All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful!
psalm 25:10
piki's story |
Published July 2017
Written By Piki Rios Carbonell Photo taken by Justus Martin Photography |
Obeying God in the middle of a Storm |
Has God ever asked you to do something that required an incredible amount of commitment at a time when your whole life seemed to be imploding? Well, that is what happened to me a couple of years ago when God asked me to open up my house and start a bible study. But let’s back up a little and set the stage, shall we? At the time the story starts, I was working a very comfortable job in Aventura Florida, learning new things and had a pretty good life. That was, until my boss told me on the 15th of the month that he wanted to close the company by the 30th. Now, at the time, I was in the United States on a work-related visa, which mean't that the company was sponsoring my visa and thus my stay in this country. In 15 days, not only was I going to be without a job, but also without a legal status in the United States. That situation left me with 2 options (or so I thought): look and find another company willing to immediately start the process of transferring my visa to their company or start making plans to leave the United States. I remember going to God and asking Him, what do I do? Help me! And, He answered!! He told me: “open a bible study”. Now, I didn't hear him audibly, but through sermons, counsel from leaders and bible verses, He had been nudging my heart to open my house for His glory. Now, I had every excuse in the book NOT to do it. I was at a time where I didn’t even know if I was going to be in the country the following year, let alone the whole year of commitment my church requires of leaders. But every time I prayed about the visa, about the situation, the answer was always “open a bible study”. So finally I said yes to God, still full of hesitation and full of uncertainty. I reached out to leadership and one warm evening in Florida, I opened my house for the first time for bible study. Now, the most spectacular thing about this story is not my shaky obedience, but the faithfulness of God. Remember my boss? The one that said he was going to close the company in just 15 days? Well, thanks to a series of events orchestrated by God: from the IRS to my mom, the company ended up closing eight whole months after the announced closing day. The Lord stretched those 15 days into more than half a year. And in that half year, unknown to me, He had been growing and doing things in another company, one that when the time came, was willing to hire me and sponsor the visa transfer from the original company to theirs. The Lord worked behind the scenes not only to keep the company open, but to open the door to the one I’m working at right now, a company that not only sponsored my visa, but allowed me to be able to access permanent residency in this country. While all these trials were happening, and I wanted to solve things by myself, the Lord gave me this verse, and I think it sums up His love and care: "You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you." -2 Chronicles 20:17 |
fRAN'S STORYPublished June 2017
1) what have you learned about God though the journey of waiting to have a child ?
God has known my burning desire to have children for many years. It was what I considered to be my "dream job". Pouring my every being into a little one of my own was ideal to me. Instead of having children immediately when I got married, I experienced a miscarriage and concentrated on pouring into my elementary school students. I wondered if God thought if my husband and I were "good enough" to be parents. This was not the case. My doubts were pulling me away from God's promises. The enemy tried to infiltrate my mind and heart. The Lord reminded me that He loved me and He can be trusted (Proverbs 3:5-6). He wanted me to trust in His timing not my own. I would joke occasionally with friends and Him, and wonder would I be like Sarah in the Bible!? My prayers would include statements such as "Don't let me be an old lady when I have my first child, please, and... "I know you will provide the strength, but still." At the end of it God just wanted me to be patient, trust him, and continue to do his work (Matthew 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be given to you.). And I did! I was improving my relationship with my husband, who is my first ministry, helping at church, building healthy relationships, improved my health, and more. During this time, I also had the opportunity to be a part of a missions trip to Haiti. While I was living for God, He was in the background preparing my womb. I continued to seek God and prayed continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). It wasn't a matter of if I was going to be a mother, but when. The desire to have children never went away. I've asked the Lord to take away the desire if it wasn't His will, but it was (Psalm 37:4). I remained focused on Him. My eyes were fixed on Jesus and His promises. I just needed to trust Him. He is after all God. (Psalm 46:10) What have you learned about yourself? My faith needs to be anchored in the Lord. Running around is not going to give me the answers that I seek. I need to be still and know that He is God. Which scriptures from God's word have strengthened your faith and encouraged you through this particular season? He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 "Take delight in the Lord , and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Haggai 1:5-"Give careful thought to your ways". "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 not be faint." Isaiah 40:31 |
cHRISTINA'S sTORYPublished June 2017
What did you learn during your season of waiting for "God's Best"? I was very frustrated because all my girlfriends were getting married and having kids already. I literally felt like the last one left with no more single friends. It was a continuous cry out to the Lord. On my birthday, July 21, 2015, I was sitting on the beach with a good friend. We both were talking and looking up at the sky. I saw a shooting star, I bet you can imagine what I prayed for! Yup, a husband this year! My friend did not see it but she said that God did that just for me. One September day in 2015, I went to a Lauren Daigle concert. I knew I wanted to give my desire completely to the Lord that day. I cried out, “Lord! I really would love to be a wife. I promise to honor you in this role as a bride. Please bring me the one who loves you the most!” Do you know I met my husband on October 15th! Just one month after at a Professional Development class!! The same church we both have been going to for 15 years. So you ask why, only now? God wasn’t finished with us yet. He had a lot to grow and teach us both in the meantime. Did you learn anything about yourself that you would like to share? I learned to never stop giving up on Jesus, hope and trust. If God gives you the desire to be married, I am certain it will happen, just in His timing! Jesus wants all of our hearts so I gave Him all of mine. Best decision ever! Which scriptures encouraged/strengthened you during that season? Galations 6:9- Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Psalm 37:4- Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. How can a woman/man wait for "God's best"? How can one even determine what "God's best" looks like? My mom always told me something that was so profound and stuck with me for life! She told me, “Why settle for McDonalds when God has gourmet for you?” God’s best looks like one whose heart is sold out for Jesus. But your heart has to be completely Jesus’s first. We must make Jesus our first true love because how are we going to love someone else if we don’t have the love of Christ? Andy Stanley has a great teaching on Love, Sex, and Dating. He says- “Are you the person the person you’re looking for is looking for?” Think about that and let it sink in.... If we want things in the opposite person, we better make sure we are squared away with some of those traits. Do you have any words of caution that you would like to share (i.e, Dos and don'ts) ? Don’t get hung over a list. Knowing what traits you want in a guy is great! But some things you may just have to let go of. =) Do- Make sure he loves Jesus first, you and family second, work last. Do- Make sure you don’t have a lot of differences. Similarities are what attracted us. Not saying opposites can’t attract but if you have nothing in common, there could be a problem with compromising. We are opposites on only a few things. He is outdoorsy, I’m a home-body. Don’t settle for anything less of God’s best! |