Ready to Fly into Mission Field

Mission Field

I love it when I look up plane tickets online to see what type of flights I can get even if I have to wake up 6am to fly out for a cheap discount. Well, going to the mission field is sort of like that when you have caught the vision to some unknown land that speaks a different language or trying to learn something about the culture. I remembered one time while I was in Israel and had shopped in one of the stores. A woman comes up to me and comes into my space. This is considered culture manners in this country. Have you been in culture shock? I have in a few situations and trying to eat the foods.

It has been a while since I have been on the mission field and I am dying to go somewhere but my schedule has stopped me from going. I take little trips here and there to visit family or sight see but it is nothing like being on the mission field. Serving is the key to be on the mission field and it is not always about yourself. One spring break, I decide to go to México to serve with a couple who live near the border towns. Bob and Donna where the names but it seemed the couple never rested because there were always ministries or helping the community people. Bob and Donna never complained when I had visited them but they seemed that they were content. Will you be content if you were on the mission field? One day I will be called to the mission field for now my mission is here in Dallas- Worth Area. I am ready to serve.

Be Blessed.
Iamisleen

DJ AM

DJ AM

I was reading some of DJ AM Blog recently and the thoughts to myself of how lonely this DJ AM life lived. His career was being a DJ in the hottest clubs each night. DJ AM traveling to city-to-city each night. A recently broke-up and the past accident from plane crash haunted this dear life fellow to end his life with drugs. DJ AM & Michael Jackson are celebrity we read about in the magazines and in the newspapers about their daily life but not realize that some of these people are the loneliness people in the world. Can you imagine yourself as celebrity? Can you imagine your life being in the daily newspaper each day? Money & fame may attract others to this live style but not realize that it comes with a price that they have to pay. One DJ AM’s quotes, “"Feed the Soul, starve the ego" DJ AM When I read this quote makes me want to be humble with everything I do in my life. I was born into this world to make a difference and not live my life to be selfish with it. There are others who are around me are in the worst situations than I am but I am suppose to be there for as Christ would be there. What would Jesus do comes to my mind?

Iamisleen

In Times of Change

Life has changed for me and focusing life different being at the age 30. My world has changed in the last months. I am started to question a lot of things in my life. First of all, Social Network which I have gotten rid of one website. I seemed to be queen of Social Network but I had to let go some things that I have been holding on for many years. It is time to reflect what is important to me which is my family, career, school and my life.I will write on this blog spot.com when I have moment free.

Many of us are starting to think of our future especially myself. When I look at Japan and what has occurred my heart breaks for these people and their homes. My prayers and my hugs go out to all the families in Japan. May the Lord love on you those of you who lost love ones, homes, your career, or everything. May the Lord Guide you and love on you.

Prince William gave amazing speech recently to New Zealand citizens on 03.17.2011 which is fitting for the times we are currently living in.

Read the following:

“Tena koutou katoa.

Today I represent the Queen. I convey to you Her Majesty's message of deep sympathy and condolence.
My grandmother once said that grief is the price we pay for love. Here today, we love and we grieve.
We honour the lives and memories of all those who did not survive the earthquake. New Zealanders and those from many countries around the world who came to this city as visitors or to make it their home, our thoughts and our prayers are with their families, wherever they may be.
I also bring a personal message. It arises from seeing this tragedy unfold from afar. It is a message about strength, through kindness, about fortitude.
For you who are so close to these events and have lost so much, it must be hard to grasp the degree of admiration, indeed awe, with which you are regarded by the rest of the world.
Courage and understated determination have always been the hallmark of New Zealanders. Of Cantabrians.
These things the world has long known. But to see them so starkly demonstrated over these terrible, painful months has been humbling.
Put simply, you are an inspiration to all people.
I count myself enormously privileged to be here to tell you that.
This community, more than any other in the world, can appreciate the full horror of what is unfolding in Japan. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
In the last two days I have heard tales of great tragedy, but also of extraordinary bravery and selfless courage. Throughout, one phrase units them all.
With the Queen's heartfelt good wishes and those of the Prince of Wales and other members of my family, I say it to you now.
Kia kaha, be strong.”

