Here I am

“Here I am.” Pause and let that phrase sink in. There’s something about it. A sense of readiness, willingness, and a beautiful awareness beyond what we seem to be able to achieve in our day to day. I have often read this phrase in scripture and I have always been drawn to it. In Genesis we read that God calls Abraham, and he replies “Here I am.” God tells Abraham to take his son, Isaac, and sacrifice him as an offering. I can’t even begin to imagine what was going through Abraham’s mind. The son God had promised, the one he had waited for years and came as a miracle, now he had to give as a sacrifice?

But Abraham didn’t let his questions get in the way. He probably couldn't sleep that night trying to make sense of it all, but his need for answers was not going to stop his obedience and without delay “Early the next morning, Abraham got up and loaded his donkey.” (Genesis 22:3) I love the determination to comply. I imagine he had to get up early and get going just so his fear and pain would not stop him. As Abraham was ready to do as instructed he heard God calling him. Abraham’s reply again is “Here I am.” God told him not to hurt his son and He provided a ram as sacrifice. Jacob, Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, and Ananias all answered the same way when God called them- “Here I am”. Ready to follow God’s will no matter how difficult it may be. Their connection to God and obedience impresses me, and reminds me of the importance of being present.

I don’t know if I could reply to God with that swiftness. I am afraid half the time I may not even hear Him calling me because I am not “here”. I may still be  thinking about the things I should have said, done or avoided in the past. I may be trying to analyze things or regretting mistakes I made. I may be in my yesterday or I may be in my tomorrow. It is difficult to be ready to hear God’s soft calling If I am not here, how can I have a continuous conversation with God? How can I hear His voice if my own keeps talking to me louder each time? God doesn’t yell, He lovingly whispers. He sweetly calls us and He patiently waits for our answer. 

“...seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33) First things first. That is my hope and goal each day and also one of the most difficult things to achieve. I have always had trouble staying still, pausing and listening, but that is exactly what I need to do in order to  be in the moment. The  key to being “here” is to make my quiet time with God a priority and first thing in the morning so I can set the tone for the rest of the day and make prayer a continuous conversation with my Father as I go throughout my day enjoying the gift of right here, right now.  

Manuelita 

“I know your name”

My birthday is coming up soon, and I usually don’t like to announce it or make a big deal. Don’t get me wrong, I am all about celebrating life and eating cake, but I don’t like to be the center of attention. I only mention this because last week my children asked me how I wanted to celebrate and instead of dodging the question and simply letting it pass, I have been thinking intentionally about my answer. After much thought I decided that what makes me the happiest is family night, which is usually extended to friends and whoever can come and share time with us. There’s something special about being surrounded by people you love. We go around the table and as each person shares the highs and the lows of the week we all look attentively and ask questions, there’s this feeling that we all care and it is because we genuinely do. That is my favorite moment, a safe space in the middle of whatever we are facing and how fitting and necessary it is now as we face the painful reality we are living in.  

The other day as I was having my quiet time I read a verse that I had read many times before, but this time it shook me to the point I couldn’t contain my tears. I was reading John 20 about the morning when Mary Magdalene went to Jesus’ tomb and found it empty. “...Mary stood outside the tomb crying… ‘Woman,’ he said, ‘why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means teacher)” John 20:11,15-16 

I still don’t understand why this touched me so deeply. But I just put myself in Mary’s place. She was probably overwhelmed with emotion, sad, frustrated, confused, probably exhausted from so much crying and had no clarity about the future, and in one second, Jesus changed everything. He could have said anything, but he said her name and she recognized him immediately. That moment must have been unbelievably powerful. I started reading about the effects of hearing our own name. There have been many clinical tests and scientific studies that prove that hearing our own name activates our brains in a specific way. A person’s name is part of his or her identity, in a way it has a lot to do with who we are. We need to be heard, to be seen, to be noticed and when people use our name we feel accepted, valued, and important. 

Jesus saw Mary Magdalene that morning, Jesus saw Saul as he was on his way to Damascus and He called him by name “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4). Jesus saw Zacchaeus “...he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ (Luke 19:5). Jesus saw Martha as she was busy with preparations and He said to her: “Martha, Martha... You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.” (Luke 10:41) He saw many people, and the same way He sees you “From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind” (Psalm 33:13). He knows everything about you and  He loves you more than you can imagine. Let Him be the source of peace, rest, and wisdom that you and I need as we face the state of humanity and the world at this moment. Let Him be your focus so you won’t lose sight and hope. There is a way, there is a solution and we are part of it, but first we need to find our inner peace and know that we are not alone. We are seen and heard by the Creator and the One in charge of it all. 

Manuelita 

Your plan, or God’s plan?

I like to talk. I talk to friends, family,  strangers, and of course I talk to God... a lot. I often drive without music so I can have long conversations with Him, and I have noticed that I keep giving God great ideas of how to solve the issues I am going through. I offer Him a variety of scenarios and different outcomes as my mind races through all the great possibilities, but most of the time God doesn’t take any of my suggestions and things don’t turn out as I envisioned them. I often forget my place, and lately God has been reminding me how small I really am and how I need to trust Him. How can I know what is best for me? God knows the whole plan, He created it. He knows the beginning, the end, and everything in the middle, every single detail. I only see a snapshot, so small that I can’t even guess what’s happening next. “Now listen, you who say, ‘today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” (James 4:13-15)

I need to humble myself, to understand my responsibilities and capabilities and to follow God’s plan. I keep telling myself, if I thought my plan was good, I can't even imagine how amazing God’s plan for my life will be, because His plans are perfect. “‘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.’” (Jeremiah 29:11) I know this, I have read it several times, but it is difficult to go from knowing it to living accordingly. So what can we do when we need to humble ourselves before God to have Him guide our steps? The following things help me: 

• What are you focusing on?: Pay attention to what is taking your time and energy. If you focus too long on what you don’t have or what you want, you will miss all the blessings that God has been preparing for you for this specific moment. 

• Know the promises: Read God’s Word and know that His promises are for you. He is faithful and He will fulfill them. Receive strength from His Word.  

• Worship: There’s power in worship. You  may not feel like singing a song of praise, but when you do amazing things happen in the spiritual realm. Worshiping our Lord is exactly what we need… always. 

• Pray: When things don’t work your way, pray. Lift a prayer for yourself, and also for others. Pay attention to the people God is placing in your heart and pray. I have noticed that when I feel down and I pray for other people I start seeing the bigger picture and I get out of my own way.  

• Trust God: Above everything, trust God. Whatever you are going through  right now, trust that God will give you the strength you need to keep going. Trust that God’s plans for your life are better than you could ever imagine and know that you are never alone. 

God doesn’t usually do things the way we think He should and I am so grateful for that. As I look back at my life, I can see that He used the really tough times to shape me, to teach me, to purge me, to bless me, and most importantly to remind me that time in His presence is really all I need. 

Manuelita 

Fiery faith

Last week I started thinking about what to write next. As the days passed a couple of topics popped up and by Saturday I had made my decision. Then came Sunday and God made it very clear what the topic should be when I heard at church: “Most of us don’t have enough fire to live the faith filled courageous life that God wants us to live.” I felt God was shaking me a little to get my attention. The funny thing is that fire and faith beyond understanding has been on my mind, but I knew that if I were to write about it I was going to have to dig deep and be really honest with myself. I am “most of us.” My life definitely needs more fire if I want to live the life God has planned for me.  

What are you believing God for? It seems that all of us are asking God for something… We are all waiting. And that’s ok, we should ask and we should wait expectantly, the problem is when we put our life on pause while we wait. Many times the thing we are asking for distract us from the many things God is doing and wants to do. We focus on the one thing and miss out on the rest. God’s plan for our life is so much bigger than what we are waiting for or the issues we are dealing with day to day. That’s why we need fire to fuel faith that goes beyond what we see, what we want and what we feel. I want fiery faith. The kind of faith that makes people notice. Not because of what I do or say, but because it is real, raw, and can only happen when we are close to God, because He is the one making it happen.  

In Daniel we read about Sadrach, Meshach and Abednego and how they defied the king by refusing to worship an image of gold the king had built. “...we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18) I want that kind of faith in my life. I want to believe the impossible and live full of joy, not because of my situation, but because God is present in my life and He is more than enough. I want to remember that if my plan fails, it’s because the plan God has for me is so much better than what I wanted; therefore, how can I not be excited about it? And this is not fake. It is not minimizing pain, or difficulties, or sadness. Life is messy, but I need to remember that God is bigger than anything I face and He has the final word. I need to keep looking back at my own life to remember what God has done in the past so I can look toward the future certain it’s going to be good.  

I have to be honest. Fire from God is not just going to come because I asked Him during my ten minute quiet time this morning. It is going to take time in silence with God delighting in Him. I just need to give myself the gift of time with our Creator. It sounds like such an obvious thing, who wouldn’t want that? But if I am honest, many times I choose to use time differently and I don’t give God the time He righteously should have. If I want the faith filled courageous life God wants me to live, I need to be full of Him and what a joy that is because nothing the world offers can be better than Him. 

Manuelita 

Wrestling with God

Have you ever felt tired of a situation, frustrated, and overwhelmed? Have you ever said to God “what’s going on? What are you doing?” We wrestle with God more than we realize, or more than we would like to accept. Usually they are “small” disagreements that come and go, but sometimes there are some wrestling matches that change our lives.  

In Genesis 32 we read about Jacob wrestling with God. It was a stressful night for Jacob; he was about to meet Esau, his brother, whom he had taken his birthright from in exchange for a lentil stew (Genesis 25) and whom he had taken his blessing from when he deceived his father, Isaac. (Genesis 27) Jacob had a lot to be worried about and didn’t know what to expect. He feared for his family, his belongings and his life. But Jacob’s reasons to wrestle with God were not limited to this encounter. Jacob’s life had seen plenty of deception from the moment he was born. His name means “he deceives”, so that night, alone, in the dark he was probably exhausted of the many things he had experienced during his lifetime.

Jacob knew God, but it seems that he was reaching out to God for his own purposes. Jacob saw God as a provider and helper, someone who could bless him in time of trouble and get him out of difficult situations. Does it sound familiar? How often do we go to God asking, believing, praying and hoping to get something from Him? We ask Him to fix messes we may have gotten ourselves into, and we pray for Him to change situations that we feel are unfair. That’s when we wrestle with God. That’s when we argue with Him and complain to Him and plead with Him. We limit our vision and choose to see things our way, not God’s way. We forget who we are talking to. We forget that God is sovereign, we base our faith and trust in people and in situations, instead of focusing on Him and His Word.

We wrestle with God thinking we are right and that our plan is better. We often fail to understand the vastness of God, the glory of God, the power of God, and we reduce Him to our thinking. Wrestling with God is a place where frustration meets glory and we just can’t comprehend it all. Our human pain, our desires, our thoughts and ideas meet the perfect plan of God, His complete power and the awe of who He is.

Wrestling with God will change you. Understanding your place in contrast to God’s place is overwhelming. Submitting to God will give you freedom to let go of what you are holding so tightly and will allow you to receive everything God wants to give you.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:28-29

Manuelita @manuelitaotero

Setting out or settling in?

Have you ever gone into a room and forgotten what were you there for? Or started the day full of ideas, projects and goals only to realize at the end of the day that you didn’t accomplish even one? It’s easy to get distracted, to get lost in a sea of “stuff” that requires our attention and takes our time. Little distractions during the day may not be a big deal, but what if there is something deeper? Something that not only is distracting us, but also keeping us from where God wants us to go?

“Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran. (Genesis 11:31-32) There was a clear plan, a starting point and a destination, but something happened as they traveled from point A to point B. We don’t know what happened and what hindered the completion of the trip, but we can take this verse and apply it to our lives. Just like Terah and his family, we also have journeys to complete. They may be physical journeys from one place to another or life journeys. Each day we start with a blank slate, a list of objectives for that day that will eventually help us accomplish a bigger goal.

Looking at the verse in Genesis, two words caught my attention:  “Set out” and “settled” When I think about the word “Set out”, I think of a new adventure, a plan, an opportunity, something big and exciting. On the contrary the word “settled” makes me think of being content with something, but knowing that something much bigger and better could be achieved. It’s the safe choice over the best choice.

Where are you? Are you setting out or settling in? Is there a place you know you need to go and a goal you know God has put in your heart but the work seems too difficult, the hurdles too high, the dream too big and so you have settled? It’s easy to ask these questions, but answering them may be a little more challenging. How can you even start to get some answers? How can you actually know if you are where you are meant to be or where you have settled for? We can find a hint in the following verse: “The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you’… So Abram went” (Genesis 12:1;4)  

God had a plan. His plan didn’t change because of the circumstances or the decisions people made. God had not forgotten where He had decided for Terah and his family to set out to. The destination had not changed, so God told Abram to get his things together and go. And God is doing the same thing in our lives. What does that look like in your day to day? We may not hear God’s voice as clear as Abraham did, but that doesn’t mean He is not speaking. God knows us better than we know ourselves and He speaks to each of us in different ways. To some He may speak in dreams, to some He may speak as they enjoy in silence the beauty of nature or even in the middle of a busy city. God will use signs, people, and situations to tell you what His plans are. Take time to write down thoughts and ideas as they come and then look to the clues around you.

God has a special purpose for your life and He wants to guide you. Ask Him, make time to listen and be ready to comply with His instructions. Isn’t it exciting to know that we have God as our leader? Isn’t it exciting to know that there is a higher purpose for our life, an exciting journey we call life?

Manuelita @manuelitaotero

Keeping it real

Sometimes life feels a little heavier than usual, the battles seem rougher, and we just feel overwhelmed by everything. Life is beautiful, a wonderful gift to be treasured, but It’s not always easy. The latest news about the suicide of two well-known personalities is the tip of the iceberg to a problem that is real to so many people all over the world. People we know, people we have never heard of, people who seem to have it all and people who have lost it all, from young to old and in all spectrums of life.

I see this epidemic and my heart aches. I keep asking why and I wonder if there’s anything I can do. I wonder if someone close to me, someone I may see everyday is feeling that hopelessness that wants to take everything away and in my busy day to day I may not even notice. Big problems feel so overwhelming that they make us think the solutions are beyond our reach. We think anything we do is insignificant and won't make a difference. I may argue that my circle of friends and acquaintances is too small, so how could I make a positive impact? But the reality is that everything I do matters and I need to be willing to step in faith and focus on what I can do where I am with the people around me.

In my search for guidance, peace and answers I run to God knowing that I can’t help everyone, but I can help someone and also being realistic that I need to keep an eye on my feelings so I won’t let sadness take more time, energy and attention in my life than it should.  

What to do when extreme sadness roams around your life and the lives of people around you:

- Do what you can, but do something: “If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions, is dead.” (James 2:16-17) I love this verse because it is so real. Many times we say beautiful encouraging words but do nothing, what good is that? If we can, we need to do something. It could be as simple as a text, a phone call, a note telling someone we are thinking about him or her.  People will listen when they see that you care and they will see that you care when you do what you can to help them. Kind words are great, but actions really change people’s lives. What can you do for someone today? And this includes you. It’s not about solving people’s problems, it’s about being by their side as they solve them.

- Community: Isn’t it interesting that as more opportunities arise for us to be connected, more people feel lonely? Community is a beautiful thing that can be taken for granted. We all need that person we can call at any time to help us go through a difficult moment, someone who will listen without judging and who will not be telling everyone else our problems. We need to be that person to someone because the journey is long and tough, but so wonderful with the right company. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)

- Know your enemies: Knowledge is power and knowing what we are fighting against is half the battle. Being realistic about the issues we are dealing with and helping our friends understand what they are going through is key to define strategies to deal with it. We are all in a battle right now. We are always dealing with something, the main difference is that some people have learned to identify it, so they are aware when it tries to strike and they can control it better. Be real about your issues, the more honest you are, the better prepared you will be. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12-13)

Life on earth is not perfect, but we can find peace when we spend time with God and rest in Him. There’s so much we don’t understand and we probably won’t while we are here, but we don’t have to make sense of it all, we don’t really need answers to all our questions, we just need to find peace during the storm. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

You and I can do so much more than we can imagine. We can help each other navigate through life, we can hold on to each other when the waves get rough and celebrate together the beauty of the calm seas.

Manuelita @manuelitaotero

Your purpose matters!

Do you ever wonder if there’s more to life? I often ask myself if I’m doing everything that I could be doing. I’m not talking about adding more stuff to my day and doing more, but about doing what I should be doing: using my time wisely, developing my strengths and focusing on my purpose. We have a specific mission, certain abilities and talents and we have been placed where we are for a reason; unfortunately our purpose many times gets lost in a sea of busyness, obligations and expectations until we settle for comfortable or good enough.

