Of Life and Death: My Accident

Two days ago something happened. I didn't make a fuss about it because I wanted to be nice and protect someone from being scolded, Perhaps I shouldn't have. My family, some friends and I went away this weekend to Constanza, as always, it is our annual trip to feel the chilly weather we can only find in places like that here in our country. We stayed at a different place this year and it seemed so great. There were so many things to be done, among them was riding four-wheelers. My mom detests them, and I remember her always telling me all these tragic stories about people dying in horrific accidents while riding these things. This weekend her feelings about the idea were the same, but I had learned to ride one while in Atlanta so I was fixated with the idea of driving one this time. I was being disobedient, I confess, and I repented afterwards too. You see God puts authorities over us and whether they are Christian or not, as long as we are under their authority and as long it does not compromise us as Christians we must obey and/or submit to them.
While me and my sister's boyfriend, who was supposed to be supervising all of us (my sister, my cousin and I) because he's the expert using these things, were riding the wretched four-wheeler (I was driving it) we passed through an unsteady slightly narrow dirt road the four-wheeler began to behave strangely it would steer to the right on its own, and at one point while we were going really fast it began to steer right and instead of me turning to the left i turned to the right, the four-wheeler jumped the roadside ditch (don't ask me how, it shouldn't have done that even at the speed we were going) it landed on a piece of land that was being cultivated, we were thrown off of the ratty old thing and landed on the ground. I scraped my face, hurt my left hand somewhat badly, and got some nasty bruises on my leg. My sister's boyfriend had some minor cuts on his left hand and left ankle.
"My mother is going to kill me" is all I could think of, all he could think of was what my parents were going to tell him. I assured him not to worry I would take all the blame after all I was driving the thing. I told my parents what had happened in the most calmed voice I could and in the most "no-big-deal" tone I could. I realize now I shouldn't have. I wasted a perfect opportunity to preach the gospel to a boy that does not fear death, my sister's boyfriend, and to myparents.
Not only that but it made me realize that it could've been my sister or my cousin in that four-wheeler, what then? What if something worse had happened? I already know where I'm going but they don't.
Situations like these should make you ask yourself, if I were to die today where would I go? There is nothing more important than your eternal salvation. And i've got news for you, God's word says: "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
And also: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelations 21:8
Have you ever lied? stolen something regardless of its value? Lusted after someone? Disobeyed your parents? coveted? used God's name in vain/as a cuss word. Then by God's standard you are guilty of breaking His law, the Ten Commandments. You are guilty. And all who break God's law deserves the righteous punishment of eternity in hell. Like a criminal who has murdered someone or stolen something his/her righteous punishment is time in jail.
But God, infinitely Holy as He is also Loving, He came down to earth as a man, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and at 33 years of age He died on a Cross to pay the penalty for our sins. He rose from the grave on the third day beating death. He died so that through His blood shed on the cross we might be washed clean of our sins and be forgiven, how are we saved? by recognizing that you have sinned against God, repenting of your sins, asking God in prayer to forgive you for what you have done and then putting your trust in Him. His word says that God will give you a new heart, and a new nature, you will no longer love sin but hate it and you'll desire to live a life that pleases Him and not the world.

"God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3:16-19

So ask yourselves this question if you were to die tonight/today where would you go? Have YOU been forgiven yet?

A Second Chance

So today I was sitting outside the OR area?, in spanish its Pre-Parto (Pre-Labour?) waiting for surgeries to start at the hospital. While I waited I was looking for something I was writing on James and ways people have misquoted him so I opened my bible and began reading James. A young man sat beside me and asked me If I was a Christian, I looked up really quick and said yes and then continued reading, when I realized that this was a perfect opportunity to witness the young man stood up and left. I know, I know terrible...but I got a 2nd chance today to fish! I was at the beauty salon today because we're going to recording a scene, tonight after church, for the musical we're [a group of people from church, including youth and adults, its gonna be great God willing!] gonna present February 9th (Please pray for us and that this Musical will be honoring to God and hopefully reach families and specially the youth) anyways, I was on the hairdryer(?) and like always I opened my bible and started reading on genesis and while I was reading a lady sat beside me and asked me the same question the young man had asked me, only this time I seized the opportunity! She's catholic, like most people in my country. I shared the gospel with her, talked to her about my testimony and exposed some of the false teachings of the RCC which she oddly agreed were wrong. All in all, she promsied to read the book of John.

God bless!!
Rita Martinez

It has arrived

I went to pick up my way of the Master calendar today, it is just wonderful! I love the witnessing ideas and notes!! The quotes are great, the quality of the calender is super nice! It was well worth the money! Its actually mighty cheap!! So go get one if they still have left! :D

And now on to the Spanish tracts...Yay!! :D

De Tapa a Tapa

De Tapa a Tapa is the spanish expression for "from Cover to Cover", which is what i've begun doing this year with the Bible. I've started reading it once more and hopefully will finish reading it without any interruptions or delays God willing. From Genesis to Revelation. What a journey, just now I was remembering the first time I began to read the OT, wow I don't know about other people but It was such a delight for me to read about the begining of times, about God's character and nature and trying to understand Him each day. I felt like I was right beside Moses when he was leading the people out of Egypt, I felt like I was right there in the desert with them, going through Moses' frustrations and delighting in God's blessings toward His people, His discipline, His PATIENCE. People say that "oh the God of the OT is mean and vicious" etc, but as I read through the OT and as I tried to know God better I just couldn't see that, it just made me grow in my love toward God, and respect and reverence, toward the Great I am, El-Shaddai, the God who even though I did not deserve saving because wow what a wretch of a little girl I was, hung on a cross bore my sins faced God the Father's wrath, died and resurrected on the third day so that I could be justified before God and be declared righteous, all this by God's GRACE. What a Loving and Merciful and Just and Sovereign God He is!
Only this time I have not only been reading it (I use the bible Daily Walk Bible:"With 365 devotional helps that will guide you through the readding of the Bible in one year") I have been studying it using the following online bible comentaries: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible Unabridged and God Speaks to Abraham: An Easy English Bible version and Commentaryon Genesis chapters 12-24

God Bless,
Rita M.

PS: Thanks to my brother in Christ SouldeSaenz I can finally write all the notes I want on my bible now with the knowledge that it wont damage it because I bought me some pigment liners while in Miami, FL after my trip to Atlanta, GA.

Reporting from Atlanta, GA

So i'm finally on vacation thank the Lord and yesterday December 20th I hopped on a plane with my uncle and his son in-law flew to miami to meet the rest of my uncle's family and drove from miami to orlando and from orlando to Atlanta, so if i haven't posted any comments on any of the blogs I usually visit it is because i'm enjoying my Christmas vacations here in Atlanta...
God bless everyone and a Merry Christmas!!
Rita

In Christ Alone

Wow Stumbled across this video/song...just beautiful!

