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
Showing posts with label Encouragement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Encouragement. Show all posts
Apr 24, 2009
Aug 31, 2008
When the Bad Guy Wins--or Does He?
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
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
Aug 17, 2008
God Eats Pop Corn
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
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
Aug 9, 2008
How Plucking my Eyebrows Brought Me Happiness
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
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
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
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
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
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
Apr 8, 2008
Positive Thinking: A Habit Worth Developing
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
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
Mar 22, 2008
A Portrait of the Cross
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
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
Mar 18, 2008
A Dedication to Jesus: All who Agree, Say Amen
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.
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.
Mar 5, 2008
Friends are God's Bouquet of Roses to His Children
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
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
Feb 28, 2008
The Ant and the Contact Lense
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!
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!
Feb 27, 2008
The Fern and the Bamboo: A Story of Hope
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!
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!
Feb 21, 2008
Practical Advice for a Married Woman
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
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
Feb 13, 2008
Making the World a Better Place is a Daily Devotion
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.
(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.
Feb 10, 2008
20oz Triple White Mocha or Jesus: What is your Sustaining Strength?
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
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
Jan 29, 2008
Free from the Past: Encouragement for the Soul (3)
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
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
Jan 21, 2008
Footsteps of Love: Encouragement for the Soul
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
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
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
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
(C) Teresa Ortiz
Dec 29, 2007
Blessed By An Unknown Author
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
(c) 2007 Teresa Ortiz
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