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/

Super Hero Dad

To the next generation of dads, “Be a hero to your kiddo.” Be there to cheer your kiddos as they finish their goals in the race of life.

This past year, I have prayed & watched other dads grow with their kiddos. My brother taking his only daughter to her dance class & watching her grow. 

Also, I had watched my boyfriend’s son graduate high school & receiving Eagle Scout award. We are very proud of his son.

My dad never thought of himself as hero to us kiddos. 

He always put us first. An example: Dad would order a pizza for us kids on a Friday night. When the pizza arrived dad would let us eat first before he ate. Dad always made sure we were fed, safe, loved & happy.

Bulletproof by JD Rodriguez (my Dad). 06.30.1999

2 Corinthians 13:9

“We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.”

I have always enjoyed watching the old movies of Superman where George Reeves (later Christopher Reeves) portrays the man with the big S on the chest just waiting for the bad guys to shoot at him. I always knew that those bullets would bounce off in every situation but nonetheless I watched intently.

Superman was expected to defend the fears of all men by using his natural powers for the cause of good. Even the bad guys knew that their bullets were just being wasted when they shot at the man of the steel, yet then shot him for our entertainment. I often thought when I was very young that if I just wore the right uniform or the right cape, I would be just like Superman. Up to this day, I still have not found anything that I can wear to help me against the bullets of life except for Word of God.

Paul tells us that when we are weak God is strong in us. Many times we forget that God is right there the whole times we are so low because of comments made towards us. Paul wrote from experience of so many lows in his life when he rejected, neglected, abused, and refused. He came to his Christian walk to the point to where he depended on God’s word more than he did on man words. No matter what he was told negatively to him, he held God’s word much higher than any words from man. In other words, whatever bad things he was told, he let those words directed to him just bounce off of him. He bulletproof himself with word of God for the bad days when the enemy would come against him through individual not in line with God. I feel so good knowing Gods hold me up so much higher than any man on this earth. Paul speaks for us to continue to be strong in God striving for perfection just like Christ.

Yesterday, I visited a friend who’s thyroid glad was removed because of cancer in his throat area. He told me that while he was in intensive care room recovering from the operation, he spoke the word of God to his nurse. 

He quoted Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Tears ran down her eyes because here was a man laid wounded from surgery, but yet he was quoting encouraging uplifting words to her. 

Through his misery of surgery he was very weak but became strong when he focuses God’s word. When are weak, and ye are strong. God will make us bulletproof to our pain to our misery to our weakest areas when we remember and lift up the word God to over selves and those around us.

Isn’t God just wonderful to have words that go far beyond what our frail vulnerable bodies that can only tolerate so much, yet the word of God can lift our hearts and minds to where eagles, Boeings and space shuttle fly no matter how much our emotions shakes.

Be Ready! 

Portugal

The Call- Last November is when I received an application to go on a mission trip for Porto, Portugal & Spain for July 15th 2019 for about a week. I said to myself, I don’t know & prayed about this mission trip. 

Faith- Well, things started to work out to go on this mission trip including, working 2nd part time job. Everything seems work together like a puzzle piece for this trip. I felt like Jesus gave me thumbs up for this mission trip. 

Trust Jesus if you are working through a job, your family's life, mission trip, or a life situation.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

The Mission- We will be singing to promote local churches around for Northern Portugal & Spain during our mission trip.

Pray- Please continue pray for me & all folks I am traveling. Please pray for us as we minister to the local Portugal people.

If you are interested in reading what I have written about my desires being on the mission field which I can give a link to read my article I had written 7 years ago. Click Here.

My church’s website: North Richland Hills Baptist Church

Be Blessed.

Iamisleen

Why ?

    

It’s been 6 years since my dad passed from colon cancer.  This year will be 6^th year not celebrating Father’s Day on June 19^th and his 64^th birthday on 28^th of June.

I ask myself Why God? Why did you take away a good man from this world? Why did you take away my father from our family? Why did I have to have this pain in my heart for sooo long? Why did I have to walk in this depression? Why did my mom have her husband taken away, since they had known each other since high school?  There are many “why” questions on my mind.

As, I look back, the Lord had told me as my dad was dying 6 years ago, “I am in Control and you are Not.” Today, I still remember those words loud and clear from the Lord.

There is a purpose for everything. The struggle is tough in life. Nothing is easy in life including losing your loved one. It’s a fight each day to be focused in our daily life. Life is not easy. It’s a true test if you are going to pass the test each day in your life. My dad told me once when we were at the gas station, “You are breathing, alive, have a good job, healthy, blessed and cancer free! Be happy where you are! Look at me. I’m in chemo and struggling with cancer.” I never looked at life the same again.

This is one of my dad’s stories: 

Glimpse of Jesus as of 02/10/2000 written by Dan Rodriguez

Job 23:9-10

“When he is at work in the North , I do not see him, he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way  that I take: when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

Paul of Tarsus did not even see Jesus when he was struck by a light from Heaven that flashed around him on the road to Damascus, but it completely changed his life when he spoke to Paul, “ Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?” A glimpse of a light shone so bright that it knocked  him down beneath himself.  Before Paul could really see Jesus, he had to be knock off his pride, off his high horse, off from the chip on his shoulder that he had against Christians. Before he could even get a glimpse of who this Jesus was, he had to travel on this road to Damascus. Many of us know this road to Damascus because we had to be lowered before we were lifted in Jesus.

