Abuelo Rigo

Greetings,

Yesterday my husband's grandfather, Abuelo Rigo, passed away; he was 96-years-old. It was sudden; it was sacred.  He stopped eating Tuesday after having a robust appetite all day Monday and every day before then.  Wednesday morning he woke up, and his breathing was slowing down.  One of his grandchildren, David, read to him the 23rd Psalm, and 10 minutes later he exhaled for the last time and saw our Lord. He had been bedridden for seven years, and my mother-in-law devoted herself to his care at her home in a dedicated room set up just for him.  What love and sacrifice.  He went to glory with the prettiest, healthiest skin you have ever seen and smelling like cologne!

I will forever remember him for his great love of dogs.  He had three little yappy Chihuahuas that loved him so much.  He always gave them whole wheat bread and butter for breakfast, and they were his constant companions, laying in bed with him for hours.  I learned yesterday for the first time that he was a groundskeeper at the Doral Golf Resort back in the 70s and immediately wished I would have asked more questions when I had the chance.

But what I do know is that he loved his wife very much  -  they were married for 74 years  -  and that because of his commitment to family, three daughters produced nine grandchildren who brought 20 great-grandchildren into this world. One grandson is a pastor, two granddaughters married pastors, a few great grandkids are musicians in church, others serve in different ministries like baby care and small groups, and everyone of us knows Jesus. What a beautiful legacy!     

In memory of him today we shall pray the very words that accompanied him on his journey home.

Psalm 23

Dear Lord, You are my shepherd; I have all that I need.  You let me rest in green meadows; You lead me beside peaceful streams.  You renew my strength and guide me along right paths. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I am not afraid, for You are close beside me. You protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. My cup overflows with blessings.  Surely Your goodness and unfailing love pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.

Small Potatoes are Temporary

Greetings,

This past weekend, Jorge, my husband and self-appointed pointer outer of my absurd behaviors, mockingly said to me, "Babe, we are traveling an hour and a half from home; don't forget your deodorant."

The only logical response was "Thanks for reminding me!" and I promptly went and got my travel-sized roll-on and put it in my purse.  I have sort of fallen into the habit of wanting my antiperspirant with me whenever I am more than 50 miles and only 50 miles or more from home.  For the record, I have never applied it nor has there been a need to,  but somehow it makes me feel prepared.  For what? I don't know.

And then yesterday I was frantically looking for my wrist watch, making Jorge look under the sectional and in between the cushions, when I suddenly realized I had been wearing it the entire time. Of course I cracked up, and Jorge accused me of being fried and growing older.

I did not nor will I ever be offended at those comments because I have a little secret for all of us who are indeed aging and maybe getting quirkier in the process:  "I am not giving up. How could I? Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on me, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace.  I am being renewed day by day, and these hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for me. The things I see now are here today, gone tomorrow.  But the things I can't see now will last forever"  2 Corinthians 5:16-18 (The MESSAGE Version).

Every single day, even on those days when I forget my sentences midstream or tell the same story to the same person twice, I am receiving fresh degrees of spiritual strength, joy, peace, and hope.  I am not disheartened but sustained; I am not exhausted but encouraged. I may be growing older on the outside, and yes, even weaker, but I am stronger than ever and invigorated because the part of me that lasts forever, my soul, has a clearer view of the truth.  I am headed for a lavish celebration that will last forever.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that You are with us day by day making new life in us and filling us up with Your grace.  We look forward to the coming good times.  Remind us to keep our life in perspective.  Small potatoes are temporary! We love You! AMEN!

Embrace Your Territory

Acts 17:26 "From one man He made all the nations, and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands."

Greetings,

One of my all-time favorite TV programs that I always have on in the background while I am cooking dinner is Little House on the Prairie.  I love that there was such a huge emphasis on family and faith, and more than once I have wondered what my life would have been like if I would have been born in 1865 as opposed to 1965.  Riding horses everywhere and using outdoor toilets anyone?

And why did my family choose to live in Georgia after immigrating from Cuba?  Sure, other relatives had already established roots there, but most settled in Miami.  It took us 17 years to head far south to the Magic City.

