PEANUT BUTTER M&M'S
Our Wedding Day - March 20,2010
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Welcoming your honey Home.
It's important. Your home should be the place where your family members want to come home too. It should be the safest place after working hard all day! Just a note to say welcome home is all it can take to better their day!!!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Fulfilling Love...
So I was listening to Family Life Radio the other day during the intentional living radio program with Dr. Randy Carlson. A caller called in and she mentioned how she has learned that love isn't sex.
Let me explain, the topic for the day was for single people to call in and talk about what they're learning as a single person in the church. With that being said, I related to what she talked about because she further explained how she used to think that having sex was the way she loved her sexual partner or partners. Anyways, to keep it short, I relate to her experience as a former single person looking for love in ungodly ways. But her thoughts have left me thinking...
Yes, I have had to learn how to love Hector and our marriage relationship is so much more about loving him in others including our physical intimacy. Often I've thought about the concept of our love languages and Hector and I are different in how we receive love. His love language, the way he feels loved are with acts of service. For Hector he loves a clean house which includes a lot of different tasks...need I mention them?... Clean floor, laundry put away, dinner made, clean kitchen, towels hanging after shower etc. For me, I love words of affirmation. I love when Hector tells me I do a good job, I'm pretty, I love you. I love when he listens to me or agrees with me in the ways I do stuff. I love when he says please and thank you and just overall edifying.
Here's the catch, Hector never heard words of affirmation in his childhood home and I didn't grow up in a home where having everything spotless was a daily activity. So I have had a hard time loving Hector in the ways he receives love and I understand why it's hard for my husband to encourage me. But I'm learning how enjoyable married life is when I love Hector by keeping a clean house or trying my best to do something for him. And I'm learning how to encourage him to encourage me in the ways that I need.
But please let me tell you, I've finally arrived at a place in my heart where I know know know that God is my only hope for my marriage. I've exhausted myself speaking my own words and sharing my own opinions just to not be heard or if heard, disagreed with. I hate this feeling and the loneliness that comes as a result of leaning on my own understanding. I'm learning just how faithful God when I ask Him for help but more importantly, His help has come, as a result of complete surrender to Him. God is so good that I've realized that my marriage will be a testimony about Him and not about how we keep it together. We can do nothing without Him and He holds all things together. I cannot hold my marriage together if I choose to live in active rebellion towards Him. Only He working in me and through me will draw my husband to me and keep us in unity as one.
It's amazing to me how when I spend time with the Lord it is His Spirit that draws my husband near. I think upon that verse in the Bible that says we are of one Spirit, one Lord, One Father who is in all and for all....and He so is of one Spirit and He is for us; for me, for you, for my marriage for yours... he is so good.
I'm just so thankful that Jesus saved me and that He created love to be so fulfilling and so much more than the physical act of sex. He gave it all for love, He laid down His life because of His love and He loves us just because.
With my whole heart,
Erin Beth
Sunday, May 22, 2011
My Testimony
When I think of my testimony, I think of it as the time, in and around the moment, when I surrendered my life to the Lord, but I know my testimony is so much more.
Childhood:
I was born on August 9, 1983. I was born to two young and loving parents. I have one older sister who is only a year and a half older than me. My dad worked full time and he was a part-time student. My mom was a waitress for much of my life, still is, but yet she is a restaurant owner. When I was 12 years old, my father finally graduated from the University of Arizona and that is when God helped me through the most trying time in my life.
Less than two weeks after my father graduated, I was diagnosed with Moya Moya Syndrome and was to have two brain surgeries, one week apart. I was having TIA(small, small, stroke-like symptoms, indicating that I was not receiving enough oxygen to my brain.) That all happened 15 years and 1 day ago according to the current date. That was in 7th grade. I did well after the surgeries, but I didn't know Jesus during that time. As time passed by, in 11th grade and 12th grade, I had to have two more brain surgeries to increase the blood flow to my brain once again. Needless to say, I did better after those surgeries too.
College years:
College was the most challenging time in my life; emotionally. It all started with the worst college roommate ever and to top it off, the events of September 11, 2001 occurred. What a scary time!!! Once I moved out of the dorm, I came back home, just to take my older sister with me to a new apartment. Before Christ opened both of our hearts to Himself, my sister and I always argued. I can say I hated how she treated me and I hated being around her. I can't say I was an angel myself, but I probably wasn't willing to recognize my own actions because I always felt like I had to defend myself, somehow, someway.
