Lights, Camera... SMILE!

Earlier today, I along with the members of the leadership team of my church went for a photo shoot for our church's website. It's amazing how even amongst family how smiling for the camera, can prove to be  fun as well as make one very self-conscious.

I see my niece and nephews smile at once, at the sight of a camera, and recall being just as much of a ham as they were at that age, and then somehow... something happened and my confidence not as apparent. Blushing, when told to give a wry smile, or a serious look, and finding myself doing a terrible job at holding back the laughter.

We are born with such a great confidence knowing not that there is another option. Due to words we've heard, things that have occurred, or images we see, we are led to compare ourselves to one another and begin to believe we are not good enough or less than what we should be. It is insecurity that yields us to have difficulty at times to do something as simple as smile.

At the garden, Adam and Eve had it all, and were essentially perfect; they knew nothing else than that which the Lord shared with them.  Then came that day, when the sly serpent would come and twist the truth just enough to cause them to wonder, if maybe God was holding out on something great.  He also caused them, to want something, that they already had, to be in the image and likeness of God.   The serpent, planted those seeds of insecurity and inferiority, which led Adam & Eve to sin, and well the rest is history...

I want to remind you that you were indeed made in the Image & Likeness of All-mighty God and that though, Adam & Eve's actions, did cause a separation from God, Jesus' redeemed & restored us unto Him.   We once more can walk in the fullness that He made us to be.  You are beautiful! You are his marvelous creation! So great is the love that the Father has for you that He sent Jesus, His one & only son.  He sent him, so you can recognize who you are... His, so Smile!

be blessed & a blessing,
Minda

Just a little Faith

by: Priscy Marie

I tend to live in my own world and walk to the beat of my own personal drummer and sing songs no one knows. But, every so often I lend myself to see to world around me for what
it is.  I see sadness, insecurity, rejection and complexes to fill every galaxy above.  People doubting their faith or being told they need more.

Makes me think; who has faith?  Is it the optimistic go getter or the Debbie downer?  The truth is, everyone has a measure of faith that’s been gifted to them by God.  The difference lies in where the faith is put.

Faith is the certainty of things hoped for and the conviction of what’s not seen

A few weeks ago I was faced with an opportunity to use my faith either for me or against me.  I was really low on funds and had some large expenses being drafted from my account.  I had no way to come up with sufficient funds in this short amount of time and was faced with two main options; the obvious and easiest, “oh no I’m going to over draw my account and have to pay twice as much in fees”, or the more difficult, “hey Lord, You are my provider and You make a way where there is no way”.  I struggled because although it was easy to say the latter, it was challenging for my heart to truly submit to this confession.  I had to make my heart
compliant to the faith I wanted and needed to have.  Even if I were to have gone with the easier path my faith would still have been exercised but it would have been working against me.  The Lord made a way out of NO way and was just in time!

It’s sometimes perplexing to me, how I would ever choose to have faith in heart ache or pain
or just plain negative things.  It brings me back to realizing that I need to get to know my loving savior a little more because if I knew Him I would know His thoughts and hold on to the ones He has for me.  Use my faith to work for me in the hope and future that He has planned for me.       

What is your faith in?  What is your confession?  What is your heart proclaiming?

Use Your faith to work for you and not against you as you walk in the plan the He has for you.

Have faith, know that He has a plan for you, and it’s a good one! J

Ever Near

These past few days I have been reviewing some of my poetry and lyrics as I have had some services and poetry jams to attend and there is a poem that I kept coming across and was able to share with some teens and friends.  It goes like this:

Distant

There are times when I feel

So distant, 

Distant from you.

I don't know where You are 

Or has it been 

That I moved from close to You?

There are times that I just feel

So lost, 

Lost oh so lost, 

I don't know what to do.

I look al around 

All I see

Is darkness that blinds

'Cause I am,

So far,

So far from You.

But You haven't moved 

No You haven't changed 

No I was the one who walked away.

'Cause You haven't moved

No You're always the same

Your arms are open

waiting for the day.

You arms are open wide 

Waiting for the day

That I come back to You

You haven't gone away

You gave me so much love

I didn't,

I didn't know what to do

I was overwhelmed, 

Oh how could this be true

I decided to take 

One more look 

At that life, 

That life I left behind 

And ended up 

Further from you 

Further than the first time.

