Sweet lil Things

Love and Logic: Forming the Leaders of Tomorrow

2011-02-15T11:09:00.002-06:00

Plato said, “The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life.” As educators, we want to equip our students for the best possible future. What better way to do this than to give students an early start in evaluating the consequences of their own actions?

In past generations, teachers were often perceived as bossy and mean. The teacher’s word was law; students had no say in the matter when teachers told them what to do. Students were not expected to think through their decisions, but simply to obey. More often than not, they acted simply out of a fear of punishment. They did not learn to make well-considered
choices.

At Aristoi Classical Academy, we are becoming familiar with the Love and Logic philosophy, a method that offers students choices and consequences. Using these techniques, we can form better relationships with our students and help them grow into leaders who can think for themselves. In Love and Logic, educators begin by providing limits in a caring way. This helps build students up so they feel more capable, even after being disciplined.

As teachers, we make every effort to stay calm and avoid provoking, threatening, moralizing, or lecturing. By using polite statements that are enforceable, and offering children choices within limits, we avoid power struggles. Authority is maintained with compassion and understanding. We take childhood misbehavior as an opportunity for helping children grow through their mistakes. These methods help children learn to be responsible and gain self-confidence.

One of the hallmarks of this method is consistency. In our role as teachers, we strive to set this example by using enforceable statements. As Aristotle said, “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” Only if we build the habit of excellence in ourselves can we be models of virtue for our students.

At Aristoi Classical Academy we allow our growing students to work through their problems by reviewing their actions and identifying the consequences of those actions. Our students are learning to evaluate their own choices so that in the future they will be self-confident, responsible, and free men and women.

--Liliana Gonzalez, Teacher, Third Grade
Published in Classical Times: A Newsletter of Aristoi Classical Academy’s Community of Learners

Dream BIG

2011-01-01T17:08:00.003-06:00

As dreamers, we often talk about our plans and to some extent even write a facebook note about them. We submerge ourselves in quotes and inspirational phrases that will boost our hopes of doing better and increasing our self esteem by about 10%. Sometimes we will have "deep conversations" and repeat ourselves over and over about how we would like our lives to be. More often than not, a glass of wine or two makes the process a little easier.

But, as dreamers we pinch ourselves and feel nothing. Because that is all that it is; a dream, a simple thought made of mental pictures and colorful experiences. We will discuss things like money, physical appearances, our living arrangements, our ideal relationships, and so on. So why wake up on January 1st feeling like you are dragging a 10 ton bag of regrets and experiences of the past year? Why think this year will be the same as the rest? Why think it might be worse?

The race has begun. The whistle has been blown. If you set your mind up for failure then your mind will guide you there. Where are the dreams and aspirations from that conversation you had over a glass of wine (or whatever beverage you prefer) with your friend or coworker? Are you still dreaming? Then, WAKE UP!

Change your dreams to visions, goals, and aspirations. Set your mind and DO it! Do not make this year another year of regrets. Forget the regrets and move forward. I once heard in sermon that "if you drive looking in to the rear-view mirror, you will crash." And I cannot think of a better analogy than that.

This year, do not set yourself up for failure. You are worth more than all the gold and money in this world. Only you can determine what you are and what you will be. What you HAVE been is just a memory. Your past facebook statuses and tweets are filed in the pages of social-networking history. What are you going to do today that will make your tomorrow better? Apply what you have LEARNED. Regrets are just lessons that you did not take notes on. What was that point that you missed?

Remember friends (and I speak for myself, because God knows I'm not perfect), aspire to be who you want to be and set your mind, body and soul for it. Take the steps and climb that mountain. It might be a smooth ride for others, but whatever it is that you have to do to get there, just remember that running against the wind creates endurance, and endurance makes you strong!

I pray you all have an incredible, life-changing, inspirational year filled with love and many blessings.

Gob bless. ♥

Liliana Gonzalez

God's Little Princess

2010-02-26T11:27:00.009-06:00

Throughout my young life I have been blessed to have traveled around several parts of the world. I have been carefully placed by God in a position where I have had to learn new languages, go to international schools, learn dance techniques by some of the best teachers and meet some pretty incredible people on the way. Sounds amazing on the outside, but this little girl had a lot of growing up to do in the mean time.
Constantly being the "new girl" was tough on this scrawny little thing. I was often teased, made fun of and I was always a crier. My insecurities did not get better when I reached junior high. I had just moved to Paris from a tiny oil-producing town in Venezuela. My escape: dancing. I didn't really have a one on one relationship with God at that time, hence, I succumbed to peer pressure more than once. My mom's words of advice would just go in through one ear and out the other... I couldn care less what she (nor any adult) said. In my head, I was never good enough for anyone. Fortunately, things have changed for the better.

As girls, we have duties and responsibilities that are given to us to accomplish, and we have to be responsible to do these in order to carry out the mission that God has given us. I want to challenge all of you young women, to make it your goal to realize in your own self all the possibilities of womanhood, and to do the work that the Lord has designated for YOU (not the other girl) to do. Embrace being a girl, and to delight in it! Be strong and brave enough in your femininity to always be devoted to Biblical womanhood. But in order to do this, you must constantly make sure that your heart is in the right place. Keep your heart yielded and submissive to God. It all depends on where your heart is.

