Sun and Mountain

For Your Entertainment?

2014-01-29T09:28:00.001-05:00

“You cannot be in the presence of God and be bored at the same time. For that matter, you cannot be in the will of God and be bored at the same time. If you follow in the footsteps of Jesus, it will be anything but boring.” Mark Batterson, Going All In (Kindle Locations 137-138)

The "Will of God" is not always a change of location or vocation but a change of attitude!

Some people think by changing churches and careers they are following the Will of God, but in reality they are trying to find self-gratification in serving God instead of glorifying and pleasing Him. Sadly to say, some people make the worst decisions in their walk with God by thinking that moving out of where they are is the answer to stopping their spiritual boredom. Look, If God wants us to make major changes in our lives He will definitely be very clear about it. He might not give you all the details but He will not be vague or confusing. Remember... He is not a God of confusion! 1 Corinthians 14:33

So all this to say... Don't make any drastic change like leaving your Church, quitting your job, joining or not joining a missions trip, changing ministry, starting or closing a Church, giving or not giving money to the Church, until your attitude is in-tune with God. Whatever you do to gratify “YOU” it’ll end up being boring because you will never be satisfied unless you are in God’s will and living your God-given purpose and destiny. Remember, this journey is not... For Your Entertainment.

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Romans 8:5

Check out also blog: Shhhh…

Lourdes Morales

I've Been Thinking...

2013-09-04T08:54:00.000-04:00

As we get older life becomes more and more intense. Events, people, situations, all that is viewed with a different set of eyes... the eternal eye!

Is it worth my time worrying too much about things that are trivial? Is it worth my time getting anxious about situations that will have no lasting effect in my life? Is it even worth my time being mad a others longer than necessary? I guess the answer is obvious.

However, it is definitely worth my time thinking where I'll be 1,000 years from now. Regardless of people's way of thinking or opinion about God, eternity is always before us and He (God) has given us the power to choose what kind of eternity will be waiting for us:

"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments...that you may live...and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them...you shall surely perish (Deuteronomy 30: 15-18, parts)."

"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." John 3:16-17

Yes! As I am getting older eternity is in my mind more intense than before and as I deal emotionally with my father's death I keep thinking, "My dad is already in the eternity he so longed for so many years... An eternity with God." I TOO WANT THAT ETERNITY.

(It has been so long since my last blog and many things have happened during that time. Today I just feel like writing my thoughts down. I guess I need the catharsis I get through this venue.)

Shhhh...

2012-05-26T17:15:00.000-04:00

We have been subliminally trained by our accelerated world to be a fast society where rapid lifestyles are rewarded and most slow-paced activities and pacific environments are labeled as lazy and/or bored. We spend more time preparing for upcoming events than we are enjoying the moment we are currently living. Sometimes we don’t even have time for what is important because we are searching for the immediate, at the same time sacrificing what really matters; God, family, and health.

How many times have we been at fault of using the same fast-paced-instant-gratification system in our walk with God? Perhaps many times! Ok let's be totally honest here, possibly most of the time. Oh, how quickly we forget one of the most quoted passages in the Bible: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

When the time to run is here… we must run (I go deeper into this in one of my past blogs “Every Pastor's Wife Needs A Good Pair Of Running Shoes.”), but we won’t be in any shape to run if we don’t spend time growing in the Lord. We can’t depend on drive-thru experiences to give us more inches of Christ. If that were the case most of our churches would have a drive-thru window with fast-spiritual specials: #1 Sanctification, #2 Justification, #3 Holy Spirit Infilling, etc… Nah! Not the case.

Our maturity in Christ is part of a developmental process and we are to experience it step by step. Unlike salvation, which is a gift from God and an immediate miraculously phenomenon between God and our repentant heart, our spiritual growth requires time, prayer, the study of His Word, fellowship with other believers, and total commitment to Christ. There will naturally be times when we'll need some things fast. However, in His presence time is no longer in our control, but in God’s control. Remember, God has stamped our spiritual growth with “HANDLE WITH CARE.” He isn’t in a hurry... Neither should we!

