I am by far an expert in the subject. These are just some things I have learned in my own experiences in and from being ministered to. These might not be your views, but then this is my blog:) Here we go:
A. You might not understand or have limited knowledge of what God is doing in someone’s life. Stop telling people to not put God in a box. SHOW them by ACTIVELY believing in them, supporting them, protecting them…thus loving them! Don’t stop loving them just because they put God in a box. Trust me God can handle it.
B. Just because you don’t understand, agree or support someone’s God given dream, You must respect it! That is if you want to do ministry.
C. Stay OUT of people’s business!!! If you want to do ministry that is. Zip your mouth and hit the floor! As in literally! If you want to be an individual yes then have an opinion, but if you want to do ministry you don’t have that luxury.
D. Stop calling things accidents/coincidences instead of opportunities. To say that God allowed or created an accident is a paradox. Think about it and look up some definitions.
E. Remind people of who they are in Christ and not what they are afraid of(assumption based) especially when you have NO clue who they are. I know it might shock you, but some people are only afraid of God. Well, how is that possible, I am afraid then they must be also. Well, they are not you.
F. Remind people of how big God is and not how small they are, they already know.
G. Don’t assume, respect. Encourage, don’t mock. It gets annoying.
H. God will do whatever He wants, speak to whom ever He wants, whenever He wants. Just because you don’t know doesn’t mean that He is not speaking! Show Him some respect and He just might clue you in some things.
I. Don’t force a dream into completion. Some of them are meant for our children and grandchildren to see the fruit. And that is OK, don’t let it freak you out! Keep preparing the way! For example, I might not get to minister to NYC and I am ok with that. That doesn’t mean I will love its people any less. On the contrary, I will love them more! Why? Because I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt, my children and/or grandchildren will. And my heart has to raise and nurture them to love God’s dream. That might just be your part in a dream, and it’s so crucial!
J. Last but not least. Hit the floor. Pray, and then pray some more. And then put some passion, tears, relentlessness, commitment, and faithfulness into it. And then pray some more. And when you are done, you start all over again! You just might meet Jesus there! Pray!!!!!! You will be surprised how little time you will have to do ministry the wrong way.
June 17, 2009
December 13, 2008
Pictures
Growing up we had a lot of paintings at our house. My parents love art. Yearly, we would take the ones that were faded or damaged by the sun to our cousin’s gallery to restore them to the same beautiful colors and shades. The same is true with healing. God and I have been talking a lot about that lately and we have had some sweet talks. That this whole life business is about healing and restoring us to what we were created to be, more like Him. And somehow we have managed to make it everything else but that.
Yet we wonder why this kind of life is our reality. A reality in which we have found everything else but our true selves. Our true selves free from labels, free from parameters of do and don’ts. And to get there would require open-heart surgery. It would require thorough examination and observation and complete trust and confidence in the hands of your surgeon. I observed my first open heart surgery in my uncles operating room when I was fourteen I believe. I saw the heart beating in his hands and I was fascinated. He had someone’s heart in his very own hands. And at that very moment he had the power to restore what was damaged. And it reminded me of the Great Physician. That God can perform that miracle with all of us if we only let Him. He doesn’t want us to hide behind facades. He doesn’t want us to hide behind church, popularity, long hours at work and busy schedules, car pools etc. He wants us to trust Him that much with what we deem so precious.
I used to be there. For the longest time I could not find myself in pictures. I mean practically I was there, well my image was there. But I just could not see myself in my pictures. The “Me” I knew wasn’t there. But about a month ago a friend handed me a picture of myself taken the night before and there I was people. Finally, I made it. And it was the sweetest victory! A much awaited reunion with myself if you will. I know I am weird, so bare with me. I thought of all that it took to get to this very moment. The high cost of labels and being prey to other’s opinions. I say if people want to call you crazy, please do yourself a favor and declare yourself insane for Jesus. That would put an end to it. There is a high cost to total discipline and surrender to God. I am telling you He will tell you to do some things that your rational mind cannot comprehend.