“The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is wrought of gold.”
Psalm 45:13

She is glorious within, and hence her clothing, her appearance, is covered with gold. Your inner self, your mind, heart and soul automatically affects how your external life is going to be, how you are going to live your life, and what you are going to do, because a covered heart is never going to produce a radiant life, and a selfish heart is never going to produce an selfless life. A sad heart will never make a cheerful life, and a discontent heart will never yield a content life. Be careful to guard your heart, and to keep it focused on Christ, for He will give you the strength to fulfill your duty.

Make it Count

2010-02-09T23:27:00.000-06:00

Most days just seem to go by like every other day. Same old stuff. Same old everything. Blah blah blah. One day runs in to another one. You close your eyes and wake up to do it all over again. Doesn't seem to have much of a plan, does it?
Maybe not. But God has an exciting plan for your life. A plan that will give you purpose and fulfillment beyond your wildest dreams. Following God's plan takes commitment from you. You don't just accidentally fulfill what He's planned for you to do. You've got to seek God and ask Him to reveal His plan to you and to give you understanding about how you can fulfill it. Then, you've got to determine to make EVERY DAY COUNT for Him and for His plan.
As a distance-runner-in-training I have to step it up every single day I train. Building resistance means having to build tolerance to new things: adding some incline to the treadmill, running a little faster, a little more pain, maintaining my heart rate, stricter diet, etc. It is a lot to keep up with, but if I ignore a day, a time, a resistance... it's effort lost. Every second counts.
Pay attention to every decision you face... Even the ones that seem so insignificant. Take seriously every person you meet... Even the ones you don't like. Embrace every situation you find yourself in... Even the ones that seem to make no sense at all. They're shaping you, molding you, preparing you for the next decision, the next person, the next situation.
Lose yourself in doing what God wants with every aspect of your life. Live your life in light of His plan!

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

To Save a Life

2010-02-08T10:57:00.001-06:00

Official Trailer

A must-see... for everyone.

When God Gives You Lemons

2010-02-02T08:42:00.003-06:00

Personally, I think free will is probably the most amazing thing that God could ever offer us. There is a risk factor involved in every decision we make. We live with the fear of not only disappointing ourselves and those around us, but most importantly God. But, fear not...

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

If it isn't important enough to take a risk to go after, then it isn't important enough to obtain! (Side note: this is a huge step for single people to take. But, if that person you have an interest in lights up your heart, I think it's worth the risk of getting turned away then living with the thought of "what if...")

That is what faith is all about: taking that step without looking at the staircase. Like the phrase about the lemons. I have my own little version: When God gives you lemons, pray, grab a cookbook (Bible), follow the recipe that God has placed in your heart (scripture), and get to work! Don't be afraid. The world may be making lemonade, but God knows you are capable of doing much more!

Trust in the Lord his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5 (NLT)

The 4:8 Filter!

2010-01-21T11:04:00.007-06:00

I would like to introduce the 4:8 filter. It's an amazing way to live your life. It's not for a limited time, there are no gimmicks, no installments (the price for it has been paid in one single payment: The Cross), and it comes with the guarantee that you will please God. I give you the Philippians 4:8 filter:

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

Directions:
Place whatever thought or action you plan on doing through the 4:8 filter and ask yourself: Will God be pleased? He gives the ultimate approval.

*Not available in stores.
**Offer ends... never.

No Exceptions

2010-01-15T17:52:00.008-06:00

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/deathbymu5ic/3420744648/

Know any people who think they are just too far gone for Jesus? Maybe they think their sins are too big or their lives too ugly. They think God couldn't possibly save them. They think God is probably mad or that He has given up on them by now or that He's too holy to want them around. Is that you? See for yourself:

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.' Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
-Romans 10:9-13 (NLT)

God delights in saving the unlovable, the lost and the ones who think they could never be saved. To think that God couldn't save you because you're too far gone is to say, "I'm bigger than God. I can do something so evil that He can't forgive me. I have more power than God." The truth is that everyone is hopelessly lost without Him and every sin is repulsive to Him. But Jesus died for everyone...NO EXCEPTIONS. Anyone who calls out to Him will be saved. Yes, even you...even me.

Your Body: God's Temple

2010-01-11T18:31:00.006-06:00

A temple is a place where God is worshiped. God says that your body is a temple for Him. After all, He did create you. Think about what you do to your body. If you could see God dwelling inside you, would you treat your body the same? Putting unwanted substances in you body tears down the place God lives in you. You are making a mockery of His home and His creation. Would you go to an actual temple (building) and tear it up? No. Neither should you throw trash in to your own temple, turn it in to a house of prostitution, or cover it with graffiti.

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;"

- Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)

The God who loves you deserves better than a crack house for a temple. He wants to glorify Himself in you. Drugs, for example, are pointless and kill. We already know that. But did you know that Satan uses drugs to destroy as many temples as possible? Practice self-control and keep your temple pure and healthy. Exercise. It's like a ritual cleansing of your house. But, it has to be consistent. You stop, and the dust just keeps piling up. Need help? Ask God to dwell richly in you and commit to being a good temple for Him.

