October 20, 2019

With EVERYTHING

By Christina

What will it take for us to go a little more deeper… a little more further… a little more innovative and creative?

There was a young man in the bible that was taken away in exile and during his dark season produced the most excellent character and works.  He took his situation and didn’t count it as a loss but made it an opportunity for him to be tested for GREATNESS.

He knew who he was and WHOSE he belonged too –even in an adverse situation that was against all hope.  He wasn’t free–he was held captive –a prisoner. But all through that he lived a more excellent way.  He tested those that came before him to TEST him.  So that the true royalty upon his life would be in complete demonstration and manifestation.

What are you manifesting in your moments of captivity?

What are you demonstrating in the dark seasons of your life?

What are excelling in when it feels like you have been imprisoned?

Are you willing to give MORE? Are you willing to do things with EVERYTHING that you know that you have to give! That is what you call EXCELLENT. Dictionary.com says that to be excellent is possessing outstanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good. It means that it is above average, above the norm.

What will it cost you to give it all? What will it cost you to give one more step or one more push to EXCEL?

The Bible says in Daniel Chapter 1:6-19

Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  The Chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.  But Daniel resolved not to define himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.  Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink.  Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please TEST your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.  Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he AGREED to this and TESTED then for ten days.  At the end of the ten days they looked HEALTHIER and BETTER nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.  So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.  To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.  And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.  The king talked with them, and he found NONE EQUAL to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.

You have to understand that in the TEST you have to DO! And not just a little, an effort, a move, a task here or there but you have to give your all! It’s all in.  All or nothing. Understanding what the will of the Lord is and carrying out to fulfillment for the rest.

Even then in the very beginning of the test, we see that God was an advocate for Daniel because he was DIFFERENT.  He had a relationship with God.  He had the favor of God.  Daniel didn’t wait to be told to do something, he acted out and took a step of faith.  He took a step of excellence.

Look at the results of their excellence.  There was none found equal to these men.  That means they were OUTSTANDING… it means that they were excellent. They were promoted from the kings prison to the kings palace.

What can we do in our level of service to God, to our families, at our jobs, at church or any place that we volunteer to help. Can we be the BEST? Can we give the best? What can do to take a step further? Can we give all that we have to obtain the goal of a united community and environment of collaboration? This is what God wants us to do. The result is good. The result is favor. The result is that even when it is tough, dark or difficult that God will be the advocate for you to make you stand out among the rest.

Promotion is knocking on your door.  Favor is chasing you down. Transition is coming your way.  Good things are in store for you and your family.  Transformation is inevitable.  The harvest is here. All we have to do is give it our best and nothing less. Because less than that –is simply not excellent.

We can just be one step away from excellence. One day, one touch, one word, one moment, one opportunity, one act of faith –to say, “Test your servant!”

With everything.

Innovate. Create. Lead with diligence and excellence, so that you can walk in the harvest God designated for you.

With Love,
Christina ❤

C

Leave a comment | posted in Emerging, Faith, Health, Identity, Inspiration, Transition

October 19, 2019

Morning Mode

By Christina

So I know I wrote this blog that I am not a morning person at all. Check it out… Sleep
I did all that I could throughout the week so that when Saturday came I could just sleep in.  However –here I am up bright eyed and bushy tailed.  I think that is because I got my eight hours in.  Even on the Friday night I made it a point not to stay up late and get at least eight hours of rest in.

I have been reading articles, books and hearing messages that say this is such an important task at hand so that we are more productive throughout the day.  I cannot express enough how much I dislike waking up in the morning when I still feel so deprived of my sleep.  I normally have to wake up by 6 am everyday to join the prayer line and then prep to leave the house by 7:15 for a carpool type situation.

These tasks leave me completely spent by the end of the week.  When Saturday arrives I just want to do me and that is NOTHING.  I want to rest more, wake when I want with no alarm clock and begin my day however I please without having plans or a set schedule. I like this.  So today I rise at 7:15 around the time I am up and outside the house for the rest of the week.  This time the only plans I have is to take my sweet time at every thing.

I will share that the sleep emphasis for a better morning is spot on! How many of us go throughout our days with just 4 or 5 hours sleep because we are too “busy”.  Well we truly have to learn to get un-busy and do some of the things that our body does need so that it can wind down and adjust.  Here are the things that I am retaining that help for a better morning –better day –better planning:

  1. Prayer! This is a form of practice that we must learn to incorporate into our schedule.  If all else goes south and you have nothing else left in you this is the way that is going to sustain you.

But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble.
Psalm 59:16

2. Reading! Reading is life.  Reading helps you to relax and wind down.  It helps fill your mind with right things, educates you and prepares you.  I love curling up with a good book and getting my eyes off the screen and device.  Good thing we still have Barnes & Nobles in business so that we can get some paper books!

