Resolutions

Even that I am on vacation, and when I’m on vacation I usually do not write here for several reasons, the number one because I love sleep till late. Then should say “Good Afternoon My Friends” instead of “Good Morning” sooo, here are I’m.  First thing, first thing, I hope you had a very nice and happy Christmas around family and friends, as I did.  I hope baby Jesus brought you tons of blessings as He did for me, and I will not give details for now ;)

I have been thinking in my new resolutions for the New Year that will start in 4 days. I even start sort them by month (like I was that organized!!!) anyways the number one resolution that I have in my really long list is believe more in God, and feel close to Him, because with time, and my every day life I notice that without Him I’m nothing, and with Him I have everything, so I need Him to keep living, and to not drown myself in sadness. After the first resolution the rest is a lot like, loose weight (I’m sure there is only few ones that have that one on their list!), finish the remodeling of my house (I better finish that very soon!), keep having good grades at my school like now (I had and A in my class!!!), and on, and on.

The other day I wake up thinking that I “need” to help other people that do not have food to eat not even every week. I believe that the better I do for others the more blessings I receive in life. That day, I think, and try to give to the idea some form but didn’t think about it anymore until today, so my second resolution will be find the way to conquer that wish, desire, need or however I should call it.  Yes, I know I have way too much in my plate right now, but if I try to add to my long resolutions list be more organize I know I can make this happen, so let’s see.

Last thing, I want to wish you a Happy New Year, that God brings to your new year tons of blessings, and happiness. “Feliz Prospero Anio Nuevo!”

Deuteronomy 8:3
³ He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Big Hug,

MRM

Message

Last Saturday, I was trying to organize, and finish the craziness that I start at my house. Suddenly I receive a message from God.  Well was not like “you got mail” but through music I get His message, and was so pretty and strong that makes me feel lot better with me, and with all the stuff I have been doing.  So I want to share my “message from God” with you because I am sure this could be “Your” message too from God. I hope you like as much I did.

Don’t hang your head

Its gonna end

God’s right there

Even if it’s hard to see Him

I promise you that He still cares.

When the waves are taking you under

And you think that is always raining on you

Hold on just a little bit longer

He knows that this is gonna make you stronger

The pain ain’t gonna last forever

And things can only get better

Believe me

This is gonna make you stronger

Try and do your best

Hold on and let Him hold you han

  fall in to the arms of Jesus

Because if He started this work in your life

He will be faithful to complete it

If only you believe it

He is gonna help you get through this.

By: Mandisa-Stronger

Joshua 1:9

⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Big Hug,

MRM

Relationships

In the last couple of weeks I had been working in a research paper for my school. I am writing about how the artificial colors and additives in food can increase the hyperactivity in kids with ADHD. So looking around so many psychology websites in one of them I read something about how to determine if you are in an abusive relationship. The article gives you 10 signals that are a pattern in abusive relationship. I get out of my subject, and start reading the article. I found out the article very educative and accurate with the information provided. But was missing something, was missing ideas of how to get out of that relationship.

Incredible but very true, everybody women, men, child, and elderly can be part of an abusive relationship.  People in this situation usually do not know what to do or who to call. I know what you are thinking that the solution to a situation like this one is very simple “just get out!” but it is not that simple, and get more complicate when there are children involved.  In different occasion I have heard people even insulting the victim because stays in that situation, but the truth is that nobody knows; only the person that are involved in the situation understand or someone that have been through to a very, very, very similar situation themselves.

With this, I just want to say that if you are aware of an abusive relationship, do not underestimate the intelligence or the ability of a person that is in the situation like that one. Better, offer a shoulder to cry, a shelter to stay, a counselor to visit, or simply do not said anything, but careful with this last one, because can turn you in an accomplice because you know what is going on, and do nothing to help. An abusive relationship can be; husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend, parents and child, friends, sisterhood, brotherhood, etc, etc, etc, any relationship can turn abusive.

I only left to say that if you are in an abusive relationship there is escape. You need to prepare yourself to break the cycle, and when you are ready (and you must work on that) I promise you that you will know the way out. Just be careful, and protect yourself all the times.

Zephaniah 1:9

⁹ On that day I will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold,
who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit.

