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