Author Archives: Christina

About Christina

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Blessings to all that are viewing this. My name is Christina Cruz-Mendez. I am a Senior Pastor at Mission United International Church in Yonkers, NY working along side my husband Juan A. Mendez Jr. Senior Pastor, currently residing in Canton, Georgia. We have been together for 29 years with 2 children that God has blessed us with. Makes us the family of four - "JusChrist4". I have been a Christian and active in ministry for about 22 years now. Through all the rocky and smooth roads in life I am eternally grateful that God has brought me this far in life to share with the world what He is doing in me, through me and for me.
September 13, 2018

Dear Me

By Christina

Dear Me,
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

When worry kicks in – TELL YOURSELF the Word!
It is only in the moment where you are thinking, reviewing, analyzing and trying to measure things up naturally.

But you serve a supernatural and an all-powerful God.

That is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us! As it is written in Ephesians 3:20!

Therefore you shall not worry Christina…about ANYTHING!

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:25-34

That is why you cannot worry Christina! All things are in His hands. You are only THINKING about it and when you do it starts to penetrate your heart….and bring in the worry and fear. So THINK on His word.

Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9

So think on that. Do not worry Christina!

STOP IT! Worry is not going to do a thing. But God is going to do SOMETHING!

Something great! Be at peace. Rest. Keep calm inside. This is a job for God.

Selah…………

Leave a comment | posted in Inspiration

September 5, 2018

Testimonials from Rise Above Adversity

By Christina

I have been getting testimonials by readers of my new release, “Rise Above Adversity: Where Declaration Becomes Destiny!”

Here I want to share a few with my online community! Hope you enjoy them. Feel free to send yours in to at juschrist4@gmail.com.

If you haven’t gotten your copy yet you can easily download on the Kindle App or have one sent to your home mailing address through Amazon!

Thank you in advance. The support is tremendous and totally moving in every way. I appreciate the feedback as it encourages me to continue in my writing journey and ministry.

With love,

Christina ♥️

I just finished reading your book. It was awesome, inspirational and there were many parts that resonated with me and confirmations of the many things I struggle with as well.
~ Alesandra Haley

This book is powerful! Thank you! Chapter 4 is deep and chapter 6 blew my mind…
I hate to read but this book has opened up my eyes and my heart. It’s ministering to me. Thanks for being used.
~ Gabe Feliciano

I read your book last night… the whole book!!!! I was going to start it on the train ride home but thank God I didn’t because I CRIED and CRIED and then wept…. Grief isn’t something you get over, it’s something that you incorporate into your life and learn to deal/live with it… those holidays, special moments and certain reminders are what triggers that grief… so many emotions. Thank you for sharing your most personal and intimate parts of you.
~ Kathy Feliciano

Praise God. God is so good. I’m telling you the book is going to change lives and transform situations. Do not under estimate what God has placed in your hand to write my sister.
~ Pastor Cristina Mendez

Leave a comment | posted in Book Release, Celebration, Emerging, Inspiration, Restoration

September 5, 2018

BE STRONG

By Christina

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”
Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV

We are predictable–be unpredictable.
The enemy is strategic–be MORE strategic.
He comes at us in one direction & fierce, so come at him in seven!

Attack him!!! Instead of him attacking you. Declare war!

He keeps catching us off guard because we are unprepared.
Be prepared!

Our victory is in Jesus Name!
Come up with a plan!
This is how we fight our battles!

Perspective changes when you bring yourself higher… we don’t forget what it’s like during the low times of life. It’s bad… horrible… gruesome at times when you see and hear of all the madness going on. Our world is changing everyday.

We need to get stronger. We need to go higher. How can we get there?
We put on the armor! The whole armor of God! By all the elements to help quicken and prepare us.

With Prayer
By Study
With Fellowship
With Worship
By Giving
By Serving
By Leading

We must be prepared! And we can with all those things. That is exactly how God’s work takes us there as it says in Ephesians 6. We don’t just put on the armor, we put on the WHOLE armor so that we can be strong. We need all the arsenal! Every tactic! Every tool.

My Spirit Filled Study Bible by Jack Hayford emphasizes: “Withstand, anthistemi [anth-is-tay-mee].” Paul alerts believers to the fact that they need to withstand the powers of darkness with the “whole armor of God.” Anti means “against” and histemi means “to cause to stand.” The verb suggests vigorously opposing, bravely resisting standing face-to-face against an adversary standing your ground.  Anthistemi tells us that with the authority and spiritual weapons granted to us, we can withstand evil forces.  The believer cannot ever “kick back” and take it easy, because there is a real Adversary who seeks to undermine and destroy the believer’s testimony. The shield of faith must always be up and the believer must actively withstand the Adversary’s assaults.

It also emphasizes on prayer and spiritual warfare.  Beyond the natural realm, in which we see there is another realm of invisible forces all around us waging a powerful warfare.  Although we may not sense it, we are part of this battle scene, Paul admonishes us to put on the whole armor of God in order to stand against the forces of hell. This armor is not just defensive, it is also to be used in taking the offensive against these satanic forces.  The key part of this divine armor, prayer is the primary means by which we engage in the battle itself, the purpose for which we are armed!

We must stay sharp–especially because we know a huge breakthrough is around the corner for what is to come! The enemy will always try to fight us and get us on some failure or defeat from what God has assigned for us.  BUT IF WE FIGHT BACK.

IF WE PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD!

IF WE PRAY WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION!

IF WE PRESS IN WITH PRAISE, WORSHIP AND ALL THAT WE GOT!

IF WE STAND NO MATTER WHAT!

WE WILL WIN THE BATTLE!!!! WE WILL WIN THE WAR!

Stay sharp saints…. don’t fall off.  As you may have heard, if you are already in pain –get an award from it! Don’t quit now. Don’t fall back. Move stronger than ever before.

Praise and Pray your way through it all! Here are some songs to help you through.

BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT!

Leave a comment | posted in Encouragement, Inspiration

September 3, 2018

Rejoice Again

By Christina

Hey! This is my bestie and this is her daughter!

Cristina Elizabeth and Ezrabella Arianna ♥️

They are beautiful indeed!

I love them so.

They come with more.

2 beautiful boys named Ezekiel and Isaiah.

They are my bestie’s sons. They are all so precious.

Animated. Happy. Loving and just flipping hilarious.

It was so nice to be around them.

I love how passionate they ALL are for life despite any absence, void, tragedy, disappointment or things simply out of our control.

What a grace this family carries.

I watched this woman wake, correct, usher, feed, clothe, clean, teach, entertain and prepare them effortlessly day after day!

Flawless in the eyes of God.

What a WOW woman and a WOW fam of 5! Always and forever. For the One that went to meet first with our maker left such a remnant of vibrant life here with us!

That’s a GIFT!!!! Do you get it? A PURE GIFT!

Of time. Love. Laughter. Faith. Family.

NEVER! GIVE! UP!

Don’t! Ever! Stop!

Pursue!

Take!

Go get it!

It’s yours!

It’s ours!!

I’m just amazed.

But at what?

How much God lives in us, no matter what!

We can do it. We can overcome! We can laugh again, love again, smile again, rejoice AGAIN!

It’s a COMMAND! Yes we can!

What a living epistle. Thank you for reminding me how much grace is extended and how I should never give up, especially when I am so nearby THIS MUCH!

You know what I mean…….

A thousand THOUSAND thanks!!!

With Love,

Christina

#pb&j4life

#nomoreEnglishMuffins

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:4-9 NKJV

1 Comment | posted in Encouragement, Hope, Inspiration