No, You haven't moved 

You haven't changed 

No I was the one who insisted on walking away.

No, You haven't moved

You haven't changed

You're always the same.

ⓒ  Minda Montero - 2007

In Malachi the Word of the Lord tells us that the Lord our God doesn't change, He is a constant in this ever changing world. And even though when we come to Him with sincere hearts and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we at times glance and gaze at others longingly, and forget about that overwhelming love, for He is Love. All that we know about love, truly comes from Him.  And it is in that amazing love, that He patiently awaits our turning of our hearts toward Him once more, because just as in that 1st day when we accepted Him and He made his dwelling place in our lives, He has not departed... He said he will never Leave you nor Forsake you... 

So, let us be reminded of His goodness, of His love, of Him, and turn your hearts toward the one that made You His dwelling place, and you will see that He is indeed not far or distant at all.

Be blessed & a Blessing,

Minda

A Quick Look at Stress

By Priscy Marie

Stress!  You feel it in your neck, your back, and head and all over your body.  You can even see it, like around your waist line.  It amazes me how during times of stress we either go on an involuntary fast or become compulsive overeaters and others’ bodies store fat during this involuntary fast and create unwanted insulation that is quite visible. UGH!!!! STRESS!  I feel bloated just thinking about it.  Even when it’s related to a good thing like a wedding or promotion, stress is, in itself, not desirable.  Why would God let us go through stress that makes our hair fall out or turn grey, our skin denourish and wrinkle up?  People can die from stress.  It kills us!

Is stress a sin?  Hmm… I wonder.  According to Webster’s dictionary it’s a constraining force or influence.  That does not sound pleasant to me at all.  When we stress, are we, sometimes, doubting that it will not work out well?  I believe that when we doubt that God will come through.  We are doubting God’s faithfulness and in essence doubting God and in that, sinning against Him.

Stress leads to frustration and frustration is work of the flesh.  I don’t know about you but I don’t want my flesh leading me anywhere.  When the flesh leads, it usually ends with time lost in regret from decisions hastily made. 

The truth is that God always makes a way and He tells us to cast our burdens on Him and that He will carry our load.  He is our God.  He is faithful.   He is the provider of all because He is the creator and we as His creation, are reapers of His provision, including constraining forces.  It’s great to know
that we don’t have to stress and that He actually prepares us before situations happen.  We just have to open our eyes to see that He’s there and has been there all along.  He never leaves us.  He is waiting for us, waiting for us to give Him our burdens. He tackles all the good and bad and ugly.  He takes it all and works it for our good.  All we have to do is love Him. And if love Him then follow His ways.  So, let’s stop stressing and regain our waistlines and youth.  Let’s live the life God wants us to live and not just believe He has us but KNOW it.           

Hesitant, yet hopeful

    We shall all remember Sunday, May 1, 2011, when the President of the United States announced the death of Al-Qeada leader, Osama Bin Laden.  We shall also remember the tragic events of September 11th, when so many were killed so quickly and unexpectedly.  These along with many others have marked the history of our nation, and the lives of thousands will never be the same.
 
  I remember wondering if the death of one man, can save a nation from the perils of terrorism that have changed our nation since 2001.  Will his death mean an end to the efforts of this group?  What does this mean for this "war on terror"? And I continued to ponder on a hundred, "What Ifs".

  While so many rejoiced upon the death of this man, I will admit I was hesitant.  I hesitated, not because of the questions that flooded my mind, but because this is a man, a life, for which Christ died for.  For, while we were all still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly, that includes Bin Laden.  Or have we forgotten that?
 
  He is one more life that was so overtaken by evil, that he slay so many lives without regard for the value of life. Did Bin Laden reap what he sowed? I would say yes, for the wages of sin is death.  It is an eternal death that all sin yields, if we do not remember, recognize and honor the One that died to free us from the slavery to sin and to give us life, Jesus Christ.

   Slavery to sin?? Yes, that's what it is. Bin Laden, was unable set himself free from the holds of sin, even if he wanted to.  He was bound to this evil, allowed hate to take root and bloom that which it did. Maybe it's not murder or overt evil that you foster, but what are you allowing to take root in your heart, and what is coming forth?

