Sweet victory...

As you see this image, since most of you either watched the game or heard the news about it, I would imagine that you already know what I'm blogging about. Must I say it? OK, I will....WE WON!!!! The Red Sox are champions and I'm loving it.
Man, as I saw them jumping and celebrating, I felt like I was there. My Sisters called while they celebrated with friends and enjoyed the team's victory...our victory.
Something interesting is to see that, even though I'm not the one that played, even though I'm not the one that was there batting or catching the ball, I'm still a winner. I'm a winner, because my team won.
Same applies in the spiritual world. The Bible states that we're more than conquerors. It states that our battle has already been won by our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. You see, He died for all our sins, but on the third day he conquered death, making us all (His children) more than conquerors. I mean, I didn't have to actually play in the World Series in order to win. My team won for me. Jesus beat death for us, so victory has already been granted and all that's left for us to do is celebrate. Celebrate having eternal life, celebrate being forgiven, celebrate having won the battle that Jesus fought for us.

Victory is indeed sweet. Go Red Sox!...but better yet, GO JESUS!!!!!!

On my way...

You know, sometimes I get frustrated. I get frustrated about not being where I would like to be, or where I think I should be at this point of my life. I get frustrated about being weak sometimes and making mistakes, I get frustrated about things not working out my way...bottom line, I just get frustrated about being human.

I wonder if God gets frustrated with me when I mess up. Does He say "I'm so disappointed at my daughter Pris, she's not meeting my expectations"...I don't think so. Instead, He looks at me with mercy and loves on me even more. He tells me "I got you girl, you'll do better next time...I love just as much".

Isn't this awesome? Instead of bringing me down, as I do to myself, He holds me, loves me and tells me not to give up, because He'll continue His work in me and assures me that His power is made perfect in my weakness. You gotta really love a God like this, you gotta really feel honored to be His child...I know I am.

I mess up, I screw up, I'm human, but as someone once said: I might not be where I want to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be. He's done so much in my life and He's still working...He's not done with me yet, and that, my friends, is a wonderful thing to know...

Nothing to worry about...

Yesterday was a cool day. I got to hang with the boys at Church. Recorded some vocals for rehearsal this weekend, went to lunch with The Garcia's, Rebecca, Miguelito and Ricky Ricardo. Had a nice talk with Pastor Garland (he's so sweet) and overdosed on Hillsong worship...I was helping out listening to Cd's and finding good songs for our worship. Then some friends invited me over to have a nice home cooked meal and my day ended watching the Red Sox win the first World Series game...Go Sox!!

There are so many things that are not yet defined, there's so much to figure out in my life at this moment, a lot of unanswered questions, an unclear view of what's to come. However, in the middle of all this, His peace has never left, His blessings can still be counted, His love is still revealed through those around me that take any opportunity to say "Hey Pris, I'm praying for you". No doubt about it, I'm very fortunate...

What a difference it makes to know that my God, my Creator, my Provider is the one in control of my life. He has not yet given me clear instructions on what to do next, but He's kind enough to give me cool days like yesterday...days when He chooses to show me in so many different ways that I'm special to Him and that His purpose is being fulfilled in my life, no matter how unclear my circumstances may seem.

I don't know what the future holds, but I know the one who holds the future...the Almighty One, the One that's never failed me and never will.

To think about...

Choices are the hinges of destiny.

-Edwin Markham

I know how it feels...

Why is it so easy for us to judge? It's so easy to just point the finger and say "your fault". I know, I've done it. I've done it many times. I can actually be very good at it, I'm sad to admit. I could see something, form an opinion and stick to that, because that's how I see it...how terrible.

The whole thing tastes a lot different when we're the ones sitting on the chair being pointed at. Then, at that moment, it's not right to judge. At that moment, we want mercy and deserve nothing less.

If we would just remember to not do to others what we wouldn't want done to us. If we would be slower to pass judgement and quicker to offer mercy, we would probably get more mercy in return. I'll try not to forget...

Ahhh! Why did I watch?

Dancing to me is a great expression of freedom...dancing in public, that is. You have to either really know what you're doing or not care at all about the opinion of those around. In other words, you have to be confident.

