Motivational

As You Do – Think Back Friday

Posted on by lainamunoz

I sort of shoved #ThinkBackThursday and a new Friday post together… You know, because it’s New Years and I’m cliché.

1 January //

I’ve now lived through 25 of these and probably for the last 13 of them I’ve wondered where on earth time has gone. It seems that time has a preferred method of transportation that it enjoys, and it’s always the one you wish it wasn’t on. It grabs a Delta flight, a free miniature bottle of wine and sticks its feet up for the joyful moments. They go so fast that you hardly remember all of the details even when you’re trying. Without a shadow of a doubt I believe that it grieves with us in the hard times and it too finds it difficult to pull itself out of bed and move when we cry – making our sorrow seem even longer.
Misery loves company.

But, then you look back and realize there was 24 hours in each of those days and 7 days in your weeks and that you just wasted 1-4 hours of your today realizing that you’re still here. You still never know when moments to be remembered are happening and you never know when you will finally heal.

But you have the moments, and you heal.

I’m currently in Oklahoma for the holidays, which brings up loads of memories in the 17 years I spent around this town. It’s impossible not to remember the great, good, bad and regretful. And as odd as it can be to grow up and see that nothing is ever the same year to year, the obscurity of it is shadowed (for me) by remembering a few things:

  • My Good Friends are GOOD – I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for a handful of very, VERY good people in my life. They’ve believed in me, pushed me, prayed for me, let me cry, let me fail and still told me they loved me and that I can make it. Hometowns can sometimes bring a sting along with comfort when thinking about the ‘used to be’ and ‘could have been’ relationships, adventures and journeys; G-d has been in the redeeming business of reminding me that the people I have now are who need to be in my life NOW. He knows all things, He knows my heart and who builds it, He knows what’s coming for me and He has been blessing me more and more with like-minded lovelies who care about me.What and who HE allows in my life is more than enough.
  • He has ALWAYS been faithful – this has been so overwhelmingly in my thoughts this last year or so. I’ve always known it but G-d has connected this knowledge to my heartstrings and veins and has literally flooded my being. The knowing physically weighs on me and can often, easily and frequently bring me to tears. Guys, He cares so much and loves so deeply and IS SO FAITHFUL. And not just for me; this is for you and I’m sure if you take time to let the Saviour and comforter help you look back you’ll see it to.
    ((Please take the time to look back))
  • Discipline is hard, sacrifice is hard, they both suck and they’re both mandatory – reading and writing daily is a choice and no one will tell you to do it once you pass the age of 17. I’m a routine and schedule person and it’s extremely difficult for me to cram a devotional or blog into the end of my. Mornings are my zone and when I don’t allow myself that time I feel like a pretty crappy person. This one is really just a memo to self // Be An Adult.
  • Reading is very important – I am not an educational or approved resource to quote. While I’m overjoyed that you’ve read this blog or any of my other blogs I’m not the end all… heck, I’m not even good at ending blogs real good.

Find a book and learn something.

 

Art above by: Mindi Garland (That’s MY bloodline)
Title: “Jenine Races Down the Path Less Traveled Without Fear of the Future” (That’s my middle name)

You’re Doing It Wrong

Posted on by lainamunoz

 

My Puerto Rican J-Lo (Jen Nieves) and I are Pastoral-Creatives. It’s that mix of people who care too much about people to leave them alone but still like to play with finger paints. Or if you want, you can join me in viewing our personalities as hippies. Love music. Love art. Love people.

Always.

At one point or another we (at the very least I) tried to run away from this very odd inner draw to help the A.D.D. Christians still love G-d. But it is who we are and there is no escape.

But G-d couldn’t just leave me alone with the desire to write music, sing and preach and teach… He also allowed my life to become introverted (I need to recharge without people) NOT shy (I’m too full of myself and my insecurities to carry on a conversation)((pride)).

Thanks G.

Oilvia [my sweet as drummer friend (I’m totally name dropping today)] and I were talking yesterday about the conclusion of our first year at Hillsong College. We were discussing what was difficult for us the first year that we still haven’t ‘dealt’ with… What are we still working on?

