AWESOME GOD

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23

I will sing Glory, I will praise the Lord as long as I live.  
It is so difficult to understand his unconditional love.  Every Christmas the reminder of  the birth of Jesus, that came to this world in a humbled way to later on die for everyone that believe in Him and declare Him Lord of Lords and Savior.
Every time I look around,  I see His mercies and love Jesus shows to me.  I lost everything with my sickness, but the Lord returned little by little all I lost; He provides for every need, gives me more than I need at times, He is good and faithful and my heart sings with great joy to Him!
Lately I have experience the death of a loved one, life is so fragile, can't be taken for granted. We all will face death at some point in our life, that is inevitable; but the question is, once you are gone and you face God, What do you think He will say to you... "good servant, come into my kingdom" or "I never knew you, get out from my presence".  I know that I will be with Him, because he died for me and all my sins.
It is like the parable of the prodigal son: he left his father and ask him for the money he should receive when the father die (which was given to him).  Later on, he spent all he had by drinking and celebrating with friends (that were only around him for the money). He saw himself lost and lonely, no money, no friends, eating pigs food.  Finally he came back to the father ashamed and repented, expecting the father to maybe turn him away.  The father saw him from far, the father ask the servants to serve a feast because his son was coming back.  the father run with open arms to receive his son.  No matter how many times I fall face down in the mud, Jesus is there stretching his hands to help me get up, he does not care how dirty I am, he cleans me and keeps me walking. He does not care how dirty you may be, He only wants you to accept his open hand for you to get up and walk next to him, God loves you.
My life reminds me a Jesus parable "...do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.  Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.  Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.  And how much more valuable you are than birds!...Consider how the lilies grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you..." Luke 12:22-28
 I have real friends (family in Christ I should say) that walk the way of life with me, and what a blessing they are.  I have a beautiful daughter that God has put in my care, I have a loving man in my life that very soon I will marry, I can say, I am rich!
May this New Year brings you joy and peace!   
PS I will be sending the wedding invitations soon!
Wedding date: Saturday, March 23, 2013

Love you all!

HONDURAS

"... Then those who believe in God will be careful to use their lives for doing good". (Titus 3:8)

I forgot to give you an update from last time I wrote, so here it is:

Honduras trip (July 27 - August 10) went wonderful, God protected all of us in our team and the team that came a day after us.

I had the chance to share with the older girls the "Good News" and reassure them how much God loves them, that He will never forget or forsake them, that we are, they are the princesses of Him, we are His baby girls and that He only wants us to accept His open arms and walk with Him.  
These girls were amazing, even life and the world sin have damaged their lives (the reason for them to be in the orphanage) they welcome the good news and the word of our Savior (the Bible).  I read to them passages, talk to them and I just saw this thirst, these hearts open, wanting to learn more and more about God (what a blessing to me to experience this) I had the time to share and hear some of their awful, sad, sad stories, pray for them and hope I was a good witness to them.  I had the privilege to share Christ with them and pray for them.
God was all around, this place belongs to him, you can feel His presence all around.  A place with more than 600 children in it (almost like a small city on its own) this place has grown and it has grown beautiful by the grace of God that has supplied everything to keep this kids and maybe more to come.
Honduras is a very, very poor country, we took a bus from Tegucigalpa (the city where the airport is) to Guaimaca (where the orphanage is) about 1 and half hour by bus, it is a huge difference once you get to Emmanuel, it is a blessing for the kids that can find refuge in Emmanuel, God bless the people that work in there and volunteer to keep the place up.

Bethany made good friends with handicap toddlers, I was very proud to see my kid being so king and good to those kids (most people don't wanna deal with them, but they need more love than the other kids).  She made friends everywhere and with everyone, kids use to call her "stephanie" at times, but she did not mind.  She helped taking care of the toddlers in many instances, she love and play with them.  When we came back she asked me "mom, can we go back to the orphanage in Honduras some time?... that spoke tons to me.  The Lord blessed me with this mission trip, it is good to be back, but I miss the kids in Emmanuel orphanage, I will keep them in my heart and prayer.

