By Kathie Fico

Eph 4:31-32, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.”

Mixing, twirling, round and round, and round! Flour, sugar, oatmeal, and all the other necessary ingredients…mixed and blended together with raisins folded in. Yummy…a great blend of sweet and healthy, with textures rough and smooth. Satisfaction to your stomach and to the roof of your mouth and tongue. Homemade Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are the bomb!

While preparing these cookies, the Holy Spirit instructed me to notice the movement of the hand mixer.  Observing what I saw caused me to pray about my sensory experience to receive from Him what I needed. For Prov. 24:32 states, “I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw”.  

Before folding in the raisins, the concoction was all clumped together, causing the mixer to slow its twirling. I had to keep lifting the beaters out of the mixture, allowing the cookie dough to spew off. Each time I did this, I noticed the beaters would get faster as the mixture was falling off. Eventually, the dough was blended together.

“When you truly forgive, and let go, you leave room for God’s best in your life”, said Iraida Garcia. Much like the increasing momentum of the beaters as I lifted them up out of the mixture, we become free each and every time we forgive and let go. We’re bound to our thoughts and emotions, to our past if we let it, until we choose to forgive every hurt and every pain. Heb 12:1 says, “…let us strip off every weight that slows us down”. Our forgiving someone doesn’t have anything to do with what the person did or didn’t do. Forgiveness deals with our pain, not another’s behavior. All kinds of doubts and fears hold us back and interfere with our ability to trust others and to trust God. When we’re no longer tied up inside, we’re free to trust. Free to trust others. Free to trust the Lord and His Word. His Word fights for us, in every area of our life; we don’t have to solve our setbacks in our own strength. Because the Lord cares for us and loves us with an everlasting love, we can “cast every care upon Him (release the weight of it)” I Peter 5:7.

Being sexually abused as a child from a family friend was my weight, my stronghold, until I forgave, and forgave and forgave. My forgiveness towards the offender came in layers, first in my heart and mind, and than verbally directly to him. Then I was instructed by the Lord to tell my mom. All these steps were very hard, but worth the forgiveness that I gave. It released me from the chains and pain, and best of all, the gentleman accepted the Lord as his Savior.

I encourage you my friend, life is way too short to hold grudges, fear, doubts, resentment, and bitterness. “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might” Eph6:10. It has been scientifically proven that forgiveness heals us physically and emotionally. We are free to rejoice in the Lord, with “no strings attached”, and free to trust others, and free to trust the Lord and His Word.

Allow yourself to be free, free from the clumps of dough that are holding you back. Allow the momentum of your forgiveness to bring you joy and freedom to your mind and heart, and re-joy in the Lord!  And always remember to Just Breathe!

Reflection Corner: 

1. What types of doubts and fears are holding you back in experiencing God’s joy?
2. Is there anyone that you are afraid of seeing?
3. If you honestly answered these two questions, what can you do to gain freedom…true freedom?  

As I lay here in my bed I can hear how it’s pouring outside, I mean the kind that you Thank God that you are inside in the comfort of your home.  Its 3:20am and its another one of those nights where I wake up and can’t sleep.  I couldn’t help but ponder on 2011 and how quickly it’s coming to an end.  Where did the year go?

I remember being in this same place at the end of 2010 and thinking the same thing.  However, I also remember sensing an unprecedented excitement about 2011.  I couldn’t pin point what it was but I remember going into it with great anticipation.  I could imagine the people of Israel also feeling this way about entering the promise land.

2011 had a “normal” start with goals and aspirations ~ anywhere from weight loss and healthy goals to relational ones along with spiritual ones.  The excitement was brewing inside of me at what God was going to do during this year.

Then out of nowhere the dreaded and unanticipated change or shift came about the middle of the year.  The shifts in our lives that bring uncertainty and changes in relationships that I had in “my” goals to grow and flourish.  I had to call the big man himself and say “Hey God what happen to “my” plans, didn’t you see what goals and accomplishments I wanted to do this year???”  It is almost as if I could hear God telling me…your plans are not my plans (Isaiah 55:8)  Furthermore, I heard His voice on multiple occasions through friends and through my spirit to just trust.

