THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

Just a big THANK YOU to all my blog readers!!!  

May God bless you and encourage you greatly! I'm always praying for you :) 

I don't know some of you in other parts of the world. But I pray and hope I will meet you one day in Heaven! God loves you more than you can even imagine. May He bless you always!

Check the YouTube video link below. I pray it will encourage your journey.


http://youtu.be/s2RzgzN5FWY


Love & Blessings, 

Guadalupe :)

THE ECONOMY

Have you lost your job or your house? Are you having a hard time making ends meet? I'm sorry if you are facing difficult times. Unfortunately, I'm not an economy expert and cannot predict the future of our economy either. I know someone who can give you the right kind of advice though. His name is Jesus. Here is what Jesus said about worrying about our provisions in Matthew 6:25-34:

Do Not Worry
²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Job was a man in the Bible who lost all his possessions, children and health. This is what he said in Job19:25-27:

²⁵ I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end He will stand on the earth.
²⁶ And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
²⁷ I myself will see Him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!

The disciple, Paul, said in 2 Corinthians 5:1-2, "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling."

We all know this world is not our permanent home and when we leave this earth we won't be able to take anything with us, not even the clothes we're wearing. If God is your Heavenly Father then you don't need to worry. He will watch over you and provide for you. We become children of God by placing our trust in Him and receiving forgiveness of sins through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, on the cross.You can say the following prayer:

Lord, Jesus
 
I believe You are the Son of God and that You died for me on the cross. Please forgive all my sins. I receive your grace and forgiveness and your gift of eternal life. Thank you for cleansing me and making me right with God. Help me to follow You and do Your will all the days of my life. It's in Your name, I pray. Amen!

If you meant this prayer in your heart, you are now a son or daughter of God. You have a beautiful future and place that Jesus went to prepare for you. I pray you will be content with what you have and trust God to provide for your needs.

The dollar bill in the picture above says, "In God We Trust." May we trust God and not the economy. We have a Father who cares for us!

Here is an uplifting song about not worrying about tomorrow. Enjoy and may God bless you!!!

Guadalupe :)

http://youtu.be/lGKr9EI_rYc

I WANTED TO DIE...

I WANTED TO DIE...

Depression and low self-esteem were my constant companions. A dark cloud not only hung over me, it had a crushing effect as well. I wanted to end my life. Why did a 24 year old with a wonderful husband, two healthy and handsome little boys with a beautiful house wanted to take her life?

I had lost my faith in God. I doubted His existence. No more church for me, no more prayers. My prayer request had been for my husband to start coming to church with me. I thought, "I'm asking for a good thing, if God does not care, then there is probably not a God." On top of that my self-esteem had plummeted and I felt miserable. 

I admire people who are strong in spite of tragedy and trauma in their lives. I'm emotionally weak. The only reason why I didn't take my life is because I didn't want any pain and didn't want my two boys to grow up without a mother.

Have you ever felt depressed and hopeless? Is life too hard and painful? I'm writing this for you. In spite of the fact that my back and neck hurt as I sit in front of my computer to write, there was an urgency today for me to write and tell you to please be strong and courageous.

Joy comes in the morning and God's mercies are new every morning. There were times when I struggled with an issue and it seemed overwhelming. I would go to bed not wanting to ever wake up. The next day, I would wake up and the issue didn't seem as big anymore. Sometimes the solution to my problem came right away. If I had ended my life, I wouldn't be here writing to you today.

My healing began when I was invited to attend a Bible study. I learned about God's unconditional love and His amazing grace. I began to trust and love God gradually. For my readers who know me personally, you are probably shocked to know this is who I was in my early twenties. You have only known a woman who is filled with joy and a zest for life, a woman who is passionately in love with Jesus! God transformed my life and gave me a reason to live. 

If you are struggling right now, this is my prayer for you:

Dear Lord,

I thank you for removing the chains of depression from my life. I pray for protection for the person who is reading this blog and might be contemplating suicide. Lord, please give them hope and comfort at this very moment. Lord, the enemy, the devil, wants to destroy them, but You want to give them life and life to the fullest. Please surround this person with your love and your peace. Please embrace them and reveal your love to them. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

This is me now....

May this song bless you and encourage you...you are loved!!!

http://youtu.be/Jbe7OruLk8I

Until next time :)

Summer Rest

Do you need rest? Are you feeling tired? Are you doing too much? Even when we are involved in ministry or serving a good cause, Jesus wants us to rest.We know the human body needs rest and relaxation.

Jesus loves us so much that He reminds us of this in Mark 6:30-32:

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

³⁰ The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. ³¹ Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

³² So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

The disciples had been working with the crowds. Who said, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest"? Jesus did. Is He telling you the same thing today? I know He is saying that to me.

Jesus also said in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you that You care about our bodies and minds. As a good Father you know what's best for us. Please give us the wisdom to listen to your advice and take time to rest. In You, O Lord, our souls find rest. Thank you for allowing us through Your creation to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. I pray for every person reading this blog, Lord. Please give them rest, joy and peace. Bless them and their families. May they know how much You love them. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen!

Enjoy this song, titled, "Rest My Soul"

Breathe and let go of any tension as you relax your muscles...breathe...breathe...

http://youtu.be/PSMCOAlDsl4

2012 - Are You Ready?

2012 - ARE YOU READY?

Ready for what? Doomsday? The end of the world? There are several websites about these subjects. Rumors say that December 21, 2012 is the last day of the earth. Judgement Day...By the way, I took this picture above in 2008 in Cancun. The two figures on the right almost look like two angels to me. I thought it was an interesting picture.

If you type, "2012" on the Internet, you'll discover multiple websites dedicated to the Ancient Mayan calendar and how to survive 2012. Even a well known Christian, owner of a Christian radio station, no need to mention names, predicted the end of the world last May 21st. Many others have claimed to know the end times in the last few years. Others said it would be October 21, 2011. Those days have come and gone.

The Bible, the Word of God, states that there is a Judgement Day coming. One day, Jesus Christ will return to gather those who have trusted and believed in Him by faith. It is also clear that NOBODY knows the day and the hour. It can even be TOMORROW!

Matthew 24:36 (Amplified Bible version)

But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Mark 13:32-33 

The Day and Hour Unknown

³² “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 

Since we don't know the day, it pays to be ready. For those of us who believe Jesus is the Son of God and call Him, Savior and Lord, that day won't be Doomsday, it'll be a GLORIOUS DAY! Imagine Jesus coming down in the clouds to pick you up in all glory and radiance. Better than a firework show, the Lord will fill the sky with splendor and light. It'll be the best sight throughout the world.

Mark 13:26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 
¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Revelation 1:7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.

Luke 21:27-28 
 ²⁷ At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

I love this following verse. We, believers, will receive our crown of righteousness. Not because we were good enough or worked hard enough, but because of God's loving grace. Grace is mercy shown to an offender according to the dictionary. Jesus paid the price for our sins. He died in our place. He gave us hope and the gift of eternal life. Be ready! 

2 Timothy 4:8

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

For more reading about how to be READY check my previous blogs, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER!!! and  A Clean Slate...A Fresh Start!

I leave you for now with this YouTube song...go ahead...sing it!

http://youtu.be/ofcNx1dv8R4

Blessings! 

SPRING BREAK OR EASTER WEEK?

When my boys were in elementary school "Spring Break" used to be called "Easter Week." What comes to your mind when you hear the words, Spring Break? Sometimes, I think of high school and college students having a crazy and wild time during Spring Break, but that's not always the case. A large number of high school students in our church went to Mexico to build a house for a needy person. Other families enjoy the time off to rejuvenate and spend time together.

Spring can also be a time of renewal. You can do "spring cleaning" in your own heart. Get rid of clutter or bad habits. You can ask God to do it for you. Ask Him to clean up areas to create more space for Him and allow more joy, peace and love to reside in your heart.

The sunrise picture above was taken during this "Spring Break" in Cancun. My husband and I celebrated our 32 years of marriage there. This place has become our retreat with God and each other as we contemplate and meditate on the beauty around us. 

