Attending My First Service in Espanol....

I had the absolute privilege of attending my very first church service in Spanish.  My husband is from Venezuela and I have always had passion for the Spanish Culture.  I love the music, the dancing, the language, the culture, the Spanish countries, etc.  My dream would be to live in Spain out in the country!  My husband and I have been wanting to attend Spanish service for the longest time and yesterday we were able to do it.  We walked into service and we had the Spanish greeting of "Hola."  We found our seats and Worship began.  I recognized the music from all of the church songs I already knew in English.  They had the Spanish words up on the screen so I could sing along in Spanish.  I experienced such beautiful worship in another language and was able to give Praise to my Savior in Espanol.  You can feel the passion from the choir on stage and you can see it on every ones face in the church.  I absolutely loved hearing people shout out praises in Spanish to Jesus Christ!!  It honestly made me tear up because it was so beautiful and it was nothing I have ever experienced.  My husband was in tears because you could tell he felt at home in his native language.  I LOVED worshiping God in Spanish!!! There was a man that then got up on stage and started preaching and talking about God.  He was so passionate about what he was saying that I teared up even more.  I have always had this vision in my mind of my ideal preacher.  I am the type of person where I like a loud voice, and I like seriousness.  I like someone that preaches with an urgency because the people NEED to know.  I always envisioned the preacher pointing to the crowd and maybe even to a couple of people because he is making it personal.  I am the type of person that needs to be hit with a Bible once in awhile. (Figurative Speech)  The man that got up to preach fit the description of my ideal preacher and it was so cool to experience it in person.

My husband and I raised our hands when they asked if anyone was here for the first time.  We had people greet us and even the choir came over one by one to greet us.  It honestly felt like family.  I never expected people from the stage to come over and personally greet us.  This literally blew me away.  I then had someone come up to me and let me know that I can call a number on my cell phone and have the service translated for me in English.  I never even expected having a translator there for me, so this was a whole new ball game now.  :) !!  At first I watched Pastor get up on stage and preach.  I wanted to enjoy the Spanish and just take it all in.  During the middle of service I decided to try out the translator.  I called the number on my phone and was able to hear the service in English.  It was so cool because I was able to hear the Pastor speak in Spanish and then understand it in English.  The message was AMAZING!!  I can honestly say that what Pastor preached about was DIRECTLY for ME!!!  It was the category and the things that I struggle with.  I was thanking the Lord that we came to service and that I was able to understand it in English because it was for me.  I loved the way Pastor preached, he has passion about Jesus and the way he delivers the message is truly anointed from the Holy Spirit.  I even found myself shouting out "Amen!" My husband would laugh at me because the translation had a bit of a delay, so the people would say Amen, and then a few seconds later I would hear what he said and then I would say "Amen."  My husband loved the message and loved the service and the style.  He truly felt at home!

After service we got up to leave and started to smell amazing food.  After service they had amazing food that they served where everyone sits down and eats together.  We were leaving because we had made plans to already go somewhere after service and just before we left we had a nice Spanish couple come over to speak to us.  It was the Piano Player and one of the singers in the Choir.  We talked for a good 5 minutes about service and found out that they also teach "Young Couples/Singles" for Spanish.  This was amazing because my husband and I teach the same class but for the English.  We exchanged information and we know that we have met an amazing couple that we can't wait to get to know.  My husband and I were blown away with Spanish service and we highly recommend it to everyone in the area to come and check it out for yourself.  I have information posted below so please check it out!!! I feel you will have the same feedback as I have experienced.

Sin Blocks Blessing...........

This is a great illustration on how sin blocks blessing.  If you notice in the picture the person can no longer feel the presence of God because the relationship is blocked.  The light of God cannot shine on the person because the sin is dark and blocking.  The only way the Sin can be lifted is when we confess our sin to God and ask him for forgiveness.  When we truly repent the "Sin" is lifted and erased from us and our relationship with God is back open and we can stand in his light and reflect his light to others.  

