Lost and without Direction!

"Oh no, I'm super late!!!" I said to myself even without looking at my watch. 

And let the race begins!

I rush to the bathroom, rush to take a shower, rush to get ready, rush to the car...

Amongst all this rush, I forgot to get the address with directions. 

That's alright, I think I know how to get there...

I drive into one road, enter another, make a turn here, then I turn there and 

I still can't find the place...

I insist but I notice that the place is beginning to get a bit "shady."

I remember my cellphone and I search for it in my bag but, for a 

change, I seemed to have forgot while being in such a rush. 

I keep turning here and there but now all I wish for is to find my 

way back home; I'm not even worried about finding the address, all I want is to get 

out of here. 

All of the streets look the same and very different all at the 

same time... 

I'm lost, I don't know where to go. 

People please, asking for directions in a place like this? No way!

It starts to get dark and everything outside seems even scarier 

and to 

make matters worse, I look down at the gasometer and it's blinking red...

I begin to get desperate, I start to cry and ask myself, why?

Why did I do that? Why did I leave my house without a direction?

I place my head on the steering wheel and I burst out in tears...

"Look at what you've gotten yourself into!!!!"

A life without Jesus can be compared to this scenario. 

You enter one road, another and yet another and before you know 

it you are in a dangerous area and you don't know what to do! How 

do you get out of there? Where do you go? Despair hits you hard...

I was like that, I used to live without having direction.

There are principles that our parents try to teach us but there 

com our friends with other principles and other family members 

with other principles and when you come to realize it, you don`t 

know which path to follow...

Only with Jesus did I find true principles to be followed, I found 

my path...

Like a father who loves his children, He guides us. Many times 

his directions seem harsh, severe, we feel like He is trying to spoil our fun!

But just like a zealous parent who loves his children a lot, 
He sees whats ahead, He knows what is good and what isn't.

He wants us spare us from suffering; He wants to protect us. But 

how many of us don't understand this and just like rebellious 

adolescents, we rebel against Him!

"Why can't I sleep with him before marriage if I love him?!"

"Why do I always have to speak the truth? I'm going to get into trouble!"

"Why can't I go to that party?!"

"Why can`t I wear this clothes?!!"

All because He loves us and wants our own good. He wants to 

protect us, He wants us to find true happiness!

Just like a true Father, He cares and protects those that 
obey Him, 

for these indeed recognize him as a Father. 

A loving Father, a caring Father, a Father that gave up his own life 

for his children. 

A Father that never left and will never leave his beloved children lost 

or without a direction!

Never leave your house without the map with directions that you 

celestial Father gave you, keep them in the tables of your heart. 

With Him, you will never find yourself lost, abandoned, without 

direction or alone...

Smart Little Donkey!

Thank you Raquel, for blessing my day by sharing such a beautiful message!

I decided to share it with you all…

“ A certain day, a donkey fell into a well and couldn’t get out.

The animal cried for hours, while its owner pondered what to do. Finally his owner made a cruel decision: since the donkey was so old and the well completely dry, it had to be buried somehow.

Therefore, there was no use in trying to get the animal out of the well.

He called his neighbors so they could help him to bury the donkey while it was still alive.

Each one of them grabbed a shovel and started shoveling sand into the well.

The donkey noticed what they were trying to do and started crying out even louder

But after a little while, the donkey seemed to become calmer.

The farmer who owned the donkey looked into the well surprised at what he was seeing.

Every time someone shoveled in the sand, the donkey would shake it off his back and use the sand to climb higher up.

After a while, everyone noticed that the donkey had reached the top of the well and climbed out of it.

Life will throw a lot of sand on you, especially if you are already inside a well.

Each one of our problems can be a step up that leads us higher in life.

We can climb out of the deepest wholes in life, if we only choose not to be defeated.

Let’s use the sand that people throw on us, so we may never sink in the pitfalls of life.”

The Butterfly Garden

That's how we named our Pledge Night for the Sisterhood and V Woman last Saturday here in England.

 

Even before the day, I had many people asking me if we would have real butterflies...

 

See how many in the picture below!!! All real ones:)

 

 It was an unforgettable night for all of us, but in my opinion, it wasn't the presentations or the surprises we had for the night that made it so special.

 

For me, the best was the testimonies...

 

Sibon Phiri (in the photo below), won the award Pledge of the year 2011. In January 2012, she will be going on an unforgettable trip to Israel with Sisterhood girls from all over the world.

 

 

This for me was the most special moment of the night. When talking about Sibon's testimony, I got a bit emotional and searched among the other Big Sisters for someone to take over the microphone but when I looked at them, they were all crying!!!!!kkkk Then I just had a laugh and it helped me to keep on going.

Sibon has a speech problem and had suffered so many humiliations and was despised by people. As a consequence, she was a girl full of complexes and insecurities.

