"Life is not measured by the number of breaths...", is it?

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,

but by the moments that take our breath away."

I looked up the author of that quote and apparently, other than Will Smith in Hitch, no one really knows who said it. Good! 'Cause honestly, while I understand the point of whomever wrote it, there's something that bothers me about it. I've been thinking about it and I think I might have gotten it down to two things:

1. Measuring life? I happen to think like John Eldredge in his book Epic that: "Life doesn't come to us like a math problem. It comes to us the way that a story does, scene by scene." Trying to measure a story, makes no sense. --50 moments that took your breath away, 49 that didn't, I win!-- really? I just don't think it works out that way. Life unfolds, it's dynamic, it cannot be categorized in numbers, I feel that it's more a scene by scene deal; page by page, like a book. It includes the moments that take your breath away, but it also has those moments where you feel like you're just breathing, and even those when you can hardly breathe; life is all of that and more. 

That takes me to my next point,

2. Each moment counts. Okay, we may not be particularly fond of mourning, or being sick; we may not like routine, we may be even a bit scared of those moments when we need to make a decision, take a risk; hardly breathing; but I find that those carry life as well, that many times, those moments are the ones that take us to the next breath-taking instant. It all counts, it's all part of the story. 

Yeah, I cherish the moments that take my breath away, but I feel that if I set my heart to make it all count, it I make myself aware of the beauty of each moment, then the sense of awe of God's hand in all of it increases, and I actually gain more breath-taking moments, than if I'm just surviving the times in between. Now I'm not at all saying that sickness or bad things are God's will, but simply that if we see all of life from the point of view that there are no problems, but only opportunities for God to show up, then each circumstance becomes more significant, there are no dull times. Jesus came to give us life abundant, as the Message would put it, He came to give us "real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." Make each moment count, He's rooting for you. 

Packing

It's a sunny-hot day here in Redding... finally!! For a while there it seemed that nature hadn't gotten the notification that warmer weather was the way to go this time of the year. Anyways, spring (and almost like summer) is here and everything's finally blooming and filling the landscape with colorful views; all shades of green, all kinds of flowers. Such beauty.

Me? I'm packing away for hotter weather, Mexico! Yay! Thank God, I get the chance to go visit my family, and gear up for the next fall here in Redding. I've loved every minute here and I'm so excited to come back in the fall. But I'm also excited to get to take what I've learned and lived, and share with friends and family back home!

God's just so good! As I pack, I think back on the day I got here and how He so faithfully, lovingly, joyfully provided for everything I needed and more. Each connection, friendship, day of work, breakthrough, discovery; each beautiful sunset, each opportunity to bless someone, each lesson completed (from the translation project), I'm just THANKFUL. Always by His side, He is just so good!

And so, I'm done packing. Yay! Love you Redding, see you in a couple months! ...See you soon, Mexico!

Sometimes It's a Dance

Tuesday will be May 1st! The school year at Bethel is almost over and I still can't believe it. It seems it was only a bit ago that my friend Janelle and I drove into Redding in the wee hours of the morning looking for a place to stay.

Now, school's graduation is in a couple weeks and you can feel the air filled with expectation and excitement over what life will bring for all of those who did the School of Supernatural. Will they do a second year? what will summer look like? Where will I live? In many ways I stand on the sidelines of that, I get to see it from the outside, because my decision is so set: I'm coming back to finish what I started! Translating is no easy task, but it's one that needs to be done. This first "school year" here at Bethel helped me develop the foundations for the work that we've been doing and I've learned so much! I don't mean just work wise, tho' that's been a great field of new challenges as well; but I mean I've learned about God's heart and what some truths really look like. I'm still in such awe at His Manifested Presence in this place and about everything He's brought together for me this year.

