How He Love Us

There was a time when I was on the mission field in Israel and I came down with a cold in the summer of 2001. (It was a bad cold and I could not get out of bed because I was feeling dizzy.) I was with a team of 10 people who went on a field trip to the city while I stayed alone in a room sick. In my room, I did not have a nice comfortable bed, a TV to waste the time away while I was sick, AC or any company. I was all alone accept only with my Bible. There was another point where I cried my self to sleep because I was in so much pain. I cried to the Lord with my Bible asking the Lord to heal me. At the end of the day, my friend Flori came to my rescue to give me some food to eat and to prayed with me. The next day, I received a call from my dad asked if I was ok which my friend told my dad that I was feeling under the weather. I was happy that my dad called to checked on me because I missed my dad while I was sick. As I reflect those moment which I will never forget when I was sick but I thought of this song as I was singing this morning call “How He Love US ”.

Be Blessed.
Isleen

http://johnmarkmcmillan.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-he-loves-david-crowder-and-sloppy.html

How He Loves US
Verse: 1
He is jealous for me
Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
and I realize just how beautiful You are and how great your affections are for me.
Oh, how He loves us so
Oh, how He loves us
How He loves us so.

Yeah, He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves.

Verse 2:
So we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way

That he loves us,
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves

He loves us,
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves


Pre-Chorus
Cause He loves us,
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves

Chorus: 1
Yeah, He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves

You are the salt of the earth

Monday mornings are not my best days out of the week. I hate to see the weekend fly by me because I have short weekend. I work second job on the weekends to get by. When I heard a man on the radio station saying this verse it really touched me that morning but it really made me think deeply about my faith and how I was facing my trials in my life.

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?

We are all salts of the earth and the Lord made each one of us special in his eyes but as Christians are we strong inside? Can Christians stand their faith when they go through trials in their lives? Many of us go through trials but don’t turn to the Lord. Do we get on our knees? Do we read our Bibles? Do we talk to the Lord?

In trials, we sometimes don’t turn to the Lord but to things that are comfortable to us. I will be honest with many of you to say when I have trials in my life I look to TV as my friend instead of the Lord. TV helps me get away from the trials in my life that I am facing at that moment. I don’t want to face the reality of the trials in my life. Watching Ugly Betty will help me fulfilled the void that I have. When I get tired from TV and then I realize my issue of my trials then I turn to the Lord.
It is never easy to face trials in our life but the Lord can take our burden and make it light to give it up to him. Worship is the key to come to the Lord and give everything to the Lord. Sometimes I open my Bible to the book of Psalms.

According to this website the information Psalms:
The word psalm comes from the Greek word psalmos, which means a song sung while accompanied by a stringed instrument. The Hebrews referred to the psalms as songs of praise.

These beautiful verses express the full range of human emotions, but are mainly meant to show praise to the Creator, who, with unconditional love, provides all comfort and joy to religious believers.

Who Wrote the Psalms?

Many of the psalms are said to be written by King David, but he is not the only author. Long before King David, Moses wrote psalms.David’s son, Solomon, also wrote psalms.
http://biblestudies.suite101.com/article.cfm/facts_about_the_book_of_psalms_for_bible_study#ixzz0UUbjH2RZ

If you are going through trials look to the Lord for your answer and don’t turn to something that will fulfilled your comfortable zone.

Matthew 11:28-30
28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Isleen

Journal Entry on September 13, 2009

Journal Entry on September 13, 2009


I sit in a plane looking outside of my window. I am looking down at the Grand Canyon and I am amazed by the Grand Canyon . I remembered the last time I went to the Grand Canyon when I was 7 years old in 1987. Time passes you quickly when you are not looking.

Going to my high school reunion was something I had looked forward for a long time and being caught up with each others lives. In high school, we were all young and immature and did not know too much outside of the high school. I remembered going to school @ 7am before school started @ 8:10am. I had spoken to my classmates at the lunch table about with the latest news, gossip, or what was happened in their lives. It seemed it was yesterday that I had sat at that lunch table with my classmates.

I went to my class reunion and I saw high school graduates who became mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, college students, college graduates, grads graduates, etc and to become something than just high school graduates. We all made our lives into a different picture than it was in the year of 1999.

I heard from my former classmates of their kids, job careers lessons, struggles in school, relationship issues, family members with cancer, working through school, and the lessons we had learned in life. The lessons we are still are still learning as an adult.

When I look back, I think of how I hated high school. I felt trapped inside of my high school wanted to get out. When I walked outside of high school, the world was a lot different. As I became older, I did not think about myself like I used but now I was thinking of other people who needed me to help them with their struggles, to be encouraged, loving them unconditional. I do not think I was the same person when I was in high school.

Isleen

Humble

Are we humble Christians? Do we pride ourselves to the world that we are better because we are Christians? Do you humble yourself in the eyes of the Lord?

Picking up other people’s trash in public restrooms is not favorite thing to do. Many years ago, I was at local restaurant with my family and I went to the restroom. When I arrived in the restroom, I noticed a vase with fresh flowers and it was different sight than I am usually seen in the public restroom. Out of now, I hear, the Lord says to me, “Isn’t this room beautiful because of those flowers?” I had to agree with the Lord. At the corner of my eye, I noticed there were used paper towels that had been thrown on the floor. I did not want to pick up the paper towels because I did not throw it on the floor. “I did not work for the restaurant and why should I pick up the paper towels as I was saying to myself. I humble myself in picking up the paper towels and in my heart, I knew the Lord was pleased with me. Picking up trash in that restroom many years ago with no one around was done in obedience to the Lord.