Her change could be seen by the many people present (a crowd of almost a thousand people), when she was called to receive her award and talk about her tasks, changes and dedication to the Sisterhood monthly meetings.

She spoke about how happy and surprised she was to be chosen and said something else we won't forget...

"Tonight, my God has honored me greatly!"

Sibon lives in another city and every time she comes for our monthly meetings, it's 3 hours to come and 3 to go back. She never missed not even one meeting till this day.

Last December, she came for the monthly meeting and because of weather conditions, even after leaving London by 6pm, only arrived home at 4am.

To hear her say that, brought me to tears because she never complained nor had mentioned it to me before...

Blah, Blah, Blah

At first I was going to church only to please my “Aunt Eliana” (at the time she was just my boyfriend’s mom, now she’s my lovely mother-in-law.) 

She constantly invited me to the meetings; most of the time I didn’t want to go but I did so anyway just to stay on her good side.

Nonetheless, my going to church seemed pointless because the pastor’s words were coming in through one ear and out the other.

I was sure that sooner or later she’d get tired of inviting me, but boy was I wrong! Each day she would come up with a better reason…

"Nanda, today is a special day and I would really like it if you accompanied me,”

"Nanda, there’s a very special purpose taking place today. We can’t miss out on it!”

"Nanda, why don’t you join me? I don’t want to go all by myself. I thought that one was a low blow, but of course, I didn’t want to displease her… lol

Despite all of my apparent indifference, there was always a message that stayed with me after the meeting. 

Then one day…

“Speak to God… Tell him how much you love him… Tell him that you love him more than anything in your life… more than your friends, more than your dad…”

“No way!” I answered. 

Clearly, the pastor that was leading the prayer didn’t hear me. 

I remember that was the first time I really spoke to God without repeating or reciting empty words; instead, speaking from within, sincerely.

“God, I can’t say that I love you more than my dad because it isn’t true! 

My Dad is my darling, my love! I know who my dad is but I don’t know you Lord!

But you know something God: someday I want to be able to tell you I love you more than anything in my life.

I want to get to know you!”

I never forgot that day or those words. 

It was the day I finally decided to take God seriously, it was the day my life really began to change. It was also the last day that Aunt Eliana had to insist on inviting me to church because I decided to do my part in getting to know God. 

Shortly thereafter- a day that I will never forget, the day that I remember being able to finally say “My Lord, I love you more than anything in this world, even my dad!”

It was the day of my encounter with God, it was wonderful!

From that moment on I realized how important sincerity is for God. 

That is why I am extra careful with my words, especially in church, when we go before the altar to seek His presence.

How many times have you found yourself repeating the pastor’s words without thinking if what you are saying is actually what you feel/believe? 

How many are the times that while you are seeking God’s presence, you walk to the front, raise your hands and begin to say lots of words, but your mind is somewhere else: at home, with your kids, your long to-do list, and so your words are completely empty.

Don’t be embarrassed to admit and face reality, for when I am not vigilant I find myself doing this as well!

That’s right, the devil is astute and he doesn’t want us to praise God.

That is why he brings forth the most varied thoughts into our head while we are in prayer. When this happens if you do not resist him, then you end up returning to your seat feeling empty and far from God.

There are times in which we are all in the front seeking God’s presence but I feel troubled or worried about something, so, I open up to God first and let go of what is troubling me. Sometimes, everyone around is already speaking in tongues and I am still there unburdening myself…

Next time you are in the front seeking God’s presence, remember these words and above all, be sincere. Without a doubt you will attract God’s attention.

Something to Meditate on...

When I was little, if I remember correctly, I was quite a troublemaker...:)

I was incredibly creative and I was always making "art."

I used to like climbing trees, playinde gude ball with the balls, flying

kites when they let me, etc...

My knees were nearly always skinned from falling so much. 

I remember that I got hurt a lot, but I also remember the times that I 

cried in my room after getting a beating from my 

dad because I pulled something and he would come to say...

"Little daughter, daddy did't want to do that but it seems like you don't 

listen when I speak..."

And how many times does that not happen to use even after growing?

Many times!

Our celestial Father has taught us so many things, he exhorts us many 

times through His sacred words, by way of his servants and we simply 

don't listen. 

Many times, his voice seems very  soft, but it's only the voice of our own 

will that is yelling and impeding us from hearing Him clearly. 

We reap the fruits of what we planted yesterday. And tomorrow 

we will reap what we sow today.

I've meditated a lot on this and I asked myself...

What am I planting today?

Are they good seeds that will bear good fruits?

Have I listened to His voice?

"Dear Father, I want to learn You when You speak! I want to hear 

Your voice clearly."Tenho meditado muito sobre isso e me perguntado...
Something to meditate on.