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires."

-Romans 6:12 (NIV)

Passion 2010 - Review - Part II

2010-01-09T15:22:00.008-06:00

Part II:

Day 3: "It is a mistake to establish what you want to do before you establish who you want to be." This was the main focus Andy Stanley wanted to establish. In other words, who you want to be will impact what you do. Who you are in the inside will impact who you are on the outside: your relationships, your work, your health, etc. Hence, your doing will flow from your being. A good example would be Daniel. (Daniel 6:3-5) He had such a good persona, he couldn't be prosecuted. His outside was reflected by his inside. A good way to evaluate who you are and the reflection it makes on the outside would be to ask yourself the following question: What would you want said at your funeral? Break it down to just words. Then, ask why do you want to be remembered that way? What is affected if you are not remembered that way? What remains? What is at stake? Also what you do on the outside reflects inside. You throw away intimacy, you throw away purity. You attach yourself to material things you throw away generosity...etc. "Be the leader you are willing to follow." This is the best advice you could give yourself and others. We need to remind ourselves that what we want to become is what God wants us to be. The last thing we want is to fail God. What kind of a leader does God want you to be?

The evening session was covered by John Piper, an incredibly wise and straightforward speaker. God is perceived as an egomaniac: we must love Him more than anything. God is jealous. We are demanded that we love Him first and foremost. (Exodus 34:14) We are to love Him and only Him. Seek Him and only Him. (Deuteronomy 4:24) What is the center of Christianity? Do everything for Him! (1 Corinthians 10:31) At first, I had no clue where he was going with this, but surely enough, Mr. Piper had a point. Are you self-centered or God-centered? Saying you will be God-centered because he is YOU-centered is the same as being self-centered. God made us to magnify Himself. To be His glory. For His namesake, His power, for our salvation. (Isaiah 43:6, 48:9) God has one purpose: to redeem His people.
Eternity past: God planned our salvation. (Ephesians 1:46) For His namesake. God demands praise. There is no other way we can be happy. Remind yourself that the best moments in life makes us feel insignificant. We are presented with absolute greatness! You were made to know somebody, not to BE somebody. We were made to feel magnificent about what God has done.
Eternity future: Jesus prays for us. (John 17:24) Jesus wants us to be with Him, and experience Him.
The cross (center): God put Christ forward to take our punishment. (Romans 3:23-26) God condemned sin when Jesus was crucified. The question is why? Why did He do it like this? To show God's righteousness. H passed over former sin. "All have sinned and fall short from the glory of God." He sent His son so we could value His glory. The foundation of our salvation is based on His value. "For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great." (Psalm 25:11) "I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name." (1 John 2:12) Our sins are forgiven for His Glory.

Day 4: "Lord, we will keep our eyes on you so we can set our hearts on you." This has to be my favorite verse in all the praises we sang. The final session of passion 2010 was a reminder of what we need to leave with once we part our ways around the world. We should have the same mindset as Jesus. Life is not about being better. It is to grow and think like Christ. Imagine reacting to all situations like Him. Think about it: Jesus didn't come in to this world like a king. He didn't boast about Himself. He came and humbled Himself for all of us. He was obedient to death. To the glory of God, the father. Often we celebrate the day we became a Christian, when in reality we should be celebrating the fact that we are still following Jesus. One of the purposes for Jesus dying was to put God in the highest. We are to obey Him in His presence and His absence. (He is always there. You can't hide) We don't need anymore input from God, we need more output for Him! Forget the whole re dedication bit. Give it ALL to God and stop making so many excuses and promises. We can't, only He can... so give it all to Him! Also, we are to do everything... did you read correctly? EVERYTHING without complaining. He emptied Himself and became nothing for you and me. We are to reflect God's love in our actions, our faces, our words. What do other see in you? Can they read "God"? Remember: live a life in which those who surround you will WANT to have what you have... and I don't mean material things. Shine the love of Jesus in your face. Share the love of Jesus with others. And last but not least, praise. Praise Him at every moment everyday. Passion hasn't ended... this is just the beginning.
God bless.

Passion 2010 - Review - Part I

2010-01-09T11:15:00.015-06:00

PART I:

Wow! I have been slowly working on this post for about a week and finally here it is:
Passion 2010 has been one the most incredible experiences of my life. In metaphorical terms, I can compare it to a giant slingshot. I feel like I was pulled back and shot across the world praising God's never-ending love. The best part is that Passion didn't end. It was just the beginning. The praising, praying, learning, and spreading of God's Truth continues within this so called "lost generation". We are the CHOSEN generation.

"Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws;
our heart’s desire is to glorify your name." - Isaiah 26:8

Day 1: Tens of thousands of students and leaders unite to worship and glorify Christ's name. Our first main session was incredible. I had no idea what to expect, but God never ceases to amaze me... and once again, He surpassed my imagination. Louie Giglio spoke about how we should trade our lives for the story of Jesus. Some of us have fallen asleep and need a huge wake-up call. We have to set aside what the world may offer us, thus take a chance to live for something that is REAL. We have to move whatever is keeping us from God's awakening. He is not offended by your past, your mistakes, your error, your scars, your humanity! Also, we need to take off the bandages from our eyes so we can see the world through His eyes. Wake up and praise the one who has raised you. Let the world see it in your actions and words. Not some of the world... ALL of it. Don't be ashamed. Jesus wasn't ashamed to die. Why? Because He wanted ALL to see and notice God's unfailing love. Would God be "famous" if Jesus would have said no to the cross? Of course. But, because He did give in and died, we glorify Him more!!

Day 2: Beth Moore is one of my favorite speakers ever and her message at Passion left my mouth and mind open. God is wanting for us to infiltrate the world with His truth. (Hebrews 13:20-21) So, here comes the most popular question: What is it that God wants me to do? How will I do it? Well, in short, God's will for you is always good and beneficial. Like we train to be good at something when we go to college, God will equip and "train" us for His purpose. When we leave this world, it is all that we have left. The material "things" will fade and be forgotten. So how does God equip us?
First, he prepares us: He has been preparing us since before we can imagine. He has been planning out our works for Him. (Ephesians 2:11) Through this preparation God puts us through a certain amount of hardship. It was all for good. It prepares our testimony, so stop despising it. (Romans 8:18, 28)
Second, He adjusts us: Many times God puts us in situations where we have to adjust to the environment. People will make you adjust. You're constantly in a new situation to be a new person. And at times, we will be surrounded by people we cannot stand. These individuals bring out the worst in you until it's all out and then God can bring out the BEST in you.
He repairs us: Wherever God has called us to be, we need to surrender to be whatever He wants us to do. (Galatians 6:1) Don't think you're good enough? Let Him restore you. Think you're too good? Let go of that pride. Jesus humbled Himself to the lowest of lowest so you can reach the highest of highest. (Hebrews 4:16)
Last but not least, he fills us: Whatever you were called to do you cannot do alone. The only person who can aide you is Jesus and those who He places in our lives to help us along the way. But, remember who rules this world... evil. Beware of those who will cross your path to deviate you from it. There is NO high like the MOST high! Run in your own lane, do not imitate anyone but Jesus.

In the evening session, Francis Chan's dynamic message made a clear point that the Holy Spirit is like a GPS: it will guide us in the direction God wants us to go. We may not want to go the way it leads us and decide to take our own little path, but the reality is, it will "recalculate" the route always leading you to where He wants you to go. It might take longer than expected, but you will get there. Like the sweet, gentle, patient voice of the GPS, God doesn't get mad, nor irritated, nor will it give up on you. In Isaiah 66:2 it is stated that God will look at those who are humble and tremble at His word. We have something more than life it self. We have the prophetic word. (1 Peter 1:24-25) Our flesh will wilt, but His Word will remain forever. We need to stop being consumed by this world. People often complain that we don't have an example to follow. Start living a life that reflects Christ's and SET the example. Christ gave the same righteousness to each and every one. We have equal standing with God. Stop looking at your actions, look at Christ's actions. He wants us to experience grace. (2 Peter 1:1-7) God has granted all that we need to be Godly. So, who's fault is it if you live a worldly life away from Christ? Confess your mistakes, don't make excuses for them. He will forgive you always. But, for those who escape sin and return, it is worse than if you have never known the truth. (2 Peter 2:20) We have to change completely. Just remember always that God has been kind, He is constantly "recalculating" our route and will lead you to repentance. (Romans 2:4)

Day 3 and Day 4 coming up in Part II.

Bye Bye Miss 2009

2009-12-31T11:40:00.005-06:00

Three hundred and sixty five days. That's it. So much has happened in that handful of days that I cannot recognize the young woman in the picture from last year's December 31st. I have grown to love a man that surpasses my expectations. A man that is perfect, loving, caring, and never ignores me. He listens, he answers, and he happens to be of supreme royalty. Yep, quite a catch. But don't worry girls, I want to share Him with everyone! This past year, my relationship with God has been planted. Others may disagree and say, "you have grown sooo much." But I know this is just the tip of the iceberg. I have yet to grow, know, and be more like the woman He wants me to be.
Did I score the job of my dreams? No. Am I engaged? No. Do I have my own little place in midtown and driving a cute off-white mini cooper? No. Am I happy? Duh! These are some of the little plans that I had for 2009. But God was laughing pretty hard when I said, "Ok Lili, this is what's gonna happen..." No. God had other plans: I slammed in to a wall and got a huge wake up call. I realized that it's not what WE want, it's what HE wants and that is all there is to it. No arguing about it. He is in control... But only if you let Him.
You see, if I would have chosen to live my life making choices according to what I want, disregarding His will, I would probably be in a bad position. God took me out of a relationship so I could see that there is no way I could be happy with someone unless I am happy with Him and love Him first above all else. I was alone, heartbroken and hopeless. Then, God opened the door. But the best part is, He didn't pull me in, he invited me and I CHOSE to follow Him. My life went through a very tough filter and it is still being filtered because I am no where near perfect. So, thank you. To all those who God placed in my life this year and in some shape or form helped me be who I am today in God's eyes.
Thank you all so much. From everyone at Second Baptist Church who have given me the opportunity to serve my God in almost every ministry, I love you all so much. My many friends that I have made over the course of this year, I am so proud to call you my pals. To my amazing brother who enlisted in the Navy and is now grown to be such an incredible man serving this wonderful country that we call home. My friend Amanda Winter, who I had the pleasure of knowing, serving and laughing with at beach retreat, I miss her and love her so much. My students, who I have grown to love and care for each and every one so very much. My Collision girls, who I absolutely adore and look forward to seeing every week! My feet, for putting up with dancing for over 15 years and now moved on to running long distances! The Houston Dynamo, I have never enjoyed a season soooo much. You guys are awesome! Forever Orange! And last but not least, my parents, who don't mind having their 24 year old daughter at home while she gets settled. Estoy muy agradecida por todo lo que han hecho y continúan a hacer por mi. No se donde estaría sin ustedes. Los amo!

