Our Honeymoon in the Bahamas

We came back from our trip from the Bahamas!!!!

We traveled the night after our wedding which gave us time to pack and visit our families as newly weds.

Jose and I are totally a mixture of homebodies and adventurers. Half of our trip was spent gallivanting around the islands in the waters and half of our trip was spend inside resting and recovering!

We ate a bit of everything here- mexican, chinese, bahamian, japanese, italian, and american food.

We were most satisfied with this place called cafe matisse. It was an italian place with a romantic ambiance being outside and candlelit. The food was just so flavorful and beautiful.

We also enjoyed eating at ichiban where the sushi and conch fritters were perfectly seasoned.

Here were other foods we were able to enjoy!
We drank our fair share of drinks- mango, banana, pina colada daiquiris, bahama mamas, margaritas!

We visited lots of places including the
Queens Staircase

The French Cloisters

Blue Lagoon Island

our beach right outside the Hotel

but pretty sure our favorite place was Atlantis!!! This place was killing me with the amazing water rides. The aquariums were neat as well.

The best part for us was staying inside when we needed rest and taking long naps, watching netflix, reading together, singing songs to the Lord, praying, talking and the cuddling. It is so nice to do that with my husband, with the one I am covenanted to, and is my favorite earthly treasure. I am so thankful to have a husband to enjoy the Lord with me :D

5 Ways to Pray for our Wedding/Marriage

1. Pray for our wedding to be hardly about us, but ALL about Jesus.
We are excited to portray the beautiful picture of Jesus's love for His people. Pray us to not be anal, impatient, or angry throughout this week with the many details, questions, and other hooplah. Pray were serving one another rather than serving our selfish ambitions. Pray that we honor God in our words and actions at this wedding and that we are a testimony of God's grace in our lives. Without Him, we can do nothing. We are able to enjoy the gift and meaning of marriage because of Jesus.

2. Pray for my fellow brothers and sisters to be strengthened in the gospel.
For marriages to grow in forgiveness, grace, sacrifice, love and grow in utter dependence on Christ. Pray for those in dating relationships to be encouraged by the forming of the covenant between husband and wife, to pursue holiness, and to build godly character. Pray for our sweet single brothers and sisters to serve the Lord, be patiently prayerful for a spouse, and to seek a greater joy in Christ above all else.

3. Pray for non Christians celebrating and gathering with us for their final salvation.
You could pray for seeds to be planted through the gospel message this Saturday.... Or pray for family and friends to right then and there to begin repenting from their rebellion against God and their sin and to believe the good news. Pray for Family and friends alike, who are coming from all sorts of paths in this lifetime to come to saving faith in Christ alone. Pray for ears to hear, and eyes to be opened. Faith comes by hearing. Let faith come on Saturday.

4. Pray for our upcoming marriage.
Pray for Jose to love, sacrifice, and lead while I submit, am gentle, and am teachable. Pray for us to savor our Lord Jesus always. We need so much prayer- to fight well when disagree, to reconcile quickly and grow in sanctification. Pray that we grow more godly and sharpen one another in the bible. Pray our pride is constantly being killed and we remember we are not enemies. Pray that we remind one another of how good God is, the gospel, forgiveness, and grace. Pray we are growing in the knowledge and grace of Christ

5. Pray for us to make disciples and followers of Jesus.
Pray for us to be intentional with meeting our neighbors and community- serve them in any way possible, invite them over for dinner, and to hang out and go to church. To really live life on life in a gospel centered way, and encourage others who God in all sovereignty places in our lives. Pray for us not to be an introverted marriage- but a marriage who bold for the gospel. Ill stick these last two in too...1. pray for us to be able to have children- and that we are being prepared to raise kids in gospel centered parenting, teaching, and loving :D 2. Pray for us to listen carefully for God's call for us to go overseas to evangelize and church plant :) - and not overseas to Hawaii Mr. Jose!

Thanks everyone<3 Grace and peace!

Pre-Marital Counseling- Session 1

Jose and I had our first marriage counseling sesh yesterday! Our pastor PJ and his wife- a great sister to me- Frances will be counseling us through 6 sessions. They both are truly a gift from the Lord. We are VERY thankful for these two and we hope and pray our relationship with them will last throughout our marriage! PJ has been my pastor for around 2 years and has been Jose's pastor a little longer than that. We have built a community of trust, transparency, love, and most of all GRACE with one another so we are absolutely comfortable and willing to share :D

This first conversation was an introduction- a little background for each of us. We covered a multitude of things. The ones that stuck out to me included...

1. Family history, relationship with our moms and dads and also with each other's parents. Expectations of one another because of our parents. 

2. Strenths and weakness of our relationship- we were edified when we heard the strengths and laughed when we heard the weaknesses. We dont laugh so much when we fight but we want to grow!!! We love practicing gospel centered reconciliation.