Doctors, ok, I had my MRI and blood work, saw my Oncology Doctor on Thursday on the 19th of this month and he said there are no changes on that growth on the left hemisphere, has not grow or change, still a 3mm growth, but nothing to worry about unless it changes.  On the right hemisphere there is no changes either, so everything is good.  We will follow other issues like nausea, and vision, but seems these tumors are dormant and nothing to worry unless they show activity.  I will have my next MRI in 3 months, we will keep following to make sure no changes happen.  My blood is good, my weight is good, I am fine and I boast that my Lord is the one that is next to me giving me health and life to keep going, kicking, and singing aloud to Him praises.

I moved, my new address is close to Bethany's school and stores, I am close to everything!
I have almost finished opening boxes and putting the place together (I still have not found some cooking pans (lol)) I say thanks to God that open this door for me.

Bethany is back to school, she is on 3rd grade now and today was her 1st day of class, she is growing super fast!

Love you all,
Sofia

ps: a pic of Bethany and a friend she made from the orphanage "Genesis" is her name"

GOOD NEWS!!!

"I have swept away your sins like a big cloud. I have removed your sins like a cloud that disappears into the air. Come back to me because I saved you." Isaiah 44:22

I, go on with salvation messages, I never get tired of them, and I will not get tired of writing about them again and again. To me, salvation has been amazing news, and it is the reason I don't stop talking about it...it is like someone buying a new car and been so happy about it and tells and shows this new car to everyone she/he knows and even people he/she does not know. When something special happens in our lives, we want to share it with others and even more if you know that others can get the same thing you did, that they will enjoy and be happy, specially when it comes for free.

Tomorrow may be too late, today is the day.  It is wise to take a decision today, not later, not tomorrow, because we do not know what is gonna happen in the next 5 seconds to follow, our lives are fragile, very fragile; you are here now, today, but you may be gone tomorrow.  How many times we have heard about a friend, young and healthy die without any obvious reason? maybe an accident or a heart attack, killed, etc.  our lives are fragile, very fragile. 

 Ask yourself, Where will I go if I have an accident on my way home and die today? (oh Sofia, you are being so dramatic and creepy...no I am not, I am very serious, dead can happen to anyone, at any time, at any age, sick or no sick, anyone. we all face death at some point).  Dead is something we will all have to face and you are not an exception, you are a human as anyone else, so ask yourself, What will happen after I die? Where will I go after dying? What if I have to stand before God today? What will I say to Him, What will He say to me?
Even if you don't believe in God, ask yourself, What if He exist? What if all that I heard was true and I ignored it?
Today is the day, not tomorrow, not later on, don't let the "issues" of life make you wait until you are ready, finish, complete, done... "issues in life" could be a sin that you think you don't wanna give up today or can't give up (you are not strong enough), or could be something you want and you are after it and you want to have it and you can't come to Christ because He may not allow you to or may have different plans for you, so... you wanna wait until you reach that "thing" "goal" to think about giving your life to Christ, You fear God will interfere in your plans... the Bible says very clear that God has perfect plans for the ones who love Him. He also says that He loves us so much that gave His only son to die for our sins that whoever believes in Him may not be lost and have eternal life. (John 3:16, ) But demons believe that too and shake with fear (James 2:19), but, if you profess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord , and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from death, then you will be saved(Romans 10:9).  There is a difference in just believing and having a personal relationship with our sovereign God. For example I believe tables exist, but, do I have a personal relationship w a table? we can believe, but something different is to accept and to give our lives to a sovereign power for our salvation.
I am a sinner, and I need Christ at all moments in my life to keep forgiving me and guiding me. His word tells me He has perfect plans for the ones that love Him, and the one that loves Him obey His commandments and if we sin, He is merciful and kind to forgive us and say I forgive you, I love you.

