Housed with Faith

A friend of mine is Christian. She & her husband bought a house a few years back at a high price. Something happened where they ran into trouble... the realtors [over]sold them a 5 bedroom when it was registered with the city as a 2 bedroom. They got rid of the house & sought litigation against the realtor and sellers and it's been in courts for a couple years now. She and her husband have since moved into an apartment. I asked her how she felt living in an apt in comparison to having her house. This was (more or less) her answer:

She loved having a house because she never thought she would be a home owner but she's more than happy where she is now. The Lord has provided her with so many blessings she couldn't complain about anything. Even with the lawsuit, she isn't pursuing anything more than their money back on the house. She's not going for additional suits for anxiety, medical bills, etc. that have occurred from this situation. She's prayed for the Lord to take care of it because she believes in Him & knows He will provide. The months before the house situation happened, He was giving her scriptures like Hebrews 6:13 -

"When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised."

She's held to that scripture and her faith tight fisted. She has faith and believes God will provide for her even in this situation. He has proven so thus far and she knows He will continue to do so.

Do you know that she's planning on putting the lawsuit money towards something non-material? She's not using it to buy something big and frivolous. She's not using it to splurge on purses or shoes or a new shiny car. She's using it on something non-tangible. Not for her. She is more than happy with her apartment & how her life is. She has her health, her job, her family but most importantly God.

Watching her tell me the story of the house, lawyers, court and seeing the glow of victory on her face was amazing. In her humbleness she showed her victory with Christ by her side. It was amazing. It was inspiring. It was truly God's work in her.

With that example of Christianity at its finest, how can we not sit back and reflect on how we live and what we've put our focus on? Even with Christ in our lives, have we chosen to "chase the check"? Have we opted for material items to prove what a fulfilling life we lead? Have we let the materials of this world overshadow the sight of God's vision for us?

A brief conversation with a friend, that's all it was, just conversation, and yet it was inspiring. It was confirmation. It was a reminder. It was reflection.
It was God.

Quilt of Holes

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along With all the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; An angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a Tapestry that is our life.


But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged And empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each Square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the Challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw Hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole Here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the Bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was Disheartened.

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and Empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the Light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, And nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame...

I hadn't had all the earthly Fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with The temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to Accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.

An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who Stared at me with wide eyes.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, Creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with Warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every time you gave over your life To Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.

Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine Through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.'

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine Through!

God determines who walks into your life ... it's up to you to decide who you Let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.

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"The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established."
~Proverbs 16:1,9,3 (ESV)

The White Squall

I haven't written; I've had writer's block.
I haven't expressed myself; I've had an emotional wall.
I haven't spoken; I've been mute.
I haven't read; I've had my mind closed.

Minor cuts and scrapes. Penny sized bruises. Minute infractions. Diminutive at a glance; there's no need to share the affliction. The big things seemed so monstrous; the little things seemed so effortless.

With a white squall amidst, a massive wave crashes upon my squandered time. The realization set in… the swell which has enveloped my days was an accumulation of little things. It wasn't the big things after all.

I carry the affliction. I bare it on my shoulders. I see its weight in my eyes. I hear the imperfections in my voice. I feel the millstones in my heart.

So how to rid myself of this well developed burden? A burden whose heaviness is more savage than an innocent prey succumbing to a lion's vicious maul?

As I stammer across the fields of time, I bring every weight with me; slowly reaching a sordid pit. I take one burden at a time, gradually peeling each layer of sin off my surface and placing it at the foot of the cross.

For I know the voice of joy and the voice of gladness.
For I know 'not a trace will be left of the wicked or their families. The Lord protects His people, and they can come to Him in times of trouble. The Lord helps them and saves them from the wicked because they run to Him.'

And with this knowledge I bring the swell which has consumed me. I bring my battered and injured soul. I bring my heart, my mind, myself; all pieces of me.

I peel away the imperfections. I praise my Almighty Father. I pray for his mercy. I read and learn of His ways and wishes for me.

And in this the white squall subdues. What began as minute infractions; what brought me to a sordid pit has diminished at His feet! Now with hands raised high, I celebrate the grandeur of our Lord in a pinnacle of revelry!

Dare I share my story… Dare I speak of my defeats and triumphs… Dare I share stories of His glory…

Dare you listen and heed these words wholeheartedly?

by: DeAna Colon

Through Your Eyes

Through your eyes, you see a deviant. Someone
capable and willing to deceive for her own benefit.
In His eyes I am perfectly made, working passed the flesh.

Through your ears you hear half truths,
never fully believing spoken words.
In His ear, He hears my true desires.
The innermost thoughts and truths yet to be vocalized.

Through your mind I am to be doubted
or questioned, with intentions all my own.
In His mind I am beautiful.
Beautifully broken.
And loved nonetheless.

His senses carry me farther than
any idea, image or word of yours.
And that is what matters most to me.

And with that I will continue to sing His praise.

Whether it falls upon deaf ears.
Whether it passes a blind eye.
Whether it enters a closed mind.

My praise is His.
And I am His.
Beautifully broken.

by: DeAna Colon

Days of the Week with God

Monday, Wash Day
Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and
Vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility
Through the week ahead.

Tuesday, Ironing Day
Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles
Of prejudice I have collected through the years
So that I may see the beauty in others.

Wednesday, Mending Day
O God, help me mend my ways so I will not
Set a bad example for others.

Thursday, Cleaning Day
Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults
I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.

Friday, Shopping Day
O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase
eternal happiness for myself and all others In need of love.

Saturday, Cooking Day
Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly
Love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.

Sunday, The Lord's Day
O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please
Come into my heart so I may spend the day and the
Rest of my life in your presence.

Where My Inspiration Lies

Where Does Your Inspiration Lie?

As a child, my dreams were endless… Aaahh, to be a doctor, lawyer, mechanic (don’t ask lol), accountant, actress… to be rich, famous, a star in my own world! No wrongs. No worries. Everything good brought my way.

A little older, I realized I can still have these wishes but I have to work towards them. That’s when I started re-analyzing my goals… doctor – well, too much school for me. Lawyer – wasn’t really my aspiration but more my mom’s for me. Mechanic – lol – no… you get the point.

A few more years go by; I see that even with “a plan” my road is not going to be easy, regardless of the goal I try to accomplish. Welcome to adulthood.

This is, I’m sure, a cycle we’ve all gone through or are still going through. Decisions are made and re-made. Plans are set and rescheduled. But through it all, focus is not lost.

God has given me many skills, talents, blessings of which I intend to use for His will. I intend to serve Jehovah-ra-ah, the Lord my shepherd. My relationship with the most high God will set forth a path for my children to follow.

A path of love and salvation.
A path that can only be placed by our Lord and Savior.

My foundation in Christ will set an example for others. My steadfast devotion to our beloved Father will ignite a fire within others to seek the tranquility and unconditional love that He provides. My words, spoken or written, will inspire others to build upon His rock. My actions intended or not, will exemplify His righteousness.

I’ve been down many roads.
I’ve traveled near and far in life’s circumstances.
Some bitter sweet.
Some that should’ve been avoided.

But in my travels I have found the path I was meant to tread. The path truly intended for me. My walk in Christ.

My inspiration comes from Him.

John 15:5
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Isaiah 55:6-9
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.