Being Ungrateful

"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18

I should plaster this all over my room, my books, my things, my everything; because I obviously still have not learned this verse in all its profoundity and yet simple and truthful demand, to give thanks in EVERYTHING. I realized today thanks to the wisdom words of my good friend Tomassetti that I am such and ungrateful fool. It was one of those moments one of the youth leaders from my church described a few Saturdays ago, when the little things in this life can completely throw us off focus. Instead of setting our eyes/minds/hearts to Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, we set them on this earth, on our pride, on ourselves. Suddenly we are all puffed up, we are the victims, we are the wronged ones, and now the world has to serve ME. And oh how it hurts when with the Sword of Truth we are popped like a balloon and we fall right back down to realize that:

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." - Isaiah 64:6
"So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'" Luke 17:10

And why these two realities? Because both of them, our righteous acts and our obedience, lead us to think that we are somehow deserving of any of the blessings God bestows upon us.
And finally another, extra-scriptural I might add, word of wisdom to mortify the pride in all of us, especially in me:

"Beggars can't be choosers"

But even in this hurtful, pride-mortifying, sin-convicting moment I must be thankful to God for He answered last night's prayer that he would work on my pride, and because He as my Heavenly Father loves me enough to discipline me.

Again:

"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18

I leave this now as one of those examples in the Bible of what NOT to do: never be ungrateful, never think that just because the Lord has chosen and saved you and blessed you with His Holy Spirit and working in you that in any way shape or form you deserve any of it because you know what? It's by Grace that you have been saved through faith and this not your own doing, it is the gift of God not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

If all you wanted were lemons and God gave you a lemon tree seed, GIVE THANKS!

The Blessing of Thankfulness

This weekend I will be celebrating thanksgiving day in Miami, FL with some extended family, and I thought it would be a good day to be reminded that we have an amazing God deserving of all our thankfulness for He has blessed us all first and foremost with life, secondly by giving us His Son as a propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10) so that by His grace through faith those who believe in Him may be saved. (Romans 3). Let us also remember to thank God for even the simplest things as I once said to a dear friend, if there is toothpaste in your bathroom, if you have underwear or clean water, or even a decent plate of food at the table, shoes on your feet never forget to give thanks to the One who owns all things and has provided it all, our amazing and exceedingly kind and loving God.

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."-- Eph 5:20.
"Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually."-- Heb 13:15.

"SOME PEOPLE seem born with a sullen and feverish temper, and it is very difficult for them to brighten into smiles and songs. But whatever our natural disposition may be, if we belong to Christ it is our bounden duty to cultivate a thankful heart. A melancholy person has a bad effect upon others. It is miserable to have to work with or under a confirmed pessimist. Nothing is right, nothing pleases, there is no word of praise or encouragement. Once, when I was at Aden, I watched a gang of Lascars trans-shipping the mails. It was a pleasure to see them, one after another, carrying the bags cheerily because their leader kept them all the time singing as they did their work. If, instead of finding fault with our employees or servants we would look out for things for which we could commend and thank them, we should probably find a miraculous change in their attitude.
The advantage of joy and gladness is that it is a source of strength to the individual soul, and to all others who come within its range, and commends our Christianity! Sidney Smith says: "I once gave a lady two and twenty recipes against melancholy; one was a bright fire; another, to remember all the pleasant things said to her; another, to keep a box of sugar-plums on the chimney-piece, and a kettle simmering on the hob. I thought this mere trifling at the moment, but have in after life discovered how true it is, that these little pleasures often banish melancholy better than more exalted objects." We may interpret the advice of this humorist and essayist by turning into joyous praise all the incidents of our daily life, arising with gratitude and thankfulness from every good and perfect gift to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world is sad, and has to pay her jesters and entertainers; it is a mystery to her that the face of the Christian should be bright and smiling, although the fig-tree does not blossom, and there is no fruit in the vine. Let us count up our treasures and blessings, and we shall find that even in the saddest and loneliest life there is something to turn our sorrow into singing (2Co 6:10).1

PRAYER
Help us, O Lord, to rejoice always; to pray without ceasing, and in everything to give thanks. AMEN."

1: Taken from my e-Sword devotional.

God's Faithfulness

This morning I woke up at my friend Mabel's home. I sat in front of her computer as I waited for her to come out of her parents room where she spent the night. As I waited I found myself staring at a framed drawing of her as a little girl and her mom who was drawn with a glowing and joy-filled face. I could only think of Psalm 113 v.9 which says:

He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!