Jesus did not have a reputation and he had taken himself as a bond servant. Jesus did not care of what others thought of him but did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Jesus humbles himself by dying on the cross for us. Would you die on the cross for someone’s life? What makes you humble?

James 4:10:

10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.

By Isleen Rodriguez

Autumn Season

A new season has begun and I am excited of what this new season will bring in my life and the life of others around me. At the end of my August, I saw my roommate being proposal by her long time boyfriend on her 34th birthday. Clifford & I were emotional as we saw my roommate being proposal by her boyfriend.

My niece, Raya started to walk her first few steps which we were amazed by her effort to walk and not craw anymore. Her big sister Lily had started kindergarten a week before September. Miss Lily is growing up and it is hard to believe that she was once a baby.

I found out that my sister in law would be expecting a baby in 9 months. May due date is on the calendar. This is exciting news because this will be first child for my sister in law & my younger brother. I have been waiting a long time for this and I cannot wait to be auntie for the third time. Yipe!

What is in store for me during this autumn season in my life? I will be going to my 10th year reunion from my high school. It has been 10 years ago that I was in high school and so many things have changed in my life. I am not the same teenager when I was in high school. I have learned a lot in the past 10 years about life. There are so many stories that I cannot wait to share with some of my former classmates. In one of my classes, I was favorite to have a daycare of my own one day which hasn’t happened. I don’t think I am going to open a daycare anytime soon but I enjoy listening to people talk about their lives. I can spend countless hours just talking to one person and counseling with them.

This month I will be going to Napa Valley in California and experience a California tour with my parents. I am never too old to travel with my parents because I enjoy being around them. Look out for the pictures at the end of this month.

I am also thinking of going back to school to take some career classes in Excel or Access at the community college. I decided to put off Medical Billing & Coding classes until after the winter. I think it is important to keep up with your career and updating your skills no matter what job you are at in your career. You are showing your boss that you care and you are willing sacrifice your time to learn something new.

What is new in your life? What bring new in this new season?

Isleen

Keyna

I have been reading Red Moon Rising and it is amazing book to read. If you don't have this in your libary please go to store and get yourself a copy of this book.

Each night, I come upon an interesting passage but when I was reading this one passage one night about Mikes' story. Mike's life story will amaze you on how thr Lord raised him up from the streets. Here is a section if you don't have the book. Please read on.....

"All things are impossible with the Lord."

Isleen

Red Moon Rising by Pete Greig & Dave Roberts
Kenya P. 40-42


Mike’s instinctive approach to church planting had been simple. He gathered a dozen friends in a room, and they prayed nonstop for forty days. The two who didn’t have jobs had to cover most of the night shifts by themselves, as well a ferry the others to their prayer slots in a beaten up old car. But they did it. They just assumed that this was the way you should plant a church.

Mike Brawan was orphaned at the age of eight when his mother and father were both killed in a car accident. With no one else willing to look after him, he was abandoned and simply left to survive by himself in the streets of Eldoret in Kenya, Africa. For the next six years, Mike slept under the trucks and ate when he could scavenge for rubbish bins. The town’s bus station often provided a place of warmth and shelter and was also a place he learned to steal from the waiting passengers.

At the age of fourteen, Mike situation grew even worse: A friend who had lived on the streets with him was killed when the truck he was sleeping under moved. Grieving from loss again, Mike got arrested for stealing. By the time Mike was released, he had already tried to kill himself. What hope was there for a street kid like him?

Desperate for hope, Mike attended an evangelistic rally at the city stadium. “It was as if the Lord Jesus was speaking directly to me,” he recalled, and that night the orphaned street-kid quietly committed his life to Christ.

Mike continued to live on the street and was eventually poisoned by some food he had scavenged. Taken into the hospital by some kind Christians, his condition became critical. The street kid was expected to die.

But God had different ideas, and that night, a “glowing doctor” (as Mike would later describe him) appeared at the foot of the dying boy’s bed. In the morning, Mike woke to confound the doctors. He had been completely healed. Upon discharge, he was invited to live with a Christian family who taught him to read and write and encouraged Mike to go back to school. It was the first real care anyone had shown him since the day he had lost hi parents.

Eight years later, I met Mike, now twenty-two. He was studying in England with a view of establishing a ministry for street kids like him back in Kenya. I was stunned by his testimony and amazed to hear that impressed me, and with highsight, I realize that his young African understood far more about “God strategy for taking Jericho” than we did with our cool music and our clever books.

After forty days, they went out and began to preach. On the first day, they began to preach once again. This time a crazy homeless kept heckling them, until eventually he gave his life to the Lord. This was their first convert, and the transformation in him was so marked that many others followed. Mike’s church, planted through prayer, grew quickly and now had several hundred members, including a local politician.

