the watch{wo}men

As a new wife, I have discovered that there is a fine line {I mean like as fine as they come} between ‘submitting to my husband’ and knowing when I ‘should take a stand’. I have found myself in little situations where I have not entirely agreed with a decision my husband has made for us as a family {turns out they were brilliant, of course}. And while I understand, and fully respect, my husband as the head of our household, I wanted needed insight from the Lord on how to deal in these circumstances.

“Carolina, you are a wife. And among many other duties, you are also the watchman over your household. Picture a Medieval castle, you are the one up in the tower watching over the land and things to come. Your husband is the king, he rules and makes decisions. You are his helper, and he cannot do without you. Read in Proverbs 31: 27 “She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.”  - Holy Spirit

Thank you Lord.

I’m nowhere near being the expert on marriage. However, so far I have learned that it is crucial to understand our roles as husbands and wives. I know now that as the watchmen we have the ability to see things from a different perspective than our husbands {the kings}. We have two choices, we can eat the bread of idleness or not. Will we let our kings make decisions we know may not be the best, just to have the {false} satisfaction of uttering “I told you so”? Or, will we HUMBLY warn our kings and PRAY for the Lord’s wisdom and grace to cover them?

Husbands {and husbands-to-be}, you are the kings. As such, you also need a trustworthy watchman, helper, and a woman who fears the Lord by your side. Learn to trust that your wives, like you, also hear from the Lord, are strong, and discerning. As the spiritual head over your household, challenge us to grow, pray over us daily, and celebrate our accomplishments. You can never do any of those too much.

Wives {and wives-to-be}, do not lean on the crutch of a misunderstood definition of submission. Learn to pray and watch over your household. You have the spiritual authority in Jesus Christ to grab captive of every thought or emotion that is not of Him. Your prayers not only affect you, but your household and family. Remember, His Joy is our strength.

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” - Ephesians 5:21-25

David Wilkerson – A Call to Anguish

peanut

Peanut is small and has a couple quirks here and there. Yet it is fast, cute, and fits anywhere. Yes, Peanut is my car. And while some day I may have to trade it in for a more spacious model to accommodate baby seats and strollers, I am in no hurry to let it go any time before that. I know exactly how Peanut works, where all the buttons are and, of course, where all my music is stashed. I am still a big fan of having to hunt through a pile of CDs to find the perfect song.

However, my husband is very particular of the care of our vehicles, and every so often takes Peanut for a day in the world of car checkups and washes.  While I appreciate this gesture oh-so-much, it leaves me having to drive Snow White. That would be my husband’s so-nice-and-clean-it-looks-like-a-rental-all-the-time car.  And while it’s prettier and probably better conditioned than my own, I don’t know it like I do Peanut. I still confuse the windshield wipers and the lights switches. All of these little seemingly things add up and, simply put, I do not feel in control. I end up going to half the places and running half the errands. Clearly, Snow White does not run at its full potential in my hands.

“Carolina, I need you to be Peanut. I cannot be in control when you’re Snow White.” – Holy Spirit

How many times do we pray “Holy Spirit, come and have Your way. Fill us up. Make us more like Jesus.” yet we do not provide an environment that allows Him total control. We turn away from the lives He has called us to live, a life of holiness, a life set-apart, filled with His Word, surrendered to His will, ready to be used for His Glory. We begin to fill our prayers with ifs and buts, instead of yes and Amen. We praise and worship, but will not pray and study. We turn into Snow White, a vehicle that while it may look nicer and will still go places, is not the one where He has total control.

If you are going to follow the Lord, then do it whole-heartedly. If you are going to surrender your life, surrender it’s entirety. He is a gentleman, He will not take control from you, but will gladly accept it only when you give it up. Be encouraged that He longs to take every burden, worry and fear and give you rest, joy, and peace.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

friends with benefits

I urge you to resist the temptation to check out due to the length of this post. This may be one of the most important things I have ever written…

“Carolina, many treat God like a friend with benefits. They want all of the benefits and none of the commitment; all the rights and none of the responsibility.” – Holy Spirit

Matthew 7:21-23 always haunts me, in a good and challenging way. It is a burning reminder to fight the good fight and make decisions that reflect the righteousness of Christ in me. More than that it is the reminder of the passionate love and yearning with which Jesus desires to have a personal and intimate relationship with me and you.