TRUST???  Are you kidding me?  How am I supposed to trust when this does not line up with what “I” had planned?  

Oh my friends, that is when trusting in the Lord is the most valuable to Him.  When we put our foot into the Red Sea without knowing, what the future holds (Ex 14:21-22). When we get all the empty jars in the house and borrow from our neighbors and trust in his provision.  When we know that we are pregnant with something that the world doesn’t understand.  That my friend is what trusting in the Lord truly means.

I have had to live through that kind of trust during 2011.

I decided to stick it through and go with the “flow” of the changes that He was orchestrating in my life.  Yes, it was my decision to follow and continue on “this” path.  I thank Him that I decided to follow Him and I am now seeing all the fruits of that decision.   He has opened doors for me that I never imagined for myself.  He has awaken dreams that I had placed in the back self of my mind. He has brought people into my life that have poured love into my life without truly knowing me.  He has strengthen our family unit in a way that I couldn’t humanly have done myself.

Were there tears along the way, OF COURSE.  Was there doubt along the way, OF COURSE. Were there fears along the way?  MOST CERTAINLY!  However, I had to make the decision to press through and trust. No one else can make this decision for you!

So my dear friend, as I end 2011 through the valleys and the mountains I thank Him for what He has done in my life.  Furthermore, I already sense that 2012 is going to be an even bigger year than 2011.  Will there be bumps in the road, OF COURSE.  Should I expect them, OF COURSE! However I should also expect Him to be with me every step of the way.  Perhaps cheering me on from the sidelines, perhaps holding me on a not so good day and perhaps carrying me when I am too weak and broken to walk on my own. But nevertheless, I will TRUST in Him.

I pray nothing but God’s blessings on your lives during this Holiday season that is of most importance to all Christ-followers.  Let us celebrate His birth.  Let us celebrate each other and through it all ~ remember to Just Breathe!

By Kathia Diaz

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing,…..Ecclesiastics 3:1-22

It’s December 22^nd, 2011 the first day of winter.  Winter is here and boy is it cold.  It’s time to take out the coats, long johns, and drink hot cocoa.  I live inNorth Texas and it can get in the single digits and we also get snow.  It’s  the toughest time of the year for us as we are just getting used to living in a state  that has four seasons.  Moving fromFlorida just 2 years ago, we came toTexas during the winter season.  Boy were things different.  The trees were naked, the streets were iced.  We finally got to see snow fall and then came the bitter cold days and days where my kids had to miss school due to freezing weather and ice on the roads.  Oh did we miss theSunshineState.  But we came to love winters.   My kids can’t wait for snow to fall and “ice skate” on our streets. 

As this time nears the Lord has reminded me of my seasons.  Spiritually I am currently in the spring season.  I serve with Mpact girls at my church and I’m really enjoying how the Lord is using me. But it hasn’t been like that all the time.  You see there was a time where spiritually I was in the winter season.  I couldn’t serve where I wanted due to my son not accepting being in the nursery.  I would cry out to the Lord to comfort my son so I could serve.  Oh how I yearned to begin serving with Mpact girls at the church I was attending inFlorida.  I so wished to bring my ideas and make a change with the girls.  One day the leader told me that it was not my season, one day it will be my season but to enjoy my current season because the Lord has many things planned for every season in my life. 

I now see how the Lord used that “season” to really show me who He was.  So I could understand that it is him who blankets his arms and keeps my spirit warm.  My little boy needed me and soon I would find out he had a disability.  The Lord prepared me for a long wintry season of grief and knew I would need him in that time. My winter season lasted a little over a year.  Every moment of it I could feel the Lord just wrapping his arms around me and giving me warmth.  As I transitioned from my winter to spring, I felt the Lord’s arms continuously wrapped around me just reassuring me through it all that HE is there. 