Talking about purpose is exciting and all too common, but sometimes we get distracted with the talking instead of focusing on the doing, because actually following our purpose is no easy task. It may start with self-doubt, continues with doubt from others, judgment, financial constraints, and challenges. Why then should we follow our purpose if it seems that so many negative things are related to it? Maybe these points will help you answer this question:

• The what: Before you were born God had a plan for you. He planted an idea in your heart, a plan, a thought, a mission. It may sound so impossible that you have not even considered it, but it is always there and it doesn’t go away. That is your purpose and it is big, it matters, it is important. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

• The tools: Many times we have an idea but we don’t think we are capable to carry it out. We feel so inadequate for the dreams God puts in our hearts that we tend to wait until we are “ready”- most likely we will never feel ready, we have what we need already in us, we need to identify our strengths, develop them, learn, grow and trust God. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

• The timing: You may have a dream, something you know God has told you to pursue, and no matter what you do, nothing happens, no doors open, and everything seems to lead to a dead end. It is so frustrating to feel a dream so strong in our hearts and then feel that nothing we do is leading us toward it. Don’t get tired of believing, of preparing, of trusting. God is never still, He is working behind the scenes, even if you don’t see it. “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3

• The direction: Many times when we are passionate about something we tend to think we know what direction to take, and we may ask God to bless our plan and to follow along, instead of asking Him what is the plan and following His guidance. Pursuing your purpose is all about pursuing God’s guidance because He is the only one who can show you the way. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. “Proverbs 3:5-6 Take time to ask God and then time to listen, and remember that God speaks in many ways, keep your eyes and ears open.

• The reason: It is always good to ask why are you doing what you are doing. The reason behind your actions gives you direction and understanding. When we realize that our purpose is to glorify God with our lives and that everything we do is for Him, then absolutely everything takes a new meaning, there’s no job too small or position too humble, everything done with the right attitude is done to glorify God, we are doing it for Him. “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:7

It sounds nice and simple doesn’t it? If only it was that easy! When it comes to following our purpose the journey is full of questions, exciting decisions, maybe some drawbacks, and more questions, but every step toward your purpose is worth it.

If talking about following your purpose is exciting, just imagine how it must feel to dedicate each day to actually get you closer to the dream God has put in your heart, to enjoy the journey, and to take small steps and celebrate each victory.

Manuelita

If God is good why does He allow bad things?

Have you ever asked yourself if God is good why do bad things happen? Why does He allow things that are unfair, painful, difficult, and tragic? Sometimes the things we see happening around the world, the things we experience and the things our friends and family go through are too much to even comprehend, so immediately we go to God and beg Him to make everything better, to fix it all and take the pain away.  

We often try to explain things based on our understanding and our perspective, but we forget that God sees much more than we do. He sees it all and He knows the complete plan. His perspective is perfect and complete. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5)

To try to understand why bad things happen we have to go back to when Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden. They had everything they needed to be happy in a perfect place enjoying the presence of God. But they chose to disobey God and evil was introduced to the world. It is difficult to understand why what one man did so long ago is still affecting us today. It feels unfair. “…sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12) But God is good and He knew what was going to happen and He made a way for us to still be able to be with Him, even after sin invaded the world. He sent His son Jesus Christ to take our sins. Jesus was crucified and in the cross He took all our sin, yours and mine and everyone’s. He paid the price for the sin of all humanity and when we accept Jesus’ sacrifice we are free, we receive new and eternal life.

Does this mean that bad things don’t happen to the people who accept Christ? No, we still live in this world and bad things will happen, but the difference is that we know this is not the final destination, we are passing through on our way to heaven. Jesus was honest about the pain and suffering we would encounter “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

But if death and evil have been defeated, why God doesn’t fix the mess we are living in? He will. In Revelation 21:4 we read “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Jesus will come back and when He does everyone will stand before Him and give an account of his or her life. God is not slow in His coming, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as  some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) He is giving us time to turn to Him.

If you are going through difficulties there’s not much I can say to make you feel better. But I know God can. Hold on to Him and let Him fill you with peace. He understands you, He cares, and He can take whatever you are going through and turn it into good. It may not seem like it now, but hold on to that promise “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

We can’t make the sin of this world greater than God. We need to hold on tight to Him and focus on Him as we shine His light of hope everywhere we go. The time is now.

Manuelita    

Your past happened a minute ago

Some months ago I met a woman who impacted me because of her energy, her joy, and her confidence. She told a group of women her story, full of problems, drugs, alcoholism, toxic relationships, and rejection. Fortunately her story had a happy ending.  I learned many things from her, but something she said kept jumped out at me: “When we talk about the past, we are talking about the minute just before what is happening right now”. I never saw it with that perspective. I had never seen my past so immediate, so close to my present. To me it was always something that happened years before.

With this new view about the past I understood what does it mean to feel free of guilt day to day. I understood that there’s no need to leave an open wound for years, to later do a “proper” forgiveness process of “the past”. I felt that God had placed this woman in my path to teach me to enjoy life without the need to accumulate things that upset me, because I can deal with them right now. I felt God was inviting me to learn to detoxify my life now, not at the end of the week, at the end of the month, or at the end of the year. Right now I can confidently approach God and talk to Him about things as they happen, even if they may seem small or insignificant. They are important to me and also to God.  

To live without guilt is a challenge. Our world seems to be going faster every minute. We are expecting more from ourselves and so is everyone else around us. Some days I feel like I am being bombarded with complaints I keep repeating to myself: Why did I do this, why did I say that, why did I think something and even worse, why did I publish that on social media (as if I didn’t have enough to worry in real life, now I am worrying about my virtual one). Of course it is good to analyze things, but not to an obsessive level and also being careful not to maximize our mistakes. What happened happened. I will learn from it and improve, but I will also go on and enjoy my life. I am tired of worrying about the past. When there’s genuine regret and sorrow, faith and a lesson learned, God renews me. I don't have to pile up my guilt and wait for years to receive His forgiveness. As He promises, His grace is new every  morning and now that’s what I hold on to everyday. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Last year I made a poor financial move and to be honest, it took me a long time to overcome how silly I felt. Today, having heard the courageous woman I mentioned earlier and seeing God as a loving father who is listening to me and loves me, I can truly say that I deserve big things, even blessings related to that poor decision I made because God uses all things for good. I forgave myself, I learned and now I see myself the way God sees me: beautiful, able, courageous, intelligent and free of guilt. I can let go of my past right now because God has planned good things for me. “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.” Jeremiah 29:11

Ana

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Just Ask

I was talking to the mother of one of my son’s friends and I complimented her colorful bag.  A week later she gave me one just like hers. We don’t give compliments expecting people to give us things, but we do compliment what we value.

What if we complimented God’s creation more? What if we told Him how beautiful the sky looks early in the morning?  What if we told Him that we appreciate certain traits of people we read in the Bible, and how we would like to strengthen those traits in us?  Our God has more than plenty; maybe He’s just waiting for us to tell Him what we appreciate.  Maybe He just wants us to ask.

You may have heard the story of the lost son, where a man had two sons and the younger one asked his father for his part of the inheritance, then left and wasted all of his money on wild living. When the money ran out and he was hungry and alone, he decided to go back to his father to beg him for forgiveness and ask him for work.   When the father saw his son coming in the distance, he was overjoyed and immediately organized a party to welcome him. Everyone was happy, except the older brother. He told his father: “… All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends… ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” (Luke 15:29; 31) Maybe sometimes we act like the older brother. God has already offered us everything but we may be focusing on doing things “to earn” His love, or we might be thinking of what He hasn’t given us.

Why don’t we ask God more often for big things?  Not just material things but for blessings, revelations and for His favor and mercy to surround us. If we know our God is big, why are our prayers small?

There may be many reasons; here are a few I’ve experienced:

-Do not disturb: I used to ask God for so little, my prayers seemed pitiful! I thought I was bothering God, I thought asking for too much was improper and praying for myself was selfish. It was as if I believed God had a “Do not disturb” sign. Now, I pray about everything. God listens to me all day, and the wonderful thing is that He loves to!

-He knows: If God knows everything you need, why do you have to ask him? Think about the special people in your life. You know they love you, but you still smile every time they say it, right? The same way God loves to have a continuous conversation with you.

-I am not worthy:  How could I ask God for all the things I need after all I’ve done?  Why would He even pay attention to me?  Yes, we are all sinners, and yes, we aren’t worthy, but Jesus paid the price. We no longer look at our past. When we accept the gift of salvation that Jesus is offering us we’re new, and that’s how God sees us.

-It’s not a big deal: Our lives seem to be full of “minor” things that are stealing our peace, and these issues continue to grow until they overwhelm us. We need to act proactively and ask God to help us deal with the “little” things.

God wants you to appreciate everything He has given you; He wants to be first in your life.  He wants you to ask Him because He wants to give you. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

Manuelita @manuelitaotero

Just Ask is a chapter of Blessed. A book that reminds us that daily life takes a new meaning when seen from God’s perspective. It’s about noticing the blessings that overflow in our day to day and understanding that our relationship with God doesn’t have to be complicated.   Blessed

The bigger picture

Have you ever felt that you’re doing everything you can but nothing seems to be happening? You may go to God with the same issue time after time, asking for His guidance, but His will is not clear which leaves you confused and honestly, a little frustrated. Life sometimes doesn’t make a lot of sense, but those moments are the ones when we need to hold on tighter to God and remember who He is. They are opportunities to let go and rely completely on Him, on His provision, and when we do we get to witness daily miracles. We receive what we need exactly when we need it in the most unexpected ways; we get to experience God making it very clear that He is in control. He has been and always will be.

But how do we find the strength to focus on Him while we wait? How do we keep our faith and our joy through it all?

- KNOW: How can you trust someone if you don’t know them? Take time to know God’s Word.  In Scripture you will read who God is and the promises He has made to you. You will get to know God better and see how He relates to your daily life. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

- LISTEN: As you read scripture ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what is His will for your life. God’s Word is life and will speak into your situation giving you the strength, peace, and wisdom you need. Ask God for guidance, and know He will answer you. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know”. (Jeremiah 33:3)   

- DO: While you spend time in silence with God, He will give you directions on what to do.  Sometimes they may not seem very clear or you may need confirmation, but once you feel peace and clarity, obey God and follow His guidance. This may be difficult because He may ask you to do something that challenges you, takes you out of your comfort zone, or may seem impossible. That’s when you need to remember that “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)    

- PRAISE: God is faithful and we praise Him not only for what He can do for us but for what He has already done. Always see the bigger picture. Our situation is important to God and He is working on it, but it can never be bigger than the gift of salvation we have received. Our problems can’t be more important than our God with whom we can have a relationship right now and who has given us eternal life through Jesus. We praise our Lord because that is our joy and purpose.

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) When we understand that God’s Word is powerful and true we see things from a different perspective. Our God, our Father, is faithful, what He has said will happen so let your life display the joy of knowing that  God sees you, hears you and He is blessing you through it all.

Manuelita

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What if each of us positively impacted at least one person a day?

My friend wanted to spend some time and befriend children who live in shelters. This shelter had a program where you are paired with a child, so when she signed up she was expecting to be paired with a younger child, to take to the park, to the movies, to the zoo and do all those things you do with little ones. Instead she was paired with an 18 year old young woman.  My friend was surprised and as she says honestly a little disappointed, but after years of friendship with this young woman she has grown close to her, her sisters and their children. Lives are being changed because she made the time to care for others.  
 
We’re all very busy, we have so many responsibilities and jobs to fulfill that sometimes it’s tough to find the balance we need and want.  In the rush and busyness we may lose opportunities to make a difference, to grow, to change, to invest in what has immeasurable value. You don’t want to wake up one day and realize that you have all these things and accomplishments but didn’t make a positive difference in someone’s life because you were simply too busy. “… Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 9:6
 
The Foundation I’m working for has this great program in which children from the inner city play tennis with police officers and volunteers to reduce barriers in the community and to keep children off the streets. We usually go as a family and have so much fun. We think we go to give, but in reality we receive much more. I don’t think we could ever imagine the difference two hours of tennis are making in the children who attend, in my children, and of course in me.  “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25 We find joy in the giving and it starts when we make ourselves available to be part of someone’s life. 
 
Many times we see a situation and complain about it or “feel bad.”  What if we went one step further and were willing to be a part of the solution? What if each of us would positively impact at least one person a day?  And what if that person impacted one more and we just kept going and going, wouldn’t that make our world a little better? We can get started right now by making ourselves available and by opening our eyes towards the needs of others. Whose life will you change today? 
 
Manuelita

Not Where I Was

I love writing. I write ideas, I take notes when I go to meetings, and I make summaries of the books I read. All these notes end up in a folder waiting to be passed into a computer so I can organize them. The other day I took my daughter to work with her producers, and usually as they make really cool music, I work. This particular day I decided to pass some notes. I love opening my folder because I never know what am I going to find. I have notes from years ago so it feels like I'm going back in time. But nothing could have prepared me for what I found that day.

Almost seven years ago our lives changed completely. Everything went upside down and everyone was deeply affected, including my daughter who was dealing with so many issues that we decided to take her to a psychologist to guide us on what to do. I took notes of a meeting we had one time and as I held them years later I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I'm a very positive person so I tend to forget bad experiences, so as I read the notes I took years back I was reminded of how bad the situation really was. The words that described my daughter and the complex issues she was dealing with seemed hopeless: Anxiety, hyperactivity, fast nervous system, depression, attention deficit, wrong perception of the world, rejection of herself… the words just kept coming making the situation sound irreversible and permanent. Immediately my mind went back to that day.  I remember the meeting, the pain, and the confusion. I remember my doubts and fears, and as I was there visiting the past I heard my daughter sing the song she was working on. It was such a beautiful contrast: the hopeless past and the redeemed present. The impossible made possible. It was a reminder that God’s Word is true, when He says He will do something He will, no matter how difficult or impossible it may seem. “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.” (Numbers 23:19)

Sometimes we forget how far we have come and how much we have grown. We're not in the same place, we're always changing. I look at my life now, so many years later and I feel there's still so much to do, but I can appreciate and be thankful for how much God has done.

We may not know why bad things happen. In John 9 we read how the disciples were asking Jesus whose fault was it that a man was born blind, “’Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ Said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (John 9:3) God can turn any situation into a celebration of His grace and power.

The words used to describe my daughter didn’t define her, God had a better plan for her life. And He has an amazing plan for each of us, no matter how difficult it may seem, for God nothing is impossible. He is not surprised or worried about our mess. He is ready to take it and turn it into something amazing that will bring Him glory.

I am amazed at how God works. When I needed it the most, He reminded me in an unusual way what He has done in my past, so I can have a new perspective in my present. Speak life into your situation, whatever you're going through. Know that God is in control and His promises are real. “Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.” (Isaiah 61:7)

Manuelita

What do you feel called to do?

My daughter and I love to watch Chopped, a cooking show in which chefs make amazing dishes with a set basket of ingredients in a short amount of time. For the main dish they get 30 minutes and they run around the kitchen working on their culinary creations.  In the room there’s a digital timer and the host of the show reminds them when the final seconds are coming up: “10 seconds… 5 seconds…” and then a bell rings as he says “Time’s up” At this sound the chefs raise their hands without being able to even fix a garnish on their plate and all they can do is stare at their creation and hope the judges enjoy it.

For us too, one day the bell will ring, time will be up, and our lives will be in front of us ready to be presented to our Judge. What will go through your mind as you stand in front of what you have done with what you were given? Will you be satisfied with the final result or would you like an extra couple of years to make some adjustments? If I’m honest, I don’t have that sense of urgency when I go about life and my mission in it. There’s so much going on that the mission seems to be waiting in line behind many other things that I will do someday when I have more time. What has God put in your heart? What do you feel called to do? Are you doing it?

Before we start feeling guilty and worrying we need to realize that we don’t have to run around like the chefs do in the program, stressing over every minute that passes. Our mission is not something that we fit into our schedule, it’s our life and it needs to be reflected in everything we do. It’s a part of us. It’s about being, and I can only do that when I know who I am in Christ, when I spend time with Him, so He can direct me and guide me.  “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Now is the time for action. Our mission is about being ready and available because God wants to bless people through us right now. “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” (John 9:4)

The time is now because today is what we have been given, this day is a gift and an opportunity that can’t be wasted. God is always at work and everything He does has a purpose.  “…open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” (John 4:35)

Manuelita

An Expression of God’s Love

One of the things I am most thankful for is God’s mercy.  When I think about how God gave his only son to die for my sins, I am overcome with gratitude.  Jesus Christ died for all sins of all people who believe in him!  Isn’t that amazing?  In Psalms 108:12, David says, “ as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us”.  God forgives us and removes the guilt of our sins.  We do not have to carry the burdens of our past sins.  We can live in peace, knowing we are set free of our sins. 

The Bible gives 3 simple steps to forgiveness.  First, we must CONFESS our sins.  This means that we must admit to God what we did, acknowledging that it was wrong.  No matter how big or small, God will forgive us.  Next, we must REPENT of our sin.  This means that we must tell God that we are truly sorry for what we did.  Repenting includes turning away from the sin and making an effort not to repeat the same sin.  Finally, we must ASK God for forgiveness.  The Bible sums up these steps in 1 john 1:9, “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”.

In our spiritual journeys, all of us have sinned against God and have been in need of forgiveness.  We have also hurt or wronged others, whether intentional or not.   I can recall a painful time when I made a decision that really hurt a friend.  It was unintentional, but her feelings were hurt and she did not think she would be able to forgive me.  I apologized, repented, and prayed.  She was hurt, angry, and offended.  Eventually, she forgave me.  I think my friend was able to forgive me because I was truly repentant.  I will never forget the relief and thankfulness that washed over me when we hugged and cried and she forgave me.  I needed her forgiveness.  I remember thinking  that “this is what true forgiveness looks like “.  I have never forgotten my friend’s kindness and forgiveness towards me.  Her act of forgiveness showed me the love of Christ.  It released me from the guilt I felt and freed me .  It has since caused me to forgive others who have wronged me.

I think we can all agree that we want God’s forgiveness and the forgiveness of those we have wronged.  Why then, is it so hard to forgive others who have offended us, disappointed us, or let us down?  Why is it hard to extend the grace that we seek?  One of the best examples of what the Bible tells us to do in this situation is the servant and the master in Matthew 18:21-35.  There is a servant who owes a debt to the master.  The master forgives the debt.  The servant who has just been pardoned of his debt,  goes to his debtors and has them thrown into jail until the debt is paid.  This reminds me of myself at times.  I make mistakes.  I want to be forgiven by God and by the people I hurt.  Yet, I hold onto the hurt and offenses others have done to me.   The words of the master in Matthew 18: 32-33 are a powerful reminder of our call to forgive others…”I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.  Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant just as I have had on you?”

The most compelling reason for us to forgive is because God commands us to do so.  We are reminded of this in Mark 11: 25-26 where the Bible tells us that if we do not forgive, our Father in heaven will not forgive us.  Forgiveness also frees us from the emotional weight of the pain and allows us to sleep better at night.  It shows grace to others and is an example of God’s love.  It also helps us to appreciate the forgiveness we have been given.

Sometimes, forgiving someone can be extremely difficult.  However, holding on to the pain they caused us only multiplies our anger and bitterness.  So, the next time someone wrongs you, go ahead…..Choose To Forgive!

Natalie McNeel

Natalie loves God and her family.  She is a mother of two wonderful children and a physician assistant at Marietta Plastic Surgery.  She enjoys exercise, reading and spending time with friends.  She has a beautiful smile and a kind heart.

Come and see

Have you ever been around someone talking about their favorite city or favorite place?  Their eyes seem to get bigger as they tell you about the food, the landscape, the people, all the things that make that place special, and they’ll probably finish by saying “you just have to see it!”  I wonder what would happen if I got that excited when I talked about my story.  Not because of all  that I’ve accomplished, but because of what God has done and how far He has carried me. As believers after we interact with people, they should be left with the question “what does this person have? I want some of it.” That something isn’t money or a glamorous life, but the joy that God brings us.

We read in the Bible about the encounter of Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Jesus started a conversation with a woman who was alone gathering water, and as soon as she realized that He was the Messiah they have been waiting for she ran to tell everyone “Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ‘come see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?’” (John 4:28-29)

As believers many times we think that we need to “fix” people, but that’s not our responsibility. We aren’t meant to change people, we’re meant to love them. We invite them by saying, “come and see what God has done in my life. You don’t have to believe, you don’t have to hear a long sermon about it. I’m just happy so I want to share it with you”. Our life is our witness. We are called to be love wherever we go. We aren’t supposed to judge, assume, or reject. Many times we forget what is written: “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 3:16) The word “whoever” includes everyone. who am I to decide who to love and who not to love? Jesus died for everyone

God’s witnesses have a serious responsibility: “… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Are people excited to hear and see your witness? Are they interested when you say to them “come and see”?     Are you loving the way Jesus loves you, unconditionally and undeservedly?

Your life, your experiences, and your stories have happened for a reason. They are part of your witness to the world and a channel for God to show love to the people around you. Invite people into your life, not to “teach” them the proper way or to “lecture” them about what they should or shouldn’t do but to love them, to show them that God is good and He can do amazing things. Let your life be an invitation, an open door for everyone around to experience the love of God.

By Manuelita

Step one: love and forgive yourself

During a difficult phase of my life I was searching for peace in the middle of my frustration, so I started spending more time with God.  The closer I got, the more I heard an invitation which can be summarized in two words: love and forgiveness.  I thought these were obvious words, easy to understand and apply. So I diligently tried to fulfill the command by looking at the positive side of people, being aware of what was happening in my family and trying to be nicer. I even prayed for people I didn’t like.  Basically I tried to do many “acts” of service.  I wanted to tell God: “Here I am, I am trying to get to know you better. I need you now”.

These things must have had a positive outcome and they did benefit the people around me, but it took me a while to understand where God was trying to lead me. He was asking me to love myself and to forgive myself so I could then love others and forgive others.  This is what we read in Matthew 22:  “…Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39)   For some reason in the forgiving lesson I missed “yourself” and to be honest, I thought I didn’t need it since I loved myself enough. I dedicated time to study, to work on a career I loved, to have fun at parties and I bought myself nice things once in a while. But God always goes deeper and the more time I spent with him the more He showed me that for some time I have had low self-esteem as I was going through a phase in which I was continuously judging myself.  I was begging for love, full of guilt and fear, waiting for punishment from God because I felt I wasn’t enough. 

