Category Archives: Rest in Him

Be Still

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How many times have I checked this tree in our front yard? Not once or twice but multiple times this Spring. My husband and I drove around the neighborhood and compared similar trees in size and development this past weekend. We asked ourselves, ‘Do we need treatment for a fungus or fertilizer?!’

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Our other tree started to show foliage overnight. We were so excited, ‘It was just a matter of time’. We both agreed.

I don’t know about you…

I take delight in manipulating external factors so outcomes can be achieved in a timely manner or even sooner than expected.

When outcomes are delayed, I get impatient. When hurrying, I mess up at times.

Can I really rush the growth of our front yard trees? That’s a foolish thought! We can use pesticide if there is fungus and fertilizer to nourish the soil perhaps.

I truly struggle with God when circumstances are not unfolding as expected. I may repeatedly ask Him, ‘Help me now, I need an answer’ or ‘Please, fix this for me right now! or ‘I will fix it myself!’

The Lord reminds me everyday, “Be still, and know that I am God…”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭46:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God is in control. He takes care of details and aligns the circumstances with the most favorable plan in our lives. We just need to surrender and trust in Him alone.

It’s quite a challenge to wait, I know.

It took me twenty-five years and three professional licenses before I stepped into a regional position. Even though I face opposition multiple times in a day, God reminds me “Be still, Adriana’.

God equipped me for the circumstances I’m facing today; otherwise, I would have already failed.

God’s mercies and grace are renewed every morning. He is my refuge and comforter. As I’m sitting in my leather couch this morning, I am counting all career blessings that have unfolded this past year alone.

Let me relax, drink my morning coffee, and enjoy my day ‘off’.

Spring is already here and there is no need to rush.

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God always makes a way!

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At 7:50 a.m. I was on my way to work when I heard the phone ring. Doctor’s demands were harshly voiced over the telephone,’quit smoking immediately’. He later added, ‘I don’t care if you inhale the nicotine, you must stop now. It suppresses your immune system…’

I was embarrassed  and remained quiet at first.

‘Yes, sir’ I softly answered.

 I never knew how difficult it was to quit smoking when our bodies depend on nicotine. I used to smoke a pack a day of ‘Marlboro – ultra lights’!

I was battling addiction then.

There are all types of addiction; alcoholism, workaholism, gambling, overeating, pornography, drug and sex addiction just to highlight a few.

Withdrawal symptoms are typically signs of dependence; an ongoing struggle during the initial stage of recovery. Relapse is another factor to keep in mind.

For over six years, I had been battling ‘atypical cells’ in my body and I still need to be tested every six months.

When I initiated the healing process, I decreased the number of cigarettes each day until I no longer needed to purchase a pack. I also replaced smoking with healthier, relaxing activities.

I find exercise, arts and crafts, reading, journaling and prayer to be quite relaxing. Most importantly, meditating on God’s Word calmed my anxious heart.

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In Christ, anything is possible.

“It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭18:32‬ ‭NIV‬

 Let’s trust in Jesus Christ, surrender our addiction and live an abundant life filled with healthier choices.

I am ALL in. How about you?

Let’s not party!

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Would you like to take a walk?, hubby asked. I glanced at him quickly and mentioned, ‘later’.

All I truly wanted was for him to join the ‘pity’ party and forget about the wellness program.

What? yes, you heard me right!

I wanted loud noise makers, colorful balloons, matching cups, plates, table cloths and napkins plus ton of confetti.

When I party, I like to celebrate my ‘stinking’ attitude in style.

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‘Stinky’ thinking overrides the joy of every waking hour.

If we focus on regrets, we neglect our blessings. If we focus on past circumstances, we neglect the joy of the ‘here and now’. If we focus on the ‘what ifs’, we neglect the richness of today’s reality.

Discouragement and pessimism creep in fast when holding tight to a stinky attitude!

The Lord encourages us, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NIV

But God, how can I think on what’s lovely and admirable when the circumstances are just NOT so lovely? How can I be noble when others are not?

As I’m wrestling with Him,  I pray for strength when I’m weak and disheartened.

