What kind of kingdom do I want?

Pro 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.


Every time I read this verse, at least every 14th of the month, I am reminded right away of the power that our actions as mothers, wives, have to affect the state of our homes?

Our hands, no only can make of a house a home, or of a home a stumbling block, as a place in itself; but we can help each one of the people that live in our homes, our husbands, our children.. we can make them feel love, supported, protected; or we can make them feel push to want to find a corner where they can hide.

Our husbands are biblically the head of our house, but we are the queens of our homes,

What kind of kingdom do I want to have?

A Mother´s Heart

As I have been without internet for the last several weeks, and since I have it today for the first morning in a long time, I realized how much of a hinder this internet is to my relationship with God. I have been able, without it, to have so much more time with Him, I have gotten closer and that is something I don´t want to lose. I have been missing though, pouring my heart out in this blog as well.

As a mother, I have such a burder to be the mother God´s wants me to be. I know I can´t be perfect, but I want to fullfill God´s will for me as a mom.

I look around and see children that has been given such a great opportunity to serve God, they have been given every tool they need to never have to look back on regret for a season of their lifes not being used for His honor. Still, they put that tool aside as if it wasn´t anything of importance and they want to ¨live their lifes¨.

That mind set is scary for me, as I have three little girls. I want nothing more than a life without regrets for them. I want a life lived for God for them. That leaves me praying for wisdom and seeking God´s guiadance everyday for His leading in my life as I lead them while my husband is at work.

" My Lord, my God, I beg for your wisdom in my life. Wisdom to raise my girls in your love and fear. Help me to teach them and not to break them. Show me when to discipline and when to love. Help me to disciple in love. Guide me and lead me to be a mother that glorifies your name. And to you, my God, I´ll give the honor and glory for everything you are going to do. In the name of Jesus. Amen".

Proverbs 4

How Deep the Father´s Love

Isa 53:5-6

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:

the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;

and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

May we all remember the price of our salvation. Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Saturday's reflexions on a Monday

I wrote this saturday morning and I thought I would share with you.


" While I am here, sitting outside in my in law's house, under the sun of a beautiful saturday, seeing my girls playing while I read my Bible, I am reminded once again of God's blessings.

I have so much to be thankful for; but it is so easy to gorget when things are not going the way you would like them to.

Sure, we are still waiting on God's direction for us and waiting for a job for Matthew, but God is taking care of us.

Sure, things have been crazy the last few months with the move and all the changes, but I see my girls happy, healthy, sweet as always, well behaved and soft to spiritual things.

God tells us that if we follow Him, He will never leave us, not forsake us. Sometimes God's will is not clear to us, especially if we are in that "waiting" time; but His promises to us are still true. He doesn't leave us, not forsake us, no matter the way it looks.


Php 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content"


Now, if I can only remember this lesson learned every day! ;)

Word Filled Wednesday: The Greatest news

For more Word Filled Wednesday click here

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him

Word Filled Wednesday: Never alone

Amazing how fast the days go. It is wednesday again, and this week´s hostes of Word Filled Wednesday is All You Have to Give.






Psa 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

There are so much in this world that can feel heavy on our hearts. Sickness, economy, spiritual battles, a family problem.... We live in an imperfect world, and we are imperfect people.

At those times, sometimes we pray, and God seems to be waiting for our prayer, because right away, we have the answer right there.

Other times we pray, lift up our eyes with faith, but there is no answer.

Sometimes we pray for long, but we look up, and it is still rainning.

At those times it is easy to feel alone. It is easy to feel forgotten. It is easy to feel without hope.

And at those times Satan snicks in, and tries to still our faith.

It is then that we have to find one of God´s promises to His people and hold on to it, so hard, that Satan will not be able to move us.

God tells us to give up our burdens and put it at His feet. He promises to carry them for us. He also promises us He will hold our hand and pull us out of our darkest hour.

He will not leave us, not forsake us.

Look up to Jesus, He is our deliverer.

Word Filled Wednesday: By Jesus

This week Penny is hosting Word Filled Wednesday. The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word (no famous quotes or other literature — only the beautiful word of our Father) through photo’s & a Bible verse!

