Category Archives: Restoration

November 15, 2018

The Struggle Is Where You Learn

By Christina

Dear Christina,
I met you at the conference in Charlottesville; I started reading your book the same day that you tossed it on my lap as you were speaking at the conference on Elizabeth in the Bible. I read it in two days. I wept, I stood up, I curled up with it in my bed, I lifted my voice to the Lord, I personally understand every word and gut wrenching sentiment of your book.  I have survived the unthinkable as well, even death at my door.  I found myself in every page.  Your words Christina, ring our mercy and strength.  I thank you for your book.  Love and prayers…

It is testimonies like this where I can feel that peaceful affirmation that when I sowed it–it was right! I love sowing my books–sowing the words that God gives me. Because every storm we face tells a story.  It paves the way for others. I am sure many of us would wish that we wouldn’t have to struggle. We want everything easy, quick and given to us with no real effort. That is the ideal.  But it doesn’t really happen that way.  In fact some people struggle even more than the average struggle.

I was speaking with my new beautiful boss and she tells me this….

“The struggle is where you learn!”

I said, “Wow! I am writing that down. That was a deep statement!”

Yet it is true! We all struggle and in those places of our struggle, He leads us through it so that we can grow through it. That is what I know and that is what I have learned on my own as well.  It is nothing that I could have learned had things been so easy for me. They never were!

At six –I had no dad at home.

At seven –we were already conformed to a life of poverty, struggle, government dependence and roaches.

At ten –I was already made fun of by every person in the school so I never could feel comfortable with who I was.

At fourteen –I was already introduced to the “hit & quit” over someone I just randomly met a night before.

At sixteen –I already ran away from home to return with a sexually transmitted disease.

At eighteen –I was already pregnant right after High School graduation.

In my twenties –I was still partying and getting high. I was still depressed and still hurting.

In my thirties –after somewhere meeting Jesus at the tail end of twenties, I would learn that Church was really not the “thing” that would keep my saved!

In my forties –I would learn that after much death, darkness and drama that I needed a serious encounter with the God of the Impossible in my life.  So I was Elizabeth too! I was the 88 year old that basically had no movement of life in me. Always left last and by the wayside and on the bottom end of life.

I kept going moment to moment, day to day, week to week and year to year only to discover that when you do that aimlessly you will always experience even MORE loss.

And all through that–what I do know now…… I got to say it…. WHAT I DO KNOW NOW! Is that God is my God! He is my King and He is my everything. He is my friend. He is the One who sustains me. He is the One that has kept me and He truly is the One that has been my Defender in every way possible –all through the impossible dark days and sleepless nights of my life.

There He would find me and there is where I would learn that only in the struggle would I have the deepest roots that I have ever had in Him. So I must say –just like the woman shared such a powerful testimony.  I now know that the words He has given me perhaps will make some want to stray more from me, but for the majority I know they are going to touch the world! ❤ I am at peace with that. The struggle is where I learned how to tell others about the greatest One of ALL!!!!

Amen

Jesus knew they had questions to ask of Him, so He approached them.
Jesus: Are you trying to figure out what I mean when I say you will see Me in a little while? I tell you the truth, a time is approaching when you will weep and mourn while the world is celebrating. You will grieve, but that grief will give birth to great joy. In the same way that a woman labors in great pain during childbirth only to forget the intensity of the pain when she holds her child, when I return, your labored grief will also change into a joy that cannot be stolen.
John 16:19-22

I have told you these things so that you will be whole and at peace. In this world, you will be plagued with times of trouble, but you need not fear; I have triumphed over this corrupt world order.
John 16:33

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November 7, 2018

ROOTS

By Christina

You will keep the peace, a perfect peace, for all who trust in You, for those who dedicate their hearts and minds to You.
Isaiah 26:3 (VOICE)

I hate the things that keep me up at night.

Mind things. Mind battles. Unsettling situations.

Words. Life. Changes. Processes. Thoughts.

I have been meditating and reading since 3 am this morning and have this blog to share—roots.

They are my thoughts. Personal thoughts. Private thoughts. They are unseen. Hidden and underground. Just as I was reading in a book by Joel Olsteen called “Next Level Thinking”.

I went to chapter 9 titled, “Get The Contaminants Out” which are thoughts. Unhealthy thoughts, bitterness, resentment, anger, frustration…. all the things that didn’t go right. It’s the little things that get you the most sometimes!

“Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!”
Song of Songs 2:15 NLT

He kept speaking about the unseen by describing the roots that feed a tree. It’s not so much what happened, it is the thoughts that follow what happened! We think and think and rethink and replay words in our mind! That is a difficult process to sift through especially when words are contrary to your belief system.

