Give thanks....

Hi you all! It's been a while since my last post here..... and it's not for lack of things to say.... it's been more for being a little bit lazy and I always think... does anybody read what I write anyways??? hehe.... But this time..... I want to take advantage to give THANKS..... Last night we celebrated thanksgiving with my husband's family... it was great..... but.... it was more about eating... talking and watching TV..... later.... when we came back home I really wanted to have a "Thanksgiving" session .... so we started thanking God for how GOOD HE has always been with us... we mentioned all the things we could remember we must be thankful for (there were so many... and we were only mentioning those that happened this year!) ..... after that we sang some praises to GOD! ....

Of course we must all give thanks EVERYDAY for everything! but.... as encouragement for all.... would you share in your comments what you are thankful for??? What were those things that you can remember were outstanding this year and you are thankful for???

Let me start....

I Give thanks for:

Salvation... THAT... I WILL ALWAYS THANK FOR!
HEALTH, FAMILY AND FRIENDS... BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY FOR:

- God gave me a GREAT, AWESOME husband (the picture of this blog is a picture of the celebration of my wedding).
- That included a whole change.... so now I have MORE family and friends... My husband's family has been great with me.
- We got an amazing telephone service that allows me call my family and speak 3000 minutes every month!!! so I am always in touch with them!
- I attend a great church where I am learning so much.
- My sister could came up and stayed for 9 days! It was such a blessing!
- The residency process that takes years for some... took 4 months for me.... I am a permanent resident of USA and God provided for Lawyer and every expense involved.
- My husband got a new job and he was recognized as the ROOKIE OF THE YEAR!
- We planted a garden and gave more tomatoes and peppers than we could ever eat!
- A friend gave us a laptop my husband had always wanted ... (God takes care even of those things that are not exactly a basic need).
- God has provided amazingly in our house..... we EVEN go out to eat at least twice a week and it's always GOD who provides through people!
- I've become a great baker... hahaha..... and trust me.... God has been the one helping me!
- We got a dining set... and even a desk my husband had always wanted.... we didn't do anything to get those.

----------------

It's amazing... I could continue all day.... BUT .... It's now your turn... share with US those things you want to thank for!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

God bless u!

Paloma.

I know! I know!!!

WoW... Do you know someone who was born knowing EVERYTHING??... WELL... I was born knowing everything! (yep! that's what I thought) since I can remember... "I know" has been my favorite "phrase" ... I have said "I know" so many times... without knowing that I didn't know anything at all!!!

Last Sunday I was reminded of it... 'cause in the sermon Joshua said.... " When I was a little boy my uncle used to tell me... 'don't chew with your mouth open' ... and I would even chew harder and with my mouth open even wider... how could he tell me that?? I knew what I was doing... I was 6 years old!" ... and we all laughed when he said that... 'cause he said "I was 6 years old" as if he was a big boy who knew everything.... who nobody could teach him anything at all... of course he was mentioning this in the sermon to make us reflect on how we act even with GOD... we are so arrogant and proud... even without knowing it...

So ... I started thinking about how many times I've been like that... and it's been so many that I am embarrassed... It's amazing how many times my mom or dad tried to explain something to me... and I got frustrated 'cause ... I KNEW IT ALL!!! I closed my ears to their advice... I was so smart in my own opinion!" and that was so stupid!!!.... Now I can really appreciate their patience with me... wow! they knew that sooner or later I was going to realize they were right.... they tried to give me their advice to make it sooner for me.... to avoid me the pain of learning "the hard way" but I was such a big head!!! and I always Knew!!! I remember myself not paying attention many times in class 'cause they were things that I already "knew" ... or not paying attention in church 'cause "Oh! I've heard that before!" ... or my pastor telling me to do one thing but I would do exactly the opposite... 'cause in my mind I thought: "he doesn't really know" my "situation is different" ... until "pum, zock, cuaz, paz!" (just look at my face in the picture hahaha)... I found in painful ways... that I was so wrong... I fell so many times... and do you know what I did when I was still on the floor after falling??? Do you think I learned my lesson??? Well ... no! many times even still on the floor I kept saying:"I know! I know!" .... Now... even when I write this posts in my blog... I feel terrified to have that attitude, I ask God to save me from myself... 'cause the worst things that have ever happened to me have all of them been because of my pride.. for following my own "smart ideas"... for feeling "I knew it all".

It's amazing but I didn't even know that I was being proud. (MAN! I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!!!)

Are we like that with God too??? if we have been like that to the authorities HE has provided for our own protection... then... I know we do it to HIM.... it's sad but we even "pray" asking for HIS wisdom and will... but in our hearts already set to do what "we want to do" ... looking even in the Bible for verses that will even "agree" with us.... etc... etc...

what can I say??? I just can say... God... I NEED YOU... THANKS FOR MY PARENTS... FOR MY PASTOR.... FOR THOSE WISE PEOPLE YOU HAVE PROVIDED! it's better for me to listen than to speak! make me really listen... to your voice....

the weird thing is that ... after all... when we are still blind and deaf because of our own "loud voice saying I know" we say... why doesn't God speak to me??? Why did He let me go through this and that??? .... when all we needed to do... was... to be quiet... silent....

ok... I will be quiet now.... I won't say more....