1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;

that ye may know that ye have eternal life,

and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God

We serve a great God that loves us despite our failures and our sins.

We serve a God that gave His Son to die in the cross for our sins, that we may KNOW that we have eternal life.

We serve a great way that made the way clear for salvation: Believing in His Son as the ONLY way.

There is nothing we can do that would take us to heaven. Eph 2:8-9: " For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Have a blessed Wednesday!

Word Filled Wednesday: Be still

Once again I am joining Amy Deanne for Word Filled Wednesday. To me it is a way to highlight the things God has given me in my devotionals that morning, and praise Him for His goodness.

We serve a great God and worthy to be praise.

Psa 46:10-11

Be still, and know that I am God:

I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Psalms 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Encouragement

Today I was going to post about my girls first day of school and a couple of funny stories that went along with it, but I just finished my devotionals and after reading God´s Word, I am so full of God´s love, that I would like to share a few Bible verses that have encourage my heart today.

Maybe this will be a blessing to you too. May you have a wonderful day!

Psa 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Psa 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psa 37:6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Psa 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him...

Psa 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Psa 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORDH upholdeth him with his hand.

Psa 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Psa 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
Psa 37:40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

WHAT A GREAT GOD WE SERVE!

The Way

Wednesday is Word Filled Wednesday time. For more WFW head over to 160 Acre Woods




Today I wanted to share something from my devotionals this morning.

What a blessing to know that we are not alone in all our decissions, and that we have a great and mighty God who wants to show us the best way.

Have a wonderful wednesday everyone!

Word Filled Wednesday

Word Filled Wednesday is a meme I love to be a part of on wednesdays hosted by 160 Acre Woods .

The purpose is to share God´s Word (not any famous quote) through photo and Bible verse.

Of course I am not one that likes to keep things simple, so I always like to explain why I chose that verse. Usually I pick a verse that God has used recently to talk to my heart. Last week I shared with your 2 Timothy 2:13 and told you how God was using it and the lesson I was learning. Click here if you want to read it, but make sure you come back here again.

Today I wanted to do the same and let you know how God has brought me back to the basics to answer a prayer request. Not the answer I was looking for, but God works in misterious ways and His ways are always wiser than mine.

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

So many things I could talk about with those verses, but..... I know, I will stick at what brought me to share these verses.

Like you have been reading the last few weeks, and as I was telling you again last week, I have been praying to God to show me something. When we came to Spain as missionaries we were excited, we couldn´t wait to see what God was going to do. Now that we are in Granada, and by ourselves, sometimes that "magic" and excitement of being a missionary, goes away. No, I am not descouraged of working for the Lord, but being human, loneliness and a lack of seeing responses from the people, sometimes takes the best of me.

Now, not too many missionaries or ladies whose husbands are in the ministry will admit to that, after all, aren´t we suppossed to be those strong christians willing to give up our dreams always with the best of the attitudes? Well, sometimes (not too often ;)) we are not like that. Because not too many would admit that, it leaves some of us feeling like we are not made for this, and many would quit because of that. So I want to be as real as I can, even of that means that I need to show my not so perfect self, to help others realize that those feelings are more normal that we care to admit, and that with prayer, human help, and especially God´s help we can look up and make the devil flee from tempting us.

Now, how that Bible verse goes with all this?. Bear with me :)

So sometimes the devil would start wispering in my ear "Maybe you are not doing God´s will". "Maybe this is not the place you need to be". Because I knew it came from the devil, I was praying to God that He would show me with a verse, with something clear enough that I would know without a doubt that it came from Him, that this was the place we needed to be. So then, next time the devil would come to me I could answer back to him with the Word of God.

I would not hear God (not that He wasn´t talking to me, but I guess not the way I was hoping) so I would go and ask my husband if he knew for sure this was the place. He would tell me yes, and tell me once again why (poor him).

Problem, I wanted my own assurance and I wanted it clear!

Problem with my questioning?. God set my husband to be the head of the home. He is to lead and I am to follow. God can give me assurance of this being the place if He wanted to and the same way He gave it to my husband. But He gave assurance to my husband and reminded me that I was just to follow.

