Marion C.

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: John 15:1-17. The Lord placed this passage in my heart, and I meditated on it for weeks! Recently, the conditions of the world have weighed my heart down, and sometimes, it’s hard to figure out how we fit in with the rest of the world or what we can do, but verse 4 reminds us that if we remain in Jesus, He will remain with us and will guide us into exactly what we can be doing for the Kingdom of God.

 

Professionally and personally, I struggle with making sure that my work is led by God and that I am serving others and working for His Kingdom through my current job and personal relationships. I get insecure and begin to doubt, sometimes, if I am doing my best, but this passage reminds us that Jesus is always with us, and if He is with us, we will of course be led by the Spirit and be fruitful in all that we do!

I love verse 7, where Jesus tells us that if we ask for anything, it will be given to us. This passage tells us that if we remain with Jesus and he remains with us, we will be concerning ourselves and asking for things which contribute to the Kingdom, which will coincide with the will of God, so He will certainly give us all things we ask for! This passage can be interpreted the wrong way if we don’t take the time to mediate and soak it in.

Verse 16 concludes with Jesus telling us that the fruit we bear will last, meaning it will last in this earthly life and in the one to come. How beautiful to live knowing that we work for the Lord in all situations and that the fruits of our work will be recognized on that glorious day!

John 15 is so liberating when it comes to the pressures of everyday Christian life, trying our best, when sometimes we fall short of it, but Jesus reminds us that He is with us, and all we have to do is make that daily, sometimes moment by moment, choice in all situations to remain with Him and choose Him every single time.

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: Not being ashamed of the gospel. God is making it very clear that Jesus is coming very soon and the time to be the Christian praying for people anywhere and everywhere, attending to all His children and opening up to others for the sake of the gospel, is where He wants all of us to be right now.

I realized that I’m afraid to do this because of the way the world shames this type of faith, but God is calling us to do that. When we look at everything happening around the world we need to realize that all of creation is grumbling to know His love. As Christians, we are this love and we have an obligation to express it, but that can be hard to do outside of that church or mission trip setting. Right now, I think Christian actions should go beyond the typical kindness. Jesus is calling us to be a radical kind of kindness. The scariest thought is to someday face Him and have to explain why you didn’t become the very love Jesus commanded us to be. Definitely the lesson God is pruning in me, at the moment.

“I realized that I’m afraid to do this because of the way the world shames this type of faith, but God is calling us to do that.”

Profession: Behavioral therapist for amazing kiddos on the Autism Spectrum!

A one sentence bio of yourself: Servant of the Living God, daughter, sister, tia, doggy-mom, potato chip consumer, avid hugger of humans.

When did you first encounter God? When I was in high school. I remember reading the gospels thinking, “Wow, these are the very words of Jesus!” and being super excited and just so in love with the thought of it. I remember that liberating feeling of the Holy Spirit coming to dwell in me and with me; it was the first time I encountered God such a refreshing way.

“I remember reading the gospels thinking, ‘Wow, these are the very words of Jesus!’ and being super excited and just so in love with the thought of it.”

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? Asking friends to pray for me! Online resources, my favorite’s are desiringgod.org, The Bible Project on YouTube, and listening to the Bible being read, whether it’s through an app or YouTube.

Just read/currently reading: Love that Lasts by Jefferson and Alyssa Bethke.

Top three essentials: My church’s app that reads the Bible to me during my commutes, Chapstick, and coffee!

How did God speak to you recently? Recently, the Lord gave me a vision. I was standing in complete darkness. As I looked around, I saw a woman running in the distance. As she got closer to me, I noticed that her clothes were torn, and she was covered in bruises and dirt.

At the same time, I noticed that where I was standing was covered with debris and slowly began to see that all around was covered with debris and dirt; it was a desolate world. The woman kept running closer, and soon, I noticed a machete looking sword in her hand, and I came to realize that she was a soldier fighting in a war.