We need to get in the habit of DAILY asking ourselves if there is anything blocking us from God.  Since we know that we DAILY fall short, we know that we mess up.  This doesn't give us the mindset of "What is the point, if I mess up daily, why even try?"  This is an excuse that many people use today to keep living their way and living by their own rules.  All God wants to do is Bless you!! Why would you not want to be blessed?  God is SOOO Good that all he wants to do is give and bless his people. Our job is to keep him first in EVERYTHING and submit to him and under him.  We can fully trust HIS provision and rest under HIS protection.  

How do we know the blessings that he wants to give us?  This is key in understanding because if we don't know the blessings then we aren't going to be so eager to receive them.  You need to start in Genesis and see where the blessings started.  We need to understand what happened between God and Abram.  God didn't force anything on Abram he chose to enter Covenant with him and Abram accepted it and believed God.  Remember at this point Abram didn't "fully KNOW God."  Abram believed God because he understood the importance of "Covenant."  Covenant is something that "us" (The Gentiles) don't understand the importance of, and we don't know the significance of it.  Recently, in a Bible study that I attend I have been learning "Blood Covenant" and I can say that my eyes are now FULLY opened to where I understand the importance of Blood Covenant.  I have posted on my blog two key essential videos by Kenneth Copeland about Blood Covenant.  The videos are in 2 parts and are lengthy and the video's quality isn't the best but I can promise you that you will learn SOOOOO much from them and they are WORTH your time!!!

So we understand that God blessed Abraham and ALL of his descendants.  It is our CHOICE whether or not we receive them or not.  God did his part by making the Covenant and sending Jesus to open the door for us to enter a relationship with him.  All of the work has already been done, we just need to RECEIVE it and WALK in it!!!!  That is two steps on our part: Receive it, and Walk in it.  

I want you to look at this box above and fill in the blank.  I saw this done on a Beth Moore Bible Study and I really liked the concept behind this.  Think of your WORST case scenario.  Think of your WORST fear.  Fill in the blank:  If ________ happens.  I then want you to fill in the second part of the blank and explain what would happen.

IF_________ happens, then I will________!!

Go make a list of all of the things that could happen that you are afraid of then answer what would happen.  God will keep asking you " Then what?"  "Then what?"  "Then what?"   You need to get to a point where you will do everything that you can think to do then you will reach a point to where you can see that there is NOTHING that is in your control that you can do to change whatever happens.  You can throw a fit/cry/scream/be angry/sad/ etc.  It is normal to go through and process it out through our emotions but there needs to be a point that you reach to where you get down on your knees and cling to God and seek him.  You understand that God can take away your pain!  God can restore what was lost! God can heal a broken heart! God delivers you!  God gives you Joy! God gives you strength! God gives you peace!!  

It is time to seek God like you have NEVER have before!!  You need to reach a point where ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!  Start to understand that things aren't in YOUR control!!!  God is in Control and has ALWAYS been in control!!!  It is time to surrender every AREA of your life and stop playing these games!!!

Did this blog speak to you???  Good!!! Now start having faith in God and start trusting him!!!

Here is a link to the Beth Moore study:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai54Q3-KcuU

66 Day Challenge.....

This is the reason I have been working out and training.  I found this quote and fell in love with it, because I could say yes to every single thing on the list!  For those of you who have been following my fitness journey my last weight loss update was 15lbs.  I then went on vacation and came back to find myself with a sickness for over 3 weeks now.  I tried to workout when I started feeling better, and I physically couldn't get through the workout.  I am still getting over this cold, but I am getting back to training again and this is the reason for this post.  I know so many people get discouraged and let things get in the way and never get back to training.  I want to tell you that no matter how much time you have taken off, you can get right back into the routine.  You have value and you are precious! Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and God wants us to take care of ourselves and he wants us to be healthy.  I think everyone likes having energy and not being tired all the time.  Exercising and eating right can really help your energy levels.  Awhile ago I read something in a health magazine that talked about doing something active for 66 days in a row and after that your body starts to crave it and you feel out of tune if you don't work out.  I want to get to the point where I don't have to force myself to train, I want to just get up and do it.  I literally have to mentally prepare myself and get in "workout" mode so I can accomplish each workout.  This article really caught my attention and I said to myself: "The moment I get over this cold, I am starting the 66 days in a row workout challenge."  My plan is to do something active each day and have no rest days.  I am planning to do running/jump rope/bicycle/stair climbing/sprints/lunges/squats/push-ups/sit-ups/etc.  So each day I will decide which type of workout I want to do.  As soon as I start Day 1, I will document it on my blog and give mini updates with my progress on this new challenge.  I am posting a few quotes below to help motivate you to get involved and get a plan going!!!!  If I can do it, then you can do it!!