Blessed in the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor sits in the seat of the scornful but his delight is in the law of the Lord.  And in His law he mediates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2

3. Rest! We need those 7 to 9 hours of good wholesome rest.  It does our body good –it does our mind good.  It does our life good.  Even if you have to take a power nap.  They are called power naps because they are actually restorative to your mind and body! Learn to take naps when you need to.

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8

4. Right Relationships! Yes this is super, super important because this helps you to live a better life that is not consumed with stress because of poor connections.  There is nothing worse than draining, depressing, consuming and toxic relationships.  When you invest and your return is pain –this is when we truly must recognize as something we can never or no longer allow in our lives! Seek right relationships so that when you invest –they invest right back GOOD results!

I am a companion of all who fear You,
And of those who keep Your precepts.
Psalm 119:63

As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Proverbs 27:17

These quick four notes I hope will encourage you to practice so that you will have more productive days.  This is my morning mode.  This helps me so that I am not sluggish.

I will continue now resting…reading… relaxing… little music in the background going with Thorie nearby (my lil yorkie doggie) and my coffee.  This makes me happy.

Have a wonderful Saturday all.  Plan it well and do the things that will invigorate your soul and help you to grow stronger.  Let this morning mode for you be life transforming!

With Love,
Christina

 

Leave a comment | posted in Inspiration, Peace, Rest, Restoration, Rise

October 18, 2019

126 Days!!!

By Christina

Wow I am super excited! Today I was going through a check list in preparation for our wedding vow renewal date and got so caught up!!! So much left to do that I had to get started with pushing out these invites!

I finally finalized our wed-site and blasted it off but I wanna share a little story about us as we move forward in victory.

HOW WE STAYED TOGETHER

FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES MORE LOVE

Our story is beautiful…because it is our own. It is filled with grace and love. It is my first book, “Rebuilt! Beginning the Ending”
It is intimate, powerful, funny, frustrating, painful, forgiving and filled with lots of joy, laughter and love.
We first met back in 1992 over a hang out type of summer with the girls for me, with the guys for him. Then out came the booze and we just schmoozed! It was inevitable. We were leaders in our packs-destined to find each other, explore, have fun, experience life and survive the seasons!
Right off the bat–we knew it was just us from the first date. Then he told me he wanted me to be his wife and that he would give me the world –he does just that everyday.
I do all that I can now to hold our family and he does all that he can to cover this family. Together we make the funniest US! I can say there isn’t a day that is boring together. There isn’t a day that we are not angry with each other LOL, but there isn’t a day that we are not loving each other unconditionally! We both have unique gifts, two beautiful kids, moms that we adore and we work in ministry together. Our life is crazy, busy, fun and growing. And we are excited to say YES again to our next BEST.
We hope that you can celebrate with us too.
With Love,
Juan & Christina Mendez

Let the countdown continue with lots of faith, hope & love. We are excited! ♥️

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:14 ESV

2 Comments | posted in Celebration, Faith, Hope, Inspiration, Love

October 16, 2019

UNSATISFIED

By Christina

May God move us to the place where there is MOVEMENT!

The reality is that we are distracted.

Honestly I was in prayer service yesterday about persistence and felt like I wasn’t persistent enough.

After the teaching we began to pray and as a lingered there I couldn’t help but think how much we need to be more conditioned for prayer.

Our minds are on media big time!

Shows, series, programs, channels, postings, gamings, texting, messaging and on and on and on!!!

Are we conditioned for prayer the way that we as a body of Christ really need to be?

Do we really pray at least one hour a day?

As Jesus asked his disciples that had no idea how to pray, “Could you not watch one hour??”

“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”” Matthew 26:36-41 NIV

How can we really seek the face of God where there is OUTPOURING! CHANGE! POWER! MOVEMENT! MIRACLES!

This is how the early church was and how we need to be!

REMEMBER….

BEING PRAYERFUL MAKES US POWERFUL!!!!

We don’t want to “struggle” in this area! We shouldn’t have to be! We should be vigilant and ready!

And I am only being as transparent as I can be from my perspective. I know there are intercessors out there. But we can clearly see the culture now running rampant and so much because we are not praying enough.

I want to be there and not think about the hallmark channel… my words with friends…. or answering messages…. I am definitely trying to ween more and more off media. I started with “times to go on and times to NOT GO ON!” Lol

That’s a big job! But we have a BIG GOD!

We need to be unsatisfied because that is what pushes us for more! It pushes us to do better! It pushes us from big distractions to the face of our BIG GOD! Just as I wrote in Get Comfortable with Uncomfortable!

Personally –I am unsatisfied. I want more! I want the victory in my prayer life so I can continue to walk in a powerful life.

The only thing that should ever satisfy us is having the deepest relationship with God!

Leave a comment | posted in Encouragement, Inspiration, Prayer