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10 Lessons Learned from Mom

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My Mom’s birthday is coming up, so allow me to pay tribute to one of the strongest and most faithful women of God I know! I’m sure that a big reason why I am who I am today is because of my Mom’s wonderful example, God’s Grace, and my mama’s PRAYERS!

Below is just a taste of all that I’ve learned from my Mom! May it bless you as well.

Don’t be Afraid of a Little Adventure! – At the age of 27, my Mom left behind her entire family in her home country and boarded a plane to the United States. She dared to come with only a work visa and a suitcase. She didn’t know one soul in this country. Not even the family she was coming to work for. Talk about guts! Perhaps that’s part of the reason why I can board planes to just about any part of the world.

Follow Your Dreams – My Mom went to a beauty academy in her home country and had her own beauty shop by the time she was 23. After a few years here in the U.S., she opened up a beauty shop in our neighborhood with the help of my Dad. She would go on to successfully run it for 25 years! Yes, much of my childhood was spent watching customers walking around in rollers or with dye in their hair and breathing in the hair spray and nail polish fumes. My best friend and I used to pretend to be aliens while sitting underneath the beehive hair dryers. I have all those memories because my Mom had the courage to follow her dream of opening up her own salon.

Hold onto Jesus, No Matter What! All hell literally broke loose in my family when my parents divorced. My Mom ended up raising my older sister and me, caring for our two dogs and bird, and running her business on her own! It wasn’t easy, but God stepped into all that chaos, brokenness, and trauma and rescued my Mom. It was out of that ugliness that Jesus saved her and gave her peace, joy, and love.

Take a Stand for Jesus. My sister and I freaked out when we found out that my Mom had left the Catholic faith and was a born-again Christian. We feared she had joined a cult! We thought she was a traitor. But my Mom stood her ground and continued following Jesus. That decision changed the course of our family!

Serve God with All Your Heart! – My Mom was one of the original members of the church she ended up attending for more than 20 years! Over the years, she served as a Sunday School teacher, usher, deacon, prayer team member, and food-pantry volunteer. You name it, she did it! She even had an online radio show with another prayer warrior and preached at various events in her church. My Mom is a servant with a capital “S”.

Trust God to Fulfill His Word! – God means it when He says you and your household will be saved (Acts 16:31). A few years after my Mom got saved, my sister also became a born-again Christian. A few more years later, I finally got saved. God’s Word is True! Don’t give up on your loved ones that are still lost because God surely hasn’t!

Always be a Student of the Word – My Mom has been to seminary and has taken many Bible study courses over the years. She loves reading her Bible. She can read it for hours! She doesn’t hesitate to pull out her Bible dictionaries and commentaries when she wants to understand something further. She really is a life-long learner. May we all continue studying to show ourselves approved. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Family Comes First – My Mom is the kind of person who will drop everything to help her children and grandchildren. Back when we were younger, my Mom wouldn’t hesitate to close her beauty shop early to drive me to skating practice and would wait in the car until I was done! She would also pick up my sister or me at night when we would get out late from our after-school job. Were we spoiled? Probably. Did we feel loved? Absolutely!

Let God be Your Vindicator – When people wrong my Mom, she doesn’t get even. She does something way better. She goes to the throne and lets God handle her battles. And He does! (Romans 12:19)

Let God Reward You – My Mom delights in helping those in need without expecting anything in return from them. She enjoys accompanying her friends to their doctor appointments, translating for people who struggle with English, or praying for people who are going through hard times. My Mom just has this grace for helping people. God finds creative ways to bless her for her servant’s heart.

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you! Thank You!

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”  (Proverbs 31:30-31)

 

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

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My Ode to Joy!

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Rejoice like it’s 2014!

Happy New Year! I pray that this will be an amazing year filled with much evidence of God’s Love, Faithfulness, and His Sovereignty! Blessings to you! I hope you enjoy the post below!

I’m not a New Year’s Resolution type of person, but I do like to write out goals for myself for the year. I also love it when God shares a word or theme for me for the year.

His word for me for a couple of years has been “Believe!” That evolved into “Believe and Receive!”

