Bloggers in God: Hitchhikers

Here is my weekly post at Blogger's In God.  Enjoy and whatever you do, watch out for the hitchhiker of your soul.

Bloggers in God: Hitchhikers: Today's post comes from Starla at Keepin It Real

Confession Series: My Inner Brat

One of my most difficult things to confess is how broken I really am.   I am very perceptive which often causes me to be very sensitive and feel insecure about things.  In my mind, I manage to twist things around to appear  negative in my eyes.  It's very difficult to face and confess these emotions.  It makes me feel very evil and mean.

You see, it's not so much about having my way as it is about proving myself to be so wise.  Now I am finally facing the music so to speak.  I throw in the towel, wave the white flag.  I surrender.  I am confessing to the world that I am such a brat sometimes.  So it's only fitting that I clean up my act and get some sense before I destroy my valuable relationships.  My husband, children, family and friends are so very dear to me.

Do we all have demons to face?  Sure we do.  And I'm finally ready to tackle my giants head on.  I am running toward this giant hill of lies from the enemy with my sword, the word of God.  I will focus on what God says about me.  I will no longer allow the enemy to ruin my mind.  The cure to this ailment is prayer (lots of it) and spending more time in the word instead of the world.  I will no longer allow myself to be so distracted by TV, blogging, money, etc......  Not that TV and blogging is wrong, but it is when I'm so wrapped up in catching the latest episode of "whatever" or making sure that people are reading my blogs in place of my alone time with God.  It doesn't even have to be a long time and I know this.

Not only that but it's always very comforting.  I love to pray, praise, worship and fellowship all in the name of Jesus.  It cleanses my soul which should be done daily.

Sooo, with all that being said, I am asking my readers to please send up sincere prayers for me to do what I know I should to protect my mind from evil thoughts and false accusations.  I also apologize to those that I have hurt with my words in the past.  And to those that I have complained about for hurting me in the past.  Today is a new day and "We're all in this together."

From my soul to yours,

Starla Danielle Espinoza

Were You Really "Just Kidding"?

Every now and then I have to reprimand my daughters for being rude to each other.  There are 3 of them and sometimes the older 2 gang up on the youngest or the younger two gang up on the oldest.  One of their favorite excuses for being mean is, "I was just kidding."  "Oh really?", I reply.  "Do you think that just because you were "just kidding" it makes your sister feel better?"  They think about it then realize that a sincere apology is in order.

Kidding and joking cannot un-ring a bell.  Once we speak something hurtful on purpose, the words "just kidding" only make it worse because now it seems like we are making light of cruelty.  Not only that but don't you think people know the differene.  We are all guilty of saying mean and hurtful things to people.  Once we realize that we have rang that bell (saying something that we regret), a sincere apology should follow.

Even if we have hurt someone unintentionally we should apologize.  What if we are not sorry?  You know, maybe you said something that needed to be said but it was not in a loving way.  More out of anger?  Once the dust settles you will feel bad but pride may prevent you from apologizing right away (at least that's the way it is for me). 

At that point, give it to God and ask for His guidance and forgiveness.  Sometimes an apology isn't necessary and changing your attitude is all it takes.  Actions can definitely speak louder than words.  If you do apologize, don't continue to make the same mistake.  Eventually your apologies will fall on deaf ears.

I am very bold and outspoken.  That can be good or it can be very bad.  I used to speak w/o thinking which didn't always turn out good.  As I get older, I gain wisdom about bridling my tongue or atleast speak in a loving way. 

......But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.
James 1:19 New American Standard

Kidding and joking should be kept to a minimum (unless you are a clown) and never at someone's expense.  You can be funny w/o acting like a fool.  Keep wisdom and knowledge close by.

From my heart to yours,

Starla D Espinoza

Born Again

Here is a portion of one of my songs. I just wrote this one a few weeks ago. 

YOU ARE BORN AGAIN

You are fear-ful-ly, and you are, wonderfully made,
You are beautiful, no matter. what they say.
You're the head and not the tail,
above and not beneath,
You're a lenderrrrrr, not a bor-row-er.


Cause you are, born agaaain, born to be free.
Don't submit again to yoke of sla-ver-y.
Greater is He, who lives within you,
He will never leave you, nor forsake you.


You are, born again, ba-by you are free,
Don't believe the lies of, the en-e-my.
All you have to do is just believe-----------
Just believe that, you are free.