Mike’s story has sown a seed in my mind. Even prior to this trip, we had been convicted about continual prayer by Mike’s example in Kenya, and there had been some discussion about the feasibility of a similar forty-day stand. But now, finding myself in Hernnhut, the idea was making more sense than ever. Suddenly. Continual prayer didn’t seem so outrageous or ridiculous. In fact, it was starting to seem like a perfectly natural thing for a church to do.

Just thirty-seven days later a candle would be lit that would unwittingly spark a new Moravian movement of prayer and mission. But first we had to drive south to Prague, on the way. God would hijack us once again…….

10 % of my money is His

10 % of my money is His

There is a good lesson that I have learned so, pay close attention to my story. A month ago, my parents and I had a small talk about tithing in the church. They asked me if I had tithe, which I told them, “yes.” I did not tell my parents that I did not tithe the whole amount because money being tight with my living cost, pay off credit cards & school loans. My boyfriend has been telling me almost the same thing having $1000 in my emergency fund. Thanks Dave Ramsey!!!

A month ago, I had a small accident with my car and so many issues that came with this accident. From the police report, the person who caused the accident, the insurance and getting different quotes in the 100 degree weather. I had a plan on getting my car fixed as soon as possible but it has been a hassle to deal with the insurance. I finally found a solution by getting in touch with the local estimator from a GM Collision center. The estimator contact the insurance and he found out that they were to pay 90 % of my car and 10 % I had to pay due to Driver inattention & unsafe speed for traffic condition. I was upset when I found out that I had to pay 10 % of the accident because it was not my fault. The person who drove a Mustang was speeding and hydroplane on the highway. I felt like I should get 100 % of my car fixed but I had to pray the reason on why I had to pay 10 %. The answer came to me when I was at stop light. 10 % is for my tithe. You see I was covered 90 % in the accident and 10 % is what I have to pay. In a way, I feel like I have been robbing G-d on not paying my 10 % as my tithe out of my checks. I told my dad the story and he laughed because it makes sense.

Are we robbing G-d with our money? Are we tithing in the church like we are suppose to? I looked up one of the verses that really speaks to me which is in:

Malachi 3:8:

“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!

“But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’

“You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.

Another verse is in:

Malachi 3:10:
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,”
says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

Isleen

Marathon Runner

Marathon Runner

Running a marathon is hardest goal for someone to achieve because it takes time and effort to achieve this goal to run for a 26 miles. I have not yet to achieve to run a marathon race but I would like to run in a marathon race in the near future. According to one website which they talk about preparing a marathon race,

“This can be a journey can be prepare by running a few times a week, varying the time, distance and speed in order to maximize his or her training. Common preparations for races up to a half marathon routinely involve running distances exceeding that of the race itself. Most medical professionals, however, recommend that marathon runners not exceed the 26.2 miles before race day, because studies have shown that such long-distance training can break the body down more than can be easily repaired.

A common marathon-training plan has a runner steadily building up the total number of miles or kilometers run per week and the number of miles or kilometers covered in each run. Marathon runners usually have the longest run on the weekend, with the distance of that long run steadily increasing until it reaches a maximum of 20 or 22 miles (about 32.19 or 35.41 km). Shorter runs during the week will be a mixture of time and distance, with the overall goal to maintain fitness and to build strength and endurance.

As with other athletes, marathon runners will need to pay close attention to the food and drink that they consume, not only during training runs but also at other times during the weeks and months leading up to the race. Proper nutrition, with moderated intake of fat and concentration on carbohydrates and proteins, is vital to a marathon runner’s success. The food and drink that a marathon runner takes in during training runs should be first and foremost easily digestible. Especially on longer runs, the body needs increasing numbers of calories that can deliver both quick and long-lasting fuel. Running is an activity that can be extremely hard on the body and its nutritional needs, and a marathon runner especially needs to replenish lost fuel, both during and after a run.

Many sports experts recommend that a marathon runner also do other athletic things. Such cross-training activities can be cycling, swimming, aerobics, skiing, walking or a host of other sports. The idea behind cross-training is to keep the body in shape while giving it a rest from the heavy pounding that running creates.”

Right now in my life, I feel like I am preparing a marathon race with going to these extra classes at the community college and working both of my jobs. I will continue going to community college to prepare of what I need to do in the future.

Folks, this is my difficult season in my life because of many hours taken away from my family, church family and my friends. Please forgive me on not contact you. There are days when I want to cry because of lack of sleep or stress. I ask G-d to help me in these difficult times to get me peace and strength in each day. G-d has a purpose of me and a destiny but each day I have to run this prepare for the big marathon race, which is my destiny. I do not know what to expect in my destiny but I have to have faith in him. I am not giving up on my dreams……

1 Corinthians 9:24
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives(AJ) the prize? So, run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control,[b] lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

Isleen

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-can-i-prepare-to-run-a-marathon.htm

Life, Love, and Chocolate

Life, Love, and Chocolate





READ: 1 John 3:16-23
Be imitators of God . . . . And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us. —Ephesians 5:1-2

An entry I read on a favorite blog caught my eye. It was the morning of his ninth wedding anniversary. Not having a lot of money, the writer ran out to get his wife, Heidi, their favorite French pastry—pain au chocolat. After sprinting several miles, he arrived home, exhausted, to find her in the kitchen just pulling a chocolate-filled croissant out of the oven. It was pain au chocolat.