I also think about how if either of my children would have been born a couple days later, they would have started school an entire year later.  That would have meant a whole other group of friends for them and for me. 

All these questions have an easy answer: You were born when you were born, to the parents that you have, and you live where you live, work where you work, and are friends with the friends you have because every aspect of your time in history and the boundaries wherein God has placed you is a result of His purpose for your life.  Our Lord is in everything and nothing happens to us by chance or accident.  In His infinite wisdom, He decided that you should be where you are and with the people you are with.

Maybe you are reading this from your desk at work surrounded by some colleagues you love and some who frustrate you.  God has placed you there, so embrace your territory and be happy.  It has meaning, and it has purpose.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, How might our perspectives change if we truly embraced that You marked out this time for us in history and established our little corner of the universe for us?  Today we choose to believe that You know what You are doing and that nothing in our life is by chance.  Thank You for giving us life.  Thank You for our families.  Thank You for our friends. Help us live life to the fullest by filling us with Your peace, love, hope, faith, joy, and goodness.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Top 12

Psalm 36:5 Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.

Greetings,

I am not a traditional journaler;  I have never made it a daily habit to chronicle my life.  Mostly,  I like to jot things down in the margins of my prayer books.   But over 15 years ago I splurged on an actual leather-bound journal where I got into the habit of writing down quick, short bursts of wisdom that brought me comfort.  I was reading through it this morning , and the truths that were powerful way back when are still powerful today. 

Here are my top 12:

·      

           When you receive Christ, you are never without HOPE again!

·        

       God, UNFAILINGLY, has your best interest in mind!

·        

       Wherever God is enthroned, no threat of hell can succeed against that/them!

·        

       God is the answer to your every need!

·        

       Every time you pray, you're advancing God's purposes for you!

·         

       God is where He's asked to be!

·        

       Faith is not a risk; faith is a RELIEF!

·          

       Jesus is the way; you can't get lost!

·         

       Jesus is the truth; you can't be deceived!

·         

       Jesus is the life; the devil can't kill you!

·         

       Prayer brings a stranglehold to the struggle!

·         

       God may say "WAIT" but He never says "WORRY"! 

    I hope my top 12 has blessed you today.  Let's pray.

   

   PRAYER: 

      Dear Lord,  Thank You that we are never without hope.  We trust You and Your plan for our life. You are our answer, and we are grateful that You are with us right now.  As we pray we are relived that by doing so we are putting a chokehold on our struggles.  Help us not to worry as we wait for Your perfect timing.  We choose to believe in your unfailing love. In Jesus' name, AMEN. 

A Song of Victory!

Greetings,

The DEVO published a couple days ago detailed God's miraculous rescue of His children, the Israelites, from slavery in Egypt.  The heart-pounding climax came when Pharaoh and his army of 600 chariots chased the Israelites all the way to the edge of the Red Sea, and the Israelites were trapped. There was no way out; a cruel and wicked army was behind them and a raging sea in front of them.

Then...

"Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back and turned it into dry land...the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground...the Egyptians pursued them into the sea...Moses stretched out his hand again, and the sea went back to its place...the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed were covered in water...not one of them survived" (Exodus 14:21-28).

At that moment, the moment of deliverance, what was the right response? A song of victory, of course, and below is a prayer based on the song  the Israelites sang  -  from now on we will sing it too:

I sing my heart to You God  -  You give me victory!  You pitch horse and rider into the sea.  You drown all my enemies. You are my strength, You are my song, and You are my salvation.  I will tell the world that You, my God, are a fighter, Your strong right hand shimmers with power.  Your strong right hand shatters the enemy. There is always a way out when You come to my rescue.

At a blast from Your nostrils the waters pile up. All my enemies are covered by the sea.  They sink like lead. Who compares with You, my God? Who compares with You in power? You are my wonder-working God!  You redeem my life and lead me in merciful love.  You guide me under Your protection. You bring me and plant me on the mountain of Your heritage, which is the place where You live, Your sanctuary. I will live forever with You, Amen.