I by no means have it together, but I'm loving where it's all going. Exactly a year ago I was contemplating coming here, and it all looked so big and almost inconceivable, could it be?? Could I really make it out here, was that my calling? My plans had been so different, and yet coming to Redding to break language barriers and learn from the culture had been unspoken dreams that I had kept in my heart. Everything
seemed to be aligning so... well, miraculously! Then I came across this verse in Proverbs 16:9, "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps" and it all made sense.

Sometimes it's a Dance; let Him lead! ;)

My amazing Father was establishing my steps and I followed! I recently heard Paul Manwaring add this to it, and it totally made sense: sometimes, those steps are a dance. Exactly! With God there are times to move forward, even times to run, times to be still... and sometimes, the steps He establishes are a lovely waltz, or a joyful salsa! That's were I'm at today, still feeling much like He's led every step of the way, but this year it's been more like a grace-full rhythmic, sweet romantic dance!

6:43

About a week ago I woke up at 6:43 in the morning, then the next day I woke up and it was 6:43am. "God is this you?" I whispered audibly, this time I had been woken up by a noise from my iPod, and when I checked to see what it was it was an email titled: God's amazing love! ha,ha! Totally spoke to my heart.

What I didn't realize as I went back to sleep for a little bit that morning, was that Papa had something else He wanted to tell me with that "unusual coincidence" was a little deeper. I mean 6:43 is a pretty random hour to wake up, and it's before my alarm so.

I've been thinking about the next year at Bethel, finishing the translation project I'm working on and how that's all going to work; where am I going to live? can I afford it financially? How is it all going to work out? ...It was a subtle thing, it wasn't even something that consumed my thoughts, but it was definitely there.

Anyways, once I felt that God wanted to say something, I got my Bible out and started to look for a 6:43 verse... mmmm, genealogies?? I don't think so... most books don't go as far as verse 43 on their 6th chapter... so I did what any good researcher would do. I googled it!

6:43

Mark 6:43 was the first thing that popped out (thank you Google!); "and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish." It immediately took me to those thoughts in my head about how it was all going to work out. I felt that God was telling me: I always make more than enough, that's the awesome thing about true riches, you only need to bring what you have and it will be multiplied. ;)

Guess what time I woke up this morning? I love Him!

Freedom Rain

Sometimes we think the grass in our yard is perfect, and then the rain comes watering everything and we find little weeds that apparently were there all the time, but weren't quite visible before. Ok, so Maybe I'm inspired by the rainy week we had, in this metaphor, but I also learned that this week from the one and only Jack Hayford. 

Mr. Hayford came to Redding this week to speak at Bethel, and I got to listen to him a couple times. The first time he talked about integrity, and how something is whole only when it's 100% there (I know it sounds redundant, but that's the point ;). One percent missing, and it won't do. He spoke on those little things we can let grow in our hearts, or even things from our past that we don't even remember anymore, but that we never accounted for. 

Then this morning in church he talked about 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 that talks about debunking arguments in our minds. He specifically addressed those thoughts that seem to be our imaginations, but that are misconceptions of what someone else thinks about us, or what we think about ourselves, our identity. It's easy to entertain those thoughts, since they can be so sutil. But we need to believe and think truth. For our own sake.

Those two lessons really hit my heart, specially because they seem so sutil, like those little weeds that you don't even see until it rains hard and for days, I feel like I had entertained thoughts in my head that were simply lies. In a culture of so much rain, so much freedom and pouring into your spirit, those things sprout too, and need to be recognized and weeded out. I felt that it's exactly what my Papa did with those sutil thoughts of comparison and inadequacy that had sometimes sprouted in my heart in this season. I feel that specially with the abundant watering that I've been getting in this season, it's important to have a flourishing garden that brings a nice fragrance to the One on High.

If Grace is an Ocean...

Malibu, located in the South of California, is one of the most beautiful places I've been to. Last week I had the privilege, with some friends, to go to the Christian University of Pepperdine, for a 24 hour House of Prayer in their Trophy Room. We got back in the wee hours of Friday, but I've been assimilating all that happened there, so that I can also share it with you.