For me: which I’m assuming you want to know because you are still reading – this was community. I explained my thoughts on how I walked through my first year and how at the end of it, if I’m being as overly honest as I always tend to be, I feel like not that many people know me. Now – the KNOWING ME isn’t the important part, the GIVING MYSELF, my time, my energy, my investments, my open heart, my very unique part of the body of Christ is important. It IS important because I am also shy. I dealt this last year with being so concerned with myself and insecure that I didn’t give all I felt I could have.

Now, I’ve recently written about this so I don’t want to get too much into what I already wrote about… But I will reiterate the importance of being in community. We are better together and we were never meant to do this alone. If I could just encourage, challenge, tell you to, force you to READ the Bible… that would be awesome, but for the sad fact that the majority of you struggle to get a daily time to sit and process with G-d I’ll chop some up here for you.

“Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching”

Hebrews 10:SomewhereBetween24-25 (MSG)

Guys and Gals, I have NO idea how to encourage someone that I’m not around. Nor do I know how to encourage if I’m only concerned for how bold I feel that day or how crazy I think my hair is partying that day.

“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”

Galatians 6:1-3 (NLT)

Ewww… Pride isn’t pretty on ANYONE, especially shy-pride.

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT)

 

//Changed and changing still//

Thank G-d I’m not the same that I was and thank G-d that I will not remain the same that I am.

I’m verbally and electronically committed to community – I’m committed to lunches and coffee dates. I’m committed to my housemates and practicum team. I’m committed to showing up, being there and giving me. And if the Lord is willing all of that will be useful.

G-d, as always, you have my permission to make me look more like you and less like myself. You have my permission to make me look more AT you and less AT myself. You have my time, my energy, my investments, my open heart, and my very unique part of Your kingdom. Here’s to all the people time I need next year.

*Random PSA I found online – if you feed the toilet paper to the back of the roll and not the front you’re an ignorant, inconsiderate person and you need to grow up.

 

For The Love Of G-d

Posted on by lainamunoz

Think Back Thursday –  sometimes I absolutely love remembering how simple things got to me.

“For the love of G-d, Live.”

This phrase has been stuck with me for a while now because it was going to be the next thing I was going to write about; but that’s all I had. It’s simple and I kept trying to add my own ‘ness to it. But, there is nothing to add… Please just understand it.

All for the love of G-d, the love that we have that is to G-d, the love that isn’t about us but about HIS kingdom… begin to live. No longer let yourself be satisfied with just dying for the Father’s will, but also LIVE. You, friend, have been given life and you we’re expected to do something with it. If you weren’t then you wouldn’t be here.

Please find the daily chances to show a love that is forgiving, a love that is accepting of people’s hurt, a love that will move people to change, a love that is UNFAILING… a precious gift from a Savior to His people that sometimes we complicate. His love wasn’t meant to be confusing it was meant to be ours. And because HE knew we’d forget – He reminded us again and again that it would always be there because it always has been.

Shoot, I don’t deserve it but that statement alone is where we complicate it.

No, I don’t deserve it but He still chose it for me.

He Loves Us.

How He loves us so… And for this reason alone I’m inviting you to live; To make choices and follow up on people and give up yourself.

Something inside you is aching and screaming over and over, “For the Love of G-d, LIVE!”

Scrabit : Cars

Posted on by lainamunoz

Well, this has become a fun part of my week. Reflecting on what G-d has done for me and the things He has taught me. I pray I never forget or cease to recall how GOOD HE IS.

 “Puhhhlease, #Daddysgirl, I’m already sure the answer is yes.”

