A Word In Season from The Encourager of Women

Empty Net

2009-08-08T10:51:00.000-07:00

I am amazed at how easily I can slip into that place of self-sufficiency – staying busy taking care of important and necessary details of life, but forgetting the most important thing; sitting at my Father’s feet.

This past Wednesday night, I was reminded of how Peter and the boys were blessed after they were honest in answering Jesus’ question; have you any fish? Most fisherman – I learned – do not like to admit they haven’t caught any fish after being out on the water for any length of time, it could imply they don’t know what they are doing.

What a revelation to me – I had to come to the feet of Jesus and admit I don’t know what I am doing – my nets are empty. As I poured out my heart before him regarding our new journey of unknowns, peace flooded my soul and I was able to relax for the first time in weeks.

My “To Do” list is still long, but now I face it with ease, first spending time with my Lord, trusting him to fill my “net” with my daily needs and knowing he will make the path clear when it is time to take the next step.

When Jesus taught us how to pray, I don’t think it was a mistake when he said, “give us day by day, our daily bread”. One day at a time is enough.

If you have been running on empty pretending to be full, stop. Spend time at the feet of Jesus, admit your net is emtpy and let him fill it with the proper fuel.

Blessings to you! T

Are you are Christian Writer looking to be published? This Might be for you!

2009-04-24T09:59:00.001-07:00

If you are anything like me, you desire to share the gift God has given you with the world!

The world of publishing is not an easy one to join. Nevertheless, it is not impossible.

With much encouragment from others, a lot of hard work, and prayer, I have been given the privilege of overseeing a brand new bible studies on-line writers community.

I want to extend the same opportunity to you as was given to me. Be apart of something new -- this is a great way to expand your ministry, as this site is designed to build upon your current ministry, not conflict with it.

Read more about your opportunity to be published on line by reading the following article on World-Wide Bible Studies

I look forward to talking with you! May the Lord bless the work of your hands! All to the glory of God!

Blessings in the name of Jesus,
Teresa
Site Manager
World Wide Bible Studies

A Weekend Away Brings New Perspective and Tools for Daily Living

2009-04-24T00:20:00.000-07:00

Greetings my dear friends!

This past weekend I was blessed to go to the coast for a weekend away with the gals (about 40). The theme for our retreat was "Calm in the Storm". Such an appropriate title for many of us these days.

The Theme verses was, "They Cried out..God stilled the storm to a whisper..." Psalm 107:28 & 29

Can you imagine God calming our storms to a whisper if we would only stop and cry out to him instead of trying to row our own boat - this may be fine when there is a gentle stream, but when life is anything but a dream...

Much of the point was calling on God before the storms come. Having a close relationship with our Father especially when times are good, so that we are better prepared for the storm. The great thing about God, though, is that even if we wait, he is faithful to respond.

I pray we will all draw near to God at all times! Pray without ceasing and keep our spiritual muscles in shape!

I wanted to share a short article I wrote about this weekend, which includes a "survival kit for everyday" that was passed out to us at the retreat. Click here to read. Feel free to print that list out if it blesses you

May God bless you and may you feel his loving arms around you!

Hugs, Teresa

Last Year's New Years Resolution: How did we do--and a Prayer for 2009

2008-12-29T06:40:00.000-08:00

Today is December 27, 2008. All is quiet and peaceful-the calm after the storm of Christmas--giving me opportunity to reflect on these past 12 months.

I was drawn to the personal note on the January 2008 Issue of, "Be Ready", the monthly newsletter of In Season Ministries. The following is what I wrote:

"Dear friends and family in Christ,

Today is January 4, 2008. As I sit here and write, I wonder about the many New Years resolutions that have been made, and especially how many more have been or will be broken. As for me, I made one on December 31 st -kept it on January 1st-2nd, then broke it on January 3 rd . Sigh. I just cannot seem to get myself up any earlier than 5:00am to work out. So here you have it; excuse number one: I just cannot get up. More accurately, I chose not to get up."

"As I thought about the reality of breaking my resolution, I realize everything we do involves choice--so I made a new resolution: a choice. One I feel I should have no problem wanting to keep. I choose to be more like Christ at the end of this year than I am today. This starts by reading more of God's word and less of Ted Dekker. It also means not looking back at the past year and relishing my accomplishments and blessings--and thankfully, it means not looking back on last year's heartache. I am not talking about looking back with a sense of joy, or sigh of relief, but I am talking about turning our heads so far backward that we cannot see the blessings and opportunities that are set before us."

"Two Scriptures come to my mind as I consider this new commitment: No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.' (Luke 9:62) and, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.' (Philippians 3:13)"

"Whatever your New Years Resolution, I pray it will include a commitment to draw closer to the Lord this year, and that it will be one you keep. May the Lord be with each one of us-may we pursue Him with everything that is within us! Love in Jesus, Teresa."

The question then, is how did I do? Am I more like Jesus now than I was at the beginning of the year?

After an honest assessment of my over all behavior and attitude, I can answer with a yes. I have been given many opportunities to exercise unconditional love and forgiveness and plenty of times when I had to give up my "right" to be right, for the sake of another's well-being and peace of mind. Please don't misunderstand, this was never an easy task. There were many tears and challenges along the way. Nevertheless, the outcome always involved peace and the ability to move forward without bitterness in my heart. I suspect this year will bring new opportunities to be more like Christ. There are already a few in the works. This time, it involves being more concerned with what God thinks than what others think and doing what is right over what is popular. You see, being more like Jesus doesn't require me to be perfect, just willing.

As for the working-out and having that rock solid-wonder woman figure, well, not so much. That is just fine with me, the beauty within will just have to keep getting better to hide the imperfections of this tattered body.

How about you--how did you do?

Here we are at the end of 2008, filled with its share of joy and pain. What will we choose for 2009. Will we pursue the better job or the bigger house--what about the better body? These are not bad in themselves, but at what cost?

On the other hand, why not pursue love, grace, kindness and putting others before ourselves. These attributes belong to all of humanity-religion aside. These are things all of us can all chose in the New Year. Then maybe, just maybe, all those other things we seek might fall into place, and if not, it won't kill us.

If your heart desires, please pray with me:

Heavenly Father,

May this be a year of strong fellowship for all-restore relationships, bring new friendships our way. Help us to move forward in excitement for the new things you have planned. Give us the grace to let go of the past and put it behind us. May we have true forgiveness in our hearts so that we do not continue to carry the past on our shoulders. Help us to look to this New Year with a clean slate. Turn our hearts toward the things that matter to you and the One who can give us the courage to do so. Finally Father, help us to set aside our accomplishments in this past year, so we have room for the new you have in store.

In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Teresa Ortiz

Plain Talk about Abortion: a Personal Story

2008-12-07T17:47:00.000-08:00

Lately there has been no escaping the topic of abortion. We have the pro-choicer, pro-lifer, and enough statistics to make anyone puke.

I am so tired of all the politics--should it be legal--should it be illegal. Does it really matter? Abortion and the attitude toward it are not going to change with the making of law. Since when has law affected real change on the inside? Who in our government speaks of a change of heart? Isn't that where it all starts?

We will never see this happen because if we keep ourselves busy debating law and statistics, there is no time to talk about the heart of man.

I have remained silent in this arena for many reasons, one being I hate political and statistical debates and frankly, they get on and in my nerves more than anything else does.

Nevertheless, my heart is breaking and I can no longer remain silent. It's not the millions of babies that make me speak out, it's that there has been one. Isn't one enough? If I may be selfish for a moment, isn't mine enough?

I prefer talking about the lighter things in life. When I write or teach, it's generally on the side of humor. Humor is a funny thing--it's not as easily accepted in the Christian world. I'm not sure why. It's like some Christians don't want others to think they are not spiritually profound or well versed in the Bible or something. Heaven forbid we should have a light-hearted story to share the truth of God as He works in everyday life.

I say this because if you have read anything I have written so far, you've noticed that my tone is different. I can be sober-I can cut to the heart of a matter. I suppose this is one of those times.

Therefore, I will take you back in time-join me in the waiting room with seven other teens. You are sitting there in silence, scared out of your mind, feeling all alone. Then you spot a girl from school. You know, the popular one-the model-the cheerleader. You make eye contact from across the room and suddenly you have a friend-a friend who is your enemy at school. Why is this? Because no way is she going back to school on Monday to tell her friends where she spent her Friday night, nor are you.

Sitting in the lounge chair designed for your comfort, the nurse brings you some muscle relaxers. She smiles a warm smile and tells you that everything is going to be okay. You are anxiously awaiting your turn as if you were auditioning for a role in a horror movie, it would seem the case as you get a good look at the face of the girl who exits the room while the nurse calls your name.

Feel the cold bed pressed against your back as you put your feet in the stirrups…

Walk with me into the recovery room-listen to the wailing and crying coming from the other girls, listen to your own. Fortunately, you don't have to listen for long because it only takes 15-minutes to recover. Just 15-minutes to forget the sound of the sloshing vacuum. 15-minutes to wipe your eyes, leave the building and start your weekend.

The smiling nurse has no time or need to comfort you with a hug on your way out the door; she is too busy handing out a fresh batch of muscle relaxers-although sweet as she is, she doesn't let you walk out empty-handed. She gives you a brown bag of goodies that will reduce your chances of a return visit.

~~~~~

So how is this for a statistic-how about sharing this story on T.V.? Oh, sure there are organizations out there to help a woman deal with the consequences of her choice to murder her unborn child--what about help to make a better choice to begin with?

Still, this doesn't do anything to solve the problem. We need to get back to the root of the problem and that is Sin. It all boils down to sin. No premarital sex as a teen or adult and we solve a big portion of the problem. The rest of the problem would be solved if men stopped raping and molesting women. Sin, it's all about sin.

At the very least, there should be a law that requires full disclosure of the medical procedure and the developmental stages of an unborn child be made available to the one who is considering ending the life of her child. It still amazes me that my husband was required to have one counseling session and watch a video before the hospital would approve his vasectomy. "Are you sure you want to do this Mr. Ortiz? It is a near impossibility to have the procedure reversed". Wow! I would say it is 100% impossible to have the abortion procedure reversed. In addition, if my son were to get in a car accident, the hospital could not treat him without my consent. Weird how an under aged girl can go through a life-changing medical procedure without her parents knowledge and signature.

Weird.

How would you like to take a second trip to Planned Parenthood with me? The brown bag of goodies didn't do me any good…

Repentance, grace, knowledge, love, and education are going to be the end of abortion. A few stories like mine from the candidates might help, but mine will never be told-because I am a nobody, of no influence or money. I am therefore, a statistic.

Obviously this isn't going to happen so what do we do? We stop debating and start praying for change. If you have been moved by my story, share it with someone who has influence. I am convinced if teens and women were told the truth about abortion, the law wouldn't matter, because they would choose something different. Maybe not all, but one-isn't one enough?

For some of you, this wasn't your only trip to Planned Parenthood (Ha! Planned Parenthood-there's a deadly joke for you) If you are looking for help and freedom from guilt or if you just want to read a poem of forgiveness and healing, click here.

© Teresa Ortiz 2008

If Only for a Moment (A poem of healing from abortion)

2008-12-07T17:44:00.001-08:00

They didn't tell me you had a beating heart;

they told me you were a mass of tissue.

They didn't tell me I would cry for you 24-years later,

they told me it was nothing-you were nothing.

The room was cold-so-so cold.

Just relax, they said, there's nothing to it.

Staring in silence-screaming inside with no place to hide, nowhere to run.

Relax I say, soon you will be out having fun.

Life went on-for me that is.

Would it matter if I told you your father and I married?

Is that any consolation?

How many pregnancies, how many live births?

The question stings, I wonder if acid would soothe the burn.

Then one day I heard your sister's heartbeat for the very first time;

You were just her age when yours beat for the very last time.

What have I done? In an instant, you were real.

Would it make a difference if I told you I mourn for you still?

My Lord is gracious, forgiving and kind

He took you in His arms when I chose not to hold you in mine.

One hope I hold dear to my heart; that my Lord Jesus would

grant me one wish-one delight.

To hold you in my arms if only for a moment

and feel the love of both of you.

~~~~

Do you have a silent cry? God will forgive you and heal your broken heart. You don't have to bear the guilt and shame any longer. Never be alone again. Share your heart. I am listening and I care.

I have spoken to many women who feel they don't deserve to have children so they haven't. Other women cannot have children because of the damage done as a result. Then there is the mother who feels guilty at times delighting in the children she was blessed with later in life. Abortion is not an easy out. It may seem like it at the time, but the effects will last a lifetime.

If you are pregnant and considering abortion, please seek other alternatives, don't listen to the lies. It will be hard, but you can learn to be a good mom. There are agencies to help you. Teen Moms is a great resource.

http://teenmominternational.org/

I am here to help. Write me anytime.

Love Teresa, Love Jesus.

© Teresa Ortiz 2008 All Rights Reserved.

Where the Heck is my Cart and what's the Deal with the Headboard: a Script

2008-12-07T17:36:00.000-08:00

My husband, you just gotta love him. I am proud to say that he successfully completed his first official work week away from home.

We have had some fun conversations and some of the stories he has shared have amused me. Don't worry, I won't punish you with all of them, but knowing you are friends, I thought you might enjoy this one.

(Sunday: Early afternoon Act I – scene I - Wal-mart, Yuma, Az.)
Cell phone ringing ~ Keep on dancing, to the funky music, keep on dancing to th-

Teresa: "Hello?"

Art: "Hey baby. So, I'm almost done shopping, but I can't find the water, you should be so proud of me, I did so good finding everything else…"

Narrator: As he strolls up and down the aisles, he spots the water, "now where are the rock stars", he says to his wife. "Turn around they should be right across from the water." She replies.

After chitchatting about this and that, he gets to the front of the store, anxious and ready to get back to his room for some peace and quiet. He is after all, quite sick and needs to take the myriad of medications the pharmacist helped him find an hour earlier when he started shopping for the seven or 8 items he needed. (Maybe there were a few more items than that.)

Art: "Where would I find a map?"

Teresa: "They should be by the books in the front of the store; you should be able to see them from where you are."

Narrator: Walking up and down the front of store, he can't seem to locate the maps. He slowly begins to walk faster, breathe heavier and let out a big sigh of frustration. "These people are idiots", he says under his breath. "Why do they make things so hard to find", echoes repeatedly in his wife's ear as he continues to walk from one end of the store to the other.

Art: "Found them, finally. Now I'm outta here."

Narrator: As he heads back in the direction of his shopping cart, he begins to panic because it is nowhere in sight. His wife gently encourages him to look in the other direction. Again he walks to and fro all about the front of the store. "Where in the heck is my cart?" he shouts in his wife's ear with an exasperated tone. "Are you kidding me, do I have to do this all over again…I can't believe people…just leave my stuff alone…" His wife begins to laugh…thinking this is one of the rare times she can. She is no stranger to being made fun of so she is not keeping it a secret that she is relishing this moment.

Suddenly his wife hears laughter on the other end of the line--a girl's giggle. An employee notices this panic stricken man and comes to his aid. She sheepishly admits she brought his cart forward so it wasn't blocking the aisle. His wife listens in amusement as they carry on as if she is no longer on the phone.

Art: "Let me call you back in a few."

Teresa: "No problem, talk to later."

(ACT I – scene II – Wal-mart parking lot)

Narrator: Don't be fooled by the name Arthur Ortiz, it only sounds Mexican, and just because he is brown and very close to the border of Mexico, does not mean he knows a drop of Spanish--and this brown boy is about as honky as anyone can get--please, no offense intended. Only a necessary part of this scene as you will understand as it plays out. In the best El- Spanyol he can muster, he shares the scene…

Employee: "seen-yor, seen-yor!!! Espedatay."

Narrator: Mr. Ortiz is oblivious, excited as all get out because he can get back to the hotel and rest…and then she reaches him. She pulls him by the arm, stopping him in his tracks. She is one brave Mexican girl, but then again they do say dynamite comes in small packages…

Employee: "seen-yor, el-receito, porfavor…agua es no sta-kee."

Art: "What?"

Employee: "Agua no sta-kee."

Narrator: He goes on to tell the kind, yet stern young woman that he does not understand Spanish. She rolls her eyes in disgust as if to say, "What kind of Mexican are you." To which he thinks, "Exactly, I'm from Oregon and I drive a rig." After checking the receipt to every item in the cart, it is pointed out to him that he neglected to pay for the water. She leads him back to the store. He explains that he did not intend to steal the water, but that the cashier forgot to charge him for it. After some laughter among them, he leaves the store and is off to his hotel.

(Act II – scene I – The hotel)

Narrator: With the rig unloaded, and groceries in hand, he walks to his room with a sigh of relief-which only lasts a few seconds because with one stroke of the key card he realizes he has been locked out of his room. A few loud sighs and a few bad words later, he puts the groceries back into the rig. Meanwhile his wife is beginning to feel a tad sorry for the dude, as she lovingly listens on the phone.

The office assistant giggles a bit while apologizing for the mistake and he is back in the room. He tells his beautiful wife he will call her after he naps. By now, his head is pounding he is hungry and tired.

(Act II – scene II – The headboard)

Cell phone chimes, notifying wife of a received text message

Cell Phone: "News flash. Headboard falls off wall in room, call soon."

Teresa: "Is everything okay? What's the deal with the headboard?"

Art: "Man, I can't get any rest. I was reaching over to see why the light wouldn't work--I moved the bed and the headboard came crashing down. So I went out, got my tools and fixed it myself. Now I am going to try to sleep. I'll call you later."

(Sunday: Late Evening Act III – scene I – Hotel parking lot)

Narrator: As Art nestles in bed, he drifts off to sleep. Finally, a peaceful moment after a hectic day. He won't wake until the alarm goes off at 3:30 am for work the next morning…..Or so he thought.

Telephone rings in Art's hotel room several times.

Art: "Hello."

Hotel operator: "Mr. Ortiz, I'm sorry to bother you, but can you please step outside of your room. The officers would like to speak with you a moment. It's likely that the tires on your vehicle have been slashed."

Art: "You have got to be kidding me. I'll be right out."

Narrator: "As he opens the door, the bright lights of the five police cars overwhelm his still sleepy eyes. "Excuse me Sir, is this your vehicle?" The officer says to him. Art is relieved to find that it was not his rig, but on the other hand was feeling quite bad for the owner of said vehicle.

It's now 11:30 pm and Art desperately tries to get back to sleep. As he lies in bed, he can't help but hear this strange music coming from the room across from him. "Those darn Mexicans", he thinks. "They don't need much of a reason to party." Apparently, all the excitement around the hotel gave cause to stay awake and turn on some music.

Mari-ochi music--or reeba, reeba music as the Mexican-slash-honky want-to-be, named Art would say.

And so ends one day in the life of this lad in a land far away from home and the story of, "Where the heck is my cart and what's the deal with the headboard.'"

THE END.

(C) Teresa Ortiz All rights reserved

Renewing our Heart: God's Gift of Peace is Jesus

2008-11-27T09:50:00.001-08:00

Hello my dear friends!

For some of you, this piece will sound familiar, take comfort; you are not loosing your mind. I admit up front that much of this message was given in an article I posted several months ago. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to tweak it just a bit and ask each of us to allow the message to move past our minds and straight into our hearts.

Many of us are searching for God's peace. We know He promised it to us, but we just are'nt feeling it. We have bills to pay, we have health issues, we have family members who have not come to know the Lord--whatever the case may be, I pray this study will remind us that peace is not something we need to go searching for, and contrary to popular belief, it's not something we need to pray for. It is something we attained the moment we said yes to Adonay-our Lord Master.

It may be that you knew this at one point, but have lost sight of this truth, whether this is new information or a fresh reminder, today is the day to make this truth your own. It's not God's gift to everyone else--it is His gift to you--that's right, say it out loud:

"Peace is God's gift to me." Still not convinced? Say it again: "Peace is God's gift to me."