In Christ Alone by Keith Getty (From the New Irish Hymns)

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Brought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Thunderstorm Noel

I'm taking the time to write about this thunderstorm because of 2 things, the first reason is because of the desvastations it left behind and the second reason because of an analogy I heard from a friend today. This little thunderstorm which then became a hurricane, came to my country unnanounced (due to irresponsable communication) unexpected and caused tremendous amount of harm and death. Roads were completely destroyed due to floods, overflowed rivers smashed newly built bridges, homes and entire towns were wiped away. It has been terrible for so many people. As we spoke of this today at one my friend's house someone comented on an analogy a man made at their church this morning, the man said that God allowed this thunderstorm because of the recent battle against depenalizing abortion this country is having. He said, it is amazing how something unanounced, unexpected and so simple caused such a terrible disgrace, the death of many...like abortion, to the babe it is unanounced, unexpected and with something so simple as a vacuum or some technique. one of the girls said but why harm the lesser ones, the poor people, our friend said, because thats exactly how it is with abortion, the babe is the one being harmed and killed, the weak one.
The problem is, the population having the highest amount of abortions right now is the low class because of they're lifestyles and the conditions they live in. After so many years now they're trying to make abortions legal. I believe that this storm could probably be some sort of judgement on behalf of God, and we must be thankful always in all situations during the joys and during the tempests. Situations like these bring people closer, and bring them closer to God and we should use these oportunities to witness and spread the Gospel. Get people thinking, if it were your home being washed away and you were in it would you go to heaven? or hell? how is your relationship with God?

Please pray for my country! We are in greatly need of help!!
God bless,
Rita M.

The Abortion Issue

El debate sobre el aborto en República Dominicana (The debate on abortion in the Dominican Republic)

Octubre 02, 2007/October 02, 2007

by Manuel Jiménez (translated by me/Rita M.)

SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) - The Catholic and Evangelic churches, as well as conservative groups, warned wednesday that in case of depenalizing abortion, Dominican Republic would become "the human slaughterhouse of the Caribbean."

The postition is contained in an official notice made known by the religious institutions and civic movements that reject a project of law that the Congress is discussing to legally authorize the abortion due to health reasons.

"The massive murder of children in the uterus is a terrible way of terrorism," they said in the official notice, in which they insisted that upon lifting the prohibition it would turn the country into the "human slaughterhouse of the Caribbean."

Within the framework of the debate on the subject, feminist groups and the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations (ONG/NGO), as well as some legislators, they have been pronounced in favor of the legalization of abortion, especially the cases in which the mother's life is in danger. [PLEASE! this is just an excuse, this would be the first step to completely legalize abortion in any situation]

Actually, the dominican law establishes that "all woman, adult, young or girl, is forced to carry to term a pregnancy even though it is the outcome of a rape or incest," something which feminist groups and legislators of diverse parties condemn.

The reform proposes "the penal nonimputability to the interruption of the pregnancy, within the first 90 days of gestation, when it is the result of a sexual violation, puts in danger the life of the woman, when it demonstrates genetic malformations or serious congenital malformations in the product of the pregnancy or when the pregnancy is the result of fertilization, " according to the project.

Around 59 countries in all of the world, among which can be found Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Thailand, "asume this comprehensive activity toward abortion in sight of these specific causes," the defenders of the reform argue.

But the churches and opposing groups, maintained in the official notice that "The Dominican Republic should not have to foment the genocide against its own population by means of the legalization of the murder of its children."[1] (emphasis mine)

Please pray for my country and that the legalization of abortion will not take place!!

God Bless!

[1]: Read the Spanish version written by Manuel Jiménez at http://latino.msn.com/noticias/articles/ArticlePage.aspx?cp-documentid=5453012

Exactly What I've been thinking!!! and some other things...

So I've been listening to Way of The Master Radio Podcast and today Todd Friel was talking about philosophy and how Christians have been mashing it with their beliefs and he said something about the whole "bringing the world into the church" thing, that is exactly what i've been saying/thinking.

"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." - 1 Corinthians 1:17

"If you try to get somebody into the church through a postmodern adaptation, through a felt need type of approach well then what you've done is you've not preached the cross and you've emptied it of its power, because they could atribute something else besides the preaching of the word and the cross of Jesus Christ and that robs Him of His glory." - Todd Friel

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." - 1st Corinthians 1:18.

"When we understand what salvation is, that we don't change the Gospel and remove its hard parts and instead make it palatable, when its lost its power, people don't get saved. When we understand soteriology, what salvation is, then we just go back to preaching the cross." - Todd Friel

"...I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching [the cross] to save them that believe." 1 Corinthians 1:19-21 (emphasis Friel's)
"Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Corinthians 1:25

He was talking also about Deconstruction and how people have deconstructed the bible to fit it to their own beliefs, and in Dr. Gary Gilley's Article "The Kingdom of Emergent Theology – Part 1" I think there is a good example of deconstruction:

"N. T. Wright, the primary link between the “New Perspective on Paul” (which claims we have misunderstood Paul and, in turn, the gospel, since the foundation of the church) and evangelicalism, has the same eschatological underpinnings, “[Paul] was to declare to the pagan world that YHWH, the God of Israel, was the one true God of the whole world, and that in Jesus of Nazareth he had overcome evil and was creating a new world in which justice and peace would reign supreme."1 (emphasis mine)

Please read the rest of the article it is amazing the distorted views of scripture the "emergent" movement has, I just couldn't believe it! Lord Jesus Please COME!!

God Bless!


1: http://svchapel.org/Resources/Articles/read_articles.asp?ID=139

Second Life (Very old Post saved for a future time, which is now)

12/08/07
I had been thinking about writing something God has brought up to my attention concerning Sin and why people love it so much. But this morning as I skimmed the pages of the magazine Estilos, I found an article on a new software called "Second Life", something about the article called my attention. They wrote the following: "Why do people use this? Basically, to escape a reality that does not FILL them. A lesser job, a better physique, curiosity for other ways to face life..." vanity of vanities my brother Solomon once said. Let me tell you what this "software" is all about:
-First of all their Catch-Phrase is: "Your World. Your Imagination"

"Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its Residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 8,795,365 Residents from around the globe.

* From the moment you enter the World you'll discover a vast digital continent, teeming with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity. Once you've explored a bit, perhaps you'll find a perfect parcel of land to build your house or business.

* You'll also be surrounded by the Creations of your fellow Residents. Because Residents retain the rights to their digital creations, they can buy, sell and trade with other Residents.

* The Marketplace currently supports millions of US dollars in monthly transactions. This commerce is handled with the in-world unit-of-trade, the Linden dollar, which can be converted to US dollars at several thriving online Linden Dollar exchanges.

Welcome to Second Life. We look forward to seeing you in-world. "[1] (emphasis mine)

So basically its a world within the world. Only its virtual and you can reinvent they way you look, you can have your own country and your own presidents, your own laws, your own definition of what is Sin, heck I bet you can probably have your own god. Oh wait since its YOUR world, and YOUR creation you are probably YOUR OWN god.
And because it is a game its open to ALL public. Lets raise our kids with this "new" line of thinking (a way of thinking over 6 thousand years old).

Which brings me back to my original reason for this post. Why people LOVE sin.

Througout this entire semester I have been mocked, laughed at, humiliated, called foolish, hypocrite, among other things, and all because I refuse to do what I know is not right, all for being Christian. Now this doesn't bother me, what bothered me was not knowing exactly why they did this. And I have found out why, I've already discussed this in the last blog but i will say it again, facing up to God comes with a responsability, guilt and repentance which they refuse to accept. And that is why people turn to images, software, music, people, statues, strange fires, among other things before they admit to God that they need repentance and a Savior.

People wake up! There is one World, the one we are living in. One Creator, the Lord our God. And One way, One Truth and One Life and that is Jesus Christ.

God Bless you all
Rita M.

Note: This was a very old Post.

[1]: http://secondlife.com/whatis/

Using the Scientific Method

"If God is real then why doesn't He show up or something and show the world He truly exists??" Oh How many times have I heard this before, even from my own lips such a long time ago.

