“ABBA, Father in Heaven"

I was 16 years old almost 23 years ago when I wrote this small piece to myself from my Bible.

Little did I know this written piece would bless me this past week and may it help you in your life.

“Father” Who lives in the sky above me. Every second he is watching me and seeing what I’m doing. His hands are always open to me. Sometimes I feel his hugs against me. When I praise to him and my hands are high in the sky. I feel like they are close to mine. I cry and my father stands up above me. His love is towards me when it’s needed 24-7. This world need him and they don’t know how much greater than anything else is. I’m writing this to those whom are reading this posting.

If you are lonely, sad, rejected, depressed, have a broken heart 💔, you are never alone in this world. There are others who love you and a father above who is looking out for you.

As my father would always say to us kiddos, “Jesus is Lord." In memory of you dad, Dan Rodriguez on my birthday this week.

Portugal 2019

When I was seventeen, I promised Jesus I would give my heart ️ to the mission field for Him.

I owe it all to Him, Jesus. Almost 20 years later, I’m still called to the mission field in my hometown or in another country.

As I left the country of Portugal my heart wanted to take Portugal back home to Texas.


Portugal is a beautiful country. The people of Portugal are beautiful.


The language of Portuguese is beautiful to speak.

The food was delicious. The coffee was excellent and inexpensive. I could have coffee at breakfast, lunch & dinner in one day. 

The evangelical churches are few. It is a beautiful country, but lack of churches within Baptist community churches. My heart ️ cries for all churches in Portugal.

As we visited each church  in Northern Portugal and prayed with their pastors I wanted to bring them and their church families home to Texas.

Portugal is a beautiful country with beautiful landscape filled with beautiful flowers everywhere. I could take taken thousands of pictures of all the flowers & trees.

Mark 16:15 (NIV) 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

Below are a few pictures of Portugal below:

Foods: https://www.authenticfoodquest.com/popular-portuguese-dishes/


Things to do:https://www.thecrazytourist.com/25-best-things-portugal/

Workout for Free

Hello, It’s been awhile since I have written on my blog. 

Spring is here! It’s time to workout 💪🏻 or get healthy this season. Summer is around the corner! 

Recently, I had to cut my gym membership since I’m on a financial diet. I found many ways to work out for free or at a discounted rate in the Dallas- Fort Worth, TX area. 

I hope 🤞 this information helps you with all your goals this spring. Please leave a comment, thank you! 🤗

*** Click on website to check out more details about these great deals.

• I love KickBoxing . It's a great workout! You can sign up for a cheap rate here on this website .. 

• 9 Round. Offers 30 mintue boxing 🥊 fitness classes at $10 per lesson. I signed up for $80 worth of lessons this past winter, here is the Website .

• There is a free running club 🏃‍♀️in my neighborhood. We meet Mondays & Wednesdays in Arlington, TX but there are other locations in Dallas. Please check out this Website for more information. 

• Planet fitness is $10 a month. On rainy days, I use their treadmills but I use my own muscle bands and jump rope to workout. Please check out this Website.

• Life Time Fitness. It's a great experience at any location. For a trial run with one visit, see this website.

• 24 hour - 3 visits for free check out this website.

• Gold Gym: FREE MEMBERSHIP TRIAL on this website.

• My home gym - with basic equipment: weights, treadmill and jump rope - Free.

• Biking 🚴‍♀️ & runnng in my neighborhood- Free.

• Volunteering with horses🐎 & helping others. I’m a side walker. A great workout during the spring & summertime. Website 

• Running at on the track @ my niece’s middle school after school or weekends.

• Free workout program at church. I found a church ⛪ where I work out & take health class Saturday mornings.

• Camp Gladiator - $29 for 4 weeks in April & May on this website.

• Jiu Jitsu clubs usually give one free lesson or a week of lessons but depends on the club.

• Free trainer online under the name: Damien Patrick if you are working out with weights. This guy will change your life. YouTube link to check out this website.

• UFC gym. Free session with one visit. Check out this website.

• Best apps to keep up with your workouts: My Fitness Pal & Fitbit.

Papa Villaneva-99 Years old

On March 22, 1921, my grandfather was born in Mexico. Papa was born as a premature baby. He was told by his mother he looked like a rat. They did not know he was going to live but he did live after 96 years. 

His story on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NMyMco_8Ek4  in Spanish. 

My grandfather is living the American dream. My grand father generation is call the, "Greatest Generation," because as one said, " Men and Woman fought not for fame or recognition, but because it was the "right thing to do." My grand father is a man of doing the right thing for his family and also a man of respect. 