       I swear G-d sets up conversations to show us our own believes that we might not of realized we had. I was talking to a friend about a road trip we want to take soon((7May2015 – we never took it)), we were trying to figure out gas money and how much to save. And while I LOVE my 1997 328i BMW with 230,000 miles on it, it doesn’t get the best gas mileage, or have the best steering, or have the least busted tail light ever…

Having taken all that into consideration I think, huh, maybe dad would let me borrow his car… it has power steering, both tail lights AND gets roughly 10+ more miles to the gallon to my classic. Bottom line is that it would be to my benefit to be able to dive his car to Texas and not mine. My friend told me I should start begging now, without a second though, I said, “#Daddysgirl (yes I hashtag in texts for irony, but you can de-friend me if you want) I’m already sure the answer is yes.” I have confidence that my father looks to my benefit in every circumstance. I obviously need to ask him and arrange accordingly but it wasn’t even a potential thought that he would have a reason to deny this request.

He looks out for my best and he does his best to help me. 

“I’m His, I’m already sure the answer is yes”

“This is the confidence we have in approaching G-d: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that He hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of Him.”  -1 John 5.14-15

Granted, you’ll see this is a little bit of a loose example seeing as my dad might not WILL me to drive his pretty vehicle but just the thought process. It spills over into my parents and I’m super thankful I have parents I can make and example of. Mom is always willing to wake up early to cook a good breakfast for me and any extra friends when we have kayaking adventures or my dad is more than willing to share his knowledge and resources to set me up for anything I want to accomplish. And how much more our heavenly father sets us up. 

“How great is the love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of G-d!” -1 John 3.1
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” -Matthew 11.11

And that is truly exciting, to have complete trust in the gifts my Father wants me give me. I’m sure I’ve had to work through this before, because I am a SLOW learner – I hope one day my thought process is this quick. Where I know I need G-d’s favor in a situation and I go before Him with this confidence. Hey G-d, if its Your will, I know it will already be a yes. Here’s my life and desires and passions, here’s what I’m ok at and where I fall every time… But You love me – because I’m Your kid. So do what You do, love me fiercely and whatever You will, let it be. And those requests I have for my future, for adventuring, for growing ad learning, let me be already sure the answer is yes.

And with that confidence, let me live.
 

 LORD, if I may, may I write. 

Also, dad Kate and I wanna go to Texas sometime between the 10th-21st of July…. so you can think about that haha

Call Us Your People G-d

Posted on by lainamunoz

Dang I was a convicted little girl… This was from just before my 19th birthday. Please enjoy my throwback

There is power in the word of Christ. I will believe that will all my new heart until the day I die. I can have nothing less because there isn’t much point to life separate from that. G-d, give me clarity in what you want me to say. Speak to those who need to hear from you and use me G-d, as I have nothing more rewarding to do than to follow you.

“They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. 19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their G-d. 21 But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.”
(Ezekiel 11.18-21)

G-d has given us the land. He is willing to guide us into the people’s hearts that He has called His very own. He has called us to return to where we belong and promised us that we will see the gates of Hell tremble before the power of his word and His people.
G-d, you have called us to be new creations and have given us the means to be something different.

“They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols.” (Ezekiel 11.18)
We HAVE to remove all that is vile and detestable in our lives. We have to let G-d become the center of all we do, or everything we have done or believed in will be in vain.
((1 Corinthians 15.1-2 “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved,IF you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”))
What a waste if you grow up living fully committed to G-d but let one thing slide, if you “believe in the Bible” but never give the time of day to invest in what you believe in. If you do not hold firmly to G-ds word you HAVE BELIEVED IN VAIN. If that isn’t enough for you then my heart goes out to you. My prayers to G-d will be over you, that He might come in and whisper to your heart until you are broken before Him.

I refuse to waste my life.

If it’s not all out, it’s all for nothing. Your life could be all in vain if you don’t hold FIRMLY to the scripture. If you are obeying 99% you have disobeyed 100%
Create in me a PURE heart G-d, let that become the cry of my generation. Make me steadfast and totally committed to your presence because apart from it we will see no good thing.

(I will) give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; (I will) remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then (they will) follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (They will) be my people, and (I will) be their G-d.

G-d promises us different things in scripture:
He WILL – Give us an undivided heart and a new spirit
He WILL – Remove our heart of stone
He WILL – GIVE us a heart of flesh

And then… We WILL – Follow G-d’s decrees and keep His laws
We WILL – Be G-d’s people!

