I Am Brave

 I am excited for this weekend coming up because many young ladies will be standing up to their fears, struggle and obstacles to say three powerful words: I Am Brave. It’s a declaration of faith and courage to stand up to your circumstances and say; despite it all, I am brave. It knocked me down but guess what? I was able to rise back up. It hit me pretty hard, but I’m a survivor. I was not supposed to make it, but I am here. Why? Because I Am Brave.

This Friday, the 9^th will be a night of celebration. We will be celebrating the bravery of so many courageous women. We will listen to some pretty powerful ‘Brave Stories’ of women who have endured great pain but have also been overcomers. And today they can share their stories to inspire other women to continue on their individual journeys.  The ‘You Make Me Brave’ event is about inspiring others through your individual story. It’s about encouraging others while they’re going through the challenging moments their story. And it’s about celebrating the victories of those who have overcome their struggles and moved on to the next chapter of their story.

Everyone has a story. Some stories are longer and more complex than others; nonetheless, it’s a beautiful story. How can you say it’s beautiful? You don’t know what I’ve been through, you may ask. And you’re right, I don’t know but one thing I do know is that someone else out there has. And that person has survived what you are going through.  With that, I can confidently say that your story; although incomplete and imperfect, will translate into a beautiful and inspiring story. That is why this event is so important to me because we are able to help each other through our stories. And I know for many this may seem far fetch because the pain is too profound and the darkness in your life abounds but I promise you that you will see the light at the end of the tunnel. I love what Psalm 23:4 says and I blogged about it a couple months ago: ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.’ Whatever dark valley you may be facing, remember this, fear not! Don’t be afraid because you are not alone, God is with you. And I like how the NKJV states this verse, check this out: ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.’ It’s just a shadow. It’s not death, whatever situation you may be facing, it will not lead to destruction, and it will not bring forth your death. Sometimes it’s easy to think, “OMG I’m going to die, I can’t take it any longer”. Relax, take a deep breath and remember,  it’s just a shadow in which one day, I don't know when, but one day, when you least expect it, that shadow will be exposed to light. And you too will be sharing your 'Brave Story'.

And I know many of my readers will not be able to make it to this event this weekend, but I want to remind you today that you are brave. The bible says in Psalm 30:5 that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. And I want to declare over your life today, this first Monday of 2015 that although you may be weeping and it seems like dawn will never break and darkness is prevailing, I want to tell you that the day is breaking every shadow of darkness in your life and light will be exposed. If you can believe that 2015 will be a year of breakthrough, it will happen. Yes, we go through tests and trials and it is necessary in our lives but it is not God’s intention for you to stay “stuck” in a particular trial for a million years. Where would be the growth and maturity in that? In the midst of your struggle, God is pulling out a ‘brave’ new you. Pay close attention to the lessons He wants to teach you, for they will help you in the next phase of life.

We are simply guest starring in our own book, written by the One who holds the pen; God, the author of our lives. Through it all, God has always been with us, He is the one who makes us brave. He is the one who gives us the strength to endure everything we go through. He is the one who is writing our Brave Stories.

I’ll leave you with a short ‘I Am Brave’ video. Remember, you too are Brave :-)

Be Encouraged, Be Blessed!

Landy Perez-Feliciano ♥

The Eve Syndrome: Constant Craving

The Eve Syndrome: Constant Craving
Guest Blogger: Jeanette Vargas Salguero

The Eve Syndrome: Constant Craving As a pastor and leader, people come to me to share their stories; relay their fears, hurts, and desires. Interestingly, I’ve noticed a common denominator in my dialogues with them: a constant craving. I’m not talking about craving chocolate or a banana split. I’m referring to the powerful desire for something that tends to overtake your life. I hear the sadness and desperation; the discontent; the desire to be different or be like someone else; the yearning and the longing for that significant person or a child; the desperation for something different – something more. It’s a type of craving that takes root and shifts the mind, body and soul to a level of dissatisfaction and unhappiness. The craving grows until days are spent in endless displeasure, and minds are engulfed with what’s missing. The craving takes root, driving you to obsess over the lack – driving you towards hopelessness. This is not the typical desire to lose those 10 lbs. that seems to stick like leeches, or the wish to win a $10,000 shopping spree. This craving is deeper. It’s dark. It makes you feel lonely and desperate. It steals your joy, your peace, your rest. It rams depression down your throat. It makes you obsessed with wondering what’s wrong with you, what’s wrong with other people, what’s wrong with the world. It leaves you with an aching void in your life.

The Cradle of Craving Caveat: it’s not wrong to desire things and pray for them. For example, I speak with many women who desire to be married; however, their level of want is healthy. Their desire does not control or consume them. The aspiration does not interfere with who they are nor their relationship with God or with others. If your desire, regardless if it’s good, turns into a craving that affects your core; then that craving has become an idol in your life. And, God will not have any idols before Him. -Exodus 20:3 “Now the serpent…said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The women said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, “You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “…When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.” “…Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” -Genesis 3: 1-12

Photo Credit: Aphrodite

Question: If all that God created was good and sufficient in the garden, why did Eve eat of the fruit? Why did she feel she needed more? Why did she focus on what she didn’t have?