I must say, the first thing that struck me as we got there was the vastness of the ocean. I have been to Viña del Mar, Chile; way south, on the other side of the equator; and now, north of it I still couldn't see the end of it. I choked tears of joy as I thought of Papa's love, being even greater.

It's amazing how Papa orchestrates everything. We'd planned this trip a couple months ago, and then on March 12th, Maurice Hilliard, our contact, and the Chaplain of the University was found dead on the beach. While doing his regular prayer walk, Daddy just decided to take him with Him. We felt that it was just the right time to go, in spite (or actually because) of the circumstances. This amazing man of God had left a huge legacy of love and compassion and seemed to have passed on assignments from the heart of God before joining Him.

Everyone we encountered had a fond memory of this man, he was known for investing himself in people and for "loving well", what a compliment, to have lived a full life and to be remembered like that. Why were we there? Maurice had arranged this 24Hr HOP for us to partner with Holy Spirit and the students & staff of Pepperdine to walk into the new season of their lives. We were there just to fan the flames of revival that had already ignited. We were there to partner with God to call out the gold-destiny of the people we encountered, and so we did!

It was so fun to speak life, to prophesy destiny with the eyes of God, to partner, co-labor, co-create with Him in speaking into the Joshua generation, once the Moses had passed away. We painted prophetic art, encouraged the students, and loved on them. Maurice's legacy will not be forgotten, but in honor of his life, the Pepperdine community will now go on learning and expressing what this mentor did for many: loving well.

♫Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
if grace is an ocean we're al sinking...♫♪

 For "...we have three things to do lead us toward [completeness]: TRUST steadily in God, HOPE unswervingly, LOVE extravagantly. and the best of the three is LOVE."
(1 Corinthians 13:13, Msg)

Drop by Drop

By now the water has soaked everything around. The pavement, the ground, the trees and their flowers. It's the second day of rain here in Redding, Ca. The reflection of the clouds on the wet pavement, give the day a dull shine, the colors of the nature around are washed clean, little waterfalls have sprouted on the street that goes down the hill.



The rain soaks everything! It's one of my favorite things, to see the rain's effect on nature. So as I sit here in front of the big window at HeBrews Café, I can't help but think of how Holy Spirit's presence is just like that. Little by little soaking, drenching everything it touches; drop by drop, softly and steadily, giving the landscape a unique glow, dripping with beauty.

A deep joy begins to fill my heart. You can't go out there under the rain and be unaffected. There's just no way. So go! Join me in walking out under the rain of Holy Spirit, drink of Him, let Him soak you; drop by drop become aware of how He so ever tender invades your entire being with His love. Drop by Drop.

Making Music

Rhythm. There are many elements to music, but rhythm for sure is one of the most important ones; specially when different instruments are trying to play together. Last night we had a speaker talk about the rhythm of life and how sometimes our journey seems to lead us to quietness and others to act loud! So true! There's the routine of things, the meals, the work; and then there are those moments of crescendo where you feel like all eyes are turning towards you and waiting for the song inside you to be freed.

In the middle of this speaker's message I realized that not only do we live life in different rhythms but, as others do as well, together we create a melody, with God as the director. He's the only One who truly knows how it all works out. He's the one that can lead the base to a slower tempo, while increasing the intensity of the flutes, or the violin; and that's just how it all works out. We don't all live at the same rhythm. Actually most of the times our lives seem to be going at a very different pace from the ones of those around us; and that's just perfect! We only need to set our eyes on the Director, to follow His lead and open our ears to the music that we're creating together. The more we stop comparing ourselves to the other musicians, the more we can focus on our part, and make the orchestra sound all the better. He's such a Master Composer. Just follow the lead. Look at Him in the eyes, and open your ears. It's beautiful!

Deep and Wide

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

-Ephesians 3:18-19

Oh, to comprehend the love of Christ! What a life time journey! I've read this verse a million times and I keep thinking about it, yet for a few years the part that God has highlighted to me is the whole thing about "comprehending with all the saints". I use to think that knowing God's love was only about getting in His presence by myself. But while that is very, very important (VERY!) it is not how He chooses to reveal all of His love to us! We can learn some, a lot, about the depth and the height and the length in our times alone with our Maker. 

All you need is LOVE!

However, He is a relational God, and so He has hidden the treasures of the fullness of His love in others, in the people we encounter; our family, co-workers, friends, new acquaintances. Each person was made in the image of God, and since He is so infinite and uncontainable, one of the ways to know Him (and His love, which is His essence), is to get to know other people, and find the treasure He hid in their hearts.

It's so fun! 

Papa-God, like a loving daddy on an Easter Sunday, has hidden precious treats in people's personalities (some more hidden than others, ha!), in people's talents & passions, in people's dreams & desires... and the  way to get to experience the fulness of His love, that love that surpasses knowledge; that goes beyond preaching points and life principles; is actually to get to know and love people! Yay! Again, one lifetime adventure with Him! ...I'm on it! ;)

A Bite of Heaven

Cultures. Love Cultures. Cultural differences fascinate me. I find it so amazing that in this sea of 7 billion souls not one mind thinks exactly like another, and even what seems so black and white in one culture actually has a million shades of gray in another.

God's so incredibly creative! He reflects His character through all of this. Granted some traditions need redemption, but the diversity and unique gifts of each nation are definitely to honor Him. I love How each and every culture (tribe, nation) has a distinct music, dance, art and food. Wow!! Yay God!

All that to say that I went to Bethel's Festival of Cultures last night and had a great time trying out food samples and soaking up insight on ways to cook rice, ways to play music, ways "we here say..."

I believe the eloquent C.S. Lewis nails it in the "Letter to Malcolm":

 "I do not think that the life of Heaven bears any analogy to play or dance in respect of frivolity... It is only in our ‘hours-off,’ only in our moments of permitted festivity, that we find an analogy. Dance and game are frivolous, unimportant down here; for ‘down here’ is not their natural place. Here, they are a moment’s rest from the life we were place here to live." 

Makes sense, doesn't it? That the things that here are considered childish and unimportant, mere entertainment, are the ones we actually find beauty and joy in. They're what reflects our Daddy's heart, His love and how we were made in His image, what we can create.

I had 22 spices rice from Jordan, buñuelos from Mexico and Ecuador, chocolate and fondue from Switzerland, brown cheese from de Netherlands, some kind of licorice from Finland, a tapioca-cheese bread (pao de queijo) from Brazil, rice with carrot and raisins from Afganistan, Latvian salad, Ketchup Chips from Canada, eggplant parmesan from Italy, chicken curry from India, tea from England, something something I can't pronounce from South Korea, and a few other food samples plus the enjoyment of music and performances that all in all represented the 40 countries that the 547 foreign students of BSSM are from. So awesome! So rich! So God! My heart was so filled with joy, awe and wonder at how creativity flows and the many ways things can me made. It was great to also get prophetic declarations for countries, so that they can come to the redeemed fullness of what they were made to be! It felt like a little piece of heaven, a bite of heaven.

"But in this world everything is upside down. That which , if it could be prolonged here, would be a truancy, is likest that which in a better country is the End of ends. Joy is the serious business of Heaven."

That's just it: Joy is the serious business of heaven!

Gratidão!

Thankfulness, agradecimiento (in Spanish), gratidão (in Portuguese); has become a theme in my life. There's just so much to be thankful to Papa for! He is so good! It seems like I'm going deeper in recognizing His blessing hand and being able to see Him in the little and the big things. It's so fun to be His daughter!

"God is good" has taken a whole new dimension, I think I wrote this before but it still strikes me. I used to think one had to figure out in which ways He is good. Like, a lot of people say that when their circumstances are going down hill (I believe it's true God remains good, and on our side; Almighty, All-loving), but there's this plain, out there goodness that is just so fun to enjoy!

