Unashamed

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed.
The die has been cast, I’ve stepped over the line; the decision has been made; I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I will not look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed; my present makes sense; my future is secure. I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity.

I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded . I now live by faith, love by patience, live by prayer, and labor by power . My pace is set; my gait is fast; my goal is the heaven. My road is narrow; my way is rough; my companions few; my Guide reliable; my mission clear!

I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity; I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, nor meander in the maze of mediocrity. I will not give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I have prayed up, preached up, stored up, and stayed up the cause of Jesus Christ!

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns; give until I drop; preach until all know; and work until He comes. And when He comes to get His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me; my colors are flying high, and they are clear for all to see.

~Author unknown

FLAMENCO

Currently enjoying everything Flamenco.
The fashion, art, dance, music, guitar, and reading about the nomadic culture.
Watercolor Painting: D. Nadal.

A Little Spontaneity is Good for the Soul

Yesterday, I got to enjoy ice skating through the shiny sky of spontaneity. I drove down to La Mirada on a whim to meet some like minded brothers and sisters who are shining bright lights on the Pacific Islands and other places around the world through the sport of surfing. They are shining light on a culture that is so dim by drugs, alcohol, and broken families. While hanging out with these neat daughters and sons of the king most high, I was reminded of the wonderful gift of friendship God has graciously given to me in my friend Mariela. Friends are a blessing, it is where happiness can be shared, sorrows comforted, challenges overcome, vulnerability open, trust given, and love embraced. I do not deserve such a good friend. It is eye opening to hang out with a new group of people and have them mention how great of friends Mariela and I seem to be. We are and I am thankful, iron sharpens iron!

My life is currently unfolding in the step by step plan. There is a tendency for me to want the ten year plan, but God is faithful even in the step by step plan. Next step, finish my current schedule of classes, and then visit my new friends in Hawaii who surf and love Jesus. Who knows, maybe I will move there!

God is There

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."

It has been amazing to think about how God knits babies in a Mother's womb. I have been blessed to see my best friend become a mother, as well as my older sister for a third time, and look forward to my two sister in laws also becoming mother's this year. Being with them and seeing pictures of the babies growing ever so quickly in the womb and reading passages from Psalm 139 has showed me that God was even with us when we were in our mother's womb. Even when our minds were so infant and had yet to set our eyes on the light and colors of the world He has created, He was with us.

My mind also got to thinking about the beautiful places on earth. When I climb a brown rocky mountain and stand on top to see the spacious desert valley below, when I look up in the middle of the forest and see the tops of trees coming together with a peek of sky, when I am standing on the sea shore looking out at the vast deep blue, when my tongue is sticking out to catch the rain drops or unique snowflakes I can know that a Great and WOnderous Creator made all of these places. When I leave these places, I can know that there may be no human there to enjoy that beautiful place in a moment, but in every moment God is there, and He is enjoying that which He created.

When I create something, when I collage, do a gal's hair, or decorate a room, I love to take a step back and enjoy the finished project with my eyes. I can only imagine that the creator of the universe does the same, He enjoys that which He created. Mankind only takes what He has created and rearranges it. He creates out of nothing. I serve a God who is growing in greatness everday. The reality is that He has always been GREAT and always will be GREAT, more than I can comprehend, but He gives me a little more of a glimpse each day. For that I am thankful!

Love is on the Move

I am truely loving this time of life. I love how every part of my day has distinctly different types of people. Not that I want to put people into categories, but first generation immigrant mothers in their thirties is different from nineteen year old athletes that grew up in a sketch part of Los Angeles, which is also different from my housemates who grew up in God fearing homes in small towns across America. I am seeing how much the place a person grows up impacts their outlook on life. Although, there is such variety, there is something that humanity has in common. I know that commonality is there, but sometimes I cannot put it into words. I see that there are different faces, voices, languages, accents, fashion, cuisine, ambition, educaiton, and occupations. Yet, we all share emotions, interactions, and intellect. Most of us can think, feel, taste, touch, smell, and see the world around us. Where did this heart we have come from? Why is it that we feel for people who are in tragedy? Poeples' reactions to the Haiti and Chile earthquakes come to mind. Why is it that we like to see justice done on wrongdoing? And mercy on those who are remorseful? What is it that makes us uniquely different from the rest of creation?

Believe

encouraged by God's Word spoken through David at the end of Psalm 27, "I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!"