Encouragement

Man, things are really changing for me. I'm going back to school. I have a great opportunity at work and I've been getting more and more dove into my Bible and relationship with God. Which is very strange..because I couldn't make it to church on Wednesday nights, it's made me cling to it.

There is one thing I want to say though. It's not easy, these changes. It becomes easier when you embrace God's blessings and thank him. But you know, like one of my favourite older songs by Dc Talk "what if I stumble what if I fall.." the thing is, and I believe I've said it before..God not only expects this but he knows every decision we make in this walk toward Him. And he's waiting to see if we trust him and accept his guidance or if we fight it. I've given up this fight for control, I still falter, the recovery is much faster and the prevention much clearer.

I realised this tonight when the Lord revealed a few things to me. He revealed he CAN do great things with my life. He reassured me through friends that I am doing better. He encouraged me by giving me friends who are examples of God's blessings, and because of one of them I'm reminded to be thankful for everything he's given me..even the tough stuff!!

Here's to a new week and more focus, goals and trials..and many more blessings I'm sure!

Have a blessed week and I'll be back here Wednesday night for WHANM.

Ps. I love my Charles Dickens and Alberto Einstein!

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WHANM: Serving God

Hope you all got a chance to go to church or some sort of small group tonight. Tonight's Bible study will be kind of short. I've been on the phone and online applying for..you got it..school. That's right, I'm finally going to finish my degree, my Mum is thrilled.

I wanted to just lightly touch on the topic of service..and tonight..why we should serve God. Believe it or not some people don't. They make a profession of faith but just kind of grow stagnant without deepening their relationship with God. Service is part of your relationship with God. Think about it, how do you speak to God? Prayer. How does God speak back? Through His works and..his word. What is his word? The Bible. And what does the Bible say about service to him? Let's have a look:

Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. (Deuteronomy 13:4)

So even early on in the Bible it mentions how we should follow and serve him. To obey his voice, especially when he calls us into service. Then later in Joshua (22:5) we are minded again "love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." This is actually a great reminder but also a great way to stay true to serving him. Sometimes, at least in the beginning it may seem or feel like you are forcing yourself to do some sort of service. Service to God and others is never bad, but you have to put your heart into it. Don't be a High School Counsellor at church trying to help teenagers with their problems and responsibilities on a Sunday morning when the night before you were doing exactly what you're advising them not to do. Don't be hypocritical in your service. Don't commit to helping with bus ministry if you aren't going to show up. It's important to follow through with service and be open to leaders in your church guiding you to areas of service that need help(hello, God's open window) or ministries you are good at and have God given talents with.

Service is also a sign of your profession of faith, when we profess Christ..we are telling people that we have been changed..we should want to serve him..

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, (which is) your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what (is) that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

This is part of our proof. Remember last week when we talked about leading your testimony? Service to God is one way we can show others that we are legit in our decision to follow him, and that we care about those who have not yet made that choice.

Service to God can be a great tool as well. Ever find it very difficult to resist temptation? I'm pretty sure I just heard everyone cybertronically(if that's a word) shout yes, or at least half smile thinking "Yeah of course". Well, it's a lot easier not to give into some of our strongest temptations when we are serving God. Do you break out alcohol or smoke a joint or a cigarette when you are teaching children's choir or talking to opening doors/being a greeter at church? Or even just cleaning up or helping with Awanas? How about when you're praying with lifting up someone from an addictions meeting? Temptation will always cross our minds, but serving God just helps that temptation to cross..and keep walking. But don't just take my word for it..

(Be) kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another(this part gets so much more easier when you serve God and fellowship with other Christians..it makes resisting temptation so much more realistic); not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;(..) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.(Romans 12:10,11&13)

Lastly but not the least..a very important part of our service is reaching others. How are people going to know about God if we don't show them God's active role in our lives. If you don't do something to serve your Saviour, you know what most people think, "There isn't anything that they have that I don't." Which is a terrible lie Satan would like everyone to believe. Because someone who does not have Jesus Christ, they have nothing..your service to God could be the smile, handshake, encouragement, clean up, or invite that brings them closer to having something, to have eternal life with Christ our Lord.

God bless you and have a great rest of the week!! Pray about service and ask God to bring some into your life.

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WHANM: Leadership

Wednesday Has a New Meaning: Leadership

I hope you had a chance to get to church tonight but if not to have had some extra time with the Lord and I hope you enjoy the time I've had in my Bible Study tonight.