The secret of knowing His heart, His mind, and His direction for our lives is found in the time we spend in His presence, away from the world that is running fast around us. Let us take time to build a strong and intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. He wants us peaceful, not anxious. He wants us focus, not distracted. He wants us to close our eyes and breath the air of His presence; to hear the sound of His voice with a gentle and quiet whisper saying, “Shhhh… Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

All Things New

Written by Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Wade Joye & Ben Richter

Verse 1:

Peace be still, You are near

There’s nowhere we can go

That You won’t shine redemption’s light

Our guilt withdrawn

PreChorus 1:

As You rise, we come alive

The grave has lost, the old is gone

Chorus:

And You’re making all things new

You are making all things new

And we are free

Verse 2:

Hope is found, You are here

Our hearts forever sealed

By this love that came for us

Now we are Yours

PreChorus 2:

As You rise, we come alive

Bridge:

Your love never ending

Your grace never failing

Redemption is calling us home

Are You Impressed... God?

2012-05-24T16:37:00.002-04:00

Have you ever tried to impress God with your spiritual accomplishments? Maybe once or twice, or even more than that? You’ve even expected some kind of celebration dance from the angels in heaven chanting A-W-E-S-O-M-E... Have you?

Doing good deserves a reward. It is just fair… and, why not? You’ve worked really hard to learn Biblical principles and you are following them the best way you can; every single day. Shouldn’t God be impressed?

To be honest, I’ve tried to impress God with good behavior and sacrificial actions more than a few times in my Christian life (i.e. prayer, fasting, piety, submission, good conduct, missionary work, etc, etc, etc.) But after 30+ years as a believer and 20+ years in ministry, I’ve learned that God is not moved by good behavior or good deeds alone, He is moved by faith.

Hebrews 11: 6 But without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

But wait a minute. Does this mean God doesn’t look at our actions, just our faith? Not at all! "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead." (James 24:26) My actions alone are incomplete without faith!

People with unrelenting faith, the kind of faith that believes the impossible, move the heart of God. Their faith is the fuel that empowers their actions. When people demonstrate a faith that is stubborn enough to "act" by a conviction birthed out of the Word of God, not by circumstances… they steal God’s heart.

Hebrews 11: 4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

Hebrews 11: 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Hebrews 11: 8, 12 By faith By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. And so from this one man, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

If we add "By faith" before our actions, we will revolutionize our walk with God. Like Abel, Noah, Abraham, and many others in the Bible, we will see the impressive work of the Holy Spirit transforming our lives and transforming our thinking. Every time we “act” in “faith” we will move God’s heart on our behalf and we will impact not just our own lives, but also our generation.

Lourdes

Read the "Top 10 People Who Impressed Jesus" from Current of Living Water website: http://www.solliday.org/top-10-people-impressed-jesus/

Every Pastor's Wife Needs A Good Pair Of Running Shoes

2012-03-03T10:49:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but I need a lot of details to understand the ins-and-outs of things. I am what is called “a process person.” I need to see the reason behind things; I need to be so sure I comprehend the situation before I make a decision, and I don’t move until I do. This could be a blessing for many people, but for a pastor’s wife, a complete understanding of “the process,” it’s not always practical. Let me put it this way: Many times God moves ministry so fast that a pastor’s wife has to be trained to run a marathon in order to catch up with the “pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by nigh,” Exodus 13:21. Sometimes we don’t even get a step-by-step detailed strategy of what He is about to do before He moves things around us. Well, this could make a “process person” CRAZY… That means ME!

Some times I find myself praying; “God, can you please slow down so I can catch my breath? You’re going too fast! Can you give me a minute to understand what you are doing, so I can plan things accordingly? I need to organize my life around your assignments and I need to make sure I have control of everything around me. Would you please modify your speed just a little so I can see where I am going?”