3. Sexual relationships- this one is hard. This included pornography, sex before marriage, etc...

4. Finances. This one can be tricky and were taking the time to see our hearts that we do not hold on too tightly to the ""American dream"" or both of us working to be comfortable. We want Jose to be able to provide. I, although willing to work, want to be a stay at home mama! 

5. Defining love. Putting the other's preferences above your own IN CHRIST! 

 I knew we would tackle more into these topics in our meetings to come. A really encouraging part of the night was picking out possible scriptures that would be preached at our ceremony. We are so excited for our family and friends to hear the gospel. We are more excited about this than anything else at the wedding! What was really humbling was being reminded that this wedding isnt about being unique or better, or about it being "our day" or "all about jose and myself". It really is about Jesus and also about us becoming one and us joining many many others who are married. It is about celebrating what is common. This good gift of marriage is a wonderful gift from God and we ought to rejoice that we like many others are in a convenant. If Lord willing we get there, we ought to help one another press on in the marriage through joys and trials. 

Easter

What a day to celebrate!

I wrote this on my instagram: Jesus Christ, the Son of God died on the cross, taking the penalty for sin that we deserved. He was raised on the third day that we might be declared righteous before God. What a love. What a cost. This is good news!!!!"

It says in Philippians 2: Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

What a Savior to die for sins (we are ALL sinners and fall short of the glory of the perfect and holy God). Not only would Jesus die for my MULTITUDE of sins (harsh tongue, sexually impure, a liar, one who worships other gods, quick to anger, etc) but He would die for the sins of all of those who would believe in Him. Praying this gospel is being considered by those who read it, and God opens your heart to be inclined to Him. Thankful for Jesus!

Jesus' Mother and Brother

31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers[c] are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.

So Im sitting here at my church in between the morning and night service and I was just BLOWN AWAY by the good news of Jesus Christ once again. This passage talks about how being in the family of God does not come by your association in the church, or friends, or family or who I hang with socially, but by doing the will of God- REPENTANCE AND FAITH. yes, yes good reminders for me. What was like an explosion in my mind and heart was the last verse. PJ, my brother and pastor posed the question who does he list is his family and who does he leave out? THE FATHER. Jesus only addresses God the Father as father. Jesus only has ONE FATHER. Only when he is on the cross does he say “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Why? Because he was condemned as a sinner for YOU AND ME. He hung on the cross bearing the wrath of our sovereign God being treated as a sinner and not the the Son. He became sin who knew no sin so we might become the righteousness of God. Jesus became this so those who would believe in Him would be made God's family. dang.............

A Sweet December

Hello all!

I am writing while being all snuggled up in my blanket. It sure has been cold these last few days but overall, December has been warm!!

Catching you up on a few things.....

Work.... DISASTER. lets just say I pulled my first ever weekend overtime due to a server failure! It was a burden to us all but we carried on! I am thankful we had sweet treats to feast on every day this month and enjoyed gifts given to us by vendors!

Secret Santa- TOTALLY SCORED! Man, I have really really generous friends and future family. lots of thoughtful and undeserved gifts!

Check out this most wonderful video my brother Aaron made of one of the Christmas parties we were apart of. These people I absolutely adore and it was sweet to write encouragements to one another, play games, eat together, and exchange gifts. SO AWESOME!

CHRISTMAS! first time really spending it with joses family and mine. it was crazy, fun, loud, and sweet. I saw a lot of love in the gift giving and in how others wanted to show their appreciation to one another. I was so thankful for a fiance who kept pointing me to Jesus. I sometimes am surrounded by the hulabaloo of gifting and eating and family when really its about JESUS! My fiance put this on his facebook to help my soul!

What I love about the holidays and summer is that friends come home! I got to see many I love for pilates, lunches, bobas and more! It is such a joy!

I got to take a part of old traditions like caroling and my dads company luncheon (SO PROUD!)

On the wedding front, I BOUGHT MY DRESS!!! hooooray!!! I love it, and cant wait to share in about 7 months!!!

Lunches, cantadas, getting to know members at my new church FSBC has helped me grow in trusting God and loving this church!

Grinchmas at Universals was sooooo fun!

Jose and I were Mr and Mrs Claus for a murder mystery. We lost......

alot is better this month and all thanks goes to jesus who continues to be really gracious!

Fishers of Men

God really blessed me today through the preaching today. Just had to share because it's set a fire in my soul!

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. (Mark 1:16-20)

I heard this passage a few times. It's always been something I've been trying to apply to my life- to evangelize, to make disciples of Jesus, and call dear friends and family out of darkness to marvelous light.