I was honored as his granddaughter to know my grandfather almost 39 years of my life. I looked to my grandfather as my 2nd dad. I spoke a little Spanish but we communicated to each other somehow. We laughed, smiled, sang,hugged, prayed, sat together in quietness & ate together. We created many memories together for a lifetime. Papa taught all of us to always put family first. To reach out to others, love others, and pray for them. Sharing the Gospel. Worship and look to Jesus. My papa lived the American Dream. In my Papa’s early years, he was motivated to find a better life in the great state of Texas in 1949 with his family. Papa worked hard in the fields of America with his family. Later on in his life he worked in a factory with his family & my grandma. Papa didn’t read really well in Spanish and learned to read the Bible at age of 53. He loved the Lord. Papa retired to be a farmer and a missionary to his local community with my grandma. As a child during my summer visits it was my papa who sang and preached the Bible. At the end of the service papa would pray for many people after church or in his home during the day or night. Many people would look for my papa to pray, including myself. Papa would quote a verse then pray for you. You would feel papa’s prayers through the Lord. When papa lost my grandma in 1997 my papa went to visit all of his family members and traveled all over Mexico. My papa preached & prayed for many people. I found out later papa supported & helped build a church in Reynosa, Mexico. Papa was a very humble man. He impacted us grandchildren to do something great in the Lord, our family’s lives & in our jobs.

¨He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Psalm 91:1 ESV

https://www.bible.com/59/psa.91.1.esv

My papa's life was very interesting before he found the Lord. 

One of my papa's favorite mariachi songs is, "One Day at a Time", https://youtu.be/Jqmf_nf6uyg.

Living By Faith

Hello Summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's been a while since I have written anything on this blog. Life has kept me busy since February. Yes! I didn't even had time to write all these months until now.

Now, the summer season has arrived. Hello Summer!! The summer season is my favorite time of the year. Last night, I had very interesting dream last night. It had to do with the summer season and fall season. I had walked in a Target store and enjoyed seeing the summer store front with all the colors and designs everywhere. The store had lots of colors around the store that brought life to the store. ( One thing you don't know about me is that I love designing & decorating).

2^nd part of the dream, I had walked in Target it was The Fall season. Summer had ended. All the summer items were on clearance. All colorful summer designs were gone from the store. It was depressing for me. I had walked through all Target aisles looking at all Fall colors in the store. Then, I had woke up from the dream in shock. What was this dream tell me? Will my Fall season be sad for me? I don't know what my summer season is going to be like for me? I don't know what my Fall season be for me? As, I had turned to my Bible the Lord talks about different seasons in our lives.

“Ecclesiastes 3

King James Version (KJV)

3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” 

I will not go too much in context of this Bible verse. I will say... seasons come and go. We are not in control of our seasons. There are times we don't know what is going to happen next. The real test in your life is how you are going to react in the different seasons. The Lord has shown me to Trust in him  in the winter, summer, fall or spring season. 

Lastly, I promise, I will share my summer season with you in my pictures.

Enjoy the summer season, Y'ALL! See you soon! :)

Iamisleen

Who am I living for?

"How do you define yourself as woman? Are you woman with a vision? Are you a single mother, mother of two, single gal, a married gal. I recently found myself one day as I was driving to work to ask myself of who I am? How do I define myself in life? As, I was hearing the words, “Who am I living for” sang by Katy Perry.... I found the words interesting from a famous singer to sing this song. I am using this song from everyday woman perspective. I can relate a lot to Katy Perry as she sings this song."

"It's never easy to be chosen, never easy to be called

Standing on the frontline when the bombs start to fall

I can see the heavens but I still hear the flames

Calling out my name

I can see the writing on the wall

I can't ignore this war

At the eh-end of it all

Who am I living for?



I can feel this light that's inside of me

Growing fast into a bolt of lightning

I know one spark will shock the world, yeah yeah


So I pray for a favour like Esther

I need your strength to handle the pressure

I know there will be sacrifice

But that's the price"

"To be called it not easy... front lines or behind the scenes. There are pressures of life. Life happens. There are many sacrifices that are made in your everyday job, your family life, in your ministry, in your school or even as mother, or single gal, from divorce or a break up. We all feel the pressures of life as woman. How do you define yourself? Are you positive with your life or depressed? Do you live your life as if it is your last day?"

"It's never easy to be chosen, never easy to be called

Standing on the frontline when the bombs start to fall

I can see the heavens but I still hear the flames

Calling out my name"

"Some of us are chosen to live a separate life from the world? I see myself so different. One night, I found myself from the crowds of people in this dance club. I watched the people from the distance unhappy, unsecure, a gal who wants to be loved from a guy, trying to find the right guy. I told myself... I am woman who is precious and different from the crowd. I am woman who is defining with love. I am woman who is there for others who are hurting. I have destiny and purpose in life that is more than about me."

"I can see the writing on the wall

I can't ignore this war

At the eh-end of it all

Who am I living for?

"I like the words she uses in this song... Who am I living for? Are you living for yourself or your living for the Lord’s standards?"

I can see the writing on the wall

I can't ignore this war

At the eh-end of it all

Who am I living for?



At the end, at the end

Who am I living for?

At the end, at the end

Who am I living for?



Heavy is the head that wears the crown

Don't let the greatness get you down

Heavy is the head that wears the crown

Don't let the greatness get you down, oh, oh yeah



Don’t let yourself be down but live your life as great one.



I like the end of this song. Don’t let your greatness down. Don’t let yourself be down when there are pressures of life. Your life is great one.

Inside background of this song, “Who I am living For.” See here

Life of Esther

"When the fateful day arrived, the Jews overcame their enemies (Esther 9:1-11










). To express their thanks to God, the Jews instituted the Feast of Purim. The name of this feast is a reminder of Haman's casting of lots ( pur means "lot") and God's deliverance of the Jews from their enemies on the day they were to be annihilated (verses 17-32).

Esther, Jewish queen of gentile Persia, set a remarkable example of personal sacrifice. Although understandably at first hesitant, she willingly risked her life so others could be saved. In this respect she prefigured the sacrifice of the coming Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, who willingly gave His life so each of us could have the opportunity to receive God's gift of salvation, eternal life in His Kingdom.

Similarly, Christ expects His followers, His saints, to be willing to put their lives on the line to follow Him (John 15:13
)."

Check out more life of Esther in this website

Another verse to check from the Bible:

Luke 12:22-34

"Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

I'm Wide Awake- Isleen

Hello, World!

It has been awhile since I have written anything on this blog. I have reflected many things in my life this past summer. I have my dark days and my sunny days in my life. Sometimes the dark days are longer than it should be in my life. It will be a year from now since I lost my best friend, my dad to colon cancer. Yes, I have tried to move on this year but it has not been easy to be healed from the pain this year. I have tried to put aside the pain and keep busy but the pain follows me. I cried my tears away in depression sometimes. Yes, I am mess, people. I am human. I am Christian who has this huge pain in my life. A death has occurred with your love one. The death can also have effect inside of your own heart. The Lord has taught me to come to him with open arms. The Lord has been my salvation of this pain during these times. At times, I feel like I am the only one dealing with this pain but I know I am not the only one who is dealing with this pain of love one who has passed away.

One of the songs that has helped me is Katy Perry song “ I'm wide awake.” Katy sings about the man she had fell in love and how she is picking up the pieces from her life. I feel the same way right now in my life. I am trying to pick up the pieces to be stronger inside. I will admit, I have been weak. Tonight, I cried in front of my nieces of how I feel. My little niece Raya kissed me and Lily hugged me. Lily tells me how my dad would make coffee himself and cook eggs for her every morning. Children think of the simple things in their lives. Adults we think of the pain and how life is complex. We must think like little children in our lives and come to him with open arms including with our hurts.

Isleen

Katy Perry's Lyrics to , “ I'm Wide Awake”

I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake

Yeah, I was in the dark

I was falling hard

With an open heart

I'm wide awake

How did I read the stars so wrong

I'm wide awake

And now it's clear to me

That everything you see

Ain't always what it seems

I'm wide awake

Yeah, I was dreaming for so long[Pre-Chorus]

I wish I knew then

What I know now

Wouldn't dive in

Wouldn't bow down

Gravity hurts

You made it so sweet

Till I woke up on

On the concrete[Chorus]

Falling from cloud 9

Crashing from the high

I'm letting go tonight

(Yeah I'm) Falling from cloud 9

I'm wide awake

Not losing any sleep

I picked up every piece

And landed on my feet

I'm wide awake

Need nothing to complete myself - nooohooo

I'm wide awake

Yeah, I am born again

[From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/k/katy-perry-lyrics/wide-awake-lyrics.html ]

Outta the lion's den

I don't have to pretend

And it's too late

The story's over now, the end[Pre-Chorus]

I wish I knew then

What I know now

Wouldn't dive in

Wouldn't bow down

Gravity hurts

You made it so sweet

Till I woke up on

On the concrete[Chorus]

Falling from cloud 9

Crashing from the high

I'm letting go tonight (yeah, I'm letting go)

I'm Falling from cloud 9

Thunder rumbling

Castles crumbling

I am trying to hold on

God knows that I tried

Seeing the bright side

But I'm not blind anymore...

I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake[Chorus]

Yeah, I'm Falling from cloud 9

Crashing from the high

You know I'm letting go tonight

I'm Falling from cloud 9

I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake

Daughter's First Love is Her Dad

The quiet moments outside of the front door in cool evening, as I miss my father. I wished my dad sat next to me. I close my eyes to remember those special memories with my dad. I wished, I held my dads hand or tell my dad how big his muscle but it is only a thought. I just heard a child say out loud from a distance " daddy." I was once that child who cried for her daddy when she was lost. Now, as adult I cry for my father in heaven to hug me. I still hurt for my dad. The lost of my father still haunts me even til this day. The emptiness is still there. The tears come & go like rain. I have to manage my quiet times with the thoughts of the father above, Jesus. It is never easy to feel the lost of a father. This year, is my first fatherless day on Father's day. I will be strong this coming father's day with my mom.

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:27 NAS)

This is my last Father's Day posting on my blog.

These are several blogs of my dad in the past few years:

My Super Hero is My Dad

Father, Father, I love You

One Cool Dad

Riding My Bike for First Time

Did you Feel the Mountains Tremble- The Last Time my Dad prayed for me when I was in pain