HELLO!!! By now you must know I am laughing at myself and I am apologizing profoundly to God for even questioning His ways. Who said I need to understand God’s modus operandi* or what He’s up to? He doesn’t have to wait for me and He doesn’t have to give me a detailed explanation of “His Plan.” Besides, I was never promised a seat with His Strategic Planning Team. I was just asked to “Trust Him from the bottom of my heart; not to try to figure out everything… He’s the one who will keep me on track,” Proverbs 3:5-6. He also promised to give me power to do what He wants me to do. He is “working in me, giving me the desire and the power to do what pleases him,” Philippians 2:13.

This is why the Holy Spirit compels me to live a life of faith, because He wants me to rest on His sovereignty and not on my understanding of “the process.” I have no other choice but to bite the bullet and stop over-analyzing His ways. Sometimes I’ll know the whole process… YEAHHHH! But there are going to be times when I wont! When that time comes, I’ll have to (1) trust Him, (2) tie my running shoes, and (3) start running, because His pillar of cloud and His pillar of fire will already be moving.

“Get rid of everything that slows you down… You must run the race that lies ahead of you and never give up.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (paraphrased)

Lourdes

What better song to describe my words than the song "Come To Me" by The Loft Sessions by Bethel Church.

Come To Me

I am the Lord youre gone
I go before you know
I stand beside you
And Im all around you
Though you feel Im far away
Im closer than your breath
And I am with you
More than you know

I am the Lord youre peace
No evil will conquer you
So steady now your heart and mind
Come into my rest
And now let your faith all rise
And lift up your weary head
And I am with you
Wherever you go
Come to me
Im all you need
Come to me Im everything

Come to me
Im all you need
Come to me Im your everything

________

* mo·dus op·e·ran·di/ˈmōdəs ˌäpəˈrandē/

Noun:

A particular way or method of doing something, esp. one that is characteristic or well-established.
The way something operates or works.

My Home is 4,000 Years Old

2012-01-27T18:08:00.000-05:00

You might not believe this… but my house is 4,000 years old; pretty old, don’t you think? Well, it depends what I mean by that, right?

In December 2011, we put new floors in our basement. I had the boring and tedious job of putting back in order all the books that were removed from two bookshelves during the renovation. To my surprise I counted more than 30 Bibles… just in the basement. How many Bibles do we own? I asked myself. Then I thought that I also have Bibles in my bedroom, the boys’ bedrooms, living room, my husband’s office, we have English Bibles, Spanish Bibles, and every iPhone, iPad, iPod & laptop in the house have several Bible translations. WOW, I am surrounded by Bibles! And there is not a day that passes by without someone in the house reading, listening, or studying one of these Bibles.

Sometime after that I read the following statement in an article about Mitzvahs[i] & Jewish traditions that totally made me think about my basement experience…

“What kind of a house do you have? Whatever it’s full of, that’s what your house will be. Our house is full of Jewish books. Four thousand years worth of Jewish books. So it’s a 4,000 year old house. A house that’s built to last forever.” Tzvi Freeman

Wait a minute… I too have a 4,000 years old house! The physical structure is not older than 30 years, but the spiritual foundation of my home is that old. I realized my husband and I are building a home to last forever. Why? Because is not built on sand, is built on the rock that is higher than I (Psalm 61:2.)

Building on a Solid Foundation, Matthew 7:24-27(NLT) 24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

My home is built with God’s Word as a foundation, a foundation that is going to go beyond this present life and into eternity. Yes… His Word will last and stand forever – both in this life and the next life to come.

“…I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the Word of God cannot be chained.” (2 Timothy 2:9 NLT) 
“Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations …” (Psalm 119:89 ESV) 
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8 NKJV)

Important as the foundation of your earthly home may be, it is nothing compared to the importance of your everlasting foundation. What is your home founded upon, sand or solid rock? How old is your house?