With this personal thought in mind, take in the following information as if you were the only person in the world it was written for. Because in a sense it is, If you were the only person in the world who received Christ, Jesus still would have allowed Himself to be nailed to that cross.

~~~~

Yahweh Shalom - "The Lord is Peace". Unfortunately, our English word peace does not adequately describe the full meaning of the Hebrew word Shalom.

On the surface, this might not have a great impact on how we view God's favor toward man. After all, it is probably safe to say that everyone knows the meaning of the word peace.

Unfortunately, putting it into practice is another story.

I recently did a study on the word Shalom. I am blessed and I wanted to pass the blessing on to all who read.

Let us look at these two words a little bit closer.

PEACE= (Man's perspective) Absence of war, to be silent, to be calm in heart and mind.

Although the English word peace can be used to describe internal serenity, more often than not, it speaks to external circumstances. In fact, in the world of gangsters it has become a catch phrase. i.e. "Peace-out man", slang for "stay cool and out of trouble".

SHALOM= (God's perspective) A greeting to pronounce a personal blessing on another in its fullest capacity. i.e. "Hello and may God's favor rest in you and give you a prosperous, satisfied, healthy, perfect and harmonious day."

Okay, I must admit, when I say hello to someone, I do not consciously include all of these well wishes. Sure, I mean it when I say have a great day. It can be assumed I mean all of the things above, but the point is I am not usually making the effort to think these things through or taking the time to be specific when I say have a great day.

I do not want this to be a mere study of words, however, but rather, I hope it opens the door for a second look at what this title is saying about the Creator God.

Yahweh Shalom is God's very name, a title that describes one of His many attributes. It points out that God is not merely one who gives peace, but that He IS peace. He is the sole source of true and lasting peace that is rooted in the internal man. This internal peace, when experienced in its fullness, is the only thing that will bring external peace.

Still, this is only part of why I am excited about Shalom. To be honest, the real reason is my need to feel loved, cared for, and accepted-unconditionally-warts and all. In short, I am human.

Even deeper still, is the fact that God feels this way about you and me! This is the best part because even though others may wish us the absolute best, they have no power to do anything about it--at least not to the greatest degree. By this, I mean we are human and we will fall short and disappoint each other at times.

BUT GOD! (My two favorite words in the entire bible,) He is not like man and cannot lie, nor will He ever go back on His promises. (Titus 1:2)

While studying Shalom, I looked up a few passages of Scripture, they took on a new meaning and I applied them to my life in a bigger way. Following is just one of the many.

"These things I [Jesus] have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:25-27

Have you ever stopped to consider what Jesus is really saying when He says "My peace I give to you?" Remembering that the Lord's name is Shalom, what Jesus is saying here is that I give Myself to you!! This tells us that when we receive Jesus, we receive peace. Peace, by the Holy Spirit lives within each and every child of God! This is great news!

So why do we struggle--searching and looking for peace? Perhaps it is because we do not realize it is already inside.

Okay, so what do we do once we realize this truth? We have a choice. We walk in this truth--not by feeling, but by faith. We remember that when Adonay--our Lord Master says I have given Myself to you, we believe it. No matter what our external circumstances may be.

I pray you have been encouraged. Take some time to dig a little deeper. I am including a few Scripture references, look them up, and see just what God desires for us and from us.

Psalm 122:6-8, Isaiah 26:3, Galatians 5:22, Psalm 34:14 – I am making it a point to remember that the Biblical word (Hebrew in the Old Testament) is always Shalom. I will never take the word peace for granted again.

Peace is with you--take hold of Him today!

~~~~

Yahweh Shalom, my Lord and my friend, thank you for this great gift. Forgive me for loosing sight of this truth and allowing my circumstances to blur my vision. Help me today Adonay, remind me that as my Lord and Master, I will believe all that you have promised me. Help me to remember that wherever I go; whatever this life will throw my way--I have Peace living in me and You have promised to never leave me nor forsake me. And now that I am reminded, I can have confidence no matter what comes my way.

Thank you for all the friends and family you have blessed me with that are a direct reflection of your goodness. Help me to focus on the smile that brings warmth to my heart. Calm my fears this day Lord and help me to take a deep breath and surrender to the Peace within.

In the name of my precious Lord Jesus--my master and my peace, Amen

(C) Teresa Ortiz

Hppy - Sad- Joyful

2008-11-27T09:44:00.000-08:00

My mind is a whirlwind, my heart torn in two-one minute happy, the next one blue.

Hey, sounds like a poem- a poet maybe? Nah, better not quit my day job.

I think I'll just write a little-never mind rhymes and grammar, just a way to organize my thoughts.

Next Thursday my husband will be leaving for Arizona. He was offered a job a few weeks ago and we have been praying and debating if this was God's answer to prayer. Funny how it works sometimes. I feel like Gideon, we layed out our fleece before God- Lord, if it's your will, make it clear, if nothing comes up here at home, we will know it's your way of providing. Days go by, nothing comes up- Lord, please bring work in, what's going on?

I can almost hear God saying, "Duh, I gave you the answer, what more do you want"? Okay, so maybe God didn't say duh, but I'm pretty sure the answer was clear.

So here we are, preparing for him to leave. We have never been apart longer than 2 weeks-and that didn't work out to well for us being he came home with a TATTOO, not that I have issues with that, all has been forgiven. In fact I have my appointment set for my Budweiser tattoo Friday morning. (Not really, but sounded good.)

I am happy for God's amazing provision. I am excited about the bigger picture. But then it is in my nature to always look at the bigger picture-some accuse me of not living for today, but for me, I can't live for today without it. Especially in this case. Not looking ahead at exciting possibilities would only cause me to look at God and say, why would you take him so far away? Why not give him a job here at home-I don't get you.

But then I am sad because I am going to miss being with him at the end of everyday. It's my comfortable routine and this will not be the case for quite sometime. I don't mean to whine, I know many of you have done this and are doing it know, but it is all new for me.

My son is already stepping up. Art is going over everything and making sure we will be equipped to deal with the uncertainty of winter in Oregon.

To make myself feel better, I have made a list of things I will do to keep busy in the evenings:

1. Catch up on my list of books to read.

2. Dust off the treadmill, put the junk away, stand on it and consider turning it on.

3. Unpack the last of the boxes from our move.

4. Catch up on my list of books to read.

5. Write another Bible study.

6. Stand on the clean treadmill, turn it on, then turn it off.

7. Go out on a date or two with my boyfri-I mean son. (Don't be startin' rumors.)

8. Thank God for my incredible husband for his willingness to provide for his family.

9. Stand on the clean treadmill, turn it on, keep it on and get in great shape for my gorgeous hunk of a construction worker husband.

10. Rejoice in the Lord for His goodness.

Okay, I am done rambling. Thanks for listening and bear with me these next few months as my stories go from happy to sad to joyful.

Teresa Ortiz

I'm a New Christian--Why is Everything a Mess?

2008-11-27T09:43:00.000-08:00

So you have surrendered your life to Christ-congratulations! I rejoice with you, Jesus, and the angels.

When I first gave my life to Lord, I was excited and nervous. Many times, I felt out of place. I didn't know anyone at church, but I didn't want to continue to live the same life that God had rescued me from.

Nobody told me being a Christian was going to be tough--I thought it was just a matter of professing a faith in God.

The truth is, becoming a Christian is not about joining a club, or adding a religion to your life. It is about exchanging your life for the life of Christ. It is about recognizing your need for the Savior and repenting of your sin. Granted, in the beginning, most of us are not aware of the depth of our sin. Sure, we acknowledge that we "make mistakes" every now and then, but to classify ourselves as a sinner might be a stretch.

Still, we choose to accept Jesus into our hearts because we hear about God's unconditional love and grace--we hear about how much peace and joy we will have as a result. Every word of this is true, but it's not the whole story.

If you are a new Christian, you might be asking, "Where is this peace I was promised? Why didn't all my troubles go away--everything is a mess." The whole Christianity thing might even disillusion you--even has you thinking about moving on, or going back to what you had before.

If this is you today, keep reading. I pray from the depth of my soul that this information will help shed some light on the subject. Believe me; I know where you are coming from as I experienced it first hand. For many, accepting Christ as their Savior is only a matter of time. They are raised in the church; they have many Christian friends, or they believe in God and practice a faith, which soon reveals the need for total surrender and repentance.

This was not the case for me--God called me at a time when I was doing my own thing, not giving one thought to Him or His people. I just didn't care one way or the other.

Nevertheless, God had other plans and He began to complete the work He started in my life when I was 16 years-old, this being the age I quickly said a prayer to invite Jesus into my life, just to shut someone up. I didn't mean it and had neither intention or desire of changing my ways. Having to and wanting to are the key differences between joining a religion and entering into a relationship with God.

With this being said, let's look at the main theological--or spiritual thing that takes place the moment we ask Jesus to come into our life.

Spiritual birth becoming a child of God

"And you he made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who works in the sons of disobedience." Eph 2:2

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him, who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." 1Pet 2:9-10.

Then we have the words from Jesus that we need to be born again. Meaning, everyone is born physically, but only those who respond to the call of God are born spiritually and given the right to be called a child of God. (John 1:12; 3:1-6)

Understanding darkness is the key to understanding the battle that begins to take place in our hearts. When we become a Christian, we are given a new nature. The Bible often refers to this as the new man and is contrasted with the old man. The books of Romans, Ephesians and Colossians have a lot to say about how these two natures are in extreme conflict with one another.

Dying to the old nature and living in the new nature is what God desires of us. Changing our way of thinking and living--being made pure--is called the sanctification process.

Unfortunately, the older we are when we become a Christian, the harder it is to change our ways. This is one of the many reasons why God gave us his Holy Spirit. The Spirits' job is to convict us, comfort us, and give us the wisdom to move forward.

Upon receiving Christ, you may have felt sudden conviction; as if a light went on in your head, you might have been flooded with feelings of guilt and shame over things you did that you never gave a second thought to before. In addition, this probably didn't leave you with warm fuzzy feelings of peace. More than likely, you cried--I know I did--for what seemed like days.

The good news is this doesn't last forever, God is faithful and will not make you wallow in your shame. Soon you will feel light as you continue to confess and apologize for your sinful behavior and make a commitment to turn away from it. This is called repentance. Repentance simply means to turn away from one thing and run to something different. It's a bit more than this, but this is a good starting point.

Getting back to darkness--the devil, who is Satan, is the prince of darkness and ruler of this world. As Ephesians tells us, before Christ we were governed by the world's standard. The darkness will not let go of God's child easily, in fact, I can guarantee he will do everything in his power to discourage you. He will fill your head with lies, he will use your old friends to ridicule you and call you names. This too, will fade after awhile when he realizes you will not fall for it--in the meantime, be ready it will come. Again, God is his goodness makes provision for this.

"Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Eph 6:10-12

The key here is "in the power of His might. This too, is a foreign concept because in our old nature, we did what we felt was right, we relied on our own strength, and we certainly did not look to His word for truth. The challenge comes in putting his ways above our own, it is relying on his strength and wisdom to make our decisions and it is trusting that he knows what is best. The bigger challenge is accepting his word for what it is and not making excuses to continue in sinful behavior. Jesus said if you love me, you will keep my commandments. Granted, this will take time--remember the sanctification process. As you grow in understanding, you grow in love, which leads to a desire to be obedient. And really, its a better way to live and has fewer consequences anyway.

It is impossible for me to share everything in one article, but I do hope this explains some of what you might be feeling--and whatever you do, don't run from the greatest thing you have ever done. It is eternally worth it.

If you are not sure where to start reading in the great big book called the Bible, I would suggest starting with the book of Ephesians. It is a great summary of who is responsible for salvation, it explains redemption, it covers the old and new man, it gives us the tools to respond to our faith, and it does it all in six chapters! Read it several times before moving on--at least five if not 10. You don't have to be overwhelmed by the size of the Bible, take it one little book at a time.

From Ephesians, move on to 1 John, Galatians, and then the Gospel of John, but this is just a suggestion. Others read the Gospel of John first and move forward from there. For me, it was easier to start with the shorter books of the Bible. "Evidence for Faith 101" by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz is a great tool to assist you as you get started.

God bless you as you continue to grow in faith!

(C)Teresa Ortiz 2008 All rights reserved

The One who was Slain - a Poem

2008-08-31T16:24:00.000-07:00

I used to walk a road full of pain
Until I heard of the One who was slain

How deceived I was--just playing the game
Until I heard of the One who was slain

Enjoying the fun and feeling no shame
Until I heard of the One who was slain

Sin is fun--so very fun
As long as I'm not hurting anyone

Spiraling down a bumpy hill
As the sin in me has its fill

No where to run no where to hide
Ashamed of the man I am inside

Yes, I used to walk a road full of pain
Until I met the One who was slain

His light too bright--I turned away
Sin calling me back for another day

Why did I let it lead me astray?
My heart is sick--Sin no longer fun

Now I'm living on the run
Return to Me, cries out the Savior

Won't you let me do you a favor?
I am the One who can set you free

Please do not continue running from Me
Once again His light shines bright

This time I surrender to the warmth
Clinging to it with all my might

Now I know true peace joy and love
Having fun with the One from above

Sin no longer causing me shame-
For I have been washed--given a new name

By Jesus Christ the One who was slain
He is calling you--won't you do the same?

(C) Teresa Ortiz 2008

When the Bad Guy Wins--or Does He?

2008-08-31T15:43:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like doing the right thing gets you nowhere? Are you frustrated because it seems like the good guys always get the short end of the stick?

When we look at the world around us, it seems as the bad guys are winning. A good example might be the gangsters in prison; they get recording contracts and are rich before they even step out of the prison gates. Look at corporate America; we read about kickbacks and payoffs to secure contracts.

"It takes money to make money", they say. You have to be rich and famous to get rich and famous. It's obvious to the average guy that sometimes you have to make a deal with the devil to get where you want to be in life. Lie, cheat and steal. Yet, society in general applauds those who went for their dream and are successful--no matter the cost.

Thankfully, there are still members of society who will not stoop to such deeds. They remain hard working, honest, and do their part to help those less fortunate. They even consider success to be measured by how many lives they've touched, not by how many digits are in their bank account.

Still, at times, this can be discouraging to those who try to live a life of goodwill and seek to follow the ways of God.

So what to do we when discouragement and temptation to forget about "living right" and join the ranks of the other members of society come our way? After all they are the ones who seem to get ahead.

King David was a man God, he did his best to live right and serve his fellow man. He did not rise to the top by lying, cheating, or stealing. So why was the world-his little world, against him? I have found comfort in King David's reaction toward the wicked, maybe you will too.

Read the thoughts and prayer of King David as He shares his heart with God.

"No doubt about it! God is good-good to good people, good to the good-hearted. But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. I was looking the other way, looking up to the people at the top, envying the wicked who have made it, Who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the world. Pretentious and arrogant, they wear the latest fashions in violence. Pampered and overfed, decked out in silk bows of silliness. They jeer, using words to kill, they bully their way with words. They're full of hot air, loudmouths disturbing the peace. People actually listen to them-can you believe it? Like thirty puppies, they lap up their words. What is going on here? Is God out to lunch?" (Psalm 73:1-11 – The Message.)

These first few verses are comforting-they tell us there is a time when it is okay to share our real feelings with God. He wants us to, in fact.

This part is never a problem for me, I confess. This however is not where we should end. There is more for us to glean from King David-let's read a little bit more of his conversation with God.

"Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain. … So I tried to understand why the wicked proper. But what a difficult task it is" (Ps. 73:13-14,16 – The New Living Translation)

(You just have to love David's honesty here, I certainly relate.)

Now that we have laid our complaint out to God, what do we do? How do we reconcile our feelings with the desire we have to end the jealousy in our hearts?

Let's read on.

"Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant, they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning. Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant-I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. (Ps. 73:17-24 NLT)

I appreciate the heart of David. This is where I want to be. What a blessing to come full circle and realize the wicked will not prosper forever. Their deeds are recorded; they will answer to God for them--and so will ours.

The final step is to repent of our anger toward God and toward the wicked. As David was honest before the Lord, God revealed a bigger picture and he was able to see his own sin of bitterness. He came away from his time with God with a new understanding and strength to continue. I love his conclusion:

"My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever…and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do." (Ps. 73:26-, 28b – NLT.)

Therefore, don't let the bad guys get the best of you. Seek the Lord, take comfort in His truth. There is a reason to keep our hearts pure. We are not perfect; King David was not perfect, but we press on nonetheless, repenting when the need arises.

What a motto to live by.

© Teresa Ortiz

Adam and Eve Banished from the Garden: Punishment or Grace

2008-08-25T18:15:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered why God would banish Adam and Eve from the Garden for one mistake-just one sin, no second chances?

Over the years, I have pondered this, reading the account countless times and always coming to the same conclusion. It was the punishment for disobedience. Clear and simple-why should that be a surprise? We all understand choice and consequence.

So why did I keep coming back to this familiar story? What is God trying to teach me? About a month ago, I was reading a book by Erwin Lutzer. The subject was the fall of man and the need for redemption. He talked about how the grace of God will meet us where we are, but will not leave us in the same state in which we were found. He also talked about what it would be like if we remained in our fallen state for all eternity.

The wheels started spinning and I went back to Genesis and reread the first three chapters.

We are told God created man in His image--created to live forever in peace and harmony with God and the rest creation.

He told Adam and Eve they could eat the fruit of any tree in the garden except the fruit of the tree of knowledge, which by the way, isn't necessarily an apple.

The story goes on to say the Serpent, who was Satan Himself, swayed Eve by appealing to her desires. Some commentators suggest that Eve may have been close to the tree, even gazing at it when Satan came to her. It makes perfect sense to me-this is another lesson. Getting back to the subject at hand, Adam and Eve chose the way of disobedience.

God warned them that if they should eat the fruit of this tree, in the same day they would die. Sure enough, this is what happened. At that moment, they died a spiritual death, thereby separated from God.

God in His mercy calls out to Adam, "Adam where are you?" God restores them spiritually, by sacrificing an animal. (Sin had to be paid for from the beginning. It's interesting to note that God was not satisfied with their attempt to cover their sin by making clothing out of fig leaves--sound familiar?) Nevertheless, the physical effects and consequence of sin remained, thus the need for God to ban them from the garden. This is one of the rare times we are given the privilege to read an account of a conversation that takes place between God the Father, and His Son Jesus:

"God said, "The man has become like on of us, capable of knowing everything, ranging from good and evil. What if he now should reach out and take fruit from the Tree-of Life and eat, and live forever? Never-this cannot happen! So God expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they'd been made. He threw them out of the garden and stationed angel-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree-of Life." (Genesis 3:22-24 – The Message.)

For the record, I don't believe in anyway that this passage reveals that God is jealous of man for knowing good and evil, as many suggest. Rather, it reveals that God is concerned for man because he knows that knowing the difference between good and evil doesn't mean we will always choose good. I don't think any of us can ague this point.

With this new thought in my mind, I read this passage in a way I never did before. Why wouldn't God want them to live forever if they were created to live forever? I have come to believe the reason is Grace--Sweet Grace.

Once Adam and Eve chose to sin, their physical bodies were corrupted, they immediately started to die--along with everything else. All of creation was subject to death as a result of their choice (Wow! It makes me wonder what the lasting effects of my sin will be).

If Adam and Eve did not obey and stay away from the tree of knowledge, why in the world would they stay away from the tree of life? How much more desirable is living forever? Isn't this what people are striving for today? Why would anyone want to live forever in this body of decay is beyond me.

This brings me to my point and my understanding of God's choice.

IF Adam and Eve had remained in the garden, surely they would have been tempted to eat from this tree of life. It must have been beautiful with fruit so luscious--fruit that probably doesn't exist today.

What would have been the result? They would have lived forever in their fallen state with no chance for physical redemption, no chance for a new Eden-a better Eden. A life filled with pain and heartbreak. Plant's dying, animals dying--animals eating animals--you name it. It would be forever. Everything you are going though would be forever.

God banned them to protect them because He loved them. He also loved the rest of his creation. So now, Adam had to tend to the ground because it was also corrupt. It would no longer yield the fruit and vegetables of its own accord. I believe you get the picture.

Although I easily accepted the thought that they were banned as punishment, God opened my understanding and has shown me a more excellent way--the way of Grace.

The story doesn't end here, this is just the beginning--the Tree-of Life still exists and as of today is still guarded. When the fullness of time comes, there will a day when the fire in front of the tree will go out.

The great news is when that day comes there will be no corruption, everything will be restored and those who have chosen to receive the gift of God's grace through His Son Jesus Christ will have access to this tree.

For further study on the effects of the fall, read the book of Romans. If you would like some assistance in your study, I suggest Kay Arthur, Bruce Bickle and Stan Jantz's Christianity 101 series, and of course, you can always contact me.

© Teresa Ortiz

Tales of Cold Water, the Mail Box, and Flashlights

2008-08-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

As my son and I shopped for school supplies today, I had mixed feelings. Senior year--the year every kid lives for and the year many parents dread. Then there are the parents like me who are not sure what to feel.

On one hand, it's a relief--he made it! One the other, it's sad because you realize they are growing up too quickly. Walking through the isles, I saw a mixture of ages. It seemed the older the child, the less excited they were--funny how that happens.

Waiting in line is always a joy. You find the most interesting gadgets, that are screaming, "Buy me, I'm only a buck". Then I saw it; a flashlight--a special flashlight that took me back in time.

Our home has never been a boring place, especially when the kids were little. My husband always made sure the kids were screaming and laughing. The worst was at bedtime. They would always ask me to send dad in to tell them a goodnight story."His stories are better", they would say. Before long, they were laughing. His stories would last at least 15 minutes.

"Settle down guys, it's bedtime, go to sleep, I'm not going to tell you again!"

This he said in a very deep voice for my benefit. They were silent a moment and then all three of them would be snickering.

I can't recall the first time this happened, but at some point, my husband decided it would be funny to pour cold water on our son while he was in the shower, then turn off the light.

"D-A-D!" Justin would yell. "One of these days, your gonna get it", he adds as he laughs.

This became a ritual, but it remained sporadic to keep the element of surprise at its best. When Justin was seven or eight, he came to me and told me he was ready to get back at his dad. You can imagine how thrilled I was!

Justin climbs onto the counter to get the pitcher. I never heard such a devious giggle come from an innocent child--I loved every minute of it. As he was walking toward the bathroom, I had a brilliant idea!