Happy New Year!! Celebrate responsibly! God bless!

Celebrate Christmas

2009-12-24T10:02:00.004-06:00

Let us celebrate the birth of Jesus as the gospel teaches us!

~Luke 2:1-20~

May your heart be that humble and warm manger that carried Jesus at his birth.

Like Mary, may you wrapped Him in your shawl and embrace Him.

Like Joseph, may you be willing to do your part in the Kingdom of God with instant obedience, and humility,

Like the angels, may you declare to the world the good news of great joy: a Savior has been born to you: he is Christ, the Lord.

May you be part of the multitude of the heavenly host who praise the Lord saying “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” .

Like the shepherds, may you go straight to see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to you.

Like all who heard the shepherds, may you be full of admiration and awe at what is said about Jesus

Like Mary, may you treasure all these things, pondering them in your heart.

Like the shepherds, may you always raise and glorify the Lord for all that you have heard and seen.

May the light that filled that day shine over your home, and the peace that came with the good news reign in your hearts.

Like the wise men, may you recognize the path that leads to the Lord, and follow it. May you be wise and seek Him.

- By Alejandra Bastardo Vargas

Merry Christmas to all... God bless you and your loved ones.

Passion 2010 (Preview)

2009-12-22T10:13:00.003-06:00

I stumbled across this video in Michael Head's awesome blog and had to re-post it to mine. I cannot explain how excited I am to attend Passion 2010. I really wish I could explain it, but as a friend told me a few months back when I registered, "you can't explain what it is until you have been there... You can read the description on the website and it will not make sense to you because you haven't been there. Just wait and see." And that is exactly what I will do. I am very eager to find out what God has in store for us at Passion 2010... He never ceases to amaze me.

http://www.268generation.com/passion2010/video/1/

Here is the main promo video to give you and "idea" of what Passion 2010 is:

http://www.268generation.com/passion2010/video/0/

And OF COURSE, I will blog about my days at Passion 2010... :) Coming Sooooon

Gossip Filth

2009-12-11T10:00:00.005-06:00

I don't understand TV shows where all people do is gossip about other people. As a graduated journalist, I could never be a part of something like that. Think about it: what would my co-workers be saying about me behind my own back? Wow... I'm not perfect, nor any where near it, but I strive to avoid gossip. We are bombarded with it everywhere we go. From the nail salon, to the supermarket, TV, radio, etc. There will be a cover, story, comment about the latest and greatest meltdown, divorce, make-up, triple-X tape-up, you name it!
Personally, listening to someone gossip is like listening to someone blaring out a cuss word over and over again... Not pretty. There is a verse in Matthew that reminds of how we should open our eyes and instead of judging and criticizing others, we need to step in front of a spiritual mirror and examine ourselves. We are FILTHY! Honestly, we are... and I'm not judging, it's the Truth.

Matthew 7:3-5 state
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
(NIV)

Basically, we need to look at ourselves and see what is the matter with US before we can step out and pin point every little detail that bothers us about someone else. Specially when the tabloids decide to splatter other people's lives. Celebrities are human too and it makes me sick how people of this world live off other people's tragedies and mistakes. We are all guilty of making them. And even if we have never cheated on a spouse, or made a XXX tape, newsflash: we are still living! We could all easily fall under that any day!
So pray (for yourself AND others), be strong in the Lord, don't judge and examine yourself.

Cristiano Ronaldo & Kaka

2009-12-05T14:20:00.004-06:00

Interview of my two favorite players from my favorite Football (soccer) Club: Real Madrid C.F.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF4C0Hd6Omo&feature=player_embedded

Don't Crack!

2009-11-17T08:50:00.004-06:00

The pressures of the world weigh down on all of us daily. There is the pressure to perform, the pressure to succeed, the pressure to look your best, the pressure to have the best of everything. Take a closer look at how these pressures present themselves in our lives. Do they come from work? From family? From the media? They all have one common theme: The pressure is exerted from the outside in.
How do you respond to external pressures? Do you give in and allow it to make you crack? Or do you remain strong?
Don't get so well-adjusted to the world that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the world around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, and develops well-formed maturity in you.