So whatever your season is, just feel the blanket of the Lord over you.  It is HE who comforts you in the times of winter.  It is HE who breathes air into your soul .  Feel Him as your season  change.  We will have them all, but how wonderful it is to have our Father right next to us giving us the love and comfort we need. 

And as always remember to Just Breathe through each season!

Reflection Corner:

1)      What’s your  spiritual season?

2)      Can you remember a season of winter and how did the Lord help you through it?

3)      Can you remember a season of spring and what was your harvest?

 By: Lizanne F. Espina

Every year, each member of the family is responsible to prepare a food dish.  It is not unusual that a person is always expected to bring the same dish every year because of their special touch.  The day would not be the same without Yvette’s cheesecake or Grandma Olga’s rice.  In our case, it was understood that potato salad was my sister’s jurisdiction. But, Christmas, 2011 will be very different. My sister passed away in the summertime as a result of cancer. She was loved by many and she is very missed. So, this holiday seems to hold a painful void in our celebrations.  There are many families preparing to face Christmas with the absence of a dear loved one.  To some, the effects of the loss are apparent but to others, the strategy of remaining busy conceals great sadness.  Others cannot find the strength to celebrate Christmas with a broken heart.  In either case, the void is deep and painful.

This Christmas, I will miss the company of my sisters very much.  But, it is the presence of a Savior who loves me and understands my heart that will see me through this time of the year. Because of His unfailing promises, I have the strength to see all the blessings that surround me this Christmas, 2011.  I have family and friends that surround me with much love.  I have a treasure box of beautiful memories of times I have shared with my sisters.  I can open this box with great joy knowing, like Lazarus, their lives had purpose which has impacted many others.  I cannot share Christmas dinner with them but I have a Father who catches every tear and turns them to laughter. I am looking forward to Christmas because weeping may endure for a night but joy really does come in the morning.

By Catherina Carucci

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”  Luke 2:13-14

The Holiday season is a time of reflection, celebration, traditions, and joy but can also become a recipe for stress with the demands of shopping, decorating, cooking, entertaining, and even family. To avoid the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I try to do my shopping early in November and throughout the year by picking up “treasures” from the clearance tables. One of our favorite things to do as a family during the holidays is baking. I just love the comforting aroma of baked goods in my home.  Last year, I decided to make Sugar Cookies with my girls and invited a few kids over to decorate and eat the cookies. We had a fun time laughing, creating, and just being goofy.  I want to share this simple recipe for Sugar Cookies with you. You can prepare the cookie dough ahead of time and store it in the freezer until ready to use. Have fun baking, invite family, friends or neighbors and don’t forget to add the most important ingredient of all, “LOVE”.

Sugar Cookies                                                          

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar                                                          
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 Tablespoon milk
• Powdered sugar, for rolling out dough
• Cookie cutters                                                       
• Stress not optional                       

Directions

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.  Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color.  Add egg and milk and beat to combine.  Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of bowl.  Divide the dough in half, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Sprinkle surface where you will roll out dough with powdered sugar.  Remove 1 wrapped pack of dough from refrigerator at a time, sprinkle rolling pin with powdered sugar, and roll out dough to ¼ -inch thick.  Move the dough around and check underneath frequently to make sure it is not sticking.  If dough has warmed during rolling, place back in refrigerator for 10 minutes to chill.  Cut into desired shape, place at least 1-inch apart on greased baking sheet and bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn brown around edges, rotating cookie sheet halfway through baking time.  Let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes after removal from oven and then move to complete cooling on wire rack.  Serve as is or ice and decorated as desired.  Store in a airtight container for up to one week.

