A Bird's Desire…

Birds find nooks and crannies in your house, sparrows and swallows make nests there. They lay their eggs and raise their young, singing their songs in the place where we worship. God of the Angel Armies! King! God! How blessed they are to live and sing there! (Psalm 84:3, 4 MSG)

This verse amazes me... To read in this Psalm that even a bird looks for the smallest crevice, a nook, any small secluded place in the house of the Lord to make a home for her dear eggs. No life has been given yet but this small, feathered creature knows that not just any place will do for her unborn treasures. It needs to be a place of safety, a secure nest, a peaceful place where her young will be brought to life and nurtured in a loving way.
In the last couple of days my 6yr old son had been "complaining" of being at church too much these past few days, as we've had a few church events on a daily basis. As I read Psalm 84:10 to him, these two verses also caught my attention... Isn't it lovely to know that there is no better place than to be in the House of the Lord? Sometimes we tend to apologize to our children because we've spent "too much" time there involved in different activities.  Or simply just once a week service yet we apologize them and promise to take them somewhere of their liking. We tend to go to church for a limited time only because our busy agenda restricts us from being there any longer than we should. Sometimes a worship gathering is not over and our minds are wandering and engaged in other activities outside of the worship walls. Our hearts and mind have been consumed by the "To Do" list that our time in a worship setting has been tainted. It's been robbed of the blessing that it is to be in the house of the Lord. And we take our young whom we are responsible for as a parent and are instructing them in this manner as well.
May our hearts be stirred and shaken to embrace the beauty of our time in the house of the Lord! To instruct our young that the house of the Lord is a refuge, a haven where there is all that we need to build a strong, healthy life.
May we be as a bird, who longs for their young to be in a worship setting and learn to sing his praises!

Show me Your Ways

Since a few months back this has been MY VERSE and daily!! It's amazing the things that God reveals to us when our heart is desperate for answers! 
As a PK(preachers kid), I have always been close to the church, known of the mighty things God can do, I've had a relationship with Christ, and have never questioned my faith.  But a few months ago as I found myself in a place I had never been before, my knees began to tremble.  You know, the place of the unknown, isolated, at a road block and having NO IDEA where to go from here.  Have you been there before?  So next I went to the Word, the living Word of God where surely I could find "something" to help me.  As I read from book to book in the Bible this verse suddenly "jumped out" at me.... Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5(NIV)  Huh? I know this verse.  I memorized it when I was young.... But oh, how it spoke to me this one morning when I was completely lost!  All I could see in highlighted yellow color(and no, it's not highlighted in my bible) was this scripture that was my hearts cry!!  Needless to say, my heart was poured out to my God at that very moment and His love surrounded me like never before.  I got up from that place and knew exactly what had to be done!  I'd never done it before and I'd never made such phone calls but all I had to do was take action and God began to open the doors in a place I had never been before. 
You see, He is your Guide.  He is your Teacher.  He is your Father.  He knows what door to open next.  He's not a lottery ticket... He is YOUR TICKET!! All you have to do is ask, open your heart and mind, and go, with Him in hand. 

Anniversary Talk

Today we celebrate our 8th anniversary of marriage. We have had some wonderful times in these 8yrs and some tough times as well but most of all, God has been faithful to guide us every step of the way.
Today we had our routine kinda day and at the end of the day my hubby appeared with a dozen roses n a beautiful card!! I can truly say that out of 8 this is the SECOND anniv. I get flowers! Yes, second! Neither he or I are big on real flowers so it's ok but today was special. Christopher saw the love in the air n said "mama, I wish I could be big like papa so I could marry you n bring u flowers" aaawe. Kaitlin kept saying she wanted to go to our wedding(dinner). When we got home she was crying cuz we didn't go to the wedding!! ???? Lol Anyway, had chocolate cake a la mode for dessert...yummo.
I'm thankful to God for giving me such a great husband and an awesome father to my children! I pray that God bless him every day and give him more strength and will to deal with ME!!! lol

I found the one My heart loves...
Song of Solomon 3:4

How Would I Know?