That husband, Jeff, compared his life with Heidi to the lives of the people in O. Henry’s short story “Gift of the Magi.” It tells of a man who sold his lone possession of value—a pocket watch—to buy hair combs for his wife, who had sold her long, beautiful hair to buy a gold chain for his watch.

Having no money concerns would be great—but realizing the immeasurable value of the people we care about is more important. We sometimes need a reminder that acquiring “things” is not nearly as important as appreciating the people God has placed in our lives. When we practice putting others’ interests before our own (Phil. 2:3-4), we learn what it means to love, serve, and sacrifice. In fact, that’s how we pattern Christ in our relationships (Eph. 5:1-2).

Life, love, and chocolate taste better when shared with others. — Cindy Hess Kasper
I want to share with those I love
The highest joy I’m thinking of,
Not just what brightens all their days
But what will give God highest praise. —Hess
Love is never afraid of giving too much.

http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml


Be imitators of God . . . . And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us. —Ephesians 5:1-2

I really like this verse because all of us should walk in love each day for the love of people. We should be Christ Center but it is hard of enough to deal with all the stuff we deal with each day like traffic, deadlines at work, kids, school, jobs, and being tired of life.

I caught myself one night at church service and looking at everyone in fellowship. I did not know anyone accept a person who was in a wheel chair. Fear started to take over my mind because I did not want speak with this one fellow. I walked over fellow in the wheelchair, I asked him if he knew who I was, and he nodded by saying, “no.” I told him that I had prayed for him one night at another church and then he looked at me with surprise by saying, “Hi.” I spoke with him for a few minutes and I went one to speak to other person.

As I look back from meeting this fellow, I think to myself how the Lord revealed to me when I prayed for this fellow in April that he loves him so much. I was in tears when I prayed for him. The Lord loves us so much that he is in tears for us. Are we in love with Lord? Are we in love with his people and those who are lost in their life? Have you cried recently for the Love of his people? Isleen

Death of King of Pop

The death of Michael Jackson shocked the world yesterday afternoon on 06.25.09. I was in the office with many of my co-workers waited on the internet to get word of what had happened with Michael Jackson. We waited patiently to hear something positive. Then my one of co-worker came in to tell us that he had received word to say that Michael Jackson is dead. He had received word on the internet. Shocked was the word I could think because many of us thought to ourselves that Michael Jackson would live forever but we were wrong. I do not worship Michael Jackson but I have many memories as children to dance and sing like Michael Jackson. When I was 5 years old, I had played with Michael Jackson doll for a season instead of playing with a Barbie doll. Another time in “87”, when I was in first grade I wanted to be in talent show by doing a dance to Michael Jackson songs but my mom pulled me out of the talent show because she did not want to me to be embarrassed. The talent show went on without me dancing to Michael Jackson.

As time passed into the 90’s into 2000, Michael Jackson music was not as exciting as we thought once. Michael Jackson had a weird lifestyle but some of us still like his music and we danced to Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean, ABC and on on…… with a lot of his songs. There were moments when I was driving in my car from a long day of work or school and I would jam to one of his songs. I know many of you have memories of his music. What did you do while you were listening one of Michael Jackson songs? Please share you story with me if you have a moment.



Michael Jackson was artist who had creativity in his music or style that blew us away when we saw him perform. You can tell the Michael Jackson put a lot of practice in his shows with any dance routines that he did for an upcoming show. Now, Michael Jackson has passed away and now he is only a memory. I had questionable questions of what had occured in his life at home or with his children around him. I cannot judge the man now because I do not know what really happened but I only knew his music. As a Christian, it makes me think what I am doing in my life and I am making a difference in someone’s life? I cannot sing or dance like Michael Jackson but I can try to make a difference in someone life by serving like Jesus did. How are you making a difference in someone’s life? What would others say about you if you passed away today?

http://www.michaeljackson.com/


Iamisleen

One Cool Dad

One Cool Dad

Tomorrow I am going to celebrate Father’s day with my dad and then next weekend I will celebrate my dad’s 55th birthday. I would like to tribute a special blog just for my dad, Dan. Dad is the coolest dad that a girl could have. I remember going to the Father & daughter dance with my dad many years ago when I was 12 years old. It was Valentine’s weekend and my dad was my date. It was so cool to dance with my dad. I busted a move while dancing to Mr. Hammer with my dad. There were times when I was single in my early twenties when I would feel depressed with no date. My dad was the guy to go out to eat or watch a movie. The best times I had with my father is going grocery shopping while I was growing up. Dad wrote a list of what we needed to cook in the kitchen or make. Somehow I talked my dad into purchasing more items that were needed. I would ask dad to buy make-up, hair products, or if I wanted to make a pie which my father would purchased all the items needed. Dad would go out of his way to serve us kids while we were growing up. I do feel bad for making my dad buying all those unnecessary stuff at the grocery store. Dad loves to watch the basketball games or football games and I spend many times with dad to watch those endless hours of games. I would have the best conversations with my father about what was happening in the games which I thank him today. It makes it easier to hang with the guys since I know something about what is happening in football games or basketball games.