Make an extra batch and bless someone in need of “JOY” during this Holiday Season and remember to “Just Breathe”

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility– 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace Daniel 1:3-4

I was naïve enough to think that today’s culture is the only one that placed such a high price on physical appearances.  However, the Israelites over 2600 years ago were under the same pressure.  During Daniel’s time, in our scripture verse above, we see the criteria used to select young men for training for future work in the king’s quarters. Can you imagine knowing that the King has requested specific orders for young men with these qualities?  Imagine how you would feel not being selected?

Women, men, teenagers and now even young children are being judged and selected for certain jobs and opportunities based on physical appearance.  Not so long ago I was watching the pilot of a new show called Pan Am (the former airlines) and each flight attendant was weighed and physically inspected on a weekly basis.  If she did not meet the weight guidelines then she would lose her job! It was all about her physical appearance.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love to wear “nice” things and look my best however, what I am asking for you to reflect on is “what is the value that we are placing on this in our own lives?”  Beth Moore tells us in the study of the book of Daniel “Whether or not we are conscious of it, you and I are daily being indoctrinated and “trained” by our culture.”  Are we allowing the enemy to fill our minds with “we don’t look good enough, we are not smart enough or even weigh the “ideal” weight? Are we allowing him to take up space in our minds and self-esteem?

Here are some things that today’s culture places a great premium on:

• Staying Young
• Appearance is everything
• Smarter is better
• Social Status matters

A few months ago I watched the movie The Help and can’t help but be reminded what Aibileen Clark (Viola Davis), kept telling the little girl that she took care of. She would remind her “You is kind, You is smart, You is intelligent and I have added, “You is beautiful”. As women raising little girls and being part of young women’s lives we need to remind them against what society thinks and wants us to believe. 

Ladies, we need to stand together and not only encourage one another intellectually but also in our beauty and value.  Women can be caddy and size each other up but let’s stand up and break that cycle.  As the holiday’s approach us be sure to remind the women in your life how important and beautiful they are just how they are today!!!!

And remember…Just Breathe!!!

Reflection Corner:

1.)       What is the one thing that you don’t like about yourself?

^2.)       What can you do today to feel better about yourself and accept and more importantly love the way you are?

^3.)        Today I challenge you to encourage a sister and remind her what amazing qualities she has!

By Nereida Rosario

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the most high God will rest in the shadow of the Almighty, I will say of the Lord He is my refuge, my fortress, my God, in Him will I trust.” Psalms 91:1-2

On October 18, my husband Edwin underwent brain surgery after a CT scan done on September 30, revealed a tumor on the rear lower right side of his brain. The worst case scenario, we were told, could be cancer with the understanding that they were going to go in and remove it if they could or if necessary, they would leave it to be treated with radiation and/or chemo. Everyone prayed in agreement that this tumor be removed completely. Four and half hours later, his brain surgeon, informed us that he had successfully removed 99% of the tumor with no cancer found!   For this there is much to be thankful!

The company Edwin works does not provide short term disability; only long term should he require it after 90 days of absence.  This meant that for the two months that he needed to be away from work, before and after surgery, we would not have income coming into our home.  I am a stay at home mom and the reality of this situation was overwhelming.  But God’s promises and provision prevailed once again; for as the words of the song that I sang that first Wednesday of this year: love came down and rescued us.  Love came in the form of family members who stepped in and provided every single need we had, to make ends meet in our home.  Love came down when my sister-in-law showed up and took over as “mommy” while we worked through all the tests and paperwork that needed attention.  Love came down, as family members and friends showed up and did not leave our side.  Food provisions were an almost daily occurrence during these two months as friends and our choir family made sure we had proper physical nourishment.  Love Came Down and We Lacked Nothing!

If I were to include every single instance where we encountered and are still seeing God at work, this would be a much longer read.  Yes, there were moments we felt afraid, and we felt unsure. Yes, there were moments we felt uncertain about the outcome and our future. But there was one thing we know for sure! WE WERE NEVER ALONE. God was in the midst of every single turn in this crisis.  We walked into the fire and right there beside us, He was there.  Clearly we saw evidence of how He and His people were present.  Edwin returned to work the Monday before Thanksgiving, 2010.  Still unable to drive himself, our next door neighbor unexpectedly offers to drive him to and from work. Edwin expected to take an anti-seizure medication for 90 days after surgery was removed from the medication one month earlier than expected.  His left peripheral vision which has been compromised because of the tumor in the rear lower right side is being restored day by day.