Lourdes

[i] By the way, in case you are wondering… Mitzvahs are moral deeds performed as a religious duty (a commandment of the Jewish law.) In modern society, though, Mitzvah is most often used as a term to refer to an act of human kindness :) (More on Mitzvah)

My Conversation With Dori

2012-01-16T22:54:00.001-05:00

I recently had a conversation with my lower back pain. Yep!!! I called it "My Conversation with Dori."

Dori is my nickname for Dorsalgia [dor-sal´jah] - pain felt in the back that usually originates from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine. In my case is the L5 S1 Disc.

Beginning of conversation:

Dori: You killing me here Lourdes…

Lourdes: Me??? I just moved to my left and you started sending sharp pain to my lower back making it very hard to move. Why????????

Dori: Well, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I am carrying more weight lately…

I have been able to keep Dori under submission since my lower back surgery back in 1998. She upseted sometimes, but I was able to control her. However, things have changed lately. I have noticed that she has become stubborn and cranky and it is getting harder and harder for me to dominate her.

Nobody likes unwelcomed change… We like things “the-way-they-are” especially if everything is going well and things are manageable. We like to know we have the power to control situations to our favor and keep things going the way we think is best. But what happens when we are welcomed with the reality that we can’t control “everything” around us such as our changing bodies, people, and the outcome of events? Well, that’s when we stop and trust God. “Be still, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10. Despair will not change the situation. Only by learning to walk in His peace, we will be able to accept those things we will never be able to change. “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:7 NLT

So… STOP and TRUST GOD!

End of conversation:

Lourdes: Hey, don’t blame me… blame Ms. Menopause! She showed up without a formal invitation.

Menopause: Who said I needed an invitation?

Dori and Lourdes: Oh Shut Up!!!

You’ve Been Labeled!

2011-10-09T23:12:00.001-04:00

I recently had a life changing Bible study with the ladies of our church. We discussed the power of labels and how people have used them to describe, classify, and/or identify others and themselves.

People are constantly sticking labels on us: too short, too tall, too old, too fat, too smart, too pretty, and the list goes on and on. We even stick some ugly labels to ourselves: ugly, looser, not good enough, damaged, trash, dirty, and sadly this list as well, goes on and on and on.

These labels are not what God says about us, but we wear them like they're the truth, limiting the work the Holy Spirit wants to do in our lives. Is possible that these labels described a moment in our history; a mistake, a bad decision, a negative event, but they don’t define us… God does!

When in repentance and surrender we come to the arms of our Heavenly Father, He replaces every negative, ugly, and inaccurate label with a new identity. That identity is found in Christ. We are re-classified by the words of the One that can transform a broken soul to a new creature. Now we are labeled as God sees us…

Forgiven - Ephesians 1:7
God’s Child - 1 Peter 1:23
A New Creature - 2 Corinthians 5:17
The Temple Of The Holy Spirit - 1 Corinthians 6:19
Delivered From The Power Of Darkness - Colossians 1:13
Redeemed From The Curse Of The Law - Galatians 3:13
Strong In The Lord - Ephesians 6:10
Holy And Without Blame Before Him - Ephesians 1:4
Accepted In Christ - Ephesians 1:6
Blessed - Deuteronomy 28:1-4

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 2:17 NLT

Lourdes

Getting Back Candy

2011-07-22T20:37:00.003-04:00

When I was very young and living in Puerto Rico I fell in love with a Japanese anime series called Candy Candy. It was the story of an orphan girl and her adventures around the world. Candy Candy had a lasting impact in my life because this girl faced so many hardships but through all the bullies, pain, set backs, difficult people, and death, all the while she stayed positive.

When I moved to USA, back in 1982, I was devastated because I could not see the end of this series. Yes, I have to admit I did cry about it, and in the back of my mind Candy remained as a cloud of something unfinished needing an end. In time I placed it in a hidden place where it remained until now.

Recently, 29 years later and due to the advance world of technology, I was given the incredible opportunity of watching the complete series (115 chapters) via YouTube. Imagine my surprise! AND yes, I don’t care if people think it silly and immature. I have been watching this series now for the last three weeks and I am as hooked today, as I was when I was young. Every character and story line is stealing my heart and I am revisiting those same emotions I did years ago.