And… He WILL – BE OUR G-D!

There is no maybe in His statements. He is firm in what he promises us and commands us. And how exciting it is to be the people of G-d!

undivided |ˌəndəˈvīdid|
adjective
not divided, separated, or broken into parts.
• concentrated on or devoted completely to one object : I can now give you my undivided attention.
Lord let your spirit in us be firm. Let us ACCEPT the heart that you so desire to give us. And let us follow after you fully, not holding anything back. No doubt of ourselves, or fear of our futures. G-d our future is secure in you.

I know that it doesn’t matter what I say, or what passion you see in my writing… it is G-d who wants you to understand this right now. He has something so big in store for those who seek after him; following closely to the scriptures He has given us. But you cannot believe in what you do not invest in. Of this I am fully convinced. Please hear my heart on this, G-d’s word is powerful, you can repeat that as much as you want but you will never understand it until you dive into the word yourself and see what all He has for you.

But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.

Because I Said So

Posted on by lainamunoz

Creative success is not always found in inspiration; rather, we see it frequently in diligence and obedience.

You can search the sunrises and travel the world to have your eyes opened to the mysteries that beckon a new thought process, but you’ll find that the true success of completing a creative thought comes in the daily time spent on your craft. There is a slow build that takes place in the moments of paying attention and working with what you have access to. Often you’ll find yourself in seasons (days, weeks, years) of layering character. What’s funny about this act is that you can rarely see the progress. It is as if you are standing on top of a building that you’re putting together yourself and you only have an option to look up and continue the build, or look down and try not to become discouraged as you just see the same two-dimensional view of the sides of what you are creating. Maybe, just maybe we were never meant to see the build. What is entirely apparent to those we surround ourselves with is the completion of this growth. We may never see the height of the diligence that we possess – which is possibly the greatest thing.

If perhaps we were able to see it, we might become terrified at what we actually are… Either upset that we aren’t as far along with life as we had hoped, or we might become intimidated at the height on which we actually stand. This also prevents us from becoming prideful (about how cool we think we are). It limits our focus on ourselves and forces us to glance again and again into the sky and see what else there is to do. We can only go up. One layer at a time, one day after one day, and it all rests on diligence.

G-d will you bless the obedience?

For one of our assessments in school we have to write out some 3-5 year goals that we have. Our assessment then asks you to break down how to get closer in the next 6 months to these goals. Then we have to come up with 1-2 tasks that we can do daily to accomplish these goals. It’s really helpful, because it makes these goals achievable. This is also really terrifying, because it makes these goals achievable.

Part of the reason I’ve been so overwhelmed with this build is that I feel like the daily tasks to get to the end aren’t doing anything remarkable. Not to say I have to accomplish something incredible every day that I’m alive but when you have multiple days of unremarkable build up you wonder what you’re really working for. Yet, I have found so much blessing in the obedience.

Can we real talk? Sometimes I hate what I produce: I think songs can be cheesy, I think blogs can be irrelevant, I think my school work could be 1000 times better, I think I could be doing more creative things on all of my teams, and I think my consistency in Jesus time can ALWAYS improve. But I do still try. I still have a commitment to do my best with the daily and I have found that is all I can do is offer what I have and see what G-d does with it.

But sometimes what I feel I’m called to do doesn’t make sense; you know when you get a nudge to say some encouraging word to someone that seems so obvious that you really don’t care to say it? Then your heart starts to burn and you can’t ignore the words that are being bolded and impressed on your spirit? All I told him was that he had an anointing in leading. It was clear because well, he was leading and it was anointed. So why did I have to say it? Later he, (lets not introduce him as friend number Nick) told me it was actually what he was struggling with and needed to hear. He needed to hear value and a confirmation of what he was doing. My obedience wasn’t to validate me or to do anything that had to do with something that I understood.

My obedience was to build the kingdom.

Listening and obeying even when you don’t know the “whys” (to me) is where faith comes in. Knowing and holding onto the fact that we are the sons and daughters of G-d and that He walks with us and uses us when we are willing. We have a gospel and a truth to proclaim over those who have never heard as well as those who are in need of encouragement.