The word that I feel the Lord is impressing on me for this year is “JOY!” As a pastor recently prayed over me, the JOY of the LORD is my strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)

What I love about Jesus Joy is that the world can’t take it away from you. Circumstances can’t dampen it. Your mood can’t ruin it. People can’t touch it.

The JOY that comes from the LORD is unlike anything else.

It remains constant, immovable, and unshakable. Not like happiness that comes and goes.

Happy is GREAT, but JOY is even better!

You can’t buy joy. It’s something that comes from within like that spring of water welling up inside of you that Jesus talked about in John 4:14. It’s part of that abundant life that Jesus promised to give us in John 10:10.

It’s also the second fruit mentioned, right after love, in the Fruit of the Spirit list found in Galatians 5:22.

Yes, JOY is part of our inheritance as Christians. I find that it’s closely connected with Trusting God, Walking by Faith, being a Prisoner of Hope, and Knowing who you are in Christ!

The apostle Paul knew about this joy. That’s why despite all the hardships he went through, and even while he was under arrest, he could still be content and encourage the church in Philippi to, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

Friend, do you know about this joy that I am writing about? Are you experiencing this joy that cannot be extinguished despite all the fiery darts the enemy tries to throw? Oh, how the enemy of your soul would love to steal your joy!

Are you familiar with this unspeakable joy that cannot be contained and that comes from knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior, as it is written:

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8)

This joy doesn’t mean your life here on earth is perfect. However, thankfully this joy gets brighter after having faced your fears and walked through fire and finding that Jesus really was with you all the way! I pray you all experience this joy!

Even if you’re in a place right now that seems less than joyous, here are just a few verses to encourage you. May they bless you today and throughout the year!

  • “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (Psalm 126:3)
  • “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” (Psalm 126:5)
  • “Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.” (Isaiah 61:7)
  • “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…” (Romans 14:17)
  • “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
  • “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

I’d love to know what your “one word” for this year is! Please share it in the comments below if you’d like. If you’re just starting your walk with the Lord, Congratulations! Please visit the Info for New Believers/Seekers page.

Did this encourage you?  Feel free to leave a comment or hit “Like” below. To get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots From the Mission Fields and to get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox, click here. To find MiraculousLovely on YouTube, click here. To find MiraculousLovely on Pinterest, click here or on Facebook, click here.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

I’m happy to be participating in Bonnie’s Faith Jam this week!

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Reflections on 2013

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It’s hard for me to believe that this is my final blog post for 2013. Honestly, I’m still a bit surprised that I’m blogging at all!

I’d like to take a moment to thank all of you for reading my blog this year and for taking this journey with me!

It’s not always easy for a rather private person like me to share about what the Lord has been showing me, but it’s been a delight to hear how these posts have touched you. It encourages me to continue sharing these thoughts. It reminds me that they’re not just for me to store away in my memory and journals!

When I felt the Lord ask me to lay down my journalism career years ago, I had a feeling that one day He would ask me to “pick up the pen” again but to write for His glory. I wrote for a Christian publication after I got saved, but that was still journalism. That was still writing about others.

I guess what God wants me to write about in this season is what He’s showing me.

By faith, I started writing “inspirational pieces” in 2012. I wasn’t even thinking about blogging. I just had to get these pieces out, so I started to share them with a special group of women on a weekly basis. I would e-mail them a piece, and they would graciously read them and give me encouraging feedback. God finally gave me the courage to start blogging just this January. I kept saying that, “I’ll keep writing as long as God keeps giving me something to say.”  God has been Faithful!

I’m reminded of the widow that the Prophet Elisha met in 2 Kings 4:1-7. Her late husband’s creditor was coming to take her two sons away as his slaves. She was at the end of herself and had little to give. Elisha wanted to help her, so he asked her what she had in her house.

“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”  (vs 2)

That was enough for the man of God to spring into action.

“Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”

But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.

She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” (vs 3-7)

I love how God took the little that she had and multiplied it! I will say it again, God is Faithful!