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
-Romans 12:2 (NLT)

Get Out!

2009-11-05T12:42:00.002-06:00

As Christians, we often try to "stay away" from certain "places" or certain "people". Do we not see that we are NOT helping the cause? We are like a burnt match. We have been touched by the fire and it is beautiful. If we burn for God and show it, instead of being the odd one of the bunch, we can take this opportunity to reach out and maybe, just maybe God can use you and me to change the lives of many others.
Show the Lord you burn for Him... Like matches, we can quickly light up those that yurn to be touched by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Don't "avoid" situations and step out of your comfort zone. Wherever you feel the most "left out" and odd: this is where you should be shinning and reaching out the most. It is easy to reach out to those who come in to church and "look" for something. Get out there and reach to those who don't know what they're missing! In 2 Corinthians 4:4 it states, "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."
We are fortunate enough to live in a country where we can spread The Word and bring people closer to Christ. JUST DO IT!
Matthew 9:37 states, "He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few." Let's get out there and WORK!

Billy Carey

2009-11-03T21:29:00.005-06:00

I had the H1N1 virus over the summer and was blessed with a smooth recovery. I have prayed for this kid for weeks and kept up with his journal entries. I don't personally know him, but wow... God does not EVER cease to amaze me. Watch this... (Found this in Michael Head's blog... which is AWESOME by the way...Check it out! www.michaelhead.org) :-)

Ultimate Triathlete

2009-10-26T12:07:00.002-05:00

This is incredible... :)

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
- Philippians 4:13

Kaka - Incredible Testimony

2009-10-23T10:59:00.002-05:00

I love this guy. His story is incredible. :-)

God's Rejection

2009-10-07T09:48:00.004-05:00

Don't be alarmed. God would never reject you - He will never leave or forsake you. I am referring to the rejections we often face in life. Whether you feel like people are rejecting you, or your work, or even your church... This is God's way of protecting you. This is an important lesson that God wants us to learn: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight. (Proverbs 3:5) Difficult? Maybe. Have you ever praised God for an unanswered prayer? I finally did this morning and I felt incredibly relieved. A job that I wanted with all my heart and worked very hard for was given to someone else. I spent an entire day sulking and feeling terrible about myself. But not today. Seek His will in all you do and He will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:6)
We should thank God for all of the doors that He has opened and thank Him even more for the doors that He has closed in our lives. We should trust that He knows what is the best job, place, and relationships for us. We may not understand the present and much less what the future holds for us, but if we trust in Him, we can move forward knowing that He has our best interests at heart. After all, He knows all and understands that there may be something far greater just around the next corner for us.
So, if you have been rejected in life (loss of job, divorce, etc...) avoid walking the bitter, painful path and walk in faith allowing God to comfort you and know that you will come out stronger on the other side. Remember that The Lord is on your side. Relax and trust Him.Give yourself to Him completely and realize that any rejection you go through is only temporary here on earth, and that God’s plan is perfect and will always prevail.

What Faith Can Do - Kutless

2009-09-27T16:40:00.005-05:00

Listen to the song "What Faith Can Do" by Kutless. This song will be featured in their new up-coming worship album It Is Well.

The lyrics are uplifting and powerful. It revolves around the fact that faith is incredibly powerful, but so can lack of it. The part that sticks out the most to me is: Everybody’s scared to death//When they decide to take that step//Out on the water//It’ll be alright. This automatically brought to mind that very popular scene in the book of Matthews when Jesus asks Peter to step out of the boat on the water, but begins to drown because of his fear. He is is then pulled out of the water by Jesus and tells him "You of little faith,"..."why did you doubt?" (Mat. 14:31). Fear cancels out faith. Having faith in God is knowing that all will be fine. Because it is His will, His plan, and he only wants the best for us. STEP out of the boat! Don't worry, if you happen to sink. Reach out to Him and He will pull you out.
Chorus:
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

My Walk

2009-09-23T23:47:00.006-05:00

As an assignment for our Awakening class, Chad asked us to write "our story" of what God has done and is doing in our lives. So, here it goes:
Hi! I'm Liliana, a.k.a Lili. In the last year, my relationship with God has gotten stronger and stronger. During this time, I lost friends due to the changes God had been leading me to make in my life. In April, I was heart-broken, dumped and felt alone. On Easter Sunday I heard the Bible verse that forever changed me: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18) The next day, I got on my knees and surrendered everything I had to Christ.
Mid-late April I get an email from "Chad Herold" about this thing called "Underground" (I had been to church, but never been involved in any "extra-curricular activities"). I read that this so-called "Michael Head" was going to be starting a series called "Life Interrupted: Real Answers to Real Problems". Wow! So, I have problems (check ✓), I need answers (check ✓), it's at my church (check ✓), and I got nothing better to do besides cry (check ✓). I'm in!
Thursday comes around and I walk in, knowing NO ONE and see that dude with the long hair (Chad) and he says hi, introduces me to several very friendly and inviting people. The music, the message, everything synced to be perfectly what I needed. I was hooked! From then on, I built a relationship not only with the people in church (who currently are my best friends), but also with my loving God. I absolutely love my church family!
I am thankful every day for the suffering I needed to go through to get to where I am and will be through my Lord, Jesus Christ. Since then, I have gone to beach retreat, participated in several church-wide events such as Vacation Bible School, missions, outreach, etc. I am currently teaching Bible study for the Awakening class (singles 20s-30s) on Sunday mornings (which I never in my life thought I would be able to do), I lead a Collision group (Bible study) for Taylor High School girls (which I absolutely LOVE), I am part of the leadership team for Underground, and co-lead a women small group Monday nights. How do I do it? "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13)
I had to be alone, to realize that I am not alone. I had to get on my knees and surrender it all, to receive it all. God is great!