  So while I know that the evil that led Bin Laden is still around, the victory of his death is short lived.  I pray that those who are willing to foment the works of evil and hate will see how the life of one man only leads to death, including his own.  But that through us, be able to see that the death of another brings forth life, and Life Everlasting.

Yes, evil exist but Jesus Reigns! And His life -exemplary, His death -redeeming, His resurrection -transforming!

be blessed & a blessing,
Minda

 

Passover Me

By PriscyMarie

From Palm Sunday to Resurrection day, last week was a time of focused reflection on the sacrificial gift that is for every and anyone.  So, I’m thinking, how does God feel? Does He celebrate or feel sad or upset? I mean, he gave this great gift and so many refuse to receive it and those who do often only apply the salvation for eternity piece, not the healing and redemption for today. 

My question is; does God feel the same hurt when His gift is rejected in part as when it’s rejected completely?  Knowing what is to come, how does He suffer the heart break?  Can I comfort God? 

I don’t know the answer to my questions yet, but I don’t want to take the risk.  I don’t want to hurt Him anymore; though I am sure He can handle it.  I want to please Him.  I want it to be, sky opening, dove descending, voice from the heavenly kind of obedience.  He has endured more than enough from each of us.  Even the one who has done and thought the least wrong has completely offended and sinned and caused Him pain, He has to judge and sentence.
 
Have you ever thought how difficult that is?  He alone is God, He alone is perfect, and He alone is love.  His love brings forgiveness, and that brings us back to the cross, the terribly wonderful gift of the cross.

The life, death and glorification of Jesus the Christ; He died in the flesh so that I might also die to the flesh but LIVE in the spirit.  Just a few moments of thought on this provoke me to evaluate my heart and ask how am I treasuring Him?  It provokes me to ask you to do the same. 

The many shades of Red...yep that's me.

Hello everyone, Minda here! Pray you are well. 

As you know Priscy and I have been busily working on building our business the Pink Daisy Cafe ~ Studio Live. We have been blessed in going around the tri-state area ministering through, music, drama and the Word. We are also working diligently on some writings and some pretty cool products. Please keep us in your prayers! 

It has all been quite exciting!

For instance, this past weekend I had the opportunity to attend and serve as interpreter for In God's Image Ministry's annual Marriage Conference. I had expected to either sit by one or two who needed English translation or to go to a section in the back of the church and interpret just to that small group, however that was not the case. I was asked to interpret from the very altar of the church, which is not uncommon however, definitely unexpected.  So I approached the altar and was handed a microphone, began to interpret for the Husband and Wife team that were speaking to the couples.  It was going quite well, but soon enough I felt my face get warm and my mind and mouth not quite able to communicate or for that matter translate appropriately... I was red-faced, and the speaker paused, asked if I would be able to continue, I chuckled and said, I wondered that myself.  Everyone laughed. 

There I was a single woman, interpreting for these speakers who were tag teaming as they spoke, (that is tough enough) to these couples. That's when it hit me that they would be at some point talking quite frankly about sex and sexuality in a marriage (among other relevant topics).  In my naivete I had not really thought that it would come up, yes foolishness I know... however there I was all red-faced before a church full of couples awaiting to learn and grow, to improve their marriages.  So, I had to muster all of the composure that I could and continue on with the morning session.  By the end of the Session I was very calm and collected and during the lunch break I was asked if I would be alright to continue, as the next session was precisely about sexuality within the marriage. So I took the time during the lunch to just relax and pray that the Lord help me remember that these speakers are doctors and therapist and that this is what they do, I am simply relaying the message, in another language. While praying, God, please help my face not turn too many shades of red. 

While the afternoon session was definitely a bit, spicy it was done so with much respect and realness that I appreciated and I could tell that the couples present were able to enjoy, if their laughter was to be any indication.  So despite my red-face, I learnt quite a bit and feel all the more prepared to embark onward in my marriage, whenever that day shall come. Now before you get on me about that... let's just say that is a topic for another conversation and another day. 

Til later, Be blessed & a blessing!

Minda