But I promise you He will honor that obedience with a whole heart. A heart that is free from any contingency, any boundary, and any limitation. A heart that is free to love no strings attached. A heart that fully knows the peace that surpasses all understanding. A heart that can finally be safe to cry. A heart that relentlessly seeks his face before His hand. A heart that is free from a popularity contest. A heart that is emotionally bankrupt yet bursting with love. A heart that rushes to forgive. A heart free from wounds yet filled with beautiful scares. He longs to give you a healed heart. And you don’t have to wait for a donor. He has already offered!
Let’s be brave enough to share our hearts rather than our opinions. Let’s embrace and encourage that rather than look at it as extra terrestrial activity on earth. Sharing our hearts is what is going to set us free from ourselves. It will be the only thing that will bring about change in cultures, people, societies, countries, and the world. And it starts with us, with you and me. It is that simple. Remember this was heart, not brain surgery. Christ dwells in our hearts. He specializes in heart transplants! I pray that we would keep searching till we find our true selves in the picture.
Love you all deeply!
Yet we wonder why this kind of life is our reality. A reality in which we have found everything else but our true selves. Our true selves free from labels, free from parameters of do and don’ts. And to get there would require open-heart surgery. It would require thorough examination and observation and complete trust and confidence in the hands of your surgeon. I observed my first open heart surgery in my uncles operating room when I was fourteen I believe. I saw the heart beating in his hands and I was fascinated. He had someone’s heart in his very own hands. And at that very moment he had the power to restore what was damaged. And it reminded me of the Great Physician. That God can perform that miracle with all of us if we only let Him. He doesn’t want us to hide behind facades. He doesn’t want us to hide behind church, popularity, long hours at work and busy schedules, car pools etc. He wants us to trust Him that much with what we deem so precious.
I used to be there. For the longest time I could not find myself in pictures. I mean practically I was there, well my image was there. But I just could not see myself in my pictures. The “Me” I knew wasn’t there. But about a month ago a friend handed me a picture of myself taken the night before and there I was people. Finally, I made it. And it was the sweetest victory! A much awaited reunion with myself if you will. I know I am weird, so bare with me. I thought of all that it took to get to this very moment. The high cost of labels and being prey to other’s opinions. I say if people want to call you crazy, please do yourself a favor and declare yourself insane for Jesus. That would put an end to it. There is a high cost to total discipline and surrender to God. I am telling you He will tell you to do some things that your rational mind cannot comprehend.
But I promise you He will honor that obedience with a whole heart. A heart that is free from any contingency, any boundary, and any limitation. A heart that is free to love no strings attached. A heart that fully knows the peace that surpasses all understanding. A heart that can finally be safe to cry. A heart that relentlessly seeks his face before His hand. A heart that is free from a popularity contest. A heart that is emotionally bankrupt yet bursting with love. A heart that rushes to forgive. A heart free from wounds yet filled with beautiful scares. He longs to give you a healed heart. And you don’t have to wait for a donor. He has already offered!
Let’s be brave enough to share our hearts rather than our opinions. Let’s embrace and encourage that rather than look at it as extra terrestrial activity on earth. Sharing our hearts is what is going to set us free from ourselves. It will be the only thing that will bring about change in cultures, people, societies, countries, and the world. And it starts with us, with you and me. It is that simple. Remember this was heart, not brain surgery. Christ dwells in our hearts. He specializes in heart transplants! I pray that we would keep searching till we find our true selves in the picture.
Love you all deeply!
November 8, 2008
BEAUTIFUL
I was driving home tonight from an event for women. And let me tell you. They are amazing! During one of the exercises I got to partner with a sweet lady. And there it was again. “I am not beautiful”! We have an epidemic in our hands. God and I have been talking about this for the last two months. Some of you don’t know that on the weekends I work at a clothing store. I truly enjoy serving women using one of my passions. I get to create! I am always designing in my head. I have a whole portfolio in there.