Hallelujah indeed! After having tried everything for 7 years Mabel's mom was ready to give up but the Lord blessed her with a child and made her the joyous mother of a daughter. The Lord is faithful and it fills my heart with joy to know that His faithfulness is everlasting (Psalm 117:2) and humbles me to know that even when we are not faithful to Him he remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).
So I join David in his psalm when he proclaims:

"Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!
The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!" Psalm 113:2-4

Grace Gems: The God of the broken-hearted

The God of the broken-hearted

(J. R. Miller, "The Beatitude for the Unsuccessful" 1892)

"The Lord is near the broken-hearted." Psalm 34:18

The God of the Bible, is the God of the broken-hearted. The world cares little for the broken hearts. Indeed, people oftentimes break hearts by their cruelty, their falseness, their injustice, their coldness--and then move on as heedlessly as if they had trodden only on a worm! But God cares. Broken-heartedness attracts Him. The plaint of grief on earth--draws Him down from heaven.

Physicians in their rounds, do not stop at the homes of the well--but of the sick. So it is with God in His movements through this world. It is not to the whole and the well--but to the wounded and stricken, that He comes with sweetest tenderness! Jesus said of His mission: "He has sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted." Isaiah 61:1

We look upon trouble as misfortune. We say that the life is being destroyed, which is passing through adversity. But the truth which we find in the Bible, does not so represent suffering. God is a repairer and restorer of the hurt and ruined life. He takes the bruised reed--and by His gentle skill makes it whole again, until it grows into fairest beauty. The love, pity, and grace of God, minister sweet blessing of comfort and healing--to restore the broken and wounded hearts of His people.

Much of the most beautiful life in this world, comes out of sorrow. As "fair flowers bloom upon rough stalks," so many of the fairest flowers of human life, grow upon the rough stalks of suffering. We see that those who in heaven wear the whitest robes, and sing the loudest songs of victory--are those who have come out of great tribulation. Heaven's highest places are filling, not from earth's homes of glad festivity and tearless joy--but from its chambers of pain; its valleys of struggle where the battle is hard; and its scenes of sorrow, where pale cheeks are wet with tears, and where hearts are broken. The God of the Bible--is the God of the bowed down--whom He lifts up into His strength.

God is the God of those who fail. Not that He loves those who stumble and fall, better than those who walk erect without stumbling; but He helps them more. The weak believers get more of His grace--than those who are strong believers. There is a special divine promise, which says, "My divine power is made perfect in weakness." When we are conscious of our own insufficiency, then we are ready to receive of the divine sufficiency. Thus our very weakness is an element of strength. Our weakness is an empty cup--which God fills with His own strength.

You may think that your weakness unfits you for noble, strong, beautiful living--or for sweet, gentle, helpful serving. You wish you could get clear of it. It seems to burden you--an ugly spiritual deformity. But really it is something which--if you give it to Christ--He can transform into a blessing, a source of His power. The friend by your side, whom you envy because he seems so much stronger than you are--does not get so much of Christ's strength as you do. You are weaker than him--but your weakness draws to you divine power, and makes you strong.

"He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

Of Birthdays and Other Celebrations

Exactly 23 years ago on a day like today inside the delivery room the Lord allowed me to breathe my first. Ordained before the foundation of the world to be the day of my birth, so that on the year 2005 I, by His Grace and Mercy, would be saved and be born again. It is a privilege and honor to be allowed to have a chance in this thing called life, and an immeasurable blessing to be allowed to be a part of God's family, that such a Saviour would go through the pain of the cross for a sinner like me. Thank You Lord Jesus! Thank you for mercies which are new everyday!
Amen!

Fellowship, Missions and Stonecrest

Where to begin.

This week has been amazing, encouraging, edifying...I'm at a loss for words (adjectives really). Last Friday my phone rang while at the ER of the Hospital Padre Billini during my shift, it was Flora. She had called to remind me that Don and the gang where coming back to Robert Reid and that I should be there Sunday at 3:00pm sharp. She was actually wondering if I remembered, I had it written down already in my calendar since last they were here, Don insisted we both be there and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. A chance to go witnessing and share the love of Christ with children who get the exact opposite, who would pass on such an opportunity?.
So Sunday morning I went to church, afterwards spent some time with my mom, and finally the time had come to head to the hospital. Around 3:30-45pm we meet up with the gang, a group of 57 people lead by Don Coords, and other leaders such as Tom Mckenna and his wife Debbie, Tania, Juan Velasco his wife Lynn, Janet, John and others. We split up into group as we are accustomed to, and each group had 2 translators, there were 5 groups.
My group was composed of Pastor Tom, Debbie, Juan, John, Tom and Debbie's sons, and I, we got to go to the Pre-Surgical and head trauma floor.

"Armed with a bag of goodies and hand puppets, we stopped at every bed and told each child and their parents of God's love for them. We also prayed. We prayed for healing, we prayed for comfort, and we prayed for their families" - Thomas Mckenna

As always there were some more delicate patients who I know for sure will not make it, and its always so heartbreaking but I know the Lord is in control, and that even in those situations He is glorified.
After the day was over Don invited us (Flora, Marysel, Marisol and I) over to dinner at the Lina, we accepted his kind offer. I was so glad to see everyone there, its a joy when you get to felloswhip with brothers and sister in Christ from other parts of the world. We had a wonderful time talking about our experience at the hospital that Sunday and about what they've been doing in Catalina. When we finished having our meal Don invited us over to their after-dinner meeting they usually have each day. We accepted as well although it was getting rather late.
I was overwhelmed with the kindness and attention they had given us, its amazing how the love of Christ and the love for Christ and His cause joins peoples from different nationalities and tongues. In light of that Marysel stood in front of us and sang a few familiar songs, two of them in english. It was a lovely worship time in thankfulness to our Lord for His abounding Grace and Love.
Afterwards we had a Q and A moment, talked about some of the patients, the situation with the hospital, the ministry Flora leads, our Church and how Don and Flora met and eventually both ministries came together. It was an edifying moment, for me it was great to learn how the Lord orchestrates His plans and blesses those that are walking in His ways.
Sadly the night came to an end, many hugs and kisses were shared, numbers and emails were exchanged to keep in contact.
I was touched deeply by this experience, all I could think was "Lord thank you for allowing me to be a part of this", I'm so unworthy of all the grace He has bestowed upon me and yet He has given me the privilege to work for His cause for His glory, by being a part of the ministry Flora leads and by playing a small part in Don's missionary ministry and the gang at Stonecrest.
I was awestruck as well by how much love can sprout in such little time for such wonderful people. My prayer is that the Lord may continue to be glorified through all of us, that the kingdom may be forwarded and that the Gospel may continue to be proclaimed!

In Christ,
Rita M.

God is Enough

"Eliot was born with an undeveloped lung, a heart with a hole in it and DNA that placed faulty information into each and every cell of his body. However, that could not stop the living God from proclaiming Himself through this boy who never uttered a word."

For more information go to Ninety Nine Balloons DOT com

THANK YOU LORD JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been in such a faith crisis due to something that had been happening to me pertaining to the ministry I belong to at church, and I had been praying to the Lord that He would give me courage (I'm an UBER shy person) to go to the pastor and beg him to dedicate an entire sermon on True Biblical Evangelism. To preach on the NEED of preaching Repentance and Faith in Christ in our evangelism, one Sunday one of the pastors talked about the Gospel, I was so excited, but on the service I attended 12-2pm (there are 3 services) the pastor did not talk about repentance, I was disappointed. I commented this to a friend of mine from Church who had gone to the 10-12 service in which repentance was explained. But the service recorded to publish the sermon on the website was the last one, again I prayed and prayed. With the new semester I've had no time whatsoever to go to bible studies on Wednesdays and I had to miss a couple of Sunday services due to trips with the family, the hospital, etc. Anyway, this Sunday I couldn't go to church because I had an 8pm to 8am shift at the hospital and was beat when I got home. Today about 10 minutes ago, I launched iTunes went directly to my Podcasts to get my daily dose of WOTM Radio noticed that they hadn't uploaded today's show and remembered that because today's monday my church's sermon should've been uploaded by then so I clicked the IBI podcast and there it was!!! My prayer ANSWERED!!! Just look at the title! "And then, How will we evangelize?"
I was skeptical at first and hopeful all at the same time!! the pastor preached on Acts chapter 3, verses 1-16 and v.19, the pastor read twice verse 19 (my heart skipped a beat) then proceeded to explain what just happened in those verses. Compared that type of healing with today's modern version of -unbiblical-"healing". Then made very clear that he was going to preach on v.19 and how we have done the terrible thing of blotting out the preaching of REPENTANCE! from our Evangelism!!!! Ohhhh Praise the Lord JESUS CHRIST!!!! Finally my prayer answered!!
It's like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders!!! I wanna cry and leap out of Joy and sing and shout! :D Can't wait for Sunday to arrive!!!

