine's Day and always <3

Crazy Waiting

2012-01-19T17:10:00.001-06:00

Sometimes following after Christ involves some good ol' fashioned WAITING. That's right... Waiting. So, after a few bumps along the way, we've decided we mine as well make the most of it. Afterall, we may not ever get this kind of time back again!

Our days have been filled with a whole lot of reading, praying, coffee, running, hiking, cooking, and soon-to-be Gateway adventures. Sure, it would be nice to know how our whole future is going look here in Texas, but why spend all of our time trying to figure that out when our Heavenly Father already knows the end from the beginning? So we'll just leave it with Him, and keep on doing our best to live in the unique and precious gift of the here and now.

Some of our activities:

Project number "i don't know" = PAINT! as much yellow as we can get our hands on =)

Project number "who knows" = Do something crazy!

Yep, chopped it all off!!

Practicing His patience and His timing = living THE Dream

J + C <3

3- Month Anniversary Tribute

2012-01-06T20:18:00.000-06:00

Three months ago this weekend I said "I DO" to the most incredible man I know. Time sure flys when you get to be married to your best friend! Our wedding was a DREAM... a beautiful, perfect, amazing DREAM. And the greatest part was getting to share it all with the friends and family we cherish most. We want to say WE LOVE YOU, and THANK YOU for being a part of the most special day of our lives. This post is dedicated to the most amazing people we know...

Our Very First Home!

2012-01-03T20:31:00.000-06:00

God has blessed us with an amazing first home in Grapevine, Texas! We have been on the move, packing, unpacking, organizing, buying =/ , decorating, and creating our very first home together. We've snapped a few pics, but don't get too excited... they're only our "before" shots. More to come as our first Dream Home is born...

Although we are missing all of you at home so so much, we continue to be overwhelmed by the Lord's goodness to us. This adventure of learning how to be married can be crazy at times, especially being so faraway from the ones who truly know us and love us. We are really growing closer to each other and to our Savior everyday. We got Jesus in the boat!! And so we shall ride with Him above all the storms. Thank you for all your prayers again. Please continue to keep us lifted high.

Missing All the Ones We Love,
Joseph & Cobi

The Greatest Birthday Gift of All

2011-12-21T17:32:00.001-06:00

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back from captivity.
~Jeremiah 29:11-14

Today is my 27th birthday! It's hard to believe the reality of how old I am already! I guess I just never imagined myself at this age, let alone being married and living in Texas! I could never have planned how my life would look at 27. God's plans for me are so much MORE and so much BIGGER than anything I could've dreamed up myself. I praise the Lord that He has loved me so much to never let me settle for anything less than His BEST. I have learned that walking with the Lord on the narrow path is not always the easiest and smoothest ride. The adventure of growing up into Him is definitely not the path of least resistance, but it is the road that has changed my life because it is the one that has healed me and set me free. God has shown me this year that the Fruits of the Spirit are only born out of the trials and adversities in my life. Afterall, how can you really experience the fullness of JOY without every holding the sting of despair?

There is a deep, deep treasure hidden inside our difficulties and pain. If you choose to face them, to never give up, to reach out for Jesus and surrender it all to Him, He will show you the light amidst the darkness, the hope in the hopelessness, and the true gold in your heart. It is the very real LOVE that has been enveloping you every second of your life.

My 27 years has and continues to be one huge, daily, giant DISCOVERY. I used to think that I had to go out and find my future. It was the great search for who I was suppose to be and what I was suppose to do with my life. It took me overseas and across the U.S. and back quite a few times, trying to figure out God's will for my life, my grand purpose and destiny. While I met some amazing people and gained some tremendously priceless experiences, those ventures failed to truly fulfill the deepest desire of my heart. I came home, I sat down, and at the end of all my efforts and attempts to figure out my life, I cried out to God. I said, "I will stay here. I will stay put. I will commit this next year of my life to You, Lord. I need You to show me what you want me do to, what you created me for. I have nowhere else to go."

There are no words to fully describe what God did with the commitment I made to Him that day. He took my life, my whole heart and turned everything inside-out. He brought a great healing and a deep freedom that I never even knew I needed. He loved me through people and circumstances in very real, powerful ways. He filled me with a faith, a knowledge, and a love experience of Him that has set the course of my life on fire. Because once you have tasted the very real love of Christ, and have seen the incredibleness of such a gift for you everyday, there is NOTHING you could ever want more on this earth (Psalm 73:25,26).