P.S. here is the link of the information that I read.

http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/cf/slideshows/10-signs-you-may-be-in-an-emotionally-abusive-relationship/isolates-you-from-friends-and-family/?ap=825

Big Hug,

MRM

Holiday Season

Getting ready for the Christmas is challenging. It could turn in a big mess, expending a lot or money, trying to looks the best you can for the best season of the year. What I am doing? Tons of things around my house, of course still remodeling it, took me longer that I thought or plan, well, maybe I didn’t exactly plan it. At least that what my dad said after he went to my house. I put light all around my house, and I finally get to put up my Christmas tree.  I have been buying gift for everybody, I tend to gift others what I like other give me, so I really have to be careful not to spend too much. Did your preparing holidays sounds like this one?

Well, I really enjoy this season of the year, but I think I am missing something in this picture, I am missing the truly meaning of the season.  I do not have a birth certificate that said that Jesus born on the 25 of December, as a friend ask were challenging me one time about this holidays, but my faith told me that it is a good way to celebrate the existence of Jesus in earth as a human being, and I am from Puerto Rico any excuse is good to celebrate and make parties!

This week I was thinking; I would like to start a tradition with my kids about this seasons. I know that for kids this is the best time of the year, because of the toys that they receive. I was the same, well still kind of the same… but also I want to teach them what is the true meaning of the Christmas.  That is not only toys, and day off from school, is time to share with family and friends, time to give with the people that do not have, and time to remember that Jesus came to this world to teach us how to make this world a better place to live with just simply follow his example.

So, my new tradition this year will be put the nativity scene under the tree, but without Jesus, and on the 24 of December after midnight we will add Jesus. I guess I will read a story to them and set up everything together, and try doing it every year.  Anyways this is a season of traditions right?

1 Peter 1:3-4

 ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

Big Hug,

MRM

Hot Showers

This morning I wake up like usual at 5:45 am, and like usual I didn’t want to get up to go to work. I just start giving rounds and rounds in the bed not wanting get up and trying to find any excuse to not get up.  I kick my-self out of the bed, go to my kids’ room, and wake them up.  They are worse than me! I head to my bathroom to take my shower. Was really cold in my bathroom. I turn on the shower, and give couple of rounds waiting for the water turns hot.  After a couple of minutes I check and still cold! Hate cold water specially when is so cold outside. I check, I opened too much, and when I do that my water does not turns hot.

Standing there, touching with the tip or my finger the water waiting to turn hot, I start remembering when I went to Dominican Republic for a mission trip of 10 days.  I was in a town where there is not water or electricity. The floor is mud and there are no roads. Women get up at 5:00 am everyday to prepared the breakfast, lunch and dinner all at the same time, imaging how hot will be the dinner? (No microwave!) There are no showers they have a four wood together with cubes with water to take showers there. The time that I spend in that town (3 days to be exact) I didn’t take a shower was way too cold for me (wipes the best invention!). What about the people that live there? They do not have that option.

Today, I am really glad of all the things that I have good and bad, because I have way too much blessings to be complaining about what I have to do or didn’t do. Complain about the materials things that I want and don’t have. Memories like that one helps me to remain me that God is great, and we have to be thankful for all we have.  We MUST give others what we have share with others, not just give what is left. This is the best time of the year to do that. So try to think that is Christmas all year around!

P.S. Still I will not take a cold shower! J

 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Big Hug,

MRM

Strike

I have been on strike with God. Yes, I have been between mad, confuse and lost this past week, that is why I didn’t’ want to write. I did not want to read my bible scriptures at night, and have been nagging with Him all the time, asking Him tons of questions of Why? And Why? And Why?  I really do not receive much answer, but he sends my angel that brought me couple of tools to help me to stop the strike against Him.

Talking with my wise friend, I was telling her that I feel like lost, and that I have tons of things going on right now, that I have a big mess in my life.  She just has to look around her (at my house) and will be easy to notice that my house is a complete mess! Really I start to many projects at the same time, and I just can handle do everything as I expect and this is the result. I was telling her about a dream that I have about numbers the 1,2,3 keep appearing in my dreams, she told me that is easy all I need is start with number one and finished then I can move to number 2. But of course that is so real, simple and obvious that only a disorganized person like me cannot recognize it!

I create a chaos in my house and life with remodeling my house, college, work, and all the everyday things that I need to do that I just find out it was easy blame God and get mad at Him because the things are not turning out as I was expecting. It is easier just blame somebody else than my-self! I really need to focus in one thing at the time and it is fine if I can not have it ready by the time that I plan it, the important thing is that I finish it and don’t keep starting other things before finish the first one. So, yesterday I finally put together my Christmas tree, it is my first Christmas tree very small, but I founded very pretty! I forgot take a picture but I will posted tomorrow.  The strike already ends, I know that I need to workout things with God; the funny thing is that when I follow Him and follow His signs is when things start making sense!

