Worship: My Lifestyle

Tuesday nights have become something really special for me. My mom, dad, uncle, aunt, friend, and I have started gathering in our living room to Worship God with our very lives. The presence of God inundates our four walls and overtakes us as we lift up our song and share the Word in one same spirit together. We've decided to call these encounters Bethel Nights (Noches De Betel) because God revealed to my Dad that our house became "the house of God and the gate of heaven."(Genesis 28:16-17) As our voices elevate, new songs burst forth and spontaneous worship flows from my mouth. I'm just a lover of God's sweet presence because it's a hunger that's stirred in me and that only God can satisfy. I wrestled between staying up in my room and getting ahead in my homework and no matter how tired and stressed I was my spirit took over and beat my flesh. The moment I came into contact with the Holy Spirit and His presence all I could do was melt in His loving arms.

My heart's desire as of lately has been to never run out of room in my heart for an out-pour of God's Spirit. Like the wife of the Prophet in the Bible who filled up so many jars of oil I want my heart to be that endless jar in constant overflow of God's anointing. I'm already three weeks into my fourth semester of The School of Psalmists and already my spiritual plate is about to shatter because of so much soul food. Here are a few of the points that I loved:

• Ministerial Ethics: "Your calling is specific. Minister in the position that God has entrusted you with. Flow in the ministry that God has entrusted you with."
• Ministerial Ethics: "Get rid of whatever is stopping you from completing your calling, everything that discourages you."
• Vocal Education: "When we play the last, highest, note on the piano 12 octaves higher that sound that is produced transforms into electricity (Wow!)."
• Vocal Education: "People tremble when we sing and play a high note because in the spirit realm this sound is like electricity. When we get one touch of the presence of God it's an impact equivalent to touching an electrical outlet."
• Vocal Education: "God sees colors. It's been proven that when someone sings even the blind see colors."

Autumn Cravings And Things

I am officially out of school!...for Thanksgiving break anyway. Exhausted, tired, but still alive and breathing. University life can be stressful at times, especially when exam season and finals come along, but I love it. As corny as it may sound, yesterday in my quiet time with the Lord I began to thank Him for the opportunity that I have to even attend school. Many don't get to further their education. I have been given a beautiful, price-less gift. Of course I've had to work hard to get to where I am, but God opened the doors so that I could walk through victoriously. Often it feels like I'm walking a million miles but the fact that I know that there will be an open door waiting for me when I reach my destination is more than enough to make me wanna keep on movin' forward. This is one of the many things that I'm thankful for. Today I finished up my exam and rushed through traffic to get home. Oh home sweet home. I feel so lazy. I just jumped into bed and started blogging away. Literally here I am in my old high school T-shirt and PJ's. And that's how you know that it's vacation time for me.

Lately, more like forever ago, I've been craving some good soul food: definition being God time, new revelation, encounters, and worship. This kind of hunger can only be quenched by some nice one on one time with my sweet Jesus. There's a scripture that I've been reading for a while now that's really struck a chord in me...definitely one of my favorite Psalms. It's times like these that make me want to lock my door and throw away the key so I can just be, you know? But one thing I do know and that is that my social/public life will be impacted by my intimate/private life. In the quiet we are shaped and in the midst of encounters with our Beloved we are transformed. Many areas of my life have been tottering on the brink of extinction but I like what God has been replacing these areas with. We can either hate change or embrace it with arms and eyes wide open. On Monday, my homework assignment for the Psalmist School I attend was to make song, in Spanish, out of a Psalm and ultimately my heart was won over by the same portion of verses that I just finished telling y'all about. So from David's heart, to my heart, and finally to yours I share with you my

                      

 Psalm of inspiration:

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(Psalm 63:1-8) 

O God, you are my God;

I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts 

for you; my whole body longs for you in 

this parched and weary land where there 

is no water. I have seen you in your 

sanctuary and gazed upon your power 

and glory. Your unfailing love is better than 

life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you 

as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you 

in prayer. You satisfy me more than the 

richest feast. I will praise you with songs of 

joy. I lie awake thinking of you, meditating 

on you through the night. Because you 

are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow 

of your wings. I cling to you; your strong 

right hand holds me securely.

*~*~*

And now...a little tune from my ipod

New Things:God's Promises

Updates, updates, updates!!! My mind is so full and stocked up with information that if my brain was a waterfall it would definitely be breaking through and flowing out at ridiculous speeds. The Lord keeps all of his promises and more than that he exceeds our own expectations!

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This whole week has been full of blessing. So much blessing. Daniel and I have been performing at this church that our Psalmist School instructor provided us with and have been instructing the other band members, (who are so awesome!) all to glorify the Lord. There have been some challenges (as was expected) but the holy spirit always has us one step ahead. I can't even begin to describe how thankful I am and how great it feels to worship God with a full band filled with youth who seek to glorify the Lord as well. By the grace of God, for right now I'm the first voice but I am training the pianist to sing with me because Daniel and I know that this is not the ministry God has for us, it's a mission that has been given to us. We've been holding practices for now three times a week to prepare ourselves and so far have been improving tremendously thanks to God.

