Jesus fights for you!

Jesus fights for you! 

Psalm 18:17 Amp

He rescued me from my strong enemy,

And from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me

~Mather 5:38-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’  But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  

Someone once said: “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” This phrase is used to encourage optimism and a positive attitude when faced with adversity.  Making lemonade is using adversity to bring out something good. We all have to face adversity one way or another. When Jesus said that in this life you will be faced with persecution. Jesus told us that we will be hated; but he assured us that those who stand firm until the end will be saved.  It is very difficult to be hated, and to still love people even when you know that they are indifferent towards you. How do you deal with difficult people when you know that they are all against you and hate you? How do you manage difficult people that try every way to mistreat you at any cause? Jesus told us to pray for those who persecute you. This can be a challenge at times. How do we Love? How easy is it to Love those who Love us? But there is no reward in Loving those who love us. We find reward when we Love those who persecute us. “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous”.  We can all relate.  These people are also loved by a merciful God.  It’s been a while since my last blog; today in Butterfly by Grace “Mommy & daughter blog” I want you to pray for those who are persecuting you; pray for the unseen, pray for your enemies; pray for every tongue that rises against you in judgment. If you are feeling discouraged; remember that you have a faithful judge who fights for you. The Lord detest lying lips; but those that deal with truth are his delight. 

Lets pray,

Father God we come to you for help, we know that this mountain at times seems too big. My enemies laugh. Father, we pray that you Lord take control of every enemy that rises against your people, We pray that you reveal even those who are secretly plotting against us. In Jesus name no weapon that is formed against us shall not succeed and every tongue that rises in judgment against your children should not prosper. Father God; we believe that this is the heritage of your servants in Jesus name. Amen 

  

 

Don't sit there watching the clouds!

 

Ecclesiastes 11:4⛅

Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

Most of us put unpleasant things off. Do you? Those things that we dislike we put them off. If I have a task to do that I know it is not pleasant; for example my dentist appointments  I dislike, but are necessary important appointments. On the other hand we have those who like to procrastinate doing things that are really important and should not wait. For example studying when you know that you have a test. Procrastinating just makes me inpatient. I like to take care of things that I consider are important to me. When I was going to college I always submitted my papers on time. I didn't want to wait if I knew that I had an upcoming exam. I really needed extra time to study. It's easy to avoid conflict. It's easy to put an uncomfortable task off. Today in this blog we are talking about your dreams and goals. Those that you put off waiting for the perfect time. Remember that God is with you and that the enemy has been trying to stop you or discourage you. I want you to stop and think for a moment about what has stopped you from becoming successful and accomplishing your dreams. When you are facing oppression there must be something that the enemy doesn't want you to have.  But, if you know that God has promised to be with you everyday of your life, Why are you waiting? Why are you still there? Just believe, and Do it. Today just take the next step and do what God says. He will give you the victory if you don’t give up too soon. Stop putting it off. Stop making excuses. If others can be successful, If others are living their dreams; so can you. When you have faith; nothing is impossible.  Do you like to plant? Do you like flowers? Do you like to water your garden? Are you like my husband who always likes to water his plants and not only he water his plants but he also likes to talk to his plants and bring life to them by just saying positive things.  Every year, at the beginning of the growing season, farmers go out and work the fields. They wait for the rain to see their seeds. If the rain doesn't come, the plants die. To plant you must be dedicated and work hard. The farmers don't abandon hope, but instead they plant and plant again until the cops grow and overflow. The wind and clouds are the things that the enemy wants to take our focus away. Today, God wants your trust. We can't put things off until the conditions are just right. Take a step of faith and know that God is with you.  God will gives you the resources and strategies to be successful. Don't just wait until you have more time. Solomon teaches us in the book of Ecclesiastes to have faith and take the first step, even when you can't see how everything will work out in the end. Just believe that Jesus has overcome, you can do this if you believe. Don't procrastinate, be watchful of the enemy who really enjoys seeing you do nothing about it. Today, take a step of faith and fight against all odds.  Don't sit there watching the clouds. Let's pray.

Father God thank you for giving me the strategies to start over. I know that you have overcome anything that may try to interrupt my plans. I ask you Jesus for your favor and grace throughout this Journey. I will not procrastinate and wait. I will rise up in faith and move forward with your help. In the name of Jesus. Amen…

 

Be Still

 

Psalm 46:10

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

To be still means; do nothing, stay calm, do not react, do not move, trust, believe, have faith, It really means wait, be patient, stop what you're doing, be brave, hold on, It means watch and see me fight for you, It means keep silent, Selah.