He didn´t reveal to me through a Bible verse that this was the place. Instead He gave me Eph. 5:22-24. I mean really, can a Bible verse get more clear than that?

So now I have something to answer myself and the devil when I question where we are to be. My husband believes this is the place God wants us to be, and I follow him.

Have a wonderful wednesday everyone!

Another great one!

I stayed up until 3:30 am finishing the book I have been reading (it may have had to do also with the fact that I am not used to the time difference between the States and Spain). It is called "Healing Promises" by Amy Wallace and is the book 2 of the Defenders of Hope Series. Click here to read about the first one.

This one is another book that I will strongly recomend to you to read- It has to do with an FBI agent being diagnose with cancer and his fight to admit his illness and trust in God with the process he is to go through. Waiting in the Lord is not an easy thing to do for us especially when we think we need a miracle fast. Also when we want to be able to control the circunstances, admitting we can do it this time, is hard.

It also talks about Sara, his wife, and the struggle to praise God regardless the circunstances. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

On top of that, for those that love adrenaline filled stories, you will see how they fight to track down a serial kidnapper.



For those that think I told the whole story, you are wrong, there is so much to this book. Not only are you being entertain by reading a good book, but also God can use so many lessons from that book to talk to your heart.


Lately I have been impress by God with the need of praising Him more. Not just when I feel like it but also when the storms are dark upon us. It is so easy to praise Him when you are being showered with blessings upon blessings. But how about when you find out you have an illness. How about when you get hit will bills after bills. How about when temptations are hitting you hard. How about when you are depressed and think you can´t go on.

How to get out of that dark pit. Look up to God and praise Him, because there is so much to thank Him about.

I am thinking about starting a meme called "I´ll praise Him" probably for tuesdays. But first I have to figure out how Mr. Linky works :) Any help?

So what do you think? Would you join me for tuesdays "I´ll praise Him"? Coming probably in a week.

Have a great one ladies. I am off for a search of a new apartment/house. Pray for us

He cannot deny Himself

It has been a long time since I have been able to enter my favourite memes. Today, I was looking forward to being a part of Word Filled Wednesday because it is a way to put out what is on my heart.

The Bible verse that I am sharing today has become a very important in my heart, one I remind myself of several times a day, and thankfully, God is giving me victory and every day I have to repeat it less and less.

As you, usual readers, now, I have been going through a little rough time lately. Emotionally I was pretty weary, and lots of times that comes from a spiritual problem. One that was not there in the beginning, but that, like my pastor has mention many times, I have gotten myself in ¨from thinking myself into a depression¨.

What do I mean with that? Sometimes the devil puts a lie before you. The best thing to do is to fight it back as the Bible says in James 4:17 “ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.“

But sometimes you are feeling low, and you start validating that lie. That gives the devil a victory, and a ground to grow in. And more lies come, and more lies you believe.

Believing something and knowing something are two different things, I have come to learn the last few weeks. I know my God, I know who He is and what He promises, but believe….. I believed something different, and I was thinking about it so much that I was getting myself all depress. Do you understand what I mean now? Has anyone been there?

So what were the lies I believed? Well, I was praying about something (That was a fight in itself so I will let you know about that one in a different post), and the answer wasn´t coming. I was frustrated and didn´t understand what was going on. So the devil started whispering in my ear “God doesn´t answer your prayers”. Now, I should have known better, I should have known the devil was the one telling me, but I didn´t. Eventually, I believed it.

“God doesn´t care for you”

“What you are doing here is pointless”

“You have no power of God”

“God doesn´t love you”

Now, if you have told me you were the one feeling that way I would have told you of the verses were God promises all those things to His children. When I felt that way I went looking for those verses, but another lie sneak in “Those are not for you”. Now, I never doubted my salvation. I am one that believes that once you are saved, always saved. But somehow the devil had control over that, and I have believed him.

One night, at our Wednesday service in our home church in Alabama, pastor Allison preached, and that Bible verse stand out so strongly that the devil couldn´t convince me it wasn´t for me.


