Good friends!

I wonder if there's anyone in the world who truly enjoys being alone all the time. Human beings are social creatures and even though most of the problems of the world have to do with relationships, we all feel the need for meaningful ones in our lives.

A friend of mine recently expressed the need to have better friends and the need to belong to a community. She realized that she didn't have many friends, and that the friends she had were not encouraging her in the direction she feels she should be going.

It is a fact that our friends have an impressive influence in our lives. People who are constantly around people who smoke will eventually smoke. People who befriend people who enjoy the outdoors tend to enjoy it too. We always hear of couples who have been married for several years and how they resemble each other in so many ways. It's not because they had so much in common when they got married, but because they were growing together and influencing each other daily.

I remember the counsel of my parents when growing up to be careful with the friends I chose, and they always stressed the importance of surrounding myself with people who would have a positive and godly influence on me. The Bible also has a lot of advice for us when it comes to relationships. God always encouraged the Israelites to not marry and mingle with people from pagan nations and we know very well what happened when they obeyed and when they disobeyed God.

We've been house hunting. It's supposed to be a fun and exciting experience, but it's not like that all the time. We almost bought a house that was so beautiful with big windows, lots of light, and a big yard. Then a friend came to help with the inspection and showed us parts of the house that we hadn't seen before such as the foundation and pointed to us problems that could end up costing us a lot. I'm so thankful for this friend who made sure we didn't get into more trouble than we could handle. So we didn't buy that house and the house hunting continues. But this past week was supposed to be the week when we would close on that first house and get the keys to our new place. I expressed to a friend my discouragement and told her that that day I could be getting the key to my new house. She was quick to get me out of whining mode by telling me that that day I could be getting the key to my biggest nightmare!

Boy, did that put me back in my place! I had no argument for that because I knew it was true, and even though I already knew it in my mind, it was important for me to be reminded of it. And God used my friend to encourage me and lift me up on a weak moment of my life.

Friends are great and being surrounded by people who encourage us in our journey through this life is so important. Whichever people we allow to influence us could make a difference in whether we will enjoy eternal life or not! So I encourage you to surround yourself with people who will lift you up! People who are godly and loving. Get yourself involved with a church family. If you're not married, choose your partner well. Let the people be a blessing to you, but don't stop there. Be a blessing to them. Choose well your relationships.

It's true that we will still have problems with our friends. After all we live in an imperfect world. But if they are good friends the misunderstandings and problems will not affect the friendship and may even strengthen it!

On this journey through life on earth, I know where I want to end up. Soon my Savior is coming to pick me up and take me to Heaven and I want to surround myself with people who will encourage me on this. And there we will enjoy real, intimate, and trouble-free relationships forever!

 

http://www.walk-this-way.com/encourage.htm

"Encourage one another and build each other up!"

I Thessalonians 5:11

"Two are better than one. If they fall down they can help each other up. But pity those who fall and have no one to help them up!"

Ecclesiastes 4:10

In the middle of the storm

Have you ever felt that God was far away? Especially when going through a trial? I know I have... in fact I'm wanting to feel that way right now. But even though I feel discouraged at this moment, there is this amazing book that tells me I am not alone during this time. When I read the Bible, the book that reveals to me the Awesome God I serve, I learn that when I'm going through difficult times, God is right beside me. How comforting to know that I don't have to rely of my ever changing feelings to know that God is always with me.

So even though I am in the middle of a storm right now, I know I am not alone. Even though I don't see the sun shining, I know it is right behind the clouds, and I just need to quietly wait until the clouds go away. And they will. A storm never lasts forever :)

Last week we celebrated Mother's Day and we gave roses to the women of our church. As I was preparing the roses I was having an interesting time trying to remove all of the thorns from the roses. Some of those thorns are pretty small and difficult to remove. I was thinking how such a beautiful flower can have such annoying little pokey stuff all over its stem. Then I thought that while on this earth we will have to feel the thorns that sin has caused, but God can remove all of the thorns. And one day, very soon, He will!

One day, very soon, He'll send His Son Jesus to come get His children and take us to a place where sin will not exist and where I will live forever, through eternity, in the bright and beautiful presence of my God. Can't wait!

