Saved from the American dream

2010 has gone, and when I look at my life, and see what it was January 2010, and what it is now, I feel blessed, happy and ready for this year...I have a way to go to be like Jesus, but At least I can be happy that I am not who I was last year.

During 2010, God tested my faith, the devil tempted my believes, and after all, with many friends standing by my side and praying for me and with me during difficult times, I am standing tall knowing that my God lives, and He still talks to those who are willing to listen.

For the past 4 years he has being telling me to "be hope". When I heard it the first time, I did not know what to think of it, so I have tryed my best...

My first thought was adoption, and even though it was a very difficult and Long process, worth taking the time to make an article about it, but for now we will say it is done.

Then a women's bible study, a group that became latter on a Hispanic Ministry, several families were changed by His mercy and Love. Several marriages change according to His purpose.

Then the Good News Club at Mason public school, wow!...that was a very powerful and humbling experience, where we saw God acting in the lives of many kids. God allowed me to see more than 50 kids and some of their parents coming to Christ, some miracles like cancer healing, Lupus, and other non-curable deceases being cured by the mighty power of God.

Then the Lord said move to Chicago area, He gave us the specific area, the name of the Church to attend, where to buy a house etc...

It seamed overwhelmed, it seamed crazy, My life was perfect, I had great friends, great ministries, that could not be God, at first I though, but then he confirmed his word, and it was impossible not to follow.

Once we moved we found the church, which is so perfect for us, we were able to start a Good News club for girls in our neighbourhood, I was able to volunteer for Safe Families ministry, and an Hispanic Ministry at our Church...then we got the great news that we could adopt our son, and be able to bring him home with us the next weekend...

I felt living a wonderful Christian life...

And Yet the Lord said again "Be Hope"



Am I not being "be hope", I thought I am working hard to do all you ask me to do...What is it my Lord?....but then... my life was showed as a spiritual incredible way, and it was right there when I realized the truth...

I was so comfortable with all I have known, comfortable teaching kids, comfortable being a leader of a comfortable ministry, comfortable teaching what I have learned in the past years with great easy people, comfortable loving a child that I have desire to adopt for the past year.

It was then when God showed me... my real life...

Seating in my comfy living room, surrounded by great neighbours, in a beautiful street, with my feet resting on the table of my choice, comfy with my UGG boots...right there I saw the real me...UGG boots, Coach handbag and watch, eating what I want when I want it...

What am I doing with my money? and my time? what about my teaching moments?
When the day is over, Is God proud of me? or is Uncle Sam? or even just for me, to feel that I have the greener grass?

Do I really want my kids to be like me? Do I really what them to work and live for the American dream?

Do I even think in regular basis of the people dieing of hunger everyday? Do I care enough to do something about it? Or do I feel good by just donating money for other person to do what I am supposed to do? (as I have done this until now)

The answer is NO!, I want to have the God given dream for me and for my family, I want to care, I want to truly "be hope" on this hope-less world of rich and poor people...but... how?

Do I need to sell everything? do I need to move to Africa?

No!, at list not for me, or not for now...my first step is...CARE!

Care for those in need, care not to buy what I don't need, care to save so I can help those in need, care to share the real Gospel, the one that shows us how to live for others and not for myself...that Gospel that is not about saving, but giving, that Gospel that gives the Whole life for others to know Jesus...a Gospel that CARES!!! BE HOPE, by bringing the Hope in Jesus Christ!!!

So I started to pray and fast asking God to show me how could I start this "new me"...

1. Get rid of the "old me"...in my case I would stop going to stores, I would not buy anything for two months for myself that is not a need (you need 21 days to develop a new habit, so I decided to set a near goal of two month, with hope to re-new it later). I would start thinking how much I could give to the poor and where, and how my time can get involved in this too.

2. Start sharing the new me...By faith I will teach the group of kids that God has entrusted me with, to care and live a life that blesses others, buy working to get money to give to the homeless in Chicago downtown, by living by example and taking them to a real field trip where it is not about having fun, but being hope. By taking the time to teach them the red card curriculum.

3. I will use my time wisely and for His kingdom, not for my gaining or my entertaining only.

4. I will live a life of a true disciple, ready to take the Gospel in me and ready to show who HE is and to make disciples.

5. And when I am at home, I will try to be a better homemaker. I started to cook more Mexican dishes, and different foods every day, to show my love and gratitude to Alberto, and the phony thing is I started doing it for him, and I am enjoying it a lot, and having great time with my girls while we cook.

I have live a comfortable life until now, but I am very happy to announce that "I HAVE BEEN SAVED FROM THE COMFORTABLE AMERICAN DREAM"