2Ti 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself

You see, even if I don´t believe God loves me, He does, because He tells us of His love towards us and He cannot deny Himself.

Even if I don´t believe God answers my prayers, He does, because He promises so and He cannot deny Himself.

Even if I believe God cannot do anything trough me, He can, because He promises He would do with those He calls, and He cannot deny Himself.

No matter what I believe, God cannot deny Himself.

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Maybe this will be a blessing to anyone and a help to many.

Training our kids

Before you start reading I apologize for writing the word *s-ck* in this blog. I obviously thought it meant something completly different that what actually means and didn´t know about it until my niece made it sound like it wasn´t the best word to use. I asked my husband and he told me that word is a no-no.... I am so embarrassed and feel so bad about it.... didn´t mean to offend anyone. In my defence (not that I think I deserve one) remember I am from Spain and sometimes I get some words wrong.... I am so embarrassed...... Now, if you forgive me, you can go on reading.

The last few days I have been reminded once again of the great privileged it is to be a mom, the wonderful responsibility we have in raising our children and the role we have as mothers in the teaching and the discipline of our children. All of that compact in the great book “A woman after God´s heart”. Remember I told you I would share the things that God had used to impact my life the most while reading the section in moms?

Of course the first thing she talks about is sharing and teaching God´s Word to our kids.

I remember one time when we were on deputation. Our kids where little, Kayla was maybe 2 ½ and Nicole was just 1 (I don´t think she was just yet), of course Noelia wasn´t even thought yet. It was one of our first meetings, and it was a Missions Conference. We were to stay with a family over those few days at their home. They were young like us and they had a little girl Kayla´s age, and a little boy a couple months older than Nicole, she was pregnant with their third. We had so much fun!

Our second night there, we were sitting in the living room after the church service and the father started asking the little girl Bible verses. I was speechless (yeah, I know, hard to believe). She knew more verses than me (I know the verses but can´t put lots of them together with reference…. Yeah I know….) with the references. She knew all the roman road and lots of other misc. It was amazing.

It was then that I realized that it is never too early to teach our children the Bible. They may forget it with the time, but you are planting seeds in their heart. The world is going to try to tattoo their philosophy in our kid´s heart, so we MUST tattoo the Word of God so they can fight against it... it is never too early.

As soon as we got home we decided we would work on a different Bible verse every week, and we would review the past ones every day. After a few months Kayla new lots of Bible verses. We never did much with Nicole because she was just a baby and didn´t even know how to talk. One day, to our surprise, she started telling us all the Bible verses at the same time that Kayla was!!!

Somehow we left that good tradition out and we haven´t been as faithful on that as we used to be. Sad but true. It sadden me to realize that they have forgotten all those verses they once knew, and I know it is my fault because I didn´t stay at it.

This book has reminded me about it and I have taken the decision to get those good traditions back. One verse a week, and hey, it will help me too!!!

I don´t want this post to be too long so I will share some more a different time. Have a good Thursday!

And he shall be like a tree....

For more Word Filled Wednesday click here

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

It is clear that the closest our relationship with God is, the stronger we are when Satan or our flesh puts us under temptation. In the contrary, and as it is logical, if we don´t have a close walk with God, a strong communion with Him, we will fall into those temptations as easy and as often as they come to our lives.

The Bible says that the man/woman (allow me to add woman as I believe it is for us also) that meditate in His law (the Bible) day and night will stay strong and will give fruit.

I desire to bring fruit before my Lord. It is my need then, to read my Bible day and night, to spend time in prayer with Him, and put myself under the preaching of the Word of God. Those are things that are very basic to a baby christian, but that even us "mature" christians neglect very often. It is strange that we wonder then, why it is so hard to keep ourselves from falling.

We need to stand strong with the basics.

Word Filled Wednesday

Today is wednesday which means is time for Word Filled Wednesday. This is all about God. We are to share His Word through photo and verse. If you want to take a part in this meme or see other WFW go over 160 Acre Wood for it



2 Cor. 6:20 says " For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God"


We must remember we are His and we are to honor and praise Him with everything we are and do. May that verse comes to mind next time we want to please our flesh instead of honoring God. We are bought with a price.

Now look around you and find someone that do not know this truth. There are so many that do not know that their sins were bought with His blood. What a challenge this verse is to my life this morning, may it be a blessing to you too.

I´ll see you here tomorrow. I ended up getting more than just higlights :)... I love it!!!!

A first for me

This is the first time I participate in "Word Filled Wednesday", but I thought it would be a great way to show what God is doing with me. This coming Saturday is mother´s day here in Spain. So I thought I would share something about us ladies, moms, and wives.

Pro 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

I think I can talk for every mom and wife when I say that, to fulfil this Bible verse is our main desire. We all want to be a godly example to our kids. We all want to be a helpmeet to our husbands. Having that desire is great, but nothing gets accomplished with just desiring something. Actions must be taken. If we want to be godly moms, we have to conduct ourselves in a godly way. If we want to be a helpmeet to our husbands, there are things that we must do, or in many cases, must not do. Actions and not desires is what will make this Bible verse true in our lives. We must ask God to help us to be what we ought to be for His honour and His glory. We must ask for His guidance and take actions.

Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin

For more of ¨Word Filled Wednesday¨ be sure to visit its hostes in The 160 Acre Woods

Have a great day!

Tough Love

Last monday I went to God with a little bit of a pity party.

Has it ever happen to you that you saw how your child fall down, and, although she-he verily touched the ground, she-he came crying wanting some simpathy hug or something like that. But instead of giving it to her-him, you decided it wasn´t a big deal and told her-him ¨you are just fine, it is not bleeding or anything. Go on¨. Well, that happend to me the other day. Only I didn´t fall.

Something made me pretty sad, someone´s reaction made me sad, and I went to God wanting a simpathy hug. I wanted some grace, I wanted the hurt to magically go away. I wanted it to feel all better.

God´s reaction was quite different. I read my Bible, listened to some preaching tapes, and prayed. His response was much more biblical but I will put it down in my own words if you allow me (you really got no choice). It was pretty much ¨You are just fine. This is something you are going to have to deal with because you are in the ministry. It is always going to be this way. You can tell them what I want, but you can´t make them do it. People need you and then they don´t want you. Some will give three steps forward and two backwards. You are going to see that a lot.¨ I will add to this ¨so get over it ;)¨.

We all need some tough love sometimes. It Helped me a lot more than a little babying (is that even a word?). We are all in the learning process, ain´t we?

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Col 3:23-24 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Remember now and don´t forget entering for my first ever giveaway! Ends tomorrow! Don´t miss the blessing!

Me again

How many times have you read a portion of scriptures and never got much from that particular portion, and one day the Lord uses it to encourage you in a way that turns that portion into one of your favorites.

That has happend to me many times. I remember right before we came to Spain, I was afraid. What a responsability!.Would we dissapoint people? Would we dissapoint God? Am I ready? Psalm 91 was a great strength for me. Satan knew it was time, and it was trying to get me to be afraid. This parts were of great encouragement

vr 2: my God; in him will I trust.

vr 4-5: He shall cover thee with his feathers,and under his wings shalt thou his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror, by night; nor for the arrow, that flieth by day.

God knows we get scared easily, and in His mercy He has given us 366 verses about not being afraid. There is no God like our God.

Psalm 18: 1-3 has been close to my heart for many years now. "I will love thee, oh Lord my stregth". When things get complicated those words are like medicine to my soul.

Psal 107 has been a help to me today, especially verses 4-7. You know, sometimes God allows us to go on "our way" so we can realize there is no way but His. In our stregth there is nothing but failure. In His stregth there is hope.

Last summer I had a couple of ladies coming to the church we were helping with. They both came with difficult backgrounds religiously. God used a portion of Acts 18 to give me boldness "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee". Within two days both ladies got saved.

So this is what I ask from you. I would love you to share with me one time, pick one, where God touched your heart during your devotions with a verse. It is amazing how many times I read comments from other people and God used it to bless my heart or speak to me. So go on, please share.

From today's devotional

Psa 66:8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
Psa 66:9 Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
Psa 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
Psa 66:11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
Psa 66:12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealth