As High as the Heavens~

Greetings in the name of our precious Lord and Savior!

God is Almighty and All-Powerful.  And among the many many names He has in the Bible is, "Lord of the Heavenly Armies."  Sounds like God is the Big Wig of big wigs!

And yet, there are some things God can not do.  Shocking, right?  But yes, there are some things that our mighty Lord can not do.

He can not not love you.

Let that sink in...

He can not help Himself; He loves you no matter what.  NO MATTER WHAT.

"Yenise, are you saying that it doesn't matter what I have done, He loves me?"

Yes, that is exactly what I am saying.

"How much does He love me?"

Psalm 103:11

"His love for us is as high as the heavens are above the earth."

I looked up to the heavens this morning, and it's pretty high.  It's safe to say His love for us is immeasurable.  And it brings with it the certainty of a better tomorrow.

John 3:16 (The Message version)

"“This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life."

I pray that this double whammy--God's love for you and the promise of a whole and lasting life--will fill you with joy and peace today.  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for Your love for us, the heights of which we will never fully understand.  But we do not have to understand it to receive it, so we receive it.  Fill us till we overflow with Your love, and thank You that a whole and lasting life is ours.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Mafita the Magnificent~

Monday morning blessings to all:)

This DEVO is an oldie but a goodie that originally went out August 6, 2012.  

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Now, I must warn you, read this DEVO to the end because even though it starts off rough, it has a happy ending.

Yesterday I went to church with Rayray to hear a special speaker, a 17-year-old Liberian re-named Taylor because his African name is too lyrical for us Americans to pronounce.  He loves soccer, is blacker than night, and has the whitest, most beautiful smile I have ever seen.

He got up and spoke, and here is his story:

"My mother died the day I was born, and my father abandoned me.  I lived the first four years of my life in the hospital.  When I was four, a civil war broke out in Liberia and the rebels came.  All six of my siblings died.  One day they raided the hospital and rather than kill me, they tied me naked to a tree and left me to die.  I survived for three days eating the flies that would land near my mouth. 

On the third day I was rescued by a kind passerby who took me to Mafita.

Mafita is a Liberian woman who took on the enormous, unthinkable responsibility of taking care of 80 orphans whose parents had died or fled during the civil war, including me.

For years we spent the day traveling and setting up camp at night--not having a place to call our own.  Finally, when the war ended, we were given several acres of land and built an orphanage there.  People from all over the world have contributed to our cause, and all of us orphans who are now older will get to go to college.  Blessed be the name of the Lord!!!"

Isn't that awesome?  What a life and what a story.  Right after I said to Rachel, "Let's go give that child a proper Cuban welcome!"  So we went and hugged him, and here's what we learned.  The secret to growing up happy even though you have lost it all--including your family--and have absolutely nothing of worth, is prayer.  Mafita is a woman who was always on her knees.  Almost as soon she saw Taylor she held him, loved him, taught him about Jesus, prayed over him, and told him he would be a pastor one day.  She says she saw a gift in him.  She was right because we all saw it too! Glory! 

On a side note--Taylor has been staying with the pastor of the church for a week while he visits and trying all the new foods in our country.  One day he was asked if he liked pasta, and he said yes.  So they whipped up some pasta and they told him, here eat the pasta--you will like it!  He hesitated because in his country "pasta" is how you pronounce "pastor," and he did not want to eat a servant of the Lord!  Hahahahaha!

Anyway, Taylor grew up and many thought he would go into civil engineering, but he realized he has a calling to be a pastor, so here he is!

He prayed at the end of the service, and we were all stunned.  It was as if heaven descended into the room.  I couldn't help but think of all the people he will inspire.  

That 17-year-old orphan could teach us a thing or two about gratitude and good attitude.

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12 (Go Taylor~)

PRAYER:

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Taylor and his amazing testimony.  And thank You for all the good we have in our life.  Help us to be grateful.  In Jesus' name, Amen!

From Head to Toe~

Psalm 103:1(The Message version)

O my soul, bless God.
    From head to toe, I’ll bless His holy name!

What, you are asking yourself, could make Yenise want to bless His name from head to toe?

There are many things, but today I am feeling this way because of a particular and precious young woman.  She went through a really rough patch a while back, and while the journey to health and wholeness for her and her family has been hard, it has also been one of experiencing the blessings and direction of God.

I have lost track of how many times desperate prayers were offered to God.  But I do know that as a result, a seasoned and trusting faith has emerged. And a few days ago this young woman did something completely extraordinary: She put her hands on someone else having difficulty and prayed for them.

