Author: Christina Gonzalez

I use to wonder why I looked the way I do and why I talked the way I do? Why are there so many different colors and characteristics of people? Why are some people light, dark, tall and short? I never really understood why we were all created so different before I found Jesus. See, it doesn’t really matter what we look like on the outside because our body is going to die, we are nothing but dirt and dust, which is what we were created from. What really matters is what is on the inside? I know we say that all the time but sometimes it hard to get past the flesh but it’s not impossible Jesus gave me all the identity I need, he knows me so well and sees the things that I don’t. He is working on my heart every morning. We were all made in his own image. ” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 NIV….Dig deep within yourself and start embracing the “real you” the person you were born to be. So the next time someone calls you different or weird embrace it and say thank you. Strengthen your strengths and allow God to work on your weaknesses. Have a great week!!!! Encourage someone to embrace their uniqueness.

A friend of mine once said what happened to the old Christina. Can you bring her back? You’ve changed. At first I did not know what to say so I said nothing, I should have said she died. To be honest this is the first time in my life that I’ve even been happy, content, filled with purpose and looking forward to a bright future. Why would anyone want to take that away from me? I’ve always looked like I had it all together but truth is I didn’t my appearance may have been together but the “real me” on the inside was a hot mess. I spent most of my energy worrying, crying, scared, depressed, anxious and in real physical pain living in the what if’s. What if this happens or that happens, what if this person says that or what if they talk about me. What if nothing it was a waste of time and energy, an attack of the enemy, which made me believe lies about myself. I was being deceived and did not learn the truth until the Holy Spirit revealed it to me. I’m less concerned about what other people think of me and more concerned about what the Lord thinks of me.  Are you struggling with depression, sadness, loneliness, anxiety, low self-esteem or in the what if’s? We are born in sin, God is a spirit of free will and you have a choice. You can choose to continue to believe what you’ve always believed or invite Jesus into your heart to free you from your chains. We are children of the Creator of heaven and earth, I’m alive for the first time, He gave me life because the old me was dead, my heart was made of stone from being so hurt and broken. His love is available to everyone, I shared this because I want others to have the same. You are worthy, we are not alone, you are not alone His arms are open waiting for you to make a choice. Choose a life free from the law of sin and death Roman 8:2.

In my opinion, God’s not Dead is a good movie, I had the pleasure of seeing it with my husband. I would have to say the first version was better personally but the second version is good too. The movie is encouraging to believers and non-believers. God will never leave or forsaken you, hold on O Lord and never let go. He always prevails regardless of how difficult the situation maybe. I was encouraged to live fearlessly for Jesus. Invite Him into your heart.
Favorite verse used in the movie:
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Finally we arrived in the Sunshine State and surprised my mother in law, she was over the moon excited to see her grandbabies and us. The day after Christmas, my husband and his stepfather were shopping around for a new set of tires and were offered a great deal. They did not realized that our tires were a custom size and unique bolt pattern until after it was purchased. We were supposed to leave on Sunday but had to wait until Monday for someone to cut the bolt pattern into the rims. Monday came and left. Tuesday the bags were packed and I’m ready to go but there was no peace with how much the van was shaking. Brought it back and the weights were off by 13 pounds. Persistent prayer saved us on this trip, we keep hitting roadblocks but I kept believing that God was going to see us through. Philippians 4:19 says And my God will supply all my needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. Don’t give up.

Here I am unable to provide for my family, unable to cover my expenses and we’re blessed with family for the holidays, money, a tire, a new set of tires and rims and a new perspective on faith. What a miracle? When we returned home I realized that the money we received for the holidays was just enough to cover our expected and unexpected expenses, no credit card required. I didn’t realize this was a Christmas miracle until weeks later but when I did boy was I grateful. God can deliver your from ANYTHING, nothing is impossible for Him, big or small, I had to build up enough courage to step out in faith in order for God to work in my life. Put Him first and He will see you through any situation or circumstance. Put your faith in Jesus today because He saves us and reveals His truth. 

John 3:16-21 NIV For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds are evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.

After completing a small growth group at church,  I realized that all the money we have comes from God which requires me to tithe and honor God first because of who He is. Back to the miracle, my dad deposited money in my account for Christmas gifts for the kids and my husband was blessed by both of his grandmothers and his aunt with money for gas and tolls in order for us to get us to Florida for a few days, and surprise his mother for the holidays. The day of the trip Christmas Eve, I packed a cooler filled with sandwiches, drinks and snacks. We hit the road was making good timing two hours into the travel we get a flat. Yes a flat, mind you we have PAX system tires that allows us to drive 50 miles before a tire replacement is needed and spare tires are not available for our model. It’s Christmas Eve around 3:30pm; we’re in the North Carolina Welcome Center like what are we going to do. We started calling tow companies to see if someone could bring us a new tire, Firestone was suppose to be open until 4pm but no one answered the phone. After calling more than a dozen places and people the thought of being stranded in that Welcome Center became real. I started praying, praying with the kids and asking others to pray for us. Only God could deliver us from this situation. I did not see a way out, it started getting dark and my husbands’ aunt purchased AAA to see if they could pump air in the tire, plug it or tow it. Because of our location they sent a contractor, he puts enough air in the tire to get us to a truck stop to get the supplies we needed. They removed the flat tire that revealed the inside was shredded. Started praying again because only Jesus could help us. The AAA driver says I have a cousin with the same van let me see if he can loan you a tire. At that moment I realized this was lined up, God sent someone who could help us… his cousin delivers the tire charging us to rent it and said he would give some of the money back upon our return. I never doubted that God would show up, I just didn’t know when and He rescued us from that truck stop on Christmas Eve. He can rescue you from any situation, thank you Jesus. There is still more to come stay tuned.

My Pastor opened up the Christmas season with expectancy, expecting God to perform miracles. I prayed for a miracle that Christmas season that God was going to do great things. The Holy Spirit revealed in God’s word Proverb 22:27 if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. I was using my credit card daily and didn’t have enough to cover expenses. In debt up to my eyeballs and unable to see a way out, Christmas was difficult there was no extra money. It was so hard figuring out what to feed my family but God was faithful and I trusted that He would provide all of our needs. But God showed me that I was living beyond my means and I could live with less. So I was honest, no more Starbucks had to make my own coffee and eating out for lunch everyday was no longer an option. Had to explained to my honey that I’m not going to be able to buy any Christmas gifts this year. My husband was able to save enough money for gifts for the kids and while purchasing them in Toys”R”Us I went over budget and ask the cashier to put one of the toys back and this young man behinds me says if that’s a gift I will buy it. Huh? What do you mean? He said I’ll buy it and all I ask you to do is pay it forward. Do people like this really exist? I accepted the gift and walked my way to the car crying. I was so overwhelmed that someone else would do that for my family and me, praise the Lord. This is just the beginning….stay tuned.