Finding time to pray and meditate on Scriptures is key.

Keeping a daily, gratitude journal reminds us of God’s faithfulness, a tangible reminder of His blessings.

Saying NO to some activities provide a margin for us to rest and not be exhausted all the time.

I would rather be rested, prayerful and grateful instead of partying with a stinky attitude! How about you?

Let’s not have another pity party anytime soon.

 

Not Alone!

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“Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭66:20‬ ‭NIV‬

How many times have we stood at a crossroad and did not know which route to take?!

Mapquest directions were not clear or GPS was malfunctioning or its signal was lost or there was an unexpected detour along the way.

Challenges in life are to be expected.

We may experience mixed emotions when standing at a crossroad but we can definitely take a minute to breathe, sit back, relax and pray for wisdom.

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Over the years, I’ve made numerous life-altering decisions. As much as I like to consult with family and friends, I’m the one who is ultimately responsible for the outcome.

It can indeed be a lonely experience!

 As I’m facing another crossroad in life today, it is nerve wracking not to have a clear sense of direction.

Calm my anxious heart Lord!, I often pray.

Praise God for His faithfulness, comfort and peace.

God is currently orchestrating the most favorable circumstances and is taking care of details on my behalf. Even though I still don’t have a sense of direction, I know He has heard my prayer.

I just need to trust Him as I am waiting for an answer at the crossroad!

Daddy’s girl!

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“Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them,”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭69:34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Happy first anniversary dad! I’ve missed you.

Enjoy the serenity, sea breeze, singing birds, tropical weather of your heavenly estate.

Dad and I would sit together for unlimited hours at a time! We talked about anything, laughed at funny jokes, shared updates on ‘novelas’, arranged for auto repairs, shopped for office supplies, ate ‘Arepas’ every morning, dealt with disappointments and grief, watched ‘Sabado Gigante’ traveled to Scandinavian countries…

YES! I was dad’s little girl.

In my teens, dad enjoyed my piano practices at sunrise, and even dreamed of piano performance in concert halls. As I grew older, dad was delighted about college plans and career opportunities.

I vividly remember dad’s tears of joy when I graduated.

If I could whisper in his ear where I’m possibly heading next… He would smile at me right at this moment and would say, “you can do it, Adriana”

Dad never graduated from high school yet lived in two countries, retired in his early 40s, traveled around the world and provided us with life-time opportunities.

Praise God for His faithfulness!

 Dad was a remarkable man who also battled Parkinson’s disease for over 35 years, shared his wisdom, loved unconditionally and left fingerprints engraved deep in my soul!

Dad’s integrity, humility and forgiving heart will forever be treasured.

Dad is much alive in my heart!

YES! I’m still dad’s little girl.

Guilty as charged!

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Have I used ‘facetune’ app to erase wrinkles on my face?

Guilty as charged!

There will always be an opportunity to fix our ‘looks’ on the app. by just clicking different features.

‘click’ red eyes are fixed, ‘click’ wrinkles are faded, ‘click’ teeth are whiter than ever, ‘click’ textures are smoother and even another ‘click’ 10-15 lbs. are instantly off!

Magazines and TV commercials highlight the latest trends of beauty products.

Have I used anti-aging products?

Guilty as charged!

As a matter of fact, I’ve found the best products for facial ‘aging’ spots in the market recently. Yes! I’m quite aware of the aging process… Loss of hair, belly fat, grey hair, aging spots, flabby arms just to mention a few!

Exercising our bodies, and eating healthy promote wellness. Just know, our hearts need most of our attention.

Guarding our hearts from negative emotions will enhance our quality of life. Don’t allow anger take root in your heart.

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Have we asked ourselves lately?!

Am I resentful or forgiving? Am I judgmental or understanding? Am I hateful or loving? Am I selfish or giving? Am I angry or compassionate?

If we are experiencing negative emotions today, let’s pray for God’s perspective, renew our minds quickly and pray for healing of our tender hearts.