I take that back.  She put her hands on someone else and BOLDLY prayed for healing and peace.

Put yourself in her place.  What would your friend or family member say if all of a sudden you jumped up, said that you had faith in the living God, and put your hands on their shoulders and asked God for a miracle?

It took guts on her part.  But then again, if she herself has been comforted through some really difficult moments, it only makes sense that she would want others to be comforted.  

Where have we heard that before? 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted.

It's the Pay it Forward principle again.  Let's be bold and generous with our comfort.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for reminding us that You expect us to share the goodness we receive from You.  Make us sensitive to others in need, and help us be bold.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Pay it Forward~

Every once in a while I receive a surprise blessing.  Today I will share with you what someone shared with me yesterday in the late afternoon. 

 

A colleague came in to say that while at a restaurant with his family--a party of nine total--a complete stranger came up to him, told him he had a beautiful family, and that he was going to pay the $500+ dinner tab.  The generous stranger simply said, "Pay it forward."

 

I love the idea that my colleague came up with.  He instructed each of his kids to think about a good cause they could donate to in honor of the kind gesture they all received.  I will keep you posted as they have a week to think it over.

 

This concept of "pay it forward" is actually biblical.

 

2 Corinthians 1:4-5 (The Message) "He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us."

 

One of the purposes for that inexplicable difficulty you went through was so that you could share the comfort you received in the middle of it.  

 

Think about a time you were going through some struggles. Think about how God brought you out of it.  Then be willing to pay it forward.  The world can not work if we never give.  If you never made a phone call, or visited someone who was ill, or wrote a little note of encouragement, or sent flowers, or invited someone to the movies, or prayed for someone, or even made an anonymous cash donation, you would miss out on a blessing and so would someone else.

 

Where would you be today if no one had ever reached out to you?  I just might still be holed up in a corner somewhere feeling miserable and scratching my ankles.  You get the idea.  Glory!

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord,

We are grateful for the times others have comforted us; they were sent by You to really make a difference in our lives.  We are committed to doing the same for others.  Thank You that You will bring the right people our way; we will pay it forward.  In Jesus, name, AMEN~

What's in a Name?

Jorge is feeling fine this morning given that the future King of England and he have the same name. Whoop de doo!

I have, however, always said that I have never met a Jorge I didn't like, so I think it's a great name.

Ironically, when my own son was born I did not want to name him Jorge. If I am being honest, I really didn't like the name and wanted something cool like Jake or Hormone.

But my mother--wise woman that she was--said to me, "Yenisita, You will never regret naming your son after you husband because Jorge is a great guy, and it will give your son something to live up to."

She was right, and all that is fine and dandy. But in reality, we all have to make a name for ourselves.

Proverbs 22:1

"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."

Why on earth would my reputation and yours be more valuable than riches? Because to gain and keep a good reputation takes a lot of effort and it produces integrity, and once you have it, there are benefits from having it that money can't buy.

Integrity allows our children to say no to drugs, obey the law, and honor us. Integrity keeps us honest in business and honest in our marriages.

While there is nothing wrong with silver or gold or riches, let us pray today that we and our kids would value a good name above anything else. It will encourage us all to make wise, life-affirming decisions.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, It is easy to get caught in the lie that money is the most important thing. It is not. A good name and the effort we put forth to obtain it will bless us and our families more. In Jesus' name, Amen~

Foolish Behavior~

Several years ago our pet cat, who is now deceased and resting peacefully beneath our níspero  tree, upchucked on the living room carpet.  It fell to Jorge to clean it up because, as you all know, I have a weak constitution. 

 

I was in the kitchen when I suddenly heard Jorge making gag sounds.  Every time he would scoop up a little of the "vittles," he would almost spew his own.

 

Of course, I reacted the only way any other human would have: I ran to him with alcohol-drenched cotton balls and thanked him profusely for being so brave.  After all, the cat's little present was a mix of hair, boogers, and slime.

 

NOT!

 

I made fun of Jorge instead and was heartily ungrateful and boisterous.  Do you think it was wise to pick on him while he was in the process of doing me a huge favor? 

 

It was not, but then there are so many foolish things we are capable of...

Proverbs 1:7

"Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning."

The number one foolish thing anyone can do is thumb their nose at God and all that He offers.   

What does He offer?  A quick review of Psalm 103 says He forgives all our sins, heals our diseases, saves our life, crowns us with love and mercy, wraps us in goodness, and renews our youth, and that's just three verses worth. Read that entire Psalm and then thank God you are no fool. 