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10713386

Isleen 

What is Next?

Did you ever have a moment in your life when you wished that you could control the situation? Do you wish that you could turn back the time? Right now, I am dealing what is next period of my life? Do I pack? Or should wait and have faith of where my next step?

In last 2 months of my life has not been the easiest one? Being unemployed is not easy at all. I have found myself searching through job after job, trying to make appointments for interview, working on Graduate homework, going to job fairs, sending emails to potential job offers, working on unemployment homework, going to workshops, and working on call when they need me at the hotel. There is the emotional factor that plays in when you don't have a job. When to sleep in my bed? I can't sleep at night because the worry starts to take place. Questions, questions start to take over of what is going to happen tomorrow and the depression takes over. There have been a nights where I could not sleep in my own bed and slept on my couch, my parent's couch, and my boyfriend's parents couch. “Where would I am going to sleep? “Is the question that pops in my head. I have been individual that plans aheads of what is going to happen next but this time I can't plan ahead because I do not know what is going happen next in my life.

The answer is G-d. One night, I found myself extremely depressed and woke up in the middle of my sleep praying. I heard the Lord saying to me, “ I will never leave you or forsake you.” A peace came into my heart as I heard those words. A friend called me up out of nowhere just to pray with me on the phone. I know the Lord is in control of my life. I have to have faith in believing in him for my future. G-d has always been there for me even when I traveled to the Middle East in times of uncertainly in this country. Hardest part of going to the next level of your life is letting go. Letting go everything you have or worked so hard for many years. I asked the Lord many times of why this happened to me? Why at this time? My mom tells me that Lord is teaching me something early in my life right now than when I am 50 years old. She tells me that you don't have the fancy house, car, boat, and the things you do not need. I am learning to think about my retirement, my future home, my future family living in my means instead out of my means. All these material things is temporal and something new will come along and we will toss the old.

The real focusing is on money. Money? Money makes the world go round but does it really? Money is the root of all evil as the Bible says. One of my friends called me up and said to me that we live in society that surrounds around money even in the church. He told me do you really need to live on money? What does the Bible say about money? As he was talking... I remembered many of the familes living in the Religious Jewish communities in Israel. The fathers and sons praying and study scriptures all day. The Jewish women who stayed home to raise their families. These people live on a limited income and give, give their tithe to the church. What would happen to our society if we lived limited income? There is so much competition in our society of who has the better car or better house. What about the relationships that help each other in times of trials. I had a Dell home computer that could of sold online for money but I did not. I gave this computer to one of friends who was in need for school. Not one penny.... I only I received but a hug. Giving is important in my life of those who is in need even when one does not have a job. What if we live in a socialist society? Would we as society live poor? It is scary to think about socialist society and part of me thinks that we may go in this direction in the near future. Today, I think of what is going to happen next in my life but I don't worry but trust in him. In G-d, I trust with my life. If you don't know where to turn in life turn to your Bible & prayer of course the Lord. Answers will be given to you but only in time. In the next few weeks, which I will find the outcome of where my life will be in the 6 to 9months. I ask all the prayer warriors please continue to pray for me.

Update..... 6mth, later... A prayed was answered. See my latest blog> June, 2011.

I love you all.

Be Blessed.

Isleen

Love is Work

Valentine's Day is around the corner and romance is in the air. I learned romance is relationship does not come from a storybook because there is work to be done. One of our favorite songs that Clifford & I love to sing is Gwen Stefani & Akon call “ The Sweet Escape”. Here are the lyrics to the song has some truth to it when you sing it.

[Gwen]

If I could escape I would but,

First of all, let me say

I must apologize for acting stank & treating you this way

Cause I've been acting like sour milk all on the floor

It's your fault you didn't shut the refrigerator

Maybe that's the reason I've been acting so cold?

There is a story to this song and couple is fighting because of not closing the refrigerator door. Sometimes we couples fight on little things can make the relationships go sour.