But that belief system must be transformative.

It cannot conform. It cannot remain the same.

Emill Bridges this weekend at “Total Victory” conference in Charlottesville VA said, “You cant have grace and stay the same!”

There’s no way!

“If we keep going in and out of where we must REMAIN IN GOD, then we will always go up and down!”

That fluctuating emotional realm can be so draining. That’s why we can’t allow it to govern us. We can’t stay here. We can’t stay the same. We have to go there… where God prepared our wellness and wholeness. We have to THINK THE RIGHT THINGS and cast aside the remuneration that human form has been so conditioned to practice.

We must get RID of the roots that can poison the tree.

The roots are thoughts.

Just as you can’t see roots, you can’t see thoughts.

The roots feed the tree.

The thoughts feed the mind.

They must be healthy. And whatever is negative, frustrating, aggravating, unforgivable or unforgettable—WE MUST LET GO!

We have to move on because God gives us grace for each season. To me things may not always work in my favor, but I have to trust that God is bringing me to live in His favor.

My roots have to be so DEEP IN GOD! That it feeds my mind, my life, my soul, my actions, my steps, my ways, my everything! That my convictions are not based on feeling good, great or grief—but that it is based on the Word! That my convictions are based on His ways.

Those are the roots I need.

To be rooted IN Christ.

To have my thoughts IN Christ, so that I am kept in perfect peace.

Does that make sense?

Christina…… “You have risen above adversity but now you have to RISE HIGHER!”

Right roots (thoughts) will help you achieve that.

Verses:

“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2:7 NLT

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Proverbs 4:23 NLT

3 Comments | posted in Celebration, Encouragement, Inspiration, Love, Recovery, Restoration, Rise, Trust

October 14, 2018

Hmm My Testimony

By Christina

I was having brunch today with some very important people that God has put in my life and they started to ask us questions….
How did you and your husband meet?
How did you feel about all of this?
What was your view with him coming to Christ?
What about you?

Well–I also pick up this book from Annie F. Downs called “Remember God” and she talks about the importance of her reflecting on all the things that God does and continues to do. So this was a perfect time for the questions to come my way. I can reflect and really see that I didn’t know my purpose. I didn’t know what would make of my life. I had thought I would be some elementary school teacher or something like that. But God’s plan was for me to teach His word. Either through writing or by communicating on any level that He would have for me. In a woman’s meeting, church service. out on the field, testifying to people or any other means –even international.

Most recently, I had the opportunity to share that on a video tapping for TBN Salsa that will soon air across 144 countries in just a few weeks. So I remember God! I have a testimony. He has done great things in my life.  He is continuing to do that now and I know that there is just so much more to come.  It is absolutely amazing.

God does that! He is just amazing, awesome, awe-inspiring in every way.  I love Him. But most importantly –HE JUST LOVES ME!

I can remember very early on in life that things weren’t working out in our favor as a family.  Mom moved us out–me, my brother and her.  We spent the majority of the time on public assistance and my mom trying to get as much work as she could. With the absence of my dad and no real presence in our life after that move, things became worse.  It was an awkward separation that left me wondering…. always wondering AND wandering without a purpose. I didn’t really have anyone sharing to my face that I could be something of value like that.

I disliked life. I disliked our family situation. I disliked myself and everything about me. I didn’t see any value or purpose at all. I just cared less. So I just thought to WASTE my time with meaningless things. Anything.  Like poor relationships, smoke, drinks, lousy parties with people I would never see again.  I had no purpose, no direction, no focus and I was so so sad all the time. I was a miserable and an extremely angry person. I had so much frustration of my past.  I was hateful. There was nothing in me to want to continue except that God was keeping me.

I remember when I finally had an encounter with God. I was so touched because I truly didn’t want to live like this anymore. It is horrible to live with no sense of purpose, love or happiness.  But then that moment opened for me. And even though there were still many trials up ahead for me to face, the fact that I had God in my life only kept me more secure in Him.  His word had power. His voice had authority. His ways had overtook mine.  There was nothing else to do but surrender to the God of my life.

The Dr. told me today –you need to share your testimony because it is powerful.  You have a story to tell –so tell it.  Here is me doing that on a quick blog as I shared so much in my first book “Rebuilt: Beginning the Ending.” God is doing so much. I am blessed. I am favored. I am grateful and I am super thankful for who He is. He has given me a tremendous testimony. I will share it more and I will share MORE! I hope you will share yours too because there is so much more to come.

“At least there is hope for a tree:
if it is cut down, it will sprout again,
and its new shoots will NOT fail!”
Job 14:8

With Love,

Christina

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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