I am so grateful His mercies are new everyday, because, for a long time, my flesh struggled to walk down the narrow path.  I was praising God, praying, writing to Him in my journal one night, and then blatantly ignoring His commandments the next. I was lusting, lying and insecure. I was a hypocrite. And here’s the thing… Yes, God is a loving Father, Jesus came to die for all of our sins, we are forgiven. But we are also called to be in a committed relationship. A relationship that is based on mutual respect, communication, and trust.

If I only looked for my husband for what he could do for me, yet I didn’t honor, respect or communicate with him, our marriage would be in shambles. I can tell you I decide to wake up and love my husband every day. I decided to walk down the aisle, state my vows, and commit to a lifetime with Carlos. All of that because I know him. I know his desires, his fears, his strengths, his struggles and I choose to love him {very much}.

I wonder if many struggle with committing to an intimate, loyal, relationship with the Lord because we believe that God is Almighty God of the Universe, yet we do not know the Father’s love… Or we know  about Jesus, King of Kings who died on the cross, yet we do not know Jesus the Bridegroom, Lover of our souls…

I remember the exact day my double-mindness left; the  day  I decided to give my whole heart to Jesus; the day I fell head-over-heals in love with Him. It was on the night of June 26, 2009. I encountered the very REAL, living power of Jesus Christ. I was, in a moment, healed and delivered of shame and insecurity. I felt love and peace in such an overwhelming way, it really surpassed my human understanding. I remember just weeping as I got a vision of Jesus and I, as a little girl, dancing and twirling in a field. Just freedom and joy. That was my point of no return.

Yes, I face struggles today. My flesh wages against my spirit, the difference is that now I have knowledge of the Word, I know Jesus, and I walk in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I also understand that I am in a relationship that requires an investment on my part, and I do it gladly because I am in love. I desire to spend time in prayer because I want to partner with His heart. I desire to read and study His Word because I desire to hear His voice and learn His ways. I am not talking about striving religion, but a personal relationship.

God is not your ATM. He is the Great I Am, Creator, Father, Yahweh, Consuming Fire, Judge {and more}. Repent and turn from your ways. We all want to wear our crosses and send God “shout-outs”, yet few are willing to pick up the cross and lay down our selfish desires and sinful lives. We have lost our reverence for the things of God.

Normally I would apologize for saying or writing something like this. I am careful not to offend anyone and not “shove the Bible down others’ throats”. Quite frankly,  I am ready to start loving people enough I have to tell them the truth. I am tired of this false “consideration” going around. I am tired of seeing people slowly dying on the inside, full of shame and made prisoners by the lies Satan has put in their heads and hearts. I am tired of seeing people feel purposeless and empty. I am not here defending God, Jesus or Christianity. Believe me, none of them need me {or any of us} to do that. But I am standing as a testimony of His love, grace, mercy, and power. We can argue theology and points, but no one can stand against who I was and what I have become because of  my life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ.

Be encouraged today…

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—” – Revelation 3:15-17

making your bed

Growing up, making my bed was not my favorite. I was disciplined many times for leaving to school without making my bed. So I got as “smart” as my eight year-old self thought it could be, and I would just pull the covers and place the decorative pillows to hide the mess. I got a away with it for a while. And then I realized mothers will always outsmart us. However, by the time she found out, it had become a habit. Wake up, pull covers over sheet mess, and top with decorative pillows; no one needs to know.  Fast-forward many years as I sit in a church service where the pastor was preaching on character…

“Carolina, shaping your character is like making your bed. Just because others can’t see under the cover and pillows, doesn’t mean the mess and wrinkles aren’t there.” – Holy Spirit

Umm {busted}… Yes, Lord….