I have to thank technology for giving me another chance to revisit my past and have closure with a program that really touched my emotions when I was a child… but what does this have to do with faith? Maybe nothing to you, but to me is just another way of God showing me that even those silly and immature feelings are important to Him and He knows how to give me back part of my childhood I though lost.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. (NASB) Matthew 6:33

Lourdes

My Faith Protecting Outfit

2011-06-28T18:10:00.002-04:00

Prayer Warrior By chateekat_bucket

I just came across this quote from F.B. Meyer “You never test the resources of God until you attempt the impossible!” I had to stop and think about it carefully because I find myself standing before this reality of faith… Can this impossible situation become possible? In an evil infected world where I am in a constant battle to protect my faith, can good intentions and a good attitude be enough to help me fight the fight of faith? 1Timothy 6:12.

Our core “belief system” is the enemy’s target. If he can hurt our faith, we are in no condition to withstand the battle. WHY? Because knowing God can do the impossible is not enough, we have to be certain “He will do the Impossible!” Yes, we are in a constant battle to protect our faith. Our enemy the devil doesn’t sleep. He is prowling around like a roaring lion looking to devour our faith in God. (I Peter 5:8) He attacks our mind by lying to us and by putting doubt in our thoughts making us believe that God’s power has limitations.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV

This is the reason why in Ephesians 6:10-18 Paul admonished the people of Ephesus to be dressed in the right outfit for this task: the belt (truth), the breastplate (justice), the shoes (peace), the shield (faith), the helmet (salvation), and the sword of the Spirit (God’s word). He said “ABOVE ALL” put on the “faith protection” shield. He knew that it is only under this kind of protection that any impossible situation becomes possible.

God,

Help us wear this outfit daily because without the proper protecting shield we are an open target to the enemy. Help us submit our mind, heart, and will to your Holy Spirit.

In the name of Jesus… Amen!

Lourdes

Perhaps Today

2011-06-21T15:16:00.000-04:00

My father in law went to be the Lord back in 2003. He was a lovely old man with a very beautiful gift of carpentry. He did amazing work in his late years and he used this gift, for the most part, as an expression of worship.

One of the first wood carvings he made is in my husband’s home office. It is a frame with the words “Perhaps Today.” These words were a shout of hope from a Christian generation that lived with the constant expectation of seeing Jesus’ return in their lifetime.

One of the first wood carvings from Francisco Morales (my husband's late father.)

“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” —Mark 13:32-37 ESV

Things have changed drastically in later generations. It seems that instead of the waiting and the expectancy of His return, there is much theological debate on the accuracy of the timing of His coming. Will this really happen in our generation? Will it happen before or after the tribulation?

There are so many school of thoughts on this issue. However, regardless of your position: Pretribulation, Midtribulation, Prewrath, Partial, or Posttribulation, there is one irrefutable truth, we will meet Him sooner or later. The question is... are we ready if “Perhaps Today” we find ourselves face to face with God?

"Keep your shirts on; keep the lights on! Be like house servants waiting for their master to come back from his honeymoon, awake and ready to open the door when he arrives and knocks. Lucky the servants whom the master finds on watch! He'll put on an apron, sit them at the table, and serve them a meal, sharing his wedding feast with them. It doesn't matter what time of the night he arrives; they're awake—and so blessed! "You know that if the house owner had known what night the burglar was coming, he wouldn't have stayed out late and left the place unlocked. So don't you be slovenly and careless. Just when you don't expect him, the Son of Man will show up." – Luke 12:35-40 The Message

Lourdes

ASK for Wisdom!

2011-06-04T01:12:00.001-04:00

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 (New American Standard Bible)

Those words sound wonderful to people like me trying to rely on God on a daily basis. It’s one of those Bible verses that leave us contemplating the possibilities. You see, Matthew 7:7 is remarkable because it contains an open invitation to ask, seek, and knock with the irrefutable outcome of a response from the One who can… without a doubt, honor that promise.

