Thanksgiving

I got to go back to Temecula for 3 days over Thanksgiving break. A trip I was not expecting which was a pleasant surprise to have been able to enjoy such a luxury.

It was a blessing to see my family and be crazy with my beloved cousins. It is in theses instances when you are glad that somethings don't change.

Now looking forward to the end of the semester where most of my break will be time spent again with direct family and more family. I am specifically excited for Iza and Christopher Clark's visit here in St. George and our family trip back to California until New Years.

Currently: quit my job at Benja's (next semester's time won't allow for it). at one and a half weeks before the semester is officially over (woohoo!). co-conducting children's choir for our Christmas eve service. serving the Lord at the CC St. George.

Praises: Jesus loves and is sanctifying me. i will be able to join the youth on the Thailand 2012 mission trip. Iza and Chris are coming for Christmas. so far I know I have an A in my Physiology Lab class. that is pretty sweet. the semester is almost over. etc... etc...

Prayer Requests: growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. finals for this semester. grace with my grade for next semester. life decisions for schooling specifically whether or not I want to be a nurse or a doctor (big difference, i know).

It has been awhile since I've updated but I just want to be reminded of God's goodness and the many things I have been given.

God is faithful: one reason why we should encourage one another

"Let us hold fast the confession of [our] hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works" Hebrews 10:23,24

"walk circumspectly"/ take care

-ina

Memoirs of Faithfulness

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

It has been a busy few weeks: interning, going to school full time, and working. God is faithful to give His kids the grace to carry the responsibilities that are placed upon us. Between being a student and going to work, life still goes on and living space and eating time has to be squeezed in there somehow.

During the first week when the summer semester started I highly doubted whether or not I could handle the schedule I was about to begin. Having been given the opportunity to really dive into the Word of God for 4 semesters of Bible College and being surrounded by solid biblical teaching in high school and just being brought up by parents who encouraged having a tight relationship with God, God brought to remembrance the promises in His Word that His Spirit will need to remind me of the rest of my earthly life like: “Be anxious for nothing but by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

And the awesome thing was that He totally gave me a crazy kind of peace. All throughout this summer semester I didn’t have any anxiety about homework or tests or studying, granted I had to do all those things but it was more of an enjoyable experience. In my own personal opinion, when you realize school is for your learning benefit and take advantage of it rather than try to find all the loopholes and cause yourself last minute stress is a waste.

The verse that I included at the beginning of this entry specifically came alive to me concerning my housing condition. I have been living with two awesome girls who love the Lord, Tara and Kara ( they are in the picture above next to me and yes, their names rhyme and I love it).

Recently I had made a mistake in what I was going to do for next semester that seemed irrevocable based on the circumstances of that time and it was right before young adults group when it was brought to my attention and I was just about to lead worship. I panicked for a minute did all that I was capable of doing at that moment to try to correct my mistake then after doing all that, I did what I should have done in the first place, I turned to the Lord and prayed and surrendered the situation to Him and then lead worship. His presence was my comfort.

About a week after that the Lord answered my prayer like Ephesians 3:20 states

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or thing according to the power that works in us.” The Lord blessed us with a re modeled and refurnished 3 bedroom house to rent (opposed to renting out the apartment we have been living in). Despite my faithlessness He is faithful.

I’m enjoying the time off of school now and am thankful for these moments that I get to update and speak of the great things God has done for me.

If you spent the time to read this, I hope you were encouraged to put your trust in and delight in the Lord (Psalms 37:3-4). Because it is so worth it to do so. ^-^

Spring 2011: in the George

It's about time for me to update. :)
It has been a few months since I moved out to Saint George Utah. Although there were some rough spots in the beginning of my acclimation to the life here, it has been a good for me.
I've had a lot of time to hang out with Ivan and Shannon (my new sister ^_^) and friends that I've met and known and have gotten to know better since I've been here. Praise the Lord for the fellowship of believers (Acts 2:42). I've also had many opportunities to enjoy the scenery in and around St. George it is quite lovely.

I'm astounded at how often I forget about the power of the One true God I serve, the one who wants to do a new thing in the lives of those who are His (Isaiah 43-46).

There is a definite difference in culture here. Warfare for the hearts and minds of man here seems so pronounced to me since coming from California. (2 Cor 10:3-5)
To you reader, prayer that the Lord will mightily use me and all His new creations out here to share the Word of God in love would be most desired.
I'm so happy and thankful through all of my life He is with me (Hebrews 13).
It is awesome that the Lord desires for us to rejoice, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks (1 Thes 5:16-18).