A few years ago, I almost saw my father die in front of my eyes from colon cancer. Every moment I spend with my father was very important to me because I did not know that I was going to lose my father to cancer. Dad would tell me that he wanted to give up while he had cancer. I told my dad that I was not ready for him to leave because he had to watch me graduate from college, get married and have babies. Well, dad fought the cancer with the Lord’s help and he is now still living today. My dad watched me walked down the aisle to get my degree last year from college. It was a moment I will not forget.

My dad is my best friend, my mentor in business or with the Lord, my accountant, my financial advisor planner, my editor, my workout buddy, my chef ( when he cooks). One day my father will just be a memory but for now I will appreciate and honor him while he is still living. Please remember you dad on daddy’s day and give your dad a hug if you can or remember father on father's day.


Isleen

Holding On

Holding on

Life can sometimes bring the stress and the strife in the every day life. Little do we know that stress if only temporal and it will not last forever. Live the moment and enjoy every moment as you can because you are breathing. When stress comes in my life, my dad always told me to be thankful that you are breathing. He says that you have to be thankful to have your health and that everything is going great in my life.I am started to think that be thankful is the key to positive mindset than just being negative. Being negative does help others around others around you or yourself. I do my best to hold on. Holding in this life is not easy. There are times when I would like to run away or go on a nice vacation in some unknown land far away from my everyday life. We cannot run away from our problems but face up to our problems and hold on. Hold on to the tears, anger, depression, confusion, happiness, and love. Life is what happens.

Passage 1 Timothy 6:12:12 Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.

Isleen

Whatever is the Weather

Whatever is the Weather

“Red Moon Rising by Peter Greig & Dave Roberts”, is one of many books that I am currently reading. I would like to share one part of the book that I found it interesting and then I will give my opinion about what I thought after you read this piece. Please read the following: “It was really because of Roger that I was here in Chichester, zooming down the road to the ER on a mission from God. Ever since that vision Portugal, I’d been wondering what to do about it. All I knew for sure was that it had to begin with getting myself sorted. God spoken to me clearly in a London park one day, pointing out a majestic oak tree before directing my attention to Jeremiah 17:7-8 “ Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out it roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; it leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

I knew that God was telling me to put down roots by stream. Like most people, I was relatively fruitful when the sun was shining; a few friends had become Christians, and I was even viewed as something of a leader by about half dozen of my friends. I was the guy who did pretty much anything exciting he could think of for God. I had driven relief vans to Romania orphanages, smuggled Bibles in China, worked in Hong Kong with heroin addicts and in London with the homeless. I was a full-on lone ranger for Jesus.

But I had to admit, I wasn’t accountable to anyone for my actions and as a result, whenever the seasons of my life changed and the sun disappeared, so did my fruitfulness. Jeremiah was right. My girlfriend had recently finished with me and I’d been inconsolable. If I wanted to bear fruit supernaturally regardless of the climate, I knew I needed to draw water from an ongoing community that would challenge me, encourage me, and hold me accountable, whatever the weather. No more lone ranger. "

Lone Ranger… I think of the TV show of the Lone Ranger riding with his horse in the open field in some desert of Arizona. Being a Lone Ranger as Christian can't bring any help when you are on the field. When I first Christian there were so many questions which I had for my youth pastor or one of the interns was also there to help us out to figure of how to walk this walk with the Lord. I am thankful for those people who were in my life in that season. I am at the still in that season of having to be accountable to one person or another. I have chosen biology father to be my spiritual father in my life. He has brought many good advices and we have spent many hours in prayer. I could see myself walking this walk all by myself if I had to but there are times when I need to be encouraged, humble, lift up, spoken into, or mentor. There are no Lone Rangers in this journey with the Lord.

Isleen Rodriguez

Standing in Your Rut

Standing in your Rut

We all come to a place in our life call, “The Rut”. The rut is a place where you have come in your life where you feel like are living each day as the same. Remember the movie call, “Ground Hog Day” with Bill Murray? In the movie the character that Bill Murray played weatherman who finds that he is living the same day over and over again. Imagine yourself living your day over and over again. To some people living in a rut is a reality for them.

Last year, I felt like I was going somewhere with getting my bachelor degree but I felt like I have come to a place call the rut. The economy took a turn for the worst in Sept. 2008 and the jobless with half of Americans working in this country it is no wonder that I have not received a job offer in my field. Each day, I had prayed for the Lord to guide my path to direct me into the right direction of where he wants me to go with work in my field. I have looked into another field career in health area at the beginning of year to take some courses but it was too expensive for me. I had thought about getting a loan in order to take these courses at UTA but I did not because I am up to my neck with all my school loans. One of my prayers was how I was going to manage to take these courses without getting a loan. Answer to me was to wait. I could tell you that I was feeling down but I knew in my heart not to give up because the Lord has a plan. The Lord has a plan for all of us but we can’t give up on our dreams. My dream is to get my Masters to work in the Social Work Field. During my period of the wait which I started to realize on how many books I did not read, movies I haven’t watched in the last 4 years, helping my little sis with the kids, taking a debt free class at church, couple counseling, and exercising.

Last week which receive a catalog at the community college of the health courses at a cheaper price than going to UTA. I will not have to get a loan because some how I will manage it to pay without going in debt. Plus, the health course is down the street from where I live. I don’t have to go across town to take these classes. Amen!!!The Lord has a plan and I thank him for being there for me.