I gave God a year to show me His will for my life, and in that journey I found HIM. I discovered that my true life is hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3,4). There is no where else I need to go. The answer is JESUS. It's not about me. It's about letting go of me. It's about exchanging all of myself for all of Him, one choice at a time. God says, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" (Luke 9:24,25)... "But seek FIRST his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). God taught me what no one else ever did and what the world never could: GO AFTER JESUS. That's it. God WILL do the rest. Better yet, He will do it all ten million times greater that I ever could (Ephesians 3:20).

I can tell you from my very real and undeniable experience that all God says and promises in His Word IS TRUE. It's the only thing that's true. If you truly seek Him FIRST, He will give your life to you as a prize. It will require ALL of you. It will demand extreme faith and risk. It will cost you everything, but you will fall UP into Heavenly places, full of matchless rewards and blessings that you cannot inherit any other way.

Today marks another year of life for me, but what I am really celebrating today is the life I get to live in Christ. He has saved me from myself, from all I could've settled for. He is solidly planting my feet right in the middle of His BIGGER and more GLORIOUS story, and I don't want to live any other way. The fact that Jesus came to die for me and save me changes everything, but the fact that He also came "that (I) may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10), propels me forward on a daily, profound adventure of that very real pursuit of Christ and the FULLNESS of life He promises. It's mine for the taking, and yours too. DON'T MISS IT. DON'T MISS HIM, and I promise... you will not miss a thing.

"'And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek [them]; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,' says the Lord. 'But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.'"
~Jeremiah 45:5 (NKJV)

All I Want For Christmas: Special Prayer Request

2011-12-13T22:32:00.000-06:00

Dear Family and Friends,

More than anything in the whole wide world, we would be so so grateful if you would join together in prayer for us these next few weeks. We are seeking the Lord for many things, but one of THE greatest right now is for our own place to live. Our friends here in Keller have been so wonderful for hosting us since we arrived, but we both feel that January is our month to move forward. We are praying that the Lord will provide as we step-out in faith and trust. Please pray for our future first home as a married couple, and that God will guide us directly to it by January 1st. It would be the greatest Christmas gift ever!

Grateful in Love.

And they lived happily ever after ... ; -)

Texas for the Holidays

2011-12-08T20:41:00.000-06:00

Hi family and friends! We sure are going to miss you all during the holidays. We're experiencing what a "real" winter feels like here in TX, with highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s! Not to mention an ice- covered car and a frozen-cold door lock. Sure makes our early morning trips to the gym way more adventurous (AND tortuous). We've also met a really awesome guy/spin class instructor named Dan. Talk about an unexpected and wonderful answer to our temporary CrossFit dilemma! This guy is a four-time Iron Man and super long-distance runner, who I am becoming more and more convinced is even crazier than us! He is so awesome, and is definitely helping to keep our booties in shape! Praise God for "Fitness" Dan =D

Our transition here to Dallas hasn't been an easy one. God truly is stretching and molding us tremendously through all the changes, difficulties, uncertainties and unfamiliarities of a new place, a new season, and a new life. These things don't always feel good, but we are growing and learning what it means to be radically dependent on Christ. He is definitely moving in our lives, and we can't wait to share where He is leading us next! We can't thank you enough for all your thoughts and prayers on our behalf. Please keep praying for us. God will do it all!!

Here are some snapshots of the moments and memories we've begun here in Texas...

Dance Party at the Sailers!

One of our cute little roommates, Sophia

The Teleios Man Seminar, with dad Larry Titus

We became members of Gateway Chruch on Dec. 3rd!

Turkey Day... it involved both a fried and smoked Turkey!

Joseph & Scott stayed up all night to smoke the turkey... it was SO yummy!

Thanksgiving was sweet with the Sailer's, Titus's, and the rest of the family

We miss you all very much! Thank you for sharing so far in our new adventure here. We love you!

Dear Twilight...

2011-12-03T19:50:00.001-06:00

I hear that you have capitivated and captured the hearts of multitudes of Christian movie reviewers and thousands (if not millions) of young Christian women with a timeless, "wholesome" and "harmless" love saga. Is this true? Is it really possible that you are a pure, wholesome, and God-honoring vampire movie? Can this really be real?! Considering that you now have practically a WHOLE generation of young people wrapped around your finger, I really REALLYwould hope for the positive.

But I learned something new tonight about you, and about what you represent. Hmmm...this may explain why I shockingly found myself in a dark, dizzy, air-gasping, sick to my stomach (literally) cold-sweat last week during the the final scenes of Breaking Dawn (my poor husband). Well, let me spare you the experience. IT'S TIME TO SHINE THE LIGHT on you, Twilight.

