Becoming Spiritually Beautiful

As women we love to feel and look beautiful.  We do our hair, make miracles with our faces..lol...and go out of our way to wear clothes that make us look beautiful.  However, many of us fail to see that true beauty comes from the inside and works its way out.  Has anyone noticed that you might not think someone looks paticularly 'beautiful' as first glance but then after talking to them for a while their manerisms and personality seem to exentuate their beauty? The opposite can also be the case too. Someone who looks beautiful can seem less so if they exhibit unattractive personality traits.

For the past two years I've been attending every womens bible study that Calvary Chapel has been hosting.  Each and every time that I attend, I have such an admiration for the women who are guest speakers especially my pastors wife (Diane).  I see them as such warm and caring individuals that I am always saying every time they speak I feel such peace inside of me.  They come across as someone you would love to have in your life as a friend.  When they share Gods word they do it in such a way that you know deep inside that they truly love our GOD.  You see their true beauty each and everytime they speak from the heart. To be beautiful in the inside we need to look past someone's faults, we need to be able to forgive. True beauty is  "inner beauty" the person who touches our souls with laughter, intelligence, manerisms, respect, love and genuine kindness.

Many times we get caught up with our hectic lives that we get cold in the inside and that shows in the outside.  So no matter how beautiful you are on the outside, if you are cold and heartless in the inside your outer beauty does not show and the ugly you is what people are seeing. I pray that we can all have true inner beauty even when we are having a hectic day.  Your inner beauty can flourish and grow, no one can quell it and no one can take it away. I don't know about you but I am going to look for the inner beauty in all that I meet.

Feeling Better

Today I finally had my ureteral stent removed.  A ureteral stent is a thin, flexible tube threaded into the ureter to help urine drain from the kidney to the bladder.  Boy am I happy that it is finally out of me.  The last three months has been torture for me. Back in April I had to go to the Emergency Room due to severe back pain.  I was told I had 5cm stone and was given pain medication.  The doctor that treated me said I will probably pass the stone.  In June, I was once again rushed to the emergency room with pains worst than the first time.  This time they said I have several stones with one of them being 7cm.  They gave me more pain medication and instructions to go see a urologist.  I went in to see my urologist and he recommended immediate surgery for the removal of the stones.  The big stone had did so much damage to my ureter he was concern for permanent damage.  I had surgery on June 16 and everything went well dispite the painful cramps and spasms after the pain medication wore off.
On July 11 I started experiencing complete fatigue with the worst body aches especially in my lower back.  I automatically assumed I was coming down with the flu.  The following day my temperature went up to 101.5.  I went into urgent care and the short drive to their office my fever went up to 102.4 by the time I left it was 102.7.  I was diagnosed with a severe kidney infection.  I was given a shot of antibiotics along with pain medication and was told to go home and rest.  Luckily the fever went away but the body aches and fatigue continued till this past weekend.  Today I went for my follow up and the infection thank God is under control.  They were able to remove the ureteral stent but they extended my antibiotics for another 5 days.  Although I am experiencing cramps and mild spasms, I am extremely happy to have that stent removed.  Just knowing I had something in me that doesn't belong felt pretty weird and really bothered me alot. I put my day in Gods hands today as I always do.  Prior to going to the doctor I was feeling a little scared of having this procedure done.  I thank God that he gave me the strength I needed to get through this whole ordeal.  God has always been there for me and I know he is the one who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
Psalm 18:32