In my 3rd year of college, I was at my lowest of lows. For a very long time, I was always known as "the good girl." I was tired of the facade and I was tired of putting on a show. So I sought attention in all the wrong places, with the one desire to be noticed, by someone, just anyone. It didn't matter who. Having an emotionally distant relationship with my dad, I was looking to fill that whole in my heart. For 9 months, I looked to fill that void, in romantic relationships. It took 7 really hard months, to convince me that something needed to stop. I was going in a whirlwind, down to whatever was left of me.
My salvation moment: Wednesday, February 25, 2004
A month before this, at the end of January, something internal spoke to me, and I was absolutely convinced that my life was going to change, either on February 14(Valentine's Day) or February 25 (the birthday of the guy I was dating at the time). I didn't know this internal voice was from God, I just thought it was me convincing myself that I would build up enough strength to leave this guy who I allowed to be part of my life, who lied to me about his own life, cheated on me and convinced me that he would be different. Needless to say, He didn't have the time to show me that He was going to be different, because God stepped in at the perfect moment.
At 3:30pm on a beautiful winter/spring day in Arizona, on the campus of the University of Arizona, a very sincere pretty girl, who I call, Brittany Grace, came up to me and asked me how I was doing. Just like many others, I don't think she expected my lengthy, very sincere, deep answer. I told her all about the guy and I began to cry, my eyes out. After I was done, she asked me, "Can I share something with you?" I told her, "Yes, please, anything." At that point, nothing mattered, anything was better than what I had been going through. So she shared with me the Gospel, she told me that God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever shall believe in Him, shall have Eternal life. She told me that all of us fell short of the glory of God and because of this, in and of ourselves, we are separated from Him, but that while we were yet still sinners, Christ died on the cross for us. She told me that if I asked Him to forgive my sins that He is faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and that if I asked Him to come into my life, He would come into my life and be with me.
Although we were reading this truth, my heart jumped and leaped and shouted silently within me, yelling, "This is it, That's it!!!" I knew right then, that Jesus is the Way to Heaven, and that knowing Him was how I knew that I was going to get to be in Heaven with Him. Since that moment, His love has never failed me.
My life in Christ:
The more time passes, I've asked God to keep me close to Him. I've learned that I can't follow Him in my own strength, which I've tried to do. It doesn't work, it's not supposed to. He has been my Help in time of need and He has been my peace in the midst of chaos. He has held me together, when I was falling apart, He has picked me up when I have fallen on my face. I've embarrassed myself, He has defended me, He has loved me when noone else could. He has been patient with me, bringing me to repentence and everyday He shows me His love.
Three and a half years after He changed my heart, He changed my sister's heart. What a magnificient God and a dream come true! He has been so good to us. I'm incredibly thankful for my sister's life and the life that I have.
Today:
Today, I have been married to my husband Hector for 15 months. Married life is good, especially because we have God to knit our hearts together. He has helped us through everything. He calms me and gives me His peace. He holds all things together and I ask Him all the time to hold Hector and I together. I hope one day my marriage is a testimony to everyone. I hope the best for my marriage and all I want is to show God's love to others because of our lives together.
With all of my love, Erin Beth
Childhood:
I was born on August 9, 1983. I was born to two young and loving parents. I have one older sister who is only a year and a half older than me. My dad worked full time and he was a part-time student. My mom was a waitress for much of my life, still is, but yet she is a restaurant owner. When I was 12 years old, my father finally graduated from the University of Arizona and that is when God helped me through the most trying time in my life.
Less than two weeks after my father graduated, I was diagnosed with Moya Moya Syndrome and was to have two brain surgeries, one week apart. I was having TIA(small, small, stroke-like symptoms, indicating that I was not receiving enough oxygen to my brain.) That all happened 15 years and 1 day ago according to the current date. That was in 7th grade. I did well after the surgeries, but I didn't know Jesus during that time. As time passed by, in 11th grade and 12th grade, I had to have two more brain surgeries to increase the blood flow to my brain once again. Needless to say, I did better after those surgeries too.