To all of my family and friends in love, PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE (below). If you, or anyone you know is breathing and alive today, it WILL prove relevant. God has something important to say about all this Twilight business... and it is SO TRUE!

Open publication - Free publishing - More dignity

Life Without CrossFit = Booo

2011-11-14T20:34:00.000-06:00

So we took the plunge, swallowed our pride, and found the 24 Hour Fitness here in Keller. If we had to name the thing we miss MOST right now, it would definitely be CrossFit. We miss it so much I think we might cry (and I'm not joking). Being in a gym seems totally foreign to us... so different, so hard to get motivated, SO NOT THE SAME. Dear CrossFit, I think I realized just how much I DO love you. We were so blessed by CrossFit Insanity in CA and all the amazing people there. Gosh, we seriously do NOT like life without you! Pray we get jobs soon so we can get back into this passion of ours ASAP (I don't know how much longer we can take the discouragement of a fitness gym). BUT, we are trying our hardest to be grateful for what we do have right now. Hello Spin class!

My hubby doing what he does best ;)

Ohhhhh CrossFit... how we miss thee =(

Dallas! (and A Honeymoon)

2011-11-06T18:09:00.000-06:00

We're here!! We made it to Dallas/Fortworth Friday afternoon A-OK (well, at least one of us. Day 3 was torture for me on the road with four straight hours of nausea =( Not sure if it was food poisoning or something else). We've been very very welcomed here by new friends and amazing people. God is GOOOOD! This morning we got to visit our beloved Gateway Community Church IN PERSON =) and we were in for a real treat with worship lead by Jared Anderson. We ventured out a little afterwards, and our first stop was CENTRAL MARKET... of course! The most amazing little grocery ever (how i've missed it since San Antonio). Come and visit and you'll see why! Each day now is really one new adventure at a time, trusting God and praying for more and more FAITH as we go. Thanks to all who've been praying for our transition. We are in INCREDIBLE Hands...

(Until we get some new TX pictures, we leave you with a few fun pics from our honeymoon ... Lake Tahoe!)

Love, Love, Love

2011-10-25T16:20:00.000-05:00

SO much has happened in our lives these past few months... SO SO SO SO much! From our trip to Dallas, to getting engaged, to being married on October 8th! A big, beautiful whirlwind of LIFE... pefectly in God's will. We are tremendously blessed to say the least, and there is so much more to come! For now, here are some of the sweet moments captured on camera...

With Love & Joy,
Mr. & Mrs. Hernandez =)

through painted deserts...

2011-06-15T00:08:00.000-05:00

I have discovered the title for our blog. Inspired by Donald Miller’s special book… it’s the perfect title.

Right after Jesus was baptized, God took him into the desert for 40 days and nights (Luke 4). Before His public ministry came a time of deep personal temptation and challenge. God is teaching me that it’s impossible to live this life as it was meant to be lived or walk straight into our destiny without encountering the same thing a Perfect and sinless Man had to endure: The Wilderness. This is where I find myself now… where Joseph and I find ourselves together. And it’s a significant place for SO many reasons.

Deserts are where God prepares you.

Deserts are where God Himself leads you.

Deserts are where you learn to really trust God.

Deserts are where God humbles you.

Deserts are where we can’t rely on ourselves.

Deserts are where God changes our desires.

And where He gives us new desires.

Deserts are where you grieve.

Deserts are where you learn to really pray.

Deserts are where you feel God’s compassion and ever close comfort.

Deserts are where you learn to lean.

Deserts are where God allures you to Himself.

Deserts are where our love grows deeper,

Where we fall in love with Jesus.

Deserts are where you get healed.

Deserts are where you learn to let go.

Deserts are where you receive freedom.
Deserts are where God makes beauty from ashes.

Deserts are where you lose yourself, your old way of life, and taste God’s bigger dream.

Deserts are where we cry and sing at the same time.

Deserts are where you learn the secret to contentment.

Deserts are where you suffer

And learn to rejoice.

Deserts are where grace is enough.

Deserts are where you find the greatest risks AND the greatest peace.

Deserts are where you experience the movement of the Spirit.

Deserts are where your passions come to life,

Where your gifts come to light.

Deserts are where adversity strikes so that Fruit can bloom.

Deserts are where you glimpse the Face of God.

Deserts are where you hunger and thirst,

And where you discover the Bread of Life is all you need.

Deserts are where you GROW UP.

And where Heaven’s Mighties are born.

Deserts are where you die

So that you can truly LIVE.