Is Attending Church Once A Week Enough?

There are many people who honestly feel that attending church once a week is enough for their spiritual growth.  First and foremost, I am not writing this blog to discourage those who attend church once a week.  I want to say Congratulations!!!  There are so many people who don't even bother to attend church anymore, and pass it by.  There are many who attend on certain occasions and feel that they are "covered/safe."  So please, if you do attend church every week, keep going!! This blog is going to go into detail to see if that is enough.
  So now that I have addressed that, I want to start explaining why I feel it isn't enough.  Let me first ask a series of questions and answer honestly.
 1)  What is your main reason for attending church?  Is it out of routine? Obligation? Is it for attendance?
 2)  When you are at church what are you doing?  Are you people watching? Judging others? Participating?
 3)  When you leave church what is your first thought?  Do you try and apply anything you have learned?
 4)  Do you attend service and just leave?  Do you talk to anyone or try and make connections?
 5)  Is this the only time you open your Bible?  Do you read your Bible the rest of the week?

These are a few questions to help you see the reasons for attending service.  Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and if there is anything hidden that is selfish, for him to expose it to you so you can repent and have true revelation from God.

Now, I can honestly tell you that when I grew up I just went to Church because I was "told" to, and because I was raised that way.  I was in a routine to where I didn't question it, I did it because I had always done it.  I wouldn't pay attention in service, I wouldn't get anything out of it, I wouldn't connect with Jesus, etc.  I basically did it out of routine because that is what I have always done.  The moment that changed for me was when I attended my first Christian Service.  I saw everyone bringing their Bibles to church and I felt left out.  I wondered why nobody ever told me to bring my Bible, or why I never saw anyone reading their Bible in church when I grew up.  It made me want to know what was in the Bible and what everyone else knew that I already didn't.  I felt like they knew this secret, and I was on the outside looking in.  The Holy Spirit got a hold of me and started drawing my heart in.  I started to ask questions and needed to know why I wasn't taught these things.  I felt like I was being deceived and lied to and nobody told me.  I began to develop this hunger inside of me to start seeking the answers.  I started to have one on one meetings with Pastors and Elders.  I started to open the Bible and actually read it.  I started to listen to Pod casts that were Bible studies, and started getting more involved with studies.

Let me ask you this question: How many times do you eat a day?  Now let me ask you this question: How many times do you read the Bible a day?  The Bible is your Spiritual Food and you NEED this in order to survive eternally!!!  You need food to survive physically, but you need the Bible to survive eternally.  Now which is more important: Physical or Spiritual?  Temporal or Eternal?  You need to open you Bible DAILY and not just on Sundays!! It simply isn't enough to read the Bible once a week.  It isn't enough to sit back and have someone teach you one hour a week and then leave.  You need to start doing the work and seeking God yourself!! You need to open his Word and have him speak to you.  You need to connect daily with Jesus and spend time in his presence!!  Now, this is my blog so this is how I feel and what I believe.  So now it is time to ask yourself: Do you believe attending Church once a week is enough?

If you don't know Blood Covenant, then you don't know the Bible....

Here is  Kenneth Copeland Video Part 1 of 2
Watch this video, and educate yourself about The Blood Covenant of God.  I can guarantee that once you understand this covenant, the Bible will open itself up to you in a new way!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyPu-WKeEGM

Here is Kenneth Copeland Part 2 of 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlPUnRMkUyg

Living Life As An Extremist....