I love to wait for the sun to rise at the beach. Out of a dark sky, a new day begins. It announces itself with glory and rays of hope. The sun receives the command from its Creator to shine and bring light and warmth to the world. We should follow his example and radiate the Son's love and light to the world as well--the love of Jesus!

Here are some pictures of our Spring Break in Cancun as my husband and I thanked the Lord for blessing and protecting our marriage for 32 years!

I bring my travel size Bible and Bible study to enjoy the beauty God created and to hear from Him, the Creator and Author, as I read His precious Word. It nourishes my soul.

Now, when you hear the words, "Happy Easter!" what comes to mind?  When Jesus rose from the dead, let me say that again, He rose from the dead... He offered us eternal life.

John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

John 3:15
that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

John 3:16
“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.

John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.

1 John 2:17

The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

That's what "Happy Easter" is all about... you will live FOREVER! Now, that's a reason to CELEBRATE... HAPPY EASTER!!!

I'm feeling generous today, so here are two YouTube Videos to bless your life!!! :) Receive His love TODAY!

The first is "Revelation Song" and the second is titled, "Resurrection"

http://youtu.be/YNjFSc28TdU

http://youtu.be/ojjV3BbQTjk

John 14:19
Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

LORD, FORGIVE ME...

Do you ever murmur or complain? Who doesn't, right? This morning, as I worked on my Bible study lesson, the Lord spoke to me about this. I've been murmuring and complaining and had not even realized how much--until now.

This is what the Lord says in His Word about murmuring and complaining, 'The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: In this desert your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me.  Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. But you—your bodies will fall in this desert. '- Numbers 14:26-32.

It sounds pretty harsh, doesn't it? But the Lord had rescued the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt, performed many miracles, took care of them in the desert and yet they complained saying they wanted to go back to Egypt because it was better over there.

I didn't know I was being a complainer,  too until I read the questions from my Beth Moore's Bible study lesson on David. The first application question was, "Have you recently become aware of something God wants to give you or do for you?" I answered, "Yes, to reach people for His Kingdom. He is equipping me to write for his glory!"

The following question was, "Are you accepting what God is offering you?" I said, "Yes, but I need to stop complaining about the work and do it joyfully."

That's when it hit me...I've been a reluctant writer. I've been expressing that it was not my idea to write a book to begin with. Several friends had suggested I write about my journey with God. English is my second language. I don't have a college education and have never taken a writing class. Needless to say, it has been a big challenge. I love the Bible study I wrote, but in the process of learning to revise and publish the book, I've been complaining all along...

This is my list of complaints:

I'm being stretched by God.
I don't know how to write.

I don't want to learn or do the work ahead.

I rather speak about the Lord and share with my friends than write.

My back and neck hurt when I sit in front of the computer.

I just want to move on and be done.

This morning after reading the application questions, the Lord spoke to my heart... He said, "You have said that You want to be used by me, that you're willing to lay your life for me. You asked me for something new in your life and to bring you people by the thousands to tell them about my love for them."

My next step was to pray, "Forgive me, Lord, for murmuring and help me to enjoy learning to write for your glory."

Then I asked my husband to forgive me for my murmuring and thanked him for his support on this endeavor. He said, "It's a journey. Go through the journey. Enjoy the blessing of the journey. You want to finish fast and be done with it, but look at all the wonderful new people you have met in your journey. You have grown through this process."

God continues to build character and patience in my life. Through this journey of writing for almost three years, I have met wonderful Christian writers that have blessed my life. We encourage one another and pray for each other.

This morning, I renewed my covenant with God. I dedicated my work space and writing to Him and once again I said, "Lord, use me as you please. I am yours!"

I will joyfully write through His strength and continue to ask Him to use me to bless others through it. I formally apologize to all of you who heard me complain and murmur in the past. Keep praying for me to have joy, peace and physical strength for my back and neck as I write.

My Prayer for you:

May God make you aware of areas in your life where you are complaining right now. May He help you accept your situation. May He give you strength, JOY and endurance as you go through your own journey and set of challenges. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen!

Love you all,

Guadalupe :)