Yet, Another Plane!

I remember several years ago when in a financial crisis, almost unthinkable, God gave Jorge & I a couple of plane tickets, hotel stay, rental car, tickets to see Jorge's favorite artist, free dinners, welcoming packages.... when we could not afford a penny of it. It all came from different sources without any of them knowing what the other source was doing.

This week, after Jorge's non-stop work, work, work... and "a few" financial challenges, God did something similar. Kind of to remind us He is faithfull. He's done it in the past. He can do it again.

I rejoice in His grace today as I pack my bags to go with my honey and relax in the beautiful beaches of the Dominican. All-inclusive resorts, air tickets, whatever you can think of...is nothing for God when He decides to bless His own. I am blessed today! His love for me goes beyond my understanding. He gave me today what I need today.

Have you told Him lately how your heart feels? Have you taken the time to cry with Him? He listens and He answers! He is by far, the best friend anyone could ever have!

Are You Perfect?

I am sure some times you think you are. I do. Then reality sinks in and I realize how imperfect I am. The same way we're not perfect, our relatives are not, our friends are not, our spouses & children are not, our work friends and our church family aren't either.

Many times we choose to do life alone because a bunch of imperfect humans are sorrounding us. But, we are one of those imperfect creatures.

I had an idea this morning. Let's change our expectations of others. Let's expect imperfection and see what we get. Maybe we won't be as disappointed and be able to enjoy others more.

Let's give it a try and see what happens!

Get back to me and tell me about your experience. I will surely be blogging about mine soon.

Your imperfect friend

And the mynakedpastor photo contest winner of an ipod nano... Dan Suarez! To see other pictures by Dan visit myspace.com/notdaniel

DREAM

This week I've been in the acrostic mood. Not sure why, but my brain is going in that direction.

D is for doing. If our dreams are going to materialize, we have lots to DO.

R is for Resting in God. We DO our part and REST assure that God will do His.

E is for Enthusiasm & Excitement. We must be excited about who we are and what we'll be. About our calling and the purpose of our lives.

A is for Attitude. Our attitude must be possitive, proactive, contagious, infectious. Always looking at life as champions since we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.

M is for Maintenance. Yes, we have to keep it up by maintaing our dreams focused, fresh, organized, on agenda. Touch them up every now and then making necessary adjustments and updates every time the Giver of the Dream instruct us to do so.

I've dreamt of having my own Oprah/Ellen type of show, but my own way. More focused on relationships and sex than anything else. Well, about some 20 years later I've gotten the opportunity to get started in Venezuela with a friend. I've been there a couple of times and we tape several episodes every visit (we've done about 40). They air 2 x a week on TBN Spanish Barquisimeto. The dream was to have TBN Spanish-Enlace air them internationally. I've been kinda disappointed because they never answered. To my surprise, my friend called me from Venezuela this morning and asked me tune in Enlace Internacional....there we were to the world! Over 180 countries, who knows how many viewers! Also, my church asked me to be in front of the cameras this weekend. So I ask myself "can it get any better?" Knowing my God, I better be ready!

Today is a good day! Lord, help me stay focused on the victories and blessings I receive from you!

Me and Ade (Pastor Adelitza Guzman)

from Felices para Siempre con Adelitza & Danisa

BLAME

By far the easiest way out.

Lamest excuse for our own screw-ups.

A natural instinct to avoid responsibility.

Mutilation of the senses.

Extortion of the truth.

I could say to be a victim of blame, but that would be blaming it for my participation in its game. Rather I should say I've tried to solve some of life's challenges by blaming something or someone. The result, unresolved issues, lies and pretenses. Have you ever considered that blaming does not fix the problem. It doesn't even make it better. In most cases it makes it worse.

When my best friend from high school and I distanced from each other I blamed it on a lie someone told me. I believed it and moved on leaving my loved friend behind. A few years down the road I felf her absence on my wedding day. She was not my maid of honor. Even then, I didn't face the issue. It took me long years to realize what I had lost and that no one was to be blamed but myself. To have the courage to see her and talk about our differences and come to a reconciliation was more difficult than blaming a third person.

God, thank you for godly confrontation and for the nakedness of the heart. I didn't get my friend back, but this time I knew it was not in my hands.

Wherever you are, I love you. I still think of you and remember our grown ups adventures! I know how great you were to me.

Everybody is getting naked!

It makes sense. The more naked I get, the lighter it feels. What a great idea! Are you into the naked thing? I tell you guys, I can hardly wait for this next 5 weeks of nakedness. It promises to be life-changing. Just the special message from Pastor Troy this weekend got me thinking. But we need a place where we can get naked seriously, freely and publicly. It is liberating when you can share your bare self and what a better place than a home group? So I've decided to host a group at my house. Send any Westoners my way.

Come on...let's get it ALL off together!