Character is defined in the dictionary as moral or ethical quality; qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity. It’s who you are when no one is looking and what comes out when the going gets tough. I understood at that moment that my outward expression was the reflection of an inward state. I began to think of the many other areas of my life where I was using covers and pillows to hide the mess I didn’t want others to see. I realized how exhausting it really was to keep up. I, by no means, am declaring I have flawless character {because, believe me, none of us do}. However, I know that the Word of God is true and alive. I read in Ephesians 4 about letting the Spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes; and I can tell you it’s amazing to see how far He has brought me in just three years.

Be encouraged today, you are called to be salt and light to the world. And yet, it is He who equips and empowers us to do His will.

“…if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:21-24

a special request

A couple posts back I mentioned Brother Yun and the persecution he has endured simply because he professes his Christian faith in his country. In China, believers risk their lives to worship in underground churches. The Word of the Lord is so precious to them; entire churches or villages may have just one Bible to share, if any. If a Chinese person is caught with a Bible, the punishment is severe. Often times they receive a minimum of 3 years or time ordered to a labor camp (many for 10-20 years); others “disappear” or are severely beaten.

On December 29th, one of my best friends and precious sister in Christ, Reida Pipenhagen will be leaving with a team on a very special mission to Hong Kong and Mainland China. The Lord has placed a fire deep within her to see His love spread throughout China and to serve the people who are risking their lives for the Gospel.

Carlos and I will be partnering with Reida in prayer for the safety of her and the missionary team and for a successful mission, that Christ’ love may be made known. We have also sown into her and this trip because we believe in her heart and the importance of this mission. We believe she is anointed, and is called to the nations to impact the lives of many.

Reida still needs $2,600 to cover expenses such as airfare and transportation in China. Would you prayerfully consider sowing a love offering towards her mission trip?

You can make a tax deductible donation by writing a check out to “Victory Christian Church” and include “Reida Pipenhagen-China” in the memo line. Please mail to:

P.O. Box 568605 | Orlando, FL | 32856

I know this is not my usual kind of post, so I appreciate you reading and joining us in prayer and support for my dear sister in Christ. Stay tuned for some new posts coming soon!

“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them- those who are mistreated- since you yourselves are in the body also.” – Hebrews 13:3

Dios, Patria y Libertad

Anoche me entere de la triste y trágica muerte de William Ramírez. Un estudiante que fue baleado por las autoridades mientras se llevaba a cabo una protesta en contra de la nueva reforma fiscal.

Confieso que mi corazón se llena de tristeza cuando pienso en la falta de estabilidad en mi país. Veo como, a través de las acciones y liderazgo de aquellos en el poder, la corrupción se ha adueñado de nuestra querida tierra. En la República Dominicana, el silencio del pueblo y la falta de moral de muchos se ha convertido en una gran irresponsabilidad.

Esta mañana sentí del Señor que debí de leer 2 Crónicas 7:14 cuando El dice:  “si mi pueblo, que lleva mi nombre, se humilla y ora, y me busca y abandona su mala conducta, yo lo escucharé desde el cielo, perdonaré su pecado y restauraré su tierra.” Como creyente, mi fe es la primera respuesta ante toda situación. Tomo toda indignación e impotencia que siento, la convierto en oraciones y se las entrego a Dios. Tengo que recordar que no importa quien controle {o quienes controlen} nuestro país, Jesús es el Rey de Reyes sobre todo el universo. También en la Biblia vemos que Jesús nos enseña que nos envía como ovejas en medio de lobos, por lo tanto tenemos que ser astutos como serpientes y sencillos como palomas {Mateo 10:16}. La Palabra de Dios dice que  debemos de aprender a hacer el bien, buscar justicia y reprender al opresor {Isaías 1:17}.