Once of the verse that is speaking into my life right now is:

Isaiah 44
“But now, listen to me, Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one.

The Lord who made you and helps you says: o not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, O dear Israel, my chosen one.

For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.

They will thrive like watered grass, like willows on a riverbank.

Some will proudly claim, ‘I belong to the Lord.’ Others will say, ‘I am a descendant of Jacob.’ Some will write the Lord’s name on their hands

I am in a rut right not but one day the Lord is going to move me somewhere than where I am at in my life at this time.

Isleen

Cancer

Cancer

Last year we found out my father test came back negative which means this is good news because there was no trace of cancer. For time to time dad goes to the doctors to get checked up of cancer. My dad went to the doctor this last week to take his test. Yesterday, my mom had taken the day off from work to go to the doctor's office with my dad. Once my parents reach the doctor’s office and my parents sat with the doctor to be given the results of the test. The doctor told my father that the test came out negative. My dad was giving his praises to the Lord again this year! My father has been cancer free for 2 years!!!! Amen!!! I told my co-workers of my testimony of the good news about my father having no cancer which I sat down in my chair then my other co-worker, Seth came to the front to tell us what was happening with his girl friend Brooke. Brooke has been in battle with cancer in the last year. Seth told us that Brooke has 1-4 months to live. Seth was in tears when he told us the terrible news to all of us and some of the other ladies were in tears for Brooke. It is never easy to hear the bad news from the doctors when they tell you that you are going to die soon. What do you say when the doctors give you a time when you will die? You get depressed for days going on that you will die soon. You may feel like you have no hope and there is no future for you. My dad felt like this so many times while he was dealing with cancer and I had to sit by his side to watch him to go through with his pain. Many of you reading this my blog which I come to tell you there is hope no matter if you have cancer or no cancer. Christ is the only way. My father tells me if it wasn’t for Christ he would not have the reason to live.

Please keep Brooke Smith in prayer for all you prayer warriors. Brooke is 22 years old and has tumor has spread in her spine. I believe the Lord can heal her from his deadly disease.


Isleen

10 Years Later

10 Years Later……

10 years ago I was a senior in high school and I heard the news of the Columbine shooting in Colorado. It was moment I would never forget while I was in high school. I had fear going school each day and I would think to myself, “What would happen if one of student started to come into my school and start shooting at all of us?” I know my high school made some changes by adding extra security at my high school. Everyday until I graduated from high school which I prayed for all my classmate’s lockers and I prayed for protection at my school. There were a few bomb threats at our school but nothing happened compared to what had occurred in Columbine.

10 years later…. It shakes me up when I read a news headline regarding a school shooting on the internet. The last time I heard a school shooting was in Germany. It makes me wonder that enemy is putting negative stuff in student’s mind and they are listening to it. Many of us are now parents who have a child in school and we need to pray for these schools in American and all over the world. Please join me in pray for the students at high school campus or college campus today and the rest of the year.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30259632/

Isleen

Don't Judge Others

Don’t Judge Others

I had watched World News with Charles Gibson last night and I saw this story about a “middle-aged Scottish woman who says she’s never been kissed has become an international star after shocking judges with her singing on “Britain’s Got Talent." You had to hear this lady sing which I had receive chills as I heard her sing “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical “Les Miserable’s”. All the judges’ faces were in shocked as this Scottish lady was singing her heart out. At the end of her song please read the following: “The other two judges looked on with gaping jaws as Boyle turned the crowd’s cynicism into tear-soaked adoration."

"When she had finished, the theater erupted into a tsunami of cheers and applause as Boyle started to walk off the stage. She was stopped by Cowell, who reminded her she needed to hear from the judges.

First was Piers Morgan, who told her, “That was the biggest surprise I’ve had in three years on the show.” His vote, he said, was “the biggest yes I have ever given anybody.”
Cowell completed the judging with the third resounding yes. “Susan Boyle, you can go back to the village with your head held high,” he said. “It’s three yeses.”
A huge smile erupted on Boyle’s face as she made a fist and danced in place in her white pumps.”

The Lord brought to my attention to not judge others or else you will be judge. We all have fault in ourselves and all of us are not perfect. Please read following verse that has to do with judging others at:

Luke 6:37-38

Do Not Judge Others

37 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.[c]”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30226936/?gt1=43001


Isleen

Words of Life & Death

Words Of Life & Death

Did you ever think that you can bring life to someone or you can bring death to someone with the words you speak to family member, friend, co-worker, classmate, manager or someone you love? What I mean words of life is mostly positive such as, “ Awesome job on that project Mary Sue” or “ You are encouragement to me, Judy.” These words of life can make you feel confident about yourself and make you feel like you are doing awesome job in what you are doing in life.

Word of death is mostly negative when you speak to someone such as “ You didn’t do a great job on that project and you need practice on writing, Billy Bob.” or “ You make me feel little of what you say to me, George.” These words can make you feel negative about yourself and most likely make you want to react in anger towards the person who is commenting towards you.