This is just a sample.  The song has been finished but I don't have music to it yet.  I have to find someone who can help collaborate music for my lyrics. 

Bloggers in God: Just Ask

Hello readers, I just wanted to share my weekly post at Bloggers In God.  It's about taking God at His word.  He told us that all we have to do is ask, but for some reason a lot of us find it difficult to do that.  Take a look and let me know if you are ok with asking God for the desires of your heart.

Bloggers in God: Just Ask: Today's post comes from  Starla  at  Keepin It Real 23  In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father...

The Versatile Blogger

Blogger Awards: Blogs that bless me daily

The Versatile Blog Award rules state:

• Thank the person who gave you this award and include a link to their blog. (Done!)
• Select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly and nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award
• Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself

I received the Versatile Blog Award from two women who I consider to be wonderful sisters in Christ, Salina from State of the Heart and Dawn from The Most Perfect Gift.

Thank you Salina for making me a part of Blogger's in God because you saw something in me that you thought was worth including me.  Your sweet spirit definitely shines through your writing. 

Thank you Dawn for seeing me as someone that you would recommend to your readers.  You're strength and determination is what I feel the most in your writing.

Both of you are sincere women of faith and I'm honored to be associated with you through Blogger's in God

My chosen nominations for the Versatile Blog Award

I follow each of these women because their blogs have blessed me in so many ways.  It's so amazing to see how God flows through such wonderful women.  There are so many more not listed and I value them as well.

State of the Heart - Salina

The Most Perfect Gift - Dawn

Guiding Light from His Word - Kassie

Calvary's Love  - Carmen

My Evident Faith - Lori

Stir Me Up Lord - Dawn

Beyond Sunday Morning - Alicia

Oh That Mom Again - Kelly

Scattering the Stones – Anita

Everyday Truth  - Lori

Faith.Hope.Love - Inspiration for Life's Journey  - Toya

Mother of Writing – Margaret

The Beauty in His Grip – Joan

A Pause on the Path  Shanda 

Beholding Glory - Laura

Encouragement of Faith - Renee

Coffee Time With God - Ursula

7 Things About Myself

• I am a song writer who has yet to publish any, but maybe one day
• I fellowship with several women at my job every Tuesday
• I have Multiple Sclerosis and I am an advocate for people with MS
• I taught myself how to play the piano
• I am a biker (motorcycles that is) but obviously not the stereotypical troublesome type
• I want to be a motivational speaker
• I asked my husband what to tell everyone and he says to tell you all that I am brave.

A Life Well Lived

In my bible study group we are currently studying the book of Ecclesiastes: A Life Well Lived by Tommy Nelson.

This book is believed to have been written by King Solomon.  Well Solomon or whoever wrote it kept it more real than I ever could.  This entire book isn't very big but the main point is that a life well lived is not one without pain, confusion, or sorrow and the best thing you can do at the end of the day is eat, drink and be merry and realize that you may not understand everything that happens but enjoy life.

You see, just because we don't understand something doesn't mean that God isn't in the picture or that He is punishing us. 

So far, these verses spurred the most reaction and comments:

1:15-What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted.  Hon??? 
The bottom line:  No matter how wise you find yourself to be, you still cannot fix life. 

3:11-He has made everything appropriate in it's time.  He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.  Wow, Solomon was a very deep man. 
The bottom line:  God doesn't reveal certain things too soon because we would give up too soon.  There truly is an appointed time for every event under heaven.  It's not about understanding everything, it's more about trusting God.

4:5-The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.  Hmmm????
Bottom line:  The fool doesn't work at all and consumes his own flesh (starves to death).

Do you feel like as long as you are obedient to God that you will be free from trials and tribulation?  I hope not because that couldn't be further from the truth.  God is not our servant, we are here to serve Him and bring glory to Him.  Things won't always seem fair to us but we don't always see the big picture that God sees.  We only see a snap shot.

Ponder this.  What is the most evil event of human history predestined by God and the best thing to ever happen for man?  The crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  This is an example of an event where evil and pain were necessary for the greater good.  How can we appreciate true joy, if we have never experienced real pain?

The point is, we cannot control life but we can keep hope alive by having faith in God and trusting Him to walk with us through the good times and the bad.

Today ended with Ecclesiastes 5:7.  We meet every Tuesday and next week we will discuss 5:8-6:12: The purpose of money.  Oh that should be fun.  If you read my post titled, Money Comes and Money Goes  then you know what I'm talking about.