1. Eve internalized the message of the serpent: We are all confronted with temptations daily. But, when we open our ears to listen and our hearts to receive the message that what God has already given is not enough – our disposition changes. When we allow the devourer of our souls to plant a seed and show us what we don’t have, we begin to believe that we are truly missing out. Eve had all she needed, but she allowed the serpent to highlight and bring to the forefront the one thing she didn’t have. The serpent painted the picture of lack and she took that message in.

2. Eve stared till she craved: So, not only did Eve take the message in and let it marinate in her soul, she took a step further. Eve didn’t shoo away the message (nor the messenger) and chose to focus on the good that she already had. No. She approached the tree and “saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom”. She stared at that tree and its fruit and she craved! Her senses were heightened at the possibility of this new, different, better and pleasing life. Even before she took a bite, her senses told her this was what she needed for fulfillment. Very much like us when our mind presses play & rewind over and over, I’m almost sure Eve visited that tree often fanning the flame of her craving. I’m sure she stared and analyzed until her mind was convinced and her feelings were aligned with the notion that her current status was not where she wanted to be.

3. Eve made an idol of her craving: She rationalized and convinced herself that she needed to have what she was craving in order to thrive. This fruit before her would fill the void, satisfy the hunger and provide understanding – natural God-given needs. So, what was so bad about that? Well, now, what the God of the universe had created for her was no longer enough. Everything else around her was not as pleasing and favorable as this. This tree would be the epitome of nourishment and its fruit would provide wisdom. What God had created with His very hands would have to take the back seat. What she craved for was superior, better, more fulfilling than her current state. She wouldn’t need God as much anymore. In fact, she didn’t even take this matter to him. She just craved and ate.

The Eve syndrome of craving has the power to take away our joy and peace. And, if fanned, it has the power to stagnate our lives and take us down the precipice of depression. It is a subtle epidemic in today’s world that causes dissatisfaction, tearing our relationships with God and people apart, and making us blind to all the goodness around us. Be aware. Remember, that “the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” – Jeremiah 17:9 “Lord, apart from you I have no good thing…you alone are my portion and my cup…I will praise the Lord who counsels me, even at night when my heart instructs me…you will make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures on your right hand.” –Psalm 16

Jeanette Vargas Salguero
Urban Strategies, The Lamb"s Church

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Father, Here I Am

On the last blog post, I was talking about the importance of "growing up" and maturing because God has a lot of great things in store for each and every one of us. His desire is to bless us abundantly, but we must be prepared to handle the great blessings when they come. That is why today, I want to talk about the importance of establishing a solid and intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.

You see, the only way we will truly be able to tap into God's presence is through intimacy. He longs to have a relationship with us because He is able to reveal Himself in a more personal and direct way. There are hidden secrets that our Father will only reveal to us when we begin to cultivate an intimate relationship with Him. Through constant prayer and seeking His face, we will see things that we have never seen before. We will experience things that we have never experienced before. Through simply telling Him, "Father, Here I Am" you are allowing yourself to be accessible to the will and desires of Him. The Bible says that our thoughts are not His thoughts, and our ways are not His ways. His plans for our lives will always be greater than what we ever imagined.

That is why I am so excited to talk about a book that will help you get to the place of intimacy that you need to be at with your Heavenly Father. It's a 40 day devotional for women written by author: Joann Rosario-Condrey. This book has been such a blessing to so many women who have already read it.

Everything in your life must start with PRAYER! You need guidance for something? Pray about it. You have a big decision coming up? Pray about it. You need a financial breakthrough? Pray about it. You need healing? Pray about it. You know God is calling you to fulfill His purpose in your life? Prayer will lead you directly to your destiny. What am I trying to say here? Without an intimate relationship with our Father who is in Heaven, we cannot expect things to go right in our lives. You want to be successful? Spend time with the one who can make you successful, your Father. You need favor and grace upon your life? You need doors to be opened for you?  You need the windows of heaven to open up for you and have God's blessings pour down on you? Get close to the one who can provide all of that for you, your Father!

I encourage you today to invest in your life, invest in your future, invest in your relationship with your Father and read this book. I will take it a step further, Men: Read this book too! You will benefit from it as well. God has so many great things for us, you just have to believe and tap into them. There are hidden treasures and specific blessings with our names written all over them that  will only be revealed and released through prayer and through developing an intimate relationship with your Father. Are you ready to discover what He has for you? You're only a prayer away!

 

For more information on Joann Rosario Condrey and the amazing work she is doing in the Kindgom of God, visit: http://www.joannrosariocondrey.com. "Father, Here I am"  is also available for purchase through her site.  Let's support this great ministry!

Be Encouraged, Be Blessed!

LandyPF ♥