The idea is simply “wait and surrender”.

Is very easy when life is victorious, everyone is healthy, and the bank account is full. When we are living the dream. But, when things are falling apart it is much more difficult. When things shift. When the unexpected happened. When everything seems to be trial after trial. On the day you fast and pray; things just got complicated and now your faith is being tested. You are not alone. We all have been there. We can all look back and remember what it was like to be in our darkest moment. We all know what it is like to be left alone. We all know what it is like to feel abandoned. Adversity refines us, but to see the positive in the middle of our pain, remember God is our refuge and strength in times of trouble. Pressure, stress, conflict, broken dreams. Life is full of trials. There is so much adversity everywhere you look. We all know  that even the creation has been groaning in pain. Jesus told us that we were having trouble in this world’. Many trials can be like having a sick family, losing a job, devastating or death of a loved one. We have a God that is still king. His promises are “Yes and Amen”. God sees you and you have to believe that he is fighting for you. You can rest in his promises. You must stay still. Remember that God wants our confidence and trust in him. We must wear our garment of protection.  “I know it hurts”. He is a very present help. The secret is obedience and silence. The secret is confidence. Build your house on the rock. I invite you all readers today 4/4/24 to take time to make Jesus your priority and the center of it all. Take the time to be still and connect with our father, we can find peace even in this chaotic life, we can take a moment to be thankful for what we have and remember that our trials are part of God's plan and purpose. Being still is not easy. “This third I will put into the fire, I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them, I will say, “They are my people; and they will say, “The Lord is our God”. 

Lets pray,

God, thank you. I will forever worship you. I will praise you Lord. You are my rock and my refuge and in you I trust. I will remain in silence. I will wait on you. Help me to be patient and stay firm in prayers. I will not doubt you, because my hope comes from the Lord. I will be still. 

Hallelujah  

Come and Rest!

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”.

Mathew 11:28

We all know what being tired feels like. Everyday we have a schedule or routine. As a woman being a wife, mother, working full-time and studying can be overwhelming. We know what it is like to fall asleep in a cough and not finish a task; perhaps not being able to clean the whole house as planned, Instead you fail to sleep. Rest is essential for us in many ways. Without rest and more specifically sleep our mind and body are unable to function the way they were designed. We need to eat healthy and drink plenty of water to balance our life. 

My first shift as a registered nurse in the emergency department was a challenge. It was my first time working a night shift. The next day; I couldn't even get off the bed. I felt such pain in my whole body and I was overwhelmed with such a  physical job. I wonder if I was going to keep up with my night residency job. All I could think was; how exhausted and how much my body hurt the next day. 

Rest in the Lord, refers to a spiritual rest from confusion, worry, stress, useless human effort, and a break from all activities. In the Hebrew rest means to be at peace.  I feel secure with Jesus. I know that he is my rock and that he will give me the strength, the knowledge to finish my residency strong. We must learn to rest in the Lord and to understand that it is okay to take a day to just reset. “We can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me”.  Therefore, rest in the Lord. Wait patiently for the Lord. “I call on the Lord and he answers me and delivers me”. “Come to me all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for yours souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you his light”.  We live a life full of hustle and full schedules. Today in Butterfly by Grace Mommy & daughter blog; we want to encourage you to rest in the Lord. He will give you the strength you need to continue. Taking care of your body which is the body of Christ is and should be a priority. We must understand the importance of getting plenty of fluids and eating a healthy diet to be able to keep up with our busy schedule. Take time to rest your body. “Even youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fail; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and and not be faint”.  Lets pray

Father God, I come to you and ask you for your rest and peace. Jesus I pray you lift the burden of everyone who's reading looking for rest and peace. Father God, l pray that everyone asking for peace may turn to you in prayer and supplication.  Thank you for the victory! In the name of  Jesus, Amen. 

Fear of the Lord!