Our Pediatrics teacher said the following this afternoon as an introduction to I can only assume, an investigative project he has assigned all of us:

"Science doesn't define truth, it defines a way of thinking. It is a process in which experiments are used to answer questions. This process is called the Scientific Method and it comprises various steps. Observation, Hypothesis, Experimentation."

He then proceeded to ask, "Can we prove the existence of God through the Scientific Method?", a classmate well known for being an "atheist" said no, another classmate said that she has proven God's existence through the scientific method using logic but did not explain how she came to her conclusion.
As the class continued the discussion wether or not God's existance can be proven through the Scientific Method, the following text came to mind.

Human beings don't believe in God because their hearts have been hardened and their eyes blinded by Sin. In 1st of Kings 18:16-46 Elijah was sent by God to the worshippers of baal and conducted an experiment. (Note: Obviously he wasn't sent to conduct an experiment he was sent to rebuke the people of God for their idolatry, but I will describe what happened viewing the event through objective, cientific eyes.)

1. Observation:
The people of God, Israel, worships images and statues. Is it possible that these images and statues are the real God?

2. Hypothesis
Prove that Baal is not God, and is not even a real god.

3. Experiment:
A. Calling Baal
An altar is built using wood and on top of the wood a bull chopped into pieces is placed, all of this to be consumed with fire by calling baal to do so.

B. Calling God
The altar of the Lord is repaired. Twelve stones are placed on the ground, a trench around it is dug, the wood is arranged on top, and finally the chopped bull is placed on top. Then 4 large jars of water are poured over the altar three times, filling entirely the trench and soaking the altar. All of this to be consumed with fire by calling God to do so.

Results
Experiment A. Baal worshippers called on the name of baal from morning till noon, baal never showed.

Experiment B. Elijah prayed to God the following prayer: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." The following ocurred "Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench."

Conclusion
Through this experiment Elijah proved to all of them that a. God does exist, b. Abraham's God, the Creator of the universe and everything in it is the one True God. c. Baal doesn't exist, meaning: isn't a real god.

The Point:
This was only one of the many times God's existence was proved in the old and new, His power was manifested and His glory shined. We're in the year 2007, no matter how many times God manifests Himself to human beings in "physical" form, it will not change the humans' stubborn mind and heart. Humans are aware of the existence of God because it has been manifested to all of us at some point “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). The problem is the following:

"People claim to not believe in God because it is “not scientific” or “because there is no proof.” The true reason is that once people admit that there is a God, they also must realize that they are responsible to God and in need of forgiveness from God (Romans 3:23; 6:23). If God exists, then we are accountable for our actions to Him. If God does not exist, then we can do whatever we want without having to worry about God judging us. I believe that is why evolution is so strongly clung to by many in our society - to give people an alternative to believing in a Creator God. God exists and ultimately everyone knows that He exists. The very fact that some attempt so aggressively to disprove His existence is in fact an argument for His existence."(1)

So folks what will it be? Another 2000 years of ignorantly denying God's obvious existence, or finally accepting today and now that God does exist. But accepting that He does exists then you must face the fact that because the first man, Adam, disobeyed God sin entered through him and has been passed on to all of us, the problem is no sinner will go to heaven. (Think you're good enough to go to heaven? click this link: http://www.livingwaters.com/good/) But don't worry God provided a payment for all of our sins so that we could be allowed through some way to be saved, go to heaven and have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,^[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."(2)

May the Lord bless each and everyone of you!

Rita M.



(1) Quote taken from: "http://www.gotquestions.org/Does-God-exist.html"
(2) Quote taken from: "http://www.Biblegateway.com" [NIV]

8 Reasons Why

I found this funny video on Youtube, and they're so right. These aren't reasons these are excuses, and I confess I am guilty of a few of them. But thanks to Way of the Master those "excuses" are about to change! :D
God Bless!!

Link: http://www.godtube.com/flvideo/a79e78aaeda80516ae2a/1374.flv

My babies

So I have started my 12th (out of 15) semester in Medschool, we have 2 rotations this semester. Pediatrics and Ob-gyn, my favorites...or so I thought. So yesterday (Thur Sept/06/07) was my first "service" (is that even the correct name/expression?) every 5 days, i think, we have to do a 6 hour service in different areas of the Pediatric Hospital "Robert Reid Cabral". We have class at the hospital from 8-12, then various classes at the university from 1 till 3, 4, 5, or 8pm. Yesterday our last class was from 6-8pm, we got off early and went over to the Hospital got into our Pediatric Scrubs (just like any other scrub only with little drawings and baby colors). I was so excited at first, I was sent to the Third Floor and was given 7 patients and was in charge of taking their vital signs at 8pm and at 12mid night. So I started taking vital signs of each of my little patients at 8:30 and finished like at 10:45. Why? why spend so many hours on 7 patients? because babies cry. Oh my word!!! one has to have SO much patience. You have to convice them that the stethoscope is not a syringe and will not in any way harm them, you have to baby talk them into cooperating with you, i spent like 15 minutes per patient. There was one little baby who would not stop crying I had to wait until like 1am when he was fast asleep to be able to get the stethoscope near him. I left the hospital at 2 am, in 6 hours I only sat down like 2 times and was sent looking for lab results like 5 times!! Ah and to think that during weekends the services are from 8am till 12 at midnight. How fun!

God Bless!!
Rita M.

UPDATE :: Thinking straighter and looking back, its so sad to see so many babies sick in a roach-infested hospital and not so clean, it makes ya wonder...But we all do our best to give these children the best attention they can get with their resources and sometimes more. One of the positive things of that night was that I was not alone, one of the doctors there is a christian and before I began my rounds we had quite a chat making my first "service" not as awkard or strange as I thought it would be.

Yoga for Christians?

In moments when we feel stressed, empty, tired, alone, sad, discouraged, you name it; as Christians we are supposed to turn to God and God alone is enough. When we start bringing in stuff like yoga, "comfort food", meditation+candles+incense these things become our god. Here's a nice video on Yoga and wether christians should practice it or not.

Dating non-Christians

When I began my walk with the Lord I was still in a relationship with a non-christian. We had been together for over 2 years, me becoming a Christian was an obstacle in the relationship for him, and the relationship became an obstacle for me in my new life since he had asked me to 'wait' for him to 'catch up'. But God always provides wether it is spiritually or physically, and He did so spiritually when during that time at the youth group I went to on saturdays at my church, our youth leader began a series on relationships. I realized why it was so wrong for a Christian to date a non-Christian, and I learned what God had to say about it in His word. After much prayer the relationship ended, and it was no longer an obstacle in my walk and finally I was able to continue growing in my walk with the Lord. The following excerpt+link makes an excellent point explaining the reasons why christians and non-christians cannot join together in a relationship.

Dating: When Words and Choices Clash
by Dan Phillips

"Coarse but pointed joke-that-you've-all-heard-anyway alert in 3... 2... 1....

So this iconic guy's talking with an iconic girl, and asks whether she'd be willing to engage in carnal acts for $1 million.

She considers, shrugs, says, "For a million dollars? I guess."

"Would you do it for $5?" he follows up.

She is shocked, and deeply offended. "What do you think I am?" she rages.

His classic retort: "Oh, we've already established what you are. Now we're haggling about price."

And now, a moment's pause while Pyro readers wonder where this could possibly be going. Play the overture from Handel's Messiah in your head. Daaaa.... da-daaaa....

Now, why is that joke funny to most folks? It's funny because of the surprising clash. In the punch-line, the woman is deeply offended, because she wants to say that her virtue is precious, and he's cheapening it with his $5 suggestion. But the man counters that he already knows her virtue not to be beyond price to her. She can be bought. What she says now is one thing; what she has already said, another.