I wanted to give a look of life through my eyes.  Since this is my personal blog, I am able to first hand write about what I think and how I live.  My personality has always been an extremist.  It is either nothing or everything with me.  I either don't act or I act to the extreme.  I don't have a middle line or a grey area.  Before I knew Jesus this was a dangerous trait because I was very rebellious and loved to party.  With being an extremist I loved being dangerous and took risks and had no fear.  Praise God that he was always with me and watching over me, because I never watched out for myself in those times.  My mindset has changed after I became Saved and make the Lord Jesus my personal Savior.  I am still an extremist but in a different way now.  My personal opinion is that it is helpful to live life this way because it truly will make you take each day as it comes, and be bold with that day.  When you truly understand that you aren't guaranteed another day or another minute, then you know how precious they are.  You don't want to waste time or waste moments because you realize they are precious.  Myself being an extremist I understand that time is running out, and I don't sit and worry about it, I am extremely grateful that I am in that moment because it is sacred.  I understand that this could be my last day on earth or my last night on earth.  I understand that I may not wake up tomorrow or have another day.  I understand that my family might not be there tomorrow and this was my last time with them.  When you have this type of mindset you truly appreciate each moment in life and don't take it for granted.  When you think this way, you are able to see that time should not be wasted on petty little arguments or disputes.  People can go days without talking and hold grudges.  I should know this, because I used to be one of them before I knew Jesus.  People think they have all the time in the world and that they will trust their feelings and decide when to do something.  God is in control of the day, not us!!  This will put it into perspective for people who don't think like myself, an extremist.  Let's say you just had an argument with your spouse/mate/family member and the argument has not been settled yet.  You become so angry that you decide not to speak to that person or ignore their phone calls.  Later that night you find out that person is no longer here on earth, what is the first though that would enter your mind?  I bet it wouldn't be the argument!! The feelings of anger that you had would now turn into sadness because you would remember that it was an opportunity that you had with that person and it could of been an amazing opportunity of love and memories.  If you knew ahead of time that it was going to be that persons last night on earth, I am sure you wouldn't of let a silly argument ruin that day.  You would of realized how precious it was and you would of wanted to grab that person in your arms and tell them how much you love them and appreciate them and most importantly you would want to make sure that person knew Jesus intimately.  This is a picture of what my mind goes through as an extremist.  Whenever I have an argument with my husband I automatically think "I don't want this to be the last time I remember us having this moment if something were to happen."  I want to make it right immediately and end it right away because I want us to always have love and peace and not have regrets.  I know with my children that God holds their future in HIS hands, not mine.  I need to do my best job on being their mother and live every day with them to the fullest.  I don't want to have any regrets.  I have had many people call me an extremist and to be honest I am happy to be one.  I can see that if something needs to be cut out, I won't just cut out a little, I will wipe out the entire thing that is causing it.  If I see a particular sin I am struggling with, I will eliminate the environment that caused it.  So to all of you extremists out there, I guess this blog is a shout out to you!!!!!

The Christmas House....

Every single year our family has started a tradition to where we go and see "The Christmas House" after Thanksgiving.  We look forward to this house every year and they always make sure to add a few new things each time.  I am going to put the link of this house below and you can read about this house and all of the details.  This Christmas House keeps Jesus first instead of having it be all about Santa Claus.  It reminds people that Jesus is the reason for the season.  They have Bible videos playing where there is preaching and have scriptures all over their display.  I took a few pictures that I am going to include in this blog.  They have music playing for the children and a bubble machine that the kids absolutely love.  Every year this is special to us because each year our children get older to where we can see it through their eyes.  If you are in the area, please come and check out this Christmas House and tell people about it.  It is free of charge, but they do accept donations.  Enjoy!!!!

Here is the entrance to the lights/house

The kids were thrilled to see the lights!

This is a sign with Jesus at the top pointing to Heaven, and below it are all the other religions in the world and how they lead every other way besides to Heaven!

Amen!!!  I couldn't take my eyes off of this!!

Dad and Son

Gabe loved the Bubbles!

Rafa loved the Bubbles too!!

The link for the website is:http://www.christmasdisplay.org/