Every time we get together to pray here or at church or in our car or with our family or by ourselves, we are acknowledging that we need God in our lives, and that, my friends, makes us all very wise indeed.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We recognize our great need for You.  We purposely choose to start each and every day with You.  Thank You for all the amazing things You do for us.  We receive forgiveness, healing, salvation, love, mercy, and renewal today for ourselves and our families.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Shadow 1992-1999

You're Still Special~

Greetings~

Yesterday one of you lovelies "lovingly" commented that I picked a great day to tell everyone they are special--meaning that so much attention was on the Royal Baby that it made you feel very UN-special by comparison.

Sure the entire world waited with baited breath to see if the baby was a boy or a girl. And yes there's all kind of speculation as to what the baby's name will be.

But what if I told you that while mere mortals celebrated the birth of the future monarch of England, something even better took place for you?

Luke 15:10 (The Message Version) The angels in heaven throw a party every time a lost soul turns to God.

The day you turned to God seeking His forgiveness and guidance for your life, the angels threw a party in your honor.

I can just hear them now..."That Yenise sure is a special young woman! Hip Hip Hurray! We can't wait to meet her! Good for her for entrusting her life to the Almighty!"

So you see: YOU ARE SPECIAL:(,)

PRAYER: Dear Lord, When we turned to You it was an awesome day for us on earth, and now we know the angels had a big party in heaven. Thank You that even if the world doesn't know it, You think we are worth celebrating over. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

You Are God's Masterpiece~

You are special, and so am I! In short: We are God's masterpieces.

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."

There are over seven billion people on the planet, yet I am the only mom to Hormone and Rayray. The only mother-in-law to Lis. The only wife to Jorge. And the only second-born my parents ever had.

No one else is like me, and no one else is exactly like you.

We are unique and God wants us to make the most of where He has placed us. Why? Because we are irreplaceable. You are exactly where God wants you to be, so be the best "you" you can be. There are good things for you to do, planned by Him a long time ago, right where you are.

What could be more meaningful or fulfilling to me than loving my kids and my husband? I realized a long time ago that I would never be famous. That I would never be an astronaut. That I would never be an open-heart surgeon. That I would never be President...

And that's OK--as if I could be happy doing or being any of those things anyway. Those things are not my calling. But where I live--where you live--that's where God has placed us, and this is where we should be shining our brightest.

One of my favorite people is Joni Tada. She has a world-wide ministry that reaches millons. Yes, you read that right--millions. Her story is remarkable, and you should google her and check it out. But what amazes me most is something she once said at a press conference:

"What's the most important thing you do, Joni?" My mind sorted through a list of possible answers. Speaking, painting, advocating, visiting people in nursing homes, delivering wheelchairs to Africa and so on. But I knew the answer. "Being a good wife to my husband." My commitment to marriage places me in a profoundly significant relationship with the most important human being on earth. My spouse. If I can't be faithful in loving my husband, how can I tout "faithfulness" in ministry to millions.

In other words, dear people, it all begins at home. You were uniquely created by God as a one-of-a-kind masterpiece to do the good things He planned for you--starting with those closest to you. Embrace your uniqueness and be grateful for the opportunity to love those you love because only you can love them the way you do.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Forgive us for the times we have momentarily been tempted to swap our families out for more kind ones, or loving ones, or obedient ones. Today we re-embrace the place where You have put us and ask for renewed strength to serve and love our families. Thank You that we are unique. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Trust God~

TGIF Greetings~

 

I read a news article earlier this week that says that beer drinkers, pregnant women, and o blood types are the top mosquito targets. Now I know why Jorge, who is type A, can be outside in the middle of a mosquito swarm and never get bitten. Where as I, being currently pregnant--NOT--I am am type o blood, can be indoors, fully swaddled, and one little preemie mosquito will find the tiniest slit in my clothing and attack and become so engorged on my blood that it swells to three times its normal size.

 

Nevertheless, sometimes it's good to get the answers.

 

But in reality there are many things we will never understand or know. And sometimes these unanswered questions, many of which are born out of painful life experiences, tend to get us riled up at God.

 

Okay--I will not judge you; I will only speak for myself.

 

"Why did my dad abandon us?"

 

"Why did my mom die so young leaving me with so much responsibility?"

 

And when I asked God these questions He was very silent. Perhaps there is no answer that would have satisfied me anyway.

 

And yet in the pursuit of finding answers that would bring me peace I discovered a foundational truth, and it has to do with the verse from earlier this week.

 

Hebrews 11:1 (Message Version) "The fundamental fact of existence is that trust in God, faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see."

 

It all boils down to a choice: Either trust God or don't. When we trust God, life is worth living. Somehow, someway, taking the time to get to know God has a way of making everything else--the pain of life included--pale in comparison. I can't explain it; I just know it to be true.

 

Besides, if we get so angry or hurt that we shut God out, who else can we turn to? He is the end all be all source of everything we will ever need. There is nothing or no one who can take His place. Think about this carefully. If we get so upset at God by all the junk in life and tune Him out, where can we go? No where, and then life would not be worth living.

 

I do not know where any of you are right now in your faith journey, but I encourage to muster up the faith to have faith.

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, So much in life makes no sense. Yet over and over again in Your Word You encourage us to cry out to You--to get to know You. You desire for the focus to be off our problems and on You. So we purposely focus on You right now and ask You to bless us. Spread Your wings of love over us and those we love. In Jesus' name. AMEN~

Be Prepared~

Yesterday was quite an eventful day for Rayray, who has requested that I not show her lovely face.

She went in for her physical and fainted when they gave her a tetanus booster.

Now now--before y'all accuse me of being a negligent mom--keep in mind that Rayray is a full-fledged adult who insisted she could go to the appointment by herself. Besides, it's not like she hasn't fainted before. Four other times that I am personally aware of and maybe a couple where she blacked out but no one was around to document it.

One time she was in Sunday school and she stabbed her finger with a pair of scissors, and I kid you not--the teacher said Rachel fell asleep for a few moments and then woke up.

I suppose that's a delicate way of putting it.

On the bright side, Rayray was prepared this time around. She had an inkling that she might get queasy, so she was lying down when she "fell asleep."

Today's DEVO is about being prepared.

Prepared for what?

Proverbs 21:31 "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD."

Back in the Bible times the horse was the symbol of power and might--only to be used in times of battle. And a wise army always had their horses ready to take off at a moment's notice. A hungry horse with worn out shoes wouldn't be much use in an emergency.

Kind of like a half-hearted Christian who never prays or reads an inspiring scripture; when the crisis arrises they crumble rather than rise up to meet the challenge.

Not less than five minutes ago I had a conversation with a gal pal who said that a couple of years ago she was ill-prepared for a sudden situation in her family. And not that she would want to go through anything like that again, but if something ever comes up again she knows her first reaction will be to pray.

Happy dance time!

What are we going to do then? I say we prepare every single day--we strengthen our foundation. But we always always always keep in mind that even though we do our part, God still has the ultimate and best role--the victory! Nevertheless, people, let's give Him something to work with!

PRAYER:
Dear Lord, Thank You that the victory belongs to You. Help us be prepared. Inspire us and draw us close to You. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Choose Faith~

I am sitting here all cozy, keeping an eye out for the neighborhood fox, which comes by regularly to visit.  Rayray wants to trap it, inject it for rabies, train it, and keep it as an exotic pet.  She shall name it Nispero--an ode to the loquat tree that grows in the back yard.  I personally feel it's not worth the trouble.

"What is worth the trouble?" you ask.

Cultivating and practicing the one thing the Bible says that makes life worth living.

Hebrews 11:1 (Message Version) "The fundamental fact of existence is that trust in God, faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see."

Maybe if some of us are feeling a little discouraged or blue we need to redirect our efforts and strengthen our foundation.  If our faith foundation is weak, everything else will wobble.     

Consider these two scenarios:

So and so's husband loses his job and suddenly money is tight.  Day after day after day brings new worries, new fears, and less and less enjoyment of life. 

So and so's husband loses his job and suddenly money is tight.  Day after day after day brings new opportunities to trust God through prayer that He will provide everything that is necessary.  And in the middle of this economic uncertainty, there is actually joy and plenty of laughter.

I have seen both those scenarios play out, and taking the time to fortify the foundation through daily prayer is the way to go.  It's not just about making life bearable, but making life worth living.

Not everyone feels like life is worth living; take a look at the recent headlines.  

We have a decision to make.  Crumble right along with our problems, or make life worth living by choosing faith.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We choose faith.  We choose to trust You even when we can't see the outcome.  We trust that everything is in Your capable hands.  And by faith we believe that even today's prayer has helped make our foundation stronger.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Shake it Up~

Haggai 2:21 "...I am about to shake the heavens and the earth."

 

This was God's promise to His people that He was about to cause a commotion--stir things up--deal with some of their enemies, and those changes would eventually result in the comfort and happiness of His children.

 

Most of us could use a good and holy shaking somewhere in our lives.

 

Where would you like to see God cause a commotion? Where could you use a break today? Where have you had enough?

 

Is there something that has been on your prayer list for a long time that you desire to see answered?

 

There is a beautiful young lady whom I speak with regularly, and back in February of this year she and I began a prayer adventure. Our request? "Shake up my seemingly stalled love life. I desire to be in a relationship with a nice and godly young man."

 

And then the shaking began. First, she lost her job.

 

What? Remember, things are going to get stirred up but eventually it will be a blessing.

 

So she lost her job, but this forced her to rethink her future. She enrolled in college, and begins classes in August. She has also applied for three different positions.

 

Here's the best part. In the middle of all the shaking, she has learned to trust God. She is thankful that her future is in His capable hands. She knows that all this will work out to be a great blessing in her life, and even though Mr. Right has yet to appear, seeing the Lord take care of her on a daily basis has reignited her faith.

 

Consider this recent prayer:

 

Dear Lord, I have been asking You to help me meet a nice young man, but I lost my job in the process. It makes no sense to me, but I trust You. My life is in Your hands, and I know that somehow someway this will all work out. Thank You that I was able to enroll in college. I am excited about the new opportunities in my life. Most of all I am excited that one day soon You are going to shake my future husband loose right into the middle of my life!

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I have been asking for ________________. It makes no sense that I have not received my answer, but I trust You. My life is in Your hands, and I know that somehow someway this will all work out. Thank You that my future is always bright and beautiful because of You. Most of all I am excited that one day soon You are going to shake my answer loose--at the moment I need it most! In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Bright and Beautiful~

Monday greetings:)

 

Friday's DEVO included this verse. Revelation 21:23 "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp."

 

The city this verse refers to is heaven, and God's glory is so resplendent that electricity is not needed.

 

God is so bright and beautiful that He can bring illumination to you right now.

 

Where, dear one, could you use some clarification?

 

I recall one time that little Rayray came home from school very upset by an incident with one of her teachers. Her teacher had put a big red "X" over a drawing that Rachel had made, and it hurt her feelings deeply. She was horrified at the notion that her teacher thought she was not a very good artist.

 

"Why, dear Lord, would a teacher do that?" I was all prepared to talk to the teacher the next afternoon to see what the problem was, and I asked God for guidance. It's never a good idea to overreact or accuse your kid's teacher--especially when at a small school and with seven months left until the summer.

 

I spent the better part of the day struggling with feelings of ill will toward the teacher and feeling sad for Rayray interspersed with quick little shout outs to God for help. And then, in a moment of clarity, I looked at the drawing again.

 

The teacher did not mark the drawing because she didn't like it. She marked it because it was a random depiction of something that had nothing to do with the assignment. "Please draw a scene from the above paragraph," which was about a family on an island. And Rayray drew butterflies.

 

It was with relief and joy that I was able to explain to Rayray later that day that her drawing, while lovely, was wrong.

 

This is a simple example of how God cares for us--even in the little things. And it's precisely in these moments where our faith is strengthened for the bigger stuff.

 

Here are some requests from last week followed by a short and direct invitation to God

 

"I need the doctor to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the right course of treatment."

"Lord, shine some insight into that doc's brain so he makes the right decisions!"

 

"I need some insight into the dark place my spouse has retreated into."

"Lord, bring light and joy to my spouse and fill us with so much brightness that when we are together the darkness will have no choice but to leave."

 

"I need some understanding as to how to better communicate with my teen. I feel like there is a wall between us."

"Lord, fill my child and me with your glory. I want our relationship to be sunny not gloomy."

 

"I need a break at work. My boss is a dictator and my colleagues are always gossiping."

"Lord, it sometimes feels hopeless, but if You can light up heaven just by Your presence than You can bring warmth and peace to my office as well."

 

The common thread is that no matter what it is, every single scenario benefits from God's glory. It's bright and comforting and powerful. And, there is nothing that any of us will ever face that can dim or diminish it.

 

With that said, I leave you with this encouragement: "Arise! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you." Isaiah 60:1

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that Your glory rises to shine on us. That's important because we, our families, and our communities benefit when You shine on us and we spread it around bringing joy and peace in the process. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

The Lamb's Book of Life~

TGIF Greetings~

My driver's license expired July 4, and for the first time in 15 years I was advised that I had to renew it in person. I dutifully made my appointment three weeks before the expiration only to discover I could not renew because--shockingly--I have inadvertently been using two names for the past 26 and 1/2 years. Or as they called it, "An Alias."