So here’s the thing… when you find yourself in the middle of the wilderness (and believe me you will!), and the road ahead looks dark, cold, scary, and very uncertain… GO THROUGH IT. While everything will scream the opposite in the beginning and probably even in the middle, remember that it was God Himself who brought you into the wilderness, and it is Him who will lead you ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

The desert moments and seasons of our lives are not to be feared; they are to be embraced. You must be STILL… you must to be PATIENT… you have to TRUST God like never before. Trust that He is a big, huge, loving, great, GOOD God. Trust that He didn’t bring you here to confuse you, trick you, or leave you. Trust that He brought you into the desert to SAVE YOU.

It is SO important that you get this. It is so important that you grasp hold of the deserts of your life and face them with faith and courage. And whenever you find yourself in the middle of it all, on perhaps a harder and more discouraging day than others… when Satan will have you believe that you are all by yourself without anyone who understands… know that we are right here with you. Right smack in the middle of the wilderness. And you are not alone. We hope that in sharing our lives and experiences with you, that God will use us however He needs to… for you. We are cheering you on and praying hard for the strength it will take to move forward… to take the next step…and the next one… and the one after that. Please be encouraged. Please ask us questions. Please let us know how we can pray for you. Chances are we’re praying the exact same thing too!

*“No, life cannot be understood flat on a page. It has to be lived; a person has to get out of his head, has to fall in love, has to memorize poems, has to jump off bridges into rivers, has to stand in an empty desert and whisper sonnets under his breath:

I’ll tell you how the sun rose

A ribbon at a time…”

The sun is rising on this adventure. The Promise Land is just around the corner. We will get there. And so will you. One day we will experience Heaven on Earth together. Until that day, may you brave this desert. May you breath it in. May you choose to venture out, to look up… to gaze beyond the horizon into the face of God.

LISTEN. Quiet your heart. Hear the sweet strokes of His magnificent mysterious design coloring you into a million lights of rainbow… a character painted by trials, becoming something eternally beautiful, stamped and sealed till the end of time… His glorious Masterpiece of YOU.

*“And so my prayer is that your story will have involved some leaving and some coming home, some summer and some winter, some roses blooming out like children in a play. My hope is your story will be about changing, about getting something beautiful born inside you, about learning to love a woman or a man, about learning to love a child, about moving yourself around water, around mountains, around friends, about learning to love others more than we love ourselves, about learning oneness as a way of understanding God. We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and the resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn’t it? It might be time for you to go. It might be time to change, to shine out…”

I write so that you will remember… so that I will remember and never ever forget that the deserts of life are crazy hard, but you will never find ANYTHING more gloriously beautiful because of them. God is INCREDIBLE…through painted deserts. Selah.

With Love,
Cobi

*(Through Painted Deserts, Donald Miller)

The Better

2011-06-13T16:48:00.000-05:00

We are learning to say NO to what is good, and YES to what is better. God in His infinite wisdom knows the "better" for our lives that we cannot see yet. We challenge you today to be willing to look beyond just the good you see in front you. God has the most amazing plans for your life. If your heart is completely open to Him, He WILL take you there. Lets expect huge things from our Father, and give Him the space in our lives to move mountains and make miracles. Because HIS LOVE NEVER FAILS...

With Love,

LOVE is spelled T-I-M-E

2011-06-05T20:29:00.000-05:00

Are you God's FRIEND? Do we even know what that means? Dare I say, have we ever truly EXPERIENCED a friendship with Him? In taking a real honest look at my own life... day by day, moment by moment... I am afraid of what the answer to that question might be. We spend so much energy and time trying and trying to "look for" or "figure out" who we're suppose to be, what we're suppose to be doing, what we're suppose to be planning, thinking, saying, learning, etc., etc., etc. It's quite exhausting. And I'm learning that an outlook such as this, such as the world encourages us to bear, is really one of the greatest LIES ever told. It is NOT the way of our Father. This is not what He ever intended. God LOVES you... and me... and the person who's trying to figure out his life. We are his prized possession (it's true, see James 1:18), and more than ANYTHING that ever existed, or ever will exist, He simply desires to BE for us who He truly is: our Father, and our Closest Friend. He says, Seek Me ABOVE ALL ELSE, and I will give you everything you need (Luke 12:31).