Until then I'll just ride the storm praising God, because that's what He created me for, to praise Him. And I only have reasons to do so!

"We know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him.

Romans 8:28

"Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength, 

they will soar on wings like eagles,

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:31

Two suitcases!

There I was, sitting in the middle of my bedroom, surrounded by my stuff, trying to decide what to bring. I was having a hard time deciding on which clothes would work better for the weather and what else could I take with me. It was not going to be a short trip.

Less than 6 months before I had gone through the most difficult experience of my life. I had lost my father to cancer and my life, as I knew it, was being changed forever. I was angry with God and had told Him to forget that I existed. If after all the prayer for my dad He hadn't healed him, which I knew He could've so easily done, then I didn't want anything to do with Him anymore!

But there I was on the floor, trying to decide what to bring to the next chapter of my life... a chapter that God was writing, even though I had told Him to forget me. God had placed in my family's life some wonderful friends who came together at a most difficult time for us and provided for our needs. And one of the ways they did that was by paying my way through school at a Christian university in the United States. This brought some direction to my life, for at that time I felt lost.

All I could bring on the plane were two suitcases. They laid there open on the floor while I put in and out the things that I thought I would need for the next 4 years while I finished my degree. I just couldn't decide on what I would need or could bring and I was there in my room for several hours trying to make up my mind. My mom came to my rescue and with her help I was able to decide on what to bring. We closed the two suitcases and put them close by the door.

It's been almost 15 years since that day. During my college years, God introduced me to a wonderful man and friend who asked me to be his wife. I didn't go back to my home country as planned, but now I can see that this was part of that new chapter of my life that God was and has been writing. Living and growing with my husband has been the most wonderful experience on my life. He is a blessing in so many ways and after all these years of being married, I can see how God has blessed me in so many amazing ways every single day of my life. Not one day has been wasted by Him. After some spiritual growing, God blessed us with a gift straight from His hands that we plan and are working on taking to Heaven: our child. What a joy! And I have learned so much since being a mom and I so understand not only that children are a blessing from God, but also that we need to have a heart like a child if we want to inherit Heaven!

During these past 15 years God has placed amazing people in my life, great friends, people who have helped me in my growth. In fact, my whole life is surrounded by amazing people! People whom God has used to shape me in to the person I am today and I am so grateful for every single one of them.

 The Bible says that God sets the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6) and this is so true! I am so glad that sometimes God answers our prayers with a no because that's exactly what He said when I told Him to forget I existed!

15 years ago I brought two suitcases with me for my new life. I think now we need a semi-truck to haul all our blessings!

Thank you Heavenly Father for Your love that I know I don't deserve. I love You too...

" God defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigners residing among you, giving them food and clothing"

Deuteronomy 10:18

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling"

Psalm 68:5

Jumping up and down!

I am a mess! I so wish I wasn't but I am. I struggle every day against it, but I just can't do it. I am a mess! Another word for this mess that I am is sinner. Yup! I am a sinner. :(

The Bible says that sin is separation from God, but have you noticed how the devil uses this reality to bring a huge burden on us? I disobey God and I think that that's it! God can't forgive me. I can never approach Him anymore. I'm doomed! Or maybe we think that we can do something to appease God so He'll look on us with favor and we go through the struggle and sometimes embarrassment of making things right on our own. I don't know if this has been your experience, but it has been mine. But this is not how God says it is. The truth is different and so much more beautiful.

Earlier this week I was talking with a friend about king David. We were talking about how He committed adultery and murder and God still called David a man after His own heart. Then I showed my friend I Kings 14:8 where God says that David always followed His commandments and did only what was right in His eyes. When she read that her eyes opened wide and she was so excited about what we had just read that she was almost jumping up and down! I was thinking later that God's word is amazing because there I learn about God. He is Incredible to forgive in a way that He looked at David and saw no sin! David had confessed his sin and God forgave. End of discussion!

I remember struggling with the mental anguish of disobeying God and thinking that God probably looked at me and only saw my sin. He could forgive David, but not me. I'm a mess! But I started to realize that these thoughts were not according to God's word. God says that if I confess my sins He will forgive and cleanse me from ALL the bad things I've done. I John 1:9 I asked God to help me, but I was still feeling distant from Him and thought that I probably would have to just face the day with a heavy conscience until I would finally start to feel some peace. God doesn't work like that either and even though I was feeling distant from Him, He was very near helping me through this experience.