 

Sounds so C.I.A.ish, and that's probably as close as I will ever get to doing "undercover work."

 

But in this day and age of heightened security the government will not permit me to call myself Yenise Alvarez Fernandez, when by their records, I am only Yenise Alvarez.

 

So much confusion, and now I have to go to the local Social Security office and make the line and fix the issue. Rubber ducks and mallets!

 

Nevertheless, while the good government of America needs clarification as to what my real name is, there is Someone Who knows exactly who I am.

 

Luke 11:20 "...rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

 

More specifically, they are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

 

You mean to tell me that Jesus has a Book with my name written in it?

 

Well, that depends. Have you asked Him to pull out His celestial fountain pen and enter your name?

 

This is more important than you may realize because having your name written there guarantees your citizenship in, "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light." In other words, heaven is splendid, more glorious than our finite minds could ever imagine, and the only thing needed is for our name to be in the Book.

 

The moment you take a step of faith and tell Jesus to enter your heart and forgive you of your sins and reinvigorate your life and bless you and guide you, your name goes in the book. It's that simple.

 

Shall we?

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, We all take a step of faith today and invite Jesus to take residence in our heart. We need His love to guide and protect us, and we need forgiveness for all the mistakes we have made. Thank You that our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

We rejoice! In His name we pray, AMEN~

 

Tandem Tales cont...

And just when you thought I didn't have anything else to say about the tandem...

 

I have been known--especially before I took up Crossfit--to pick up my feet and rest while riding bike. And for a while I got away with it. At first, when the rude people in my community would yell obscenities at me like, "Gorda, baja las patas!" (which loosely translated means fatso lower your animal paws) sometimes accompanied by an obscene gesture, Jorge would take all kinds of umbrage, but he never really considered the fact that I was indeed coasting. For the record, I have never been offended and have found this highly amusing.

 

Then one day we went riding at night, and the illumination from the street lights cast the horrible truth: My feet were up on the bar, and the evidence was in the form of a shadow that Jorge could see in, of all places, right in front of him.

 

We both laughed so hard, and as Jorge explains it everything suddenly made sense. No! He wasn't prone to bouts of sudden onset weakness and muscle atrophy as much as I was prone to resting whenever I felt like it leaving him to pick up the slack.

 

Is it fair for one person to do all the work? Is it fair to just sit back, relax, and let God handle it all. You know--bless us, provide for us, protect us, heal us, infuse us with joy and peace, and then never so much as say a little thank You?

 

Not only is it not fair, it's also not biblical.

 

God invites us over and over again to invite Him into our lives on a daily basis (ever heard of the daily bread?) so that we all can live our life to the full. When we fail to maintain a relationship with Him, we lose out on so much, and God loses too because He desires to spend time with His kids.

 

Acts 17:24-28 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything. Rather, He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.'"

 

Don't flatter yourself. There not much you can offer to God because He does not need anything, but He does want us because we are His children.

 

Much the same way that tandem bike riding is a lot easier when we both pedal, so is life more of a blessing when we reach out to our heavenly Dad.

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord,

You give us life and breath and everything else. Thank You. We reach out to You today because you are near and can be found. When we find You through prayer You bless us immeasurably more than if we never spent time with You. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Tandem Tales cont...

I have a sculpture that sits on a shelf in my little bedroom office that I love love love.  Only problem is that it does not quite accurately reflect the truth.

It's a guy and a girl on a bike, but the girl is sitting in the front.

One time Jorge went through all the trouble of lowering the seat so I could take the lead.  I did--for about three minutes.  It was so much harder than sitting in the back because of the harsh March winds out on the open trails of the Everglades in Shark Valley.

Jorge was able to handle the turbulence way better because he has a broader back and horse muscles in his legs.

When we are facing adverse conditions in life it is also best to allow God to take the lead.

Deuteronomy 31:8 "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you."

God Himself will go ahead of me? Little ole me? How special must I be.  How special you must be.  And He won't fail me? Or abandon me?

How can we be sure God is taking the lead?

Proverbs 3: 5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart;do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do,
and He will show you which path to take."

We trust and seek Him first--through prayer--then He shows us which path to take.

Nice how this concept of "tandem" runs throughout the Bible.  We have a role and God has a role.  He waits for an invitation.  It's time for many of us to switch to the backseat.  For far too long we wake up and go about our day as though God is just waiting there for us in times of emergency, and He is.  But how sweet to know that the One Who's seen what's up ahead, can help us avoid certain paths that aren't good for us.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You will never fail us and You personally direct our paths when we seek You.  Amen!  We seek You now so that You will guide us and those we love down safe paths.  Lead us into Your perfect purpose for our lives.  In Jesus' name we pray, AMEN~

Fill the Bowl~

Philippians 1:19 "For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance."

 

Paul wrote this verse while under house arrest, and what I love about it is that he is confident that teamwork will set him free. "Deliverance." It means liberation. It means a change in circumstance. And God, for whatever reason, has made it so that you and I get to participate in His handiwork.

 

This is a huge privilege and responsibility, and I know that we all take this seriously.

 

Think about it: We pray, and Jesus Himself changes our situation.

 

What situation do you or someone you love need to see a deliverance in or deliverance from?

 

Notice how the verse does not say,..."as you pray for me OR the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me." It says "AND" because our words and concerns and desires and convos to God go together/are in tandem with the Spirit of Jesus.

 

This is great news for someone like me who loves to talk. It is not a waste of time. In fact, Revelation 5:8 assures us that right now with Jesus there are "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's holy people."

 

Every last word you have ever offered is treasured by our Lord. It is not misplaced or ignored. I find that so beautiful and comforting. I also see it as an encouragement to fill the bowl.

 

Who needs prayer today in your life and for what reason?

 

I received a prayer request from a buddy whose hubby needs a little mental adjustment. She desires for him to be more peaceful and not so anxious about some things. She knows I am putting this out here today as an example of the kind of deliverance she expects from prayer and the Spirit of Jesus.

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We are humbled and amazed that our part makes a difference. Thank You that we can be proactive through prayer. We are blessed to be able to join forces with You--the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. Today we fill the bowl for ___________, who needs ___________. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

In Tandem~

Monday Greetings~

 

As you all know, I love to ride the tandem bike with Jorge. We can often be seen on the weekends waving to curious onlookers and tsk tsking the ones who are crude to me when I put my feet up to rest.

 

Favorite memories from our bike riding include the time he schooled me in the supreme importance of making eye contact with the driver in the car before proceeding through an intersection, and then at the very next intersection--in direct gross violation of his own lesson--he failed to make eye contact and yes, we got hit by a car.

 

I have a picture somewhere. No big deal. The car was stopped, and when we rode in front of it, it slightly accelerated and hit the back tire, and I crumbled very unballerina like to the ground. Please stand up and clap for me now because I did not say anything sarcastic or rude to Jorge. He was so temporarily blinded by grief at the thought of my being hurt that it would have been cruel to taunt him.

 

 

I waited three whole days before I attacked.

 

But what I love most about the tandem is that when we ride, Jorge and I are close--we're a team. I can drink water without fear of falling, I can talk on the phone. I can hand him things from his knapsack and wipe the sweat off his brow. I can kidney punch him just for fun. It's great, and it's a true joint effort. We can go twice as fast and twice as far.

 

What happens when we team up with God? When we're tandem with Him?

 

Philippians 1:19 "For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance."

 

When these two things happen simultaneously--prayer and Jesus helping--deliverance happens.

 

Never ever underestimate your responsibility or the power of prayer.

 

The question is, deliverance from what?

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You have set up this universe that for whatever reason, You allow us to make an impact in our lives and the lives of those we love through prayer. Help us to never give up. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

God Makes it Grow~

TGIF Greetings~

Thirty two years ago--more or less--the man who would become my husband puffed his cheeks out as far as they would go to make fun of a certain someone riding in a car alongside his who was chubby.  On and on this went for about four blocks, and then that certain someone, who was a cop, pulled the car that Jorge was riding in over to side of the road--full blasting lights and all.

The officer, who had a partner with him, separated Jorge from the other two drivers and proceeded to interrogate him.  Jorge vehemently denied that he was making fun of the cop's girth, which was a desperate lie, but was eventually set free.

Wouldn't it have been nice if Jorge would have exercised self-control?

If God is only calling us to self-control and not controlling others, what are we to do when those we love make poor decisions?  Is it a lost cause?

Heavens no!

Stormie Omartian, who has written numerous books on prayer makes a great statement.

"We don't have to stand on the sidelines of life and helplessly watch while our kids make important life decisions.  We get in the game through prayer."

I LOVE THAT!

1 Corinthians 3:6

"I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow."

While we can not control anyone we can plant seeds in their hearts.  We can water those seeds, and then stand back and watch while God brings the beautiful growth.

We plant and water through prayer but also through practical application by setting the example.  Our kids imitate us whether we realize it or not.  If we are critical, they tend to be critical.  But if we are forgiving, they tend to be forgiving too...

