father Archives

April 19, 2016

Steady Heart

All of us, everyday, come to put our faith, our worth, our trust, our hope, in something, or someone. For many of us, that may look like a significant other, a parent, a close friend, and at times, God. I want to challenge you with a thought today- if God was the only person you had left to put these in- Would you be okay? Would it rock your entire world?

Well, if that thought scares you; that’s understandable. Yet it’s a very real reality each of us may face one day, and we need to come to terms with it.

For me, being a believer, I strongly felt that the place I put all of my faith was in God. Until the day I lost my Dad.

My Dad and I had a relationship where basically anytime my life was falling apart, he’d fix it. I called him for everything. “Dad my car is making a strange noise!!” Or “Dad this guy was so mean to me today and I got a parking ticket and I have no money and had the worst week ever!” Whatever it was, my Dad always made it better. “Sweetie it’s okay, don’t worry. Just pray. You’re beautiful. I’ll fix it. I’ll pay for it.” And he called me and texted me all the time, always encouraging even when I was annoyed and never responded. Most of the time I took his ever presence in my life for granted and just thought to myself “he’ll always love me and he’ll always be there.” Although that was true, it wasn’t in the way I imagined it to be.

February 11th was like most days. My Grandpa had passed away a few days before so my Dad was a little more pushy with texts than normal. But I was being short with him because I missed my Grandpa. He wanted me to call that morning so he could record something for the funeral, but being my 22 stressed out college student self, I said “Dad!!! Can I please just call tomorrow?!” He finally agreed. I figured it wasn’t a big deal, since I was seeing him that weekend anyways and I had a huge midterm due later so it was understandable. Tragically, that weekend never came. And tomorrow morning would be too late.

I finished my final and as I drove home that night, I received a phone call that my Dad had a heart attack. He took his last breath at 8:20pm.

This reality sank in hard. Everything was gone in just a moment. Every opportunity I thought I had to tell him I loved him. To give him the picture I painted for his birthday. To thank him for always being there. Gone. And the scariest part was the reality that I was now alone. The person who was always there to fix everything, that made everything better, is gone, and isn’t coming back.
As painful as this was to realize, and as heartbroken as I am, there is something profound that has come out of losing my Dad. God has brought me to fully put everything in him, and in return has given me a steady heart.

Now, when I feel broken, when I’m scared, when I feel unworthy, I call upon Jesus. Yes, it is hard not having my Dad, but I learned an invaluable lesson on where my faith needs to be. Where my hope and my trust should be placed. And it’s fully in the hands of God.

I’m not saying don’t love your loved ones, or rely on them. Because God put them in your life for a reason. But realize it is Gods love you should rely on ultimately. Don’t lose sight of the SOURCE of the love that you feel. Keep your relationship with God a top priority and don’t take it for granted. God has innumerable strength; and unending, unwavering love. Lean into it. Abide in it.
When you put your hope in things of the world, your heart will feel uneasy. So instead, put your trust, hope, faith, and worth in God and He will give you in return a steady heart.

“The LORD will work out his plans for my life–for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.” -Psalm 138:8

November 10, 2015

She Looks Like Her Dad

“Yep, she’s Miguel’s kid.”

My aunt instantly said that when I was born. I looked just like him. If someone asked who my parent’s were, their response to my answer would be, “Wow! You look like your dad.”

We both have squinty eyes when we smile. Light olive skin. Blue eyes and a gap in the middle of our teeth. Our personalities are the same, which sometimes can get us in trouble. Our humor is alike, but I try to deny it because his jokes are definitely “dad jokes”. He jokes with his coworkers that I look just like him but my mustache is bigger (thaaaaanks, Dad!).

As much as I love when people say “You are totally Miguel’s kid”, I want them to talk about my other Dad.

This Dad I’m talking about is our heavenly Father.

“When God created human beings, he made them to be like himself.” – Genesis 5:1b

This year I’ve learned a lot about what it means to be the image of God. For so long I confused image with looks.

“Yes, I look like Him. I’m sure we have the same nose.”

No, no, no Sarah.

God has been teaching me throughout 2015 that image means many things. I’ve learned that we are creators like Him. The way we serve can display His image. Our love is the image of Christ. Compassion, too. Humor (have you seen the Kiwa Hirsuta aka Yeti Crab? It’s the strangest/most hilarious crab I’ve seen!) When you sit down and ask God, “How do I reflect You?” He will show you.

I want people to say that I look like my heavenly Father.

Wouldn’t what be amazing to hear from someone?

“And the Lord, who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18b

Daily I want to look and act more like Him. Surrendering myself and asking God to fill me up.

“Lord, take away anything that doesn’t look like You. May I become more and more like You.”

Let that be our goal everyday. May we strive to look more like Him.

May we work on those talents that He has given us. Do you enjoy painting? Work on that. Master it. Your artistic talent reflects the most amazing Artist. Are you a writer? Great with kids? Good with money? Who are YOU?

Maybe you’re having an identity crisis. The best thing to do is talk with Him and ask Him, “Who am I in Your eyes?” Then dive into the Word. He will tell you who you are.

“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator, and become like him.” – Colossians 3:10

You look like your Dad. Right here, right now. You reflect Him. I challenge you to be more like Him.

Be blessed, sisters.

September 1, 2015

Abandoned to Found

Read: Psalm 27:10, Deuteronomy 31:6, Romans 8:38-39

It was that time of the year, once again. Father’s Day had come. The worst day of the year. Well, to me it has been the worst day for the past 16 years. When I was eight years old, my father walked out on my family. I remember that day like it was yesterday. The day my father said he was leaving. My mother embracing my brother and I as we all sat crying on my bed. My father stood in the doorway and just watched us as we were sobbing, not setting a foot inside my room. I was able to muster up the word “Why?” as the tears were rolling down my face. His response: “I just have to.” That was it. No explanation. Not a word as to why. My guardian, my protector, my so-called devoted and loving father was gone. From that day on, I was and forever abandoned.

Growing up “father-less” was mediocre. During my adolescent years, I managed to hide the pain of the father’s absence very well. I was very good at pretending everything was “okay”. Sure, it was difficult to watch as all my friends got dressed up and headed out to the Father-Daughter dance but I was strong. Nothing could break me down. I have my heavenly Father. Why would I need an earthly one?

That was the line I would always repeat to myself. “I have my heavenly Father, so I am okay, I have my heavenly Father, so I am okay” and so on and so on. However, I don’t think I truly understood what that meant until just a year ago. My 23rd year opened my eyes in so many ways. College was over so it was time for me to become a “true” adult. Friends and colleagues were getting engaged and having babies. I let my insecurities take over and allowed it to control my every move. I dated guys who had no relationship with God, because it was nice to be “noticed” by a man. A couple days before my 24th birthday, I broke down. I realized that I was slipping and I needed God more than ever. Through the tears and sadness I was experiencing, I was comforted by my true Father. God has never left my side throughout my 24 years of life. He has been there during my joy, my sadness, my hurts, and my accomplishments. God finds us, wherever we are in our lives, and will never leave our side. I have gone from abandoned to found. I went from having no father, to having a heavenly Father who I can always turn to and know that He will be there. If you share the same life experience as I do, I encourage you to place your life, your trust, and your love in the only Father you will ever need.

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