Here's My Life

John 12: 25 “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

Today as I ponder this verse I am reminded of Pastor John and Terry Murillo. They are giant slayers and I admire them greatly. They have lived this verse for they put it all on the line for the cause of Christ. I think of Pastor Dan and Angie and I am forever amazed. Jessie is with the Lord and they press on through the pain. This journey that I am on is an all or nothing journey. It is very difficult for some of my family to understand, but Jesus is my everything. I have nothing without Him, and when I have nothing and no one, I still have Him.
As I look back on my own life, He has been my everything. I woke up with the song Hungry in my heart and sang through my tears all the way to work. See the chorus says:

I’m falling on my knees,
Offering all of me
Jesus your all this heart is living for

That says it all, doesn’t it? Falling on your knees is not just a position of surrender, but a position of the physical body being overcome by the emotional state of the person. In life circumstances can easily overtake you, but when you empty yourself to Jesus…then you truly feel alive. I know as I pour myself out and give it all that is when I feel free. We use the word ALL so lightly, and it is a serious commitment. All means all that I am and hold dear, I give it all away, just to have Christ.

So today, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me.” Unknown territory awaits me this next year, but I am secure knowing my life is in His hands.

Roller Coaster Ride

James1: 2-5 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. “

I was praying at 2 am again, and as I prayed for the needs of my family and others I heard this verse. Immediately I was convicted for being worried and concerned with a materialistic view of Christmas. I have been sad that I cannot afford the things I would like to give to others. If you know me, you know that I love to provide for others and that has been hard to do this year.

See I have been teaching Isaiah that Jesus should be our focus, not toys and yet I my actions and worries were teaching something else. As I continued to pray God began to calm my spirit and encourage me in a proper view.

• Consider it ALL joy when you go through trials. I am not the only person experiencing hard times. I am blessed for many, are truly suffering and losing hope. Take everything as a teachable moment.
• Perseverance. I still have a lot of maturing to do and this situation proved that to me. I need to brace myself and push against the wind.
• Wisdom. Wisdom is putting to practice gained knowledge and good sense, which begins with a fear and reverence of God. I don’t know about you, but I need wisdom in all areas and I will never gain enough to where I will not need to ask God for more.
• Without finding fault. Don’t doubt or have a negative attitude when asking God to help you. It is understandable to be down, but pray with faith and hope.

This year has brought a great deal of change, but it has all been for the best. I have not always seen it in, but as I am now looking back I realize God had a plan. He knows exactly what He was doing. So relax, enjoy the ride. Hold on, on the way up and raise your hands in praise on the way down. It is more fun that way.

Lord, thank you for our very early morning talks. I would be lost without You.

Take the Baton

Last night, I attended the viewing for Bishop Steve Perea's mother, Maria Conception Perea or Concha, as she was lovingly called. I did not have the privilege of knowing her personally, however, as the night moved forward, I wish I had.

The testimonies that were shared were inspirational, encouraging, and challenging. Though my heart grieves for my Pastor, I was greatly blessed. Even in death she has touched my life. This is what I have learned.

• Pray for your family and extended family by name.


• Make every house a home for all.


• Be an encouragement, even when you could use some encouraging

As I pondered on the wonderful memories that were shared, this verse came to mind. Hebrew 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Many saints have gone before us and it would be, as my Nana use to say, " a dirty shame", for me not to pick up the mantle and carry on in the fight. This is my prayer to throw off the hindrances and press on, looking at the landmarks of victory of those who have walked this way before.

Concha, thank you for pouring into my life and encouraging me through what you have done for others. Suemmi said it best,"when I grow up I wanna be like her", ...me too.

Reaching the Region

Romans 15: 23a “ But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, “

Paul was an awesome pioneer for the gospel. Paul did not intend to “plant churches” but to passionately bring everyone he came in contact with to the saving knowledge of Christ. He was not focused on programs and Podcasts, dramas, or lighting. He had something deep and powerful running through him, Jesus.

When I stop and think about how many people I come into contact with daily, I wonder if I am giving my all. Do I look at every person and see their destiny? Heaven or Hell may not be politically correct to discuss, but it is necessary.