"Act 3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
Act 3:2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
Act 3:3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.
Act 3:4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."
Act 3:5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.
Act 3:6 But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"
Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
Act 3:8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Act 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God,
Act 3:10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Act 3:11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's.
Act 3:12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
Act 3:14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
Act 3:15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
Act 3:16 And his name--by faith in his name--has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Act 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out," (ESV, emphasis mine)

AMEN!

How Great is our God!

Youth Group

I am sooo stoked about Youth Group! so the debates are finally over, I say finally because we had plenty of debates but they were really great! It made us all think and analyze ourselves plus we learned heaps about defending our faith among other things. Next Saturday May 10th we begin something called Parcheesi I have no clue what thats going to be about, all I know is that we need to be experts on Christ and the Resurrection for that day.I'll post an update as to how it went.

In the meantime, today is National Day of Prayer..everyday should be! But today it is celebrated, I know because of my trusty WOTM calendar, its a day to be spent praying for our respective country, in my case the DR, the world, our fellow brother's and sisters in Christ out there, people who haven't given their lives to Christ yet, for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who risk their lives everyday for the Gospel, our local Church and its leaders, the Universal Church that she may be strengthen each day and stand on the promise made by Christ that the gates of Lades shall not prevail against her. A day to give thanks to the Lord for His countless blessings, His amazing grace and gift of Salvation, for his trials that build perseverance, His judgments that purify us, His Holy Spirit who convicts us and lead us and comfort us, His amazing love which holds us, His Holy word which instructs us and edify us. A day to give thanks for all the days that we have been allowed to have, and the days to come.
A day to reflect on the times that we are living but also to remember that the Lord once promised a young man: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." This promise is true for us today! (Mat 28:20, Heb 13:5)

God bless!

Praise the LORD!!

I passed my Ob-Gyn class!!! oh Lord THANK YOU!!!!

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord
all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness, come
before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it
is he that has made us, and not we
ourselves; we are his people, and
the sheep of his pasture.


Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise: be
thankful unto him, and bless his name

For the Lord is good; his mercy is
everlasting; and his truth endureth
to all generations
(Psalm 100)

AMEN!

En Tiempo Real/ In Real Time

Something amazing happened today!!
Finally the day had come for the Musical, En Tiempo Real. So I decided that I would read today's devotion from the one I have in e-sword, where its got some scripture, a message, and then a prayer at the end. The scripture of the day was from the book of Isaiah, it what something about strength coming from the Lord. I thought wow such wonderful truth, and wrote the following prayer:

"Oh blessed Father, such great Truth! Lord you know today is the day of the Musical! Father renew our strengths after each remaining rehearsals Lord! and especially after each function so that we not grow weary but in joyful strength give our best to the last mile! Glory and Praises to you oh Lord who have made this possible, may we glory in You Lord and you alone through this. In Jesus Christ's name, Amen."

Let me tell you we were still not ready, there were details that we knew only the Lord could fix. There were dance moves that were still not perfectly coordinated, scenes that were not correctly propped due to lack of time and then there was the time issue. The last rehearsal we had, the musical lasted 2 hours and 8 minutes with all the glitches and mistakes. We prayed once before we began officially the Musical. The First function, was GREAT!! absolutely wonderful!! I'm absolutely 150% positive it was the Lord who made it all possible.
Everyone was tired though, we had arrived at the place at 11 am and began rehearsal at 2pm, by the end of the first function it was 9pm. But I remembered the devotional I had read this morning but forgot the chapter!! I knew it was Isaiah 40 something but I couldn't remember I searched for it in the bible and couldn't find it.
We prayed again for the second function, that our pride might not get in the way and that we may stay focused on what is the important part and that is Glorifying God through everything we do. The 2nd Function was absolutely wonderful. It was now over and everyone rejoiced in the Lord and hoped the message in the musical had reached who the Lord wanted it to reach and that the gospel may have gotten through to families and teens.
Now the awesome part!
I was waiting for my brother to pick me up I was still inside and I hear the girls talking about a portion of scripture they had read today that had given them strength and courage, how it was all one of the girls could think of as she danced and her legs trembled. And she mention Isaiah 40 something. I couldn't believe it! What did you say!? I asked her, and she repeated the Isaiah 40:31, excited I told them how that was the portion of scripture for my devotional this morning!!

Isa 40:31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

The Lord is good! He had been taking care of everything from day one! He is our strength, He is our Joy, He is our Portion!!!

All the Glory and Praises to His name!!! AMEN!!!!

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

ISAIAH 40:28-31

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.

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.