Taking a break

Good morning friends. Just wanted to come here and say that I am taking a break from my bible plan about reading through the bible (I wasn't getting really far) and go back to the gospels. In a recent series of events, I was reminded of one simple truth.. We can't; in any way, shape, or form; think we have outgrown the gospel. It all begins, continues and ends with Jesus. From Genesis to Revelations the bible is pointing and describing all that will happen through Jesus.

In the book of John is says: In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:1-5,14

I forget some times that my faith is not something that needs to be over complicated and even more so frustrating. In a world that achievement receives glory, I should always look at Jesus and know He did the greatest achievement and I just need to rest in Him.

Thank you God for this reminder and lead me to the cross.

Beginnings... or Genesis

This year I decided, like I am sure many of my fellow believers, to take on the task to read the bible. Some of us do a couple of studies in general, but I have decided to read through the whole thing. I have thought about doing it often and started but never finished. So I am trying again. This time I wanted to journal about some of the things I found interesting along the way.

In the beginning God spoke a lot and things happened. All of it good. He was pleased so much with the work He did, He even took a break. When He place Adam in the garden He spoke to him and told him exact directions on how to live life, as a worker, as leader, as a pastor. He even gave him a boundary to follow. Isn't it interesting that God's word, even that of warning, is still good? Sometimes we take God's word as a punishment if it doesn't align with what we the creation think it should be.

God spoke again to Noah when the coming flood. He told him when the start, how to build, what to pack, and who to take with him. Again, His word was good. He survived a devastating flood and was able to have a clean slate.

Abraham also heard from God. He was given direction and vision. Abraham though doubted. He doubted God to the point that he sinned against God. He lied about his wife, giving her over to another man; not once but twice. He took another woman into his bed because his wife figured that was how God was going to bring this blessing child that he promised them. God's word was given to Abraham as a promise that things will be good in the long run but they had to wait.

The book of Genesis spoke to me this time about how God's word is sometimes not what we want to hear. It even takes longer than what we expect but obedience of it can bring amazing reward. I am sure that I will fail as Abraham did but in his failure God still counted him faithful because of his desire (heart) for God.

Prayer: Oh Lord, Father so lovely. Thank you for new beginnings. Thank you for your word that never comes back void. Allow me to surrender my thoughts, desires, and wants to you for you know my life entirely. You have seen my future and know that I will need certain things that only you can provide. Thank you for loving me even though I fail. In Jesus name. Amen

Sitting on a plane

My thoughts are running about a thousands miles faster than this plane. Even though I can never seem to remember what I did a few days ago, God has given me a heart to feel where my journey has taken me. There is a lot to say about this recent trip to my homeland, the place I grew up. Even though it has been years since I lived there having family there makes it home for me. It's pretty amazing to know that Heaven is also our home. That while we are foreigners on earth we feel connected back home through the Holy Spirit.

We are all tourist on this journey. We see this more frequently in those who do not see it that way. Walking around with paper maps in shapes of there broken hearts. Looking for the place that doesn't exist. We are placing it on tables, dirty with the troubles of this world. Never able to locate the "You are here" in their heart-shaped maps. Walking aimless in a direction lead by what is seen but never the unseen. Like a carrot dangling over their head.

I can't say that I know where I will end up but I trust the navigator of my heart. A GPS that never fails. Jesus is my pilot in this maze of life and I may not be able to see out the window of this plane but I trust the pilot knows the way. So I sit here waiting to disembark in my next location of the journey.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:30,000 ft above land

Little Noah

Today I finally had a time to sit down and write this blog post. I wanted to start bringing some of the stories of the images I have captured along my journey. I have such a blessed life to be able to join side by side with some interesting people God bring along my way. This post will be about a new born session I did for some really close friends. They asked me to do it even though I fought it at first, not being really confident about it and wanting the best for them. They insisted and I am glad they did. They are a wonderful couple in who God really brought together. They got married last May and now are parents to a such a bundle of joy.

His name is Noah Corraliza

He is quite the charmer. Quiet, loving, and completely a gift of God. I can honestly say that after waiting so long for his arrival, he surpasses all my expectations. I have seen God do such an amazing work in his parents lives I can only imagine what is to come in his life. My excitement lead me to ask my friends the obvious question: "So what is it to be a parent?"

The first to answer was my friend Ivan... His answer was something not much of a surprise but the look in his eyes showed me the honest, sober assesment he has done in his life from the birth of his child. "Knowing that I am a father has brought me so much joy. More than I can ever explain"

Ivan holding Noah (Natural light)

After some conversation with Sam, her answer blessed me more than she could probably ever imagine. "To me I can see what God means when He loves me regardless of my life. I know he [Noah] may not be perfect, but I will love him no matter what"

Sam holding Noah (natural light)

I don't think they know it but by being my friends and allowing me such closeness to their lives, they have inspired a true desire in my heart to be a good follower of Christ, a great friend, a loving husband, and an anticipating father. I thank God for this experience.

One more of the bundle of joy before I go...


You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
Psalm 119:13-16

Exit

Sometimes my thoughts will get the best of me. I can go back to many instances in my life where I actually see and hear myself sabotaging myself. I remember I have been the type of person who during a conversation, I would think ahead of the conversation just so I can manipulate the topic in a way where I knew the next statement. Like a game of chess. It was a mess.

As I am writing I can laugh at myself but that's because I exited outside my own self-destructive personality and now can humbly say I have new purpose. That need to be right at all times is gone. I realized that the desire to make a point was really fear. I had been afraid for so long that others will have some authority over me. Its not like that anymore. I find that my authority figure is a loving God who wants to see me joyful. (Psalm 37:1-6)

With that reassurance, what is your heart telling you today?

Amazing interview

Kirk Cameron Interviews Ravi Zacharias via Noolmusic.com

Up, up and away...

For the longest time I was afraid to fly. I hated the feeling of anxiety that would sweep my body to the point that my hands would sweat to drips. It was horrible. My worse fear was to sit in my chair while the plane spiraled itself all the way into the ground. The screaming of the other passengers, the panic that would fill the room, and more importantly all the things I left undone. My fear was more around the fact that I never had the chance to be married or have children. Maybe more like that argument I left behind before take off. To me life always had this feeling of incompleteness. There was always something else to do that I never finished or conversation I never had.

What I feared the most was that I would never tell my feelings to the one I truly loved. It was a miserable way to live. For the majority of my adult life I was living with that fear that I would not accomplish that desire to be content. My problem was not what I wore or the job I had, it was my heart. I filled it with way too many things that obstructed the true needs in my life to come in.

As I type this, I have experienced the most amazing two years of my life. A life filled with the same struggles and some disappointments, but this time there is hope. Hope that was never there before. It comes from my relationship with God through the person of Christ. There is more for me to learn but I want to leave you with this thought. How many times have you felt like you are drowning and not been able to find what you need to stay afloat?

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30