1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us, “People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 

‘Please Lord, give me a fresh perspective on aging and most importantly heal all matters of the heart. Give me a fresh perspective on gray hair very soon! I don’t want to be ‘guilty as charged’ on my next birthday…’

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Refreshed!

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“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:22-23‬ ‭NIV

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How many times am I burden with uncontrollable anticipation about the future?

Dwelling on all sort of possibilities may indeed result in angst!

Anxious thoughts distract us from what’s relevant for the day; deadlines to fulfill, work tasks to complete, telephone calls to make, sick child to attend to, medical appointment to schedule, financial obligations to consider, an emergency to handle in a timely fashion and so much more.

Why be distracted with the ‘unknown’? Some events may never occur in a lifetime…

Every time I spend too much time exploring various scenarios, my energy is drained and mental efforts are taxed.

Will I have the clarity to manage my day effectively under distress? Probable not!

His Word refreshes my soul every morning, His angels protect me everywhere I go, and His compassion never runs out.

Every morning, I thank Him for my last breaths. He comforts me every time I’m in distress.

Thank You Jesus for being my comforter every morning! Your mercies are new every morning.

There is no need to ruminate on the past much less on the ‘unknown’.

Forgive them Lord!

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Mom’s greatest gift is hospitality and her talent is manifested in the kitchen! Every time mom had a guest, she cooked Venezuelan dishes in just a matter of minutes. Mom’s servant heart always welcomed strangers with open arms. She believed ‘the best’ in people.

Mom now has Alzheimer’s disease and her health is declining steadily. Her servant’s heart remains intact so does her legacy.

Over the years, I’ve trusted people over and over again just like mom always did.

Gift of Hospitality

Unfortunately, there are mean-spirited people in the world and may even exist in our circle of influence today. We will never have control over their intentional, wicked acts; but we have some control over our initial shock and how we respond to the ultimate challenge.

We live in a broken world indeed.

When faced with malevolent masterminds, we may want to focus only on what is admirable, noble and of excellence. Pray for a forgiving heart and even help these  lost people if the opportunity arises.

Jesus Christ was flawless yet he was judged, framed and crucified!

One of His humble, admirable reaction other than crying out in pain was ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Construction in Progress

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 Morning SunriseWork under construction

When I walk at sunrise, I like to pray, breathe fresh air, listen to birds sing and stretch body muscles.

As I do my morning walking, I note the progress of a construction site.

As  much as I don’t like to think about the future traffic this road will bring to our neighborhood, I look forward to less travel time and gas consumption.

Construction sites are messy  but there are benefits to new roads once completed.

Cities are always evolving!

Renovations and improvements are considered every year.

Our lives circumstances are always unfolding and evolving as well.

We are always contemplating in ‘how to’ improve our eating habits, ‘how to’ renovate our wardrobe, ‘how to’ make a new recipe or even ‘how to’ negotiate with vendors prior to home improvements.

We will always have an opportunity to create the life we always wanted. Even when our lives gets ‘messy or out of control’, we have an opportunity to learn from our mistakes, capture fresh insights and rebuild it differently.

Our lives will always be under construction and progress can be made everyday towards a new plan filled with unlimited possibilities.

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭20:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Help me with my unbelief, Lord!

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How many times do I experience doubt, anxiety or even fear when contemplating a life-altering decision?

Way too many times! I’m even experiencing doubt right now as I’m typing this blog post. These emotions are symptoms of ‘unbelief’, an unreliable source of information.

It’s normal to experience these emotions though.

But when any of these emotions interfere with decision-making process, blurs the vision or even erases the possibilities of a brighter future, self-examination is crucial.

What am I saying to myself?

‘What if it does not work out in the long run? What if I make a mistake? What if …???

The what ifs can drive anyone ‘nuts’.

The reality is I will never know what’s going to occur next in my life only God does. Just know, He only wants the best for our future.

In Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “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’

In Mark 9: 23-24, Jesus reminds us ‘ …everything is possible for one who believes’

The reality is there is no guarantee in life.

Explore the risks and benefits of any given situation, pray for discernment and wisdom, wait and let God do the rest.

Help me with my unbelief, Lord!