Having self-control has a positive impact on those around us.  The best part is that when we view our responsibilities the way God does, it takes the pressure off to want to make sure everyone is doing the right thing all of the time.    

Let's focus on planting and watering and thank God for the growth He promises.

PRAYER:  Dear Lord,  Thank You that You have trusted us with planting and watering.  That, in and of itself, is a mighty responsibility. Give us the strength to do it wisely.  But the harder part of seeing those efforts come to fruition comes from You.  Help us not to self-condemn, self-criticize, or derive our self-worth from the lack of self-control in others.  We have planted and watered today through prayer.  We trust You to do Your part.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~     

Happy Birthday to Me~

Independence Day greetings~


Today we will temporarily skip this week's DEVO topic because it's my birthday! Yea:)  But before I give a self-promoting shout out to me, I first and foremost give a shout out to God who made my life possible.  For all the highs and lows that come with living, He is incomparably the highest high for me.  Next, here is a shout out to our great country.  I LOVE YOU, AMERICA!  You're still the greatest nation in the universe.  Also, a shout out to each of you.  All of you are precious and immeasurably treasured by God; give yourselves a hug.  And last but never least, a shout out to me.

Happy Birthday, Yenisita!!!!

And now I will share my birthday verse with you all.

Isaiah 46:4 "I will be your God throughout your lifetime--until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you."

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are with us from beginning to end until the day You carry us into Your presence.  Thank You for Your constant companionship.  In Jesus' name, Amen to that!  Blessings:)

Self-Control~

Salutations~

 

 

Galatians 5:22-23 (The Message version)

 

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”

 

 

Based on the verse above here's a neat and concise list of the gifts God gives when we live His way: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control.

 

 

All these are the fruits that will grow and thrive in our orchards.  And all these are necessary for enjoying life.  We should also be asking God regularly to help us and our children produce these fruits.  But today I want to hone in one particular fruit that seems to often elude us and whose lack of in our life produces misery.  I am talking, of course, about self-control.

 

 

What happens when you try to control your spouse? Your kids? The weather? Someone else's reaction? God?

 

 

Simply stated--You can't!

 

 

And when we can not control something we feel helpless and afraid.

 

 

If only we could choose for our spouse when they fall into temptation.  If only we could say "no to drugs" on behalf of little Johnny.  If only we could make sure everyone driving around on the friendly streets of Miami were properly licensed and insured.  If only we could make sure that everyone else around us is always nice, always loving, always kind...In short, always producing fragrant fruit in a fertile orchard.  

 

 

All of us with half a brain know that this is not the way life works.  We really have very little control over anything much less anyone--except ourselves.

 

 

It's called self-control for a reason, and that is because you are really the only one you can control.

 

 

This does not mean we don't try in vain to control situations or other people, but more often than not, when we assume this huge impossibility and fail, we feel like failures and this leads to unhappiness.

 

 

Ask yourself what you have been really down about lately or just in general, and more than likely it will have to do with a situation beyond your control.  

 

 

For example: (all the names of my brave friends have been changed to protect their innocence.)

 

 

Pierre la Franc has been really low lately--precisely since 2007.  This is when the economy started tanking, and he took a huge personal hit.  He blamed everyone and everything and felt his happy light slowly starting to fade.  The power of positive thinking was not powerful enough, and no matter how hard he ordered his personal finances to turn around, they would not budge.  It was out of his control.  

 

 

Sally G. Away invested a lot of time and a lot of effort in raising her two little girls.  One of whom chose the straight and narrow and one of whom did not.  The one who did not went down a path of self-destruction that destroyed Sally as well.  Over and over and over again she blamed herself for her daughter's choices, and in the process fell into a severe depression.

 

 

At the root of the problem was that both these fine folks were trying to control something beyond their ability.  Add to that a heaping helping of self-condemnation and it's easy to see how these life-scenarios led to such unhappiness.        

 

 

And then there's my buddy Lois who was so convinced that her daughter deserved a certain role at school that she expended a lot of time and energy rallying the higher-ups to choose her child and was highly insulted when it did not work out.  She almost withdrew her child's enrollment because of it and would have forfeited many years of fun and friendships.  We laugh about it now, but back then it was a perfect example of "forcing one's way in life," and "not channeling one's energies wisely."

 

 

I think we can all relate.  Let us focus on the one thing we can control and trust God with the rest.

 

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are right.  Self-control is the only control we have.  Thank You that You have the rest under Your watchful eye.  In Jesus' name, AMEN