If You're Feeling Stuck...

Greetings,

Right at the beginning of the Bible in the book of Exodus, God says, "I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out, and I am concerned about their suffering.  I have come to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them into a good and spacious land, a Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey."  Charlton Heston's movie, The 10 Commandments, does a pretty good job depicting this epic struggle where God sent 10 plagues to convince the Pharaoh to let the people go.  Pharaoh  finally releases them only to change his mind and chase after them.  He catches up to them and the Israelites are faced with an impossible situation: Pharaoh and his 600 chariots are behind them, and the daunting Red Sea is in front.

Exodus 14:10-14, "As Pharaoh approached the Israelites were terrified...They said to Moses, their leader, 'What have you done by bringing us out of Egypt...? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!'  Moses answered, 'Do not be afraid...You will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today...the Lord will fight for you.'"  

{At this point it is so easy for me to get judgmental.  Really, Israelites? God has already sent 10 miraculous plagues, like the swarm of locusts that literally ate every tree in the land, and turned all the water into blood, and you still doubt? How can you think He would bring you so far only to abandon you?}

In fact, God does not abandon any of His children, so He supernaturally parts the Red Sea.  Every single Israelite crosses on dry ground. Pharaoh's foolish army tries to pursue them only to drown as the Red Sea comes crashing down upon them.

The Israelites sing a happy song of deliverance  -   see Exodus chapter 15 for one of the most inspiring and beautiful passages ever written.   And that's the end of story! I love Happy endings!

Oh wait.  Not really.  That was not the end but the beginning of a 40-year journey marred by grumbling, complaining, and murmuring. 

One chapter later in Exodus 16 the unrelenting griping starts.  "We need food, we need water... better that we were still in Egypt...you brought us out here to starve..."

{I find myself getting judgy again.  God has done so much already, why do they doubt?}

Suffice to say that God, once again, supernaturally provides for all the needs of His children.  But there is a harsh consequence to their whining. 

Deuteronomy 1:2 "Normally, it takes only 11 days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea, going by way of Mount Seir."

Let that sink in: An 11-day journey turned into 40 years of wandering out in the desert.

Talk about going around in circles.  I once paid attention to a GPS in a rental car that had me turning left to get to the airport when it should have been a right turn.  I went around in frustrating circles for  15 long minutes before I willed myself to ignore the GPS.  I thought I would go nuts, and yet the Israelites did if for 40 agonizing years!  They should have arrived to the Promised Land, to the better place, to the place where they were meant to be, but complaining, which led to a lack of gratitude, which led to disobedience,  kept them from arriving to the place they were destined for.   

And now I must examine my own heart and you must examine yours. 

All along it has been easy for me to finger point at the Israelites because of their lack of faith and critical attitude.  And yet, have I been faithful 100% of the time? Never doubting? Always sure God would show up with power when I needed it? Sure He would provide for all my needs? Trusting His timing for getting me where I need to go?  Never acting like I know more than Him and His plans? Never ever once grumbling, complaining, or murmuring...?

Ouch!

If any of us is feeling stuck, like we are missing out on our destiny, like there has to be more to life, then let's make sure it's not because we are complaining and accusing God of not being there for us.  Let's not derail something good that God has in store for us by being so busy being so upset that we miss the opportunity to connect with Him, which strengthens our faith to get us where we were meant to be.

PRAYER: Dear God, Sometimes we complain,  and we get so focused on what is wrong with our lives that we fail to see Your faithfulness.  We are quick to gripe about all the troubles, when we could be thanking You for all the good in our lives.  No matter how hard things might be right now, each of us has plenty of blessings to be thankful for.  Forgive us for this attitude, which weakens our faith and keeps us from  moving forward.  The Bible makes it clear that appreciating and praising You is the key to entering the Promised Land.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

He Always Answers on the First Ring

Greetings,

It drives me nuts when I really need to speak with Jorge, my handsome hunk of a graying-goatee husband,  and I can't reach him.   Typically he'll call me first to see how his best friend and the love of his life, Hershey Pie, is doing,  and I have missed it because I left my phone in the bedroom while sorting his dirty laundry in the garage.   I already know that it will be a miracle if I get through on the first attempt because (a) it almost always goes straight to voice mail..."You have reached blah blah blah...", (b) he'll answer only to instantly put me on hold and then forget about me, (c) he'll pick up to say he's really really busy and will ring me shortly, or (d) I'll receive a masterfully-crafted customized automatic text message which says, "Sorry, I'll can't talk now.  Can I call you later?"