I, for one, have been asking God for what I think will give me the greatest way of life as His daughter. One of the those things is “Wisdom.” “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you”. James 1:5 (New International Version)

Hey, I could have asked, sought, and knocked for a closet full of drop-dead-gorgeous-shoes or any other cool stuff that would make my life much easier and fun, but I don’t want to seem pretentious before God. Anyway, who wants a closet full of shoes when there are people with no shoes and no God? Don’t get me wrong; I am not a “Mother Teresa” type. I like things that would make my life comfortable and pleasurable. Who doesn’t? However Jesus’ invitation makes me examine my purpose and my destiny, and even with the desire for comfort and pleasure being as real to me as my own name, I still consider “wisdom” more valuable than any tangible temporary gratification I could get in my lifetime. You see, wisdom allows me to make decisions that are Spirit-led not Lourdes-led and helps me see life from God's perspective not mine. So, I will keep asking, seeking, and knocking for wisdom because I know I will not be disappointed ;-)

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who obtains understanding. If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off”. Proverbs 3:13a (English Standard Version); 24:14b (New International Version)

Lourdes

What Are You Thinking?

2011-05-13T21:58:00.008-04:00

I was recently wondering to myself, why it seems so difficult, and many times impossible, for some people to overcome struggles, weaknesses, and difficult moments in their life, but for others it appears to happen very easy? Why is it so hard for some of us to be spiritually transformed to be like Christ while others get an aureole for holy behavior in a blink of an eye? What’s the secret? It should not be a surprise the role our mind plays in this.

We read in the Bible how important our process of “thinking” is to our relationship with God, and how the Holy Spirit desires to transform our mind to the mind of Christ. The Bible says in Romans 12:1-2 ESV, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” But… How is that possible? How can my mind be renewed?

I believe meditating on the Word of God is a very important part of that process. The faith needed for transformation will get activated by God’s Word, as Paul stated in the book of Romans 10:27 NASV “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Hearing is the foundation, but we also need to treasure the Word of God deep into our hearts by repeating it, praying it, memorizing it, thinking about it… Yes, we need to meditate on God’s Word daily and eventually we’ll learn how to move from meditation to application—connect our thoughts to action. The truth and power of the Word of God will renew our thinking, transform our heart, and affect our behavior.

What’s on your mind?

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 ESV

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7 AB

Lourdes

Where I Belong!

2011-05-04T14:20:00.002-04:00

I will make my home in You, even in the multitude of my anxieties!
How in the world was I able to survive life without a laptop during my college years?
Will I stop worrying about my boys when they grow older, get married, and follow their journey in life?
I need to lose 15 pounds. I really need to start soon.
Why am I hungry this early in the morning?

OK Lourdes... You need to stop your mind. You should be praying!!!

Why is it that my mind becomes so busy and impatient when I want to spend time with God? Prayer should not be this hard. It shouldn't! But that is not always the case. Well, by now I should know that before I talk to God there are some things I need to do, like; calm my crazy mind, submit my heart, and get ready to encounter holiness.

I guess my flesh knows when I am getting ready to enter into His presence. My heart starts fidgeting in anticipation of the natural touching the supernatural. OHHHH, but when I cross the threshold I encounter what satisfies my soul.

It might take some house cleaning before prayer, but as soon as that is done, and I am in His presence, there is a complete sense of fulfillment and joy. WHY? Because I am where I belong.

