¿DE QUIÉN SE TRATA REALMENTE?

Erika y Yo tenemos una invitada especial escribiendo en Hijas del Rey/Daughters of a King. Su nombre es Betzabeth Castro (¡Hija de Erika!) Nos sentimos muy orgullosas de que ella abra su corazón para compartir con ustedes este tema “¿De quién se trata realmente?”

¿De quién se trata realmente?

El otro día leí este libro llamado "No se trata de mí." El primer pensamiento que vino a la mente cuando recibí este libro fue: "¿Qué estaban tratando de decir?, Pero lo leí de todos modos. Mientras lo estaba leyendo me di cuenta que no se estaban dirigiendo a una, que sólo pensó en sí mismo, o que usted cree que todo tiene que ser hecho por usted y sólo usted, porque el mundo gira a su alrededor, pero que se dirigió a ustedes a decir que usted no puede hacer nada con sólo usted, que el crédito no va a usted, que sólo puede hacer las cosas a través de Dios, y que todo el mérito es de él.

Me gusta muchísimo este libro, porque no sólo es sólo el autor y los hechos declarando por escrito, pero que también contiene artículos que versan sobre las personas que han pasado por problemas o han logrado grandes objetivos y le han dado todo el crédito a Dios. Ellos no creían que todo era de ellos, cuando llegaron a través de él, estaban contentos de que Dios los había utilizado. Había un artículo que me gustó fue que este hombre llamado Pedro, que amaba la aventura hacía cualquier cosa para encontrarla. Durante su primer año de la universidad empezó a planear caminar, el sendero de los Apalaches. Esto le toma a una persona promedio de seis meses para terminarla. Pedro estaba decidido a terminar durante sus vacaciones de verano. Durante su viaje, tenía ganas de dejar de vez en cuando, y cada vez que se sentía así, Dios siempre se enviaba a alguien para levantarle el ánimo. Al final se terminó el viaje en sólo tres meses. Con el fin de que terminara esa caminata que tenía que depender de Dios para ayudarlo.

Durante la lectura de este libro pensé en la gente que conozco que han pasado por situaciones difíciles. Sobre todo pensé en mi madre. Sé que mi mama ha pasado por muchas cosas, pero siguió luchando. Ella siempre se volvió a Dios cuando estaba abajo o si estaba teniendo dificultades con algo. Como pasaban los años la vi. Vi de cerca, y pude ver cómo mucho más fuerte y más valiente que se estaba convirtiendo. Hoy miro el ahora y miro mis recuerdos que tengo de ella en ese entonces y yo sonrío, pude ver la diferencia en ella. Dios ha hecho tanto por ella y nuestra familia. Y yo sé que ella le da el crédito a él y no a sí misma. Ella siempre está diciendo, que no podría haber hecho un montón de cosas sino fuera por él.

Debo admitir que a veces me siento como si todo se tratara de mí. Que sin mi algo terrible va a suceder. Pero luego tengo una verificación de la realidad y pido a mi mismo, "¿de quién se trata en realidad?" Automáticamente me recuerdo a mi yo, de que es realmente todo sobre él, y que yo estoy aquí para reflejar la gloria del Señor. Es todo acerca de Dios. Todo. No se trata de mí. No es acerca de usted. Es acerca de él. No puedo decirlo que es más simple que eso.

Dios te bendiga,

Betzabeth Castro

WHOSE IT REALLY ABOUT?

Erika and I have a special guest writing at Hijas del Rey/Daugthers of a King. Her name is Betzabeth Castro (Erika's daughter!). We are so proud that she was able to express herself and open her heart to share this blog topic of "Whose it really about?" to you....

Whose it really about?

The other day I read this book called “It's not about me.” The first thought that came to mind when I received this book was, 'What were they trying to say?' , but I read it anyway. As I was reading it I found out that they didn't address you as to say that you only thought about yourself, or that you think that everything has to be done for you, and only you, because the world revolves around you, but they addressed you as to say that you can't do anything with only you, that the credit doesn't go to you, that you can only do things through God, and that ALL the credit goes to Him.

I really like this book a lot, because not only is it just the author writing and stating facts, but its also contains articles that are about people who have been through problems or have accomplished big goals that gave all the credit to God. They didn't think everything was about them when they got through it, they were just happy that God had used them. There was this one article that I really liked that was about this man named Peter who loved adventure and did anything to find it. During his first year of college he started planing on walking the Appalachian Trail. It took the average person six months to finish it. Peter was determined to finish it during his summer vacation. During his journey he did feel like giving up every now and then, and every time that he felt that way God always sent some one to lift his spirits. In the end he finished the journey in only three months. In order for him to finish that walk he needed to depend on God to help him.

While reading this book I thought of people that I know that have been through tough situations. Mostly I thought of my mother. I know that mother has been through a lot, but she kept fighting. She always turned to God when she was down or if she was having a hard time with something. As the years went by I watched her. I watched closely, and I could see how much stronger and braver she was becoming. Today I look at her now and look at my memories that I have of her back then and I smile, I could see the difference in her. God has done so much for her and our family. And I know that she gives the credit to Him and not to herself. She's always saying how she couldn't have done a lot of things with out Him.

I must admit that sometimes I feel like it's all about me. That without me some thing terrible will happen. But then I have a reality check and ask my self, ‘whose it really about?' Automatically I remind my self that it's really all about Him, and that I'm here to reflect the Lord's glory. It's all about God. Everything. It's not about me. It's not about you. It's about Him. I can't say it any simpler than that.

God bless you,

Betzabeth Castro

2/09/2010 - ¡ESCRITURA DEL DÍA!

“Porque yo sé los pensamientos que tengo acerca de vosotros, dice Jehová, pensamientos de paz, y no de mal, para daros el fin que esperáis.” Jeremías 29:11

2/09/2010 - SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

True Love IV

True Love

~ I am Worthy of God’s Love ~ I am worth a lot in the eyes of God ~

7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
John 15; 7-10

*** Love ***

In this last part of this blog titled “True Love”, I want to share with you some of my personal experiences, and explain why I chose this topic.

The more I spoke of love, the more I realize how little I knew about it; I give thanks to my God for teaching me everyday to learn how to love myself. It may sound a bit ironic, but that's God, He uses any way to show his love and infinite mercy.

In addition to being guided by the Holy Spirit, this has also been a personal teaching for my secular and spiritual life. I am a type of person that like to share my experiences with others, I like helping people and motivate them. That's why I'm sharing this topic with you.

Since I was little, my mom would take us, my older brother and I to church. We regularly attended to a Baptist Church, where my grandmother used to go. We were raised in Christian-based. Thanks to them, we grew up with fear of God in our lives (hearts).

Over time I could say I became a "Sundayer" only went to church most Sundays, I entered and left Church the same way I came in. When I was 27 years old, my mother died of cancer, she was only 47 years of old. One month later, my husband and I separated and I stayed by myself with two little girls who were depending, according to my carnal eyes totally on me on. With a woman who feared God, but did not know HIM, and at that time felt that the pillars of her life, which was supported by "my mom and my husband" had collapsed (because I did not know God).

Over time many things happened in my life, walked blindly doing what in my humanity believed it was best for me and my daughters, because I was still walking without knowing Jesus. Sometimes I attended Church, because I always liked going for the devotional and Sunday school classes, but yet again, I came in and left the same way I came in. It was a very difficult time for me, I cried a lot, (although I am crier by nature) I felt alone and helpless, but during all of this, I had to stay strong for my daughters.

Three years had passed and my situation apparently seemed well, I believe it was survival instinct that each of us has, which made me see things normal, or rather used to the situation. But, here comes my True Love... the relief of my life, that took me out of the mud and mire, set my feet upon a rock, and gave me new name, whom saw me, extended his hand of love and mercy, when nobody else saw me, when nobody else loved me ... Jesus, My True love!!

I remember one day a thought came to my mind/heart, and said I'm going to start going to church on Tuesday night (night of prayer and intercession) which I never used to go. So I did, and I remember that the message was from Psalm 23, a psalm that almost everyone knows by heart, but for me that day was a divine intervention from heaven, it impacted me so much the teaching that night.!

In particular verse 4 which says, "Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”. The Lord, through the Holy Spirit, and my Pastora (Pastor’s wife), whom I love very much, made me understand that verse, not just that he loves me, but everything works for good, that the only thing He wanted was for Me to know him and have a personal experience with Him, and just as the prodigal son I would return home. And I did!

I would have liked to continue talking about my personal experience, but it would take a long time and I could write a book (I also would like to add that after 3 years I returned with my husband, and today after 5 years we are still together, thank God).

After my encounter with Jesus that night I put my life on his hands ...

We know that being Christian is a process, a process of growth and maturity, that we are not going to be perfect just beacause that one day we took the correct decision to accept Jesus as our savior... That is really where the process begins.

I've learned a lot on behalf of God, but there still a lot for me to learn. And loving like God loves is what I would call a very important part of the process. I considered myself to be a fiendly & good person, "good" only God is good, and I also believed that love was something natural in us. And Yes love is in us, but we have to put it into practice ... God's Love!

James 1; 2-4 says;
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

These verses tell us about the test, patience and the process to become perfect, complete without lacking anything. Meaning to say that when we enter a test or when God let us go thru a trial, is because we lack something, and God in his infinite love will give us what we need, what will complete us. This is also how God showed me, through a test ,that I was lacking love, love of God in my life not only for others but also for myself. The fruit of love ...

This is how God and the His Holy Spirit makes me eager to write this beautiful theme of "True Love" it’s a nice way of God to minister to my life and yours too.

Remember God is Love... He is your True Love... Share with others and do not forget to love yourself so you can love your neighbor, your family, your spouse, your children, your co-worker and even your enemy. Love them with God's Love ... Love that does not judge, but...listens, waits, forgives and goes beyond :)

I invite you to ask yourself these questions:

1. What does God want to teach me in this test that I’m going through?
2. Am I reflecting the love of God in my life?

Read: 1 Corinthians 13

Prayer:
I thank you Lord on this day for your infinite love, thank you for opening my spiritual eyes and showing me with love, what is missing in my life. Help me to be a doer of your word and put all the things you teach me into practice. In the name of your beloved son, Jesus, Amen.

Remember the Christian character is produced by The Holy Spirit, not by self effort!

Thank you for your attention!

May God continue to bless you….your sister and friend
***** Erika Gonzalez*****

erika.praisethelord@gmail.com