So, G-d… This is what I could do… honestly again, I feel like I’m not quite doing my best. I’m still working towards that but you’ve been so good to bless what I do have. I can’t see the process of this build, but I will chose to keep my eyes up and keep layering. G-d… You’ve given me every reason to trust You.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/laina-jenine-mu%C3%B1oz/obey-journey-and-heart/33804884537

Still, Be Still

Posted on by lainamunoz

Self-talk: The part of my writing that is optional to read because it’s my brain regurgitating itself onto the pages of my Microsoft word document. It typically has no order or clear point but this is what I deal with on the daily. Welcome to it.

I don’t like being stuck on the same thought process or project for a long time. Which is actually a little bit ridiculous of me to count two weeks as a ‘long time’. Laina, get over yourself. It’s taken to the next level of ridiculousness when I remember that I want to write a book, and that usually has a theme; it usually has a thought process that lasts between 4-32 chapters (I pulled those numbers off of Wikipedia… it’s on a page that I haven’t written yet). Basically I just maybe need to be a bit more forgiving with myself. And I possibly need to be a little less critical of being in a season that is longer than my comfort lasts. So again, I’m posting about the waiting.

Let’s call it “Part II” so that it looks like I meant to be on this again.

Scripture: The part of my writing that isn’t optional to read because it’s G-d’s Word retyped onto the pages of my Microsoft Word document. It’s typically whatever I’m reading at the time and what I pray finds you exactly where you are at, in the moment when you need it most. May it speak truth to you in your misunderstandings daily.

 “Be still, and know that I am G-d; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth”

Psalms 46:10

Be Still and know that I am G-d. I feel like I’m overcomplicating this. I am overcomplicating this. How do I not overcomplicate this? Lord, what does being still look like for me right now? I have this fear of wasting time and being ‘unproductive’ – G-d, I’ve seen your redemptive power in my life so many times before. I actually can’t get this wrong. Break my mindsets that in any way to have final say over what is beneficial for me.

Take back the years the enemy’s  stolen
Satan has no power over our time

It’s like He just wanted to whisper over me, while sitting at a coffee shop (like a good hipster college student) I broke. Whilst pondering over this scripture that I have memorized and forgotten that it was tucked there: I remembered all the times before when the Lord had shown His faithfulness to me and reminded me of what He has done. I was reminded that HE IS G-D. I was reminded that HE WILL be exalted in the nations and HE will be lifted in all the earth, in spite of where I stand with Him and despite if I’m coming along on the journey. He will move and His glory will be seen. ((Oh Lord, I want to come along)). I’ve seen the depths of wasted time in my life, I’ve seen the laziness, I’ve seen the moments I didn’t want to seek Him, I’ve seen the seasons when I was too prideful to actually share any good news. And although I could at any point recount the ways that I’m actually just a sack of bones taking up space –

the LORD sees my time as worth something when I sit.

He created me… I know that some of you doubt that but it’s true. I’m His doing. One thing some of my close people know about me is that my strongest love language is quality time. I can honestly just sit with someone and love them more for it. We don’t even have to be talking I just like to be with them. (some of them). So G-d isn’t surprised, in fact I believe He was waiting on me to learn, that my love languages translate into my needs as it comes to G-d as well. He wants me to finally get that I have to learn how to be still before Him not just because it’s commanded, but personally for me because I need to learn to love Him that way. By a sacrifice of time. It is in those moments I realize it isn’t even a sacrifice; G-d has redeemed the time over and over and again anew in my life.

No time spent with Him sitting still and quiet in His presence will come back void.

It simply can’t.

And so, with that, I’m still learning. I’m taking comfort in the fact that my time with Him even when I am sitting and especially when I am sitting is precious. It’s there that I learn to breathe, to grow closer to Him EVEN WHEN I’M NOT SAYING A WORD, I just love Him more from being with Him.

Synopsis: The part of my writing that you could have skipped to from the beginning if you didn’t want to read Part II of waiting and being still. Haha, sucker! I put it at the end!

