Reading my Bible on my phone?!

Hola amigos!

So my director and friend from my staff team decided he enjoyed it so much last year that he would ask us to try to read the Bible in one year. 

To be honest, I've never done this before nor was I excited to hear the suggestion. I like going deep and dwelling, not surfacing and speeding. But God has been using it to enlighten me and encourage me when and where it's been needed. 

I started going through the plan on my YouVersion app on my phone and then a friend of mine put me on to their website, youversion.com Since I already had it on my phone, I didn't have to register (not that it would cost anything anyways). So I signed in and there was my profile from my phone! 

This has been such a sweet encouragement to me as it keeps me accountable to staying in the Word. For me, organization is essential to getting things done and this keeps me organized! I tell the ladies I disciple "you can't just shoot arrows in the air and expect to hit something; you need a target to aim at, a technique to shooting, and the training to succeed." 

Youversion.com has a plethora of Bible reading plans to choose from, check-boxes to mark off what you've read and more! It allows you to bookmark, highlight, create private or public notes, share the scripture on social sites, and even see what your friends are doing. I strongly encourage you to consider using this if you think your Quiet Times could stand to grow and improve.

"Lacking Nothing"

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. - James 1:2-4

This passage of scripture has gripped my heart over the past few weeks. Oddly enough, today was the first time I read it! Thank you Sunday school teachers for reminding me to hide the Word of God in my heart. I hadn’t remembered where the scripture was, but I had been praying for a while for God to show me in some way why I was still raising support two years after I joined staff. God, being full in mercy, showed me (as noted in my last blog) that He simply desired for our relationship to come to a new intimate level. He also reminded me of His sovereignty in pointing out that He is not “withholding support” from me or teaching me a lesson but rather He is working all things together for my good & His glory!
Yet so often, I forget His good will in my life and my faith weakens in an omniscient God when I don’t see that “good” being worked out! This scripture tells us that various trials test our faith and that produces perseverance (also translated “endurance” or “consistency”) within us. When I think of “consistency”, I think of my supporters…you! I think of those ministry partners who invest financially & through prayers into this ministry on a consistent basis. I realize how difficult that is in such a troubling economic time and yet your faithfulness endures because of your trust in the God who leads this ministry. Sure, once a month, your faithful giving is supported and encouraged by a story of a student in ministry but in all actuality you are trusting that I and the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ are being a good steward of the finances that you faithfully and consistently give!
Thank you so much for being a part of this team and reminding be that as perseverance is shown where faith applies, I am being made “perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:4

QT - "In Remembrance of Me"...

When I think about God's works, I'm saddened by and even disappointed in my preference of the technologies of today. I was born and raised in New York City and very little amazes me or makes me wow. I remember the first time I went to Florida with my family to visit friends & family who boasted about how amazing the light show at Disney was. Based off of their description, my family and I were excitedly awaiting the spectacular show! As the show began, I remember thinking "I've seen this before, but I guess it's nice to see it in Disney World". It really didn't baffle me or cause me to be in awe at all. I had grown up in the city that never sleeps! I had seen the NYC 4th of July Fireworks on TV and from over the river near my home in the Bronx! I had been to Times Square many times at night where the  sky is constantly lit with a plethora of colors! I was numb to the live up close version in Florida because I was so used to my own.

I've realized lately how in a similar pattern, that's so effectively dimmed the potential brilliant view of God, the I AM. In Bible Study yesterday there were several opinions about what that could have meant, "I AM". Did God give Moses a vague answer (Exodus 3:14)? Did God give him a very specific answer in His way of using our language to captivate all of who He is as to say He simply "is"? I don't know, I'm not sure yet. But I know God wanted to get across to Moses (which we all agreed to) that He is sufficient enough that Moses doesn't need details, like a name that mankind has given Him. He simply needs to trust. I realize I similarly have a dulled view of who the I AM truly is. Like the light show in Disney that didn't amaze me. It's as though I've become numb to hearing that CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS FOR MY SINS. It becomes a ritual phrase Christians use without an ounce of brain energy or a phrase unbelievers use to mock us. 

