Posted on Wednesday, December 24, 2008                                               by Liza B

I am not ready for Christmas! Well, I am ready for the much-needed 2 weeks off, but I am not even close to being finished with Christmas shopping. I have visited some awesome outlet malls, but the truth is that I really haven’t made a budget for my Christmas expenditure. If I don’t do that first, I’m afraid I’m gonna get too excited and end up finishing paying for Christmas gifts in July. I wish I could go all out, but I have to save for my future too you know.

Anyway, as I was mulling over the kinds of gifts I’d like to buy (and my budget), I began to remind myself of the real reason for Christmas: Jesus.

Now normally that would make me calm down and think “Presents aren’t everything. No need to stress out about it.” This time, however, I thought, “Wow! Presents are important to God!”

You know why? God actually blew His budget when He gave us Jesus because that was the most valuable and precious thing He could give us!

I wouldn’t have done that. I wouldn’t even give my worst kid in class (he really drives me insane), but God gave His only, beloved Son.

Along with the gift of His Son the Bible also says that we have inherited all spiritual riches and even become coheirs with Jesus Christ!  Amazing!

This Christmas I hope that you can see how truly gifted and fortunate you are to have the gift of Jesus Christ. Maybe your circumstances aren’t so hot or things aren’t going just as you like them (I understand, I’m still sleeping on the couch because of damage caused by Hurricane Ike), but just put it in perspective in comparison to the immense love God has for you that He sent what Christmas is all about: Jesus.

   Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008                                                  by Liza B

Many people have been asking me how Hurricane Ike affected Houston a few weeks back, as the news didn’t seem to be that accurate. Well to answer the question in short: it was bad. Imagine trees uprooted, light poles knocked over and twisted, roofs torn off etc. Imagine driving around at night with only the light from your car shining the streets because there is no electricity. Imagine standing in a long line waiting to be let into a half-lit grocery store two at a time by a security guard. Imagine (ladies I know you’ll appreciate this one) having to put your makeup on right outside of your workplace because you can’t see your face in the mirror at home.

So yes, it was bad. It was bad to not have internet until a month after the hurricane and then two weeks after that when I finally feel like everything is normalizing, to come down with strep throat and the flu (simultaneously) while I was still sleeping in the couch because my parents are sleeping in my room because Ike caved part of the roof in their room …

You catch my drift? Life can be hard, and these seemingly little problems often wear us down to the point of losing our joy and peace. I have struggled to have a good attitude in this past month and a half since Ike and sometimes have failed, but I have a tip to share with you.

The times I have been able to have a good attitude were the times that I sincerely asked the Lord to strengthen me, help me have joy in a difficult situation and to control the emotions (frustration, irritation, etc) that I could not control. He has always answered that prayer! Every single time I have prayed that way, I have felt God’s peace, joy and strength flood my heart, and then things don’t seem to be so bad after all. Why don’t you try it today?

   Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008                                                       by Liza B

Can't Get Somethin' for Nothin'!

Today I received a poem from one of my students that read:

Dear Miss Barros,

Roses are red

Violets are not gray

I gave you a card

Now give me an A.

Your friend,  Anthony*

It made me laugh as I thought that sometimes we all can be that way. We want to achieve great things without having to do the work involved. I, personally have many different goals this year. One of them (by far the most important) is to have a more intimate relationship with God. I know that we all have that desire to be closer to God, but why doesn’t it happen for everyone? One reason can be because we simply do not put forth the hard effort required to maintain a thriving, living relationship with God. Things like talking to God and reading His Word draw us closer to Him, but there are always circumstances that pop up and leave us with no time right? This has been my personal experience with this whole aspect of my Christian walk, and I’ve learned something. I have to cut some things out of my life that are not as important as what I truly desire. Do I always do that? No...I’m working on it, but the times I’ve had, I have felt the blessing of an intimate time with God throughout the whole day. It is so worth it!

So my challenge for you is…if you really want something (whatever it may be) you have to work for it. If it is from God He will bless your efforts. Hopefully you choose to go after the “kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.” 

As for my kid ? Well I wrote a quick reply to him as I tried (I did say tried) to be funny also.

Dear Anthony,*

Nope, nope

you’re not a dope

I won’t hand you and A

As if it was a tray. 

He laughed! =)