I should have listened the first time (and then KEPT listening) to what I thought G-d was saying to me… story of my life. But also, I just tend to forget easily or freak out when I do hear silence. I still think I prefer anything other than silence unless you’re a real life person in the flesh, so negative points to Laina for being hypocritical and having a double standard for G-d.

Thank the LORD that He is gracious on me because dang, I’m not the brightest at all times.

Also, if you’re feeling this way or have felt this way then blam, now you aren’t the only one! Not that you ever were. This is why I write. Share your stories and find out that you aren’t alone. We were never meant to do this alone.

Find G-d

Out Of The Context: Christmas

Posted on by lainamunoz

Welcome to my #ThinkBackThursday this week, I wrote it shortly after my 19th birthday around Christmas time (totally on Christmas day). It’s more of just a prayer and not entirely a Jesus sermon, but it is where I’ve found my heart lately, in full surrender and hopeful request that G-d would be G-d and allow me to be me and hopefully use me everyday along the way. It’s all I really know how to do is lay my requests before G-d and wait on Him; and even with that I am terrible. G-d help me even now, 5 years later and a little bit farther into the path with you. Grow my heart towards You and let there be even more of a willingness to serve Your people and fill me to overflowing with grace. I am needy, but You think about me. Thank You.

For what it’s worth, I give you all I have.

I’m sorry it isn’t pretty, or all that much in the long run.

But I’m willing and ready to change if you want or need me to.

I give you a moldable me. I give you who I am in hopes that You’ll make me better. I give you me, praying that You’ll make me more like you. I let go of fears to give honor and awe to you. I let go of distractions so that You might have my full attention, not out of obligation but out of the LEAST I could give you. Starting now and going into the rest of my life I give it to You. May I never take lightly my service to You and help me to see and re-define who I should be for You.

I love you G-d and I know you love me too.

-Laina

Christmas always reminds me how ridiculously, and undeserving-ly blessed I am. I like all the gifts I got today and somehow I usually sit wishing I had more money or saved better so that this year I could give more. I’m always left with a few people to give presents to AFTER Christmas is over. I don’t see much wrong with that, I just wonder sometimes who stopped today to offer what they could to Jesus? It is after all – – About Him.

Blah blah blah… I’m not about to get on a Christmas lecture on how He is the reason we celebrate, if you don’t know that by now then you’ve been driving with your eyes shut and listening without ears for the months that led up to today. But, for what it’s worth, what have you offered to Him? Not because it’s Christmas, but because He deserves it? Daily. Ha <I can’t believe I started a sentence with a laugh. 8APR2015>, honestly take a look at yourself (I’m looking at my life thus far and the future promise I know I can hold onto) what can you legitimately offer to make the space you’ve taken up worth it? Nothing… Yet somehow when we mix who we are with who G-d wants us to be, HE makes us worth something. But He won’t force himself on you or change you without your allowance. You have to GIVE Him the gift of yourself. Which is almost comical when I think of my life ever being a gift I’d want to present to anyone.

((It’s ALMOST embarrassing))

I don’t understand why G-d chose to love me. All I know is that He did.

I don’t understand why I would somehow make an acceptable gift for the Creator. But somehow He sees it in me.

I don’t understand how G-d orchestrates all of our lives into a beautiful array of hope and progress. But oh, He does.

All I can do is be thankful that I live FREE, with a family that loves me, with friends that miss me when I leave, with jobs that are teaching me how to become who I’m supposed to be.
And despite how messy it is, I have a Creator who is constantly changing the image of who I am into who He is and what He wants me to be.

Jesus, I’m not much and I don’t understand what you see in me, but here I am.

My whole heart for You… Happy Birthday (ish)

In Time, Child

Posted on by lainamunoz

I find irony in a #ThinkBackThursday about ‘Timing’… so please enjoy my silent chuckle and my smile as I share with you my thoughts. 5 March 2014

There is so much importance in timing.

It’s something we avoid from elementary school: There are tasks we have to do daily – some are bigger, some are smaller but it’s when we overlook the important ones to pick something easier that we can sometimes miss out on the reward of obedience.

