A hair miracle...and more

BEFORE










AFTER

With time, patience and willingness I can definitely make a difference in my hair. It takes me about 45 minutes, a lot of heat, a lot of brushing and pulling, but more than anything, it takes my willingness to go through the process. It's tiring, but I love the way my hair looks after I'm done.

Same happens in our walk with God. He can change us, He can make of us something beautiful, He has all the time in the world, all the patience, the only thing He needs from us is our willingness to go through His life changing process. I do get tired, at times, it seems like the best of me is dying in the process, but the new me that comes out of that is way better than the old.

Think about it, if I can do this with my hair, imagine what God can do with my life? I guess the real question is: Am I willing?

Just because...

I'm happy just because
you woke me up today, gave me lots of love
and, even though I didn't thank you, you kept on giving more

I'm happy just because
the sky called out my name
and everywhere I went today, your signature was there

I'm happy just because
I don't walk alone

My Mom the mechanic...

A couple of weeks ago, my car started developing a weird, yet annoying noise. I started worrying, wondering how much money my mechanic was going to charge for fixing whatever was wrong with it. However, I didn't tell anyone, didn't call my mechanic, didn't do anything, all because I was afraid it was going to be a mayor problem and I was not going to have the money to fix it. Each day my car was more uncomfortable to drive and the noise got louder and louder. "Man, if I could afford it! It's probably the transmission or something big like that. God help me" I would say to myself.

Well, today I asked my Mom to go somewhere with me and, as I started driving, she heard it. She heard and said "Priscilla, you need some steering oil in your car, honey!" I laughed and said "what are you a mechanic now?", but she was sure. We went to Walgreen's, she picked up a bottle of steering oil, she even asked me to open the hood so she could take care of it.

I turned on the car and started driving. It was magic! the noise was gone and it was a lot easier to drive my car. I can't believe how simple the solution was. I can't believe I spent so many days driving it like that, getting worried, frustrated, sad, because I didn't have the money to fix something that only required a $5 bottle of steering oil. Can you believe that?

Fear makes things look so much bigger than what they really are. I'm so done with it! That's why I'm so determined to break free from it. I'm on my way...and not alone :)

Thank you Mom, for finding the problem. Thank you God, for the $5 dollar solution and the lesson that came with it.

The what, the why and the breakthrough...(Part II)

Remember my "If I had no fear I would" post? Well, I figured that since I was willing to share my fears with you guys, I should be willing to share my breakthroughs, no matter how small they may appear to be.

The what? Walking on grass at night.

The why? Nasty looking, wet, cold, jumping things called FROGS...yack! Just the thought makes my hairs go up.

The breakthrough? Hold your horses! I DID NOT hold or touch a frog, that wont be happening. Here's the story: As I walked to my boyfriend's house, I spotted at frog. Instead of freezing, screaming and automatically running on the opposite direction, as I would normally do, I continued to walk toward the stairs. The beast, sorry, the frog started jumping away from me as I continued to walk. I never stopped or hesitated. For the first time I thought "this frog is actually afraid of me...it's running away!" I continued to walk and the frog continued to jump away, until I could not see it anymore...I felt great. I didn't have that sense of defeat I would normally feel after letting myself be controlled by my fear. This time, I walked away empowered and with a smile.

Now, I know this may not seem like a world changing event, since it's a small breakthrough...baby steps, as people would say. But that's just how it woks, little by little, one breakthrough at a time, I'm in the process. Every breakthrough is one less thing that can keep me from reaching my potential. This breakthrough has made me better, because I now feel more courageous, which is a leadership quality, so I'm now a better leader, which means that I can have a better impact on others and, through that impact, God can change their lives. Now, how do we change the world? One person at a time...so this might have been a world changing event after all.

Sorry if I lost you...it all makes sense in my head. :) Just celebrate with me, would you?

Thank you God, thank you for those baby steps that can potentially change the world!

A Pookie lesson...

Meet Pookie, my Parent's dog. He's also known as "the shadow", because he would be next to you all day. He would walk beside you from the bed to the bathroom, to the kitchen, to the living room, back to the kitchen and, when you sit down, there he jumps and stays next to you, until you get up and there he goes again...to the bedroom, to the kitchen... He does this until you feel like you need to take a Pookie vacation and, with a firm voice, you send him to his little house. He stays clear for a little while and then he comes back on duty as Pookie "the shadow" all over again. He just does not get tired of being next to you. He's a needy dog, I guess. It's like he's always cold and needs to be next to you, close to you to survive.

I wonder if God wishes we were more like Pookie. Instead, so many times I'm the very opposite. I get involved in so much, doing so much, distracted by life's craziness that I sometimes forget that the only way I can stay alive is by walking every single step next to Him. He loves spending time with us. I might get tired of Pookie following me around, but God never ever gets tired of His children walking next to Him. In the contrary, He promises to bless us, to teach us, to shape and mold us, to fill us with His joy and abundant peace through our daily walk with Him. He wants us to understand that we do need Him, every day, every second, to survive in this world. Like Pookie, he wants us to stay close, side by side, so He can pour His blessings on us.

I must try harder, walk closer. Hopefully, on the days I forget, Pookie will remind me.

He loves me....

He loves me, even when I mess up. He forgives me, even though He knows that I will, for sure, mess up again. I look at me and see...you don't want to know, He looks at me and sees potential, then He smiles and calls me beautiful.
God, I don't get your love, I don't understand it, but I'm so glad to have it. It's all I need...

Frustration frustrates me....

I hate feeling frustrated! Even more, I hate the fact that I get easily frustrated. A situation, a conversation that hits a wall, an argument with no immediate solution, a simple miscommunication, all these scenarios have the same potential...I get frustrated. When I feel like I don't have the answer or when I feel like I do, but those around me don't agree, when I loose control of my own emotions I get frustrated. Then, my frustration brings a response, a reaction, which eventually makes me feel feel even more frustrated...but at me. Why? Well, no one likes to feel judged, no one likes to feel misunderstood, but the truth is that no matter how much we try to avoid these situations, they will come. They are part of this life we live with people as imperfect as us. I hope I can learn to deal with things better. Frustration only makes things more difficult, because it brings with it more frustration in response.

God, have mercy on this daughter of yours. Give me the wisdom to deal with the things that bring these feelings to me and thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for seeing Jesus when you look at me.