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.
April 3, 2018

No Exclusions

By Christina

It’s notable in the second chapter on the Acts of the Apostles the reference of ALL and Everyone.  When God moves it is not something He intends to do on few. God wants to move upon ALL and everyone just as it was done in the days of the Acts of the Apostles.

After resurrection day – so did the Apostles.  Their faith was resurrected.
Their vision was resurrected.
Their hope was resurrected.
The church was resurrected.
Believers were resurrected.

Works became life.  Salvation for everyone.  The outpouring of the Spirit didn’t come to few pressing in the upper room for more.  The Holy Spirit came upon ALL.  That is the intent.  There are to be no exclusions!

All and Everyone!

This means you and I.  When we seek Him, we get to encounter this fire filled baptism of pure power released from heaven to what God has given us NOW.  That lives in us!

Peter repeats–

“In the last days, God says ‘I will pour out My Spirit on ALL people.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
Your young men will see visions,
Your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men AND women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood
before the coming of the GREAT and GLORIOUS day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”

With this the church spread like wildfire.  The Gospel was declared and they received the Word of the Living God and change was happening in the cities!

This is how we can experience it today.  For ALL and everyone who believes.  That is what it takes for us to get to that place where there are no exclusions.  Fire fell upon them ALL.  They repeated the words of God and EVERYONE received!

So we decide. We can enter the room with Him and miss out or we can enter the room with Him and stand out! He is always willing to manifest Himself in the deepest places to bring an encounter that will last eternal in our soul.

Let’s share in this movement.

May God continue to propel His people to spread a message where there are no exclusions because He died for ALL so that we may have everlasting life.

~ccm

Leave a comment | posted in Encouragement, Salvation

April 2, 2018

Always Remembering Tony Mendez

By Christina

April 2, 2017 will always be an unforgettable day for us as the late Pastor Tony Mendez went with the Lord. Our brother! A son. A husband and amazing dad. A Mendez backbone! A pillar! A pioneer for our family! A powerful Pastor and father of the faith to many. We will never forget how powerfully God used you to plant such depth in the hearts of many.

But to us, we hold so dearly and intimately. I will miss my big bear hug that almost broke my glasses and neck every time– YOU GIANT!!!! LOL.

We all miss that in every way. Your laughter and life. God’s got you and is holding us tightly. I listened first to your beautiful wife minister LIFE today when she was feeling the grave inside. I then stood in the presence with my husband, your beloved brother minister on the resurrected power of Christ out of that grave!

Some of the greatest people come out of that grave! Jesus paved the way! Death could not hold You down. For just when the enemy thought this would perhaps stop the gospel this only ADVANCED IT! We continue to run the race together, fight together, love together, minister together and grow in grace together! Our family is stronger than ever now. Anthony … We will ALWAYS have you in every step and moment knowing you are only waiting for us! We love you forever!!!! You would be so proud just as I am of these pillars of faith! ♥️🙏🏽🙌🏽

I cannot wait until my new book is released RISE ABOVE ADVERSITY! It is a special piece dedicated to our family. It means a lot to me as I know the Spirit of God prompted me to share when all we could do is learn to rise above our greatest adversity.

To God Be The Glory!!!

Forever in our hearts.

F O R E V E R.

2 Comments | posted in Family, Love

April 1, 2018

He Lives In Us!

By Christina

He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:7-8

Happy Resurrection Sunday.

It always seems that we are questioning timing and dates but He says in His word, “It is not for us to know times or dates” because all that it is set by God. He is in control and in authority of all time. What He does want us to know is that while we wait–right now–today–in this moment–we have resurrection power!

The Holy Spirit is with us, He never leaves us or forsakes us. We have the ability to do; the ability to act; the ability to shine before others and demonstrate to the world that He lives in us!

That’s what matters most!

That’s enough!

We are called to be witnesses this day and beyond to spread a message –not just news –but GOOD news that our Resurrected King has resurrected us!

This is GREAT news! The best news ever!

To those that believe, we walk by faith and not by sight! God is with us, in us, and working for us. We celebrate life TODAY!

Many times we say “When will this come? When will this happen?”

What matters is right now. We walk in resurrection power right now because He lives in us right now!

That should be our primary focus and cause of celebration on this time and date.

Everything changes for us.

He lives in us now.

Right in this very moment.

There is no waiting for that because He is here in us, with us, and for us!

2 Comments | posted in Inspiration

March 29, 2018

Be Still

By Christina

God is a safe place to hide,
    ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
    courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
    the tremors that shift mountains.

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city,
    this sacred haunt of the Most High.
God lives here, the streets are safe,
    God at your service from crack of dawn.
Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten,
    but Earth does anything he says.

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
    He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
    breaks all the weapons across his knee.
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
    loving look at me, your High God,
    above politics, above everything.”

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
[Psalm 46 The Message Translation]

I am being so transparent in my process. I had this simple conversation with God. It went something like this–“God you did it for this one and that.  I know that you can do the same.  It happens so commonly for people –a shift–a change. A growth step into something new! You got this!”

The scripture says in every other translation apart from this one –“BE STILL and know that I am God!” The Message says–“Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at Me!”

So to be still you have to step out!

Step out of what?

Traffic! Clutter! Bombarding thoughts of doubt. Fear. Torment. Disappointments. Worry.  Step out of that place of frustration in your mind and bring yourself to a place to truly trust God by looking at Him.  We have to focus on how He does things and within His timing, not ours.  He is the owner of all things and above all things.

The same God that wrestled with Jacob is wrestling with you –to get you to a place where you are touched in a moment. This changes your perspective and pushes you to a realm of complete faith! We are convinced!

We can stand fearless. This is our safe place. Our safe house. When life starts to roar at us we need to step out of that noise to a quiet place with Him. 

God’s got this–I am going to step out of the traffic and learn to be still again.

It’s time to switch the lanes of my faith and take this a notch up with some hardcore trust.

 

1 Comment | posted in Inspiration