No matter what you do, He is there to forgive and help.  
If you have a "pending issue" that does not allow you to give your life to Christ, then give that issue to Him, He is all powerful and Almighty that He will resolve the "issue" for you, Whatever it is He will give you His strength to overcome it.  Don't wait no more, make a decision today, now, He is giving you a chance that is worth more than all the treasure here on earth, tomorrow or later may be too late. we will all get a chance and we will all die and we all will face God one day... what is gonna be your answer when He ask "What have you done with the free gift of eternal life "Jesus" I gave to you? Did you accepted Him in your heart and allowed Him to guide your life or did you choose to go your own way after gods (riches, fame, power, sexual satisfaction) that never satisfied you?

He may say to you "Well done my child, please enter into my kingdom" 
Or 
"get out of my sight I never knew you".

What would you like Him to say to you? What do you think He will say to you? 

It is a choice, it is presented to you today, now, tomorrow may be too late.  If you are fill with doubts, pray, talk to Him, challenge Him to show you He exist and that He loves you.

For my brothers and sisters in Christ that are believers this is just a reminder that we are forgiven and that is never a bad idea to rededicate our lives to Jesus (that I do it often). And for my brothers and sisters in Christ that have not dedicated their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ before, ...what are you waiting for? Don't let evil have you hooked by a ring nose and taking you wherever he wants, choose today.

You can say anything you want to Him, this is just an example of what I pray: 

Dear Father, I ask you to please forgive me of my sins, wash me clean, come into my life, I want you to be my God, my Savior, my Friend, guide my life from now on, help me with......(whatever you are dealing with)... I do not have the strength to change or fight myself, but you do. your word says that I can do everything with Jesus that gives me strength.  I want to be yours now and forever, amen.

Just keep in mind that we have been saved by grace and not deeds so no one could boast (Ephesians 2:8)

We are new creatures in Christ, the old has past. Christ has die once for our past, present and future sins, we will fall many times (He knows) but what makes a difference is that we will repent ask God for forgiveness and we will allow Him to pick us up and hold His hand to keep walking in His path. Let's not stay in the ground crying or fussing, let's repent and hold the hand that is extended to us (Jesus Hand) ready to help us get up and walk with Him.

I hope that you have prayed along with me, whenever we go to heaven I will see you there again.

In Christ's Love

Sofia

4th of July 2012

Thank you Lord for allowing me to enjoy the freedom, and the richness of this country.  Thank you that I have the freedom to worship your name without been punished for it, and for so many other things I take sometimes for granted. It is a privilege to live here United States of America.
Happy 4th of July everyone!

"He comfort us every time we have trouble, so that we can comfort others when they have trouble.  We can comfort them with the same comfort that God gives us." 2nd Cor 1:4

Yesterday we went to celebrate the 4th of July at Pier Park (a huge shopping area with all kind of stores everywhere, and blocks from the beautiful Panama City Beach) The Panama City Orchestra play along as the fire works took place. Beautiful event to experience and a beautiful moment to thanks our Lord we are still one nation under God and that we can still call this nation a Christian Nation.  So many blessings we received everyday that sometimes we take for granted.
Just few hours prior to the event we stop in a store to get few items, and I turned to see the newspaper displaying a picture of a man in Egypt sleeping on the top of a truck, all dirty and without shoes, and the paper said the bad political and economical situation Egypt is going through.  and there I was ready to buy things to eat and enjoy the music and fireworks while that man so far away from us maybe did not even had breakfast or dinner.  We may not be able to fix the problems and situations around the world, but we can pray for them and give thanks to our God for our every day living.

Last time I went to the Doctor, was a month ago, the MRI results were not good.  Seems like the tumor is growing back, and now there is an area on the left side that shows a (maybe) new growth (the tumor removed was on the right hemisphere of the cerebellum) this shadow is on the left hemisphere.
How am I dealing with this?
Not well when I removed my eyes from Jesus.  But when I look at His eyes, and my life, soul, heart, and thoughts are in Him, I am at so much peace and know that my Lord has plans for me,  not to harm me, but to prosper me. There is a purpose for all these happening, but I have assurance that my God is in control, that nothing happens in this world without His approval.  I don't know what is His plan for my life, but I know He wants me to trust Him and live a day at the time, enjoy each day, to be there for my Bethany and bring love to others.. If I am alive now after all that I have been trough (brain cancer, (2) brain surgeries, radiation and chemo, and against all odds and doctors predictions I am here, I am alive and not handicap.  How can I doubt that my Lord  will not take care of this situation?