Realizing this has been a freeing experience.  Now I know God’s overflowing love for me and I receive and delight in his grace and mercy. God used my mistakes as I hit bottom to show me what forgiveness is all about: repentance instead of guilt, freedom instead of condemnation, peace instead of sadness, present instead of past.  I can enjoy all these because God did this for me and also for you: “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)

I still have a long way to go, but each day forgiving and loving myself becomes easier because of God’s love for me.  He is more interested in love than legalism, tradition, or religion.

 By Ana

What are you doing with your talents?

“You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

God calls us the light of the world, doesn’t that sound like a tough job? Especially in a world that sometimes seems so dark.  As I read this beautiful verse, I ask myself, “Am I being light of the world? Is my life showing God’s amazing love so everyone will praise Him?”  If I’m being honest, I’ll have to say not always.  Sometimes I allow distractions in my life to quiet the soft whisper of God’s guidance, and many times I allow fear to stop me from taking the leaps of faith He wants me to take. Is there anything God has put in your heart, but you have been too afraid to take that first step? How would your life be if you used your talents and gifts without letting fear get in the way? 

God has an amazing plan for our life, but many times instead of letting Him guide us we allow fear to stop us.   God has a mission for each of us, and He has given us everything we need to achieve it. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy2: 16-17)  We have God’s breath on a page,  God is in us, and we still allow fear to stop us from achieving the mission we have been created for.  

We also have strengths, certain talents and abilities that God knew we would need to pursue the dream He has put in our hearts.  Maybe as a child you remember how easy it was to do what you loved or to dream things that seemed impossible, but as you grew up, instead of believing God could do amazing things through you, you started listening to people who kept telling you to “grow up” and to find a “realistic” job.  The God we serve, the One and only, is able to do beyond what we can imagine, so we need to stop reducing Him to what we think is possible.  We start our journey with Him and all through it we keep focusing on Him.  The world will try to distract us with what it has labeled as “successful” but when we are looking at Jesus, we don’t fall for those traps. Our goal in life is to honor God, to use the talents He has given us to point people around us to Him. Our mission is to glorify Him in everything we do. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)  God has high expectations for us because He is the One doing the work through us.  He is a big God, shouldn’t He do big things?   

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) See yourself the way God sees you.  Open your eyes and notice how amazingly blessed you are, how talented and beautiful you are in every way.  No, you are not perfect, no one is, but you are precious.  First recognize the strengths and talents God has given you, thank Him for them and ask Him to show you how to use them, because you have been created to glorify God in amazing ways.  

By Manuelita 

It all starts with a decision

Have you ever waited in line at a grocery store when a cashier is new? Or maybe driven behind a person who is learning how to drive?  Do you remember your first day at work or in a classroom? It’s hard to start something new, isn’t?  You are excited and at the same time nervous; you feel uncertain and a little uncomfortable because there is so much you don’t know.

The same thing could happen when we start following Jesus. We may feel overwhelmed by the things we don’t understand.  We may put too much pressure on ourselves and to avoid looking “ignorant” we keep questions to ourselves. A relationship with Christ can seem complicated, but it isn’t!   

God loves us where we are.  He is not expecting us to be a certain way or to reach a certain level before we can go to Him. But for some reason we seem to believe that to be a “worthy” Christian we need to have completed steps; to have read the whole Bible at least once or to be able to quote several verses.  Our walk with God is all about an amazing journey, which starts with a decision.  The decision is very personal and straight forward: Do you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior? Only you can decide, and if your answer is “yes!”, God will guide your journey according to His plan and your needs.  He will place the people you need in your path and He will celebrate each victory with you.  Nothing is too small, because every step towards Him is worthy of celebration.  This is not a race against your friends or the people at church who seem spiritual because they know so much, this is a relationship between you and God; and the more time you spend with Him, the more you will get to know Him. “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelations 22:17)

In the Bible we often read about step by step progress.  Jesus would speak about planting and harvesting, “…The one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it.  He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)     We also read about how God’s people would often be on a journey and through it all He was by their side: “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.” (Exodus 13:21)  

If you are a young Christian, taking your first steps in this amazing journey, I am so happy for you, and I would like to share some of the things that have helped me along the way:

Make quiet time your priority:  Time with God is the most wonderful way to start your day.  I know that I need to spend time with God as soon as I wake up, but for some reason it is hard to stay still and separate time with Him.  That is why it has to be done on purpose.  The enemy will use many tactics to stop you from having that fellowship with God. Make it a habit and work everything else around it, you will notice a difference in your life.

Start a journal: Leave a trail of your journey so you can go back and praise God for all He has done, and also to find strength remembering that nothing is too hard for Him. Our journey is so exciting that it needs to be documented and shared.  Write  the thoughts that come to you as  you are having quiet time, Bible verses, feelings, lessons, and all the God stories in your life so you can share them later with others.   

Don’t compare yourself:  This is an individually tailored journey; no two stories are going to be the same. When you are around other Christians who quickly quote scripture and seem to know so much, don’t feel bad. No one is judging you because you can’t recite verses or you don’t pray with big words, what really matters is where your heart is.   

Ask God for a mentor: When you ask God, He answers.  It is such a delight to have someone picked by Him to share the journey with. Words can’t describe how much I love my mentor and all that God has done in my life through her.  Ask God to place a person in your life that will help you and guide you, someone you can share the tough moments and also celebrate the good ones, and someone who will delight in the Lord with you.

We may have heard that life is a journey not a destination.  And yes, life is about enjoying the time God has given us here on earth and achieving our mission, but our eyes need to always be looking toward our final destination, an eternity enjoying God’s presence. So go ahead, take that first step and be certain that people you may not even know are praying for you and cheering you all throughout your journey.

By Manuelita