In this verse above, Job was saying that he could not see the Lord in the North, South, or any where else but yet he was trusting in him because no matter if he didn’t see him he would continue to serve and trust in him. Job was so low that he could hardly see above the grass, but yet would say things like, “ when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Paul and Job both got very low in life to the point that eventually the Lord lifted them as he has you and me where no man, no thing, no event could hurt our spirit. The mere glimpse of seeing him or expecting to see a glimpse of Jesus can either way dramatically change anyone’s life.

I myself was attending a Bible Conference by T.D. Jakes being held here at Reunion Area back in 1997 in February. There was a great worship atmosphere in the whole place. After Ron Konolis’ thundering worship song and Joyce Myers speaking, all of sudden, for a glimpse, I saw someone walk in front of the large speaking stand. I seemed to have seen this person before many times even though he had long brown/blondish hair, a glimmering shiny white robe, wearing a beard, with sandals. For about three or four steps, I saw him causally walk in as if he had done this hundreds of times before. I quickly turned to see if my wife was seeing what I had just witnessed, but when I turned back to look, he was gone from my sight. I seemed to be the only one seeing this phenomenon. I continued to look for him in the stands to my left and to my right, but I could not see him any longer. When I looked at each side of this large place, I heard commotion coming from each area. One woman was jumping so high that, I though she would fall.  Later, I found out that God had healed this woman and another from a shattered leg from an accident while the other was healed from extreme leg and angle bone problems. Jesus somehow had walked in and healed them miraculously touching both individuals that day. Somehow, the Lord had allowed me to just catch a glimpse of him walking in before he actually did these healings. My Life also has not been the same since that day.  

 A glimpse of Jesus whether you expect to see him like Job or whether you’ve actually seen him does not matter because ITS FAITH THAT ALWAYS CREATES THE MIRACLES in our lives. If you loose faith in yourself, you loose faith in everyone around you eventually. You must hold on to the reality THAT ONE DAY YOU WILL SEE THE LORD IN PERSON BEFORE YOUR EYES. All the questions, all hurts, all frustration, all of your crawling on the floor experiences, all your tears, all of your loneliness and isolation times, and all your problems will ceased to exist once YOUR FAITH IS REWARDED not only by a GLIMPSE OF JESUS, but a real hugging, arm in arm walking experience with the one and only Lord of all Jesus Christ.

BE READY!

Revelation 3:12 “Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.”

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

35 Years Young!

Where did the time go? I was 25 years old, 10 years ago in the month of September. I was 25 years old and thinking of school, and work. When I was 25 years old my life was consumed all about me. Little did I know that things were going to change for me a year later when I watched my father fight colon cancer. Life is not all about me, it's about somebody else. Be strong when someone is weak. Love the Lord when things go wrong in your life.

This past year in my life, I had decided to make some changes in my life and make some major goals for my future.

Health was most important factor in my life. No, I don't need to lose weight, but exercising is on top of my list. Cancer is my fear in my life. I was not being active in my daily life. I purchased Fitbit and notice I had 2,000 steps in my daily walk. Scary! Also, my mother and my younger sister advice me to work out. These ladies push me to better myself and my body. Thanks mom and sis!

Clifford, my sis and I working out @ www.vargasbjj.com/jiu-jitsu.html

Less about social media and focus on volunteering, exercising, catching up at home, watching my favorite shows, hanging with my family and friends. Please forgive me if I miss your birthday, commenting on your vacation, family's pictures, pet's pictures, or your friend's pictures, or your status. I have to a balance to my life. Computers do not rule my life. I choose to live in the real world.

Growing up in the hospitality industry appearance is very important to the public. I found when you exercise all the time less makeup and working less on your hair. This was a huge sacrifice that I was making this year.

Worship and Prayer in traffic. I found the best times you can have with the Lord is in traffic @ 8am. Patience is key during this time. I found myself avoiding accidents and not having a flat tire on busiest highways in my hometown. Thank you, Lord for protecting me!

Lastly, this week, my cousin passed away from cancer. This was my dad's older brother- step daughter, Tracy Crowe Fash. I watched her fight breast cancer. I was not close to my cousin, but I prayed a lot for her. I was believing for a miracle for this young woman. I felt it was a duty as my dad's daughter to prayer for her. I watched Tracy beat cancer 1st time and watch the pain of Tracy fighting for her life 2nd time. Tracy lived her life to fullest with her family, colleagues and with friends in her last days.

As, I turn 35 this month, I leave words from my cousin, https://twitter.com/TracyFash : "I may have a non curable cancer but I can't help feeling so blessed by the wonderful people in my life." #lovelife#needacureforcancer

Psalm 91:4-5(CEV)

“4 He will spread his wings
 over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like 
a shield or a city wall.5 you won’t need to worry 
about dangers at night
 or arrows during the day.”

Many hugs to my dad's family, Tracy's friends & love ones.