My car was thirsty after every drive.

If you live in any heavily populated city, like Houston, then you know the craziness in the streets: the chaos, the rule-breaking, the rudeness, and especially the rage of the Honk. The streets of Houston are not for everyone.

Roughly four years ago, I purchased a vehicle which at the time was in excellent condition. It would start faithfully on the first turn of the key. My blue Nissan Altima was very good to me.

And then something changed…

The first incident occurred about one year ago. I had planned an outing at Discovery Green for the youth kids at my church. Everything we needed was packed in the Altima, and off we were to our first adventure. It was a great outing.

It was time to head home, and once again we packed and hopped in the vehicle…I placed my key in the ignition annndddd….. tuk-tuk---tccheee…tchheee….tche. And, it was dead!

With a new battery, it revived the Altima. It worked for a while until it needed a new alternator. After those repairs, once again, it ran smoothly. That is, until the semi-flood during Labor Day. My father was eager to do a little shopping, but the sky was falling. I warned him, “Dad it’s raining. We can’t go.” Well, there is no such thing as “no” or “we can’t” according to my dad and off to the city we went. Needless to say, we got stuck in few inches of rain. Being the impatient person my father is, he demanded I get us home. I definitely did but at what cost? Well, I lost my front license plate and my car was drenched from the inside. It reeked of wet dog! it just went downhill from there.

A few days following the flood, my Altima began to heat up. One day I blasted the AC and I noticed how the air was visible. It looked icy cold! And, it was. I did not pay any attention, I kept on driving from city to city.

One day, I turned my key…. And pup..pup..pupp..ppup..pppppuupppppp..pup..pupp…puppp…pppppppppppppup! It puffed and it huffed until it turned on. It took ten minutes for my Altima to live again. TEN MINUTES for it to turn on every time after that. But, I stood by my Altima. My air condition was not working, but it was winter time and I could just roll the windows down. I was adjusting to the changes.

Yes, the logical thing would have been to get a new car, especially if it was in need of repairs every other week. But, I just needed the car to give me six more months; just six months to get my credit score a bit higher by getting out of a few debts. My Altima was repaired for the millionth time, and I kept running the streets like nothing. It still took ten minutes for it to turn on, my ac was not working, now that spring arrived my windows jammed and I could not roll them down, and now I carried water jugs. My car was thirsty after every drive. And to top it off with a cherry, my car was now turning off in the middle of a drive. I still did not let go of my Altima. How could I!? We lived through the best and worst moments together.

However, I did become very frustrated. Every time my car left me stranded, I held on to the steering wheel and screamed until my voice went out “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! God I know you see my struggle!! I am sick and tired! In the name of Jesus, turn on! Just get me to point B!.” Hence, in Houston’s ninety degree weather, I was hot and sweating atomic bombs. I WAS ANGRY! I could not contain the tears or the massive headaches that followed.
I filled up my car with water every morning; my windows did not roll down; my ac did not work; and now my poor Altima could not hold in its farts. At every red light, it would literally kick back and “PPPPPPPOOOPPPPPPPPP…PPPPOOPPPP..PPUPPP.PUP..PUPP….PPPPOOPPP” while puffs of smoke engulfed the drivers behind me. Often times when it began to tremble, it would just turn off. I was stressed and I cried in my car almost every day for the last two weeks of its life. I did not have the luxury of going through a drive-through. If I forgot my jugs, then there was a risk of not getting home or to the next destination. It was a struggle!
There is so much to this story!

But to sum it up, I would like you to know that I have purchased a new vehicle. God is good! He definitely saw my struggle and heard my prayers. I was going to settle for a 2010 vehicle with handles to roll down the windows, but my God made a way for me to get a 2018 vehicle with electrical system, Bluetooth, and a rear-view camera. It was more than I needed and expected. I am blessed!

Now,I drive with no worries!


God makes a way even when our eyes see nothing but dead ends.

Gentle in Spirit

“AHHH, are you out of your mind.” How many times have you gotten yelled at for simple mistakes or even for situations out of your control? Personally speaking, I have gotten yelled at a few times in my life, and it sucks!

I proposed this question to my Sunday School Students: How do you react to irritating situations?

Many answered the obvious, “I get mad and give them a piece of my mind.” “I just walk away and not talk to them.” “it is their fault I get irritated.”