"...Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5

By the River

2009-09-19T11:47:00.000-05:00

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." -Psalm 1:3

Think about a tree growing beside a river. Would it be a dry, ugly tree with brown cracking leaves? No, that tree would always be alive and full with lush, green leaves. Even in the middle of a drought, that the tree would thrive because the river would give it all the water it needed.
"He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water." The word he refers to godly men (and women). This individual doesn't listen to friends or other people who tell him to go against what God wants. He doesn't make fun of God, even if it seems like everyone else does. This man is delighted when he thinks about what God says, so the man does what pleases Him.
If you've made up your mind to follow Jesus, ask yourself if you fit that description. You are like that tree growing beside a river. God's Spirit is the river that flows by you and offers you all the life and strength you need. When you get your life from His Spirit, you're always able to succeed in God's eyes, even if everything around you seems out of control.

The Masterpiece

2009-09-04T23:55:00.003-05:00

Remember when you were in Kindergarten and you made plaster imprints of your hands or some sort of weird sculpture with toilet paper tubes? Remember how excited you were? When you made something you were proud of, you couldn't wait to show it off. You were so careful until you got home and put it in a safe place. And every once in a while you would take a look at it and crack a smile. You loved it.
God made you and that's why He loves you. You were His idea. You have His eyes, His hands, because you were made in His likeness. Even though you may not always act like your Father, the truth is that you are His child and His love for you will never end. Just as careful as you created your Kindergarten masterpiece, God crafted each part of your being just exactly the way He wanted it. He made you a certain way so that you could be everything wonderful that He wants you to be. You're a part of His heart because He thought of you and then gave those thoughts life and created you. He's in love with YOU. He thinks you're awesome. And you are, because you are HIS.

"See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him." 1 John 3:1

Tough Questions

2009-08-31T00:11:00.004-05:00

Here is a little Q&A session I had with God:

1) I asked the Lord for patience. He said, “No. Patience is the product of hardship. It’s not something that I can give you, it is for you to CONQUER.”

2) I asked the Lord to take away my pride. He said, “No. I can’t take it. You have to GIVE it to me. ”

3) I asked the Lord for riches. He said, “No. Learn to DEPEND on ME.”

4) I asked the Lord to heal my friend. He said, “No. It is a process you have to go through. I will make it work in MY TIME. Understand that, child. Because I am God”

5) I asked the Lord to mend my people (my country, my world). He said, “No. First you have to humble yourself. Where ever all people humble themselves and in my name I AM PRAYED TO, I will restore, and I will forgive.”

6) I asked the Lord if He loves me. He said, “YES! You finally understand that sometimes I will say Yes and sometimes, you’re just going to have to wait.”

I learned that even when He says NO… He still pleases me.

It is His will. He is my keeper, my guide, that whatever the Spirit says, it will be. Because in you and in me, God reigns. He is the ruler of our lives.

Ride of your Life

2009-08-20T21:45:00.000-05:00

Roller coasters have a lot of different traits and characteristics: fun, scary, surprising, boring, slow, fast, nauseous, risky, etc. To me, I get on a different roller coaster everyday. This week, I got on, strapped myself in (with prayer) and swoosh, it starts. At first, it was fun and exciting. I found out I passed my Texas Teacher Certification Exam and opened up a lot of doors for my career. Suddenly it became pitch black and I was scared. I received a blank college transcript, my certification prep class became a hassle, and at the end of the day found out a close friend tragically passed away. I began to panic, cry, and lose self-control. I was sitting on this ride that seemed perfectly fine, fun, and adventurous from a distance, but was now stuck with no where to turn to. I was going to just get off and see if I could make it on my own but I couldn't. I had forgotten for a second that I had "strapped myself" to God in prayer. Suddenly, I saw the light, and the ride continued steadily.
How often is it that we forget He's there any time we need Him? How often do we act on emotion and not faith? The Bible says in Colossians 3:15 to be led by peace in making decisions. God wants us to put Him first.
One of my favorite books by Joyce Meyer is Managing Your Emotions, where she states the following: "Jesus is referred to as 'The Rock.' You can depend on Him to be stable—the same Jesus all the time, always faithful, loyal, true to His Word and mature. He’s not one way one time and another way the next time."
Remember the ground you stand on when you feel like falling. Remember to strap on that seat belt of wisdom in prayer everyday. This roller coaster called life can one day turn you upside down. Are you ready?

Play Nice

2009-08-18T23:33:00.002-05:00

Gotta love 'em.
The REAL Football. :-)

Don't Shrink!