I'd like to think that I love God... I say I do. I hope I do. I really believe I do. But do I? Do YOU? Do we really LOVE Him? In a message tonight by Stephen LeBlanc (Gateway Community Church - Seven ministry) (Please view below) I have been directly challenged in my "friendship" with the Lord. Towards the latter part of his sermon about "Who Hear's God's Promises?", Stephen lays out a perfect analogy of what it looks like to be God's close companion. Love is spelled T-I-M-E. Show me where or with whom you spend your time... I'll show you what or who you love. I know I fail often at giving as much time as I desire to the people closest to me in my life. WHY is that? More tragically, do I do that with God too? How frequently do I fail with spending time with the One who gave me life, who gave up everything for me... who adores me, marvels at me, thinks obsessively about me, wants to bless me beyond ANYTHING I could think or ask? Who saves me, protects me, fights for me, forgives me, guides me, holds me, loves me anyways, understands me, knows ALL the plans He has for me... "plans for good, not for disaster, to give me a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11). What is the condition of my heart? What is the condition of your heart? ARE WE LOVING?

I want to be a FRIEND of Jesus. And I want to be the greatest friend to the people I love the most. I don't want to be someone who just talks or thinks about how awesome it would be to truly have such relationships, to truly have the BEST Relationship. I desire to EXPERIENCE it, walk in it, breath it, live it. Experience HIM... face to face. And I believe that's exactly what God wants, too. I need to ask my Father to help me take the principal of priority to heart... I want to do better. I want to be more. I want to LOVE more. I want to make God SMILE. I want to be one of His greatest friends He has ever walked with. I want to hear His voice, know His plans and promises, share all of my deepest hopes, dreams, fears, desires, and do His WILL... and then allow Him to teach me HOW to love the people in my life like that.

I no longer want to settle in what I see around me. God, give me the courage to be DIFFERENT. Give us the grace and the power it's going to take to switch our priorities around. Lord, You can do it in our lives. Help us to LET You. Give us the courage to love like never before.

VIDEO:

Seven Sermon Center Gateway Church

Urban Renewal 2011

2011-05-21T20:18:00.000-05:00

We received an amazing opportunity to be a part of Urban Renewal this year at Southlands Church in Brea, CA. We were joined by a whole bunch of passionate, Spirit-filled, missional leaders and warriors in Christ from around the world who deeply desire to see the church revived in SPIRIT and in TRUTH. This year the focus was around the life of Jesus as our ultimate example of Spirit-empowered ministry and mission.

We wish we could put into words the incredible things we heard and experienced at this conference, but that would be nearly impossible. Check out these two videos. Trust me, your time will be Divinely spent =) Do you really truly know how much God LOVES you? ... It's CRAZY...

VIDEO 1:

VIDEO 2:

"The Baptism of the Holy Spirit & the Father's Love" -Mike Pilavachi

With Love

On A Mission

2011-05-18T14:47:00.000-05:00

Hi friends! Welcome to our new and wonderful, Divinely inspired blog. We are on a mission. God has had us on an amazing journey together so far... learning, growing, and experiencing more and more of His beautiful heart, His mind-boggling grace, His astounding faithfulness, His amazing Spirit. And we know it's not just for us. This blog is simply a glimpse into all God is showing and teaching us in our adventure together in Christ. It's just been too beautiful to keep to ourselves. We pray and trust that God Himself will encourage and enlighten you in new ways through everything He is doing in our lives. May you experience truly "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 4: 18,19).

With Love,

Joseph & Cobi

Love, Your Future Husband

2011-01-30T07:49:00.000-06:00

To my beautiful, sweet sisters in Christ who are waiting for God's BEST...

"I pray Jesus would be the most important thing in your life -- that not even I would be able to turn your gaze from Him. I pray you allow Him to shape you into a woman of pure godliness, without a hint of distraction, wordliness, or impurity. I pray He takes you deeper into absolute surrender and complete dependency upon Him, where the only explanation for your life is Jesus. Oh that He might form and craft you into the most radiant and captivating of set apart women, even now..."

Love,

Your Future Husband

Crave and go after the fullness of Jesus. Truly in His presence is the fullness of Joy <3

Inspired.

2011-01-29T19:41:00.004-06:00

I'm Coming Home!!

2011-01-24T17:43:00.000-06:00

Friends and Family,

After tons of prayers and tears and time, God is bringing me home!! There is so much to tell with everything that has happened this past week. As mostly all of you know, my time here in San Antonio has been a consistent challenge with the demands and dynamics of the organization I volunteer with. I have wholeheartedly given all that I can these past six months, and I am so ready to come home. The thought of getting to be with all of you again is a Joy that I'm clinging to this last week in Texas. I absolutely cannot wait to be back for good and to see all your smiling, beautiful faces again. Thank you for all of your love and all of your prayers. I miss you guys so much.

with love,