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365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 129

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When I first came out to this desert 12 years ago, I didn’t know what to expect. It was spring when we arrived and the desert was in full bloom bursting with an artist’s palette of hues everywhere. Color speaks to me and the desert was welcoming me! I had never seen purple cactus and they delighted me. I mentioned to my friend,” Do you think someone painted those?” He laughed and shook his head.

I live in an unforgiving terrain that is the Mojave desert. Yet it’s here where I’ve encountered God in His simplicity. Even though the land is harsh and unforgiving, it reminds me that God is gentle and all forgiving. The dryness of this desert is merciless and yet God’s mercies rain down on me daily and they are new every morning and without fail.

The Spirit lead Jesus out into the desert to test Him. Could it be that God calls on certain individuals only, to live in the desert? It takes some one with a different mind-set and make up to dwell out here. Lots of people come to visit, not many stay for long though. I’m convinced it takes a special lowliness to live here. A meekness and humility- the kind like the sparrow has. God watches over the sparrows and he watches over me closely because He knows what it takes for me to make it out here.

Eva Santiago © 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 120

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Today was fun! I went with my two oldest daughters prom dress shopping.  I have taught  my kids that the mall isn’t the best place to shop. Everything is high-priced and not even worth the amount on the price tag. Besides there is a cool thrift store where we live called Savers and you can find some very nice gently worn second-hand clothes there at great prices. Just a few weeks ago I found  a beautiful pair of Gucci high heels  at a crazy price! So were were in Savers and my girls were having a blast trying on dresses. Some were great, others left a lot to be desired. We didn’t find the “it” dress yet but we still have time. Did you enjoy your Sunday? I sure did mine!

365 Snap Shots of Life : Day 111

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The Invitation

Ever since I said yes to my cross, my life was revolutionized. My cross has taken me places I’ve never been; tight, narrow, difficult places that can only be attained through my cross. I have seen great heights and been to the lowest  abyss and came back to surprise my enemies. They jeered, they taunted,” Where is this God of yours? You say He loves you and yet He abandons you, giving you up for dead. HA! HA! HA! What a pitiful God who squashes the ones He supposedly loves…”

And yet through all the flaming arrows and accusations I am able to stand, though it is not I who stands. It is through no strength of my own that I’m able to bear the weight of my cross. ” Pick up YOUR cross and follow me” is not a command, rather it’s His invitation. Many are called,  few respond.

I did this painting when I first visited Tucson AZ. It was spring and I was astounded to see such a colorful landscape…I fell in love with the desert back then. I hope everyone has a fantastic week-end!!

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 108

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Mojave Desert  Showers

I like the sound of rain,
it makes me feel like dancin’,
Sube y Baja (Up and down),
Pa’ riba pa’bajo (Side to side),
Cha-cha-cha!
Ooh yeah, the rain it makes me dance inside,
saturates my soul,
fills me with delight.
Agua santa, pura y ( Holy water, clean and pure),
Me llena de esperanza (I’m alive with hope),
Se me alegra el Corazon (My heart has found the cure).
The rain drops: Diamonds from heaven,
out in this desolation,
washes over and refreshes
lonely, lowly ,anguished souls.
Diamonds falling from the sky:
Psshh, psshh,psshh,
Sshhm sshh, sshh,
Trssh, trssh, trrrssh,
Music to my ears-
makes me feel like singin’,
songs of sheer delight.
The sound of rain,
moves me in thanksgivin’,
to the one who sent me diamonds from the sky.

Eva Santiago © 2002

365 Snap Shots of Life:Day 100

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Today is the 100th day of 2012. That means that you who made New Year’s resolutions have 265 more days to either stick to your resolutions or abandon them already because you know by now, it’s not happening 🙂

I am happy to report to you that we have a good future to look forward to in this country. Why am I so sure? How can this Eva person be so certain? My answer comes from a report presented to me today by my oldest daughter who is in her last year of home schooling. Her assignment was to research the 5 candidates who are currently running for the republican party nomination. She did a thorough job too.

Folks, I want to inform you that many of America’s young people are more awake and in tune with the current state of affairs of our country than the average adult. No, they are not naïve because of their youth. They are more fed up about what’s going on than most grown ups. These future leaders of America can’t be bought and I am proud to say I had a hand in molding 4 young minds and preparing them to be citizens in good standing.

The Bible says that like arrows in the hand of a warrior are children born when one is young and that to have your quiver full of them is double the blessing Psalms 127:4-5. Why does the Bible refer to a quiver full of children? Because children are as arrows that need to be guided in the right direction. They need to be pointed at the right target. They need direction and a target. Those of us who took the educating of our kids into out own hands KNOW for a fact that America still has a fighting chance because we are training the future leaders of this country. To all of my fellow home schooling parents out there, I salute you because our hard work is already paying off!

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 99

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” DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.”

We sat around eating brunch this morning. Actually it was left over home-made soup from last night. We were discussing what Easter means to each of us. My youngest had posted on FB that Easter is lame because they have commercialized it  and now they make it all about the Easter Bunny and candy. My second daughter pointed out that Easter is different things to different people. She said for herself, it’s about her risen Lord and Savior. The rest of the family said today is a day of remembrance ; never forgetting what was done for us at the cross. My husband even said that it’s about never forgetting to pick up your cross daily not just on Easter.