On another note, the Psalmist school is having a Christmas Concert and Joel is looking for two singers from the school in our area to record his christmas CD with him! Oh my Lord! I've decided to just give it to God and give it all I got no matter what happens. I know that if it's His will for me it'll come to be, and if it just doesn't happen I'll be happy for whoever God has that opportunity destined for. Pray for me though!

(Isaiah 61:1-3) The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

I'll keep you guys posted!

Busy Serenity—The Art Of Letting Go!

Thank God.

Well...this week has been draining yet at the same time amazing. I love the feeling of accomplishment at the end of a long day. School offered me a challenge this week but I managed to finish gracefully because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! I love love love college! I have such a passion for what God has presented me with. I had gone to public school my whole life but I honestly have to say that I love College way more. I like the long walks to class early in the morning and the sense of freedom in the air as I walk to the library or to my favorite place: the Arts and Humanities building. Every day during my lunch break I grab a little snack and then make my way toward a desk in the corner and start typing or studying away.

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The biggest news for this week is that God totally opened my eyes into a different career...it's still in the Rehabilitation branch though. I originally wanted to be an architect in high school but then God led me into the path of Occupational Therapy. I prayed for so long until I finally just said, "You know what God? I trust you and I'm just gonna let you guide me and take me where you want to take me. Just point me to the door." He keeps opening those doors for me and on Friday, I just walked through another one. After my mid-morning American Heritage class I walked on over to this Major's Fair that the school was throwing in the university ballroom.

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For a good while I'd been feeling this burning calling within me towards some form of counseling career, but I knew for sure I didn't want to be a Psychologist. I let God be God. He pointed me into the direction of the Rehab booth and I began to converse with this really nice man about what I was majoring in and the type of job I wanted. He began to say that their was a certain rehab field I could specialize in called Addiction Studies. It was perfect...this was the answer to months of prayer.

God willing, I hope to first get my bachelors in Rehab and then after those four years get my masters in Addiction Studies so that I can become an Addiction/Rehab Counselor for teens. I don't know what God has in store for me later on in the future but all I know is that my life is in good hands. I trust you Lord...with everything!

*~*~*

Psalmist school, or as we say here in the valley, Escuela de Salmistas, was great! I sang a different song this time and the prof. helped me get in touch with my soulful middle voice. My advice to anyone is: first pray...and then get out there! The world goes beyond our own homes or even the front gate, and if we don't take the time to discover it, we'll be missing out on the things God has in store for us. Next time a friend invites you to eat, just Go! Next time you're invited to someone else's youth group...Go! You never know what type of special blessings God has in store for you if you don't leave the comfort of your room. The Lord's message needs to be spread and it begins with us...(Romans 10:14) But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?  If there's one thing I've learned it's that BIG things happen when we get down on our knees and PRAY. Thank you Jesus. I will sing of your love forever. And that's exactly what I'm going to do in a little bit...worship. 

Puzzle Piece

I can't even begin to explain how joyous I feel at this very moment . Yesterday at 5:30 I had my first class in the school of Psalmists (Joel Levi's Escuela de Salmistas) and by the end I felt like I had eaten a (spiritual) banquet . For a good while I had been feeling like the puzzle piece that just didn't fit anywhere, until I finally fit into place . I felt like for once people understood me and the things I had gone through...they could relate . I feel God's hand moving in my life because He's showing me that His purpose for my life was never on pause, He was just "provoking a song out of me ." I learned that I have this song within me that I hide in a treasure chest that God is trying to work out of me . In vocal class, I walked in a little late because of the distance from my college to the church, everyone was lying on the floor and performing vocal exercises . By the time we sat at the table and were told to pick a song and sing in front of everyone, surprisingly, I didn't panic . Thank the Lord . I walked up to the front and sang From the Inside out in Spanish, and then I got help with my breathing because as I was accustomed, I tried to sing two verses with four seconds worth of breath (not a good idea hee hee) . I learned so much and I am truly grateful . My vocal teacher made the treasure chest reference and said that when I decide to let my voice out that it will be of blessing and it will surprise those around me . I wanted to cry but I decided to contain myself...However I did cry during the devotional (a time of worship and prayer) because God used the man who prayed for me to tell me "worship, worship Him, He wants you to worship Him...You've been laughed at and the ministry that God has placed in you has been laughed at, but he wants you to keep worshipping Him." Well as you can imagine of course I burst into tears and was liberated of so much excess luggage that I had to let go of. I learned so much in this one day to last a lifetime, and to think that I'm going to be receiving these teachings every week makes me feel like just collapsing on the floor and saying thank you. I'm so thankful to God that words cannot express how I feel, and He's so understanding that He knows my words before I even speak them. I love you God..............................This new adventure is a process in the making and I'm ready to take it. With God, all things are possible and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I now am firm in who I am and know that God has a purpose for my life far greater than I can imagine for his ways are not my ways and he never abandons the work of his hands...He completes His purpose in you and puts you where He wants you and where He knows you belong. Thank you Jesus.......my puzzle piece fits and this is just the beginning.