That's when I remembered how it is in my own life. When my son disobeys me and realizes that what he did was wrong, his natural reaction is to want to be close to me and ask for forgiveness. He doesn't say I'm sorry and leave the room. He's not afraid of my wrath (at least I hope he's not!) No! He says I'm sorry and comes close to me. He's confident on the fact that I want to forgive and to show him how much I love him. And I can't wait to hold him in my arms and to say how much I love him and how proud I am of him.

This is how God deals with us. Incredible how after all these years of being a Christian in my weakness I can think that I can't come to God and be accepted. He is ready to forgive and to love and to embrace me and say how proud He is of me.

And the burden of sin is lifted and He fills me with peace and joy for being His child. I was reading in a book about God's forgiveness called The Ministry of Healing and it says this: "The heaviest burden that we bear is the burden of sin. If we were left to bear this burden, it would crush us. But Jesus has taken our place... He will take the load from our weary shoulders. He will give us rest. He invites us to cast all our care upon Him, for He carries us upon His heart. Wherever we may be, He is at our right hand, to support, maintain, uphold, and cheer."

What an amazing God. Now it's my turn to jump up and down because I have been forgiven!!

 

" If you Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?

But with You there is forgiveness,

So that we can, with reverence, serve You."

Psalm 130:3,4

Miracles!

Tuesday I had to make a short trip in my car. Just three minutes one way. I had been busy working all day, so God used those three minutes alone to help me realize once again, how Great He is!

Miracles... it has been a process for me to understand this aspect of God. Does God do miracles? Without a doubt! How often? Well... in my experience not that often. Or has He? I have thought before that God is not that much involved in our lives. He's there making sure the world doesn't fall from space and that we don't wipe each other from existence, but He's not that involved in our lives in a personal level. I know this is far from truth, but my brain has led me to think like that in the past.

I pray I never go back to that way of thinking because it's a lie! God is always so near to His children, taking care of every little aspect of our existence. He's an active participant in what we do, from the books we choose to read, the meal we order at the restaurant, to the bigger things such as whom we marry, the birth of our children, the house we purchase, our health, and so much more. But for a logical person like me, sometimes God allows me to live experiences that help me realize He is so much bigger than I think! Lately I've been learning about miracles through the stories of three babies. Three amazing babies who have challenged my logical mind and who have no idea how much I have been learning through them.

Last year I had the privilege of witnessing the birth of an amazing little girl who had to enter the world a little earlier then expected. As soon as she was born she let go of a little cry, but then got quiet. As the nurses stood beside us trying to revive her little body, the thought that things could go terribly wrong entered my mind. I started praying intensively and placed her life in God's hands. In an instant her little body turned pink and she started crying. It was the most beautiful cry I've ever heard!

Then the daughter-in-law of a close friend found out she was pregnant. She and her husband had been trying to have a baby, but her previous pregnancies had ended in the terrible disappointment of a miscarriage. Now she found herself pregnant and decided to have an early ultrasound. At 7 weeks it is possible to see the tiny baby with a little heart beating. The baby could be seen during the ultrasound, but no heart beating. It was an incredibly sad moment and I didn't know what to say. I only could pray and that's exactly what I did. Me and several other people prayed for a miracle, because God is the only One who can truly see inside the womb. The Bible says that God forms our body in that secret place and He has a plan for us from that very beginning. So this mother decided to have another ultrasound a week later. As she was in the room I remember sitting with a friend praying and asking God for a miracle. God could...He created us. That wasn't difficult for Him...but it would be incredible for us. And you know what? He honored our request and that day that mother saw her baby with a little heart beating. And it has been beating for almost 30 weeks now. Just a few more weeks and I'll get to meet him!