Can you imagine if this is how it were with God?

Can you imagine if God were too busy to speak to us, comfort us, protect us, or guide us?

Can you imagine if God put us on hold?

No need to worry or wonder.  He does not!  He always answers on the first ring.

"He listens to me whenever I call" Psalms 116:1 (International Standard Version).

WHENEVER MEANS WHENEVER.  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We call upon You right now and are grateful that You are listening.  We are so relieved that we will never encounter a busy signal when we need You.  You and You alone sustain us; we couldn't make it without You.  Thank You for assuring us that You are always available for us.  Pour out Your blessings upon us today.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Jorge and Hershey Pie

With One Exception

Greetings,

It's been a rough few days for my daughter Rayray as the puppies she so lovingly cared for over the past couple of months starting going home to their forever families this past weekend.   One by one she handed them over to their new mommies and daddies and cried her heart out in the process.  

Thankfully, she and Emilio networked their heads off,  and EVERY SINGLE CANINE  went to someone they know.  Puppy reunion anyone? On Saturday, Emilio's friend, who adopted Bobby the night before, already brought the dog back for a visit!

Letting go can be hard; moving on can be a challenge.  But Rayray knew that as soon as the litter was weaned, it would be time to say goodbye.  We humans also grow up.   Whether it's after high school,  college, or we get married, most of us will reach the day where we kiss our parents farewell, hug our abuelitas and abuelitos, smack our sibling(s) one last time, and head out into the big wide world.

This is a good thing.   Imagine if Rachel had kept all seven puppies? Imagine if my grownup kids or yours, or you yourself were still living at home and having your mom do everything for you.  I don't think Hormone would appreciate it if I reached for his 29-year-old hand to cross the street.  Hopefully, the older we get the more independent we become, with one exception.

Jesus says in John 15:5, "I am the Vine, and you are the branches. If you stayed joined to Me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit.  But separated from me You won't be able to do anything."

It doesn't matter how old we are, whether  15 or 51, we must never lose our complete and total dependence on God.  What happens if a branch falls off a vine? It dries up and produces nothing.  But if that branch stays connected and receives nourishment from that vine, the harvest is abundant.  I need all the peace, hope, guidance, calm, joy, health, love, power, and wisdom I can get.

Our human selves stay joined with His Divinity when we pray, praise, and obey His Word.

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, We need a harvest of blessings.  We stay connected to You today and believe in You because You are the source of everything we need.  We will never let go because we want to be productive.  We want a bountiful crop of goodness that we can use ourselves and share with others.  In Jesus' name, AMEN. 

Goodbye, SugarBear

Take me Away...

Greetings,

Back in the 70s there was a famous commercial where a frazzled, harried, stressed out working mom would say, "Calgon, take me away!"  Next thing we knew, she was chilling in a warm bath with a smooth voice in the background saying, "Lose your cares in the luxury of a Calgon bath...it lifts your spirits..."

Somehow I remembered this well-known line, and to this day whenever I need a break I will also say, "Calgon, take me away!"  

But between you and me, I am not necessarily stepping into a relaxing bath that promises to soften my skin as much as I am admitting that I need a break.

What do I do when I need to get away from the madness and mayhem?

"I call on the LORD in my distress, and He answers me" Psalm 120:1.

So many many times I have started a prayer worried, afraid, or upset about something, only to breathe out the "Amen" and feel encouraged and ready to get back in the swing of things. 

Nothing will lift our spirits the way the LORD will. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I pray right now believing You answer.  I come to You and I indulge in Your presence.  I lose my cares in You.  I leave my distress in Your capable hands and thank You for answering me.  I receive Your peace.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.