Spring Ahead

Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Spring is only a month away and I’m already thinking about cleaning my closets.  Aren’t you? 😉 You know that saying, “Out with the old and in with the new”? Well, I am sure you know what I mean when I tell you that just the other day I went to an outlet store with my cousin and with the mindset that I was not going to buy anything.  Well, what a dumb thought because I left that place with a pair of shoes! Can you believe that? Of course you can! Who does that, right? When I got home I felt convicted. I thought if I had bought another pair of shoes then certainly I must get rid of an old pair. I am still on that thought. I am going to go through my closet to get rid of what I no longer wear so that someone else in need can benefit from what I no longer use.
What am I getting with this thought?
I believe we do the same thing with our gifts and talents. We have great gifts but we don’t use them to bless others and honor God.
Where is your treasure?
What talents are you hiding in your closet?
I have a few I am working on bringing out and dusting because I feel the conviction.
I want to honor God.
I challenge you to go into your spiritual closet and bring out your gifts and talents.
What are you waiting for?
Stop reading and get going.
Be empowered and enjoy the gifts and talents God has given you! ♡

Be blessed and bless others!

btw: my parents have a compassionate ministry where we provide all kinds of resources. Check them out here: http://www.kissimmeefamilymission.org or search their page on facebook. 

Godspeed

‘Wake up, wake …

‘Wake up, wake up, Deborah!
Wake up, wake up, break out in song!” – Judges 5:12a

Something happens when you break out in song! There is freedom-chains are broken! I love to sing and I sometimes sing real loud! It feels great! Try it! You will feel liberated! Oh Happy Day-bring on the joy! Have an amazing day! 

Courage: Bring It On

Remember your first immunization shot? I do. Remember your first day at school? I do. I remember many of my first of mostly everything I have experienced. I also remember the fear. The fear of that needle touching my a arm for the very first time and screaming so loud until I couldn’t any longer. And, the first day of school was rough for this introverted and shy little girl who walked pigeon toed and sas…sss…stuttered!  When I was 5 years old, I sang my first solo at church for our Christmas cantata. That was fun but I was horrified.  Courage. Do you have it? Are you born with it? How do you learn to keep it? After so many shots for the flu and blood work growing, up I grew accustomed to seeing that needle go through my brown skin and can say I have the courage. Singing? Well, I still get nervous but its a good kind of nervous. I am no longer horrified. And, I thank God for the strength and scripture like Proverbs 3:5-6 that helped me overcome my fears. Take a deep breath and let go. You too can trust and take COURAGE!

I Am Woman: Here Me Roar

Must I roar to be heard? Do I necessarily have to make a big deal in order to be heard? Or, should I simply act quiet and not make my opinion known. In the workplace, in school, at home, and yes even at church. Women have been given many tools in order to advance their skills and talents and many are taking advantage of them. We have more women in office, police academies, construction, in the medical field and in church leadership to name a few. I am a woman, Latina, educated, bilingual, talented in many ways and did I mention, a Christian. I love to hear about other women graduating from institutions, receiving an achievement award and accomplishing what they are passionate about.

Over a week ago, my family and I traveled back up to New York City to represent my sister and accept her Master’s degree in Social Work at Hunter College. What an honor I thought to myself and then thought my sister would have loved to have seen all our faces at the school ceremony…I bet she was smiling down from heaven along with my younger brother! It has only been a little over two months since she passed away to be with the Lord due to bronchial asthma.

She was inspiring to others and her colleagues and classmates were very proud of her. And, of course we were too! She made a difference in the Latino/a community and it definitely continues to resonate as I hear their stories. Her friends and colleagues contact me to tell me their stories about my sister and how she made them laugh-she made everyone feel really loved!

Just the other day I was talking with my mother about the different kinds of behavior and how many of us lack love and I said if we could just love because “love covers all things” (Proverbs 10:12) and the following scripture came to mind:

John 15:9-17 (NIV)

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.” 

My sister definitely loved the people she touched on a daily basis and I can see how she did that. She simply loved them! What an honor to have spent 40 years with my sister and to later have more friends added to my friend’s list because she made a huge impact in their lives!

Are you bearing much fruit?

Are you remaining in His love?

What legacy will you leave behind?

I am woman, here me roar! I could never say that growing up but now I have every reason too! God is my Savior, my Friend and I will shout it from the rooftops!

p.s. I apologize for not writing for the past week or so. Traveling took my time away for a bit but I’m back and looking forward to writing frequently.

Godspeed!

Cindy