September 18, 2018

Emerge

By Christina

There was a story about a pig that was thrown into a pit.

To top it off not only was he thrown in the pit but he was having dirt thrown at him as well to bury him.

As each shovel of dirt was thrown at him, the pig began to vigorously shake it off.

He kept doing that with each shovel of dirt.

Because he continued to shake it off by the time he came to realize he made it to the top.

He emerged.

If the pig did not shake it off, he would have been buried in all the dirt thrown at him.

So what was actually meant to bury the pig only lifted him up and OUT of the pit because he SHOOK IT OFF!

I am that pig. You are that pig. When life throws you in a pit just as Jeremiah was thrown in a cistern –eventually you will be lifted out when you have such purpose destined for you.

You see I can only speak for myself. I can only speak from a transparent place.

But the evangelist shared some things on Saturday morning that MOVED IN MY HEART!

Because dirt represents hurt. And we know that dirt is always going to be thrown at us in one form or another. It could be very painful. Especially when things happen repeatedly.

I am sure the pig felt the pain and felt the weight of the dirt–blow after blow.

But it strengthened him as he kept shaking it off. He emerged from a dark place and right into the light. That is how we have to be. We have to shake it off–repeatedly. By now we should be EXPERTS of this.

The bible says in Isaiah 40:29 that He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak!

And again in 2 Corinthians 12:10:
That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When dirt is thrown at us, it can weakens us in ways we can’t easily express but we have the power necessary to shake it off. When we are weak the bible says—not IF we are weak but WHEN we are weak He gives strength! He increases power! That is supernatural.

“What do we have now?” You may be considering.

We have GOD!

We have His word!

We have a voice –to pray and express to Him.

We have other positive people that we can connect with.

We have encouraging books, amazing worship music and the ability to create an environment that will help us to move AHEAD!

Evangelist Hector Ciares shared with us this verse:

So the officials took Jeremiah from his cell and lowered him by ropes into an empty cistern in the prison yard. It belonged to Malkijah, a member of the royal family. There was no water in the cistern, but there was a thick layer of mud at the bottom, and Jeremiah sank down into it. But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, an important court official, heard that Jeremiah was in the cistern. At that time the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate, so Ebed-melech rushed from the palace to speak with him. “My lord the king,” he said, “these men have done a very evil thing in putting Jeremiah the prophet into the cistern. He will soon die of hunger, for almost all the bread in the city is gone.” So the king told Ebed-melech, “Take thirty of my men with you, and pull Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies.” So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to a room in the palace beneath the treasury, where he found some old rags and discarded clothing. He carried these to the cistern and lowered them to Jeremiah on a rope. Ebed-melech called down to Jeremiah, “Put these rags under your armpits to protect you from the ropes.” Then when Jeremiah was ready, they pulled him out. So Jeremiah was returned to the courtyard of the guard—the palace prison—where he remained.
Jeremiah 38:6-13

What a powerful story! Because they lowered this man in the pit! And that is what it feels like with life’s disappointments, discouragements, rejections, conditions, complications, obligations and all the other challenges that come storming our way!  So many things that are beyond our control. It makes us feel lower and lower and lower! BUT GOD! He used this situation to lift him up and out! He even used rags to protect him from the things that lowered him in to begin with.

Here we are now. Trying to press through even after we have received. In the moments of pain, we know that God will emerge us. He will reveal things to us. He will bring us into the light of His love and in His truth.

The greatest pain that was meant to lower you –is the very thing that God will use to empower you. Shake it off! Believe and trust God. Just using this simple analogy –the pig never sank. He was only thrown in to be lifted right back up.  The Bible shows us that Jeremiah was thrown in the pit only to be lifted back up.

Stay strong! Make the world wonder why you are smiling. 

Stay positive! If you can stay positive in a negative situation you WIN!

Allow God to use the pains and disappointments of life to elevate you. These He will use to enlighten you and others. These He will use so that you can share your own story.

It is time to rise above the adversity!

It is time to — E M E R G E.

With Love,
Christina! ❤

2 Comments | posted in Celebration, Emerging, Encouragement, Inspiration, Rise

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