Just a suggestion...

I suggest that we all go in the Word of God and find out who we are in Him. We need to find it and repeat it to ourselves; speak it over ourselves. I know we should evaluate ourselves every now and then, check ourselves and our motives, but don't start doing that and then end up tearing yourself apart by the end of the whole "check ourselves" process. I have done that to myself too many times.

I get upset, I ask myself why I am upset, I check how I've dealt with myself being upset, I ask myself if that was the best way to deal with it, then I start analyzing: I think about what I could have done better, is this situation really worth me being upset, and the list goes on...
THEN I think, "wow, I'm so selfish", "i'm so needy", "i'm not worthy"....and I just rip myself apart and end up in this horrible lull. I end up feeling so low and so useless and end up having an emotional melt down. It's such an icky place to be. I think of one thing and it snowballs into this pathetic pity party.

But you know what, that was a lot of "I." That was the problem. I made it all about me me me me me. I forget that it is Christ that lives in me. It is Him who delivers me. It is Him who makes me strong--How easily that is forgotten-- He IS life! How can I live life without the one who IS life itself?

My sister told me, "don't lose hope."

I need to trust God in ALL things. One of the pastors at my church always asks, "You trust God? Even in the little things?" That's what I need to do. That's what WE need to do. Trust Him in the big, huge, small, tiny, medium, with ALL things. I'm trusting God. I know he has great plans, and I know he has my best interest in mind. He does and will continue to deliver, protect, love, guide, heal, and speak to me.

I am a new creature. I am made in His image. I am precious. I am a conqueror with Him. I am a vessel. I am a light. I am forgiven. I am renewed. I am free. I am victorious. I am an ambassador of Christ. I am called. I am God's child.

I am loved. I am so loved.

With Love

My sister has a small business called "With Love, Natasha"-- check it out on Facebook, she makes adorable hair accessories for girls and women---But she always says that she specifically named it "With Love, Natasha" because she really does make each project with love. She puts effort and care into each product. She pays attention to detail and takes her time making them. Her products reflect her gentle, sweet, loving spirit; but her products also show determination, persistence, and vigor.

It's like our lives and our relationship with God, right? Well, how it's suppose to be.
Our lives should reflect God's love, grace, and mercy. It should also exude the exciting, abundant, joyful life that God promises us. We need to let God mold us, use us to glorify Him and spread the word through our lives; with love. God pays attention to the details of our lives. He cares and loves us so much. We just have to be open to Him. We need to draw near to Him, so He can draw near to us.

You know, sometimes Natasha makes things and I just say, "Wow, Tash it's so pretty."

and I find myself thinking, "Wow, God it's so pretty." He is the Creator. Just watching the sun set, a water fall, the morning grass with dew on it, I think, "Wow, God." He is such a magnificent and wonderful God.

He knit me together in my mother's womb. He loves me. He cares for my well being. He is concerned for me. He delivers. He blesses. He is good. He is mighty. He is working in me.

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. He has my life in His hands, because I owe it all to Him. He made me with care. He made me WITH LOVE.

xo

Reality

Spirituality is so much more than we can conceive. It is so much more than our minds can understand. We think spirituality is this hocus pocus, eerie thing; when it is a powerful, war-like thing. The spirit world is more real than the things we come in contact with everyday. It is more real than our beds, cars, couches, and other material and natural things in this world.

It's important to feed our bodies; exercise to keep it in shape and useful; care for it; wash it; and so on. But how much more important is it for use to feed our spirits? use it and exercise it? care for it? Our spirit needs to be tended to. Our spirit speaks to us. It is so crucial for our spirits to be in tune with God's. We should be able to hear his voice in us; we need to use the discernment of the spirit. It's Supernatural.

What's supernatural?
It's being beyond and above the natural. It is unexplainable by natural law. God is super duper natural. His very own spirit lives inside of me. It's bananas. I don't even know how I don't explode, from the greatness of that. I'm not this great and wonderful being, BUT with God I am destined for great things and can go above and beyond all that is put in front of me.

The spirit of fear, insecurity, doubt, sexual immorality, confusion, lust, anger, depression, and all other things that are NOT of God; I cast out of my life in Jesus' Name. & if any of these rise up in life, I speak to it. I declare life and life abundantly. I declare that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I hide under HIS wings. God is my protector, shelter, healer, counselor, and Father.

It isn't easy, but remain faithful. Remain in Him. Keep trusting. Love Him. Praise and worship Him. Seek Him. Read His word. Share Him with others: by loving, praying, being an example.

WE NEED HIM.

xo

Do it.

          They say, "Laughter is the best medicine."