I know I have been a stranger, have not write in a long time, but here I am with some news.

I moved from my sister Theresa (still moving) to an apartment in Lynn Haven, closer to Bethany school, grandma, and lots of stores, etc (that will save me a lot in gas).  I am living by faith, I made this move just because the Lord really open wide the doors for me to rent this place, and I am happy putting this together.
July 27 I am going with Bethany to a mission trip in Honduras (Guamaca) to an orphanage with 600 kids.  Can't wait to be there and be used by God touching the lives of those little ones that are in so much need of love and physical needs.  and Bethany, this trip will be an awesome experience for her, a time for her to learn how good it is to be servants of other people as Jesus was (He came to serve, not to be served), to share or work for God.  I know she will make friends and she will realize how many privileges she has here and how bless she is to have mommy and daddy and people that love her, and a God that will never leave her or forget her.

Once I am back from Honduras (August 10).  I will be getting a part time job and going to the doc again, more research and magnetic resonance to figure out how  are these things on my head behaving (growing or dormant).

This is it for now... more to come later  =)

God bless you!

EASTER - MORE NEWS

"... And we are healed because of His wounds" 1st Peter 2:24

I missed adding some to the blog I sent yesterday, so here I go:

The first MRI after chemotherapy showed a growth in the same spot where my brain tumor was located, I stopped chemo and basically the Dr. told me there were 2 options, having a new treatment (unknown results) or waiting ... remember? then I had another one MRI done and matched exactly as the one taken before that made my Dr. believe the growth in my brain was scar tissue from the surgery. we waited 3 more months and another MRI was taken, the Dr. told me it matched with the other 2 prior MRI, so he strongly believed he was right about the scar tissue. Now we will wait until June for another MRI, hoping and praying that will be the same, no changes.
Whatever it is I thank my Wonderful God for the healing. I am so much better, no more shaking hands and feet, no more vision problems, no more incredible painful headaches.
Thank you Jesus for your healing, Thanks for life.
My mom will be leaving soon, she had cataracts surgery in both eyes (by the grace of God) just happened that the eye Dr. I used to see when dealing with my vision problems cause the cancer; the same Dr. saw my mom for glasses and found the cataracts, and knowing my situation, placed my mom under the charity program they have at The Eye Center (isn't God so amazing).
Now my mom is recuperating from both eyes, but she is able to read again! so, she has been reading "the upper room" devotional. (Thank you Jesus!!)
I am so blessed and happy.

Happy Resurrection Day!!!!!!!

EASTER NEWS!