I wasn’t sure what I would write about each week, but like clockwork as I finished one blog post the ideas for future posts would spring up. I never lacked a topic to write about.  Yes, the more we pour out and share, the more God fills us.

And so I pray you have been encouraged by reading my posts (or my little drops of oil) throughout the year. Your feedback has helped to encourage me along the way!

Now please allow me to thank just a few of the women who have been praying for and cheering me on with my blog, Facebook page, YouTube Channel and Pinterest Boards!  I apologize if I’ve left anyone off the list. Next time, perhaps, I’ll focus on some of the men as well because I know you guys are praying for me, too!

  • Thank you to my Mom who faithfully listens as I read her each of the posts after they’ve been published, and to my sister who gives me great feedback on my posts and videos! And thank you to my niece (and nephew!!!) who have inspired me to write a few posts!
  • Thank you to Celine, Julie, and Lisy for being so supportive of all my “crazy” ok “God-sized” endeavors.
  • Thank you to the circle of women who were reading my “pieces” before I had a blog: Priscilla O., Lisa O., and Lauren G.
  • Thank you to Dianna, Jamary, and Rachel who kindly encourage me to “keep writing!” Thank you to Christine who reminded me, “YOU need to write.” And thank you to Priscilla P., Ceu, Lisa S. and others for all the prayers you’ve lifted up for me!

The list could go on and on, but I’ll save that for another day.

Only the Lord knows what I’ll write about and do next year. To God be the Glory!

Did this encourage you?  Feel free to leave a comment or hit “Like” below. To get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots From the Mission Fields and to get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox, click here. To find MiraculousLovely on YouTube, click here. To find MiraculousLovely on Pinterest, click here or on Facebook, click here.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

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It Ain’t Over!

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The other day after lunch, I was heading back to my office. As I approached the elevator bank, I was happy to see that two out of the eight elevators in that particular section of the lobby were open. However, they were two of the furthest from me so as I got closer to them they both shut at the same time. Bummer.

But no biggie. I guess I could have hurried up and tried to rush into one of the elevators, but I remained calm knowing that another one would quickly come.

I waited a moment to give the elevators time to leave the lobby, and then I pressed the button. To my surprise, the same two elevators instantly opened.

I just had to chuckle. Yes folks, I found a spiritual lesson during this elevator incident.

I thought the Lord wanted to show me not to worry because when one door closes (or in this case two at the same time) another one opens. Or maybe He wanted to show me that there’s always “another elevator to catch if you miss the first and second ones”. But not so!

I saw those two doors shutting as missed opportunities so to speak. By having them both open again, it was like the Lord wanted to show me, “It ain’t over unless I say it’s over!”

Isn’t that like the Lord always keeping us on our toes?

Are you facing some seemingly closed doors? Does it feel like you have missed your opportunity? Do you worry that you’ll never make it from point A to point B?

Could I encourage you to ask the Lord if He closed the door or if it’s just a test, obstacle, delay, etc… that you need to persevere through?

Lately, the Lord has been reminding me that He is the Resurrection and the Life!

I’m reminded of when the prophet Ezekiel has a vision of a valley of dry bones. What does God ask him to do?  He commands Ezekiel to… “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!  This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” (Ezekiel 37:4-6)

Ezekiel prophesied and God breathed on the bones and they miraculously came to life! While those bones represented how God was going to restore Judah and Jerusalem, we can still learn from that story and speak to our valley of dry bones.

Why not prophesy over your “dead” situations? Ask God to breathe life into those areas.

Remember that:

  • God opens doors that no man can shut. (Revelation 3:8)
  • He’s an expert at making a way where there seems to be no way including by parting seas. (Isaiah 43:16)
  • He provides water in the wilderness and makes streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:20)
  • He makes crooked places straight or will level mountains for us. (Isaiah 45:2)

If God clearly has closed a door, then ask Him to give you the strength to move on. BUT if He says, “It ain’t over,” then as Christians let’s Trust Jesus to step in, intervene, and make things right in ways that only He can do. To God be the Glory!

Did this encourage you?  Feel free to leave a comment or hit “Like” below. To get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots From the Mission Fields and to get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox, click here. To find MiraculousLovely on YouTube, click here. To find MiraculousLovely on Pinterest, click here.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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25 Reasons to Thank God Today and Every Day!

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Don’t you just love this time of the year? It’s filled with family, food, and festivities! And ’tis the season when everyone starts feeling a little bit more grateful.

I hope you’ve been counting your blessings all year long. And hopefully your list includes lots of non-tangible items that can’t be bought online or in stores such as faith, hope, and love.

Still, if this holiday season is already feeling a little less than perfect and you find yourself coming up a bit short on what to thank God for, could I encourage you with some wonderful Promises we can claim as Believers? Psalm 103 is just bursting with reasons to praise God every day.

I pray you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Now let’s join David in proclaiming the following reasons to be grateful (I’ve bolded the 25 reasons for emphasis):

“Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
    his deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.
The life of mortals is like grass,
    they flourish like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
    and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children—
with those who keep his covenant
    and remember to obey his precepts.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules over all.
Praise the Lord, you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his bidding,
    who obey his word.
Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
    you his servants who do his will.
Praise the Lord, all his works
    everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.”

 

Did this encourage you?  Feel free to leave a comment or hit “Like” below. To get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots From the Mission Fields and to get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox, click here. To find MiraculousLovely on YouTube, click here.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

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Perfect Timing

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I saw this sign the other day, and it just spoke to me.

Ever have that feeling that something good was right around the corner? Like something that you have been hoping for was on it’s way.

It’s a great feeling, right?

I can’t place my finger on it, but I’m just sensing something really good is on it’s way!

Perhaps it’s that whole idea of “after obedience, comes the blessing.” The idea that there is a time to sow and water and plant and then there is harvest time where you get to reap your rewards!

Maybe it’s because God just blew all my expectations out of the water during my recent short-term missions trip! All I can say is that God answers prayers, He is working, and His timing is perfect!

As the Word says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Are you in a dry season or valley right now? HOLD ON! It gets better! The best is yet to come!

Below are some verses to help encourage you that God does show up and when He does, it’s in a BIG WAY!  It’s in a way where you can only say, “That was totally all God!”

  • “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
  • “… weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
  • “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6)
  • “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (Hebrews 10:36)

God is Faithful! If He has spoken to you about something, TRUST that He will bring it to pass! And when it happens, come back and tell me! Blessings!

Did this encourage you? If so, please feel free to leave a comment below or to hit “Like”.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Promise Keeper

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My 7-year-old nephew came bouncing out of Sunday school during my visit last September, and happily showed me the wallet he had made in class. As he held out his handiwork for me to see, I was so blessed by the simple, yet powerful message, “God Always Keeps His Promises!”

I don’t think my nephew realized that his project was speaking volumes to me. It was the exact message I needed to hear. What a sweet reminder that God is Faithful!

It can be easy to get discouraged or disappointed when things don’t seem to be going your way. Perhaps you didn’t get the job you wanted, your car finally went kaput or someone let you down. The possibilities are endless.

The point is that we can quickly lose focus and take our eyes off of Jesus. When that happens, we start to get preoccupied with our problems and start to obsess over what we don’t have.

We forget all the promises that God has for us in the Bible. The one that is speaking to me right now is, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

That’s right, all things may not be good in our lives but God PROMISES to work it out for our good. So we can thank God for closed doors and start rejoicing over the new doors He’ll be opening!

What are you believing God for today?

I encourage you to open up the Bible and write down, memorize, and meditate on some of the promises that speak to your heart. God has given us so many promises in the Bible. God is the ultimate promise keeper!

Perhaps you’re not familiar with some of His promises for you, or you could use a friendly reminder. Allow me to share just a few of God’s awesome promises for His children:

  • “…no weapon forged against you will prevail…” (Isaiah 54:17)
  • “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
  • “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
  • “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3)
  • “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13) 

God cannot lie! Hold on to His promises for you!

“As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

(Isaiah 55:10-11)

Do you have a favorite Bible promise that you’d like to share? Feel free to write it below.

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