Sometimes, it's a chuckle or even a forced laugh.

Other times, it's a really good belly laugh. The type of laugh that boils and bubbles inside of a person and then erupts. It's a hardy, abs work out, type of laugh. Those laughs are the best. It's especially a good laugh when accompanied by a tear or two, happy tears. Tears that show appreciation for humor and bliss.

          You know, that, "BAHA HA HA HA!" type laugh.

We can't forget the sweetness of a soft, gentle laugh. Not all laughs are necessarily boisterous and loud, but private and lovely.

          We all do the, "heheheh" laugh every now and then.

It's not the volume of the laugh, but the enjoyment of it. The exhilaration and enchantment of it. It's the satisfaction one feels afterwards.

          I say, "Full fill that need to laugh."

Make others laugh and laugh at yourself. I hear it's contagious. No matter if it's a burst, giggle, snort, roar, or snicker. Do yourself a favor, and laugh.

" A joyful heart is good medicine..."

Proverbs 17:22

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting."

Job 8:21

"Mirth is the best medicine, everybody ought to bathe in it."

- Henry Ward Beecher

"There can never be enough said of the virtues, dangers, powers of a shared laugh."

- Francoise Sagan

Here.

Grew up and raised here,
Friends here,
Family here.

Thayer Street,
Fed Hill,
Hope Street,
and Wickenden.
So bold and eclectic.

Broad Street,
Elmwood,
Cranston Street,
and Smith Hill.
So alive and so urban.

All sorts of people,
from all different places.
Accepting, beautiful,
Diverse and lovely.
So original and different.

Music, art, culture,
the richness surrounds us,
everyday.
We are here.
I am here.

So small, big heart.
My city, Providence.

Diversity is the norm.

So I went on a little vacation and visited my best friend, Adelle, in Indiana. Man, I was so overwhelmed with the love that surrounds that girl over there. Not only does she have great friendships, but those friendships have grown into a family-like circle. At one point, we were all out and I just sat back and appreciated everyone for being so wonderful to not only Adelle but to me as well; the love, concern, warmth, respect, and laughter.

I literally am getting teary eyed typing this. I love my friends so much, like a lot. To know that my dearest friend Adelle is being taken such good care of by such fabulous people makes my heart so extremely happy. I needed this vacation so bad. I needed to relax and get away but then I got here and learned that love is something that is indescribable; it's not forced. I was surrounded by so much love that I didn't even know how to react to it and in return, without any effort, I loved back.

I always knew that I was capable of loving, especially those that I knew for a long time but I've learned to just love; love strangers, old friends, young children, older folk, and so on.

I know, i'm such an emotional and mushy girl. I just love love.

I want to thank everyone in Indiana for welcoming me with open arms and for showing me how beautiful everyone is individually. Until we meet again, xo.

what to do, what to do..

I am a Latina; automatically, that puts me in the category of short tempered, feisty, sassy and so on...

As much as I'd like to argue against that stereotype, it is somewhat true. Hey, I'm human right? But on the other hand, I am a child of God with the gifts of the spirit at hand: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

So here's what has been happening lately...

People who have road rage; swearing at me, sticking their snicker size middle fingers at me, yelling through their windows and bla bla. Next, there are the people who I work with/for that man oh man, just may get on that very last, tiny bit of nerve I have left. & then, those people from random places; church, family, a friend's friend's friend, and..(well, you get it.)..that do not always talk to me in the nicest way or are socially incapable of talking to someone with some decency. 


About a year and a half, I would have probably snapped back with a witty/hurtful/disrespectful comment. I've had a hard time lately with these situations because I feel like it is constantly happening. Then I think "Well, I can't just let them walk all over me." Where does the balance of being walked all over and then responding to situations come in? I'm still learning..
When do I say something to "defend" myself? or when do I just leave it because it really is just the other person that has some issues they need to figure out for themselves? When am I allowed to speak? 


Everyone thinks that the discernment of the spirit comes into play when "serious life issues" pop up. I think it applies to a lot in life. I have to use discernment constantly; when to speak, react, approach, let go  & when to hold on. It is still a major learning process, but that is the beautiful thing about life; you never know everything. There is always something new to learn and new ways to grow. God has taught me that I do not always feel like I have to handle a situation, I can just let it go. I'm learning to have peace about situations, patience in the face of flippancy, and joy in the sweet presence of the Lord. I'm always learning how to approach different situations. It is so crucial to trust in the Lord and let God be God. He knows best, and i'm finally letting that guide my life and direct me in how to handle different positions that I am put in. 


Simply put, God is my father and friend but He is almighty, majestic, and above all else.


again, this post is all over the place, but you get it....i hope.