"Accept God's salvation to be your helmet..." Ephesians 6:17

Many have asked (even my mom), How were you able to face with so much peace the Doctor's news about you having the cancer again and basically no treatment options, but just waiting for death? How were you able to put together your own funeral arrangements? where did you get the strength to do so without falling apart?
My mom even questioned my faith, she told me how little my faith was, that I was working my funeral arrangements, instead of believing in God's healing.
The answer to everyone is very simple: It is not that I have little faith about God's power to heal me, absolutely not! God is able to do anything, to make the impossible, possible, His power can not be doubt; the power of the God I praise and worship. The difference is that I surrendered to His will, either if He takes me home with Him or leaves me here in earth. As I mentioned before in one of my blogs, everyone that I may leave behind will be fine (even my daughter Bethany). Why? because they are children of God as well, and God will be there for them. He will never leave or forget them, He will take good care of my love ones.
What about me? easy: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" Philippians 1:21. God has filled my heart with so much peace and joy about it; and my peace comes because I know where I will be going when departing this life... I am going with Jesus!! How am I so sure? How can I boast I will have eternity? Do I think I am righteous and because of my "good deeds" I will go to heaven?
No, absolutely not, I am not righteous, I am a sinner. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Romans 3:23 / "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" 1st John 1:8
Because Christ did not die in vain, He suffered and die in the cross to save me, to save you, to save anyone that believes in Him. Remember the Bible verse on the top of my blog? John 3:16? yes, He came so that we do not perish, but have eternal life! and God is a truthful God, He does not lie. I am so glad that salvation (eternal life) cannot be win by deeds, otherwise I will be domed. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the Gift of God." Ephesians 2:8
His mercy and grace touches me. I've done so many wrong things in my life, I have hurt people, I have hurt myself, and I have paid the consequences of my own actions; But, how wonderful is to be white as snow (Just because of the blood of Jesus that cleanses me). Just by praying to my Lord, accepting Him as my God, my Savior, my friend, just by asking Him to wash me clean from my sins, and to take and enter my heart to guide me and protect me, telling Him that I wanted to be His then and forever. And "If you profess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
Am I without sin now? I do not sin anymore? Of course not, God knows I sin every day and every 10 sec or less I have sinful thoughts, but God helps me see when I am acting wrong ; and I immediately ask for forgiveness and strength to stop sinning. God knew ,way ahead, I was going to fall and sin, but He also knew that I was going to repent from it. God has forgiven me from my past, present and future sins, He gave His life for me.
Am I suppose to keep sinning, because there is always forgiveness? of course not! because I love God I want to obey him and serve Him, and bring Glory to His name in all that I say and do.
"We know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commands. Whoever says, "I know Him", but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person." 1st Jonh 2:4
Keep His commands? What are His commands? Easy, the 10 commandments, all starts there, everything like lying, stealing, lusting, loving other gods before Him, etc. Breaking his commandments (could be as simple as lying) is the same as sinning. One thing is to sin and have remorse about it and repent, doing our best to not fall anymore; and something different is to sin with the knowledge we are breaking God's command (disobeying), maybe feeling remorse at first, but shutting that little voice in us that keeps saying what we are doing does not bring Glory to God, we are disobeying . keep living breaking His command and not repenting about it.
"We know that anyone who is God's child does not continue to sin..." 1st John 5:18

Hope you have enjoyed the reading, we have an awesome God that loves us, and is open to our petitions and questions, we just have to ask Him.

May this Easter be good to remember the perfect sacrifice Jesus did for us, let's share the joy of the resurrection, God bless you all,

2012 / THE BUTTERFLY WITHIN...

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Have you ever stop for a moment and look at a beautiful butterfly? Remember when you learned at school about them?
Every time I read this verse a butterfly comes to my mind. We, humans, are just like them, we are ugly worms, but God knows that we will turn into beautiful butterflies. The ugliest the worm, the more beautiful butterfly we get.
How many times have you felt worthless, a sinner, someone that does not deserve anything?
Don't let Satan lie to you, don't allow him to plant in your heart you are not good enough to approach God... Don't you know that God sees the worm, knows is a worm, but He also sees the beautiful butterfly it will turn into?
We will sin so many times in our lives, but God does not stop loving us because of it. He knows the beauty inside of us, and knows that at some point the butterfly inside of us will come out.
He send his son to die for us, so that anyone that believes in Him and professes Him God and Savior will be saved and have eternal life.
Because of Jesus we are worthy, we are beautiful, we are white as snow in the eyes of our God. We will fall in sin many times, but our Jesus died for our past, present and future sins. We just need to stretch our hands to Christ ask for forgiveness and take His loving hand and get up and keep walking. He knows who you are, He knows already all the times you are gonna fall, and knows all the times you will return to Him repented and stretching your hands up to Him to be lift up. He loves us no matter what, He loves us so much that He left his throne in heaven to come to this world, live a humbled life and die for us.
Thanks God for looking at the butterfly in me, thanks for your mercy and your love, I do not deserve your love, but you give it to me anyways because of your grace.
Let's this 2012 accept Jesus Christ gift of forgiveness, let's accept his grace. Let's look forward for the work He is to do in our lives, let's look forward to see what He sees on us...a beautiful butterfly.

Have a wonderful 2012!!!