[CHORUS]

If I could escape & recreate a place that's my own world

& I could be your favourite girl (forever), Perfectly together

Tell me boy now wouldn't that be sweet? (sweet escape)

If I could be sweet, I know I've been a real bad girl (I'll try to change)

I didn't mean for you to get hurt (whatsoever)

We can make it better, Tell me boy wouldn't that be sweet? (sweet escape)

This is sooo true with couples. Sometimes we want to escape to a perfect world but we as couples need to work it out in our relationship. Gwen tells Akon her guy in this song would it be sweet and Akon apologize to his girl.

[Akon]

I want to get away, to our sweet escape

I want to get away, yeah

[Gwen]

You held me down, I'm at my lowest boiling point

Come help me out, I need to get me out of this joint

Come on let's bounce, counting on you to turn me around

Instead of clowning around, let's look for some common ground

So baby, times get a little crazy

I've been gettin' a little lazy, waitin' on you to come save me

I can see that you're angry by the way that you treat me

Hopefully you don't leave me, wanna take you with me

Gwen tell her guy Akon in this song that she was hurt by him. Gwen says let get out of this mess and come to common ground. Sometimes things get crazy and come and save me from this mess and don't leave me. ( A girl should not say don't leave me because she has to be strong and think for yourself if she is happy or if she needs to move on).

[CHORUS]

If I could escape & recreate a place that's my own world

& I could be your favourite girl (forever), Perfectly together

& tell me boy now wouldn't that be sweet? (sweet escape)

If I could be sweet (sorry boy)

I know I've been a real bad girl (I'll try to change)

I didn't mean for you to get hurt (whatsoever)

We can make it better

& tell me boy now wouldn't that be sweet? (sweet escape)

This is Clifford & I favorite part of the song

Woohoo, Yeehoo

Woohoo, Yeehoo (If I could escape)

Woohoo, yeehoo (If I could escape)

Woohoo, Yeehoo

Cause I've been acting like sour milk all on the floor

It's your fault you didn't shut the refrigerator

Maybe that's the reason I've been acting so cold?

[CHORUS]

If I could escape & recreate a place that's my own world

& I could be your favourite girl (forever), Perfectly together

& tell me boy now wouldn't that be sweet? (sweet escape)

If I could be sweet (sorry boy)

I know I've been a real bad girl (I'll try to change)

I didn't mean for you to get hurt (whatsoever)

We can make it better

& tell me boy now wouldn't that be sweet? (sweet escape)

Woohoo, Yeehoo (I wanna get away, get away)

Woohoo, Yeehoo (To our sweet escape)

Woohoo, Yeehoo (I wanna get away)

Woohoo, Yeehoo (Yeah)

Woohoo, Yeehoo

Woohoo, Yeehoo

When I think of love which I think of the truth to it and at times it is not easy to love someone. When I was younger which I would watch all these princess movies and Cinderella would fall in love and her Prince Charming they would be happily ever after. Wrong? Why did they ever they made Cinderella 2. The next part of Cinderella life when she has kiddos of her own? What do you think Prince Charming thought of Cinderella messy hair days or her bad days?

Sometimes we have our bad days and good days as couple. I like the Shrek movies instead because there is real life to those character as fiction moves. Remember love is not easy but the real love is loving each other and working it out even until the end of time.

Isleen

Where to start?

I woke up this morning told myself of what I was going to do today? I was not going to an 8-5 job today anymore. I am like most Americans who have been laid off by a bad economy. I have been telling myself that things will get better soon. My boyfriend is in the same position and he is trying to find the right job. It is good thing we are both not married or have kiddos. I can’t imagine having a family in this economy but I know families are going through a lot worst than we are going through. I have decided to look around me of who is making it with education or without diploma.