Tonight as I bathed my children and enjoyed my time alone with them the song "how would I know" by Kathy Troccoli all of a sudden popped into my mind. That has been a favorite song of mine since I was a young girl but tonight as I meditated on the words I couldn't help but to think of some of the struggles AND the joys that I've had in my walk with Christ. You see, not all my years have been grand, not all of my days have had the warmth of the sun resting on my skin. I've had tearful moments while sitting on the toilet seat (lid closed) thinking of my illness n wondering if God can truly heal me, moments of uncertainty while driving to an unknown destination because of the pain at the loss of a loved one, those spaced out moments at the kitchen sink wondering how I will have enough money to get me through, the blank stares in the mirror thinking what am I worth? What should I do? Why I am here? Yet, all the while, the world continues to take it's course in its circular motion.
So how would I know? How would I know you could deliver? How would I know you could set free? If there had never been a battle how would I know the victory? How would I know you would be faithful to meet all of my needs? Lord, I appreciate the hard times. Otherwise how would I know?
You have to know that God goes before you in battle. You have to know that God is your healer, the one true physician. You have to know that God is your provider who brings manna to your table. God is your creator who knows the hair count on your head. God is your strong tower, rock of salvation, your strength and your joy, your heavenly father who loves you and cares for you and longs for alone time with you. He is your all through it all.
Will you Give Him thanks today for your struggles because...
Though the crying may last through the night His joy comes in the morning. (psalm 30:5)

Noemi

Wisdom = Understanding

Are you tired of making bad choices?  Making decisions for the benefit of others but  make you unhappy?  Do you feel like the move you made will bring you hurt, confusion, strife, insecurity?  Can you regain your relationship with your children, in your marriage?
The Word of God says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).  If we don't fear/respect the Lord, we're already in the wrong.  You see, God is your Creator, He knows you well and wants the best for you.  He has a plan and a purpose for your life.  If you don't seek Him, how will you ever know the plans that he has for you?  How will you know what the best decision is for your life?  When we begin to seek Him, we begin to understand "life".  We begin to see purpose in it.  We begin to feel peace, happiness, and understand the reason for living.  He speaks to you, He guides you, He puts the puzzle pieces in place to where you begin to accept the right proposal and reject the wrong one.  You begin to love again and regain your relationships with your spouse, your children, your friendships.  God makes all things beautiful, even when you think you're plastered on the ground, He remolds you and makes you perfect in His image. 
Choose Him TODAY and you will begin to make wise, healthy, fulfilling choices. 
Blessings,
Noemi

Nothing is Permanent

As I drove to work this morning and waited at a red stop light I turned my head to see a bulldozer/excavator tearing up the concrete.  I was in awe to see something so permanent being torn apart at an instant.  The machine that was tearing it up made it look so easy, yet you and I know that concrete is hard, sustaining, "permanent".  At that very moment I heard God tell me "nothing is permanent".  There is nothing that He can not tear away from your heart or mind. His mercies are new every morning and His power is greater than anything that is holding you back right now.  He is able to reap out any regret, heartache, pain from the past and make it new again.  You see, that excavator was tearing up the concrete so that a new road can be laid down.  God wants to do just that! Let Him tear away at anything that is old, faded and wearing you down in your heart.  He has the best for you.
His hands hold the new road for you.
Let Him work and you will see greater things begin to take form.

Joel 2:12-14

The Lord says, "Even now, come back to me with all your heart.
Fast, cry, and be sad." 
Tearing your clothes is not enough to show you are sad; let your heart be broken.
Come back to the Lord your God, because he is kind and shows mercy.
He doesn't become angry quickly, and he has great love.
He can change his mind about doing harm.
Who knows? Maybe he will turn back to you and leave behind a blessing for you.

New Beginnings

.....The old things have gone; everything is made new!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Today is the beginning of a new month and a new season in my life...

The word NEW encompasses many words such as excitement, happiness, responsibility, fear of the unknown, nervousness, planning, preparation, and willingness... just to name a few.  Today I am feeling most of these words in my heart.  God has been so loving with me, generous and so gracious in these last few months that I am cetain of this.... I know that his plan and purpose in my life are the very best and most perfect for me so I will endure and go forth.

I don't know what you are facing today but I encourage to take hold of his hand and go forth.  We must not alter the call, the vision that he has given us.  In Joshua 1:5 the Lord speaks to Joshua saying, "No one will be able to defeat you all your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forget you."  God is the same today as he was that very day with Joshua.  He is with you, he faces the same fear, uncertainty, excitement and joy with you.  Do not be afraid... he is your God who has made everything new.

Blessings,
Noemi