"J, come back here, you can do better than your dad."

I emptied some of the water, filled the pitcher with ice cubes, then added more water. Justin's giggle was almost scary. I had to help him carry it back to the bathroom.

I must have been a good influence on him because just before we got to the bathroom, he whispers in my ear, telling me he is going to turn off the light first and then throw the water over! I was so proud! I helped him onto the chair that I had quietly snuck in a few minutes earlier.

And then the deed was done. My husband gasped to catch his breath! We left the bathroom so fast and yes, Justin left the light off.

"Excuse me, mam, can you move up please?"

Another moment and I was back in our little singlewide trailer, watching the sunlight glisten off the lake.

"Daddy", yells Brittany from the end of our driveway--which is about 200 feet away.

"My hand is stuck, you gotta help me daddy!" My daughter is practically in tears while my husband stands still, debating whether or not to run to her rescue.

He looks at me, I look back--shrugging my shoulders, "It's your call", I say.

By this time, she is crying and yelling for help--promising with all her heart that she is not faking it. So he takes off, bare-footed down the gravel driveway to help her.

When he was about 5 feet away from her, she pulls her hand out of the mailbox and says, "Gotcha"!

Moving forward in line, I take a deep breath and smile at my son. Many jokes have been played in my family, but these two are dear to my heart as they represent the kind of relationship my husband would have with our children. They had fun with me at times, but this story isn't about me, so I don't need to get into that now.

There is one thing that continues to puzzle me; my son is almost 18 and he keeps a flashlight in his bathroom and his bedroom. Now that I think about it, there is a flashlight in every room of our house, he knows how to turn on the generator, and is well acquainted with the fuse box. Could it be…nah!

As for Brittany, she can still cry on a dime, and she is way too good at being tricky.

I am sure it's all just a coincidence and has nothing to do with their childhood.

On the other hand, if I should ever get random bills from a therapist, I'll know I was wrong.

Senior year and my daughter's 20th Birthday--what a day!

When my husband showers tonight, I think I'll throw a pitcher of ice water on him and turn off the light for old times sake.

What? There's a flashlight in there.

(C) Teresa Ortiz

God Eats Pop Corn

2008-08-17T22:30:00.000-07:00

The air is cool--the wind blows softly--the dogs are asleep on my lap. Finally, there is peace, a moment to myself.

As I flip through the Bible, I say "the Bible", because it's not "my Bible". Strange as it may seem, there is a difference.

~~~~~

In my Bible, I know where everything is. I can open it to the book I want just about every time--give or take a few pages. My Bible is the one I use everyday. It has my personal notes, my thoughts, and my prayers written on its pages-a textbook and journal all in one. I even know what side of the page I will find the verse I am looking for. I know it well, too well.

On the other hand, "The Bible", is a Bible that sits in my library of Bibles and is handy when mine is not close by. It is foreign to me, however, and I don't know where to find anything. Before I open it, I examine it and then open up to where I think I should be. To my surprise, I am way off. If there is anything that bothers me, it's not knowing exactly where each book of the Bible lands based on the size alone. The other problem with this is it seems so generic; a big book filled with many little books--just words on a page. It is unfamiliar, too unfamiliar.

~~~~~

Still flipping, I decide I want to read the book of Philippians--a book on brotherly love. Four chapters packed with wisdom, encouragement, and a beautiful picture of the humility and humanity of Jesus.

Just one problem; it's not where it's supposed to be! Nevertheless, going to the Table of Contents is out of the question and it's not because I'm stubborn, I'm just testing my memory:

What was that I learned when I first tried to memorize the books of the Bible?

After staring down at the pages a moment, it comes to me: God Eats Pop Corn.

G = Galatians

E = Ephesians

P = Philippians

C = Colossians

Thank you, Jesus! All I had to do was find Galatians and I was there. Now I'm ready to read. The cool breeze had a calming affect, making it easy to close my eyes for a quick prayer.

~~~~~

Not only was this Bible not my Bible, it was also a different translation--thus being twice unfamiliar. The translation I was reading is called, "The Message"--a reader's version, also known as a paraphrase. It is designed for people who have never read the Bible and want to get the "gist" of its message. In many ways, it reads like a novel--extremely unfamiliar, surprisingly refreshing.

These are Paul's words to the believers in Philippi:

"If You've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care-then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human. Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless obedient death-and the worst kind of death at that-a crucifixion." Philippians 2:1-8

Wow! The words jumped up at me so fast, I almost choked.

"Forget about yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand."

It doesn't say it that way in my Bible. Mine says, "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." (NKJV)

I get it. Don't be selfish, think of others as well. So how often do I do this? And is it only after I take care of myself? Surely Jesus thought of himself last. In my mind, I know this. In my theology and scripture memorization I know this, but how long do I forget about myself to help others? Is it long enough?

Suddenly, I realize I have so much more to learn. As I close my eyes and ponder this amazing find in the Bible, I drift off to sleep. I'm not sure how long I slept with my dogs cuddled on my lap, but when I woke, my desire to renew my mind with a fresh reading of God's word was stronger than ever before. I am thankful for the unfamiliar and the sweet conviction of the Holy Spirit which brings me to a place of humility before my Lord Jesus as I am washed clean by the water of His word.

Sometimes we are too comfortable. We have confidence in what we know, and it cripples us.

I must disagree with the idea that "The Message" translation of the Bible is only good for new believers or people who want to get the gist of its message.

I am convinced it is also good for those of us who have read and reread the Bible--especially for those of us who have a special one we call our own.

It is important to have a teachable spirit; one that is open to the new things God has for us. The word of God is alive and active, it convicts, encourages, and challenges those of us who claim to follow Jesus.

I want to remember that God Eats Pop Corn. Reading a different translation on occasion just might be the solution.

(C) Teresa Ortiz

A Conjunction, An Adverb and Preposition--What do These Have to do with Writing?

2008-08-12T19:48:00.000-07:00

The other day someone sent me an email in response to something I had written. He said I was an encouragement to him and he was looking forward to reading more from me. No harm here, this made me feel good. The problem is he went on to tell me that I was a prolific writer.

What in the heck is that? I had to ask someone at work the other day, because I was too lazy to pull out my dictionary. Sure, I have heard this word before and though it is somewhat of a sophisticated word, it never applied to me, so why look it up? Now that I know it means abundant, or continuous, or more of--is it even a compliment?

This was three days ago and I haven't been able to get it off my mind. It is time for me to confess; I have no business writing. What was I thinking? I mean really, I don't even know the basics.

What is a preposition? What is a conjunction? Should these words be capitalized? Let's see, noun equals person, place or thing-okay, well the last time I checked prepositions and conjunctions were "things", so I suppose I should have capitalized them.

The only thing I remember about conjunctions is the old Saturday morning cartoon, "Conjunction-junction, what's your function….something, something…phrases and clauses." What is a clause? Does it have something to do with Santa?

Have I mentioned that I failed English class three times? It was the teacher's fault, I'm sure. The tests were ridiculous--seriously; allow me to give you an example:

Instructions: Please breakdown the following sentence.

"Hector was outside playing with his brown Chi-Wawa."

Um, well, there is this boy and his name is Hector and um, he is outside playing with his brown Chi-Wawa.

I got an F. What other way can you breakdown this sentence? What didn't I get?

Eventually I passed the class--thanks to Tim, who sat in front of me, and willingly shared his answers in exchange for a back rub. It was a small price to pay.

So here I am, all these years later. What is the deal? If I would have known then, what I know now. Would I pass the test today? Um, well, I think his name is still Hector, and unless he went inside, he is still playing outside with his brown Chi-Wawa. Although, Hector is probably an old man by now and his Chi-Wawa must be dead, so does it really matter?

Okay, fine--I won't be lazy. Let's see what my trusty dictionary has to say.

Conjunction = A joining; or being joined together; union; association."

What? This sounds like marriage to me. What does this have to do with proper grammar? No wonder I failed.

As for an adverb, "Any of a class of words used generally to modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb, a phrase, or a clause…"

Gee, thanks Mr. Webster, of the New World, it's all making sense now.

Finally, the preposition "In some languages, a relation or function word, as English in, by, for, with, etc."

So let me see if I have learned anything new:

Hector = Noun

Was = Preposition

Outside = Adjective

Playing = Verb

With = Preposition

His = Pronoun

Brown = Adjective

Chi-Wawa = Dog

How did I do? What can I say, writing is a gift.

© Teresa Ortiz

Jesus: A Rebel with a Gracious Cause

2008-08-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

Someone asked, "Would Jesus break the law to help someone?" The short answer is yes--not only did He break it, He encouraged others to do the same. In addition, He spoke well of one who broke the law in time past.

I cannot go on without saying that this question is incomplete; the complete question, and perhaps the key in answering more accurately is this:

"Would Jesus break the law to help someone, and if so, which law?"

With this in mind, the short answer is worth further investigation and opens the door for a multitude of discussions. With any kind of luck, it will effect change in our own lives.

So which law did Jesus break? Doesn't this go against His teaching? I thought He said we should obey the laws of the land. These are fair questions, so I'll get to the point regarding these. Yes, Jesus told us to obey the laws of the land, and yes, He would have defied His own teaching, IF the laws of the land were the ones He broke.

In every way, Jesus obeyed the laws of the land--right down to paying those dreaded taxes, never mind how he got the money to pay for them. This is another story.

Instead, Jesus broke the religious laws that the Pharisees set in place. In every sense of the word, He was a rebel-a rebel with an incredibly gracious cause.

In the book of Exodus chapter 34, it is recorded that God Himself wrote the Ten Commandments on two tablets of stone. The forth commandment reads,

"Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest." Ex. 34:21 (See Ex. 20:8 for details).

Such a simple law designed for the health and protection of the people-very simple; rest from labor.

Over the years, however, the religious leaders, known as the Pharisees complicated this law to an extreme degree. There were many other additions; six hundred and some odd laws they invented out of the ten. (Sounds a lot like what modern day churches have done.)

I mention this particular law because it has everything to do with our topic. Let us fast-forward a few thousand years to a scene that shows just how indignant Jesus was to the religious law of His day--In this case, the Sabbath.

"Now it happened on the second Sabbath that He [Jesus] went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. And some of the Pharisees said to them, 'Why are you doing what is not lawful to do in the Sabbath?' But Jesus answering said to them, ‘Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how they went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those who were with him, which is not lawful for anyone but the priests to eat?...But if you would have known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would have not condemned the guiltless.'" Luke 6:1-5; Matt 12:7

Jesus went on to explain that He was the Lord of the Sabbath and that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. In other words, if you are hungry eat; there is no law against that. The Labor God is referring to is a job. (By the way, the principle of the Sabbath is for us today.)

As we read on in the book of Luke, we are told that Jesus is in the temple the following week, again on the Sabbath. His heart was moved with compassion when he saw a man who had a withered hand.

"..So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Arise and stand here.' And he arose and stood. Then Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save a life or destroy?' Luke 6:6-9

Jesus went on to heal this man's hand and then he questioned the Pharisees, asking them if one of their sheep were to fall into a well, would they do "work" to get it out? They were so angry and immediately began to plot on how they would destroy Him. I suppose there anger toward Jesus was a result of the conviction they felt.

They were so caught up in the rules and regulations of their religion, they put it above the basic love laws of God. I would recommend a fresh reading of the Gospels to see just how rebelious Jesus was against the religious laws.

One last thought (for now), on the "love" law of God; Today, if Jesus were at a red light and ahead he saw someone in need, I would venture to say he would look both ways and as soon as it was safe, he would "floor it" to reach them. In this respect, yes, Jesus would break a "governmental" law.

I believe we could learn a few things from Jesus and like him, become a rebel with a gracious cause. Are you willing to set aside your religious beliefs to help someone in need? I would like to think I would be willing to get a traffic ticket for a good cause. I have a feeling you would as well.

Come on; say it with me--I want to be like Jesus, I want to be a rebel with a gracious cause.

© Teresa Ortiz

What will you be Doing While the Nation Rages Against Nation?

2008-08-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

I'm not much of a debater, never have been and probably never will be. Nevertheless, sometimes things get under my skin and I cannot remain silent.

I was listening to one of my favorite Musicians the other day, and since then, a specific song has been playing repeatedly in my mind. The more I hear it the more I think; have we fallen so far as away from a fundamental and universal belief in love? I'm going to share these lyrics with you; some of you may know the song, it's an oldie. I don't know maybe it's just me, but let me know what you think, as a follower of Christ, am I being to sensitive? On the other hand, am I justified in what I will share?

While the Nations Rage

Why do the nations rage; why do they plot and scheme
The bullets can't stop the prayers we pray
In the name of the Prince of Peace.

We walk in faith and remember long ago
how they killed Him and then how on the third day He rose.

Things may look bad; things may look grim
but all these things must pass except the things that are of Him.

Where are the nails that pierced His Hands?
Well the nails have turned to rust
But behold the Man; He has risen and He
reigns in the hearts of the children rising up in His name.

Where are the thorns that drew His blood; the thorns
have turned to dust but not so the love He has given and remains
in the hearts of the children who will love-while the nations rage.

The Lord in heaven laughs. He knows what is to come
While the chiefs of state plan their big attacks against
His Anointed One.

The church of God she will not bend her knees to the gods
of this world though they promise her peace. She stands her
ground stands firm on the Rock.

Watch their walls tumble down when she lives out His love

Chorus

Music and Lyrics by Rich Mullins/Psalm2/Isaiah 40:12-17/Isaiah 8:11-17

~~~~~~~

So what happened, "church"? Have we not bent our knees to the gods of this world? We have compromised by reasoning away God's holiness for the sake of the peace this world promises. Where has this gotten us as a people-Red, Yellow, Black or White?

We have not seen the walls in the hearts of our chiefs' tumble down because we are not living out His love. We give them more criticism than prayer. I have read more articles in the newspaper and on-line which ridicule instead of lift up and encourage our leaders. We condemn the Pastors who are willing to meet with our leaders and offer them Godly council despite personal disagreements.

We want God to bless America-just stay out of our schools, please. I could go on, but I don't want this to be a rant, but rather a call to the church as a whole. And not only the church. After all, we are not the only hypocrites to walk the face of this planet. There are other non-religious people who claim love, peace, acceptance and tolerance who bash our leaders and the very people that give their lives so that we have these freedoms in the first place. (Oops, I ranted, didn't I?)

Let's stand in the gap together; let's build up, encourage and pray for the leaders of all nations so that their walls will tumble to the ground. I for one will not settle for false peace but I desire true and lasting peace meant for all humanity from the Prince of Peace.

Heavenly Father,

I humbly ask your forgiveness as I repent of being complacent and inattentive at times. Just as our founding fathers thought it wise to seek your wisdom, I do the same now, asking for your grace and love to fill the hearts of all leaders for all nations. Father, I pray in the name of Jesus that you would work in our hearts as individuals so that our first thoughts toward our leaders would be that of prayer for wisdom and not words that speak negativity, for that accomplishes nothing. I am making a commitment to keep my lips from speaking anything but good toward those who make the decisions that will affect our nation. And I pray, that those who claim to know you will once again, stand their ground, stand firm on the Rock and have the courage to straighten their knees before the gods of this world. All who agree, say Amen.

© Teresa Ortiz

Why Did Jesus Come?

2008-08-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

Not long ago, there was an e-mail that went around entitled "Gonna Be A Bear" It goes like this:

In this life I'm a woman. In my next life, I'd like to come back as a bear. When you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that. Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too. When you're a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you're sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that. When you're a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that. If you're a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat. Yup, gonna be a bear." (Author unknown)

While this story is funny (I certainly sent it to all the girls in my address book), it does beg the question, is this the best one has to hope for in the next life? I certainly hope not. If so, you need to meet Jesus, because without Him, hairy legs and excess body fat will be the least of your worries in the next life!

As Christians, our hope in the next life is sure. 1 John 5:13 says "these things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." This is a wonderful promise; one that we can hang on to when life gets rough.

But still, is being a Christian only about what we have to look forward to? I don't believe so. When I consider Isaiah 61:1-3, I cannot hold back the tears of gratitude and joy I feel because God has allowed me to hear His voice call out to me. Let's read it together:

"The Spirit of the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

WOW! What a testimony of God's love. I am amazed that He would send His Son to a lost and dying world. As we look at two of the things Jesus came to do, we see that they are for this life. When we receive all Jesus came to do, we can count on the promise that came from Him in John 10:9-10 "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and he will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly."

In this passage of Scripture, we also have the promise that without Jesus, the thief, who is Satan, will surely come and steal our life until we are destroyed. The final result would be eternal separation from God in the next life, which is hell. Therefore we would do will to receive the gift of Jesus in this life. There is no other opportunity. Hebrews 9:27 says "And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment."

As a Christians, we do not have to go through this life feeling defeated and only looking forward to heaven. For the one who receives Christ, heaven begins the day they gave their life to Him.

(VS 1) He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted.

Has life been hard on you? Is your heart broken because you have been let down? Your Father has left you; you are going through a divorce, or perhaps it's been very bad and there has been abuse and you suffer from extreme insecurities and it has caused you to shy away from relationships? The good news is Jesus came to heal your broken heart. What good would healing be if it only came in the next life? It wouldn't do any good at all. But we have a promise from God. If we call out to Jesus and surrender all of our heart and our anger to Him, He will heal us. Granted, healing may not always come instantly, but Jesus, being God, has the power to heal us. Pretty soon, we find our worth in Him and knowing that the God of all creation loves us gives us the security we need to develop real and lasting relationships. What we come to learn is that people, (including ourselves) are not perfect and they will fail us - yet God is not like man and He never breaks His promises. Spend time with Him, get to know Him better and your heart will be healed.

(VS 1) To proclaim liberty to the captives, and opening of the prison to those who are bound.

Have you made some decisions that led you to a place you would have never dreamed of in a million years? Do you find yourself bound by guilt? Do you suffer from addictions that are destroying your life? We are told in this passage that Jesus came to free us for the guilt of our past or from our current situation. He will release us from our personal prison. Sure it may take some time, but when we cry out to Him, we are filled with His Spirit and He will give us the strength to overcome. God has an amazing way of bringing people into our lives who will encourage us to continue in our walk with Jesus. It is His promise. Give it a try.

"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trust in Him" Psalm 34:8

Whether a non believer, new believer, or a seasoned Christian, this brief look at Isaiah 61:1-3 should bring hope, joy and security to our hearts. I pray that you will be encouraged to get to know the Lord in a deeper way.

I am thankful that God took my life and gave me beauty for ashes. He will do the same for you.

Yup, knowing Jesus is better than being a bear.

(C) Teresa Ortiz

What is in a Name?

2008-08-10T10:32:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a book by Ann Spangler. It is entitled "Praying the Names of GOD" I have to tell you, it has brought such warmth and an attitude of gratitude in my heart for the Lord. Over the years, I have studied God's names in sporadic form. Usually when Scripture points out the very meaning of His name, but I have never studied them all together at once and in such depth. If it has been awhile for you, or you have never done this, I encourage you to do so.

I never thought I could fall more in love with my Lord, but I was wrong. Understanding His names (or titles) in a real way, has opened my eyes to His character in a bigger way. God just keeps getting bigger!!! And the love just keeps getting stronger!!!!

One of His names (or titles) is Adonay. It means LORD MASTER - it implies relationship. God, the Creator is Lord and we are His servants. Now this probably sounds basic, most Christians know this, but the challenge comes in practicing this truth.

The examples that Ann gives in her book, brought this challenge to me:

When I call Jesus my Lord, what I am saying is that I am His servant. But do I live as a servant? Am I always ready to do His will at all costs? Do I trust Him in the things that He is asking me to do? Unfortunately, not all of the time.

Understanding this truth has caused me to consider such Scriptures as:
"These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" Matthew 15:8-9

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord', and not do the things which I say? Luke 6:46

Ouch! Over the years, the Lord has asked me to do many things; things I have put them off -making excuses or waiting for a more "convenient" time to do them. Who then, is my Lord? Perhaps, it is myself? God forgive me!

My prayer is that I would do what my Lord Jesus tells me to do with zeal and excitement. After all, He knows best and my desire is to be more like Him. Yet how can this be, if I continually put my will above His.

What is God calling you to do? Give up some TV time and spend more with Him, turn away from those TV shows that do not glorify God or share His love with someone who you do not normally hang out with?

Whatever it is, if we do not lay our lives down before Him, we have no right to call Him Lord.

God has many names:

Elohim, El Roi, El Shaddai, Yahweh Nissi, and many, many more. As we take a closer look, our hearts will be sure to change.

Thank you Father, that You are Creator, the God who see me, the God who provides for me, The God who redeems me. You gave me Jesus, He is my Lord and I am His servant. Help me to live what I believe! In the name of Jesus, Amen.

If you have never surrendered your life to Christ, I pray you do so now. All of the promises of God are for His children and the children of God are those who believe in and receive Jesus Christ as Savior. (John 1:12-13)

What is in a Name? EVERYTHING!

(C) Teresa Ortiz

Diving Into Baptism: Baptism of the Gentile Part 4

2008-08-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

During our study of John's baptism, we noted the importance of his message and that was the message of repentance to prepare the way for the Messiah.