In my past, words of death made me feel negative about myself. I stood my ground and took charge by speaking against the words of death when someone had text me today. I was not going to let the enemy take my joy today. I said, “ devil get the behind me.” There was silence for a moment… Then the storm had passed away. The sun came out and it was beautiful night to in the end. Don’t let the enemy take your joy today and stand your ground when words of death come in your path. When negative words come in your life pray for the person who was negative towards you.

verbs 15:4:
NIV Bible Translation

4 Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit

Isleen

Gold Fish

Gold Fish

A child like faith could not stop this little girl to believe that her fish would come to life. My sister first separates the fish in separate bowl from the fish tank with the dirty water. When she was done cleaning then she adds the fish into the clean tank. One of the Gold fish looked like it was dying. The Gold fish body had turned upside down and my niece, Lily had decided it was time to pray for this poor fish. My sister was about to flush the Gold Fish down the toilet to save the grief from my niece the next morning.

Then this morning Lily had called her grandpa to tell him a surprise. “The Gold Fish is alive!” My little niece is only five years but has a child like faith to believe that her fish can come alive. Some of us adults need to have a child like faith like my niece and not to fear what when negative things happens to us. We need to have faith that G-d is in control of every situation.

Passage Matthew 19:14:
14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.

Isleen

Spring

Spring

Spring has arrived and winter has passed away. Have you noticed that when spring arrives everyone seems to come out of hibernation because of the winter season? People start to cut their lawn again and pull out the weeds to have new a clean look in their lawns. Children start to play again outside than be stuck in their homes each day because of the cold weather. People start to plant new flowers in their garden to make their houses beautiful on the outside.

This is a new season is a new beginning in our lives for a lot of us. I started to realize there a lot of things that I have been holding back this winter season. It is time to come out and work on those things in my life. My expectation is one of the things I need to let go. When I graduated last year I thought I would have it easy to get into my career. I was so wrong to myself to even have this expectation in my career. It is hard to get in my field because everyone else is trying to find a job in this country but I have learned to hold on to the Lord and let go my expectations. I tried to keep my life busy by doing small projects that I could not do a year ago.

Second, is to love unconditional with people around me. A year ago, I didn’t even have the time to speak to someone behind the counter at the store. I am finding out there are a lot of people who need to speak to someone about their issues. Yes. A lot of us want to reach out and touch someone to help us through the tough moments in our lives. I have come to understand that it takes time to listen to someone than just to walk away. You never know that you might bless someone in their day. What are some new things have you come to find out in your new season in your life?

Let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. —Philippians 2:3-4

Isleen

What Are We Holding On To?

What Are We Holding On To?

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. —1 Timothy 6:12
Tolkien’s classic The Lord of the Rings trilogy came to life in recent years on film. In the second epic story, the hero, Frodo, reached a point of despair and wearily confided to his friend, “I can’t do this, Sam.” As a good friend, Sam gave a rousing speech: “It’s like in the great stories . . . . Full of darkness and danger they were. . . . Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.” Which prompted Frodo to ask: “What are we holding on to, Sam?”

It’s a significant question, one that we all need to ask ourselves. Living in a fallen, broken world, it’s no wonder that sometimes we feel overwhelmed by the powers of darkness. When we are at the point of despair, ready to throw in the towel, we do well to follow Paul’s advice to Timothy: “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (1 Tim. 6:12).
In life’s battles, let’s hold on to the fact that good will triumph over evil in the end, that one day we will see our Master and Leader face-to-face, and we will reign with Him forever. You can be part of this great story, knowing that if you have trusted Jesus for salvation you are guaranteed a victorious ending! — Joe Stowell

Though weak and helpless in life’s fray, God’s mighty power shall be my stay;Without, within, He gives to meThe strength to gain the victory. —D. De Haan
http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml

What are you holding on to during these rough times? Each day as I read the newspaper and look at my checkbook with no money it is getting rough. It is getting point where I am running out of food money this week but so how I am making it by being creative and cooking something instead of going out to eat. I don’t know how you feel these days but I am looking to the Lord for my needs. I am thankful each day as I wake up and go to my job. Yes. I wake up with the Christian radio encouraging me with The Word as I get dress in the morning. There are times when I am applying my mascara and praying at the same time. How many gals do you know do this? I am not afraid to pray with my eyes open while I put my Cover girl mascara.

A message to the believers & pray warriors: This is the harvest season for those to come to the Lord. I have spoken to 3 people this past week who are open to the Gospel. This is the season. Keep the faith and spread the word to others who are hurting.