So you, unmarried Christian reader, start dating an unbeliever. What are you saying?"

A "Modern" day Job.

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!! it is amazing the story of this man!! Watch the vid.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise."
Psalm 98:4

This verse describes exactly what my sister, her church friends and I were doing this morning at the home for children "Life and Hope". Wow! what an experience!! This home is at walking distance from my house, I've gone past it probably over a thousand times and more never knowing how many wonderful kids that place houses. But these aren't your regular children nor your regular home for children, these are special children who are mentally ill, and some are physically impaired as well. Some of them can actually understand when they are spoken to but cannot talk back or don't know how to respond verbally if not with a noise, like Ellis and Soledad. Others don't understand at all. But as soon as we started singing and clapping and praising these children began to move and shake and to make noise, the ones who understood joyfully clapped along and made joyful noises to accompany our singing, others actually danced!!
What a wonderful moment as God's children even in whatever condition they are, joyful sang and praised Him. God is amazing!!

May the Lord Bless you all and fill you all with His spirit and His love so that you can Praise Him and Glorify Him always! In everything you do and in every condition you are to be!!!

In Christ,
Rita M.

False Teachers and Their Destruction

Looking for something else in the bible I stumbled across this, very fitting to our situation these days.

2 Peter 2

False Teachers and Their Destruction

1But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell,^[a] putting them into gloomy dungeons^[b] to be held for judgment; 5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.^[c] 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature^[d] and despise authority.

Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; 11yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. 12But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.

13They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.^[e] 14With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! 15They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—a beast without speech—who spoke with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

17These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 20If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit,"^[f]and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

May the Lord Bless you all!!

Rita M.

How do I love her

How do I love her?
by Steven Curtis Chapman

Well you know it's not the first time
And it will not be the last
When you find me here on my knees
Praying for the storm to pass
But what I am really needing
Is much more than just relief
I am crying out for wisdom
Only you can give to me
'Cause it's such a mystery
I'm a clueless man when it comes
To knowing how to love a woman

How do I love her
How do I let her know she means more than anything to me
How do I love her

Out of all the gifts you've given
Besides the very gift of life
There is none as precious to me
As the treasure of my wife
And still all the love in my heart
Is like a raindrop to the sea
When compared to your love for her
And that's why I'm asking please
Will you teach me what she needs
I'm an earnest man when it comes
To learning how to love this woman

How do I love her
How do I let her know she means more than anything to me
How do I love her

Well I know it's gonna take a lifetime
To answer this prayer I pray
But that okay
'Cause I've given you and her my lifetime anyway

How do I love her
How do I let her know she means more than anything to me
How do I love her

How do I love her, love her
Tell me please
How do I love her
How do I love her
Won't you tell me, tell me please
How do I love her
Tell me please
Tell me, tell me, tell me
How do I love her
How do I love her

This is by far one of the most romantic songs I have ever heard :) Just beautiful! I pray to God for a husband who will feel this way for me :)

Jeremiah 23:16-32

In light of my bumping into a series of websites and finding out about the degree of Idolatry and Apostasy of this day and age, here is a little something from Jeremiah...they were going through that time when lots of "prophets" were misleading the people of God with false prophecies and dream interpretation and the like.

16This is what the LORD Almighty says:
"Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions from their own minds,
not from the mouth of the LORD.

17 They keep saying to those who despise me,
'The LORD says: You will have peace.'
And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts
they say, 'No harm will come to you.'

18 But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD
to see or to hear his word?
Who has listened and heard his word?

19See, the storm of the LORD
will burst out in wrath,
a whirlwind swirling down
on the heads of the wicked.

20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
you will understand it clearly.

21 I did not send these prophets,
yet they have run with their message;
I did not speak to them,
yet they have prophesied.

22 But if they had stood in my council,
they would have proclaimed my words to my people
and would have turned them from their evil ways
and from their evil deeds.

23 "Am I only a God nearby,"
declares the LORD,
"and not a God far away?

24 Can anyone hide in secret places
so that I cannot see him?"
declares the LORD.
"Do not I fill heaven and earth?"
declares the LORD.

25 "I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!' 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their fathers forgot my name through Baal worship. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the LORD. 29 "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

30 "Therefore," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, 'The LORD declares.' 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the LORD. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the LORD.

I think this wonderful passage from Jeremiah reflects a lot the situation we are living in this world this day and age. But lets remember what our brother Paul warned us in Timothy:

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

I always wondered as a young child, how is it that people are going to actually fall for the AntiChrist?? I mean with the bible telling us how everything is going to happen and what kind of person the AntiChrist is going to be, its impossible!! Well my question was answered, the way things are going and the Bible illiteracy rate increasing by the second no wonder people will not be able to indentify the antichrist.

May God have Mercy on us all.
In Christ,
Rita M.

Some Words of Encouragement from our Lord and Savior:
"Lo, I am with you alway, EVEN TO THE END OF THE WORLD" (Matthew 28:20)

Frustration

You know, sometimes I feel like Jeremiah. There are so many hopeful stories of people who spoke to one of their friends one day and that day met the Lord (like me) but it seems like I'm the one that has to tell everyone the "horrible news"(for them apparently) that without Jesus they are lost. That the only way to Heaven is through Christ. And instead of seeing some lifechanging reaction when they hear/read that Christ came to die for our sins so that we could have eternal life in heaven, all I hear/read is "WHAT??? are you crazy??? yeah right!!! Stop trying to convert me!!!" and then all sorts of insults: how i'm narrow minded, how i'm such an insensitive person for saying that "innocent and good" people are going to go to hell because of my God, how God is mean/evil for killing so many people, etc...Its so frustrating to know what we know and get that kind of reaction, I mean I know thats what I should expect but still it saddens me :( Everytime I get that reaction I feel like I wanna throw ash over my head and tear my clothes and wear the sackcloth!

Insensatez de la Idolatria (The Lord, Not Idols)

My heart is saddened, I realized just today that I have been living in a haven not aware of the horrible things going on in the world, no wonder I couldn't understand why my friend from South Dakota said to me that he only knows wolves and not sheep where he lives. I found today some links to webpages which opened my eyes to the reality of "christianity" in one side of the planet (The US) and it reminded me of that passage in Isaiah 44. I'm amazed not because we don't have idolatry here in this small island, we do have idolatry, but not to that degree.
Here are the links to these sites:
http://www.alittleleaven.com/
http://www.extremetheology.com/

Below the Isaiah 44 excerpt from verse 9-20

"All who make idols are nothing,
and the things they treasure are worthless.
Those who would speak up for them are blind;
they are ignorant, to their own shame.

10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,
which can profit him nothing?

11 He and his kind will be put to shame;
craftsmen are nothing but men.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
they will be brought down to terror and infamy.

12 The blacksmith takes a tool
and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
he forges it with the might of his arm.
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
he drinks no water and grows faint.

13 The carpenter measures with a line
and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in the form of man,
of man in all his glory,
that it may dwell in a shrine.

14 He cut down cedars,
or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.

15 It is man's fuel for burning;
some of it he takes and warms himself,
he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships it;
he makes an idol and bows down to it.

16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
over it he prepares his meal,
he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
"Ah! I am warm; I see the fire."

17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
he bows down to it and worships.
He prays to it and says,
"Save me; you are my god."

18 They know nothing, they understand nothing;
their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see,
and their minds closed so they cannot understand.

19 No one stops to think,
no one has the knowledge or understanding to say,
"Half of it I used for fuel;
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"

20 He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
"Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?" "

A few Medical Facts and God

Beta Cells, are a type of cell in the pancreas in areas called the islets of Langerhans. They make up 65-80% of the cells in the islets.
Function
Beta cells make and release insulin, a hormone that controls the level of glucose in the blood.
Sulfonylurea derivatives are a class of antidiabetic drugs that are used in the management of diabetes mellitus type 2 ("adult-onset"). They act by increasing insulin release from the beta cells in the pancreas.
For this antidiabetic drug to work it needs a receptor in our bodies, now in the beta cells there is a receptor called Sulfonylurea receptor or SUR1 which allows the antiadiabetic drug to work.
The question is why would our beta cells have these receptors if the body does not produce this substance/drug?
I wonder how is it possible that there are doctors who still don't believe in God. This is just one fact out of umpteenhundredths awesome facts about the wonderful creation of God that is the human body.

I found out today and I was just amazed, God is so incredible!! He never ceases to amaze me!

May your day be blessed richly with God's presence!!

Rita M.

Molotov

I've been listening to the new Proyect 86 album and as I read the lyrics to Molotov and discussed its meaning with a friend, it reminded me of the girl I once was lying on the floor out on the hallway outside the classroom, after a night of heavy drinking and silly conversations there I was lying on the floor feeling completely weak, my stomach churning and nausea abounding. I thank God everyday for putting a question in my heart, the question that would change me forever, is there really more to life than this? And Guess what, I found out that there was and there is more to life than what I was living. But it hurts me so much that the people I used to hang out with were not so lucky to look for the answer to that question. And even though I spoke to them of what happened to me and even though they saw how my life changed, they still chose the life style that they themselves find unedifying, destructive and abusive.

Molotov
by Proyect 86

They dance all night
And sleep all day
They live for nothing
But this escape

Too bad they can't say at the break of the dawn that the night was a dream
Yet nobody can say at the rise of the sun that it was what it seemed

I know I've swallowed it all
But I could never be full
And now they call me a fool for leaving

Home with you
Alone with you

They drink all night
And ache all day

Too bad they can't say at the break of the dawn that the night was a dream
Yet nobody can say at the rise of the sun that it was what it seemed

I know they've swallowed it all and they could never be full
And now they call me a fool for leaving?

And I could never be sure...

Now I'm leaving
Now I'm leaving

So when all those who are convinced there's nothing but this

May God bless whoever is reading this! and may this serve as a life changing message to you!

Daniel anyone?

Iran "predicting" the destruction of Israel?? People asking for a mediator of peace?? You know all that information should be stressful to anyone, but to me it only reminds me of a ticking clock behind the curtains tied to a time bomb ready to explode in any minute. According to our wonderful bible, there are things that are supposed to happen before the end finally comes. And this is one of them. Israel is under so much pressure with the whole Iran wanting to destroy them that of course they'll sign a peace agreement with whomever comes across them with one, i'm just dying to know who this very important "Peacemaker" will be.
Something that has been happening lately, is this false profet, something Miranda or Miranda de Jesus i think his name is. Well he's a man going around the world saying he is Jesus Christ recluting his own followers, he claims that sin doesn't exists and that he himself is the antichrist...sure whatever he is obviously not the antichrist, but I also hear he was doing miracles or something of the sort..I think he is a sham, a sham with followers no indeed. And just as people were criticizing the man and this country for letting him in, I on the other hand am glad that this too is happening.
My point is that to all of those who believe the word of God to be false, well here are a couple of facts that confirm a few prophesies of many to come that have fulfilled.

God Bless Everyone!!
Rita M.

No Time

I seriously have no time. But I do have time to say this one thing: I'm loving this life more than ever, and each day my love for the Lord grows. Through the hardships and through the joys. One thing I must advice, whenever you are going through a storm or a desert, have patience. By experience, I can tell you that the exit way could be either a year away, 4 years away, or 2 weeks away, only God knows when the time for the hardships to be over is. Pray incessantly!! REALLY!! NEVER EVER EVER stop praying it it'll be your oasis through the desert and the rainbow through the storm. Have faith in God and trust His will in whatever you are going through because He truly is in control of EVERYTHING. Nothing escapes our awesome God!! He truly is amazing!!! And Worthy of all worship and praise!!

God bless you all!!
Rita M.

Blogging

I have returned to the stone age, in other words, I've been writing in a notebook since this semester leaves little time for me to really sit in front of the computer and meditate on my daily "adventures"...but vacation is right around the corner (in 2 months..lol! :P) and i will take a good advantage of it :D This year began wonderfully! The Lord has set out a few trials for me...and well i'm still oasis-hopping...which is something i'll explain later... One thing this year has done is make me thank God inmensly for everything I have...we don't realize it sometimes, but we have to sit down and think of the blessings God has rained on us and thank Him for them...not just with our lips, but with out actions. The phrase "The good thing is we have Good health and that is what is important, if our health was bad our life would be bad" or something along those lines, ringed in my ear a lot this past month. And I always felt the urge of saying what about our Spiritual Health?? but alas, I'm still a tad shy and I apologize constantly for it. There's a lot of things I have to blogg about but for now I must go off to study land, for I have a big test tomorrow...oh dear me...Pray for me and my classmates!!
May The Lord Bless each and everyone!
Rita M.

Proper Priorities

I've been feeling disappointed and angry at myself because of how my spiritual walk is going...I'd explain but there's no reason to. I've been asking God what to do and He has been responding each and every time, I just didn't know it..Until I read this devotional today. It really hit home for me. Hopefully it will help someone else going through the same situation. I guess we sometimes forget this is about Him and me, but especially about Him.

" Proper Priorities

""[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him..." - Philippians 3:10 AMP

I recently heard from a young woman who had become frustrated and bewildered in her walk with the Lord. She said that as much as she had felt the urge to move forward, her spiritual progress had nearly come to a standstill. There were even times when she felt like her prayers weren't being heard. She went on to list a number of good works that she was performing in her church, as well as personal achievements she had accomplished in the Lord's service. She ended her note by saying that she felt as though she was helping everyone else to deepen their walk with Christ, but she was neglecting her own relationship with the Lord.

Unfortunately, this scenario is not uncommon among God's people, and it's nothing new, either. Back in the time of the prophet Hosea, the Lord told His people: "I don't want your sacrifices--I want your love; I don't want your offerings--I want you to know Me." (Hosea 6:6 TLB) I can remember growing up, and my grandmother telling me, "I don't want your gifts, I want your love." Hearing her words often made me angry, especially if the gift I had given her was costly. The truth was that giving her material things was a lot easier than loving her the way she desired and deserved. How often do we do this to the Lord? We don't hesitate to write out a check for our church, or a favorite ministry. We volunteer for various ministry-related duties, especially if they profit us, or bring us recognition somehow. But we wince and whine at the idea of meeting alone with God on a deliberate, consistent basis in order to engage in undistracted communion with Him. It's not that the Lord doesn't want or appreciate our service to Him and others, but He wants us to get our priorities straight. Our good works apart from nurturing a personal, intimate relationship with the Lord mean very little to Him.

The apostle Paul wrote: "[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly]..." (Philippians 3:10 AMP) Paul's highest priority in life was to know Christ in a deep and intimate way. As a result, he is still impacting lives for the Lord 2,000 years later. The young woman who wrote me obviously wanted to make her own mark on the world, but she was going about it in the wrong way. She was focusing too much on her personal ministry and good works, and not enough on getting to know the Lord better. As a result, she was drifting away from the very God she sought to serve. Scripture says: "The people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits." (Daniel 11:32 NKJV) In other words, if we want to do great things for God, then we must "know" Him--not in a superficial or surface way, but deeply and intimately....(Read the rest of the devotional at: www.Jesusfreakhideout.com)"

God Bless!!
Rita M.

...Funny thing about the title is I was thinking about sorting out my priorities, but like always i let it slide...

True Love

Someone once asked if I had found true love. Years ago I would've answered yes thinking of some crush that never knew I existed and yet I thought of my feelings for that person as true love. But now that I am asked again I can truly say that I have found True Love. Pure, unbreakable, unending True Love. And I think we all know who that person is. But, it is easy to say that you truly love someone, perhaps not as much as the other person loves you. The hard part is living that love, it is showing it. Why a post on true love? Well, I was surfing the net like usual and kind of stumbled across...well no..I found this blog which had one of those test thingies you take, it was something about "What is your theological world view" and well for the heck of it I took it..The result was that I was 90% John Wesley, and so I, ignorant to who this person was googled him and started reading about his life, what he believed in and some of his sermons. For one, I found the answer to a question that had been lingering in my mind for weeks :D, and then found the following lines:
"O grant that nothing in my soul
May dwell, but thy pure love alone!

O may thy love possess me whole,
My joy, my treasure, and my crown!

Strange fires far from my heart remove;
My every act, word, thought, be love!"

I rejoiced while reading this and prayed to God to teach me how to love Him this way, how to give myself wholeheartedly everyday and in everything I do.

May God Bless you all! and May His love reign in your Hearts and Lives!
Rita M.

In The Spirit

In The Spirit III
Originally uploaded by mo0nangel.

I wrote this poem last Wednesday.

In The Spirit

I do not know if he was born in April.
I do not know if he was born in May.
I just want to celebrate my Savior.
His Birth, as God had promised Israel.

My Lord was born in a humble manger,
With humble parents my dear Lord was raised.
And humbly he lived a life as teacher,
And in a humble cross my Lord, died He.

He came to teach His people a few lessons.
A spotless, sinless Life lived He.
He gave examples of how this could be accomplished.
And sacrificed His life for all to see.

He taught us of an unending love,
He taught us of a mighty God, Graceful He.
He gave us all a purpose, a life worth living.
A life of righteousness, and key to set us Free.

My loving God had promised to never leave us.
And though He died on the third day He broke free.
He beat the devil and the death that would destroy us.
And He came back as He had promised it would be.

Our Lord and Savior now resides up in heaven.
With God our Father, for us to call on when in Need.
But sent us down the Holy Spirit to live inside us.
To guide us when in darkness we should ever be.

And that's the meaning Christmas holds inside me,
When caroling and colorful Christmas trees I see.
When gleeful lights lit houses upon houses,
And people speak about our Lord's History.

To Celebrate my Lord and Savior's birth
as God had promised me.

©2006 ~mo0nangel

3:35am and My Head Wont Shut Up...

I said there was a lot I needed to say..well here goes.
I had been thinking about all the people who hate that I'm a Christian and who desperately want the old Rita back. And its funny, when I needed these people they weren't there, when I wasn't interesting or fun enough they all bailed out, but now that I'm happy, that I threw out the old clothes and have dressed in new ones, now that God picked me up and made me whole again, now is that they want me back. Well among the obvious reasons, here's a list of things I have been given because of my decision:
1. Happiness (What I had been seeking all my life)
2. Love (What I desperately needed)
3. An amazing relationship with my Sister (Its a long story, point being: I hated my sister and I think I was not her favorite person either and now its like we're kinda sort of best friends)
3. Truth!
4. Self-esteem
5. A Clean Slate
6. An Amazing Church!! (I LOVE my church, its like a million miles away from my house, and a lot of people have insisted I go to another one closer to home, but it is the church God has given me and the easy way out is not always the best solution)
7. Internet Friends Who Care about me! (Christian internet friends)

And the list goes on...
God Bless!!
- Rita M.

Life, Love, Faithfulness and Grace

I have so much I need to say...First of all I had the most wonderful 1 year being a Christian anniversary. God is sooooo amazing, during down time, during the best of times. And I just happen to be a witness of His eternal Grace, of His unfailing Faithfullness, of His love. I had been in such a desert, I had stopped reading my bible, I had stopped going to church for various reasons: 1. No transportation 2. No friends there 3. No desire...It feels terrible when you want to go to church and at the same time because of the situations feel so discouraged. But I prayed and prayed and I argued with God, and had no specific answers for months, 2 months to be exact. God let me know He was there and He knew my situation but I wanted to know when the desert would end when would things be like at the beginning. Almost 2 weeks ago God answered my questions. I had gone to church early, it was the first time I had been there for the first service in 2 months, and Pastor Miguel was talking about God's Grace and what it meant and how it worked. And I just felt my heart sing out to God to rain his Grace upon me, it was amazing because saturday oct 21st, at 3:00am I couldn't sleep and so I layed there on my bed talking to God about my problems once more, about wanting Him to rain His grace upon me, and the next day there I sat listening to the Pastor talk about God's Grace, how it is not gained, how it is undeserving, how it is through Jesus Christ and how it is given by God. It sounded like me, the last thing I deserved was God giving me what I had wanted so since day 1 at that church. After the service I happily went over to the nursery to see if they needed any help, but they didn't, instead I was sent with the Youth Pastor's Wife(she has a name I just don't know how to write it *blushes*) as her assistant for Sunday School (Ages 5-6 Group). For the first time in a year I had opened up to someone from that church and it was to her, she was SO nice to me and asked me all these questions about me and my life, she was a friend when I didn't actually feel like I needed one and it was great! But it doesn't end there, I had such a great time being an assistant and I expressed my happiness to her and she suggested I signed up as one! and I did! Finally! I had wanted to be a part of that church so badly, to be in one of the ministries! and I will finally be in one! So last sunday I went to the info booth and signed up! Oh my heart leaped with joy! And that is how the desert ended. God showed me Grace in such an amazing way! He says that when we are unfaithful to Him, He remains Faithful. Faithful to His promises, Faithful to His word. And He did.
I had been wanting to write this for so long, a week and 2 days to be exact. I'm glad I did.
Its so weird though, to be "alone". I had always had someone to talk to, or go out with. But now I walk the halls of my uni alone, I walk to the cafeteria alone. I go to church alone, or with my neighbour. Its strange really. I've grown to like it somehow. Sometimes I sit and wonder of all the things I could do. I've thought of going to "El Sitio de las Palomas" with my bible in hand and sit there and read while talking to God. Or walking the streets of La Zona colonial and see where God leads me. Bah, I'm rambling now. It's late, 3:30am to be exact and I think I better be off to bed.

God bless you all!!
Sleep well,
Rita M.

Why?

Today has been quite a day, I've been reading my bible, Isaiah to be precise (I knew this would be my fave book) and I've been in awe with what I've read not because I didn't know it but because reading it, understand it and knowing it just leaves me utterly amazed. And so I ask why do we not trust God? Why do we fear for our salvation when we've sinned? Why are we afraid of the enemy? Here I leave you some of the more encouraging words of God.

Isaiah 40:21-24


21 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

23 He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.

24 No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.


Isaiah 40:28


28 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.


Isaiah 41:8-13 (New International Version)


8 "But you, O Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,

9 I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, 'You are my servant';
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

11 "All who rage against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
will be as nothing and perish.

12 Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
will be as nothing at all.

13 For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.



These promises are not only for Israel, but for us Gentile's, we too are His people.

God Bless you all!! And never stop praying!

Rita M.

Looking Up

Well things seem to be looking up for me, although the situations i'm facing are still here I'm yet again reminded of God's promises, the risks I've assumed, the sacrifices, the path I'm treading. Last wednesday was comunion day at my church and I was glad to assist. Arriving brokenhearted and with the lamp of my soul fading and left filled with God's Holy Spirit. Left only to arrive to a place where darkness reigns in every corner, and where keeping this light bright and shinning is a struggle. But I extend my hand out waiting for God to grab it and tell me everything will be ok. Comfort words that are every where if I only sought them.
I wish I didn't complain so much. I offered myself to be a servant and I have done a crappy job as one. You start at home before you can be one out there, but if right here at home I can't contain myself from complaining and muttering words of discomfort, and this is when you realize you need to stop, look up and pray.
Dearest God I know You said this wasn't going to be easy and I'm sorry I've failed to understand it. But God as merciful as always, today sent words of hope and encouragement pointed my way. Today's sermon was about God's Holiness. How precious His Holiness is. How important it is for us to know He is Holy, and how there is no comparison between God and us. But also how He, througout the bible, stresses the importance for His people to know that we have to be holy because He is holy. Meaning for us to have a good relationship with God we have to recognize that He is holy, that He cannot come in contact with Sin, so we have to step away from everything and anything that might taint His precious Holiness. Meaning we have to lead a life of sanctity because He is Holy. The sheer desire of wanting to be with Him is not enough if we don't strive to live a life of sanctity. This message to others might not sound hopeful, but to me and God knows why, it gave me all the Hope I was searching for.
Another light shed my way was being able to step out of my box and seek advice and someone who'll listen. After church today I went to Ms. Persia's house and oh surprise food was waiting there for me as well!! :D well thats besides the point, the thing is I felt so relieved for the first time in a long time. Writing about my feelings and my situations is ok, but to have someone to talk to is even better. And this doesn't mean that God isn't enough, God wants us to reach out to others in need and to let yourself be reached by others when needed.
As hard as this walk may be, I'm more than thankful to be in it. To be part of God's family. To be in the Truth and not wondering if there is more to life. I'm blessed inmensly and I owe it all to what Christ did for you and me.
May God bless you all!, May you proclaim His name as Holy!! King of Kings!! The Great I am! And if you as well are struggling know that God is here, that Christ is alive, that His promises will never fade!
Rita M.

Oh and yeah...

If that weren't enough I'm dyingggg to get married and have babies...I knitted my first baby hat (does this count as nesting even though I'm not married nor in a relationship at the time?) I was at my aunts house today, we went shopping for yarn and needles and such so I decided to spend the day at her house. Both my cousins' sons were there (my aunt's daughters) one of them went to sleep with his mom so I stayed with the other little one and we had so much fun together, I read him the Jungle book and we played with this green stuffed frog and a winnie the pooh stuffed animal...pretending i was ms. Frog (or was it a toad?) and he was mr. Bear...waaaaaaa :'( and we watched cartoons...and anyway..i'm dying to do all of these things with my own little ones one day but it just seems like tomorrow is never going to come...The weird part about it all is that I look back and notice how time has flown by, but I think about the future (not worried about it, more like hmm in this or that amount of years i'd like to do this...but let God's will be done, even though I have plans I know God has His..and well better His plans than mine that is for sure!)..it seems like the future is a million years away...so there...that really is the end of my not so mini rant.

My not so mini rant on my current situation

I have a huge big blott of problems...nothing too dramatic or oh-gosh-its-the-end-of-the-world sort of thing...i'm not poor, or being kicked out of my home, nor pregnant, nor living in a foreign country illegally...nothing of the sort. But problems are problems and when you feel like you're stuck, confused, at a crossroad not knowing where to turn, not hearing well the voice of God or not being able to distinguish which of the thousand voices in your head is His, this affects your life. I feel so disappointed in myself, for a lot of reasons...you see I know that the past has been washed away and sins forgiven, thank God!, but these wounds have left permanent scars (well permanent in the sense that they'll be there for as long as I live on this planet) But the effect the scars have made on my life at the present time can be fixed I just don't know how.
1. I don't have friends, really, friends as in "Lets go to church this sunday i'll pick you up, lets start that bible reading group you've wanted....really?? we should talk to our pastor about that idea.....so how's things with ___?" you know, the kind of person I can actually talk to about anything and everything and would actually understand (and yes that includes my being Christian...it truly is a problem when you can't really talk about your issues with God to a person who doesn't see God the way you do)
2. I don't know how to approach people with my problems, meaning my pastor, my youth pastor, etc..
3. I don't know how to approach people in search for their friendship...due to my problems in the past I have lost trust in people in general and as a mechanism of defense I guard my heart by shuting others out of my life...i know its terrible but I don't know how to fix it..and please spare the "praying for it" because i've done it and I know it takes more than praying and patience, it takes something I am lacking..
4. I would really love it if my family finally understood that i'm christian, that i'm never going back to the catholic church, not because I hate it or anything but because I like my new church better. I would love it if they would accept that my children will not be raised the catholic way, nor will I get married on a catholic church, nor will I live or at least have any desire of living here. I wish they would understand that I have my own life and they should let me live it, instead of wanting me to do whatever they had planned for me.
5. I would really love it if people finally understood that I HATE parties, I certainly don't like alcohol anymore and will not drink it if it was the last liquid on earth. If they'd get that I'm not the crazy bubbly girl I used to be and I love it this way, i don't need their sympathetic looks like i'm missing out on something, if anyone is missing out on something it is them. Missing out on the greatest Truth one could ever know.
6. I know my great er umm friend Ed said that we are being used by God every second of our lives, or something along those lines, and I fervently believe that but I would really love it if God gave me the strength and courage to put my, well His ideas through me, out there and finally be used to do something huge.
7. I haven't been reading my bible like I should, I've been skipping church a little too much and the book I've been reading although its exactly what the "doctor" preescribed the way I'm handling myself spiritually it is doing absolutely nothing...its ironic how I have this enormous patience when it comes to doing things and waiting, but when it comes to seeing actual results I get really desperate.
And well tis the end of my not so mini rant i've been keeping inside of me...
May the Lord bless and keep you all!
Rita M.

PS: Oh and if anyone out there in this huge cyberspace happens to stumble accross this space and feel that he/she can help me and/or will pray for me, it is greatly appreciated in advanced!!

The Making of a Tare

I know there are some things in me that need changing, a lot actually, like being more diligent, not being lazy, being more open to people and asking for other's advice rather than me reaching my own conclusions based on my opinion...And I believe the Lord has been breaking me down all these days, putting me through fire as to eliminate all of those "impurities" or things neither Him nor I want to see in me. But after a big "breakdown" there is always the "picking up the pieces" wether it be through some bible reading (which by the way I haven't done all these days thanks to the computer and final exams) or an article, or a devotional. Well here's the broom for today.

The Making of a Tare

September 2006 by Bill Gillham

I don't believe anyone intends to become a tare. I've known people who set out to go on a tear, but never one who wanted to be a tare. Jesus said tares—"grain-like weeds that grow in a grain field"—face a horrible eternity. A tare appears to be wheat until you bite into it! Jesus used tares vs. wheat as a metaphor to differentiate between "religious" folks and the real deal—spiritually reborn saints (God's holy people). Religious folks are merely members of the church organization while saints are members of the organism—the body of Christ. Tares are spiritually dead; saints are alive, spiritually alive. Saints are in God's forever family; tares won't make the cut.