In this study, we will see an important shift in the message--from Repentance to Salvation, and in the timing of water baptism. This baptism is physical and most notably, comes after the message of salvation is received and after the Holy Spirit is given to the one who receives the message.

Looking back for a moment, we remember that John said he baptizes with water unto repentance(which will lead to the remission of their sin) , but He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." And so it was, that each Jew (Israelite) who received the message of preparation, and was baptized in water, later received the Holy Spirit after the death of Jesus.

So why the shift and why is it important? Because this baptism takes place after the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the message of salvation was opened to the Gentiles (Any peoples who are not Jews). Furthermore, in my opinion, it tells us that water baptism is not a requirement to receive the Holy Spirit, thus salvation, as many teach and believe.

The book of Acts is a book commonly referred to as a book of transition. It records for us the transition from the Old Covenant into the New Covenant. Keeping this thought in mind, helps to keep the teaching on baptism in perspective and I believe, clarifies what seems to be a contradictory teaching.

The first of converted or "saved" Gentiles is recorded for us in the book of Acts. Let's go to Acts 8:26, where we pick up the story.

"Now an angle of the Lord spoke to Philip [a disciple], saying, "arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."…And behold a man from Ethiopia, a Eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury had come to Jerusalem to worship…He was reading Isaiah the Prophet…So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" "How can I unless someone guides me?"

The place in the Scripture which he read was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation, His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth." (Acts 8:26-33)

It goes on to say the Eunuch asked Philip of whom the prophet was speaking. At this, Philip began to share Jesus and the message of salvation to him as they walked along the road. The Eunuch responded to the message. Continuing their walk, the Eunuch saw water and asked Philip if there was anything to hinder him from being baptized.

"Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may". And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."…And they both went down into the water, and he baptized him." (Acts 8:37-38.)

We see here that the requirement for baptism is believing with all one's heart that Jesus is the Son of God. This is confirmed repeatedly throughout the New Testament. Interestingly, we never read again about a baptism of repentance. We only read of baptism that follows receiving the message of Christ. This again, is because the death and resurrection accomplished and fulfilled every law under the Old Testament in which the Jews were required to follow.

"But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preached): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made under salvation." (Romans 9:8-10.)

The second example of a Gentile who was saved is in chapter 10 of the book of Acts.

God came to Peter with a vision to prepare him to go and preach to a Gentile. This God did, because he knew the hearts of his people were stubborn and couldn't imagine they should keep company with Gentiles (This is another story with many other lessons), but suffice it to say, unless God made it abundantly clear, Peter would not have gone, nor would have the men he chose to go with him.

Cornelius was a Gentile man who believed in God, prayed, and did the best he could with the information he had. God saw his heart and He chose to send Peter to preach the Gospel of Salvation to Cornelius and his family. (Read chapter 10 for the complete account.)

Peter goes to his home as commanded--where Cornelius was anxiously awaiting his arrival. Once there, Peter began to preach the message of salvation.

"And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He [Jesus] who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision [Jews], who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also…Then Peter answered, Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." (Acts 10:42-48)

The account of the Eunuch and Cornelius reveal to us the transition that took place between the Old Covenant-which in short, is having faith in the coming Messiah and the requirements that follow, to the New Testament, which in short, is having faith and trust that Jesus was and remains the Messiah.

The Jews had to wait for the remission of their sins until Jesus resurrected; for those who believed after the resurrection, it was instant. It had nothing to do with baptism.

What can we conclude? It seems that water baptism follows a change of heart and putting faith and trust in Jesus. We also see that having faith in God is not enough. God made it clear to this wonderfully righteous man named Cornelius that He needed to receive the Holy Spirit as a seal and guarantee of salvation, by having faith in Jesus, the Son of God.

It also shows us that all who are sincere in their desire to know the truth about God, will be blessed with those who will help them. It was true for me. It is very encouraging to know that God will send us someone to lead the way to Jesus. The question is-will we respond?

These accounts of Gentiles being converted and baptized are a wonderful example of one of the many things God did by sending His Son to pay the price for the sin of mankind-that is he made a new race of people. He did this by breaking down the wall that separates Jews from Gentiles. For in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, only His children--the body of Christ. (Ephesians 2:1-21)

This subject will be addressed in The Baptism Into Christ - part 5 of this series which will follow shortly.

© Teresa Ortiz

Diving Into Baptism: Baptism of John Part 3

2008-08-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

The focus for part three of this series will be the baptism of John-or rather, the baptism of repentance that he preached.

This study comes with great controversy because of its nature. It is a water baptism and it is literal and by full emersion. As I mentioned in the introduction, this baptism had a specific purpose for the Jew, which is different from the Gentile. (This will be discussed in the study of water baptism for the Gentile.)

I believe this is one of the many reasons there is such confusion as to whether or not water baptism is a requirement for salvation.

It is easy to be confused if we take a few passages of Scripture as proof texts for this teaching without investigating all texts regarding the subject of water baptism and salvation. It is important for us to remember that this particular baptism was designed for the children of Israel and that this was before the death and resurrection of Jesus, so they were still under the Old Testament Law.

With this in mind, I hope that you will join me in this study and in the end, see that water baptism has two purposes: preparation for the Jew and salvation from a bad conscience toward God for the Jew and the Gentile (not salvation of our soul). In no way, does it cleanse our sin--only the blood of Jesus can do this. (1 Peter 3:21)

The first step in understanding this baptism is knowing who John was and what his purpose in preaching was.

John was the promised son of Zachariah, the priest and Elizabeth. We find the detailed account of John in the Gospel of Luke, with other references and summaries in Matthew, Mark and John.

"But the angel [Gabriel] reassured him, 'Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer has been heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John….He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him [Jesus] in the spirit and power of Elijah…to make ready a people prepared for the LORD." (Luke 1:13, 16b.)

So Gabriel tells Zacharias what John's purpose will be and a bit later, Zacharias explains that John will be a prophet of the Most High and that he will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways and to give knowledge of salvation to God's people by the remission of their sins. Furthermore, Zacharias, says that John will guide their feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:76-70.)

As we read on, we see that John grew strong in the Spirit while in the desert, awaiting the appropriate time to begin his ministry of preparing the people to receive the Messiah.

"…the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins…I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."( Luke 3:3, Matthew 3:11)

This passage of Scripture tells us that this water baptism had nothing to do with salvation, but it was a physical act of repentance, which prepared them to receive Jesus, who would later baptize them with the Holy Spirit, which is salvation. In the Gospel of the Apostle John, we read again how John the Baptist emphasized that his baptism was only to prepare them for Jesus.

When John sees that the Pharisees and Sadducees where coming to be baptized, he rebukes them because he sees that they thought all they had to do was get in the water. They were relying on the fact that they were Jews, and not on the fact that they needed to repent and live a changed life. (Matt. 3:7-9) (This will be discussed in our study on the baptism of fire, which is final judgment.)

As we continue in the Gospel of John, we read the words of Jesus, where he tells us that he will give them the Holy Spirit when He departs and returns to heaven. However, he did seal his disciples with the Holy Spirit, before His ascension- John 20:21-23, (Which is different from the baptism of the Holy Spirit- Acts 1:4-8).
This leads to the most controversial passage on baptism in the Bible. Jesus spoke these words after His resurrection:

"And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 15-16.)

What are we to make of this passage? At first glance, it contradicts everything I just said. However, I think a closer look reveals differently. In my opinion, the verses that follow are the key to understanding this passage.

"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues." (Mark 16:17)

Two important details come to mind:

1) Jesus did not say, "But he who does not believe and is not baptized will be condemned". He only said, "But he who does not believe will be condemned."

2) Jesus did not specify water baptism.

Verse 17 tells us that signs will follow the one who believes. Most Christians would agree that power to cast out demons or the ability to speak in tongues comes from the Holy Spirit.

So what can we conclude? It would seem to me that Jesus is speaking of another baptism. On the other hand, He could be referring to water, but his second statement makes it clear that it is belief that brings freedom from condemnation. Furthermore, if water baptism were necessary for salvation, then the thief on the cross could not have been saved. Yet we read in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 23:39-43, that after professing faith and remorse for his sin, Jesus told him that he would be with Him in paradise that same day.

This passage should be viewed in light of all the other passages of Scripture that talk about salvation. It is a gift of God, made available by grace through faith, as taught in the book of Acts through the book of Revelation. Paul discusses this at length throughout the entire book of Romans, Ephesians and Colossians.

The literal baptism of repentance for the children of Israel is a picture of our need to acknowledge our sin before Almighty God, receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, thereby being sealed with the Holy Spirit as our promise for eternal security. (Eph 2:8-9.)

There are many lessons to learn from this story and much more to be discussed. I invite you to share your biblical perspective on this subject.

Father, continue to give us wisdom and understanding of your word. Open our hearts to the truth, especially when it goes against our pre-conceived ideas or what we have been taught to believe. Help us to be as the Bereans and search your word for ourselves. Lord, forgive me when I put the traditions of men above your word and give me a discerning spirit so that I would recognize it when I do. In the name of Jesus, Amen

Part four – Water baptism for the Gentile, will follow soon.

© Teresa Ortiz

Diving Into Baptism: Baptism of Israel Part 2

2008-08-10T10:23:00.000-07:00

In this study, we will see that the baptism of Israel into Moses was a metaphor and picture of what it would mean to be in Christ. Their physical deliverance from slavery by following God is an example of how each of us can have spiritual deliverance from the bondage of sin by following Jesus.

Anytime we study the Bible, we need to prepare our hearts to receive the message God has for us (Psalm 119:33-35).Therefore, I believe it is necessary to seek to the Lord's wisdom and ask His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth-and so I do:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your faithfulness to give us your word that we would know you and what your will for our life is. I ask your blessing on this and each of the studies that will follow. Teach us what we need to know. You promised that those who seek you with their whole heart will find you and this is what we are doing now. So Father, open our hearts and minds to receive a greater understanding of your word and give us a greater measure of your Spirit that we will come through a changed people because we have answered your call. I pray for those who are new in Christ, or haven't fully surrendered to you, yet find themselves following this study. Bless them Lord and bring them to a place of sweet surrender that they may know you and the power of the resurrection in their lives. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

~~~~~

The Background:

The Israelites found themselves slaves in Egypt. Some 430 years prior to this event, they were welcomed in the land of Goshen, just outside of Egypt because Joseph, Israel's [Jacob] favorite son was second in command over all of the land. However, the latest king of Egypt had other plans...

"Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, 'Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and It happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.' But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew, so the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor." (Exodus 1:8-10, 12-13.)

God at work behind the scenes:

"Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives...and he said, ‘When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, then she shall live'. But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them but saved them alive…and so it was because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them." (Ex.1:15-1, 21.)

Enter Moses:

"So the woman conceived and bore a son…But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him and put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank…and the Pharaoh's daughter found the child…and he became her son and she called him Moses." (Ex. 2:2-3,10.)

The Cry:

"Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God remembered His covenant with Isaac, and Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel and God acknowledged them." Ex.2:23-24.)

God's plan revealed:

As we read on in Exodus, we see how God was bringing all things together to work for good. Moses grew and left the care of Pharaoh's daughter. He made a bad decision which led to murder and the need to flee Egypt. While in Midian, God called to Moses and told him of His plan to use him to deliver the children of Israel from the hand of Pharaoh, resulting in the 10 plagues.

These plagues were brought on by God for three reasons; to punish them for their wicked treatment toward His people, for their idol worship and rejection of the Creator God, and to show the Egyptians that He makes a distinction between His children and the wicked (Ex. 8:22).

After the 10th plague, the death of the first-born Egyptian male--man and cattle, Pharaoh agreed to let the children of Israel go. However, God knew that Pharaoh would change his mind and pursue His children so He led them to the Red Sea.

The baptism of Israel

By this point, the children of Israel had seen the hand of God deliver them; they witnessed His mighty power displayed in his protection for them throughout each plague, especially in the Passover. As long as they followed God's instructions to put the blood of the spotless lamb over the door posts of their homes, they were under the blood, thereby protected and passed over by the death angel. (Ex. 12.)

Nevertheless, it only took one incident to send them into a panic and doubt. Let's pick up the story in Exodus chapter fourteen, verse ten:

"And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold the Egyptians marched after them, so they were very afraid and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord…And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid, Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today…The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.' And the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward." (Ex. 14:10,13-15)

"And the Angel [Jesus] of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one [Egypt] and it gave light by night to the other [Israel], so that the one did not come near the other all that night." (Ex. 14:19-20.)

"So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left." (Ex. 14:22.)

"So the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Thus Israel saw the great work which the LORD had done in Egypt; so the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD and His servant Moses". (Ex. 14:31.)

How is this baptism?

Fast-forward to the New Testament book of 1 Corinthians chapters nine and ten.

In this corrective letter, Paul is warning the Corinthian believers of the dangers of carnal and compromised living; they were following the culture of their environment while professing a faith in God-sound familiar? At the end of chapter nine, we see that Paul was admonishing them to discipline their bodies and he goes on to give them encouragement on how they can do this and in this, we find our explanation for our journey through Exodus:

"Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the red sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted." (1 Cor. 10:1-6.)

This passage leaves no room for doubt or dispute that the children of Israel had been baptized. It was a baptism into Moses because Moses was their leader.

Remembering the meaning of baptism, we see that they surrendered to the will of God; they trusted Moses and followed him all the way through the walls of water. There was no other way. They could not go around, but they had to go through, trusting God to keep the way open for them and trusting in the fact that they were engulfed in His protection. It was not their own plan that spared them; it was God's.

As Paul tells us, this ultimately points to the fact that the pre-incarnate Son of God was present with them. (Just one of many.) It was a picture of how future generations would need to trust in the coming Leader. The Messiah who is Christ Jesus--the Eternal King.

What can we learn?

We see that trusting God and obeying His voice, despite leadership demands, will give us favor with God and He will provide for us just as He did the midwives.

God's instructions are specific and have a purpose. If we do not follow them, then we have chosen to take ourselves out of His protection. If the children of Israel did not go all the way through to the other side, they would have been over-taken by the enemy. So it goes with us today. Are we going to choose God's way of deliverance and surrender our will to Christ, or are we going to do it our own way and suffer the consequences. The choice is ours.

Partial baptism is not only impossible, it is also ineffective. Each person had to go all the way through; one could not go through for the other. The same goes with a commitment to God. Jesus said, "You are either for me or against me." (Matt. 12:30.) There is no in between . One cannot have faith for another--one cannot speak on behalf of or be baptized for another. Each person must walk for themselves.

It is God's desire that we follow the example of the baptism of the children of Israel. The learning curve is endless; take this information and build upon it. Read the entire book of Exodus and Chapter 10 of 1 Corinthians. Ask the Lord what He would have for your personal walk with Him.

Please share your thoughts, as I desire to build upon my understanding.

May the Holy Spirit be with all who desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus and remember, He will stand between you and the things that desire to over take you.

Part three - The Baptism of John to follow soon.

© Teresa Ortiz

Diving Into Baptism: Introduction Part 1

2008-08-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

What comes to mind when you hear the word baptism? The first thought most people have is water. However, the Bible speaks of other baptisms--in fact, there are seven specifically mentioned.

Many people never give this much thought. There was a time when I didn't. However, over the years, God has opened my eyes to these treasures of truth. Since then, I continue to study them. I am of the opinion that each of these baptisms play a significant role in increasing our understanding of God's plan for humanity and they serve as explanations for the whys are wherefores of life. For this reason, I am sharing what I have gleaned thus far in hopes that it will clarify some of the misnomers on baptism.

The Seven Baptisms of the Bible:

1. The Baptism of Israel.

2. The Baptism of John (Water for the Jew).

3. The Baptism by water (For the Gentile).

4. The Baptism Into Jesus Christ.

5. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

6. The Baptism of Suffering.

7. The Baptism of Fire.

It is important to note that the word baptism means, "to be completely submerged in". In this respect, you can baptize just about anything in just about anything.

The Old Testament is full of examples of articles being "baptized". There were strict ceremonial cleansing laws; not only for themselves, but also for their clothing and cooking utensils. The Jews were very aware of the importance of preparation by cleansing. This becomes important when we get to the baptism of John, or what I like to call the baptism of the Jews. This helps me to keep things straight as I study the difference between the baptism of the Jew and the baptism of the Gentile.

As we study, we will see that there are times when baptism is literal and when it is metaphorical or "spiritual", or both--meaning, the literal act of baptism has a spiritual application.

Baptism is also a well-known concept outside of the Christian world; Egyptians, potters, fabricators and the like use this term. I say this to remind us that there is more to baptism than we tend to think.

I have three goals that I pray will be reached by the end of this series:

1. We will see that biblical baptism will always represent the truth as it relates to salvation, which is that we become a child of God by surrendering our will to his and placing ourselves completely in Christ, thus being born-again.

2. That we will slow down and read the Bible as if reading for the first time (or maybe start reading), so that we will not miss out on the little phrases, realizing that each story has a purpose.

3. That the body of Christ will not put so much emphasis on water baptism and apply the lessons found in all of the other baptisms to our lives so that we will be able to "give an answer for the hope that lies within" and encourage others in the faith.

I hope you will join me on this journey through baptism. I ask for forgiveness up front, as I know I will fall short in explaining all that this perspective has to offer. I will post each study in the order listed above. I look forward to your participation--as the word of God says, "Iron sharpens Iron".

Soon to follow, The Baptism of Israel: What can we learn - Part 2 of 8.
I'm praying for you, please pray for me.

© Teresa Ortiz

Is God Your First Choice or Last Resort?

2008-08-10T10:18:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 4: 15 -16 "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need"

Has it been one of those days? You know the kind, when everything that could possibly go wrong has? For me it was the washer and dryer going out the night before my daughter and I were off to California to visit friends and family.

It was also the week before Christmas and I needed to make sure everything was in order before I left my husband to man the house with our son. It is times like these that make me say "Calgon, take me away!"

However, as calm as Calgon might make me on the outside, It will do nothing to calm the inside. After running around frantically trying to ring out the clothes in the washer, trying to pack and wondering how in the world I was going to pay for a new washer and dryer after spending money on airline tickets and Christmas gifts and …. It hits me:

"Maybe I should pray about this." What a novel idea! I can hear Him now, "Teresa, my child. I have a solution if you would just take a minute to chat with Me".

After taking a minute to breathe and remember that "I" don't have it all figured out, I began to pray. I relaxed. I breathed, I even whined a little (well okay, a lot). I simply said, what should I do?

The next morning I went to work - The Lord impressed upon me to go "check out" some washers and dyers on my lunch break. I did. When I arrived back at work, I was surprised to find an envelope on my desk.

It was a Christmas bonus! I went back to the store and purchased the washer and dryer. It was delivered and installed just in time for my daughter and I to leave for the airport.

By the way, did I mention my daughter had a basketball game that night as well?

Take time to seek the Lord BEFORE that "day" comes.

Father, forgive me for not going to you first. Change my heart and draw me closer to You so that You are my first choice for comfort instead of the last resort. Thank you for your patience with me. Make me more like you today. Organize my time and give me discernment to recognize Your voice. In Jesus name, Amen

(C) Teresa Ortiz

Good Parent, Bad Parent, Good God, Bad God

2008-08-10T10:14:00.000-07:00

How would you rate yourself as a parent? Would you say you are a good one? What would be your qualifying reasons? What if one were to ask your teenaged child-would they agree with your assessment, or would they say you were mean, judgmental and narrow minded?

Getting back to the first question; if you rated yourself as good, what are the reasons? Following is a list of reasons given over the years:

1. I tell my children how much I love them.

2. I set boundaries for them and tell them the consequences that will follow if they cross the line.

3. I warn them not to touch a hot stove or not to play with fire because they will get burned.

4. I warn them to stay away from strangers and tell them that there are evil people in the world who are looking to harm them while pretending that they are friendly.

As a parent, you know that your teen's perspective on the short list above is a bit different from yours. Following is a list of responses I have heard over the years.

1. I love you too.

2. You're so strict, I never get to have any fun. I thought you said you loved me.

3. You're just trying to scare me into doing what you want me to do. It won't really burn.

4. You're just afraid that I might meet someone who is nice. Bobby's parents are great, they let him go anywhere he wants.

Obviously, this list is just the tip of the iceberg. Still, it makes a good point. So, once again I would ask; are you a good parent or a bad parent? I suppose it depends on whom you ask. As parents, we have experienced hardship and pain; we know what straying from the counsel of our parents did to us. Looking back to our teen years, we might remember a time or two when we thought our parents were mean, to strict and narrow minded. However, as we got older, we understood that it was love that compelled them. It was their knowledge that caused them to warn us of the consequences of straying.

Let's consider God in this same light. Is God a good God or a Bad God? Unfortunately, many "experienced" adults act like teenagers when asked this question. He is accused of being a narrow minded God who just lays out rules and regulations to be followed or else they will suffer the consequences. Why is it that many who take pride in the fact that they raised their children with guidelines and values that taught them to be good people are quick to say that they do not want to follow a God who does the same?

Perspective. However, is perspective the measure? God is love and He is the Creator of all things. Therefore, how much more experienced is He? It would seem that He is the one who is qualified to warn and set boundaries for His children.

Wouldn't you agree that putting a little bit of fear in your children teaches them to respect and trust you? Why then is God accused of being a bad God for doing them same?

It would seem logical that if one considers God bad and narrow minded for setting boundaries, then one must consider themselves a bad parent for doing the same.

Would you pick and chose when you are going to be your parent's child? No, that is silly. You are either their child or not. Either you choose to accept them and honor them as your parent, or you divorce yourself from them, be your own parent and deal with the consequences.

The same applies to God. We can't call him Father when it is convenient and then say He is not our Father when he lays down the rules. You are either His child or not. Either you choose to honor Him as your God and Father or you divorce yourself and be your own God. It's simple logic. God is God 100% of the time or He is not.

"And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." Hebrews 12:5-6

As a good parent forgives when a child disobeys and comes to his or her senses, God does the same. Be our own god or be a child; the choice is ours.

One last time; are you a good parent or bad parent? Is God a good God or bad God?

© Teresa Ortiz

How to be a Successful Ineffective Witness for Christ

2008-08-09T21:51:00.000-07:00

Over the years, I have thought about the days before I surrendered my life to Christ. What made the difference? Who made a difference? As I considered how to present my findings, I could not ignore the common denominator in what did not work and how the methods they chose played a major role in causing me to nurture my wall called "Ruin."

Ruin was my best friend-she was my security; she was my freedom; she was my prison-and I loved her. I tell you this because any chance I had to keep Ruin alive and well, I took. And believe me, I loved it when Christians helped-it was quite funny then, though sarcasm and attitude were my strengths so it made perfect sense. I relished the fact that the very people who were trying to "set me free", actually added bricks and mortar-strengthening Ruin all the more.

Fortunately, (or unfortunately, in this case), the list is short. As a result, you will find that one does not have to go too far to accomplish their goal. This said--following these few simple steps will assure you great success.

1) Always remember: It's not how you win a soul, it's that you win a soul. The goal is to make sure the sinner invites Jesus into their heart, even if it takes all day and night. Eventually, they will see the light and thank you for showing them the love of God.

2) Never be seen having lunch or going to a see a movie with the sinner you are trying to win to Christ. It's quite possible that other Christians will see you and get the wrong impression-like you're their friend or something.

3) Always discuss the negative things about all other religions. Don't offer any positive information, and if they happen to tell you that they practice a particular faith, be sure and tell them why that one is especially bad. They will respect you for that.

4) Be sure and tell them that when they give their life to Jesus, all their problems will go away. After all, they are in the mess they are in because they have chosen to be stubborn. Again, they will respect you for that.

5) Never expose the real you. Don't share your weaknesses or your failures. Rather, speak in spiritual language using phrases like--you just need to be plugged in and set on fire! This way, they will wonder at how spiritual you are and not think for a moment that you might be human.