2009-08-14T00:07:00.005-05:00

Faith is being confident in God and His Word. You probably have a good relationship with God and have no problem trusting Him, but when it comes to trusting yourself to do the right thing, you shrink. At this point, you allow fear to control you and pull you back.
God once showed me that if I wasn't able to trust myself, then I am not able to trust Him. Ouch! But, as much as it hurt to realize that, He showed me the most beautiful lesson of all: He is living in me, and directing, guiding, and controlling me because I asked Him to do so. I needed to believe God's promise, not my emotions or thoughts. Of course, any one of us can walk right by God, miss Him and make mistakes. We think we are going in the right direction and then discover we are wrong but it's not the end of the world, nor is it anything to become terribly stressed about. If our hearts are genuine and we are sincerely seeking God's will, even if we do mess up from time to time, He will intervene and get us back on our path. Quite often, He does it without us even knowing. (I love it!)
I highly encourage you to believe that you are being led by God unless He shows you otherwise, instead of always thinking you are wrong and living in the anguish of self-doubt. Just as God has promised in His Word (John 16:13), trust Him to lead you by His Holy Spirit into all truth. If we are on the wrong path, God will help us get back on the right one.

"And my righteous ones will live by faith.
But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
-Hebrews 10:38-

The Choice is Yours

2009-08-07T21:28:00.002-05:00

I have been looking forward to our leadership meeting for The Awakening class for a while. Planning events, class topics, setting leadership roles was just the beginning. As soon as the meeting started everyone began throwing ideas around and it was like vinegar and baking soda... It just BLEW (In a good way)! We ended up changing the entire class model and I can't wait to see it in action.
Not everyone agrees with all of these changes. Many take the side of "if it's working fine now, then why change it?" and I respect that but, take a few steps back and look at the BIG picture and the facts and figures. It's like when you work out and you see you're losing weight and all the sudden you're stuck; you're not losing nor gaining. You've reached your plateau. What do you do? You change it! Either kick it up and start a boot camp class, or add more weights, run a little more... just change it!
If what you are doing with your time is not bearing good fruit, then change it. If you're not getting enough rest, make a change. If you are not disciplining your students and their behavior is causing you a lot of stress, then make a change. If you're not taking care of yourself, make a change. If your friends are taking advantage of you, then make a change! Are you getting the point? Stress can be relieved if you're not afraid to make changes.
You may be afraid of change but it is also possible that even if you find the courage to make the necessary changes that other people in your life won't like the changes you make. Don't be afraid of them either. You will get used to the changes and so will they. If you don't take action now you will be complaining about the same thing a year from now, and a year after that, and ten years after that, and there will be no end to your misery. The time is NOW!

"Boldness takes action, but fear breeds inactivity and procrastination. The choice is yours."
- Joyce Meyer

First Blog Ever - Hey, Why Not ? ?

2009-08-05T08:49:00.000-05:00

I love writing. I decided to go to school and get my degree in journalism, write a bunch of editorial columns, sell millions of books and be on Oprah. Well, I haven't quite really gotten there yet, but I realized that I had not even taken the first step... Start writing! Ever since I graduated last year, I have not written a single article, or published work. So, I decided to start a blog. I created this blog about a month ago and never "got around to it". Typical, right? To be honest, I was scared. I had no idea how to start. I was not passionate about anything really... Or at least I didn't think I was. Until now.
A lot of people may know this, but I'm a bit of a "hot head". I like to state my opinion whether you agree with me or not. There is a lot of room for improvement, but I've noticed that when I write, I tend to "be careful" of exactly what I say and how I say it. I really wish we had a "backspace" or "delete" button for what we say sometimes. But, like my mom has always told me (and I think my mom is the smartest person in the world because she always seems to be right), "the world needs people like you, but remember to listen." We do that a lot don't we? It's that famous light bulb we have over our heads that all of the sudden decides to light up whenever we have an idea. So, what do we do? We interrupt the other person's passionate view of the situation and say, "wait, I got it..." What we don't realize is we just stopped them in their tracks and completely disregarded what they were trying to say.
You may not be this person who likes to put their foot in the door and say what they need to say regardless of the situation, but you may know someone like that. If you do, say something. I want to be told if I ever do that. I HAVE been told when I do that and it feels great! It's a smack on the back of the head, I'll admit it, but that's how we learn sometimes.
Now, if you know you're a little bit like a "hot head", take the time to re-evaluate yourself and maybe write things down, put it away for a day, and go over it. You'll realize how much your perception of something can change and you'll see all the little things that can be edited in or out. Also, ask a close friend or relative to be honest with you and tell you if you are a "hot head" and to help you avoid it as much as possible.
God gave us all different personalities, and like a good dish, some spices are needed to kick it up a notch and make things interesting, but like my pal and chef Emeril Lagasse would say, "juuust enooough pepper and BAM! There you have it folks, a great dish". Spices should be used to accent the OTHER flavors, not eliminate them. Because if you use too much, all that hard work you put in to the other veggies, the meats, etc... will be taken over by this ONE spice.

"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry."
James 1:19