But man, it was so convicting asking myself, am I really a fisherman if I don't catch fish.... I need to be preoccupied with catching fish. I need to be doing it in my home, city, work place, and across the world. My missions needs to be making disciples to help missionaries in the field! Growing in prayer, growing in giving, growing in going! Then, I need a clear calling to go overseas! So good,

Jesus is calling us to ultimate allegiance (to be an ally of Jesus above family, friends, work, status), a unstoppable promise (to be fisher of men), and undistracted focus (in seeking first gods kingdom and magnifying Jesus, being called away from homes, jobs, family, status)

But what was so AWESOME was seeing that just as simon and Andrew left their father to follow Jesus, JESUS left His God the Father to be fishers of men. He left His throne, he became a slave and servant and give his life a ransom for many. He dropped the nets. He died on the cross for our sins for us and rose from the dead.  MAAAAAAANNN JEEEESUUUUSSS!!!!

I am following someone who is worth it all. Jesus is worth it all. 

Thank you, Crossview!

I am thankful that Jesus is King and our High Priest. Although it seems SO SO bitter that Crossview is ending, it is awesome to know that God does everything for my good because I love Him. I wanted to give thanks for my almost 2 years at Crossview.

10 Things I loved about Crossview

The Gospel
The gospel message was preached to me every single Sunday from the pulpit. The gospel message was repeated to me by other members on days when I had unbelief, fell into temptation over and over, or neglected to be satisfied in Christ alone. I constantly need this truth and it was refreshing to receive it as often as I did. This gospel message is the good news that Jesus, the blameless and perfect Son of our Creator bore our past, present, and future sins on a cross and died for who would believe in Him. By his suffering and wounds those who would have faith in Christ have been healed and called out of darkness into marvelous light. Those who trust in Christ are now God's people and have received mercy. I am thankful this good news drove Crossview to live for Christ as its foundation and sole joy.

My Pastor
PJ...PJ....PJ. I love my pastor's preaching. I have learned a lot as I attempt to listen actively for 1 hour every Sunday. He exposits the scripture verse by verse giving context and application of the text. He gives solid points while God convicts and encourages my heart during the preaching. He encourages visiting Christians, our local church, and nonChristians. In addition Gods grace through him on the pulpit, PJ is a wonderful shepard to me personally. He has taken time to know me, encourage me, celebrate certain milestones with me, and rebuke me. He has certainly shown me areas where I have grown and areas where I am ignorant and am in need of God. I have been prayed for and cared for by this man. And finally in addition to that, I really see integrity and a lot of love in PJ.I see integrity in his willingness to be transparent to his brothers in fighting sin. I see the way he loves his wife and family and how they love me. That stems from his leadership. His vision for church planting and telling all the good news is so encouraging. I am looking forward to Lord willing continuing to be sheparded by him :)

My Sisters
OH GOSH. how do I not straight up start crying now! These girls will probably make me the most emotional as Crossview disbands. I will miss those who I wont be gathering with but do HOPE to continue to share life with them. Ive never had a more open honest loving grace filled relationship with a group of a girls. These women truly rejoiced with me and carried my burdens. There were moments of rebuke in times of sin but oh how there were sweet moments of God's grace as Jesus made me white as snow. These were tough questions asked of my heart, and tears as I dealt with the consequences of sin, but the words of truth that flowed from these women was so edifying. Ive read with these girls, have had hours upon hours of raw conversations with them, laughed together in all our silliness, were broken hearted together as we saw our depravity. There was no saving face, or pretending to be a Christian woman. We are all sinners, who are now saints because of Christ. I am thankful we had each other as a great gift from the Lord. They were lights to me. It was a means for Him to be glorified in all our interactions.

My Brothers
I think prior to coming to Crossview, I was jaded by men in my life who didnt really value or protect or care for a woman. I found it normal for a man to be sexual, crude, and prideful. For a season, I desired that in a man. I have been blessed a manifold times by the men at my church. I will miss these community of brothers being together. I personally have seen my own fiance grow so much specifically because of men who love the Lord, want to lead their wives well, truly learning how to be sacrificial servants, and hate sin. I will miss the absolute ridiculousness between these guys as well as real true love for one another. I enjoyed reaping the benefits of them being intentional, bold, compassionate, challenging, and loving.

Praying
It has been a joy to make prayer such an important and vital heart beat to our church. We would pray at least 5 times during sunday gatherings uniting as a church under the Lord. We praised the Lord, confessed our multitude of sins as a whole, asked God's to discern the text during the preaching, prayed as we were sent off for the week to make disciples and enjoy the Lord, and during communion as we broke break and wine. We had prayer lists which was helpful to remind us to contact others to ask how to pray for them. I had brothers and sisters a like pray for me throughout the week- in person, over the telephone, or text. We see prayer requests via email to the entire church and we are able to let them know we prayed for them. Crossview was imperfect, and we should have prayed more, I know I definitely should have, and need to continue to grow in this.