Our 2010 Christmas celebrations were a bit deliberate and vocal as we recognized the gifts we had been given.  We didn’t anticipate the many presents but again our beautiful family and friends made our children’s Christmas a beautiful one to remember.  Most importantly for me, God kept His word and the outcome was definitely a different one.  As I consider all of this, I joined with the congregation on the second Wednesday of this year and proclaim with a song:

“I wanna make my life

All about Your glory

I wanna spend my days

Tellin’ the world Your story

In everything I do

In everything I say

Following after You

Giving You thanks and praise”

Take a moment a give God a deliberate praise of Thanksgiving for His powerful presence in your situation, in your life.

As we relax and enjoy this Holiday, thank God for your family members and make sure to enjoy their presence and how they are your presents!   Don’t forget to tell them you are thankful for them and remember to Just Breathe!

^{By: Nereida Rosario}

^{Daniel 3: 23} Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, still tied up, fell into the heart of the blazing fire.  ²⁴ Suddenly Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement. He asked his officials,  Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the blazing furnace? They answered, Yes, we did, Your Majesty.  ²⁵ Then why do I see four men walking around in the fire? he asked.  They are not tied up, and they show no sign of being hurt—and the fourth one looks like an angel!

On September 30, 2010, the doctor in the ER informed us that the scan performed on my husband, Edwin’s head revealed a tumor on the rear lower right side of his brain. The worst case scenario, we were told, could be cancer.  The prayers, the calls, the love from our extended family, our friends and our church family, continued without ceasing. Edwin and I were both in one agreement:  if we were to go through this moment, we would make sure that “In everything we would give God all the glory.” 

Looking out my kitchen window on October 2, as I prayed and prepared to see Edwin at the hospital, I was suddenly aware that I was not alone.  I was hearing with my spiritual ears, what sounded like fervent prayers and intercessions.  I could hear the cries and the clamor so intense that I put the coffee mug, I was holding, down on the counter in humble, weeping submission before God; realizing that I was listening to the prayers of the mighty army of God on behalf of Edwin and his family.  His peace filled me. His promises surrounded me.  In the weeks before surgery was scheduled, God used places, people and moments to demonstrate His presence in our midst. 

A young man who was in the same hospital room with Edwin came to acknowledge as did his mother the love and salvation of our Lord as I felt the Holy Spirit instruct me to pray over them.  An Indian nurse usually assigned to the cancer patients on another ward was assigned to Edwin’s care.  Upon seeing Edwin reading his bible and hearing that Edwin was a child of God, he exclaimed “I now understand why God put me here in this section of the hospital; God wants me to tell you that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” his name was also Edwin.  The weekend we prepared for surgery, a group of men and women of our church came to our home to pray over our family. A brother from my church came to me with a prophetic word.  He said that I had been asking God, “why me and why again” in relation to already experiencing the sickness and death of my first husband.  He wanted me to know that God had heard my questions, but had a different outcome this time around and that I should not be afraid. 

On October 18, he underwent brain surgery with the understanding that they were going to go in and remove it if they could or if necessary, they would leave it to be treated with radiation and/or chemo. Everyone prayed in agreement that this tumor be removed completely. Four and half hours later, his brain surgeon, informed us that he had successfully removed 99% of the tumor with no cancer found!   

Never will He leave you, never will He forsake you!  Just Breathe 

1. Think of a time where you felt as if you were going through a fiery furnace, how did God show up?
2. How does God use the people around us to remind us of His love and presence?  Can you take a moment to thank God for them today.
3. Remember, even if you are in the fire, if God be there with you, that is the safest place to be!