It certainly is easy to be downcast about the state of the world, yet all the more why the Truth of the gospel is so needed. We should be moved with compassion and motivated by His Spirit to be witnesses, living epistles (2 Cor. 3:3). To go therefore and make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20).

He is coming back quickly. Revelation 3:11; 22:7,12,20
The signs of the times are evident. Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8, Luke 21:11.

The heart of the Father is for all to come to and accept Him as He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save the world. (Jn 3:16)

The Bible is filled with so much good truth.

This is a sweet song (an oldie but a good one):

There is joy in the Lord, there is love in His Spirit, there is hope in the knowledge of Him.
There is a fountain I know every time I am near, is abounding in love to my soul.
All blessing and honor are His all glory and power are His!

Family of God.

I am so encouraged by the love that has been shown to me from my church family in Temecula and Murrieta. God has been so faithful. During the last Sunday that I attended Calvary Chapel Hot Springs Church in Murrieta Dave Shirley and the body prayed for me. The fellowship there has been a blessing to me. With all the opportunities to play worship for the Spanish ministry and just be apart of the church for the few months there it was a blessed time. Then later that day I had the chance to see a few of my friends from high school. Then that night I was blessed to be prayed for again by a few dear families from CC Bible Fellowship of whom will all be sorely missed, yet the Lord sends out His laborers to the harvest and in that I am glad.

Two Down, Two to Go

My sister, for nineteen years of my life (so far) ;) , is now married to Christopher Clark. It has been 1 day short of their 20 days as a married couple. It was a beautiful wedding. The Lord blessed it and has blessed Iza and Christopher with a new life together. Their story of the Lord bringing them together has been a testimony and example for many. They waited upon and acted on seeking and serving the Lord and keeping their relationship before the Lord pure, holy, and acceptable to God and that is what was exemplary (Romans 12:1-2). How exciting is it to see God's plan for both of their lives to meet and be planned out to go forward together still seeking and following Him. The Lord has been faithful. What God has brought together let no man put asunder!
Love you guys d^_^b

Gathered to be Scattered (for God's glory)

This past week I have been reminded of a saying that my dad would always used to say after every Campfires for Christ camp trip that we had, that is the Lord "gathers us to scatter us."
He calls us to be edified together and have our gifts stirred up and to encourage the body then sends us out to our mission field, whether that be our school, work, home or the more obvious far away countries to spread the truth of His gospel.

I have been able to see many Christian brothers and sisters who are subsequently going out to be scattered in the fields that God is setting before them. I myself will be moving, Lord willing, to another field by the end of and beginning of next year and am thankful for the recent gatherings that I have been able to participate and be encouraged in. The Lord is faithful to help prepare us for whatever work He has laid before us. For this I am thankful, for this I know that I don't need to worry, for this in part of the whole is why I love my God. Jeremiah 29:11.

I encourage you brother or sister to live in surrender to the Lord because He is worth living for.
It won't always seem the easiest but it is the best.

Reflections.

I am so thankful for this verse: Philippians 2:13
"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

I fail. But He does not.
He wants to have me do that which pleases Him and even provides for the motivation to do so.
How awesome is that, all we have to do is believe in Him to do what He promises.

Psalms 61:2
"From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

I have recently found myself overwhelmed.
Though it is quite humbling to say, growing up is tough.
But with my Lord who is my rock who is higher than I He will uphold me.

I thank the Lord pretty much daily for His unmerited favor towards me.
That concept seems so far from so many people's minds considering that
we are "supposed" to earn another person's love.
But who loves someone who hasn't "earned" their love in any way at all possible?
My God that is who.

I want my life to exude Christ. I want those springs of living water to overflow.
I want to be as perfect of a reflection of Christ as is earthly possible.

"A heart may be divided and not broken, and it may be broken but not divided; and yet again it may be broken and be whole, yet it never can be whole until it is broken."- C. H. Spurgeon

Sometimes I think public humiliation is good because it is just making the apparent position we should always have before God more apparent, just a thought. ( you probably could not tell that i embarrass myself a lot ^_^)

Well I praise the Father who has given us His Son to restore us to a relationship with Him then give us the Holy Spirit who helps us walk in the way we should.

What a good Father we have. Rejoice! We have been rescued forgiven and pulled from the grave!