God Bless you!

"Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish". Proverbs 12:11

Amor de telenovela.... Soap opera love

What do we call love? feelings? Emotions??? those butterflies in the stomach? ... passion???

It's pretty easy to get confused with what love is.... mainly for the wrong idea we get from TV... movies... magazines... etc... But ... we forget that ... love is a decision... an action.... Jesus said "Love your enemies" ... and... we think that is impossible to do! why?? for our wrong perception of what love is... we think it's about feeling just good! ... if love was like that... it would be about ourselves... it would be a selfish thing... When we go to the Bible... and to Jesus... the right source of Love... we then can apply it... we can really understand what "loving" is about.... and even without "feeling like it" we would be able to love those who have hurt us... those who are different from us... We would be able to love our husbands and wives the "right" way... our children... our neighbor... our enemies....

It's so sad to see all the wrong things that are done "in the name of Love" .... for the "cheap" lie that we believe from the devil.... and the consequences for not knowing what love is ... are terrible... lack of forgiveness, bitterness, adultery, fornication, division (even in the churches), etc... etc... etc...

I am a very expressive person... and I am usually telling my mom "I love u ... I love u!".... and haha... I remember... that some of those times she would say.... "Then wash the dishes!" hahaha.... but it's true... I don't feel like "washing the dishes" but... that would be LOVE... DOING SOMETHING GOOD FOR HER.... praying for others, doing something for others... giving ourselves to others.... Through time, effort, etc. ... God has shown HIS perfect love... through GIVING... He gave HIMSELF for us... who... didn't deserve it... who ... sometimes even reject that love....

My question is... am I loving??? Are you loving???? or are we just saying we love??? are we "waiting" until "we feel" those butterflies to love someone??? until we feel like floating over clouds??? well.... then we are not really willing to love.... let's love now... when it matters!... when it's hard... when it might be even painful... it's not an option... If we really consider ourselves followers of Jesus.... then... we have to do as He has done.... so... let's go wash the dishes!

"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." Luke 6:35

A peaceful experience...

Well... this is the first time I have a blog... I am going to write in English so more people can understand... so forgive my mistakes ... since I am sure there will be many hehe...

And I am starting this blog because I saw pastor Josh has one... (copycat!) but that made me realize I could do something like this... Since I have so much time on my own... and I am always thinking I need more contact with human beings (since most of the time I spent is with my cat... "George") I am sometimes afraid I will start speaking his language...

So, I am hoping I can share my thoughts with you... whoever you are...

Why "A peaceful experience"? Well... everything started with... "cleaning" ... my husband and I have been trying to start a cleaning business and we thought our slogan would be ... "A peaceful experience"... because that's what we feel we can offer... Many people can clean... but not many people will offer zero turnover since we would be the owners and employees too.... zero stealing, things misplaced and things like that...

You know??? And I was thinking... that is what we have when we are with God... A peaceful experience.... You know? many things in the world offer joy (at least temporary)... excitement, etc... but... none of them can offer... "A peaceful experience" ... you can have sex out of marriage... what a great deal! no commitments... no responsibilities... just excitement... but.... peace??? None! ... instead you would have guilt, regrets, wounds.... You can also have "joy" without God... you can either use drugs, hang around with friends!, alcohol... parties... but... what's left??? Peace??? No! what about the time you spend on your own??? What happens when you are alone in your room at night? Is there any peace???

In the world there is always a "search" for happiness.... and peace.... But the problem is that when you get joy or excitement from the wrong source... sooner or later you will pay the consequences.... when... with GOD ... everything is a peaceful experience! it doesn't matter if there are (which there will always be)... problems, tribulation, affliction.... there is always a peace beyond any understanding...

Like me... I can't say that I don't feel sad at all for having left my family in Mexico to get married... and come to live here in Milwaukee... Sometimes I feel the pain is more than I can take.... But.... it's amazing... there is PEACE... that peace that only knowing you are doing God's will can give... and then.... when I know I put everything in His hands..... there is a conviction that He can handle things better than I can.... and that He can take care of my family and my heart....

I am really so blessed... Do you feel like there is no peace in your life??? Maybe you are being fed from the wrong source... sometimes we even confuse "church" with "God" .... we get involved in all types of activities in Church (which is great) but we forget about our personal, intimate time with our Lord.. (which is terrible) and we wonder why there is lack of peace in our lives....... because... we went to the wrong source.....

well... I was just thinking... and writing.... sharing this with you... knowing I go to the wrong source many times too....

I just want to encourage everyone.... including me... to never forget to go to the ONE and ONLY who can really offer... A peaceful experience....

Love!