Sunday mornings s in the CITY of DORAL !! Be there! 10:30am, at 8600 NW 107th ave

“ The reason why we should make money, get our personal finances in order, work at becoming debt free and in general be better stewards is so that we can share with those in need and be a help and benefit to other people.  Why?  Because loving and serving others for Jesus sake is what brings ultimate and lasting joy!”- Jason Topp, Redeeming Riches

I (HONESTLY) could not have said this better myself! All of my adult life, I have been a “giver”. I say adult life, because my brother was born when I was 12, so I practically grew up an only child, and even after he was born, there really was no need to ever share my things with him, and I was much much too old for handing anything down to him (except maybe some Dr. Seuss books, which I don’t think I gave willingly because books have sentimental value to me, and I just KNEW he’d ruin them- which of course, he DID).

But, when I was 15 and then again when I was 16, my parents let me go to Cuba, where I learned the true meaning of not having anything, and giving to those less fortunate. I’ll never forget the unplanned leaving my favorite pair of Nike’s to my grandfather’s sister, who happened to be the same size as me. I don’t think I ever told anyone, and no one ever asked why I came back in flip flops.  That was probably my first experience with giving something away that I cherished (I KNOW- they were sneakers… but I was also 16- we cherish different things then ).

Anyway, so fast forward about 10 years, and I still LOVE giving. I love giving more than anything. Not only do I feel I’m helping others, I honestly feel it’s my DUTY, because I can. I feel like if you have the ability, you MUST.

Proverbs 3:27-28 tells us,

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it’s in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.””

So, not only is it NICE to help others, but we’re commanded to by God’s word.

Which gets me sort-of back on point. Lately, I have been on a crazy kick to get out of debt and get everything paid off so I can feel financial freedom. But this freedom isn’t so I can go out and buy more clothes, or shoes, or a nicer car! Its so I can go out and help people by giving resources and my time without feeling the financial pressure of “Can I take time off work to do the work I feel called to do?”.  Whether its outreach, volunteer work, mission trips, or just charitable donations, getting your finances in order so you can give generously not only helps shape other’s lives, it helps shape YOU!

Even though the bible says to those who ask for a sign, none will be given, we must walk by faith and not by sight… I think God is so loving and understanding of our human condition that he does give us signs to point us in the right direction : ).

Last night, I prayed, as I so often do, for God to not only show me the path, and guide my steps, but to literally be shoved in the direction that I should be walking in. I want it to be SO crystal clear that I’m not even given any other choice, and not a doubt exists that I’m doing what I was MEANT to do.

That’s the kind of conviction I want and pray for.

I made my first donation today to www.Kiva.org!

What Is Kiva?

Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.

Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs around the globe.

The people you see on Kiva’s site are real individuals in need of funding – not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs’ profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.

To make a difference in these people’s lives, you can donate as little as $25 up to whatever amount you can, and let me tell you, its so rewarding to know that I can help change someone’s circumstances and living conditions for LESS THAN I SPEND ON A PAIR OF SHOES. Literally.

So seriously, if you have ever thought about giving back, and just don’t know where to start, think about starting here! Its a worthy cause for worthy people!

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything
1 For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.

9 What do people really get for all their hard work?10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all.11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
14 And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him.15 What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

The Injustices of Life
16 I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt!17 I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.”
18 I also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals.19 For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe* and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless!20 Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust.21 For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth?22 So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why we are here! No one will bring us back from death to enjoy life after we die.

[Re-posted with permission!! ]

Flamingo Film & Arts Festival 09 – Teaser from Flamingo Road Church on Vimeo.

Sunday, I had the pleasure of meeting Barby and her family at Markham park for a quick session of family photos before their oldest daughter went back to college.

I decided to post a quick preview (10 of 80) of their photos so they could see them online as well as share them with our friends we do life with at FRC : ).

Enjoy!

How cute are they???

What a beautiful family, huh?

The kids : )

Getting silly… I have a feeling this is a regular occurrence for everyone : )

Barby even got a bunch of new headshots taken : )

and my favorite (the most unscripted moment of the afternoon- he didn’t even know I took this picture : ))-

When asked what was the greatest, most important commandment, Jesus answered LOVE. I, too, believe this is the most important directive we get from Jesus’ teachings.

First, love the LORD your God with all your heart, and second, love your neighbor as yourself. At the Leadership Summit this weekend, some of the speakers asked, “who is your neighbor?”. They talked about helping the poor, the sick, the destitute, the poverty stricken, what many call “the least of these”. I think we absolutely SHOULD help those, our neighbors, and brothers and sisters in Christ, but people get overwhelmed when they see the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Or the poverty in South America or Asia. They think “how can I make a difference there? Its so HUGE!”.

Its the age old question of ‘How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!’.

I think we need to start somewhere, and for many people, its a more local, practical application of God’s love. Make the decision to be a little nicer to your friends and family, even if they’ve done something to wrong you. Forgive, even if you don’t think they deserve it. Forgiveness doesn’t free someone else, it frees YOU. Be more patient when driving, don’t honk as soon as the light turns green and the person in front of you doesn’t move. Say hello, goodbye, please, and thank you to anyone who serves you throughout the day. Remember, your waitress/cashier/delivery man are people with lives, children and worries.

You can always practically apply Jesus’ command to love your neighbor on a daily basis, and you’ll see, the more loving you are, the more love you’ll want to give, when you see the impact it makes on other people’s lives and especially yours.

Any comments on love, or random acts of kindness you’ve done?

Hanging out and doing life with amazing friends & family (& friends who become like family) is my favorite part of life, hands down.

I met Tara through Mike, Jon and Olivia, and though we had run in the same salsa dancing circles, we had never met in person. I was excited to know she was coming to our Monday salsa class and we would finally meet. Last Monday, she let us know she would be getting baptized at the Cavalry Beach Baptism this weekend. We all wanted to be there to support her in this new adventure and way of life, and it was a great time!

We are constantly reminded that Baptism is an outward expression of the feelings in your heart, and we were so happy to be there with Tara for this expression of her faith!

Enjoy the slideshow below with photos of the day, as well as the video : ).

God does AMAZING work, huh???

Tara’s Beach Baptism 8.8.09 from Lisette Arencibia on Vimeo.