Several weeks ago a close relative had to be admitted to the hospital due to complications from her pregnancy. She was 26 weeks pregnant. The doctors tried to control her situation hopping to wait until she was at least 30 weeks and then deliver the baby if needed. If you read about premature births you'll find out that babies have a greater chance of survival and fewer complications after 30 weeks. Earlier than that and there's a chance of all sorts of possible problems and complications. Sometimes being a health professional is not very good because you understand the risks. I knew what all that meant so I started asking God to help this mother stay healthy enough for another month until the baby was at least 30 weeks. If she could wait until week 30, I knew things would most likely be all right. But she didn't. At week 28 the baby had to be delivered.

The amazing thing about this beautiful little girl is that she hasn't had hardly any complications at all. She's just been quietly and beautifully growing on the outside what she should have grown on the inside. She spent a little over a month in the hospital and has been home for a few weeks now. She's tiny, but perfect, beautiful... amazing!

And this is what that three minute car ride made me realize. If this baby had been born at week 30 and had had no complications, I would think that it was just because she was born after week 30. But she was born at week 28 and has had no complications. I can't explain that... it was all God!

It is always God. Ever so interested in our lives and on what goes on with each one of us. Always using every situation, good or bad, for our good and to help us grow. I know from these three experiences that I grew a lot. I witnessed the power of an Amazing God who controls everything and who loves us so much. Wow! How can I not love Him back?

I know God doesn't do a miracle every time we have a problem. I don't know why and I really don't have to know. It is for me to only trust. But I know that whatever happens must be for His glory and He has used three beautiful babies to teach this child of His that He is the God of miracles and that I shouldn't be able to explain everything. Some things are truly impossible for me, but possible for Him. What an Amazing God!

http://www.hebbefoto.se/

"With God all things are possible..."

Matthew 19:26

I am a friend of God

I'm a musician. I've been exposed to music from an early age and I've had several years of formal music education. And I like music a lot!
I don't know how it is for most people, but for me what catches my attention at first is the music itself. I listen first to the melody and harmonies, the instrumentation, the rhythm. If there are words in a song, it usually takes me a couple times of listening to the song to finally start paying attention to the words. It happens sometimes in a song that I really like the music but after listening to the words I don't care for it anymore. Other times the music doesn't appeal to me and the words won't stand a chance! With exceptions of course. Other times the words and the music are just that perfect combination and the song becomes one of my favorites.

I heard a song on the radio a few days ago that really got my attention. The first part of the song has a melody and harmony that are catchy and done well. The second part of the song is a little too noisy for my taste, but has a nice harmony to it as well. Then I started paying attention to the words. I am a friend of God it says.

"There it goes for a nice song" I thought. Sometimes I'm a little unsure of saying that God is my friend. So many times He isn't given the respect and fear that we ought to give Him. We treat God as a buddy, the man upstairs, the old guy up there. Sometimes we treat God a little too familiar and we think of Him as less than who He truly is! This is the God of the universe we're talking about!

But then I started thinking about my close friends. These are people that know me so well and with whom I can share anything. Even my crazy silly thoughts and ideas. I can be myself and be confident that I won't be judged. They love me no matter what. We laugh, we cry, we have dreams and make plans. And even when I don't give them much of my time and attention, they are eager to be with me and share their life with me and the friendship doesn't go away.

And these friends are people I have the utmost respect for. I love them and I want them to be happy. I want the best for them and I want them to find joy in me.

God is like this and so much more. He longs to spend time with me. He is there for me when I'm happy and when I'm sad. He has a strong and comforting embrace available  for me whenever I need it. He wants to know all my thoughts and ideas, even my crazy silly ones. He wants to be with me all the time, sharing every aspect of my life. He thinks of me and wants me to be happy. He loves me. I can be myself with Him. I can go to Him with any question, any problem or perplexity and He gives me wisdom and peace. And the Bible says that He takes great delight in me and even rejoices over me with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17) How incredible! The God of the universe breaks out in song because of me!

What a Friend!

The amazing thing is that the more time I spend with God, the more time I want to spend with Him. I really miss it whenever we don't get to talk at the beginning of my day. And the more time we spend together, the more I get to know Him and enjoy this friendship. He is truly my best Friend. How incredible that He wants to be my friend, that He thinks of me and that He loves me! It's amazing!

" Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness; and he was called 
God's friend." 
James 2:23

"The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend." Exodus 33:11