~~~~~

This might be funny if it wasn't for the fact that in many cases it is the truth. From personal experience, these tactics were 100% ineffective on me. On the other hand, those that were the exact opposite had a big impact on my life. Even though I never let them know it, my walls began to crumble. Until the day when God broke through and my closest friend, Ruin, was slowly replaced with Jesus.

From that day forward I have purposed to be a genuine witness for Christ. Never perfect, but genuine. It's all God requires me to be.

If you are a Christian reading this, and you were offended, the point is well made and I pray it made you think and repent. Apologize to the one you have mislead or mistreated. They will respect you for it. (At least, that's what someone told me.) I am not saying we all do this on purpose, but after we have been a Christian awhile and our lives have changed, we forget that we have been forgiven of past sins and tend to think that we don't sin anymore, or at least not the "big" sins. However, we must remember that God hates pride more than anything else.

If you are not a Christian, especially for the reasons listed above, I ask your forgiveness on behalf of everyone who has made you feel like you are just a target-a soul to be won and not a person with real feelings. As you might have guessed by now, I can relate.

Being on both sides of this issue, I would hope my heart would be heard when I say this: Non-Christian, don't use a bad witness as an excuse to stay away from God. They will be accountable to God for their actions. Though the delivery of the message may be warped, the message, according to the Bible, is true. I would hope and pray that you would search it out for yourself.

P.S. Please forgive my sarcasm, old habits die-hard. ((Smiles.))

Taste and see that the Lord is good. You will never regret it.

© Teresa Ortiz

The Lakers Game Four and the Escape

2008-08-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

So…..game four just ended. What game? Yup, that's the one-the Lakers didn't go so well tonight. Some of you might be feeling a bit sorry for me right about now. And yes, I quietly snuck out of the living room and found a safe place in the back room, in front of my computer.

Umm, what should I write? What story do I tell? Oh! I know, our dear friend, Laura Trahan, suggested that I write about my Speed Skating days sometime. No time like the present, I always say.

My sister and I got the fever for Roller Skating back in 19...something or another. The rink fast became our second home. (I can still hear the music playing in my head….Disco, disco duck, and then there was Donna Summers', Toot –toot, hey, beep-beep.)

Any-who, what was I saying? Oh. We lived and breathed skating. Now, I'm not one to brag, but I was pretty darn good. In fact, so good that when I showed the guards that I was ready for the next level, they changed the rules. Actually, after seeing me, they decided no one could ever do it better and didn't want the other skaters to be envious so they cancelled the event until further notice. To this day, I marvel at such a gesture.

Bad girls, talkin' ‘bout the bad girls…

I was so shocked when I learned that that song was about….ladies of the night! O' my, no wonder my father didn't like me singing that song when I was a kid, but that's another story.

Bear with me; I'm stalling… the temperature in the living room is beginning to drop, but I need a little bit longer in this back room.

Tic-tock, tick-tock, tic-tock.

Alright-y then. Back to the story.

The rink was especially packed that night; Friday nights were always the busiest so it made perfect sense to show the on-lookers and the guards (Especially Joe), how great I was.

"Hey Joe, watch me, I'm so ready"

"Terees, now's not the best time, the floor is packed."

"No, really, I'm ready"

"Fine, show me what-cha got"

With all the excitement and speed I was able muster, I weaved in and out of the slow people. As I came back around toward Joe, the total-babe floor-guard, I jumped up in the air and spinned around so that I landed in the backward position and gracefully continued weaving in and out of the slow people…At least that's how I imagined it would go.

Well, as my great fortune would have it, that's not what happened. The truth is, as I was coming out of my spin, my toe-stop leaped off my skate and those slow people got in my….okay fine, I tripped, is that what you wanted to hear?

As I came down for my landing, I didn't position my feet properly, and I fell backward. I fell so hard that I hit my head, and I laid on the floor while all those slow people got a good look at me. I twisted my wrist and I couldn't get up.

Hey, what happened to the music?

Suddenly a voice from heaven (or maybe it was the DJ), asked everyone to clear the floor and several of the floor guards came over to help me up. Joe, the total-babe floor-guard, picked me up and carried me off the floor. I don't know why, but my sister was so mad at me! Now that I think about it, everyone was. That was the last time anyone was able to skate backwards for--I don't remember how long!

I still think my sister was just jealous because I was carried off the floor by Joe, the total-babe floor-guard.

The good news is, eventually backward skating was back on, I learned how to position my feet correctly, and speed was our middle name..

The jig is up, the news is out, they finally found me...you renagade, you had it made...

As I think about all my ventures in choir, drama, dance and cheerleading--each with their own set of mishaps, I can't help but wonder if this little ball of talent will one day be rich and famous and it is God's way of keeping me humble.

Yeah, I'm sure that's it. I will take such pride in the fact that I will always remain a humble and grateful person. I'll even check in with my old friends on occasion.

Just so you know, I've even grown patient of slow people. I mean really, give me a break; I was only 10-years-old then.

Well guys, the house is peaceful and it is safe to re-enter the living room. Britt doesn't stay mad at her boys for long.

Thanks for passing the time with me.

Humbly yours,

Teresa

The Lord is There: Encouragement for the Soul (4)

2008-08-09T18:45:00.000-07:00

Yahweh Shammah: A Hebrew title or name for God. It speaks of His Omni-Presence. He is everywhere, all the time. It speaks of a personal God, not some cosmic spirit in the sky. More importantly, He is not a spirit that dwells in rocks and trees, but in the presence of His people.

In the Old Testament we see God dwelling in a cloud by day and Pillar of fire by night. God was with the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. In the New Testament we see God dwelling in the hearts of those who put their faith and trust in Him by the Holy Spirit.

How does this knowledge affect us as individuals? Do we believe it? Is it possible to believe this is true for everyone else except me? I know many people who have a hard time believing God's promises are for them.

If this is you today, I pray that you will read the following passages and personalize them. Replace the word "you" with your name. Believe God and your soul will be encouraged.

The Lord is There

"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you, I've called your name. You're mine. When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end - because I am God, your personal God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, rich with Cush and Seba thrown in! That's how much I love you! I'd sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you. (Isaiah 43:2-6 The Message.)

"In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them: and He bore them and carried them all the days of old." (Isaiah 63:9 NKJV.)

"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me." ( Psalm 139:7-10 NKJV.)

"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. The LORD preserves all who love Him, but the wicked He will destroy. (Psalm145:18-20 NKJV.)

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So that we may boldly say, 'The LORD [Yahweh] is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'". (Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV.)

Believe these promises from Yahweh Shammah - He is the Lord that is there with you. He Loves you more than anything.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your faithfulness.

Thank you that we can count on you to be

with us every step of life's way. You are a personal God,

Thank you for revealing your name to us.

Help us to remember that faith is not based

on a feeling, but on truth. Keep these

Scriptures close to our memory,

that we may believe them even when we do not feel them.

In the name of Jesus, Amen!

(C) Teresa Ortiz

Shalom: May God's Highest Favor Rest in You

2008-08-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

Yahweh Shalom - "The Lord is Peace". Unfortunately, our English word peace does not adequately describe the full meaning of the Hebrew word Shalom.

On the surface, this might not have a great impact on how we view God's favor toward man. After all, it is probably safe to say that everyone knows the meaning of the word peace. (Unfortunately, putting it into practice is another story.)

I recently did a study on the word Shalom. I am blessed and I wanted to pass the blessing on to all who read.

Let us look at these two words a little bit closer.

PEACE= (Man's perspective) Absence of war, to be silent, to be calm in heart and mind.

Although the English word peace can be used to describe internal serenity, more often than not, it speaks to external circumstances. In fact, in the world of gangsters it has become a catch phrase. i.e. "Peace-out man", slang for "stay cool and out of trouble".

SHALOM= (God's perspective) A greeting to pronounce a personal blessing on another in its fullest capacity. i.e. "Hello and may God's favor rest in you and give you a prosperous, satisfied, healthy, perfect and harmonious day."

Okay, I must admit, when I say hello to someone, I do not consciously include all of these well wishes. Sure, I mean it when I say have a great day. It can be assumed I mean all of the things above, but the point is I am not usually making the effort to think these things through or taking the time to be specific when I say have a great day.

However, I do not want this to be a mere study of words, rather, I hope it opens the door for a second look at what this title is saying about the Creator God.

Yahweh Shalom is God's very name, a title that describes one of His many attributes. It points out that God is not merely one who gives peace, but that He IS peace. He is the sole source of true and lasting peace that is rooted in the internal man. This internal peace, when experienced in its fullness, is the only thing that will bring external peace.

Still, this is only part of why I am excited about Shalom. To be honest, the real reason is my need to feel loved, cared for, and accepted-unconditionally-warts and all. In short, I am human.

Even deeper still, is the fact that God feels this way about you and me! This is the best part because even though others may wish us the absolute best, they have no power to do anything about it--at least not to the greatest degree. By this, I mean we are human and we will fall short and disappoint each other at times.

BUT GOD! (My two favorite words in the entire bible,) He is not like man and cannot lie, nor will He ever go back on His promises. (Titus 1:2)

While studying Shalom, I looked up a few passages of Scripture, they took on a new meaning and I applied them to my life in a bigger way. Following is just one of the many.

"These things I [Jesus] have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:25-27

I pray you have been encouraged. Take some time to dig a little deeper. I am including a few Scripture references, look them up, and see just what God desires for us and from us.

Psalm 122:6-8, Isaiah 26:3, Galatians 5:22, Psalm 34:14 – I am making it a point to remember that the Biblical word (Hebrew in the Old Testament) is always Shalom. I will never take the word peace for granted again.

So to all my friends and readers, I say to you, Shalom!!!

© Teresa Ortiz

Changing Seasons

2008-08-09T18:39:00.000-07:00

We are in the process of moving…funny, I don't remember having this much junk when we moved in 10 years ago.

It's amazing all the emotions that come with moving, there is the excitement of the new things to come and then there are the tearful moments that come upon you before you even realize tears are streaming down your face.

Take today for instance. I was thrilled with the amount of junk I managed to stuff into one 33-lb heavy-duty Glad trash bag--that is until I tried to carry it outside. Anyway, I was singing a song while I climbed onto the kitchen counter top to clean the top of the cabinets... how in the world did all this dust get here? When I finished that task, or should I say, when I didn't feel like doing that anymore, I jumped down and went to the book shelf. I loaded half the books and then moved on to doing laundry.

You must be thinking; what a scatterbrain, why not do one room at a time? Well, here in lies my issue. At first, I am happy and then the realty of what I am really doing kicks in. Trying to avoid the inevitable, I move on to the next task, hoping for a different outcome.

No such luck.

Therefore, I decided to take a break. As I wandered toward my bedroom through the maze of boxes, I came across a special book entitled: "Ten Reasons why you are the best Parents in the World!"

This is a book that our children wrote and gave to us for Christmas 2000. Naturally, I had to read it. Here it is--exactly as written. You will need to use your imagination to see the drawings that accompany each reason.

# 1 – You always help us when we are sick!

Do you need anything? No thank you dad & mom.

# 2 – You always do what you tell us yore going to do.

Pictures of smiley faces and what appears to be a dog.

# 3 – You always say sorry when we get in to a argument.

# 4 – You are always there for us!

Do you want me to pick you up from school today? Yes please!

# 5 – You always take care of us!

We heart you!

# 6 – You always help us with our school work!

Do you need help? Sure! (No smiley faces in this drawing)

# 7 – You are always nice to us.

More smiley faces

# 8 – You always forgive us when we have done something wrong!

That's ok, don't do it again alright! Sorry mom.

# 9 – You always forgive us wen we get in a konflik.

Mean and crazed out faces with red eyes and snarled teeth.

#10 – You always make time for us!

Sure, but after I'm done here! Do you want to play a board game?

"It would take all the papper in the world to list all the reasons why you are the best parents in the world but we dont have that mutch papper so i guess we will just show you ok!"

Ah! When did the tears start flowing?

Please don't think I shared this amazing book with you to pat ourselves on the back. After all, the title of this story is Changing Seasons…

The tears bring joy and sadness. Joy, because this book represents a time when our children were young and naive. When they trusted us for all the answers and thought we were the smartest people on Earth. Sadness, because my soon to be 18 year old son, has suddenly realized he knows everything there is to know about life.

Just a few weeks back, we had a "konflik" about the house rules. Can you believe how stupid we are because we won't let him and his girlfriend hang out in his room with the door closed? What nerve!

Our son laid out his plan for the next year; save as much money as he can, move out with a couple of guys, and live his own life. "Not that I don't love you", he assures us. "Oh, and don't worry, I will finish high school."

In all honesty, it's not his failure that concerns me, it's his success. He is a very responsible young man and in many ways wise beyond his years. He works hard, pays his own bills, and stays out of trouble. He has been doing his own laundry since he was 11-years old and he knows how to cook-not even close to a Mama's boy.

My fear is that he won't remember to visit me or call me.

Daughters are different--no matter how far they move, they always stay in touch.

This move is proving to be harder than expected. It represents a season of change for each one of us. One thing I can be proud of and that is we are a close family and God has blessed us beyond measure. For this, I will choose to let these tears represent joy and excitement for the season that lies ahead.

© Teresa Ortiz

Finding Church in Your Pantry

2008-08-09T18:35:00.000-07:00

"Best if used by 02-08-04"-this being the date stamped on the can of corn I pulled out of the back of the pantry--and the oldest expiration date I came across while packing.

There were many others, in fact; I threw away more than I packed! My greatest find was a bag of Marshmallows that were so hard; they would make pellets feel like cotton balls if I were to shoot you with one.

As I stood tippy-toed on the ladder, I stared into the pantry and thought, why have I not cleaned this out before. Was I lazy? Did I feel the need to make my pantry look full? Maybe I thought if I just shoved all the cans to the back, I wouldn't have to deal with them and then at some point, they would recognize they have out-lasted their usefulness and throw themselves away.

Who knew that cleaning out my pantry could be so spiritually profound? And to think, I thought I was missing church because I had to finish packing. Shows you what I know.

"..Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" Hebrews 12:1b-2

Not knowing why this particular passage of Scripture popped into my mind, I held on to the scrunched up bag of chips, or crumbs as they were, and thought about the words, "lay aside every weight".

~~~~~

What does expired canned food have to do with weight? Then it hits me; it's human nature to hang on to things that we know are weighing us down. Things that are harmful for us, yet we are easily trapped by the familiar--after all, we know what to expect from the familiar. Once again, God gives me a practical picture of what sin does to us.

In our frailty, we deceive ourselves by adding something new to our lives. We find a new system of belief, or we find a new set of friends, or... Unfortunately, we do this without cleansing ourselves of the old things first. Eventually, we become tired and weary--we feel so heavy, we get depressed. Moreover, we are confused because we don't understand why we feel this way.

Yet this passage of Scripture gives us a practical solution. Lay the stuff aside. Other versions say throw it away. Get rid of the things that have "expired" and are not healthy for us. Replace it with something good; like Jesus, for starters. He is the one who can help us and the one who can truly free us from feeling sick, tired, and depressed.

What is hindering you today? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Don't just add something new to your life, get rid of the things that are weighing you down. It doesn't do any of us any good to look good on the surface while we have things rotting away in the deepest parts of our hearts.

The great news about looking to Jesus is that He will help us and give us the courage we need to move forward. He does not expect us to clean up first. He desires us to call upon Him just the way we are. So go for it, seek the help you need to save your marriage, or quit drinking, or quit playing the field--you fill in the blank. From experience, I have learned that there is victory in surrender.

Additional words come to mind from this same passage in Hebrews:

"For the joy that was set before Him"

Have you ever considered what or who the "joy" is? You are the joy--I am the joy. We are the joy that drove Him to the cross. We are why He endured the shame. Why would He do this? So that we would not have to live in bondage to our sin and shame. There is no greater love.

~~~~~

As I let go of the scrunched up bag of crumbs, I smiled with renewed excitement of the good things to come. I finished packing the box that was coming with us to the new house and I was content with how light it was.

The box of expired food, well, this box was heavy. I had to kick it all the way to the section that my husband had labeled trash--I felt so much better. It was symbolic of throwing away all the muck that I had allowed to creep into my heart and make its home there. I am looking unto Jesus anew with my eyes and heart wide-open. Won't you do the same?

Heavenly Father,

I can't even fathom the depth of love you have for me that you would send your only Son to bear my guilt and shame. I will never understand the sacrifice, but my heart is grateful that you accepted me just as I was so long ago. Yet in your love, you showed me a better way to live and your continued patience with me humbles me like no other. Thank you for showing me true freedom. I pray for those who are struggling with the concept of grace. Lord woo them unto yourself as you did me and so many others, may they hear your sweet voice calling them and may you deafen their ears to the voice of the enemy who desires to keep them trapped. I love you and I am forever grateful and as long as I have breath I will praise your name and share your love with others. In the name of your most precious Son, Jesus. All who agree, say Amen.

So what is the moral of this story?

If you ever feel like you need a little "church", go clean out your pantry.

(C) Teresa Ortiz

How Plucking my Eyebrows Brought Me Happiness

2008-08-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

As I bite my lower lip and my eyes begin to water, many thoughts run through my mind. Ouch being the first, and second, why am I doing this? It hurts, especially the thicker hairs by the bridge of my nose!

Plucking my eyebrows is a new thing for me. Prior to this, I would try other ways of making my eyebrows look better without all of the pain. At first, I would shave them. It was a quick fix - quite risky, really. It was either very brave or extremely dumb, the jury is still out on this one. I must admit, I did have a few slips of the hand and well, let's just say I kept a lot of black eyeliner around!

Obviously, this was not working. So, I gave Nair a try - you know, the stuff that is made for legs? It worked well enough, except for when I busied myself around the house and forgot I had it on. That is, until I received a reminder from the fire I felt over my eyes, which caused me to make a mad dash for the sink to rinse!

To cover this "oops", I chose to wear beige make-up in hopes that the bright red over my eyes might appear a mild and soft looking pink. While the make-up did its' job, the Nair proved to be a bust.

What is a girl to do? She moves on to waxing. Although, this can get expensive, and if you can't keep those regular appointments, you end up with a beautiful scene of eye fuzz - well, maybe not so beautiful. While this seemed to be the best method thus far, it still fell short of its' expected results.

