Happy Birthday, Leah Bobeah!

Once Upon a Time...a Girl Scout troop in Corpus Christi had two little girls...and I don't remember the rest of that story. But, who knew that we would call each other best friends today?! Today is one of my best friend's birthday, Leah Breedlove Mandujano is 22! Leah has one of the most kind hearts. There isn't anyone Leah has not shown the love of the Lord to and they walked away wishing they never met her. I have been so blessed by her walking with me since I first became a believer in Jesus. I loved and miss our Proverbs 31 dates. How many countless hours just worshipping the Lord in our cars. Leah was the one who taught me how to play chords on my guitar-the first song she taught me: Revelation Song. Leah is faithful. Leah is always so full of joy. Leah treasures her brothers and sisters and is such an encouragement to them.

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I will never forget the time I accepted the role as one of your bridesmaids and then later having to say I couldn't. That day was full of so much sorrow and rejoicing. It was then so apparent her deep love for our Father and her love for me as her sister! I still can't believe that she is married and about to have a baby so very soon! Leah, my hope for you this year is that the Lord would continue to lead, guide, and bless you and your family. In this new year, you would only grow in your faith and dependence on the Lord through every circumstance. I love you so very much, Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday, David Gabriel.

A wee bit over a year after my birth, out came such a great gift to me-my cousin and a best friend. Today David is 21. Where do I even begin to rant on 21 years of him in my life?! I'm so glad that the majority of our childhood have been so faithfully recorded on VHS and our stored away on Memory Lane. Though our days of tag-team boxing Grand, Hide-and-Seek in the dark, slues of 'inventions', bike rides and so much more are long behind us; I love him just as much today as I did then. We share a love of music-country music...I'm sure he loves it more; he'll always be Rick Trevnio. He is generous in the things he has. We've bonded over many grievances and victories of our family. David is my partner in crime.

It's hard to think that we're both in our twenties and have such different lives, but it's sweet to know that, no matter how far we live or how long ago we've talked our friendship has not changed. David, is one of the most loyal men I know! He loves deeply.When I go home to visit even if it's just for a second, he's on his way to greet me. He's a family man. David, my hope is that one day you will be able to lead a family and love them well, of that like the Father. Happy Birthday, you're so grown up!!

Love, Ate

All to Him I freely give

In Genesis the Lord tests Abraham and tells him to offer his son, Issac, whom he loves so, to the Lord. They make their way up the mountain and Issac is bound on the altar of sacrifice and Abraham reaches out for the knife to slaughter his son...

"Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.  But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”  He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” Genesis 22:10-12

Abraham was going to slaughter his son as an offering to the Lord. The Lord told him to and Abraham obeyed. By faith, Abraham trusted in the Lord, believed Lord was good, is better than anything (even his child), and that He keeps His promises!
  
 More times than not I think I'm smarter than God. I think I know what is best for me. When He does not give me a tangible response I turn to my gods-taking good things and elevating them to a place they do not belong.These things rob me of joy. These things rob me of more of The One True God. How serious Abraham was walking by faith, trusting the Lord, and giving up something so dear to him to the Lord and for the Lord!? Sit on that seriousness.

Think of your possessions and deepest desires. The ones that you long for, the ones you strive for, the ones you love, the ones you don't trust the Lord with; if those were gone, if the Lord told you to offer those up as a sacrifice to him, would your heart reflect a life of surrender to the Lord with open hands? Did you think "No, I can't possibly give this up, I love it way too much." Or maybe "Well...look at all the the stuff I've given the Lord, he has that already. I'll keep this stuff over here for myself, yeah, He can't touch that."  

"For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." Deuteronomy 4:24  

Friends, He is not jealous for the things that you hold tightly in your hands-He is jealous for you. He wants every part of you. And that's great news! I want the Lord to have all of my life. I am the worst god and so are the gods I make. They lack in mercy. They never ever satisfy me. They lack in wisdom. They are not for me. Their love towards me is not steadfast. They rob me. They lead me to destruction. What a great God to want all of me for His glory! What. a. great. Father.

May the Holy Spirit lead you to repentance and stir a rightful desire in you're heart to lay those things down daily before the Lord with open hands saying to the Lord "Yes, whatever I have is yours; my life, my deepest desires. My hands are open to you, oh God. If it hinders me and I don't get more of you; then I don't want it."