Isleen

10 REASONS WHY TO BE JOYFUL IN THIS RECESSION

10 REASONS WHY TO BE JOYFUL IN THIS RECESSION

1. 
   80 percent off at the sale rack at my favorite store (I am serious! 80 percent off on clothes! The price was right on that day!)
2. 
   I can get free shipping because I can bargain with the sales lady on the phone to get discount on ink for the computer.
3. 
   Collecting coupons and trading with the gals at the office like it is baseball cards ( This is my first time to collect coupons and I am having a ball on saving$$$)
4. 
   I get great help from the sales man or the lady at the store. (Before the recession, I could not get help because the sale staff was too busy to help me.) I can actually have a long conversation with the sale clerk.
5. 
   Ice cream man can come by your job if you want ice cream. I had a ice cream truck stop by my work place to ask if I wanted ice cream which I said "no".
6. 
   You can by one dinner and get one free at your favorite restaurant. (It was so expensive to eat out with your buddy but now you can actually treat your buddy without spending a dime on them.
7. 
   You can get a huge discount on hotel rooms because they need your business (I called one of the hotels to get discount for one of the housekeeper family member in downtown Austin and they were willing to give me a room at the last min. If you work in hotel industry this is unheard of because the hotel industry is hurting right now.
8. 
   When you are at the stop light you can have someone clean your windshield windows at a small price (Before the recession you had to clean your own windshield.)
9. 
   You can get a good bargain on buying a house or car. Before the recession the interest rate was very high to pay but if you have the cash it is time to spend $$$$ on a car or house you want.
10. 
    At the grocery store you can find cheap items on sale than before. A month ago, I was the grocery store and I found orange juice on manager special for around $2.00 compare to $3.00 price tag.
    
    You gotta love the recession no matter how much negative you hear. Be positive and save as much as you can.
    
    Isleen

The History of Valentine's Day

The History of Valentine's Day

What is history Valentine’s day is all about one man had asked me this past weekend? So, I went to my blackberry to goggle the information from History.com please read the following article which is really interesting:

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.


One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.

The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February — Valentine's Day — should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.

In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.

According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)
Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap".

http://www.history.com/content/valentine/history-of-valentine-s-day

Divorce in America

Divorce in America

Divorce seems to not occur than it did many years ago. If you look at the numbers of having many people have divorce which it shows half of the population had got in divorce in today’s society than in 1950’s.

I am single lady who has not been married just yet but I been around people who have go through divorce. I can count on my fingers of how many friends or family members are going through a divorce or have been divorced this past year. What divorce means in the Webster dictionary which it says, “the action or an instance of legally dissolving a marriage.” Divorce occurs from all backgrounds, class and age. Children are usually involved in divorce. One of close family members is going through separation right now and then proceeding into a divorce in the next few months. The child of this family member was feeling depressed one night. I could see this happy child into a depressed child. I found out from another family member what had occurred with this child and the parents the night before. We had called for a family meeting and ask this depressed child to sit in front of the room. Each one of the other family members encouraged words to lift up the child’s emotion. I could see the reactions of the child as each of the family members had said words of encouragement to the child. It seemed to me if a child is in the middle of the divorce the child will get emotional if it is separation or in a divorce no matter what age the child is.

My parents at the time had been married for almost 26 years in 2001. I was 21 years old at the time and came back from a mission trip overseas. My mom decided it was time to separate from my father. It was a painful experience to not have my mom around in my life at that moment even though I was 21 years old. Things got worst for us at family when my mother left. 9-11 occurred which brought the job market to halt in a lot of companies. My father was laid off from his successful job at EDS. Our family’s house was been torn down because mold which we had to live in apartment for 6mths. Things progressed in negative form in our family because of mother. As the oldest child in my family I had begun to turn bitter towards my mother because she had left my father. I had a lot of family members, church members, co-workers & friends had prayed for our family. Then in the summer of 02, my dad’s brothers had passed away. My mom decided to live with my father for finance reasons and also to be around my father because of his brother’s death. Things came together when my mom was at home. I had dealt with bitterness after my mother came home and I had to get some professional counseling because the separation situation. 6 years later, my mom was there for my dad while he had battled with colon cancer. My dad survived colon cancer battled with my mom on his side but I think to myself how he would handle without my mom’s help. You can never question the reason why certain things happen in life but only look to the Lord for those answers.

Awesome Lady

Awesome Lady

Time can pass you by when you are not looking. I met a wonderful lady two years ago full of life and had offered me to eat some chocolates in her home. Then I saw this lady last year on Sunday afternoon lunch and the topic of the lunch was her daughter. She was not worried about anything else but her older daughter getting married. I could see how much this lady loves her family. This lady had her husband passed away in 07 but she was going strong outside and inside. This past weekend I saw this lady laid in her hospice bed with her bald hair. It tore me apart inside to see her like this on her hospice bed. I had tears running down my face while I was praying for this lady. My boyfriend was next to me also praying for this woman of the Lord. It broke my heart to see this lovely lady battling cancer. You don’t know how much it affects you when you see a family in sadness watching their mother dying. It breaks my heart because I know what they are going through because I saw my grandmother on her death bed battling cancer many years ago. It is a feeling that you can’t explain but having lots of tissues and your tears running down your face. My father dealt with cancer and is now free of cancer but he is a changed man. I thank Kate for her prayers for my dad. I will always be thankful for prayer warriors like her. My dad went through a lot of hard moments in his life while he had cancer. We did not know if he was going to live or die soon. G-d was the only who knew if he was going to live. Every moment with dad was important to all of us kids. I remember going to the chemo and eating lunch with dad before going to work. I had so much going on with my school or work but always had time for dad during those tough moments. Today we don’t take advantage of the time we have with my parents. Every moment is important and we do a lot of things as family than we did before my dad had cancer. Today I tell you celebrate your life like it is your last. Don’t hold anger to each other and forgive and forget. You don’t know if the person you love will live their last. This is goes out to Kate Hawthorne & Family. Update: Kate Hawthrone has passed away on Jan.14th. My prayers are with all of you Hawthrone Family. Be Loved by the heavenly father.

Isleen