My favorite part is that I get to know these women a little. I get to observe how they look at themselves in the mirror or how they look at other women and the “upbeat” comments about their figures. I have learned to hear what they are not saying in their looks. And it is heart breaking! They are in such a hurry to put themselves down first so the other women don’t have to do it for them. And don t let me start with young girls these days. I talk to a handful of them on regular basis and the stories I hear. I look at them and they are truly breathtaking! Beauty has become a disease!
Personally, it’s never been a major struggle. I don’t have the “gift” of comparison. I have never wanted to be or look like anybody else. I do my own thing. I reinvent my style every season. I learned from my parents that true beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. I grew up hearing them say: “God made only one Ejvis. You are an original and you are Ours(as in God and theirs)”. And to this day I still believe that. I can’t brag enough about my father. But the women in my family are something else. They are strong, powerful, beautiful, true women. I used to think they had a club and I couldn’t wait to join them.
So, God and I decided to declare October the month of Beauty. I made a point to tell women they were beautiful. Not pretty or cute, but beautiful. I said that to every woman in the store. To every young girl I talked to. And I meant it! They were all different shapes and sizes and they were beautiful! And there I saw it. The sparkle in their eyes, the smile on their faces, the bounce in their step. They started talking to each other in the fitting rooms. The compliments were flying all over the place. The dreaded fitting room turned into a place of fellowship, a place of acceptance and true beauty. There is something so special about a woman telling another woman they’ re beautiful.
When a man tells me I am beautiful it fills me with delight, it melts my heart. But when a woman tells me I am beautiful it gives me inner strength. I feel powerful! Beautiful is our inheritance, it’s our title if you will, our legacy on this earth. Beautiful is not what we become it’s what we were born! When Adam saw Eve for the first time he went Wow Man! That is your name! Have you ever thought why masterpieces are so beautiful?! Because they are originals of their creator. Girls, accept the invitation to the Beautiful club. It’s hand written by the King of Kings himself. Lets put an end to the epidemic! Know that the King is enthralled with your beauty and share the invitation with another sister.
You are BEAUTIFUL:)
My favorite part is that I get to know these women a little. I get to observe how they look at themselves in the mirror or how they look at other women and the “upbeat” comments about their figures. I have learned to hear what they are not saying in their looks. And it is heart breaking! They are in such a hurry to put themselves down first so the other women don’t have to do it for them. And don t let me start with young girls these days. I talk to a handful of them on regular basis and the stories I hear. I look at them and they are truly breathtaking! Beauty has become a disease!
Personally, it’s never been a major struggle. I don’t have the “gift” of comparison. I have never wanted to be or look like anybody else. I do my own thing. I reinvent my style every season. I learned from my parents that true beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. I grew up hearing them say: “God made only one Ejvis. You are an original and you are Ours(as in God and theirs)”. And to this day I still believe that. I can’t brag enough about my father. But the women in my family are something else. They are strong, powerful, beautiful, true women. I used to think they had a club and I couldn’t wait to join them.
So, God and I decided to declare October the month of Beauty. I made a point to tell women they were beautiful. Not pretty or cute, but beautiful. I said that to every woman in the store. To every young girl I talked to. And I meant it! They were all different shapes and sizes and they were beautiful! And there I saw it. The sparkle in their eyes, the smile on their faces, the bounce in their step. They started talking to each other in the fitting rooms. The compliments were flying all over the place. The dreaded fitting room turned into a place of fellowship, a place of acceptance and true beauty. There is something so special about a woman telling another woman they’ re beautiful.
When a man tells me I am beautiful it fills me with delight, it melts my heart. But when a woman tells me I am beautiful it gives me inner strength. I feel powerful! Beautiful is our inheritance, it’s our title if you will, our legacy on this earth. Beautiful is not what we become it’s what we were born! When Adam saw Eve for the first time he went Wow Man! That is your name! Have you ever thought why masterpieces are so beautiful?! Because they are originals of their creator. Girls, accept the invitation to the Beautiful club. It’s hand written by the King of Kings himself. Lets put an end to the epidemic! Know that the King is enthralled with your beauty and share the invitation with another sister.
You are BEAUTIFUL:)
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