What do you long for?

Dear Friends,

   I found this piece in my poetry collection, and felt that it was important to share it with you.  These are words for all who long after a pure heart.  "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Mt. 5:8  

Guidance for her troubled heart

by Joanna, 2009

Grow up...

 
Be the woman that God called her to be

Bear the fruit of the Spirit

Cast her cares upon God

 

Don't worry about tomorrow...
 

Stop repressing

Start expressing

Deal with it properly

Keep on believing

Believe some more

BELIEVE

Don't give up...

Be humble...

  

Be sincere...

Forgive others, that it may be forgiven her...

Forgive herself, that she may find peace and true joy

Live every day without regrets...

Rest...

Remember who she is in Christ (a new creation) and remember His everlasting love for her...

Reach for the stars...

Be a blessing. Serve...give...smile...share...touch...Care

"You saw me thirsty and gave me to drink...naked and clothed me, hungry and you did not turn me away."

Mt. 25:34-36

"Drink from the living water that you may never thirst again." 

Jn 4:13-14

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 

Mt. 11:29-30

Beloved sisters,  walk in these things and you will be blessed.  The light of God will be with you because you are walking in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior. 


I love you each dearly, and pray that you call upon Him who is able to mend our hearts.

Masquerade: What to make of images and flattery?

Will the real story please step forward?

How easy it is to get caught up in the false flattery of the world and to get stuck up on some "image."  Its either I want to be like that, or I am like this. 

Yet outside appearances are so shallow and so easily mistaken.  Some become very good at putting on a smile even if they do feel like crap and this is called good "customer service."  Some are very good at putting that same smile on their life, and this is called "trying to fit in with everyone else.'"  Maybe they don't want to "inconvenience" others with their needs, when it is really pride keeping them from confiding in another.  How many times have they confided in you?   Yet sometimes it seems the needs are too great... People can only take so much.  its true.  and while God gave us relationships so that we can be an encouragement to each other and help lift the good out of people and be there for one another.  Sometimes it is simply difficult to express such needs to others... the need that they should encourage you.  Why, its one thing to be the one encouraging them, and it is good to do so actively, because we thrive from encouragement from one another, but sometimes, its difficult to ask for such encouragement from someone else.

Its truly a good thing to feel good about yourself... It is good to go forward and push ahead and reach for the stars and dreams.  And BELIEVE that it will be done.

Sometimes life feels like a masquerade.  When I feel down, I definitely don't want to take anyone down in that pit with me, so what happens?

I feel convicted from any people pleasing or falsehood that has corrupted my way.  That has caused me to step outside of my limits for the sake of someone else.  In this instance that would do them no good.  It will not make the person feel good for causing you to step outside of your comfort.  I don't know what this is that causes me to alejar from the people who could help me most, but when I am specifically feeling that i am failing in something, and if I need help, I feel instead that my "friends' will judge me, and I have a hard time asking for that help.  I know that I can say no and should practice it more.  I sometimes feel fine about something, but then go away and feel uneasy in my heart as if I am going beyond what I wanted to do.

I hope and pray that my love for God is not so back and forth.  That I do not say to him, yes I will yes I will, while all the while my heart says, wait. stop. no.   I do not want such a foolish naive and wimpy indefensive thing.

I know what I practiced as a child, and it had to do with submission.  In my childlike understanding, it was important to put the needs of others on a pedestal.  I do not know why this happened, but I felt that if I were to be like Christ, and "take up my cross" and follow him, then I would put to death any self will and serve others.

I do not say that I was not still the same little girl who loved to have my daddy's smile and pleasure, and intentionally put myself in a place to receive it.  I think I thought that he would love me more if I was the best behaved, if I helped him to take care of the people in the family then it wouldn't be such a big burden for him.  I wanted to help.  I wanted to serve.

Perhaps in a way, my world was still all about me.  Sure, I wanted to serve God with all my heart, and I loved him so much, well, He saved me out of  my sins.  What was there not to serve.  I loved him, and beyond that, I felt his call to ministry on my life. 

What if the very devil himself masquerades so well that his face appears like that so beautiful one would not recognize his countenance as evil.  How many will he deceive?

I will not be among the deceived who receive his wicked way.  For I follow the one and only true God,  the great I AM who was is and will be.

This world is not my home and I know that I am an alien here.  It has been my greatest comfort since I was young, that I would one day be with you, Yah.  It is a beautiful thing.

Lagrimas

Las lagrimas salen de mis ojos
A pensar en lo que aprendí

Se vale mis palabras?
El ruego de mi corazon se oye?

La pureza cuesta, amor me cuesta
Mi garganta está seca, no puedo parar

Los imagenes son sus dioses
Toman lugar secreto de sus corazones

Imagenes vergonzosas y sensuales
Enemigos de Dios, ellas

Dios, por favor escucha mi oracion. Hay nadie que haya guardado? hay ninguna que no ha vuelto sus ojos?

Las trampas del diablo a mi tambien me han engañado. Si voy a juzgar, me juzgo primeramente a mi misma.

Pero, el dolor de mi corazon esta presente. Las palabras inexplicables ni quiero vocalizarlas.

Por favor Dios, ayudanos. Vuelvanos a su santo santuario. Mi corazon está rota.

Mi Dios, se me disilusiona la vida. Se derrite todo mi ser. Para que he esperado si no es en ti? Para que me he mantenido si no era para honrarte?

pero todavia una esperanza viene del profundo... si hay unas gotas de esperanza allí. Y dicen...