 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but the fools despise wisdom and instruction. ~Proverbs 1-7

Most people despise any kind of correction. We are so convinced that we know it all. We don't want to learn anything new or change our ways because we think that our way is the only way. When someone tries to correct us, we set up a wall. This happens many times when we start a new job, or anything new. We come with the old habits and we are not open minded to new things. But, there are times that we need time out to rethink in our ways. Nothing can make me more upset than a disrespectful child without discipline. Nothing gives them the right to mistreat a parent. Respect is non-negotiable. Patents, set boundaries and know your limits. Your child is not your partner or your peer.  Many parents don't know where to draw the line when it comes to their children's disrespectful behavior. Today's society we don't know who is the child and who is the parent. Which is why; we need the fear of the Lord. As a child when our parents gave us that tough correction, it was that look that just gave fear. My parents were old school; they only had to look at us and we would already be in our rooms making sure that the room was in order, and clean. My mother didn't even have to touch us; she just had to look at me and my siblings and we already knew that as soon as the visitors were gone, we were all in big trouble. Growing up my parents were very strict. We were not allowed to sleepover, stay up late or have friends over uninvited. We had to have dinner together as a family; and for Sunday mass we had to be ready on time, no one was allowed to stay home alone. I never learned the fear of the Lord until I gave my life to the Lord. Fear is an affectionate reverence that we bring before God. 

Fear is mentioned approximately 437 times in the bible. Regardless of translation, different types of fears. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy one is insight”. If you are experiencing any fear that is not from the Lord, you can overcome fear by faith with prayer and submission. There are many different kinds of fears, but we must learn to trust God. He says: “Fear Not” “I am with you”. “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but power and love self control”. Even in the bible there were men and women who displayed a spirit of fear in the bible, but emotion of impending danger never overwhelmed Jesus. We must tremble at the Lord's holiness, just as we are drawn to him in Love. We must accept instruction. To resist the pride that will take us off our path. Many seek money and treasure over fear, it is wise to fear God and be obedient. On day two of my nursing residency I had such fear; that could not explain. As I wore my navy blue scrubs all that I could do was cry and praise. I remember the days that I prayed for what I have accomplished today by grace. I remember that I am a nurse of fear because God was who created me to be the woman, the nurse of fear who remembers that God still answers prayers. “Know and fully recognize with gratitude that the Lord himself is God; It is he who has made us, not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture”. I remember what it was like when I didn't have what I prayed for. I told my God I will forever worship you. I will dedicate my license to the Lord. I will forever preach to the sick. My fear was in reference; acknowledge that the God who gives can also take away in the blink of an eye. I want to stay humble and be a prudent nurse who fears God over everything and every one. My second day was full of emotions and joy. I have waited a very long time for this day; humanly, I was a little nervous; but I knew that the same God who did the miracle is the same God today, tomorrow and forever. He is the God who will walk with me in the next eighteen months by providing me with his wisdom, and knowledge. Today, in “Butterfly by Grace Mommy & Daughter blog” I would like to encourage you to take the step forward of faith to walk by faith and not by sight. I encourage you to remember to stay humble and walk with the fear of the Lord. Don't forget God when he answers your prayer. Stay with a humble heart and submit to God. Walk with fear, and I will guarantee you that God will fight for you every step of the way. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up”. Being humble opens doors. 

Lets pray,

Holy Spirit, make us aware of people around us. Let us come before you with fear and in humbleness. Help us to position our hearts and walk humbly. We choose to like without pride and follow your lead. Father God, please prevent us from trying to attract attention. Do not let us gloat over praise. Help to live and walk like you Jesus. Amen

The Breakthrough!

 I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:1-2

Someone once said: “Don't forget about God when you get what you prayed for”. My first day in the nursing residency was a day full of joy. I waited four years for this dream to come true. I cried for years and felt defeated. I was in a very difficult place. From January to December not moving forward nor backwards. It was a very difficult time for me. I saw many colleagues move on, grow tremendously in their career. I had a faith smaller than a mustard seed. For years I shut down from social media, family and friends. I was at my lowest point. “My God. My God. why have you forsaken me”. Whether it's feeling like a failure in specific areas or in general, we are feeling burdened with not being able to get things right, not doing enough, or not being like that woman of God over there who seems to have everything together. We know that the feeling of failure is not from God; it is from the enemy. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue to continue that counts”. The bible says: “For which much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief:. One thing I know for sure: prayer works. There were times that I felt that my prayers were touching the sealing of my house and others I felt like God was not listening. Let's face it. We don't always pray the same way and with the same authority. There were times in my journey that all I was able to do was cry and worship. Today, I understood that what the enemy meant for evil against me, God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people would hear my testimony through my book first time author and through my testimony. In “Butterfly by Grace Mommy and daughter blog” I want you to know that God sees you and he really cares. My first day in the nurse residency reminded me how faithful our God is. He remains faithful even when we are not. Don't ever underestimate the power of prayer. Keep pushing forward. My first day of residency, I was fearful. As I drove down the parkway, tears of joy came down my cheek. I was reminded of my dreams and prophetic words that manifested four years later. I pray and fast. I dedicated my four years to keep studying, writing my journey and preaching the gospel. There were days I was strong; and others I was weak. But, I always gave him my best worship. I declare that my miracle was coming even when I didn't even see it. I bought my uniform and walked around my room with it. I said Yes and Amen. I will declare everyday: “You are the God of miracles” “You are way maker” The more I worship the more I fail. I was unstoppable. I know that my God is my redeemer and that he lives. He is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. He is king and he never lost a battle. I pray for my heart. I pray for humbleness and as I prayed I had to forgive. I was transformed. He turned my mourning into dancing, he loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. My breakthrough came. Lets pray,