Tonight, I wanted to study a little bit about leadership. Now it might not be as you think "taking the leadership role" or starting anything where you will be the "leader" but more so about how we are placed in leadership roles on a daily basis and how we can take on roles to strengthen our service to the Lord.

Earlier this week I had one of those "this is going to be a great day" mornings. Which, if you've ever gave birth to me, lived with me or have seen me in the morning..those do not come often. Normally, in the morning it takes me an hour or two before I can bare to see anyones face. One prime reason why I live alone, I like it. I was driving to work and thinking about all God's blessings and how it feels so safe and lovely to be so focused on Him. How he's changed my life. And I started to think about leadership. Believe it or not, on a dreary day - the sun shown right through the cloud as I smiled and said "Okay God, whatever that means I'll follow." Which lead me to thinking about the subject more.

Each and every day we are leading. We are leading our own lives. Yes, God should be the centre of your life - and his purpose should be our goal. But we don't know his purpose..most of the time we figure it out after we've served it. And we ultimately through free will get a choice whether to yield to Him or to fulfil our own desires.

What really stuck out to me was how our testimonies lead people. The choices we make and the way be believe have such a great impact on other people. The ones we work with, live around or just pass by are constantly watching us and if someone knows you profess to have faith in Jesus Christ..they watch you even closer. I believe one of the main reasons they do is because they are searching. What would they find in your life?

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. (I John 1:1-4)

When you live day to day, your choices, attitude, or response to life's circumstance..are you spreading or showing others your faith? Is it a reflection of what God has done in your your life and he can do in anyone elses? What is it that you portrait that is different from just anyone? We should be showing Christ in us. How he changes our lives. How we fellowship together ( not divided with judgement, gossip or hypocrisy). We should be showing others that we fellowship with Christ and that is WHY we live the way we do.

Show others around you how God gives you comfort, joy and peace. You know, in a world without God or a Saviour..what hope do we have? Nothing. I can't even imagine if I lived my life in worry or pain seeing no sign of hope, we have the power through God to show people that there is hope. Sometimes it's as simple as having faith. You don't get your promotion at work, you become very sick or ill, a loved one dies - each one of these circumstances we can show others God's love, loyalty and power. There are people who think there is no hope for them.

Do you think in Luke 8, that Legion, who was so writhed with pain and suffering having been possessed by so many demons and evil power, just went on with life and never told anyone about how Christ freed him? That he just said "Well, thanks Jesus, have a nice day." and never mentioned it to anyone? Not likely. Verse 39 by instruction from Christ himself gives us, today, a great instruction. To go and tell people how Christ changed us. This was a circumstance were many probably thought there was no hope for this man.

I do realise we might not be possessed by and fighting thousands of demons minute by minute. But we do certainly have our moments in life where God fights and takes away our "demons", whether it be an addiction, bad attitude or just negativity all around us. And we should be showing in our lives how God takes those troubles away and gives us strength and most importantly, eternal life.

Now, I believe..based on different examples and scripture in the Bible that it does not end with just our choices but also our service. When I see a "leader" in the Bible, or study one, like David, or Moses or Paul..I don't see someone who just "lived a good life." They served. They took on the challenge and responsibility of others not just seeing their lives but following them to Christ. And ultimately we should be leading people to Christ as well. So whether it be visiting others, leading a Bible Study or helping with a ministry at church..at some point we should be thinking about assuming the position as a leader and using the gifts God gave us to serve and glorify him. If you're not sure what those gift are - pray about it. Don't worry though..this may be a subject I'll touch on with another WHANM.

Until then, have a good rest of the week and be the leader with testimony and service.

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Sunday with the Girls

 Tonight I got to spend time with my two nieces, Iliana Marie and Audrina Grace. It was really fun, we went to church, came home and ate that delicious healthy snack while we waited for the pizza to come. After we ate some pizza we watched Rango while enjoying the cinnamon pie and hot chocolate with whipped cream and choc sauce!

 Iliana, she liked the choc sauce

 Audrina loved drawing on the pictures! I have a couple pictures that are in frames with dry erase markers so you can draw on my face and on an owl too.

 Not going to lie, I enjoyed the hot chocolate too!

Audrina enjoyed hers as well.

All in all it was a great night. I had a good time with my nieces. And they got to speak to Grandma Esquibel..haha she stayed up pretty late to see them, thanks Mum. My brother informed me that as soon as they left and the door shut, Audrina goes "She's so awesome! When can we come back?" Perhaps a sleepover is due? :)

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