Why does it seem like it was more possible to be deeply intimate with the Father before mankind started to create a new world? Well for one, there was more discipline in the old days. We could blame it on the generations. For another, there is more technology now...easier to be busy, we can say. But really I think we've chosen to dumb ourselves down by choosing the most comfortable convenient route little by little, day by day. There is very little reliance on the Holy Spirit when I want to do something nowadays. Think of the shepherds in scripture for example. They look up at the sky and they can see the glory of God and be grateful each time because they have light to work and night to cool down. They have rain to care for their crops and sun to feed them. They have clouds to shade their animals from dehydration and they have stars to lighten the night. I look up in the sky and it's like I've become numb. Don't get me wrong, as an artist I LOVE THE BEAUTY of every piece of the heavens, but am I grateful for that which lays in the heavens beyond that which is pleasing to my eyes? Not even rarely.

I heard it said that our sun is the smallest known star in the universe and yet we can fit 1.2 million earths in our sun! Whenever I stop to meditate on and savor the amazing gift Jesus is in my life, I HOPE I AM humbled and overwhelmed with a sense of repentance, followed by gratitude and then with joy...AND NOT JUST NUMB TO THE THOUGHT.

QT - I know God has called me...

• I know God will not command His child to do something that He won't give me the strength and wisdom to endure until completion. 
• Philippians 1:6

• I know God loves me and wants what is best for me. 
• Psalm 84:11 

• I know that God's best for me doesn't always mean the circumstances look best to me. 
• 2 Corinthians 6:4
• Philippians 4:11

• I know that God is just a prayer away when I need more patience, wisdom and strength to endure the heat on the road He's called me to. 
• 2 Corinthians 7:4
• 2 Timothy 2:13

• I know that I can always find (in God) anything that I need because 
• 2 Corinthians 9:8 

• I know that I am never alone in any circumstance because 
• Deuteronomy 31:8

• I know that He can do it because miracles are His natural works. 
• Ephesians 3:20

• I know that I can finish raising support because 
• Philippians 4:13

• I know God has called me to work with Campus Crusade for Christ to reach lost college students, build them up in His Word and send them to the world because 
• 2 Corinthians 5:20
• Ephesians 4:20

After nearly two years of raising support, there might be some doubts as to whether I am truly following God's calling by raising support full-time to be on campus as a full-time missionary. I decided to write these few points that will hopefully reassure you (and myself sometimes) in our work of this ministry. God has called us to co-labor with Him in this field. He has shown me through scripture time and time again why it's so important to reach the future political, economical and social leaders of our society so that we can ultimately influence the world for Christ. 

Thank you for your consistent prayer and financial support! Without it, I couldn't complete the task to which our Lord has called me to co-labor.

E. Tabitha Morales
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To find out more about why I have to raise my own support, visit this website.

QT - At the end of it all, I wanna be in Your arms..,

As of lately so many things fill up my mind, taking time away from the One I want to most think of. So often in life, I plan what I think is a beautiful vida that will encourage others and make me feel happy. Not often enough do I rely on God and His plan for my life in the good and the bad to be His BEST for me. I guess that's why I've fallen in love with this song by BarlowGirl...

QT - Who am I?

Lately I've been thinking about who my Creator sees when He looks at me.

He created ME right? But for what and to make what decisions in life? And how do I make sure I'm best pleasing Him with the decisions I make? Am I keeping Him number one? Is He priority in my life or do I follow my selfish ways?

Recently I've had to look within myself due to life circumstances. I notice people tend to look at a person and define them by the actions they see. For example, I have one friend who is known to be a very giving and caring woman because whenever people are in need, she extends open hands. However because she's recently lost her job, it appears as though she would be considered more of a begger unless you knew her character. See, even in this difficult time, she would give to me before she fed herself. - Character not effected by circumstance. I have another friend who is known to be a "Christian" by her proclamation, however, everything that flows out of her mouth and her actions speak to her not living for Christ.

As I thought about this, I even recognize the many that begin to follow Christ and fall away. Some repent and return through proof of their actions and the rest of their lives, whereas others stay stubborn til their dying day. I'm reminded of David and Samson, Mary & Martha, Daniel, and all the men & women of faith in Hebrews 11. They all messed up, but in the end day, they all showed where their loyalty stood.

I'm reminded of the songs "Who am I" by Da TRUTH and "Beautiful Ending" by BarlowGirl. What a tragedy when one lives for Christ and loses sight of the love He has shown to the point that their ending results in selfish desires leading self-destruction. When one chooses self over Christ, losing the steps paved for them and falling into the worst ending of it all.

At the end of it all, I want to be in His arms.