Señor, No hay por lo menos uno?

Me conoces desde mi profundo y de mi juventud. Por favor Señor, guardalo en sus brazos, protegelo de la tentación. Protege la pureza de su corazon y traelo sano.

Me conoces Señor. Y te pido en el nombre de su Hijo Jesus con gracias.

Make your best friend a priority

My dear friends,

It has been some time since I have written you. I wanted to share with you something that has been on my journey right now.

God has been opening my eyes to a weakness that has stopped me from receiving the fullness of His presence.

A pure heart must be protected and guarded. If we are really doing everything possible to raise up a standard of purity, we must "pull out all the stops."

I am doing a new challenge. I must start somewhere, and I will keep you posted as to how it goes. Since I really desire to have a pure heart, and that God should be the receptor and the giver of love to fill my soul, then I need to prioritize my relationships.

Prioritizing our relationships is not always an easy thing. Time can be easily swallowed on chat programs on the computer, or friendships that feed something in us, ...

I recognize that I must choose to be intentional. I have had poor boundaries with time. I have not listened always to what is most important and actually given food for the fire of unhealthy or inconsistent relationships.

I'm so thankful that God is so patient and doesn't give up on my slow learning.

My best friend, (God), should be my first priority. My other best friends should be girls... unless of course I am going to marry some guy.

I guess that is just the way I see it. So, I have had a couple of guy friends who I would consider best friends... but, the time and energy I give to those relationships can and does cause other feelings to develop. I am learning, and slowly I might add, that those friendships end up causing confusion.

Confusion is not of God.

Worth the wait

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f30S5KMJArI&feature=related
Watch this story!

This is an adorable story of two lovers. Who had their very first kiss on their wedding day.

"All things are possible for those who believe."

Psalms 37:23-24 says,

"If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds his hand."

Be strong! X O X O

Once upon a time

What does it really mean to maintain a standard of purity?

As I look out my window this morning, the playground was full of young teens and youth. There is a mentorship program right next to my house that meets on Sundays. Today, as I looked out, I observed a scene where two youth were playing in the grass and exchanged kisses. They were young, and I was stunned at the way that they embraced especially knowing that they came from that youth mentorship. They kissed without any shame, without a care that they were outdoors in public. A young girl nearby began to fight with this bigger guy... another guy pulled her away by putting his hand around her waist.

Some good friends (Christian friends at that)think that kissing a girl means that they are only good friends exploring their options of something more serious.

What is our world coming to? I had a great conversation with my mother today about purity. She was concerned about the seeming lack of holiness and protection that we are now living with.

What fashionable clothing do you wear that is causing men to sin? My friends,

The Bible says that a man who looks at a women and lusts after her has already committed the sin in his heart?

What are we doing? Isn't the church supposed to set an example for the unbelievers in speech, dress?

Thats what I read in my Bible.

When good wasn't good enough

Dear sisters,

Paul exhorts his mentor Timothy in his letter recognizing the weaknesses of youth, because of the passions in our hearts. He says

"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith. love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Timothy 3:22

also the Psalmist writes,

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your Word!" Psalms 119:9

I have a confession to make to you all. All of my life I have concentrated on being the best. I felt so grateful because of the sacrifice that my LOVING SAVIOR Jesus Christ had made for me, and forever indebted myself to him. I wanted nothing else than to be indentured to him. Do you know what an indentured servant is?

Well,
An indentured servant is a slave that has been set free. They have already paid all of their debt to the master or they have been forgive their debt, and so they are set free to go. They no longer owe him anything. But this slave, for some reason, decides that he wants to continue on with his master. He (or she) chooses (of their own free will) to continue in the service of his or her master, and "indentures" him or herself to the master. This means that they are giving back the keys to him to work for him forever.

An indentured servant becomes like another member of the household. Perhaps this slave chose this life because they did not have anyone, perhaps it was because of a deep gratitude or love for the family.

Well, There was nothing I wanted more than to belong to my King> he was my best friend. I could cry and Jesus would hold me, and I could laugh for no reason, and Jesus didn't make fun of me. Jesus understood my jokes, listened when no one else would, and even shared letters, dinners and desserts with me, as well as beautiful nature and conversations.

He is the most romantic that I could ever meet, and I cherish His company more than anything.

Yet he is so ilusive and mysterious. I go looking for him sometimes and cannot find him. He keeps my interest in a crazy way, and when I least expect it surprises me with special gifts.

There is just NO ONE good enough to replace him. and I have quickly realized that all my intentions to love him, all my desire to give to him, was just never good enough. I could never give him enough,and I have broken things that I have promised him. Why, I am so enthralled and so delighted,

My friends, This God does not judge me, has not cast me away. I am not worthy of His love. He is my romantic lover and I have hurt him. Yet< He still loves me!!!

HE loves me and he is good!!!!! OUR GOOD CAN NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH!

But He... EL SHADDAI... MIGHTY GOD... PROTECTOR . . . HeALER . . . FRIEND . . .

He is GOOD... HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO IS GOOD!!!

The most glorious experience you could ever have, you would find in my LOVER. He is not double minded like mankind. He will not leave you ever, even though He knows all about you. Run to Him and you will never be disappointed.

Other men will never satisfy you the way He does, and as you seek him, He will bring you into the right relationships with man. He does want you to be happy and fulfilled, and He wants to know you profoundly. He waits for you to discover Him.