Where I Belong! by Cory Asbury

Psalm 16:11 (New King James Version), You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Lourdes

Like A Coconut Tree

2011-04-27T14:59:00.008-04:00

Boricua En Linea.com - Vega Baja, Puerto Rico

IMAGE SOURCE PAGE: http://boricuaenlinea.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=34

"He who plants a coconut tree, plants vessels and clothing, food and drink, a habitation for himself, and a heritage for his children." Philippine Proverb[1]

One of the joys of my childhood was going to the beach. We lived about a 15-minute drive from one of the most beautiful beaches in Puerto Rico. In those unforgettable drives I remember how I marveled at the view of the coconut palm trees. They seemed to me so tall, strong, and majestic. Do you know that there is no fruit more used and grown around the world, with more than 360 known uses, half of those being food-related, like the Coconut?[2] One of the unique things I remember about these trees is that they were seldom straight, and they could live like that for many years. I could never understand why, until I recently learned that they often lean because of strong winds and the weight of the coconuts, but amazingly, they never stop bearing fruits.

This tree reminds me of the words Jesus told His disciples in John 5:8 ““You give glory to my Father when you produce a lot of fruit and therefore show that you are my disciples.” Later in Galatians 5:22-23 Paul identified the fruit for us when he wrote, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” We are called to produce this kind of fruit regardless of the conditions around us. The winds and storms of life will move us left to right (no doubt about it), and perhaps, we might end up with a bend or a bump here and there, but remember we will be known not by how straight and tall we are standing (appearance), but by the character we demonstrate!

Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. (Matthew 7:20 NLT)

So, are you ready to be like the Coconut tree fertile and fruitful, maybe bending... but never breaking?

Lourdes

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[1] http://faculty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/POW/coconut_palm.htm
[2] http://www.ehow.com/about_6119254_coconut-palm-tree.html#ixzz1KfoWlips

A Promise Keeper

2011-04-22T11:21:00.002-04:00

Criminal: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (v. 42).

Jesus: “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (v.43).

I don’t know about you, but I need more proof from people that use the “I promise” phrase loosely. Just give me a guarantee that you will do what you said you’d do, and we’ll be ok! Hey, I don’t have time to waste with empty promises. There is too much at stake for me to invest my time with people that keep breaking their promises. Have you ever met people like that, or… are you that person?

One of the most powerful and unexpected stories in the Bible is the salvation of the criminal hanging on the cross next to Jesus. I don’t know if he got to comprehend, in so short of a time, the incredible undeserving promise he received from Jesus, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43) And yes, I said, “undeserving” because this man didn’t deserve mercy for he was a criminal that earned his way to hell, but Jesus understood the language of his heart and promised him salvation and a rent-free place in heaven that same day. This man received the promise of his life from the best and most reliable source… God himself!

WOW! I am so happy I put my total trust and confidence in Christ. I can be certain that He will keep the promises He left for me in the Bible. He loves me and understands the language of my heart. He heard me when I cried, “Remember me Jesus” and He answered, “Don’t let your heart be troubled. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live” (John 14:1-3). Yes, I can rely on that promise because He is “A Promise Keeper!”

Lourdes

Overcoming Visibility

2011-04-10T06:13:00.008-04:00

azazel213's images

Prevailing over a state of visibility is one of the most difficult things I have to do as a Pastor’s wife. Hey, who wants to be invisible? Especially in my case is almost impossible. I am constantly before a group of people either singing, speaking, or teaching. Nevertheless, Invisibility is critical. Jesus said in John 8:54 NIV, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.”

Who do the people see when I am standing before them, God or just me? Is what I do an act of worship or a transaction with the expectation of some kind of reward? Is “recognition” my motivator and is it greater than my self-sacrificing act of worship? I have to constantly ask myself those questions as a reminder that the limelight and the center stage belong only to God and God alone.

We shouldn’t allow our visibility to overshadow God’s. When we analyze our heart’s intention, we should only see God. In the book “The Invisible Woman” Nicole Johnson writes a powerful truth; “nothing we do is invisible to God.” That should be enough for you and I. God sees what we do and our reward is in His hands. We shouldn’t be an eclipse who covers the glory of the Son of God. The only visible thing in our lives should be His glory. “For I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20 NASB

Test your heart with the following three statements:

1. Everything I do, I do it to glorify God, not self.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” WHY? Because…

2. I work for God not for people.

Colossians 3:17 NLT, “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
Ephesians 6:7-8 NLT, "Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free."