Dear God,

Today I just want to worship you. Father God answered my prayer. You delivered me. I will forever worship you. Today, I pray for everyone reading this blog; Lord, I am asking you to attend their cries. Listen, father as they call on you. Father God I know that you are listening I know that you are faithful. Your word says: if we have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain; move from here to there; and it will move. Today, I stand by faith with all of those who are reading this blog and are asking for a breakthrough. All those who need Jesus, those who call on you Jesus their faces are never covered with shame. I pray and declare miracles. Jesus you are one who the winds and waves obey. Is there anything impossible for God? Just believe. In the name of Jesus. 

Women's International Day!

 “Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”. ~ Proverbs 31:30

Today all around the world they celebrate “Women's Day”. Women's day was a result of several socialist movements, which demanded voting conditions. While countries across the world have since celebrated the day, its roots go much further. According to the UNs official website, the first National Woman's day was first observed in the United States on February 28, 1909.  “In 1908 garment workers strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions”. Around 15,000 women marched that day for shorter hours of work, better pay and voting rights, the International Women's Day (IWD).  As early as 1848, Americans Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott staged the first woman's rights convention in New York. International Women's Day is rooted in womens centuries old struggle to participate in society on an equal footing with men. The first woman according to the bible was created in Genesis 2-3 by the name of Eve. The name Eve comes from the Hebrew word chavah, which means “the living” or “life”. She was the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20). Eve was made in God's image, just as Adam was too (Genesis 1:27).  Eve was the mother of Cain and Abel and Seth and other sons and daughters. Eve was the first woman, the first wife, and the first mother in the world. Eve lived in the garden with her husband Adam. Unfortunately, Eve gave into temptation to eat the forbidden tree. She was deceived by the serpent. “For Adam was formed first, then Eve, and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor”. The serpent sowed doubt in Eve's mind by telling her “You will not certainly die”. The enemy uses these schemes to paralyze many women and makes them believe that they can be better without God. Eve took the fruit and ate it and then gave some to her husband, Adam, who also ate. Women need to be more full of the Holy Spirit and not be ignorant and think that Satan will just stay still. Since the beginning we see how he hated women. His intentions were and are to destroy women. He is a liar. Death came to the human race as a result of what Eve was tricked into doing to Adam's subsequent choice of sin.  

God multiplied Eve's pain in childbearing, He pronounced that the relationship between man and women would be characterized by conflict. “To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing, in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you”. To, Adam said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate the fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, “You must not eat from it” “Cursed is the ground because of you through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life”. But here is God's good news, women. “ and I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel”.

I understand that many are the affliction of women. But the Lord promised to be with us until the end. Remember that you are chosen. God loves you and he has inscribed you on the palms of his hands. Never doubt your value to God as a woman. Jesus loves you and created you strong and with purpose. You are God's masterpiece and plan from the beginning. So what does God really think about women? Jesus, delivered women from diseases and set them free from spiritual darkness. Jesus taught in places women were present. Jesus invited Mary Magdalene to join his ministry. The Apostle Paul wrote: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus' '. You are never less than a woman. Jesus was willing to break cultural rules to prove anything. Today in “Butterfly by Grace '' Mommy & Daughter Blog”  I like for you women to take a moment and think of what Jesus thinks about you. How do you see yourself? Remember, Jesus loves you. I like to encourage you to stay focused. Celebrate all your success. Love yourself and fear God overall. God has made you special with a talent to keep fighting the good fight. Lets pray,