I am thankful for many, many things, but in all honesty I'm most thankful for Him! He saved me in every way, He leads me, He's so majestic beyond words and yet so personal and intimate, trustworthy. This is the God of the Universe we're talking about, the One who so lovingly sent Jesus so that we could be in relationship again. He's more than a song, and more than life; He makes me come alive!

I just want to share all of that with you, I'm not trying to be cheesy or speak "Christianese", but this love, this goodness of Him is so real and tangible I can't contain myself, I can't keep it in! Yaaaaaaaaayyyyyy!

Spoilers

Talk about things I like! My oh my... I LOVE spoilers; the unexpected ending of a book, a movie, a TV show. I like knowing. Ok, you might say I'm weird but I believe if there weren't anyone else like me out there there would also not be such thing as the www.themoviespoiler.com ...I'm not alone! :)

Why? I don't know, but I just feel like if I already know how it's going to end, then I can enjoy the process more, and prepare for such ending. See I just made it a bit deeper, and cooler. I have to say I'm like this with a lot of stuff. Even Mathematics! You don't think there's a spoiler there?? Trigonometric Identities! You might not remember them, but they're my favorite! They tell you one thing equates an other and you have to find out how that's possible. You know were you're going, the answer is given, but once again it's not about the answer, it's about: the process.

Outcome's cool, but I just love the ride, and I enjoy it better if I know where I'm going I guess. I feel like spoilers aren't spoilers, they're good news, affirmation, assurance... most of the time; and if they're not at least I'll know. In real life I know how it ends, and my happy ending has already started, it became a happy beginning of an incredible adventure with Papa-God that I live out each and every day! Misty Edwards tweetted today: "There's more than the introductions to Jesus. If you're saved, you're at the beginning of the story." My beginning was quite a while ago, but He already told me how it ends; We'll live happily ever after! He's so good it's already happening. I'm loving the ride!

So there, in this month of going after finding out what things I love, I must confess I love a good spoiler!

♫♪These are a few of my favorite things...♬♪

Popcorn; oil popped, salted, maybe with some salsa. A beautiful sunset. A good, deep, effortless conversation. Listening to someone's dream. Learning something new. Lazy Saturday morning. Giving a meaningful gift to someone. Cooking something really good for people to enjoy. A great view; the mountains, the waves of the ocean on a sunny day, the rain, fall colors, beautiful sky scrapers. Children playing. Skyping with my family. Traveling somewhere new... and somewhere familiar, traveling in general; road-trips, flying, airports, new horizons. Painting, dancing, designing, proof reading.



I love interpreting live next to an amazing, enthusiastic speaker. The last few lines of a document to translate, and the sense of accomplishment when it's done. A good, deep quote. Family and close friends. Meeting new people and connecting. An outdoors stroll; in the city, in the woods. Art history. Trivia. Solving Math equations. Movies. Theater. Seeing someone display their creativity and talent, excel in who they're made to be.

I love the awareness of Papa's presence in the little things, in the details, in the simple craves; and in the big things, the miracles, the provision, the Love, the forgiveness, the true & full salvation. I love partnering with Him to bless and encourage someone, to find the gold in people, to dream. A good, intimate time of worship, beyond music, beyond words...

More to come.

Do What You Love and Love What You Do

January 1, 2012 I started the year with a Daniel fast; only fruits and veggies for the first 21 days  of 2012. I chose it, and it was good. I would be reminded everyday of Who my Daily Bread really is. I had good times of dreaming, and worshipping and refocusing and starting the year off putting a stake on the ground. I belong to Jesus; He's my savior my Lord my lover, my everything. Food is good, I'm so thankful for my taste buds (Go God!), but nothing compares to His presence. Not everyday was as easy, quite honestly. But it doesn't matter 'cause, it's over.