Psalm 37:23-24

 ²³The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

 ²⁴Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

More Love Equals Less Hate

Have you ever give advise to a family or to a friend? Have you ever have to apply the same advice to you?  The other day I was talking with a man that has been divorce for 10 years. He told me his story, how happy he was with his wife for around 15 years, and she suddenly decide that she did not want to stay with him anymore. As he was talking, I could sense a feeling that he really would like to get back with his wife but his pride and hurting feelings don’t let him, even when she ask him get back together.

I ask him, why you just doesn’t go back with your ex-wife? He said, for what? My kids are already older and they don’t live in the house anymore. I said, so? You knew that when you kids grow they would leave the nest! You don’t get married for kids; you get married because you love someone with kids or without them. He tells me that he still love her. Then I said, why you don’t forgive her if you love her? He didn’t response, and them he said, why you don’t go back with your ex? I tell him, I cannot go back with him, it is not the same situation, took me long time to get to this point where I am right now in life, but I forgive him.

Between that conversation and all the replies that we are been writing about forgiveness make me reflect. The first thing is that forgiveness is equal to love. When we forgive someone that hurt us we take away space for hate in our hearts. Love is not equal to let other people hurt us over and over again. Yes, I can forgive who hurt me, but as I love other people when I forgive them, I also, love my self to prevent they keep hurting me. The tricky part in here is that sometimes and only sometimes we have to risk our heart to find what we are looking.  “el que no arriesga no gana” (who dare, wins) that is an expression in Spanish.  Bad experiences in life are not only to make us surfer, but also teach us for future references, but we have to be careful not close our hearts for when a good opportunity comes around we can’t recognize it.

Romans 12:17-21

 ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;  if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Big Hug,

MRM

Spread the Word

This weekend, I went camping to Sapelo Island.  Is an island full of history, and very nice greeting people. Was kind of cold for me, but I manage to deal with it.  Thanks God the second night a nice guy lend me his sleeping bag because he said he don’t need it, and I totally forgot bring one!!! We went hiking around the island and the beach. We were a nice group.

On Friday night we went to the beach, as I was talking with couple of them I make the comment of how people in the past believe that earth was a square? Just look around and you will see a perfect round shape. The night was clear and beautiful. I also, make the comment that is amazing God’s creation. One of the guys maid a comment that he believes and do not believe in the existence of God. Well, that just make me talk and talk and talk! I did not try to convince him of anything, but I tell him what I think and believe. We keep back and forward because he thinks that people believe in God as a necessity of hope, and just to believe in something. I just could explain what I feel, and how I sometimes can hear that God talks me.  But he insists that is just something psychological.

After a long conversation and comparisons of histories, I get to the conclusion that he definitely do not know God, and do not take time to know about religion in general. Again that is my opinion. If you have a conversation with someone that do not believe in God, how do you explain that person your beliefs using simple examples in a way that a person that is not religious will understand? Would you have a conversation about God with a person that is not sure of their beliefs? The picture I took it when we were going back to reallity on Sunday afternoon.  Still have to be God who made all this beautiful creation...

Mark 16:15-16

¹⁵And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Big Hug,

MRM

MRM

Far Away

Yesterday, I feel that my day was kind of sour, too busy or off.  I have a lot in my head right now, and have not been able to finish one task.  I start way too many things, but I’m not seen to be able to finish them.  Last night I have the bible study in a friend house. I was dragging myself to go there.  I have tons of things to do, and I didn’t even find the book to do the homework.  Why I should go??? But I manage to go, went late but went.

When I get there my friend tell me that I could call and said I’m busy that will be fine with her. I said, “No I want to come” Well, maybe I really didn’t want to go, but God want me to be there. We read the lesson, we analyze it, and we just share thoughts as usually.  Even that was not intense like other lessons; I know I have to be there, why? Because I have been running away from God (unconsciously), I can feel it because the way my days look.  Usually I’m fine, and even if rains I feel happy and everything is ok. But when I start putting all my distractions (work, school, friends, family, etc…) first than God, then my days turn off.

It is true I didn’t want to go yesterday, but I knew yesterday was the perfect opportunity to track back my mission, and to fill up my relationship with God. Charge batteries. What happened if you don’t talk (truly talk, not just routine stuff) with you spouse for days, or you don’t call your friends in weeks, or if you just stop doing you work right? I guess things start breaking, and troubles will arrive shortly.

Psalm 42:1-3

 ¹ As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you,

   O God.
² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come

   and appear before God?

³ My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long,
   "Where is your God?"

Big Hug,

MRM