Sunshine all the time creates desert as one of the Arab quotes says. For quite some time I was meditating on the quote. It all came together when I read James 1. Where Paul talks about tribulations and how we should rejoice when we fall into tribulations. Usually when people are going through rough time in life, they are rather weary and worried than happy. However, God cares about our character and wants to shape us into maturity and wholeness so we would not have any flaw. 

For some reason people always escape hardship in life, thinking if trouble comes it makes them feel as they are losers or there is something wrong with them. Although, if you look at it from a different angle- it might just be for your own benefit of enriching you for eternity. 

As the ancient quotes says

in the desert you can’t grow apple trees. Escaping hardship is escaping being fruitful. Because storms not only strengthen the roots, they take down the dry old branches.   

Once I asked one of the Christian authors a wish for our youth. She shared her testimony and how she came to Christ. In times of trials she would come home to brag to her mom about people and the church. To which her mom replied:”Who did you believe in? Keep your eyes on the Lord!” 

As she shared, throughout her entire writers lifetime- that focus was what made it so successful. 

Keep your head up and look at the snake- that’s what saved the Jews in the desert.

Look up to the One who saves. Our faith shakes when we begin to look around. The storm is big and the waves are high, Peter thought to himself as he was walking on the water. That was the literal test of his faith.

When we keep our eyes up, our world will always revolve around knowing Gods will and we will have enough strength to overcome temptation. 

It’s easy to loose sight in the turmoil of life but look up and you will see the beauty of Gods promises. Up is where we belong.

Going to Nicaragua, I was not sure what to expect. I knew the people were similar to the ones I’ve met in Mexico, but the new country, new team left me at suspense. 

Upon arrival, we were presented a list of places we would visit in duration of the seven days we were there and we prayed for God to come with us to the unknown. 

God’s mercy was seen every step of the way. We were able to reach out to many children, spread the Gospel at the local jail, feed people who work at the landfills, and pray for the women who are going through cancer treatment. 

Visiting the hospital where women are undergoing treatment for different types of cancers was similar to visiting the house of Job. There was silence, there were tears, there was worship. 

As it is said in Ecclesiastes: “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.” 

It wasn’t until we began to sing that tears ran down from my eyes. Being a witness of smiles in the midst of fire, finding hope in the place where there is hopelessness, that’s the seventh wonder of the world. 

At that moment, I not only understood the Gospel, but felt it with my own skin. Holding someone’s hand, knowing they might die tomorrow, but having faith that this is not the end. Heaven is the future of every believer. This is not the end, the tears and sorrows shall pass for God’s love is greater. He brought eternity to the world that was trying to live by self-righteousness through fulfilling every command. Oh how beautiful are the moments when we hold each other’s hand in the midst of pain and suffering! When we begin to worship faith begins to move, the heavens open, hearts are changed, and hope is born. 

To be part of Body of Christ means to be functional. Since doing missions is part of my calling, I find myself being the feet in the Body of Christ. Always going somewhere, ready or not. Because I learned it’s the hands that washed and clothes the feet, that makes them ready to go. It takes trust to depend and fully share mission with the entire Body. 

I learned that it’s the obedience that Christ is looking for in my life. First, to teach me through the process of serving others and second, to share His cross by healing the broken world. I know I am closest to Jesus when I serve widowed, orphaned or someone in jail. Jesus is alive, and for those who seek Him, they will find. 

Going to Nicaragua knowing that God is present there and He wants to show His love and mercy to those people by using me is marvelous. Because I’m just the vessel, He is the Living Water. Jesus already saved the world, now it’s my job to let people know that their Creator loves them and their sins are forgiven.

There is nothing more beautiful on earth than to help people discover their Creator who is within us.

If you want to help us on this mission, please use the link bellow 

https://www.gofundme.com/vnd39b-nicaragua-missionary-trip?member=1405148

Recently while visiting Russia, I shared a word of encouragement in one of the local churches. 

Seeing a lot of children in the audience I wanted my message to be simple and memorable. So I shared about the symbol of the animal that I saw in the city most commonly.

Not a lot of people like bets. But in Valencia you see the engraving of this peculiar animal everywhere you go. The legend says that Valencia was fighting a war and while the enemy was trying to conquest the city, during the night the watchman fell asleep. It was the bet that flew off the branch that woke the watchman up. He quickly hassled the city to fight off the enemy and woke everyone up. The ending was victorious, the city fought off the enemy and the civilians were safe. Until today we are able to enjoy the architecture and the scenery of the city that is well preserved. Thanks to the bet that did what he was created to do.  

Once again this story reminds us about our calling. The bet was doing what he was created to do. Often times as humans we want to become someone we are not. But this story teaches us to be who we are and do what we were created to do. 

Look deep inside you, discover your talents and gift and go from there. God will use it in the right time, in the right place. 

Season of Christmas

With Jesus came love. It’s not the sectifies that God is looking for anymore. The Holy lamb brough what people needed most. The road of righteous life that was paved with the law, now substituted with forgiveness, compassion and love.

What does it mean for me, a twenty first century human being?

The history that is carried through the years, passed down to us. A gift of memories to not be forgotten. It’s done, it’s finished, the price has been paid. The law has been fulfilled, I am made righteous through the Lamb-Jesus Christ. No space for fear, no space for death.

Live to love, live to forgive and show compassion as it has been shown to me. Meet the day with a smile, for whatever it brings, I move one day closer to meeting my Creator, who loved me so much He was willing to come down to demonstrate what the true love really means. The beauty of forgiveness, the beauty of true love.

The question I ask myself today is: how do I demonstrate my gratitude for what He has done? What is the direction of my thoughts, my heart, my plans? The direction my life is taking, is it the chase for brighter “future” or is it a chase to do what is pleasing to God? Even if I will have to give up my earthly dreams to fulfill His. For at the end, God will not ask what house I lived in, He will ask, how did I use it to shelter others. He will not ask which car I drove, He will ask how did I use that car for His Glory. That is what will matter at the end. My wish for you during this holiday season is to root yourself deeper in building His Kingdom inside of you. To make space for the Holy One to show you love, compassion and forgiveness. 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful is our planet earth. To be part of Gods creation is a privilege. Day to day, hour by our, breath by breath. Eyes to see, hears to hear and all the senses to encounter the Creator. To learn, to understand, to question- all is for greater understanding of God. Let’s discover together our journeys which many times are confusingly difficult. Let’s learn from each other, lets go to the Light together.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton