Game of Tag

This week's small group study got me thinking about life’s fears that hinder our ability to live out God’s plan for our lives. The question that still lingers in my mind is: Do you chase fear or does fear chase you?

In my life fear and I are always playing a game of tag you’re it. Just when I think that I’ve finally tagged fear and won, it has a funny way of tagging me right back. Unfortunately, it's much quicker than I am. I tend to fear the typical things such as death, failure, disappointment etc.

The reason I believe that fear and I continually play this chasing game is simple: I ALLOW IT! I tend to sulk in my misfortunes, problems, and struggles. Satan constantly wants us to be reminded of our failures time and time again. If we continually focus on the negative then its one less time we are focusing our eyes on the Lord. A small victory for Satan that can potentially lead to landslide sweep.

God puts is simply for us GRACE. He has provided for those of us who have accepted his amazing gift of grace, forgiveness, and salvation.

So what can we do to officially tag out fear?

Scripture is there for a reason, applying it to your life tends to be the difficult part. For example, Romans 12:2 keeps appearing regularly lately and yet I constantly struggle with sulking.

“Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of  your mind” (Rm 12:2)

The Lord has many blessings and opportunities for our lives, its up to us to accept them. However, how can we accept them if we are constantly dwelling on the negative and allowing fear to win our battles.

I’ll end with this James 4:7;

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

*Alex great job this week, Anne Marie you were missed!

 

 

D.I.Y.

About a month or so ago my lovely closet decided to give out on me. After putting it off for some time I finally decided that this weekend was it. Time to take on my closet. My weekend pretty much looked liked this:

Friday Night:
Placed all clothes fromt he floor into my parents room
Knocked down form closet supports (quite fun, great way to relieve stress)
Made a Home Depot run for supplies
Patched up holes in the wall

Saturday:
Got up no breakfast went to work
Sanded the walls down
Went to Home Depot again for paint
Painted the closet
Went to the county dump to get rid of the old closet parts
Began assembling the closet
Had to stop and go pick up my dad from the airport
Drilled countless holes (in which one went through the living room wall..will fix later)
Started to install the closet
Still havent eaten anything its now 6:30 pm
Quickly took a shower
Went to Artie's 50th Birthday party (finally ate)
Came home around 9:30pm
Continued to work on closet
Finished assembling all extras 12:00am

Sunday:
Woke up missed church (However I did church online, Mosaic)
Began putting clothes back into the closet
Continued on rearranging closet
Anally placed things in color order
Finish closet
Showered went to Rey's for the Superbowl
Left Rey's to meet up with Yannick for his Birthday in Coral Gables
Watched the Giants win (Made a complete fool of myself in the restuarant screaming)
Finally got home to rela and of course fix minor things.

All in all it was a very productive weekend, and I'm proud of my beautiful closet. Now all I need is a little R&R to make it through my long and hetic week.

Maravilhas de Amazonas

My father just got back from a two week trip in Brazil. He spent the first week doing missions work in Manuas and then he spent the last week with my family in Rondonia. He took a picture of these two rivers that run side by side of each other. I know it doesn't sound interesting, however, one river is brownish and the other black, and yet they don't mix. I've heard about this river from my family but have never had the chance to see it up close. Check it out...its pretty cool!      

An Ode to Mom

While lying in bed sick and in pain all I could think about was calling my mommy. Yep, that's right this twenty-five year old has no shame in calling for her mommy. It got me thinking of all the times my mother has come to my rescue when I'm knee deep in vomit, or curled up in a ball in pain, to even just a slight fever. There is just something about a mother's touch that makes the world of difference. I could think back to all the times she would have me lay on her lap and play with my hair along with coqitas on my back in order to distract me from all the familiar uncomfortable aches. Oh how I wished today would have been one of those moments. Thankfully my mother knew that when I called asking for chicken noodle soup, that once again I was in need of her tender loving care. Sometimes my mother laughs at me thinking of how am I going to survive without her when I get married. SIMPLE I'm flying her up instantly no questions asked. I figure its much better than having her live with my husband and I. Honestly though I know that no one compares to my mothers care taking, but I'm sure she will give my loving husband to be a "How to Manual" in order for him to survive my needy moments.

Mom- thanks for all the extra hours you've put in, and the countless amount of love you have shown me. I just pray that I can in the future measure up to what you have done for me. I love You!

Rey is HOT!

                                             

                                       Wait it gets better...and the back says

                                    ...and I completely do, more than words!

Love language

Lately I've been hearing Merari and Anne Marie speak of this thing called "Your Love Language," and of course I listened as if I completely understood their madness. Eventually, they took time out to explain to me the different love languages. Apparently, there are 5 languages or as I like to call them categories that individuals fit into. I figured my two were quality time and personal touch, and the over eager beaver inside of me thought, I could be the only one who met all five languages, and then I snapped out of my diluted world (which is nice I might add) and decided to take the quiz. Of course I was right all along or at least mostly right, anyways who's counting. (Rey no comment)

The Five Love Languages

My primary love language is probably
Physical Touch
with a secondary love language being
Quality Time.

Complete set of results

Physical Touch:		9
Quality Time:		8
Words of Affirmation:		7
Acts of Service:		3
Receiving Gifts:		3

Information

Unhappiness in relationships, according to Dr. Gary Chapman, is often due to the fact that we speak different love languages. Sometimes we don't understand our partner's requirements, or even our own. We all have a "love tank" that needs to be filled in order for us to express love to others, but there are different means by which our tank can be filled, and there are different ways that we can express love to others.

Take the quiz

Transitions

This past Friday had to be one of the hardest transitions I’ve had to endure. Brigitte and I drove Rey and his father to the airport, as he was embarking on a new adventure in his life called seminary. I had been dreading that moment for weeks and finally it had come and I of course I wasn’t ready. For days leading up to Friday I was an emotional wreck trying to hide it from Rey since he had enough on his mind the last thing he needed was to worry about me. Unfortunately I broke in front of Rey and didn’t want him to see my pain. Thankfully I was able to go a couple of days without completely breaking down, until that dread moment arose. As I kissed Rey goodbye I tried so hard to hold back the tears but I couldn’t, it was like trying to stop a damn with a piece of gum, impossible.

I know this transition is necessary in order for Rey to become the man the Lord has in store for him. I’m confident that he will accomplish many things and grow even stronger with his walk in the Lord. My prayer for him is that the Lord will continue to protect him, and guide him through the many obstacles that await, and give him the strength to press on with times get rough.

As for me, I know that in time things will get better and the tears will begin to dry up, however right now everything reminds me of him. It’s the oddest thing, I will drive past something and all of a sudden I can recall a complete conversation Rey and I had at that specific moment. The oddity of that statement is I can barely remember what I did the day before. So you could only image what kind of tricks my mind is playing on me. Talking to him is particularly hard since I look forward to hearing his voice and connecting with him, but hanging up is difficult to do. I know it’s coming when we’ll say our goodbyes and yet the tears will begin to run down my face once again.

I just want to say thank you to all who have been there for me and have allowed me to cry on your shoulder, and drag me out so that I’m not home sulking. I love you all.

Rey, I love you more than words can express and I miss you terribly…I’m looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks. Till then I will cherish our many talks.