After a decade of trial and error, I had a novel idea: pluck them! It only took once to realize that even though it hurt, it was the most effective method. I had complete control. The hairs came out from the roots so they didn't grow back as quickly or twice as thick as they did before - and best of all, no blunders!

If only I had done this in the beginning! I would have saved myself a lot of embarrassment, money, and the time it took to fix what I made worse.

The next thought that came to my mind was Ecclesiastes 3:2 "A time to pluck what was planted." God certainly has a way of getting my attention. I couldn't help thinking about the things in my life that I kept so dear.

Each of us has those things in our lives that have been with us since childhood which helped to form our attitudes and behaviors. One of my many unfortunate traits was the ability to hold a grudge. Much like those thicker hairs by the bridge of my nose, these grudges would dig deep and take root in my heart....Oh how I prided myself in the ability to make someone pay for the pain they caused me. It was the tool I wielded to keep from being hurt again. After all, I am no fool.

However, God in His grace showed me that this was not an accurate reflection of His character, and it is certainly not the way to happiness.

This was the first thing the Lord revealed to me that He wanted to pluck from my life. These things were so deep within me that I couldn't understand why God would want me to forgive someone in spite of how they treated me. It's funny, in a sad sort of way, that the thing which I thought was keeping me safe was actually the very thing that kept me in bondage and robbed me of experiencing real joy. It was not until I understood how much Jesus had forgiven me of that I was able to understand why He wanted to pluck these grudges out of my life.

Yet another Scripture comes to my mind, Mark 9:24 "Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief!" After considering this passage, I realized it applied to many areas of my life and it made sense to me to say "Lord, I am willing, but help my unwillingness!"

This is all Jesus wanted to hear. "Teresa, now that you are willing, I will take it from here."

In order to let go, the Lord had to show me what these things were doing to me and how they were affecting those around me. He had to let me see how they would need to be to be plucked by the roots. Not just a quick fix that would only cause more pain when the issue resurfaced later, but true removal of the root issues of my heart so that there could be room for God to plant what He wanted to see growing there from the beginning (Ephesians 4:4-10).

Because I do not have the greatest vision, whenever I pluck my eyebrows I have to be sure and position my face very close to the mirror so that I can get a good look at the hairs that need plucking. It's the same with my spiritual life. Since my spiritual vision is not what it should be, I must constantly allow the Lord to look closely into my heart.

It can be painful when God does the tweezing, but I have discovered that the benefits far outweigh the pain. With God doing the work, there are no mistakes, no disasters and no substitutes. Most importantly, I am happy and my load is lighter as there is no need to carry my "make-up" bag everywhere I go; I am free to look and feel beautiful from the inside out!

What a concept. If only I would have let Him do the work in the beginning...

These days, I breathe deeply, relax and say, "Okay, Lord, pluck away! I want to reflect the beauty of Your Son and experience genuine happiness." Will you say the same?

(C) Teresa Ortiz

Hiding From God is Impossible

2008-08-09T18:31:00.000-07:00

Have you ever planned something...something maybe a little sneaky? Something where you had a master plan of how everything was going to go; you imagined it so perfectly and just the thought of it made you smile?

Well, I have.

When I was in the fifth grade, I had a brilliant plan. I decided I was going to ditch school and stay home. My plan was to make popcorn, eat all the junk that I could find in the house, and watch my favorite soap operas. I was going to have the house and the T.V. all to myself with no one to interrupt my perfect day at home. (While all the other pour souls were at school.)

We all left for the day as usual, but once everyone went their separate ways, I ran back to the house. I walked through the door with a smirk that had pride written all over it as I had succeeded in this great plan of mine.

All was going great! That is until I heard the door slam shut."No, it couldn't be". Yes, it was my mom! "What in the heck is she doing home?!" She totally ruined my plan - what was I going to do? So I ran around the house like a crazy person looking for somewhere to hide. The shower, I will hide in the shower! I climbed in and there I sat all day long!

Meanwhile, my mom was doing her thing - listening to music, cleaning, whatever. As I sat there, I'm thinking, this is great. How fun is this? But the worst part about all of this is that everytime she came remotely close to the bathroom, my heart began to beat faster. I was so afraid she was going to find me. Pretty soon, it didn't matter to me whether she was close to the bathroom or not. The fact was she was in the house period. Just feeling her presence was enough to drive me crazy. Still I sat, wishing I was at school with all those other pour souls. At school, I would at least get recess!

I don't know how many hours went by when I finally realized I wasn't having any fun-it was certainly not worth it anymore. I couldn't take sitting in the dark bathroom hiding behind those shower doors anymore.

All at once, I went from feeling like a master planner to a humbled little girl who felt as stupid as the plan she made. What was I to do? I could have sat there into the night and waited until someone unkowningly turned on the water expecting to shower but then I would have been a wet, stupid little girl. On the other hand, I could muster up the courage to come out of the shower and confess.

And so I did it, I stood up and said "I'll take it like a man! Whatever happens from here, it's got to be better than sitting on the cold, hard, shower floor!"

She was in the kitchen, naturally, I startled her. As I stared down at the floor, I told her all about my plan (except for the part about how mad I was at her for ruining everything). I will never forget her response. She laughed. Yes, that's right, she actually laughed at me! She told me that sitting in the shower all day was punishment enough. We talked it through and she told me that I should just tell her if I ever felt like I needed a day at home. In the right timing and circumstances she would work it out and I wouldn't have to do anything wrong to get what I wanted or needed. Then I really felt dumb. What a concept, just ask.

Would you believe this thought came to mind as I was reading Psalm 139? My mind often wanders when I read God's word; I love how practical His word is. Let's read Psalm 139:1-12 together:

"O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I run from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say 'surely the darkness shall fall on me,' Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to You"

The Creator God sees it all. He is EL Roi (El-RAW-HEE, the God who sees me.)

This is great news for the one who has given themselves over to Christ completely. God's very name means He is always watching over us. However, for the one who is still hiding from God, this can be dreadful and uncomfortable. The truth is, we cannot hide anything from God. He sees the deepest darkest things of our heart. Yet, He desires to free us and He love us in spite of it all.

How are your plans coming along? Do you feel God's presence? Do you hear Him calling you out of your hiding place?

Answer the call - His plans for us are far better than any we can come up with on our own.

Most Importantly, His plan won't send us running to find a hiding place.

Let His light pierce your darkness - though it may hurt awhile, as it does when you first turn on a light in a dark room, you will adjust quickly and find that the warmth of the Light will bring peace to your soul.

If you would like more information on walking with Jesus, write to me. I would love to lend you a hand that will lead you to the hand of the Father. May you grow closer and closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

(C) Teresa Ortiz

MY Father: From the Last to the First

2008-08-09T18:27:00.000-07:00

Father's day used to mean nothing to me. I had the most amazing mother and that was all I needed.

My parents divorced when I was six years old. The only father I knew was the drunk who left me sitting on the front porch waiting to be picked up every other weekend.

I used to get angry with my mom as she would never bad mouth my father, but I was most angered by the fact that she wouldn't let me. Time passed and I grew up. Life went on and it would be five and six years in between phone calls, followed by an uncomfortable visit.

Somewhere along the line, he found religion and decided he needed to make an appearance. So when I was 16-years-old, he started calling and sharing Jesus with me. To put it mildly, I told him that I didn't need God, he was the one that needed Him. After all, he is the one who left his kids. Besides, he had a new wife and new kids, so why in the... was he all of a sudden concerned with my eternal security--he didn't even know me!

Over time, we would talk here and there, with only months passing instead of years. During one of his visits, he took Art and me out to dinner. Again, the preaching started, it was quite embarrassing to say the least. And at the same time, there was something about what he was saying that made me desire this Jesus. However, in my stubbornness and my "I can take care of myself" attitude, I was not ready to give in. Nevertheless, I wanted him to stop talking about God, so I decided to accept his invitation to invite Jesus into my life--but only to shut him up.

He was happy, I was happy and Art didn't know what to think! Naturally, nothing changed. I left that restaurant the same person who walked in. My prayer was not sincere and I walked into many years of hardship and consequence thanks to my attitude.

From this point on, I avoided as many of my father's phone calls as possible. All he ever wanted to talk about was God--he was always hiding behind God. I finally told him that he needed to quit hiding behind God and let me see him! At that point, I learned from his perspective, that he didn't feel like he was hiding behind God--but rather avoiding his shame. He thought that by talking about God, I would just accept him. He learned otherwise.

I married Art when I was 18 years old. My father was the last to know. He was always the last to know-if he knew anything at all. He still didn't matter all that much to me.

It was during my pregnancy with our first child that strange things started happening in my heart and mind. I found myself crying a lot and feeling ashamed of the many things I had done. The day that I heard my daughter's heartbeat for the very first time, was the day that broke me. I could hear God's voice within my heart saying "Remember that day in the restaurant? You may not have meant it, but I have never forgotten it. Now is the time, Teresa. Quit running."

I think that was the first time I had ever cried a tear specifically for my father. I was 20-years old. I still wasn't ready to deal with him, but over time, God worked in me. As I began to see my own sin, I was able to understand that my father had issues of his own.

At 32-years of age I finally forgave him. It has been eight years since that day, and we have an incredible relationship. He knows what kind of books I like to read, what kind of music I like; he knows about my life. He lives far away, so we don't see each other very often, but we talk at least five times a month.

About three month's ago, something devastating happened; without a thought, I pulled out my cell phone and called my dad. He was my first phone call. After we finished our conversation, I sat in awe and wonder of the incredible grace and mercy of my Heavenly Father.

A few weeks back, I received a phone call that my son was in a dirt-bike accident. Again, without a thought, I called my dad.

He has become my friend, my prayer partner and my Bible answer-man.

Forgiveness is the key; but it can't be done without the help of God. I learned that as long as there is breath, it is never too late to build a relationship. What my dad and me concluded was that he could not make up for lost time and I should not expect him to.

In this, we found common ground and hope for an incredible adventure and he is no longer my "father" he is my daddy and it was my mom's attitude that gave me the freedom to build.

These days, Father's Day means everything to me.

(c)Teresa Ortiz

Roller Derby, Taco Bell, and Rumors

2008-08-09T18:25:00.000-07:00

As we walked through the doors, we knew we were in another time and place, though not sure which one. Forget about Greek Mythology, there is no myth about it, for there she was right in front of me, the one and only--Medusa. The snakes in her hair left a lot to be desired, but rest assured it was she. The noise, that strange noise, in an instant it took control and our bodies began to move, the walk became a strut and every few seconds a streak of light flew right past us brightening the path.

Coming our way was King Andromeda. Cleary he was the Great-Great Grandson of Darth Vader, who exchanged the boring glow stick for a ray gun with flashing lights and noises designed to confuse and distract the enemy.

The crowd-they were a fine mix of Hippy, Goth, Cowboy, and the unusual, like me. Nevertheless, none of us felt out of place or unwelcomed. We were in a sense family-drawn together for a common purpose.

The Purpose?

To witness "The Track Town-Smack Down – Roller Derby Double Header". Put on by the Emerald City Roller Girls.

As we took our seats, the skaters were warming up. This arena was much different from that of the Thunder Birds from the late 70's-no ramped--rink with bars. Bummer, I don't get to see skaters pushed over the side of the bars. Instead, it was a flat surface with painted lines.

B-o-r-i-n-g.

Once the first bout was underway, I was happy to see that watching skaters slide across the floor and into the crowd was just as exciting as watching them fly over the bars!

Another one bites the dust… and another one's gone, and another one's gone…

"Go get her, Bullet Brains! No mercy--push her out of the way...Tuck your body, get your feet closer together.."

Oh, um, forgive me, just a little bit of my evil twin coming out. Scratch that from the record.

Watching these girls battle it out was so much fun and we plan to go back. This time with our war paint and suitable attire, no boring jeans and t-shirt for this roller derby fan.

However, this is not the real story I wanted to tell. I really just wanted to tell you about our trip after we left the derby.

My husband and daughter were hungry so we drove through Taco Bell.

"What should I get?" asks Art.

"Crunchy Tacos", I say.

"I'll take two bean and cheese burritos with no onions and five frenchy tacos please."

Brittany and I could not stop laughing. Art was so embarrassed! When the girl came back on the intercom, she was trying hard not to laugh. She asked him to repeat his order. He repeats the order and then adds:

"They are still laughing at me."

At this, she could not contain her laughter. We didn't think anything of it. That is until we pulled up to the window.

She explained to Art that she was laughing even harder because the customer who was at the window while Art said we were still laughing at him, thought he said something else. After a moment of prodding, she said that the customer made a strange face and said,

"Did he just ask you for a lap-dance please?"

Oh my Gosh! We couldn't believe it. I think she welcomed the break in what was turning out to be a long night for her.

Can you imagine?

"I'll take five frenchy tacos and a lap dance, please."

This is how rumors get started.

© Teresa Ortiz

The Lakers, Jack Nicholson and My Daughter: Is This Normal?

2008-08-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

It's 7:30pm and for the next two and a half hours nothing else matters. Nobody speaks a word. After all, it's their time.

There she is standing in front of the screen. She says a prayer, wave's hello, and blows kisses and words of encouragement to her boys. She has her pillow close and her dog is forced to leave the room and chooses not to return until it is safe to do so.

My daughter is obsessed with the Lakers. She has been since she was in the forth grade when she started playing the game. She knows everything there is to know about them-from their individual families to their failures and successes. I suppose this is normal for a fan of any sort - right down to her Kobe Bryant Christmas tree ornament that she once had. You see, her dog ate it the first chance she had. Accident? I think not.

I have never seen someone get so much exercise while watching a basketball game! I get tired watching her. In fact, I think I get more entertainment watching her than I do the game…

She starts out calm, sitting on the couch, squeezing her pillow while her beloved dog-Roxie, sits next to her. Then it changes, She let's out the first scream, jumps off of the couch and throws Roxie across the room. I think to myself, here we go again…

"I love you honey," she says as she blows another kiss to the boys. By the way, don't tell her that they can't actually see or hear her - not if you want to live to see another day.

"Hi Jack, it's good to see you again!"

By the 2nd quarter, she has gone from the couch to the floor, to standing right in front of the T.V. to screaming into her pillow, to praying again. I wish I could say I am exaggerating, but I would be lying.

"Really Jack? Is that the best you can do? Trade me seats, I'll show you how to be a fan!"

There are many other things she says and does, but I wouldn't want to tarnish the sweet little couldn't hurt a fly - image of my baby girl.

It's now the 3rd quarter and she has been texting and calling everyone she knows to talk about this play and that play. She is talking so loud - screaming really, that you can't hear the announcers. However, it's okay, as long as she is doing the talking, the rest of us are free from the wrath of Brittany.

The 4th quarter begins and she cannot sit at all. She stands the entire time, waving her arms and taking the shots with them! If it is a close game, she will do jumping jacks and run in circles without stopping. By now, her throat is horse and it's difficult not to feel sorry for her. I mean wow; she has been through a lot! But there is the part of you that begins to pray that they win because if they lose, anyone in the same room with her is in danger. On the other hand, if they win, you could probably get away with asking her to do the laundry, wash the car and go grocery shopping and she would graciously oblige.

One of these days I have got to record her. I think if the team saw this girl in action, she would have a front row seat and to her, it would be Heaven on Earth.

So why am I sharing this with you? I am desperate and I know not where to turn.

My husband is beginning to show signs of this disease and I need to know; is this contagious?

More importantly, is this normal?

© Teresa Ortiz

Stupid Machines, Thoughts and Heaven's Front Row

2008-08-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make. I have issues with fax machines. Everyone in my office knows this is true. It's quite comical, actually. It takes three to four times for one fax to go through. I am convinced the fax machine hates me! I mean really, I type the numbers in correctly each time-I never make a mistake and if the number turns out to be wrong, it is because the machine refuses to accept what I type in….stupid machine.

However, last week was tops; for the first time I began to think that maybe, just maybe, I might have to share some responsibility in how this machine was responding to my request.

What I am about to share is quite personal and puts me in a very vulnerable position and I would hope that you would refrain from doing what the average human being would do…

Just like every other time, I walked over to the machine, put my forms in and began to type in the numbers… What is the deal, stupid machine, the keys must be stuck…wait a few seconds and try again…. I was just about to call out to someone to share my frustration with the stupid fax machine when suddenly the machine miraculously begins to shout, "You stupid, stupid girl, I am the copy machine!"

You can imagine how embarrassed I was. Did anyone see me? I can play it off and no one will be the wiser…No, I didn't have it in me. This is just too good to keep to myself. After all, the girls in the office have come to expect such behavior from me and who am I to disappoint?

~~~~~

Unfortunately, for me, this story is true. Nevertheless, I hope it serves as a practical lesson on how most of us think when we find ourselves in any kind of confrontation. Consider your last tiff--what was your first thought? Were you quick to accept responsibility? In all honesty, we tend to spend more time defending our position than we do in listening to the other party's point of view. Why is this? I believe it comes from our desire to be right. It somehow makes us feel important and strong.

There is no greater example of the "I'm right and your wrong" attitude than in the Christian community. All we have to do is look at the countless denominations within the Christian church to know it's true. They fight about who has it right, why their particular denomination has it better, and they act as if they believe that they will get to sit in the front row in heaven. In many cases, Jesus is left out of the equation completely. It has become a fight for religion instead of helping others to build a relationship with God.

When people ask me what religion I am, I respond with, I am not a religious person. It usually throws them for a loop. I explain that I am a Christian. Christianity in the biblical sense of the word has nothing to do with religion at all. (At least not man-made.) It is a way of life. It is exchanging my life for a life with God.

The name Christian was given by people who did not follow Christ, but noticed that those who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, actually followed him and their changed lives were evidence of that profession. The name stuck and is recorded in the Bible just three times (Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16.)

Most often, those who surrendered their lives to God by trusting in Jesus for salvation were simply called, Believers.

So why did it all change? Sadly enough, the answer is quite simple. It started with the Catholic Church becoming the first self-proclaimed one true church. It set up rules and teachings that were never taught in the Bible. The word of God was spread throughout the regions by way of letter and as we slow down and read the little words, we see that they were always addressed to the church in such and such a place, not the church of such and such a place.

Though man made it necessary to split over important biblical doctrines of Christianity, we have really gone off the deep end. Churches split over stupid reasons that have nothing to do with salvation and living a godly life. "You have to wear a dress to church." You can't smoke." "You have to be baptized in our church or it doesn't count." etc..

Paul says it well in the letter to the church in Colossi:

"So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head [Jesus], from whom the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that comes from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations-Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, which all perish with the using-according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom and self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh." Colossians 2:16-23

Need I say more? So while we are fighting amongst ourselves over religious do's and do not's, the world is sitting back saying, "I want no part of that".

There will be no pew reserved for the Pentecostal, nor the Baptist, nor the Catholic, or any other for that matter. The only pews reserved in heaven are for those who are followers of Christ, those who have made Jesus their Lord, not a man made denomination. After all, what we claim is who we are. If I claim to be a Baptist, then I am putting myself under the flaws of the Baptist name. The Bible says there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved, then the name of Jesus the Christ. This is with whom I identify myself.

Why do you believe as you do? Do you stand for something you have never researched for yourself? Are you willing to change your thought if the bible told you otherwise? These are important questions. Yet, if we are going to be professing faith in Christ, we must have a heart for his word and not be sold out to our denomination just because it's a family tradition.

We have left the simplicity of a relationship with Christ and replaced it with self-imposed religion. Isn't this why Jesus rebuked the Pharisees? The church has become nothing more than an ineffective modern day Pharisee.

However, we do have a model for true biblical religion; this should be our aim as Believers:

"If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." James 1:26-27

What a novel idea! Can you imagine how life would be if we did more practicing than preaching?

If our hearts were truly in the right place, we would take the time to learn from one another and perhaps give up our front row pew for the sake of another. God help us.

~~~~~

Stupid Machines.

© Teresa Ortiz

Let's Not Forget Mary, The Mother of Jesus

2008-05-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

Of all the wonderful mommies that have come and gone, I can't help but think about Mary, the mother of Jesus. What was so special about her? Why would God the Father choose her? And how can her mothering skills help me today?

These questions have been on my mind for the last few days. So much has been said about Mary and she has been made out to be someone whom the Father never intended her to be--nor is she. As a result, many, including myself have gone to the other extreme and have said she is no one special. God only needed one woman, and He just happened to pick her. In my opinion, neither position is a biblical one.

I decided to go back to the Scriptures to refresh my memory. What a blessing it is to be reminded of the reason God chose her and what a treasure I found in looking to her example.

Mary is only mentioned a handful of times in the Bible. What can we learn in a few examples? Quite a bit as it turns out--most of the lessons coming from a portion of her prayer as recorded in Luke 1:46-48. This she prayed after being told by the angel that she will give birth to the Messiah:

"And Mary said:

My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has
rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has
regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed."

Mary was a woman who had a relationship with God the Father. She understood that she was a sinner in need of a Savior and was a woman of worship. We also see that she was a humble woman and was blessed by the fact that God noticed her. Finally, we see that she recognized the amazing privilege that God had bestowed upon her and knew that she would go down in history as a blessed woman.