The main aspect of my character that I give to God and attempt to work on daily is my temper, the quickness of my flesh to become engulfed in frustration. I share my struggle with everyone. The kids from my church were in disbelief when I admitted my great aptitude to get an attitude. Because I am always in a “good mood”, they assume that I do not get bothered or upset.

And, it took me to a state of ponder of my youthful years. Yelling or aggressiveness was never part of my life. My mother was always patient and talked to us; my godmother is one of, if not, the most patient and soft spoken lady, and I myself grew up in silence. That is, until I came to the self-realization that boldness overpowered silence and tenderness in most situations. Now that I am older, I confess that I have been impulsive in my emotions and quick to irritation; I have allowed, in many cases, for my flesh to react in a very harsh manner towards others. I deeply apologize.

In present day, it saddens me to witness the youth and even the adults be quick to anger and irritation. We are the representation of Christ. We are not Christ himself but Christ-like. Our light must shine as we walk in the gentle spirit of God. The word states that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The spirit of God is like the eye of the storm. Even when you are surrounded by destruction and darkness, the spirit keeps you in state of serenity. We must not allow the enemy to take that away; for it comes to steal, kill, and destroy.  This is not a battle we fight in flesh. I always find that I am reminding myself and the kids to be thoughtful in our actions. If someone stirs your spirit, before you act foolishly, pray and walk away if needed. Do not allow the enemy to steal your peace or joy. We live in battle of spirit and flesh.

I pray daily for the world, my church, the youth, my friends, my family and myself. That God may use us as His vessel. It is amazing all that God has done for and in me. The fact that the kids notice that I am always in a good mood means that the spirit dwells in me even when my flesh would like to react opposite. I have been appointed to guide the younger generations, and it is a great responsibility. The apostle Paul in the book of Ephesians urges us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Next time, when someone irritates your spirit or angers you, do not be quick to lash out, instead settle your own spirit. Do not allow the enemy to win those small battles. The enemy lurks at our homes, workplaces, and even at our church, but let us stomp on the enemy. And together, we shall rebuke it all. In the name of Jesus.

Be kind,

Be patient
Be gentle in spirit

Pain is Beauty

Planet Earth and all the wonders of the universe are mesmerizing. Aesthetically amazing! The ability for a rose to break through concrete; the strength of the land to repair itself; and the boldness of the sun after a storm display the beauty that exists within the pain of destruction. Pain is dressed in beauty; and beauty is drenched in strength.

You are loved! Regardless of the circumstance or struggle you are still loved. Jesus loves you and so does the rest of humanity. At times, it seems like our fellow humans lack the emotion of loving others, but the fact of the matter is that every single individual is fighting a battle; emotionally, physically, or even spiritually. Nonetheless, it is still a battle. We attempt to isolate ourselves or mask our pain without realizing that we are all fraying alongside one another. Instead, we should embattle in unity. Overall keep in mind that ‘today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them,  for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’ (Deuteronomy 20:3-4) Therefore, you are not alone! You stand with the armies of angels. God has already won war!

Remember, you are not alone in this world. Different languages may exist but we are united by the same composition.

Now allow me to tell you that the beauty that radiates derives from the

mayhems we overcome. That luminesce smile that you posses does not originate from perfection but from the triumphs in our lives. Your smile dresses you in beauty; for you are able to light up the world even when chaos surrounds you. We learn and grow during pains. Do not fear to speak out and tell your story. The girl sitting by you in the bus might be fighting the same struggle, the man who always seems grumpy might be trying to heal, and the kid who is restless might be screaming in silence.

Do not isolate yourself or push others away, instead give your pain a voice so that others may may know that they are not alone. Healing occurs when we treat the wounds not by hiding it.

There is beauty in your journey.

The Seed

************************ The sunrise reflected on your beautiful face

As you arose early morning before the birds sang

Oh, the inception was a memorable thing,

But the clock had already begun to race.

You realized you were not the same,

“Why am ill! I have never been a weakling.”

Oh, but God works in mysterious ways.

You were definitely in dismay

Waited so long for this day

That you even lost all hope

Thinking it was impossible, unattainable, simply a mere dream, an empty prayer

But God’s words are not spoken in vain.

The seed was implanted; attached I was by the living cord.

You told the world about me with no delay.

I heard the melody of your voice

Ooh, so sweet and beautiful full of joy!

Impatience grew for the day of nativity;  

The moment the seal of life would be torn.

Oh dear Mother, I thank you for keeping me warm,

And embracing me in your vitality.

Nine months later, you gave life to your newborn. ********************