Monday, I had a student come to my office and she wanted to give up on college. She was overwhelmed and confused. The problem was not school, when we dug a little deeper it was really a heart problem that was affecting everything else. We talked about God’s purpose for her life and how He loves her and values her. But later, I felt like I could have given more.
Paul said that there was no more work for him in that region and so he was going elsewhere. I want to be able to say when I leave my job, my city, CWC Milpitas to go to Hawaii, that there is no more work here for me. I want to say that I have reached everyone and that it is time to move on. I want to say with confidence that I left it all on the field in California.

Lord, let me not put the brakes on when it comes to sharing salvation no matter where I am at. Help me to recognize this may be someone’s last opportunity to know you. Let me reach my region for you. Amen

Free from the Storm

Matthew 8:25 "The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" 26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. "

The disciples and Jesus were struck suddenly by a storm and it must have been pretty bad. A few of them had been fisherman by occupation and understood sailing and storm conditions. This was no little storm. It was serious enough that they believed they could lose their lives.
Jesus on the other hand was asleep. He was at perfect peace. Why? He understood that He was not subject to whatever life brought Him but that He has the power to turn any situation around. Jesus asks them why they are afraid and had little faith, because He had demonstrated this power before. This same power has been given to us.

This morning I had a dream reminding me of past pain. I asked God a familiar question, why do the innocent suffer? I needed to remind myself of the answer. We all have choices in this life and, no, it is not the innocents fault for the wicked choices that others make against them. However, we do not have to just sit and die in the storm. I know a God who has the power to remove storms and restore peace. I make the choice to call out to Him and speak to the storms in my life in Jesus name.

I am not a victim of the past and I am not bound by its wound, I am free by the Almighty power of Jesus Christ and CHOOSE to live and walk in that freedom. I may not be able to stop all the wicked people in the world, but I am not subject to them either.

Lord, You are an awesome God and I love You for being my everything. Thank you for reminding me of the great freedom I have in You. I praise You for giving me peace and a life of joy. I pray for those who are hurting and do not have freedom that they will call out to You and find You. Amen

Priceless

2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Giving is something I have always loved to do. However, with the move and me making so much less things are tight and Christmas has me worried. I want more than ever for the people I love to know that they are loved and appreciated. But I am not sure how to do that without gifts. It is apparent that I am were Isaiah has gotten this concept and I have never said it, but my actions obviously have.

What am I sowing? Ant and I were talking about how my Christian friends that are my age don’t stay close to me, and yet I make good non-Christian friends. I pray that it is the love of God that draws them to me. I can give love in my actions and speech and it costs me nothing, but the end result is… priceless. I have adopted many young people at church and at work and it is the unconditional love that brings them.

I am truly rich and have so much to be thankful for. I have a fun husband, and inspiring son, a beautiful daughter, an amazingly supportive family. The clock is ticking as my last Thanksgiving and Christmas in California close in. I feel my heart squeezing and yet I am over joyed to have you all in my life.

Giving is so much more than material. The memories, the words of encouragement, the laughs, the smiles, the tears, they will carry on. They fill our hearts and change our lives forever.

Give yourself away this season, you won’t regret it.

What is your view?

1 Corinthians 16: 8-9” But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”

Paul had an awesome view of obstacles. He is a pioneer in his own right. Here he is in Ephesus and he describes the situation as a great work. This gives an impression that revival is breaking out, that the people are earnestly receiving his message and running with it. Then in the next breath, he says that “many oppose me”.

What?

This is not a picture of opportunity. This does not sound like something inviting that he should desire to stay around. However, Paul understood that greatness has nothing to do with ease.
I have been listening to Focus on the Family in the morning on the way to work and they have been playing a Thanksgiving reenactment of the first Thanksgiving. (It is pretty good.) Anyways, the Pilgrims looked at their hardship as God’s provision in this new land. They lost 50% of their colony and praised God for their life, realizing other colonies had lost 90%.

Our outlook determines our success. God has doors open for us, but if we only focus on the difficulties we will never know the greatness beyond. Difficulties come and go. Let’s count on out lasting the trouble. I am encouraged to press forward and leave a mark of greatness behind me.

What will you do with your difficulties?