After the Child was born, Mary and Joseph acknowledged this Child as a gift and dedicated Him to the Father.

" Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the LORD." Luke 2:22

Mary knew when it was time to let Him be a man; The Man that she knew He was:

"And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, 'they have no wine.' Jesus said to her, 'Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servants, 'Whatever He says to you, do it" John 2:3-4

Jesus calls his mother "woman" on more than one occasion. The last reference to her is recorded in John 19:26-27:

"Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, 'Woman, behold your son!' Then He said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour that disciple took her to his home."

I gotta tell you, if that was me, I would have said, so this is the thanks I get for being your mom? After all the diapers I changed, after all the boo-boos I kissed, and after chasing you all around Jerusalem, you are just going to give me to someone else? Thanks a lot sonny-boy! Okay, so now we know why I wasn't picked to be the Mother of Jesus. Although she was only human so maybe...

I just can't imagine what a gift it was to raise the Messiah, the Savior of the world!!

From Mary, I have learned to be humble, to offer my children to God and to know that there will come a day when they are adults and they will need to find their own calling in life. (I have also learned that at some point, my kids will throw me in a nursing home.)

However, the most valuable lesson comes from what Mary told the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." As a mother who followed God, she led others to her Son. My desire is that I would do the same.

So while God makes it clear that we are not worship her or glorify her (Isaiah 42:8), He does tell us to honor her. And so I do.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies in the whole wide world!

(C) Teresa Ortiz

I Don't Want to do my Taxes So I'm Writing An Article Instead

2008-04-16T06:43:00.000-07:00

Happy day after tax day! I trust all is well with you as you walk with Jesus.

This was me a few days ago~~~

All week long I have been looking at my pile of mass destruction. Tonight I am starting my taxes. So what if I have been telling everyone I come in contact with this same thing for the last three weeks? Well, this isn't entirely true, I have been saying this since February 14, 2008.

However, tonight is different. As soon as I am done with this article, which as I type, I'm still not sure is about, I'll get right on it. I promise. But first, I'll need to do some laundry so that I have clean clothes for tomorrow... and the dogs do need a bath. Why should they have to go to bed feeling dingy just because I have taxes to do?

The truth of the matter is, there is a very good reason I don't want to do them and that is because it brings back the painful memory of how February 15th unfolded.

It truly was the day I was going to start my taxes. Instead, It was one of those days when your whole world as you know it comes to a screeching halt and nothing else matters....

What do you do when someone you love hurts someone you love?

This has been life's lesson for my husband and me. Will we pass this test? Will we practice what we preach? Will we extend our hand of unconditional love and forgiveness? By the grace of God, we did. NO, it wasn't easy. The process is down right torturous, but one that brought about deeper love, patience and understanding for the one who betrayed the other. I am sure there are many who have been where we have just come from, or maybe you are in this situation now and are finding that anger and hatred are taking over.

(I share my thoughts for two reasons. One, I really do need to get this out of my system so I can do my taxes, and two, it is my hope and prayer that our experience will help others.)

Upon hearing the news, we cried in disbelief, then proceeded to get angry. Betrayal in my opinion, is an act of terror to the soul of the betrayed. Watching the one who has been hurt come to the realization that they have been manipulated and lied to while being smiled at is a pain that cannot be described. It can only be understood by one who has experienced it first hand.

As we had time to digest this new information, it became clear that the betrayer had some very real problems that needed to be addressed. As Christians, we could not turn our backs on this person; we needed to reach out with the love of God--the unconditional love that we ourselves continuously receive. Every one of us has secret hurts--things that we bury deep within our hearts which inevitably shape our behaviors. Understanding our own sin and secret hurts allowed us to embrace with a heart of love in spite of our flesh, which was screaming something different.

During this same time, we were able to be thankful that God allowed these things to be revealed at just the right time. And though it was the worst few weeks emotionally, it turned out to be the best thing that could have ever happened. Our family is stronger, our hearts are healing and we are excited about the plans that God has in store for everyone involved.

Love is a decision. I won't lie, sometimes the anger creeps in and my thoughts go places they need not be: How dare he do this to my family, what a jerk, etc. Then I remember how God had mercy on me when I was in my sinful state.
Forgive me Father. Heal his heart, make him whole, change his behavior and give him a brand new start.

Some might ask, "What of the one who was hurt, don't their feelings count?" The answer is yes, absolutely! Because we have been able to forgive the one, we have been able to minister more effectively to the other. Why? Because we are not adding insult to injury by trash talking the one they care deeply for. Instead, we are able to comfort and encourage with a sincere heart and our prayers are not hindered by unforgiveness and anger.

This is a reminder that God is faithful and the only one who will not disappoint. The lesson here is never put someone on a pedestal because of outward appearances and remember to pray for ourselves and our loved ones because temptation comes in many forms. Above all, love on purpose.

As I wrote in the beginning, I am going to do laundry and give the dogs a bath.

Sweet dreams Uncle Sam. ~~~

Be blessed as you walk with Jesus

Positive Thinking: A Habit Worth Developing

2008-04-08T06:27:00.000-07:00

Finally my Brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

What was the first thought that came to your mind this morning? Was it the cares of the day or was it a thought of thanks for another opportunity to breathe?

Most of us will agree that the first thought we have in the morning can set the pace for the day ahead and will determine the attitude that we will have until we lay our heads down to rest for the night.

I readily admit there are times when thinking positive is easier said than done. I have had my share of hard times and it does take effort to think of the good things in life.

So what are some practical steps that we can take to make thinking positive an everyday occurrence?

The Apostle Paul gives us a simple solution. In keeping with the context of the passage noted above, Paul encourages the believers in Philippi not to be anxious about anything, but rather, with prayer and the honest cry of their heart, make their requests known to God. In verse seven, he goes on to explain the benefit of doing this--"And the peace (Shalom) of God, which passes all human understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

We can see that the first step in the ability to think of the good things first, is to lay our concerns out before God. Secondly, we see that the peace of God will fill our hearts and minds. After these things, Paul says, "Finally my brethren…"

It would seem that when we have peace in our heart, it is much easier to think of the good things in life. However, for someone who has made it a habit of thinking of the negative things life has brought his or her way, this could be a difficult task.

To break the cycle of negative thinking, it will take effort and practice; it would have to be done on purpose. In fact, this is a habit worth developing! We would all do well to master this way of thinking! Not only will the people around us be at ease, we will be a much healthier and happier person for it. I believe this is one of God's best intentions for us.

Could you use a starting point? Make a list of the little things; the socks that keep your feet warm; the shoes you have to walk in and the bed you have to sleep in. etc. Then move on to the bigger things, like the times when God, your family or a friend came through for you.

Father, thank you for all the great things you do for us; you take care of the smallest details and we are so thankful for that. Help us to smile more and worry less. You have never failed us and you never will. Help us to begin our day with a positive thought so that we will have joyful hearts that will pour out over those around us. And all who agree, say amen.

(C) Teresa Ortiz

Miscommunication Can Bring a Mother to Tears

2008-03-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago, my daughter went to Hawaii to visit a childhood friend. It was tough as I left her at the airport. This was the first time she was flying alone.

She had made all of the arrangements. I was so proud of her, she didn't ask for my help in any part of the process. The only information she gave me was that she was leaving on a Wednesday and coming home the following Tuesday.

Easy enough.

It was a long week for me as this was the first time she had gone out of the state without parental supervision. She would check in occasionally with a text to comfort my heart...

"Mom, I jst jmped off a cliff! It was awsme, I lve u"

"u what? I'm so happy u r hving fun"

In my opinion I would have been much happier if she would have said something like,

" Mom, just lazing around on the beach reading a book. Having the time of my life!"

Now that's a comforting text!

It's Monday night and I send her a little text confirming the time of her arrival...

" What time does your plane land?"

"7 am. So sorry, thanks mom."

" No prob, see you then. Lve u"

I was pretty proud at how my texting capabilities had improved over the past week.

(You must know that the reason she said sorry in regards to the time of her arrival is because I had to get up at 3:30 in the morning to get to the airport on time.)

My niece was kind enough to make the drive with me, so off we went. This is where the real story begins.

The flight was delayed just a bit. We waited anxiously to see her and hear all about the trip.

Finally! 7:25 am--passengers are coming into the terminal. Each of them looking nice and tan with big smiles on their faces. One by one, they passed by. Where is Britt?

"Michelle, we must have missed her, let's go to the baggage claim area"

7:45 am.

No sign of Brittany, no unclaimed bags, and no text. We called her only to get her voice mail.

Can I just say how incredibly angry I was when the woman at the front desk would not check the passenger list?

"If she isn't a minor, we cannot give you any information."

This is never the right thing to say to a mother!

8:15 am.

Okay, Lord, don't let me freak out here. Maybe she decided to stay another day. But why didn't she call me?

My heart is now beating fast and I am extremely frustrated.

"Michelle, give me your phone!" I must have dialed ten times and finally...

"H-e-l-l-o"

"Where are you!"

"I'm sleeping, why are you yelling at me?"

"I'm not yelling at you! I'm worried!"

" Why?"

"We are at the airport waiting for you!"

"O my gosh mom, I don't get in til tomorrow morning"

I could hardly talk through my tears.

"You told me you came home Tuesday."

"Mom, I leave for home Tuesday night, but my plane lands Wednesday morning."

"Go back to sleep hon, I'll see you in the morning."

As a parent, I am sure you can just imagine how many unspoken thoughts went through my head. Do you want to know the best part? I had to do it all over again the next morning! I must love getting up early in the morning and going on five hour round-trip drives. My husband and son just laughed and said I had another Lucy moment. ( I have these a lot.)

It's Wednesday night all is calm, Britt is home. My son is getting ready to go to bed. After he gives his dad a hug, he looks at me. He just couldn't resist:

"Hey mom."

"Hey what?"

"Don't go to the airport in the morning, Britt's home." "Thanks J."

"Britt, I don't care if you are fifty, If I am responsible for picking you up, I get a copy of the itinerary!"

" Yes, mom."

And so concludes another ordinary day in the Ortiz household. Thanks for reading.

(C) Teresa Ortiz

A Portrait of the Cross

2008-03-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

The words written so long ago by the Psalmist ring loud and clear this morning as we are given a glimpse of the future--which is now history. Words spoken by the Psalmist by the power of the Holy Spirit; how would he know to utter these words? Did he even understand what they meant? Did he know he was quoting the very words of Jesus and the crowds that would mock Him?

I invite you to take a little journey with me through Psalm 22 as we see a portrait of the cross.

The prophetic words, "My God my God, why have You forsaken Me?" Psalm 22:1, would be spoken by Jesus while he was on the cross in Mark 15:34.

"All those who see Me laugh Me to scorn; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 'He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him since he delights in Him?" Psalm 22:7-8, spoken--no shouted with distain in Matthew 27:43-44.

"...They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." Psalm 22:16-18, would be fulfilled in John 19:37.

It blows my mind to think that before time began God had a plan to redeem His creation. And Jesus, who would be obedient to leave heaven's throne to come and pay the price for you and I knowing some would reject Him with such hatred; wow. I have no words. But Crystal Lewis and Brian Ray say it well:

Remember

He's the man who'd bleed for me
not making a sound or cry
He suffered as a guilty man
His innocence was the crime
while others said come down and save yourself
He was saving my life

Remember, I will remember
what He did for me
Remember, I will remember
how He died for me

Early Sunday morning came
the stone had been rolled away
they stepped inside the empty grave
alone in dismay
they were thinking he was gone
they were not believing
death of the lamb did bring
forgiveness and healing
why do you seek Him here among the dead?
He is risen!

Remember, I will remember
what He did for me
remember, I will remember
how He died for me

I know it's You who lives inside of me
I know it's true the peace of mind you bring to me
Your sacrifice had now set me free... I will always...

Remember, I will remember
what He did for me
remember, I will remember
how he died for me

(C) Crystal Lewis, Brian Ray

What else can I say? Lord bless you and keep you and may He make His face to shine upon you and give you peace.

Love in Jesus. From my heart to yours, Happy Resurrection weekend!

(C) Teresa Ortiz

A Dedication to Jesus: All who Agree, Say Amen

2008-03-18T03:47:00.000-07:00

This morning as I consider the week my Lord Jesus had so long ago, I can't help but fall deeper in love with my heavenly Father. My all time favorite musical artist is Crystal Lewis. She seems to write the sentiments of my heart.

Today, I dedicate this song to my Savior and friend, Jesus.

Lord, I Believe in You

Though I can't see Your holy face
And Your throne in heaven above
It seems so far away
Though I cant touch your nail scarred hands
I have a deep and unspeakable joy
That makes my faith to stand
Lord, I believe in You
I'll always believe in You
Though I cant see you with my eyes
Deep in my heart
Your presence I find

Lord, I believe in You
And I'll keep my trust in You
Let the whole world say what they may
No one can take this joy away
Lord, I believe

Born from above
You are Gods only chosen one
You're the one and only true way
To the Fathers heart
You died for all sin
Then you rose and now live again
Conquering death and the grave
So that I might live

Lord, I believe in You
I'll always believe in You
Though I cant see you with my eyes
Deep in my heart Your presence I find
Lord, I believe in You
And I'll keep my trust in You
Let the whole world say what they may
No one can take this joy away

Lord, I believe

Crystal Lewis

Heavenly Father, thank you for your love, your grace, and your mercy. Without it, I know where I would be and nothing anyone could ever say will change my mind. You have proven yourself faithful over and over again and you did not have to. You are my God, my King, My Savior, my Friend. And now Lord, I pray you reveal yourself to all who have not seen you face to face. I love you with all that is in within me. In the name of Your most precious Son, Jesus.

Friends are God's Bouquet of Roses to His Children

2008-03-05T05:54:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, I heard phrases like, “Every rose has its thorn” or “Life is a bowl of cherries but to bad it has the pits”

These people are weird, I would think.

“With age comes wisdom” was another one that used to get on my nerves. However, I must confess, I, like most others learned that these and many other sayings were birthed out of life experiences.

Some people say I think too much (I am not sure, but it must have something to do with the pile of mush that sits underneath my skull—I like to consider it a brain.)

What was I saying again? O yeah, now I remember.

There has been a passage of Scripture floating around in my mind for the last several weeks. Yesterday, a special gift was given to my daughter; one so precious, it brought this passage to life.

“…to care for those who mourn in Zion, to give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of a languid spirit” (Isaiah 61: 2-3 The Message)

My daughter’s favorite flower is the white rose. For her, it represents all that is pure and beautiful as it pertains to love. As a soon to be 20-year-old young woman, she is experiencing some pretty thick and nasty thorns. What is a mom to do? She prays hard, hugs much, and cries for her child. Yet, she knows her daughter is strong and full of faith and will rise a refined and an amazing woman.

What was I saying again? O yeah, now I remember.

There is an art show in town (a dangerous thing for my daughter) needless to say she bought this beautiful black and white painting of Venice. While we were there, she spotted an exceptional painting of a single white rose in full bloom, complete with three-rain drops. I saw the look on her face, “Okay Britt, but what about Hawaii?” “Yeah, you’re right.

If I had the money, I would have bought it on the spot. For now, it just had to be one of those things she enjoyed for a moment.

While I was still at her apartment, her roommate showed up with this painting! I could not believe it!

“Happy Birthday, friend!” Janae yells, as she is walking into the bedroom. (Just in case you are wondering, Britt’s birthday is not until August!)

This brings me back to Isaiah 61:2-3. God is faithful to give us what we need when we need it. For Britt, it was not the gift of the painting (well, maybe a little), but it was the gift of a friend who loved her and recognized a need of something extra special.

It may be true that every rose has its thorn, but thanks be to God that amidst the thorns, He gives us a continuous bouquet of roses.

If my thinking is correct, the thorn is the human side of us that shrieks its ugly head, but the rose is the human side of us that has the ability to offer selfless and sometimes sacrificial acts of love and God’s blessing to us is a friend who can pick up the slack of another who has brought pain.

However, this is just what I think.

© Teresa Ortiz

The Ant and the Contact Lense

2008-02-28T21:41:00.000-08:00

The following story was sent to me via e-mail. It was so encouraging to me, I wanted to share it with you.

I don't know who Brenda is,but it is apparent she wanted it her story shared. Thank you Brenda!

The Ant and the Contact Lens: a true story

Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking a breather during this, her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens .

"Great", she thought. "Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of fe et from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry." She looked and looked, hoping that somehow it had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there. She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm, and she prayed that she may find her contact lens.

When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains. She thought of the bible verse "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is.

Please help me."

Later, when they had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff, they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?" Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying it! The story doesn't end there.

Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You."

I think it would do all of us some good to say, "God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will."

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called! Yes, I do love GOD. He is my source of existence and my Savior.

He keeps me functioning each and every day Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him....I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

I pray this brings you new strength for your day!

The Fern and the Bamboo: A Story of Hope

2008-02-27T07:17:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have those days when you know you are in need of a special something? You are not sure what it is, but when "it" comes your way, you know it is exactly what you needed?

Well, this is what happened to me yesterday. A friend sent me the following story by e-mail. I wanted to pass it on to you, just in case you needed it too.

The Fern and the Bamboo – Author Unknown

One day I decided to quit.

I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. I wanted to quit my life.

I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. "God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me...

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?" "Yes", I replied. "When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I also took care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water.

The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Nothing came from the bamboo seed, yet, I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo".

He said. "In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. However, I did not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. Nevertheless, I would not quit.

He said. "Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant.

Just 6 months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent those five years growing roots.

Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle." He said to me.

"Did you know, My child, that all this time, you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?""I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."

"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo has a different purpose than the fern, yet they both make the forest beautiful." "Your time will come," God said to me. "You will rise high!"

"How high should I rise?" I asked. "How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return. "As high as it can?" I questioned. "Yes."

He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can." I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you. Never regret a day in your life. Good days give you happiness. Bad days give you experiences. Both are essential to life.

Keep going. Happiness keeps you sweet, trials keep you strong, sorrows keep you human. Failures keep you humble. Success keeps you glowing. But, only God keeps you going!

God is so big He can cover the whole world with his love, and so small, He can curl up inside your heart.

Have a great day, the Son is shinning!

I hope you have been as blessed as I was. Have a wonderful day – God Bless you a whole big bunch!

Practical Advice for a Married Woman

2008-02-21T15:08:00.000-08:00

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine... the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed" Titus 2:1,3-5

For some women this Scripture sounds ridiculous - I remember when I first came to know the Lord, someone told me that I should obey my husband no matter what. Well, my response did not put me in the category described above. But as I saw God's design and His plan, I came to realize that God gave women - in this case, married women, a very special privilege and responsibility.

We have an incredible amount of power as we can make or break our marriage with mere words.
The last sentence in this verse says, "That the word of God may not be blasphemed."

This means that our words carry a tremendous amount of weight. We should not be spending our time gossiping and tearing other women down. We should be spending our time looking for opportunities to encourage one another, especially younger women. If we claim to be Christians, our hearts should be in tune with the Lord's. We should walk humbly before him, lifting up our husbands for the tough responsibilities they have and we should be an example to the younger women who are watching us.

I hear a lot of women ridicule their husbands and it is heartbreaking. How we talk about our husbands will make or break our homes. The more we share the "lessor" qualities of our husbands, the more we will be discontent,and pretty soon, we can talk ourselves into just about anything; our "Prince Charming" has suddenly become "A good for nothing ______."

I speak from experience, do not be deceived by the devil. Do not give him a foothold into your marriage. He is the great deceiver - very cunning and subtle, sometimes you don't even realize you are a pawn in his nasty little game. It brings him great pleasure when he succeeds in destroying a marriage.

This verse is so practical - every part of God's word to us is. Whether Christian or not, adopting new attitudes and sharing the greater qualities of our husbands will resolve a lot of petty problems in our relationships and will help to stop serious issues from developing.

And most importantly, our marriage will not grow cold and we will be using our power in a positive way and maybe - just maybe, we will be a light for a struggling marriage.

(c) Teresa Ortiz

A Love Letter from God to His Far Away Child

2008-02-15T06:21:00.000-08:00

My beloved child,

I am writing this letter because my knocks on the door of your heart have gone unanswered.

I miss our time together and I long to hold you in my arms once again. I know you have your reasons for leaving me behind, but as I tried to tell you so many times, I was not the cause of the things that happened to you. You live in a fallen world, and many have chosen the way of sin which leads to a life that will have its struggles. However, I am here for you and if you had stuck by me, things would not have gotten out of control.

Nevertheless, I understand and I am l here, waiting with open arms. In fact, I would run to you if I saw you coming back.

I still love you and no matter how far you've gone, I am willing and able to bring you back. It only takes a simple call. No matter how quiet your whisper, I can hear you - actually, you do not even need to speak, I can read your thoughts.

I am jealous for you - you have turned to false gods; customs, people and things that promise healing but in reality are causing you more harm, eternal harm. I can see it; I know the beginning from the end. Please come back, I will not condemn you or say, "I told you so".

I love you with an everlasting love. My heart rejoices when I think of you. I have such great plans for you, I bid you come - seek me with your whole heart, I promise to meet with you and reveal the great plans I have for you. My heart breaks because you are missing out on the best. What more do I need to do to prove my love? I died so that you may have an abundant life. Don't merely "survive", come home.