Well, I ran into a couple who only has high school diplomas and they are managers at popular fast food restaurant and they are doing well accept the hours they are working. My brother & my mom have survived last 3 years in this recession with their company. One moment, they said that the company might be letting go people and the next moment they say that they are doing well. I heard from a lot of you that your companies are are cutting budgets at your companies and letting go some good people. Times are tough! I will say that education can play a part with your resume but don’t expect to look special because you have Master education. I have a Master education and close to homeless because of being laid off. Thank goodness for my family and friends but without them I could not survive.

High Diploma or being doctor does not matter in this economy but having faith in the Lord is the most important thing. In the last week, I found myself thinking differently about my life and what is the most important. I used to think that having the material was going to get you somewhere. Even that car! Forget it! Cash is the only way to go and being out of debt! I am thankful not to have a car payment or mortgage. Other people are dealing with debt. I am speaking to those of you who like to use your credit cards. Get rid of them unless you are going to pay it off ASAP. You might be in this position of where I am and you may have debt hanging over your head. If you have debt which there is help out there but it is going to take some planning and selling your precious material. I have at least 2 credit cards over me and school loans that I might have to pay off but I am ok. Those pink heels are only temporal. One minute you are in style wearing your pink heels and the next there sit your pink heels in your closet. When you are jobless the pink heels does not matter to you anymore and food & shelter is the most important. You can’t eat your pink heels but maybe give it away to someone who would cherish it. Get fancy is a popular song right now. When I think fancy which I think if I am going to paint my nails or do my own facial. I can’t have my hair done right now and find a friend who can help me out. Going out to eat or chilling with your buddies? Nope. Forgive me to my all my friends or family members but right now I am going to decline until I get myself out of this mess in my life. I can help you out organizing your closet, help you shop for that outfit, decorate, or help you with make up or help you get make over as a gift to me.

One has start to priorities all the things that she does not need. I had watched an episode of Nate Berkus which he tells the audience of this gal who had lived in a small area in Seattle. This gal lives in small apartment less than 200 sq. feet. I can’t imagine living in home with less than 200 sq feet but people live in small areas all of over the USA and in different countries. As designer, Nat Berkus tells the audience that you don’t need to have all kinds of stuff to make your home beautiful. I have to agree with him but I am trying to let go of some of my things in my home. If I have to let go my sofas into one then let it be!! If you want to check out some his work which you can check out his website @ www.thenateshow.com

I am letting go but I know this season shall pass away into a new season but please keep Clifford & I in prayer at this time. I had said in my blog that I wanted to move into a new career and G-d heard my prayer but I did not expect this to happen so quickly. Be careful what you pray because you might get what you do not expect.

Clifford & I are going through very important decisions of what types of jobs agree to take on or places of where I or Clifford are going to live. I told Clifford that he might need to visit me in his motorcycle because of the gas prices being so high. Another issue is moving…I might be moving soon.. I don’t want to move! Please keep both of us in your prayer logs.

Love all of you.

Many hugs over the blog.

Isleen Rodriguez

Prayer in 2011

Can you imagine Jesus praying in 2011? I can? Jesus was in the wilderness fasting in praying in quietness 2000 years ago. If Jesus was alive today which it would be hard to get prayer time because of all the distractions around him. His I Phone is beeping every second because his Facebook Friends are sending him message or everyone is texting him. The coffee maker is ding to say that it is finished. If he had children, the children are running around the home. House pets are meowing or barking. Cars are honking their horn outside of his home. The next-door neighbor teenager turned on his audio in car loud to hear his favorite music. Someone next door is hammering outside of his or her house to fix the roof.

Having quiet time is vital for each Christian in the morning, afternoon, evening or in wee night. It is a time to focus when one is having their quiet time with the Lord. It is behind the scenes for the Christians. Sometimes we are praying for our love ones, praying the woman down the street who is dealing with cancer, praying for our nation, reading the Bible, doing Bible study, journal writing, talking to the Lord, etc.

In Matthew 6, Jesus told His disciples to give (vv.1-4), pray (vv.5-6), and fast (vv.16-18) in order to please God, not to gain praise from people. “When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place” (v.6). Whether giving, praying, or fasting, Jesus said, “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (vv.4,6,18). http://odb.org/

Isleen