3. The credit I get here will be all I get, but the honor and reward I get from God will be eternal.

1 Peter 5:3 NIV, “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”

Lourdes

Backward is Awkward

2011-04-01T17:48:00.003-04:00

Salvador Dalí - Muchacha en la ventana (Woman at the window)

Have you ever tried to walk backwards or go backwards down an escalator? It could be fun, even comical, awkward for sure, and very hard to do. We were not made to walk that way for a long period of time. Our head, feet, and body were made to walk into the future, not in reverse.

I recently was asked a question that is very common for people that have had an amazing experience with God. “How can I go back to feel the way I felt when I had ‘that experience’?” After giving a simple answer to a new believer in Christ, I realized how easy it is for us to put on a pedestal a moment, a feeling, or ‘that experience’ that marked our life. We consider some of our moments with God irreplaceable, and instead of making a memorial, like Joshua did with the people of Israel (Joshua 4:4-7), we try to keep them alive by creating templates or exact replicas in order to go back and find the same feelings and emotions that made them powerful at one point in our lives. We want so much to capture the moment, that we do whatever we can to immortalize them. However, God didn’t intend for you and I to create pedestals out of our past encounters with the divine. He wants us to remember the moment, not create a spiritual time machine just so we can go back looking for ‘that experience.’ It’s simple; God has something new for us every single day, so let's walk forward!

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

Lourdes

Bread Is Just The Beginning

2011-03-22T20:14:00.005-04:00

Location: My kitchen

Time: 3:00pm

Activity: Making bread

I just finished making homemade bread. OH, and without the help of a bread machine. Can you believe that? Yes, me! You have to understand… working full time and starting a church with my husband gave me no time for a great relationship with my kitchen, but all that changed when I lost my job in what is called a re-organization. The executive in our office lost his job and I became a casualty of the re-org.

After being in the workforce for what seemed to me like an eternity, now I find myself standing in the middle of my kitchen telling myself “OK Lourdes… Now it is time to re-learn the “staying-home-mom-wife business.” To tell you that I faced this season in my life with trust and total confidence in God’s protection would be a miss representation of the truth. Don’t get me wrong, I knew God was in control and I knew He was faithful to His promises, but my “don’t-rock-my-boat” nature and God’s purpose for my life were out of sync, and not on God’s part… obviously!

So I had two options: trust God and enjoy the ride, or get depressed and be miserable. The first option seemed the most appropriate, but there was a little tiny problem… He had to be in total control, not me. With the second option I had the power to manipulate the level of depression I could put myself through. Hey, I am smart! I will know when to stop, right? Well, the problem with option #2 is that I would have been in total disobedience. Not a good thing! I picked option #1.

Today I realize I have joined God in a new adventure. My life has changed and I find myself more involved in the life of my husband and my kids. Ministry is not as overwhelming and demanding as before. I am content and my freshly baked bread… it came out perfect! And “Bread Is Just The Beginning.”

Lourdes

Why Sun and Mountain?

2011-03-20T22:29:00.005-04:00

Is the Power of God closed in a sacred book just to be read and appreciated by millions of readers and then placed on an acid free archival shelf in a library somewhere? For some, that could be the case, but not for me. I believe the Power of God is as alive today as it was in the stories I read in the Bible all my life. Yes, I believe I can stop the sun and I can move a mountain.

Credit: Free photos from acobox.com

Joshua 10:12-13 NLT "On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” 13 So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day."

Matthew 17:20 NLT "He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

I am pretty sure my "sun" won't be like Joshua's sun, and my "mountain" won't be anything like Jesus' mountain, but every day I have a chance to experience a Sun or a Mountain moment of my own. Every day I am challenged to go out off my comfort zone and I am dared to walk into a dimension of power that is not humanly induced, but a dimension designed only by the Spirit of God for those willing to jump knowing that His arms will be there to catch them.

Which one will it be today, Sun or Mountain… could it be maybe both? I can’t wait to find out!

Lourdes