Jesus' disciples wanted to go on a tear "pulling up" tares to protect the wheat. But, Jesus told them to cool it; that it was too early for that; that tares would be dealt with later (Matt. 13:24-43). We know, however, that Jesus loves tares because He died for them. So, how does a person become a tare?

I strongly suspect the fly in their anointment is that they never repented. When an unregenerate sinner recognizes and acknowledges his guilt before Holy God and his intense need for Jesus to become his personal Savior and Lord; when he desires to turn 180 degrees and trusts Christ to forgive him, enter into him and change him, God calls this repentance. You must want to become a new person before God will change you into a new person. This is mandatory to regeneration. Jesus said, "He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal" (John 12:25). Did you come to hate life before you were reborn in Christ? The person who "loves his life" as is has no motivation to change. He likes things as they are. C. I. Scofield said, "Repentance is not an act separate from faith, but saving faith implies that change of mind which is called repentance." This is not simply human opinion; the Bible teaches mandatory repentance:

• John the Baptist paved the road to Jesus by preaching only one message: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3:2). Jesus' forerunner taught repentance as embracing our Savior.
• Jesus launched His earthly ministry, "From that time Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand' " (Matt. 4:17). Jesus taught repentance.
• Jesus anointed Peter as "apostle to the Jews" and Peter preached, "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away" (Acts 3:19). Peter preached repentance.
• Jesus anointed Paul as "apostle to the Gentiles." Paul taught, "God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent" (Acts 17:30). Paul preached repentance.
• Everyone is either Jew or Gentile. Man must turn from "doing it his way" (repent) and come to Christ in faith to be saved.

"But, Bill, what about the thief on the cross? He didn't repent." A salvation prayer does not necessarily employ the R-word, but upon having a repentant attitude. The thief on the cross demonstrated a repentant attitude (read Lk. 23:39-42).

Jesus taught, "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:27). You can be saved, but you can't be Jesus' disciple (sincere adherent) unless you agree to the terms of the cross. God says you were crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20). You get a new lease on life, a new beginning by first being crucified, then spiritually reborn in Christ (1 Pet. 1:3). You don't crucify yourself any more than you saved yourself. God did both, for us to claim by faith. Appropriating this means "taking up your cross"—a moment-by-moment attitude of mind and heart. You have already been crucified in Christ, but similar to salvation, this will benefit you only as you agree with—embrace this truth, by faith.

The man who takes up his cross has no rights. His confidence and hope are in Another. The man who takes up his cross is no longer in control; how much control can you have hanging there? None; his destiny is in Another's hands. The man who takes up his cross can be unjustly humiliated by the world; the cross overrides his pride. His significance and acceptance are in Another's hands. The man who takes up his cross no longer seeks to take care of number one; he trusts Number One to take care of him. The man who takes up his cross has given up on finding meaning in the world system; he's found meaning and purpose through intimate fellowship with Jesus (Jehovah is Salvation; God in a Human Wrapper).

If I had just one day...

"Lord if I had just one day I'd surely spend it studying..." I said out loud last night while thinking "right...there is no other day, tomorrow's the test period" I had not slept one bit, it was almost 6 am the sun was out and people here were starting to get ready to go to work. "I'll sleep a couple of hours and then I'll study some more" I thought. "Oh God please!!!! I'm going to flunk! I've tried studying but it just wont get in my head...I can't flunk this class" I said out loud, while I chatted and skimmed through the pages of the Pathological Anatomy II classes all at the same time. 6:10AM time to sleep a bit. I slept like a baby. 10 A.M. well time to get up, and study some more. "The test is in 4 hours I think I might be able to cram in some more" or so I thought. 11:00 Nothing, my head was empty, bits of information here and there but nothing that could possibly make any sense.
*Ring Ring*
- (Marcos) Rita?
-Yeah?
- (Marcos) where are you?
-At home, I'm getting ready to go to class.
- (Marcos)The exam started an hour ago...
-WHAT!?
- (Marcos)Ehh... yeah!
- But, But!! isn't the test at 1???
- (Marcos) No! the class stars at 11 and ends at 1pm
-Your kidding!!!
- (Marcos)The teacher says you can come and take the test tomorrow at 10..lol...
-Omgosh how embarrassing!!! please tell him it was an honest mistake! oh gosh!
- (Marcos)Lol! I will don't worry..he says to come at 10 tomorrow, room 307.
-Oh my..i'm so embarrassed ok..thanks marcos!
*click*

"Oh DEAR GOD THANK YOU!!!!" I yelled as I fell to the ground on my knees.
If I had just one day...

So yeah, that happened today!!!!! And I'm taking advantage of my extra day!!
Pray for me!
And may God bless you all!!!
Rita M.

*UPDATE* [9/11/07]
Funny thing is this class which I was repeating is sort of like the continuation of Histology which was the first class I flunked after I had told God to leave me alone and let me find my own happiness.... :) just a thought

I keep pulling a "bree"

So I have recently been through a slight disappointment *sigh* and well besides God I still haven't found that one person who I can open my heart to and pour my soul out...I've always wished for it to always be me and Jesus and Lord knows it..but He was right when He said "It is not good for man to be alone"..and I'm not talking about my chihuahua Penny. I need a friend. Lord, all I ask for is a friend. A christian friend, who likes going to church like me, who likes to talk about the bible and about You Lord. A friend who'll listen and trust me to listen back as well. A friend on this side of the computer lol! :P...Well thats it..Wherever he/she is may the Lord bless him/her dearly!

and May God bless you all!
Rita M.

Back to Cloudy days and Rainy nights

Figuratively speaking the title to this blog would sound like there's some trouble. The truth is, that is how God and I like it, Cloudy and Rainy and cozy. After two weeks of going through a dry spell in my relationship with the Lord, He brought me back with an amazing sermon last Sunday, an amazing book (Isaiah) and some other amazing things He has put in front of me. So today I'm taking the time to Shout out to God and say THANK YOU!!! And I LOVE YOU!! YAY!!!...I'm sorry my heart is just leaping with Joy :D:D:D It just feels so good to "be back" but I'm glad we went through it because God made me realize some things that were not right with me that needed to be "fixed" and so Him and I have been working on it...One of the things that we still have to work on is my being selfish sometimes and not apologizing for it. Hopefully this week things will be back on track yay!. Please pray for me!! It is much needed. And thank you :)

May the Lord bless you all!
Rita M.

Cartoons

I've had the opportunity of spending time with a wonderful 2 year old named Robert. Mostly what we do is watch cartoons in the morning while his mother cooks and cleans downstairs. What we always watch is Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go, Blues Clues, and on Discovery Kids we watch the backyardigans, Clifford, Bob the Constructor, Pinky Dinky Doo, Jim of the moon and among others.
All of them excellent and educational cartoons, some even teach english to the little ones. There are some cartoons which have a hint of "magic" and "sorcery" and sure kids are kids and they do not catch on those kinds of things, but these images they see and what they hear stay in their little minds until one day. But the easy solution to that is to not let them watch the cartoon in question, period.
What I haven't yet seen is the mention of God anywhere in any of these cartoons. Or christian cartoons anywhere. Some people think that talking about God to a kid is too heavy but it is not, there should be the option of wanting to show your kids Gods greatness through the thing they like most at a young age, cartoons.
But I guess there's no immediate solution to christian cartoons, for now. Someday maybe. There's always the old fashioned ways, through songs, the bible and myself.

Blessings to All!
Rita M.