Yesterday I went to a class where our mentor talked about goals and dreams and practical "next steps". He talked about finding out what you really love, in every aspect of life; objects, colors, activities... and then dreams and occupations. He suggested to take a month and purposefully figuring it out. So I'm starting today! The teacher talked about how we're each so unique, and finding those things we love, combined with the realization of Whose we are really sets you up for a journey of awakening, and I believe it. Later in the day I came across that titling phrase: "Do what you love and love what you do".  (By the way I love a good quote ;) I think even a dream job has those routine tasks that need a little love to be made more enjoyable.

I wanted to share with you some of the things I love, I'll start simple. It's so cool that creation is so diverse and wide and there are things that have no other "purpose" than expressing His beauty and creativity. So, here I go: I do love chocolate; dark, plain. I love a good cup of bold coffee in the morning, and lately I get to enjoy it with a beautiful view of the mountains, so I love that! I love the colo purple, it's so deep, it's a mix of red and blue, so intense! ha, ha! I like clothes accessorizing; necklaces, earrings, rings, so fun to wear!

I like how this year's being set off, first with some tuning in through fasting and now through a feasting journey of discovery with my Papa. I won't get into all the deeper stuff just yet, I want to wait, I want to listen to my Maker and the heart He gave me. I will declare tho' that I do love Him, beyond what the English word "love" can describe, beyond languages and words, I love my Papa!!

Life vs. More Life

My dad and I. I <3 him!! :)

Tomorrow is my my dad's 58th b-day and the 8th anniversary of my uncle (my mom's brother). My uncle died of jaw cancer almost a decade ago, leaving three children behind who had to move overseas with their mother and her new partner. It was hard for the whole family to loose him in such way, but we know exactly where he went, since he had an open vision about Heaven and the could even hear the trumpets call him. It is nonetheless a bit awkward for my mom to celebrate my dad's birthday without thinking of the dear one she misses so much.

We celebrate, we trust Papa, we declare His goodness; there's no other way to go. It reminds me of the letter that Paul wrote to the Philippians while in jail, not knowing if he was going to make it out alive. Paul declared:

"Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose."

-Philippians 1:8 (The Message)

We can't loose; death has been conquered, life has One purpose. Him. He is worthy, and He's so extravagantly good and loving, and generous, that there really is no other way to live but completely sold out to my savior Jesus Christ. 

Tomorrow I celebrate 58 years of the life of a great loving dad, that has taught me so much about Papa's heart and love; and I celebrate the "more life" of a dear one who's in the best possible place. It is truly as Pastor Bill Johnson says: "With God every loss is temporary, and every victory is eternal". We can't loose.

Today

I currently live in the midst of an amazing culture that encourages dreaming and visions and the acknowledgement that nothing is impossible for God. I love it! I feel there's such a creativity explosion in this environment. I've started to paint again, and even write, I've started to be more aware of the dreams that God put in my heart. Big dreams; of changing the world, and making a difference, of loving and being loved in greater ways, of going places (many places) and seeing the beauty of creation and the uniqueness of peoples and cultures, of learning skills and discover things that no one has ever seen. It's refreshing. It great. It seems so far away sometimes.

Sometimes I forget that those huge dreams are not a mountain top that I'll one day be teleported to by some magic wand swing; but a walk with my Savior that has already started. One step at the time. One day at the time. Yeah, God could miraculously make me a famous journalist, but then what? I wouldn't know what to do with that, I wouldn't know where to go from there... not without these days that seem quiet and uneventful. There's so much going on and I don't even see it half the time. My new year's resolution is to be more aware, to learn ro enjoy more those first and second steps, the little ones. Because by being more aware I'll also realize those huge dreams that seem impossible are not something that maybe one day will happen, but something that Papa's already doing in my life now, today! He's on my side, He put those dreams in my heart in the first place, He's even more interested in me fulfilling them than I am... and most importantly HE LOVES ME! 

I was sitting in my living room the other day wondering if it was too late for me to dream some of the things in my heart. Then I heard this sweet, loving voice whisper in my ear: "It's never to late, I am with you always." :)