Reflecting back to the birth of My daughter Melanie

Yesterday my daughter Melanie turned 27.  It feels like only yesterday the birth of my first born.  My baby girl.  I've always wanted a little girl and God gave me Melanie as my first child.  Amazing how even back than he was there for me.  My pregnancy was not an easy one, everyone that knew me than knows I went through alot to carry my baby.  I went from a healthy 123 lb young lady to weighing 98 lbs after giving birth.  I know some of you are probably saying whats so wrong with that.  I lost weight instead of gaining.  My whole pregnancy was a risk from the very beginning.  I couldn't hold
anything in my stomach not even fluids.  I went to the doctors every other day to get liver shots to feed my baby. I was hospitalized twice, and I even almost lost my teeth because of my pregnancy.  My baby girl was draining me from all I had and leaving me to the point where I had to be hospitalized to receive nourishment through an IV.  It wasn't easy but I would do it over and over again.  My daughter has been nothing but a blessing.  She is everything every mom longs for in a daughter.  She is beautiful inside and out, sweet, good hearted, kind, loving and the best mom ever to my grand-daughter.  She has a smile that I love and I love being around her.  I see so much of me in her that I think its so funny.  She loves our GOD dearly and she has grown into such a beautiful woman.  These 27 years has been a true blessing.  Thank You God for giving me Melanie, thank you for blessing her, thank you for protecting her, thank you for guiding her and thank you for loving her like you do!

Jesus Loves You



It doesn't need to be Valentine's Day for us to think about love. We need to be loving and caring towards one another.  This is part of our human nature. We love our parents, we love our children unconditionally, why can't we just love our neighbors unconditionally.  There are other people who care about us, even when we are ignorant of their affection. Jesus loves us unconditionally. He loved us enough to die for us. He did this so that we could be with Him forever.  That's love. 

We need to always remember that Jesus loves us.  If you are ever in doubt of God's love, simply remember that Jesus went to the cross for your sins.  He did so because He cares about you as an individual human being.  He loves you and the Father in heaven loves you.  Don't allow the cares and confusions of this present life to make you doubt God's love.  Never forget what Jesus did for you because of His love.

Jesus loves you.  Jesus wants you to be with Him in His Father's house for all eternity.    All you have to do is accept His love and respond with faith and confidence in Him.

God's Master Plan For Your Life

Have you ever wondered what's God's master plan for your life?  Since I became a christain, this has been on my mind. I wonder each and everyday what His plans are for me. I started reading God's Master Plan For Your Life by Gloria Copeland. Not only did I start this book but I finally finished it. I highly recommend this book. It talks about turning your life over to God. It talks about letting go and letting God take over the leadership in every area of our lives. After reading her book I still had some confusion. I am still not sure what his plans are for me but I do know that whatever it is I will do it with all my heart.  Just last week I was given a survey on Spiritual Gifts.    A spiritual gift is an expression of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers which empowers them to serve the body of Christ, the church.  I rated high in Administration, Giving and knowledge.  I always knew one of my strengths is Administrative.  I am super organized and like to plan, organize anything and everything.  Knowing that Administration is one of my spiritual gifts and that I should use my gift to serve the Lord, I don't know where to start.  I will continue to pray on this as I am super excited to serve the Lord with the gift he has given me.

2011

Wow, 2011!  Where did 2010 go?  I'm sure most of you are asking yourself the same question.  For me, its a question I ask myself daily.  So much has happened in 2010.  My whole family a total of 17 of us took our first family vacation to the Dominican Republic.  We've taken many trips before but never with the whole family.  I will never forget the great time we had.  I made one of the biggest decisions in my life and left a job of 14 years and moved on to a new job.  My 14 years with my previous employer was great and I met alot of dear friends that will always be my dear friends for life.  This big change was major for me but with God guiding me its one of the best decisions I've ever made.  My daughter and I were baptized in October which was the beginning of a new life and I have been truly blessed in every way.  Thank you GOD!  These past holidays has been like no other.  For those who know me, it doesn't take much for me to get stressed out over small things.  Well I have to say that this was the first time in many years that I was able to truly enjoy the holidays.  I had such peace in my heart, I took each day as it came and did not stress of what had to be done or what I did not get done.  I spent quality time with my family and for the first time I really took in the real meaning of Christmas.  For 2011 I pray for continued peace for me and my family.  I pray for spiritual growth, good health, and a blessed 2011.  I have so many things I want to accomplish in 2011 that I pray that God continues to guide me like he has.  I pray for wisdom, strength, and energy to get all I have on my list done.  One of the things on my list is to finish reading the many books I bought in 2010 that are sitting on my bookshelf.  I am almost done with "God's Master Plan For Your Life" by Gloria Copeland.  Once I am done, I will write a brief review on it.
My script for today: Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord appeared to him from far away.  I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

Have A Blessed Day,