Step two is easier and more immediately rewarding even though, if we had taken step one AND THEN TWO we would have gotten more out of step two (track with me). We would have been wiser and more equipped for what we had to do. There is also the issue of skipping steps and never returning to square one because you got distracted and are now “busy”.

“G-d, step one is harder and I really just don’t want to. So I know you’ve given me every sign in the world that leads there… but step two is also beneficial for others so I’m just gonna go ahead and move forward.

Look, G-d! I’m being productive! I got this.”

WRONG.You very much DON’T have this.

 There is so much importance on timing and yes, while you can spend your time doing beneficial things for others, what painful, stripping, purifying, life changing step are you not taking? You can move forward, that’s the scary part. And you WILL be used if you’re willing, which is terrifying. Half hearted leaders wandering around who refuse to get their crap together and worse, they won’t let anyone else know that they are broken.

I’ve done it long enough to know when I’m taking the second step just to distract myself from the first.

I might not know you well enough to call it out, but you do. That’s why I write. Well that and I’m a super nerdy homeschooled kid who happens to express herself best through writing… And usually I write because G-d is dealing with me, and social media is public accountability.

((Really I just enjoy it))

So I pray G-d messes you up as much as He is messing with me. Take the first steps. Take the hard steps. Yes “But, life will be easier if I can just get______” but your reward is in obedience.

There are people on the other side of that – and you’re cheating yourself and them if you skip to what is easy.

I wrote a letter. Have fun with your day.

:: In time, Child, healing is coming and a love so deep will appear.
In time, Child, your wounds won’t bleed and you’ll grow out of all of your fears.
In time, Child, though now it’s hard, the sun will shine and bring joy. For in this time, Child, you’re learning to cope and most of all, trust in the LORD” ::

But, What Do I Do With My Hands?

Posted on by lainamunoz

I suppose sometimes the task is really just to continue. 

As per usual, I’m preaching to myself and praying that someone gets something out of it as well.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Psalms 23

Lately, I’ve admitted to others and heard from friends as well, that we have no idea what we are doing. We know G-d has a special plan and intent for our lives and at this season we are sure we are where we need to be. But It seems all the sudden as if G-d has gone silent. Maybe we are bad at listening? Maybe, we don’t lie well in green pastures? Maybe we feel awkward around still waters? Maybe we really just aren’t sure what to do with our hands?

I’m bad at this

You tell me in your word that you LEAD me by quiet waters… I, in my own person and self and thoughts and decisions LOVE the beach and love to be by the beach and take a nap in the sun listening to the crashing waves. But, when JESUS tries to lead me there in that place of resting with Him and sitting in the season I’m in – I tend to freak out. I feel left out or forgotten even though I know what the Bible tells me about Him never leaving or forsaking me. Why the heck do I do this? I imagine like most things it is a lack of awareness of what G-d just might be trying to do. A few days ago I finally found a settlement in my spirit that it’s time to sit here. I’m where I belong so its time to BE HERE. Not exactly new news but its for sure something I needed to remember. It’s ok to sit in the silent seasons with G-d, sometimes He actually wants to restore us.

I’m well aware that G-d knows my heart better than I do so the trusting is pretty easy, the feelings sometimes suck though.

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.” Psalms 13:5-6

G-d, you’ve BEEN and you will be. Your love has never given up on me. Your salvation is final and such a gift. I will sing praise to You. You’ve been so good. I’m going to learn how to teach my spirit to praise you no matter what I feel and trust You hear me. “I call on you, O G-d, for you answer me.” Psalms 17:6

What I DO know is that G-d is faithful.

So may I find myself with my hands where they belong, in surrender of all the things that stress me out, giving up the things that are hard for me to look past. May I be found with my hands on my heart, sitting with the father and knowing that He has me sitting this season for a purpose. 

He’s doing a new thing but He is also remembering to wake the sun up each morning and tuck it away each night. He is calling His kids home but He is also sending them out to preach Jesus. He is telling you to keep moving forward with what you started so that He might finish and complete the work in you that He intended you to live out.