Last night, I saw myself on TV. My Sisters and I were invited to a show and we had an interview and sang a song...we danced too. I was very nervous, because I'm not a dancer, instead, I'm very insecure. The show had been recorded the night before, so my Sisters and I got the chance to watch. AHHHH!!!! Why did I watch? It reminded me of something Troy said last week. He said that when someone takes a picture of you in a group, the first thing you look for in the picture is yourself and all the things you're insecure about. Well, that's exactly what happened last night. Instead of enjoying the show, instead of celebrating the great opportunity that God had given us, instead of also noticing how great my Sisters were doing, I was suffering! I was watching my every move, hating every single one of them. I hated the way I was sitting, the way my face looked whenever I smiled, I hated the fact that I felt shy so I didn't really talk much, and my dancing...I was totally troubled by my dancing. I compared every move I struggled to make with the very smooth way in which my two Sisters just cruised through the song. The experience, instead of being joyful, turned into a sea of insecurities in which I felt I was drowning.

The show ended, everyone celebrated and I was totally depressed. Of course, my family knows I'm not a pro at dancing, but none of them saw what I saw. However, I made sure to tell them every little thing I did wrong, I pointed everything out to them and I doubted and rejected any encouraging comment or compliment that they gave me. They tried to lift me up, since by that point I was already in tears, hating myself and my insecurities, but the effort was in vain.

You might think Pris! You need therapy. Why are you sharing this? I don't know...I guess it's liberating to me when I'm naked in front of you guys. Maybe this is my therapy, to share with you how I struggle with accepting who I am, to talk to you about the giants I get to face everyday. Maybe this is my therapy, to tell you how weak I really am. So glad to know that God's power is made stronger in my weaknesses. How can He use someone like me to bring life to others and to even encourage other people that struggle with my very same issues as me? That's how He works. God doesn't look for perfection, He looks for hearts that are willing to let His name be glorified.

You see, when I get a compliment about my singing and how God touched someone's heart as I sang, all I can do is think "thank you God, for using this imperfect vessel to fulfill your perfect plan". I know, no doubt at all, that it's all of Him and nothing of me.

I'll continue to work on being more confident, accepting how God made me and embracing what makes me different from others. I'll also start looking into taking some dancing lessons...that wont hurt : )

That was good therapy....I feel better now.

A love so great, the one you offer me

that when I fall, you're there to rescue me

I might go low, but there you are

as present as ever, lifting me up

No matter what challenges life may bring

I find in you shelter, I find in you peace

and when facing a giant or going through a storm

I don't doubt that you'll help me, 'cause you've done it before

Dear Father and Creator, I'm so honored to be loved by you and to be called your own. Thank you for not expecting perfection of me. My life is yours, you're my inspiration...my muse.

Te amo!!!

Be you...no matter what

Not everyone will understand you...that's OK. Even if you're likable, no everyone will like you and that's OK. When you mean well, there might be someone misjudging you...that's OK. Not every time you love you will get love in return and, though it hurts, that's OK. When you do your best, not everyone will be satisfied and again...that's OK.
The thing is, we will never be able to please everyone around us. Each head is a different world and it would be very exhausting to try to keep everyone happy. Instead of forgetting who we really are, by getting lost in the unreachable mission of pleasing everybody or fitting in, let's make the choice to be ourselves, real and genuine. Those who now don't get you someday will and if they don't....that's OK, because the one whose heart we need to please is already smiling.

My home....

I love my Church!

God brought me to FRC over a year ago. I remember the first service I went to felt like a glass of cold water. I was broken, tired of serving, tired of giving. I was done, I needed to rest. It had been more than 11 years non-stop and I just needed to be refreshed. At first, all my guards were up: "Who are these people"? "Are they for real"? "No way I'm getting involved, I'm too tired of being abused...this time, I'm just going to seat and receive." Yeah, that was me when I first came in July last year. Then God started doing His thing. He started giving me the urge, you know, the one that you feel when you know it's time to get to work. Well, I decided to jump and join the praise team in January of this year and, let me tell you, what a blessing it has been in my life. I know for a fact that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be, I know I'm exactly where God wants me to be and I'm so grateful for being able to feel that way.

There's a lot that I don't know, a lot of things in my life are not very clear right now, but at least I'm sure about one thing....Flamingo Road Church is my home!

Two more reasons...

In a life so complicated, God never forgets to give us reasons to smile. He gave me two today...

Meet my Nephew Gabriel "hunk" Medina (5 yr) and my Niece Camila "fabulous" Medina (4 yr) !

We'll always have a reason to be thankful...we just must be willing to see it. Right now, can you think of one thing, big or small, for which you can say to God "thank you"?

OK, now smile....