Mi suegra me hace el cuento de un fuego en una iglesia. Mientras crecían las llamas, los que congregaban allí empezaron a gritar y a orar. Cuando el pastor los ve solo les dice “Esta bien que oren, pero orando y echándole agua mis hijos!”

Hoy le digo a mis compatriotas, “Orando y echándole agua!” Nuestro país se esta quemando y no nos podemos quedar callados. Debemos de buscar justicia y reprender al opresor. No obstante, siempre con respeto hacia los demás. Ya basta de las irresponsabilidades, los robos y engaños del gobierno Dominicano hacia sus ciudadanos. Aunque de lejos, uno mi voz al grito colectivo que reclama libertad.

“Así que recomiendo, ante todo, que se hagan plegarias, oraciones, súplicas y acciones de gracias por todos, especialmente por los gobernantes y por todas las autoridades, para que tengamos paz y tranquilidad, y llevemos una vida piadosa y digna. Esto es bueno y agradable a Dios nuestro Salvador” – 1 Timoteo 2:1-3

the God box

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is one of my favorite books. There are so many things in it that changed my heart and made me fall in love  all over again. I can tell you that listening to the old hymn “Rock of Ages” just isn’t the same. However, nothing was more of a game changer for me than “the God box”.

“This is my God Box,” she said. “When problems prey on my mind, I write them down, fold them up, and put them through the slot. Once they are inside this box they are God’s problems, not mine.”

During our engagement, Carlos and I were talking and planning out certain areas for our new life. As it is natural, worry began to arise and it wasn’t long before her friends, fear and doubt, began to show up.

“Carolina, remember the God box.” – Holy Spirit

Carlos happened to have this little, uneventful, brown box lying around. I grabbed some pen and paper and we began to write. We took turns writing on little pieces of paper all of the things we would need God to come through on. One by one, we prayed together, folded up the pieces and put them in our God box. Those worries, fears, and doubts were no longer ours but His; and it felt {really} good.

Fast forward five months into marriage and we revisited our God box. I cannot express how beautiful it was to open those prayer requests, one by one, and see how in just a couple of months the Lord had seen us through, provided and comforted us. Writing “answered” on all of the little papers was awesome and the thought of waiting on the rest became easier. As we wrote our next batch of prayer requests I noticed our prayers were getting bigger and bolder. Our faith and trust in the Lord had increased. Our hearts are expectant.

Be encouraged today, that He delights and longs to hear your requests. He supplies all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus {Philippians 4:19}. And if you’re wondering just how many riches there are…well He is the King of Kings, Creator of the Universe, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End. I’d say thats a pretty substantial amount to go around.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

Bryan and Katie Torwalt – I See Heaven

infections, shminfections…

This weekend I was the {uncomfortable, if you will} host of various infections and physical misfortunes. Of course, they all came at the same time. I had severely chapped lips, a canker sore, a stye in my eye and paronychia on one of the fingers on my right hand.  Four things, one word: NASTY. Do yourself a favor and don’t Google any of those.

Anyways, remember one of my previous posts on how my pain tolerance is very low {to say the least}. Well I felt like I was dying. After getting my finger infection drained at the local emergency center on Sunday, I came home, crawled into fetus position on the couch and wept… like “Lord, have mercy” kind of weeping. It was very dramatic.

“Carolina” said the Holy Spirit as I just felt the sweetest embrace.

Then, I had a vision of Jesus holding my face in His hands and saying “Keep your eyes fixed on Me.” I immediately felt overwhelming peace and in the middle of all of that fell asleep for a couple of hours. I woke up to a very relieved hand and my lips were making major improvement.

Last night, I received prayer on behalf of the awesome women’s group I am currently a part of. Within an hour of those prayers going up, His sweet Glory came down. My stye popped and began to drain on its own. Something the doctor had said, just the day before, would take at least a week. Healing came down, and it was beautiful.

Our God is a Just, Merciful, Loving Father. He sent His Son so that we may be set free and made whole.

Are you in need of healing? Be encouraged that by His wounds we are healed. {Isaiah 53:5}

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7