I grew up Catholic and so Easter would bring the people out of the wood work on Easter Sunday. Every family would show up to church in brand new clothes and I remember wondering what all the big fuss was about since I had to go to mass every Sunday come rain or shine. The creepiest part of the whole week leading to Easter was on Good Friday , when we went to a Good Friday service and we had to kiss the feet of Jesus on a crucifix that was passed around by a priest.

Just now my husband came home and brought me some flowers to plant in a planter in my backyard. My youngest daughter and I just planted them and it struck me: Easter to me is about living life to the fullest. Jesus dying on the cross so I could live forever…there had to be a death so that I could have a life.  There had to be a sacrifice of an innocent life so that we who are guilty, can be absolved of our wrong doing. So for me Easter is about LIFE! Tonight we will have communion here at home with our family. Jesus said,” Do this in remembrance of Me.” He didn’t hype it up. He had a small, intimate meal with his closest friends and followers. Easter to me also is about remembering the intimacy of a love so deep and powerful that was given to me without reservation. Do this in remembrance of Me,” Love, Live and Celebrate in remembrance of HIM!

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 96

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The proverb says to train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. The hardest aspect of parenting is knowing that even though you did your very best to pour good things into your children, that they are free moral agents and at times they will choose the wrong way.

When my kids were all younger I changed our eating habits by introducing the blood type diet; a way of eating that is blood type specific in order for your body to assimilate the nutrients it needs. I saw how right away we all felt better  and healthier. I didn’t ban junk food though because to ban anything creates rebellion so I still allow for all of us to junk out when we crave it that way we satisfy the craving. A few years back, my oldest daughter was consuming a lot of ice cream. She was getting a nice shape and was starting to notice her body changing from that of a girl to a young woman. That summer she was flabbergasted when the ice cream she was eating began showing up in her belly as unwanted flab.

Astounded, she marched up to me demanding to know why she would get such an unsightly thing on her body. Nature  is the best teacher. I asked her what she’d been indulging in lately and right away she hung her head and admitted the ice cream was the culprit. She swore to never go there again and she hasn’t since. That is one example of how I believe God deals with us. He doesn’t ban anything from us, He lets us make choices.

A long time ago I read a book about The Proverbs in the Bible and it blew me away when the author explained that the proverbs are principles to live by and they aren’t set in stone laws that guarantee that your child will be perfect. As I pondered that I understood in that instant that my kids are human like me and they will make mistakes just like I do. When you train up your children in the way of the Lord it creates a safe passage for them into adulthood. When you don’t train them up, you set them up to fail…it’s inevitable. Whether you train them or not they’ll still make mistakes, but if they have the right foundation, they’ll have something to return to, a place to anchor themselves to so they can handle life and its storms.

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I wanted to share this post because it helped me and I know it’ll help some one else out!

stephiekaye's avatarBeyond Christian Platitudes

 Okay, so I have been thinking. I know shocking right? This journey of mine has brought clarity to some areas while grey to others. And this day I thought hard about relationships. It hit deep and I was struck with the conflict and tears that it brought….I will share some of the clarity and some of the grey reminding you this is my journey and you may think and feel differently.

The past two years I have been sifting through relationships of the present and relationships of the past and identifying which were real or life giving and which ones were simply not relational at all…manipulative maybe, codependent maybe…but not loving. I am not downing all my friends and family, not at all. I am just sorting out what is based on truth and love and what is based on selfishness and worldliness. My resources are minimal and I am…

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365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 93

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Expect the Unexpected from Me!

One of my daughters just turned 16 this week-end and to celebrate her day we had a costume party. I am one who doesn’t like to be put in a box. Weeks before her party we were brain storming for costume ideas. Eventually everybody decided on theirs and I still hadn’t quite decided who to dress up as. Then one night my son suggested I dress up as Slash since I already have hair like his. I laughed out loud at the outlandish suggestion and then I said to myself, ‘Why not??’ So that’s what I did and I had a blast. Saturday as I got ready for the party I was glad to have the chance to not wear any make up , wear my hair in its natural state-I didn’t use any of the hair products I normally do to relax hair as curly as mine and look as unattractive as possible. THAT, was so freeing and I dare say I enjoyed hiding behind the big hair and dark sunglasses. I also went as far as wearing fake tattoos only to find out that you really don’t need to get real ones when fake ones don’t come off too easily 🙂

So this week I dare you to do something so totally unexpected that you catch yourself by surprise..try it, it’s liberating!

 

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 84

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Phil Keaggy Lyrics

“ Only You (can Wash My Sins Away) ”

Why in the world did I run and hide
From the Son of Man to shelter in my foolish pride?
The way, the truth, the life, the sacrifice,
As for me it’s sweet surrender to my Lord Jesus Christ.

Let the thunder crash and the lightning strike,
And the sky cave in today,
Only You can wash my sins away.
Let the thunder crash and the lightning strike,
I’m down on my knees to pray,
Only You can wash my sins away.

See my face in the mirror, my blood runs hot and cold.
Like whisper speaking thunder into my very soul.
The faintest spark could strike and burst in to the flame.
I know You’ll be that fire in me when I hear You call my name.

Let the thunder crash and the lightning strike,
And the sky cave in today,
Only You can wash my sins away.
Let the thunder crash and the lightning strike,
I’m down on my knees to pray,
Only You can wash my sins away.

Maybe a change of heart and mind
Could make me begin to read between the lines,
That fairy tales with happy endings
Were just once upon a time.

Let the thunder crash and the lightning strike,
And the sky cave in today,
Only You can wash my sins away.
Let the thunder crash and the lightning strike,
I’m down on my knees to pray,
Only You can wash my sins away.