Singing Together
I loved loved loved singing with my church. The voices of broken sinners praising our God who is our hope. Ah-soooo good. While we are all different types of people gathering together, we have one voice singing hymns and psalms of praise. I came from a big church where I very much enjoyed the band playing and the loudness of the musical instruments. Coming to CV I came to learn and absolutely love singing hymns to a guitar. It was all about the gospel truth be embedded into the songs that called my heart to sing. Singing as a church certainly helped me bind my wandering heart to Thee. These were my fav songs to sing at Crossview: Jesus Paid It All, Before the Throne, In Christ Alone, How Deep, Jesus, Thank You, You're All to Us

My Local Church
One of the reasons why I came to Crossview was that I was learning the importance of the local church. Church Membership. Accountability. Being part of the body. This local church (although it was a 35 minutes drive away, 45 minutes if Jose's driving ;p) was my imperfect and yet perfect for me home church. These people discipled me and let me disciple them. In fact we were called to do just that in our covenant. I witnessed 3 excommunications for unrepentant sin, in which Ive seen 1 restoration and deep wrestling in the heart for the other 2. Ive seen only by God's grace has He kept me from stumbling into a nonchristian and a big reason is because God is using my local church to remind me of the good news.

Meeting Needs
The coolest thing I was blessed by was that our church was almost always meeting mental and physical needs. Ive seen bills paid, money given, homes shared, food given time shared to find housing or peace of mind. It was a blessing to see people who didnt even know a person that well give without hesitation, expectatoin, or strings attached. Thsi is because the Lord has given us MORE than we deserve. Our money is not our money- it is the Lords. Our time is ought to be spend glorifying Jesus. We ought to be cheerful givers. I saw displays of that time and time again and my heart rejoiced.

Eating Together
This was not just a tradition done after Sunday gatherings- but a part of life in order to bless one another. This is where a big chunk of my money goes to- but gladly so. I eat with people all the time in order to listen, speak, carry burdens and celebrate with them. Eating after sunday services were always wonderful- I got to see people give to the church to the provide lunch for others, serve others food, and then the speaking of truth after and sharing life was always beautiful to see. I hope to continue to eat with others and provide food for others whether on the street or in my own home in marriage.

Disciples Making Disciples
Oh how this was engraved into my head and heart during my time here. I saw the importance of not only being a disciple of Jesus but also being a disciple who wants to make disciples of Jesus. Following the great commission but also continuing to teach other women and encourage men in Christ! Ive seen members try to live this out on a daily and I will try to live the same way. One thing I would like to grow in at the next local church I am a member of are practical and good opportunities for missions either locally or overseas. I feel strongly about evangelism and gospelizing others and would like Jesus's help to shape me into Him in telling other the good news more often. Pray for me and this new season!

I am looking forward to to transferring to a new church. I will keep you updated on pending membership in the future.

Oh, Crossview! :'( Thank you for so much! Oh Jesus, My Lord - an even bigger Thank YOU!

Psalm 32

My pastor (PJ) preached on this passage a couple of Sundays ago. In God's perfect way, He has reminded me of this sovereign word in multiple occasions since then. Ive read it with sisters, explained the gospel through it to others, and it has been solid food for my soul. 

Let me try to convey its blessings to me.

Verse 2

Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

I desire to have no deceit, to have integrity, to have wholeness in Christ. I used to have a HUGE issue with this in the past, but by the grace of God am being conformed daily to His son, and with His help I am growing more in integrity.

Verse 3

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

This is absolutely true when I have un-confessed and unrepentant sin building up as I try to save face. It is a BLESSING to confess to the Lord and to others real sins, struggles, and temptations in order to enjoy Christ more. It is so freeing.

Verse 6

Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found

It was a REALLY big wake up call for me to remember that God does not OWE me anything and I cannot demand from him that He keeps me in His favor as His elect. In every moment, I need to remember to go to God with a supplication of prayers as He is near and is keeping me now.

Verse 8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

This be applicable to me daily, and may I kill my sins of pride, stubbornness and disobedience to God.

Verse 10

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.

Now this is where the Gospel was all up in my face and heart. Jesus was on the cross bearing the HEAVY weight of our sin, sorrowful for all of our wickedness from the past, present and future. BUT the love- the steadfast love of God the Father surrounded His Son and He raised Jesus from the dead, and is seated at the right hand of God- glorified! Because Jesus trusted and was obedient to the Father, steadfast love surrounded Him on the cross. Now, I know His steadfast love can do the same in my life, and fill me with joy, if I continue to trust the Lord.

Verse 11

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

An exhortation for you, for me, for all Christians who are called to rejoice because of how blessed we are in Christ!