At the same time, these little dead trees began to sprout from the ground. As the woman was running, she began to swing her sword and chop some of the little dead trees. Some turned to dust and disappeared, and others became these towers of fire and lit up as she cut through them. As some of these shriveled trees lit up, they began to give light, and I could see more and more around me. The sky became bright, orange, and red, as she continued to cut these dying trees.

After the vision, I was very confused because I had never experienced anything like that. What left me more puzzled was that the Lord did not allow me to see the woman’s face, so I wasn’t sure who I was meant to share the vision with or how on earth it would glorify the Father in any way if I was to just keep it to myself. A friend even suggested that maybe it was about myself, but I just didn’t think so.

The week following that vision I met three women, all on separate occasions, who spoke so much life into others and were working for the Kingdom of God. Their messages were so powerful, and I was so very grateful for their lives and the boldness with which they’re fighting. I realized that God did not allow me to see the soldier’s face in the vision, and now I’m able to see why; it was not intended for someone I already knew but for all women fighting for God’s Kingdom. God, of course, provided me with the opportunity to see these women in action and the platform to share the vision with others! The vision is for all women of the Lord, and I encourage anyone reading to mediate on it and allow God to give you understanding of it.

“The vision is for all women of the Lord, and I encourage anyone reading to mediate on it and allow God to give you understanding of it.”

Hobby? Long runs, cooking, and more recently, building Legos with my nephew!

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong:

First, set the time to pray every day and read the bible every day!

Secondly, talk to God in all situations; if someone cuts you off while driving, tell Jesus and send them your blessings; if you’re cold, thank God it’s momentary… If the Lord answers a prayer, spin around and jump for joy and tell Him your grateful. TALK TO HIM ABOUT EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING! He’s always with us, and He always listens, and He always cares.

Finally, call upon the Holy Spirit. He’ll come and bring all of God’s messages, they are so available to you! These are such easy tips, but that’s exactly how God intended it to be!

Favorite person in scripture: Currently, Rebekah, Isaac’s wife. In Genesis 24:58, Rebekah is asked if she’ll go with a complete stranger, to an unknown land, to an unknown husband, not knowing if she’ll ever return to her family. ALL BECAUSE GOD INSTRUCTED SOMEONE TO FIND A WIFE. If that’s not trusting the Lord with your love life, I don’t know what is. May all us single ladies have the kind of faith Rebekah showed when she said yes to leaving her home for an unknown place and relationship!

“May all us single ladies have the kind of faith Rebekah showed when she said yes to leaving her home for an unknown place and relationship!”

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? I serve a Living God. A powerful, supernatural, beyond-anyone’s-own-understanding God. He is loving and offers us the gift of eternal life through Jesus.

“I serve a Living God.”

Favorite season? Summer. I’m not about that cold life.

Favorite holiday? Jesus’ birthday, Christmas!

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep: Being Hispanic-American, we celebrate Thanksgiving with typical Hispanic dishes. The only American thing is the turkey. I love it and love having my friends over to share my family’s version of Thanksgiving.

“Being Hispanic-American, we celebrate Thanksgiving with typical Hispanic dishes.”

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? I imagine that after Jesus and I reunite, I will get to ask “Okay but what really is a black hole?” Seriously though, I’d like to know!

Thing you want to raise awareness about?

Two things. One, God is for real. If you allow Him, He will come into your being and will wreck you in the most supernatural amazing way possible through the Holy Spirit and nothing will satisfy you like He does. You’ll become obsessed with Him.

Second, Autism. Be nice when you see a tantruming, physically aggressive child at the grocery store parking lot. Parents are trying their best, but these kiddos probably can’t talk or are overwhelmed by something as simple as your red car. Life is hard for these families, stop and ask if you can help; they will appreciate it, believe me. Maybe not managing the tantruming child because you might not know the best way to help, but help with something you do know… like helping them put their groceries away or walking a cart back.

“Life is hard for these families, stop and ask if you can help; they will appreciate it, believe me.”

What do you usually do before 9 a.m.? Get ready for work. The honest truth.

What is on your nightstand? Chapstick and a lamp.

Until next time, keep witnessing!

XOXO