I have so much more to share with you, but I will close for now. Please, do not throw this letter away, I am still standing outside - will you open the door? I just want a few minutes of your time. Then then you can decide if you want me to stay or leave you alone, I will respect your choice.

Your forever love,

Jesus

The Lord put this on my heart a few days ago; I have not been able to shake the thought. I believe the Lord is calling you back-you hear him and you may have even shed a tear. Please, do not tune Him out. I dedicate this song to God; I share it with you, it is my life's anthem.

When God ran

Almighty God, the Great I Am,
Immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful,
Awesome Lord – victorious Warrior, commanding
King of Kings, Mighty conqueror, and the only time,
The only time I ever saw Him run,
Was when He ran to me, took me in His arms,
Held my head to His chest-
Said, "My son's come home again"
He lifted my face, wiped those tears from my eyes,
With forgiveness in His voice, He said,
Son, do you know I still love you?
He caught me by surprise, when God ran.
The day I left home, I know I'd broken His heart,
And I wondered if things could ever be the same,
Then one night I remembered His love for me,
And down that dusty road ahead I could see, It was the
Only time, the only time I ever saw Him run….
I saw Him run to me…. And then I ran to Him.

Benny Hester/John Parent 1986 Word Music, Inc/ASCAP

I'm praying for you – Jeremiah 29:11-14

Making the World a Better Place is a Daily Devotion

2008-02-13T18:42:00.000-08:00

In our fast paced society, we feel the need to be busy, busy, busy. "Keep up with the Jones'."

(Who are the Jones' anyway?)

Society tells us to look out for number one - no one else will. I admit, I fall into this trap on occasion.

Make more money, buy a bigger house, drive the "right" car. All of this so that we will look and feel important.

The problem is while we are busy trying to be important, the world around us is falling apart. (The world being our families.)

Our children get our left overs because we have given our best to our employers - we set out to please them. We tell our children that the reason we work so hard is because we love them.

Society has told us that loving our children means giving them the best of things. Don't misunderstand, I am not saying all of these things are wrong. Nevertheless, if we are "providing" at the expense of our families, then something has to change.

When we stretch ourselves too thin, we get tired and grumpy and nobody wins.

Our children are our future and we have not been the best example. As a result, we live in a world that is filled with selfishness; get what you can while you can!

What is the solution? I suppose there are many, yet for me, I believe that God's way works best.

Instead of starting our day in a panic - thinking of all that needs to be done, take a moment. Spend some time with the Creator of the universe. After all, if He created the world in seven days, I think He is capable of handling our list of things to do.

It is with this in mind that I would like to share a daily devotional with you. It only takes a few minutes, but if we apply these simple truths, it will make a world of difference.

I want to be one that will slow down and help to make this world a better place. Won't you join me?

Psalm 67: 1-2 "O God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us. That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among the nations" NKJV

Sometimes the craziness of life can cause me to cry out "Lord, bless me!" However, in these times of desperation, my cry for blessing is hardly so that my life would reflect the ways of the Lord. It is because I am in need! For the moment, I am not worried about anything or anyone else.

This isn't altogether wrong, but why is it that we wait so long to cry out to the Lord? If we stay close to the Lord daily before things get out of hand, our cry for blessing will be for the purpose of expressing kindness, gentleness, selflessness and patience.

Stop and breathe. Everything will be waiting for us in just a few minutes. We will be doing ourselves and everyone around us a big favor by taking this time to reflect on the goodness of God.

Take time to thank Him for His hand of grace in your life.

Give your " list of things to do" to your heavenly Father. Ask Him, the Father of time, to work out the things of the day for His glory so that your attitude will be a reflection of His ways in your world.

Consider the day that lies ahead of you - then fill in the blanks.

Father, today I need:

Forgive me when I am in a state of selfish desperation.

Help me to make time for daily communion with you,

regardless of my hectic schedule.

I know when I share my heart with you,

my days of desperation are fewer and farther in between.

I desire to reflect the goodness of your character.

I desire to be a part of the solution

and reflect the beauty of how you intended this world to be!

In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

20oz Triple White Mocha or Jesus: What is your Sustaining Strength?

2008-02-10T16:13:00.001-08:00

I had been on my fourth 55-hour workweek. I had no time for anything. Everything was out of control. I was too tired to read and too tired to pray.

To be perfectly honest, I was a complete grump. (Some might call it something else - they wouldn't be wrong.)

I convinced myself that a 20oz Triple Shot White Mocha and my old Disco CD's were the answer. These were sure to give me the energy I needed. Ha! Nothing could have been further from the truth. In fact, it made things worse, as I became a wide-awake grump!

When I put God on the back burner (not consciously, of course), my spirit was in a state of famine and I was definitely not reflecting the attitude of Christ to anyone around me.

My children started to ask me why I was so mad all the time. My response (in a cool, cold sort of way) was, "I'm not mad, just tired". Unfortunately, this became the rule instead of the exception.

The Holy Spirit began to convict my heart and I had to face the sad fact that I wasn't exactly making it easy for my family to love me.

Once again, the Lord brought me back to His word: "Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And keep them alive in famine. Psalm 33:18-19

Oh Yeah, I almost forgot, His mercy that will sustain me and keep me alive during the busiest times of my life. (I just gotta say it, duh!) As usual, I sought His forgiveness and He restored my joy.

It's no surprise that my husband and children were happy. My children began to make comments like, "Wow mom, it's good to see you not so tired anymore." (Paraphrase for; thank God she's not a grouch!)

Of course, I jumped at the opportunity to share with them the power of putting God first. What a testimony to my children! I was still working the same amount of hours. Nevertheless, the Lord sustained me in my famine, and my soul was very much alive.

While it brings me great joy to say that those 55 hour workweeks are history, I must confess: I still listen to those old CD's on occasion and I dropped down to a 16oz single-shot white mocha.

Is there a difference? Yes, I do not count on them to get me through my day!

Father, thank you for gently bringing me back to the truth. I'm sorry for thinking that coffee could ever be my sustaining strength. Love in Jesus, Teresa

If you find yourself in this place, I encourage you to turn back to Jesus. Be blessed and be renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit today!

(C) Teresa Ortiz

2008-02-08T20:59:00.000-08:00

It was just another ordinary day - my son, Justin and I were sitting around talking about this and that.... "Mom, what would you say if I told you I wanted an eye piercing?" "Only losers and druggies have piercings!"

The words came out of my mouth so fast, I didn't even know I said them until I was done with my sentence - my heart was pumping and I was immediately in a bad mood. "I'm just kidding, don't freak out on me". "Don't joke about a thing like that."

There was an odd silence in the room; I don't know what his problem was, but he went into his room and closed the door rather loudly. " What was that all about", I thought to myself. Oh Well, I guess I'll turn on some music and start cleaning. To my shame, I never thought my actions through.

(O' Lord, why do you even put up with me?)

Three weeks later, my husband and are having breakfast, I know something is on his mind as there was that same odd silence I had experienced with my son. (Here it comes, though I never expected the "it" to be this!) "I know how you feel about piercings.... 'he isn't going to say it'... but

I talked with Justin and he really wants to have one." "You hurt his feelings when you told him only losers and druggies have piercings". "Well, it's true!" "Calm down, Teresa, what is the big deal - Justin is doing great in school, he has a job, he doesn't get into trouble, he is paying for his own dirt-bike... should I go on?"

I couldn't hold back the tears, "First he doesn't want to go to church anymore, and now this?" Then the real issue comes to surface; what will other people think!

My husband knew I was being irrational, so being the wise man that he is, he told me that he would leave me alone until I could be reasonable.

It's been said over and over that God works in mysterious ways, it is so true! During this time I was preparing for the women's conference I was to be speaking at in just 6 weeks. I had been praying about what stories I would be sharing. The topic was "Recovering from Doubt and Restoring Joy One Step at a Time". "You are so funny, Lord, isn't just like you to give me a new story".

As I cleaned the house, I whined to my Lord, trying to get Him to understand my point of view and to change my husband's rediculous way of thinking. "Teresa, my child, you know I love you and you know I love Justin, you have been preaching and teaching unconditional love and acceptance - Is this what you are doing"? "Yes, but this is different, this is my child."

All at once, the conviction and shame came flooding to my heart. ( Forgive me, Father for having this attitude. I know that no one is a loser in your eyes - you didn't give up on me.) I knew I was wrong. I knew I had to deal with this - going back to the very first conversation with my son.

"Justin, can we talk"? I told him I was sorry for being selfish and inconsiderate. I told him that I loved him and that I was being completely irrational. He forgave me, but not before he told me that I needed to practice what I preached. I deserved it.

With the appointment set, I had three weeks to align my heart with the decision I made in my head. I prayed and prayed that God would change my heart.

The hour had come. "Mom, are you okay, you don't have to come if you don't want to." "No way, I am coming and I am not upset at all. God has changed my heart." He didn't say another word, but at that moment, I became a mind reader: Okay, mom, but if you say anything....

I have to say, once I saw it, it actually looked cool; it wasn't this big bulky spike I expected to see. We went out to dinner and had a wonderful time. My "inside matched my outside", as I used to tell the preschool Sunday school class.

The days that followed were even more special. My son and I had become much closer as I showed him what unconditional love was all about. "You know mom, it's kinda ironic that you help me everday to clean and change my piercing everytime I have to go to work".

My son laughed when he heard me pray, "Lord, please don't let this get infected and help me get the little bally thingy in place, I can't see the hole". "Thanks, mom, I love you."

"Hey mom, so am I a loser and a druggie? " No son, you're not a loser or a druggie."

(C) Teresa Ortiz

My Son's 250 KTM: The Rest of the Story

2008-02-07T06:53:00.000-08:00

It was raining and 28 degrees outside when we left home for the motocross raceway.

"Man, this is going to be a messy race." My husband says, as we pull into the parking lot.

"Mom, do me a favor; go buy some cooking spray."

"Cooking spray?"

"It's to keep the mud from sticking to my bike"

"Oh, O.K."...

Everything is set up; the racers are primed and ready! The adrenaline is pumping through my son's veins; I can almost see it as he struggles to remain calm.

"Riders take your mark!"

It is dead silent as the racers line up, the tension is so thick, and you can cut it with a knife.

"Riders get set!"

I'm standing there shivering from the cold, unconsciously scratching my arms, thinking, let them go already!

It is time. The flag goes down! As they take off, the roar of all the engines pulse through my body.

It amazes me how 25 riders start in a single line and then in a matter of seconds, they each have to fight to squeeze into a track that is five feet wide. (It must be a guy thing.)

Forty seconds into the race and three riders are stuck in the first mud pit; "J" just misses the back tire of the rider who went down right in front of him. (My heart begins to beat a little faster and the temperature seems to go from 28 to 80 in a matter of seconds.)

"Go J," we yell, as he zooms by us, wait; is that J? Apparently, all of the boys decided to give themselves and their bikes a mud bath. They were indistinguishable some bikes even had branches sticking out of the motors.

What is going on in those wooded areas? So much for the cooking spray-oh well, it's not a complete waste, I can use it at home. I suppose it was a good idea...

An hour later, many of the racers had to drop out because their bikes were over-heating, and some just plain quit. We decided to run to the far end of the track to see if we could catch a glimpse of him coming out of the woods-which we did...

"Oh, no", my heart sank as I saw him stuck at least two-feet in the mud. I could see by his hunched posture that he was tired and angry. I watched helplessly as he tried to no-avail to lift his bike high enough to get under it and climb back on. He did this for at least ten minutes. I was impressed that he wasn't giving up.

However, it was clear that he was running out of energy. Suddenly, as if he were an angel, another rider came to his rescue and together, lifted his bike out of the mud. In an instant, I saw him stand straight up and jump on his bike! He gave a wave of thanks, spit mud in the air with his tire and he was off!

An hour and a half and 21-miles later, he pulls into the pit. He had finished his race! Between the cold, the rain and a track turned quick-sand, this endurance race lived up to its name. Once again, we are proud that our son chose to fight and not to give up. He climbed off his bike, sat (more like fell) on the ground with a smile that made us laugh.

The only thing you could make out on his mud-laden body was his pearly white teeth!

Of the many lessons one might glean from this story, one remains most valuable to me; as I scratched my arm while preparing dinner, it occurred to me that it might have been the rash after all.

Free from the Past: Encouragement for the Soul (3)

2008-01-29T15:00:00.000-08:00

Even though I know I have been forgiven and freed from my past, there are those times when the devil comes to whisper (more like shout) in my ear with a voice of condemnation that says, "Do you really think God would forgive you for all those things that you have done?"

During these times, I have a choice to make. I can give into his lies and begin to doubt God's love for me, or I can take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, stand firm and fight! I choose to fight.

If you find yourself in this place today, I pray with all of my heart that you will take a moment and do the same.

Free from the past:

"Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be-you get a fresh start, you're slates wiped clean. Count yourself lucky-God holds nothing against you and you're holding nothing back from him. When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans. The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up. Then I let it all out; I said, "I'll make a clean breast of things to GOD." Suddenly the pressure was gone-my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared. Psalm 32:1-5 (The message)

"For if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 ( NKJV)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away. Behold, all things become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

"There is therefore, now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2 (NKJV)

"...For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." Jeremiah 31:34 (NKJV)

"But let all those rejoice who trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them. Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, oh Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him with a shield." Psalm 5:11-12 (NKJV)

Heavenly Father,

You have promised us freedom from

guilt and shame.

From the moment we come to you

and confess, you choose to

forget our sin. We can't thank you enough.

Father, help us to recognize the voice

of the enemy so that we are not

brought to a place of doubt.

Teach us to fight as we put Your word

into our hearts so that we would believe

that we are free from our past.

In the name of Jesus, Amen

(C) 2008 Teresa Ortiz

My Son's 250 KTM: Is this why I am Awake?

2008-01-24T07:30:00.000-08:00

It's 3:45 a.m. and I can't sleep.

(Itch - itch, scratch - scratch.)

I can't help but think about my son's endurance race set to begin at 10:00 a.m. this morning.

(An endurance race is one that is won by consistency. The riders have an hour and a half to complete as many laps as possible. It is a three-mile course through wooded areas, flat land, whoop-d-doops, and small rock climbing.)

I watched him prepare last night; he checked his gear, packed his water, and he went to the garage to double check his dirt bike. I noticed how he stood a little taller as he talked about the race. "I'm so jazzed! I can't wait!" The smile across his face made me smile.

"'J', I'm so proud of you! You are going to do great!" "Mom, will you rub out my shoulder and my back?" "Sure, no problem."

I had to keep my mouth shut as I thought about a few practices back when he took a crash landing coming off of his 12-foot jump! Hence, the need for the shoulder massage before every race.

(Itch - itch, scratch - scratch.)

I arrived late for practice that day, Justin was already on the track. I'll never forget the look on my husband's face as I walked up to him. "Don't freak out, but 'J' took a bad tumble."

(Note to fathers: You do not say this to a mother when her child is nowhere in sight!)

"WHERE IS HE!" "Relax, he's riding," "What? Where?" "Out there!" he says, pointing to the track.. You can imagine how the rest of the conversation went.

Tick -Tock... After 15 long minutes he comes riding in. My heart skips a beat as I wait for him to remove his helmet... and then he does. He has a black eye and a big cut along the side of his nose and a big smile on his face!

"Mom, you should have seen me, I was 12 feet in the air! "And then I landed wrong and tumbled down the side of the hill, it was awesome!" I am staring at him in shock as he continues to point out the other issues: ripped pants exposing the scrapes and blood on his leg, and his ripped shirt exposing his chopped up flesh mixed with mud. "I am going to have the coolest scars." (Again, he smiles -- as if he had just won a race.)

"What were you doing riding after you got hurt?" "Mom, chill, I had to get back on my bike right away and ride or else I would have been afraid to do it later, and don't even think about telling me I can't ride anymore. If I want to get better I'm gonna have to take some tumbles."

By this time I'm staring at my husband with a look that says, "If I could ride this thing, I'd run you over right now, how dare you let my son go back out on the track!"

(Itch - itch, scratch - scratch.)

I sigh as I'm brought back to the evening at hand. As I think about my son's response to his tumble, I gleam with pride in the fact that he chose to focus on his accomplishment rather than his crash landing. It amazes me how my 17-year son has learned so much about life (he just doesn't know it yet).

After rubbing out his shoulder, he eats three bananas, and does 60 push-ups. "Well parents, I'm off to bed, I have to be prepared for my race."

(Itch - itch, scratch - scratch.)

It's now 4:10 a.m. I know I am rambling. Maybe you can see a lesson in this story, and maybe not. All I know, is I had to do something to relax my mind as I think about the race.

(Itch - itch, scratch - scratch.) Although, there could be one other reason why I cannot sleep; no, it couldn't be this rash on my arms?

(Itch - itch, scratch - scratch.)

(C) Teresa Ortiz

Footsteps of Love: Encouragement for the Soul

2008-01-21T17:36:00.000-08:00

As I went about my morning routine, I thought about a list of Scriptures I compiled for times of encouragement. There are times on my journey of faith when I need a spiritual boost; a reminder of the One who has His eyes on me - it brings me comfort and strength to rise above my circumstances and live a life of victory. It is my prayer that all those who read this article will be renewed, refreshed and strengthened in their spirit.Walk in the strength of the Lord today, you will be blessed for having done so.

Footsteps of Love

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand. Psalm 37:23-24 NKJV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the council of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2

He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places….You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip. Psalm 18:33 & 36

Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statues, and I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in them. Psalm 119:33-35

Oh bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, Who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved. Psalm 66:8-9

He shall guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. 1 Samuel 2:

I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. Psalm 40:1-2

I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word… Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:101 & 105

Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:25-27

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, our God reigns! Isaiah 52:7

Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79

Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:2

Thank you Father for your faithfulness and for the promise that you will lead us in the way we should go as long as we choose to follow the footsteps of love. In the Name of Jesus, Amen

Sing a Song of Praise

2008-01-05T09:42:00.000-08:00

Each morning I wake with a song of praise on my lips for my Father; the Lord Jesus.

Many of us come from different backgrounds. We have Baptists, Pentecostals, Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians - well, the list goes on and on.

This was not how it all started when Jesus founded the church, nor was it ever His intent. As we read the Bible, we can clearly see the "church" is the body of Christ. It is those who have been born again by the Spirit of God when they profess faith in Jesus Christ - and not just a name on a building.

Unfortunately, man is the one who started labeling themselves and causing divisions.

You know, I just can't imagine pews in heaven labeled "Reserved for Baptists" or "Reserved for Catholics" etc.

When I read the book of Revelation, I see all believers praising and worshiping God the Father and the Lamb who sits upon the throne - there are no distinctions.

I believe praise is universal. Regardless of our Christian denominations and man made doctrines, we all agree that our God is worthy of all honor and praise.

With this being said, I have been inspired to sing a song of praise. Won't you join me?

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:16-17

Dedicated to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Cleanse our hearts, receive our praise, Lord Jesus, Amen.

Majesty

Majesty, worship His majesty unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise
Majesty, kingdom authority flows from His throne, unto His own, His anthem raise.

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus
Magnify, come glorify, Christ Jesus the king

Majesty, worship His majesty

Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings
(Jack Hayford)

Do you have a song of praise in your heart or a word of praise on your lips? How about a favorite Psalm or hymn? Shout it out today!

For now, we worship together via the Internet - when Christ returns for His church, we will worship side by side. I can't wait!

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen." 2 Corinthians 13:14

Blessed By An Unknown Author

2007-12-29T13:10:00.001-08:00

If you are anything like me, your refrigerator is covered with magnets which hold all kinds of things; pictures, letters, calendars, bills, receipts and of course, those precious drawings from your children.

This morning, as I was scanning the fridge, something caught the corner of my eye. There it was - buried beneath last year's school schedule. A smile came across my face as I pulled it out to read it. It had been awhile and my eyes watered. "Thank you - whoever" came out of my mouth.

With all the heartbreak and financial hardships many of us are facing this season, I figured it wasn't an accident that this poem came to surface. It has blessed me time and time again- maybe it will bless you too!

Too Blessed To Be Stressed;
Too Anointed To Be Disappointed

I refuse to be discouraged, to be sad or to cry.

I refuse to be downhearted and here's the reason why:

I have a God who is Almighty; who is sovereign and supreme;

I have a God who loves me, and I am on His team.

He is all wise and powerful; Jesus is His name;

Though everything is changeable, my God remains the same.

I refuse to be defeated.

My eyes are on God.

He has promised to be with me, as through this life I trod.

I am looking past my circumstances, to heavens throne above.

My prayers have reached the heart of God.

I am resting in His love.

I give thanks to Him in everything.

My eyes are on His face.

The battle is His; the victory is mine;

He will help me win the race.

I repeat, "I'm too blessed to be stressed!"

(Author Unknown)

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ"

1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV

Once again I am blessed by this unknown author who led me to the face of God. Perhaps that was the plan all along. And so it goes back on the fridge - this time in front of last year's school schedule.

(c) 2007 Teresa Ortiz