College years:
College was the most challenging time in my life; emotionally. It all started with the worst college roommate ever and to top it off, the events of September 11, 2001 occurred. What a scary time!!! Once I moved out of the dorm, I came back home, just to take my older sister with me to a new apartment. Before Christ opened both of our hearts to Himself, my sister and I always argued. I can say I hated how she treated me and I hated being around her. I can't say I was an angel myself, but I probably wasn't willing to recognize my own actions because I always felt like I had to defend myself, somehow, someway.
In my 3rd year of college, I was at my lowest of lows. For a very long time, I was always known as "the good girl." I was tired of the facade and I was tired of putting on a show. So I sought attention in all the wrong places, with the one desire to be noticed, by someone, just anyone. It didn't matter who. Having an emotionally distant relationship with my dad, I was looking to fill that whole in my heart. For 9 months, I looked to fill that void, in romantic relationships. It took 7 really hard months, to convince me that something needed to stop. I was going in a whirlwind, down to whatever was left of me.
My salvation moment: Wednesday, February 25, 2004
A month before this, at the end of January, something internal spoke to me, and I was absolutely convinced that my life was going to change, either on February 14(Valentine's Day) or February 25 (the birthday of the guy I was dating at the time). I didn't know this internal voice was from God, I just thought it was me convincing myself that I would build up enough strength to leave this guy who I allowed to be part of my life, who lied to me about his own life, cheated on me and convinced me that he would be different. Needless to say, He didn't have the time to show me that He was going to be different, because God stepped in at the perfect moment.
At 3:30pm on a beautiful winter/spring day in Arizona, on the campus of the University of Arizona, a very sincere pretty girl, who I call, Brittany Grace, came up to me and asked me how I was doing. Just like many others, I don't think she expected my lengthy, very sincere, deep answer. I told her all about the guy and I began to cry, my eyes out. After I was done, she asked me, "Can I share something with you?" I told her, "Yes, please, anything." At that point, nothing mattered, anything was better than what I had been going through. So she shared with me the Gospel, she told me that God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever shall believe in Him, shall have Eternal life. She told me that all of us fell short of the glory of God and because of this, in and of ourselves, we are separated from Him, but that while we were yet still sinners, Christ died on the cross for us. She told me that if I asked Him to forgive my sins that He is faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and that if I asked Him to come into my life, He would come into my life and be with me.
Although we were reading this truth, my heart jumped and leaped and shouted silently within me, yelling, "This is it, That's it!!!" I knew right then, that Jesus is the Way to Heaven, and that knowing Him was how I knew that I was going to get to be in Heaven with Him. Since that moment, His love has never failed me.
My life in Christ:
The more time passes, I've asked God to keep me close to Him. I've learned that I can't follow Him in my own strength, which I've tried to do. It doesn't work, it's not supposed to. He has been my Help in time of need and He has been my peace in the midst of chaos. He has held me together, when I was falling apart, He has picked me up when I have fallen on my face. I've embarrassed myself, He has defended me, He has loved me when noone else could. He has been patient with me, bringing me to repentence and everyday He shows me His love.
Three and a half years after He changed my heart, He changed my sister's heart. What a magnificient God and a dream come true! He has been so good to us. I'm incredibly thankful for my sister's life and the life that I have.
Today:
Today, I have been married to my husband Hector for 15 months. Married life is good, especially because we have God to knit our hearts together. He has helped us through everything. He calms me and gives me His peace. He holds all things together and I ask Him all the time to hold Hector and I together. I hope one day my marriage is a testimony to everyone. I hope the best for my marriage and all I want is to show God's love to others because of our lives together.
With all of my love, Erin Beth
Monday, May 16, 2011
God is Love.
How can God be Love? This sounds a little weird, maybe you're reading this and never heard this before.
1 John 4:7-11
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
So how is it that God is love? God is love because He sent His only Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:7-11
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
So how is it that God is love? God is love because He sent His only Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
God is Love (continued)
...and demonstrating His own love towards us, Christ died for us, while we were yet sinners. (Romans 5:8)
God did not send His Son For us because we loved Him, no, but because He loved us. You see, we needed someone to die in our place to pay the debt of our sins and someone had to do this because we could never do this on our own. So God gave up His Son in our place because He loved us. This is God's ultimate act of love(I can't accurately put words to this....) that He has done for us and apart from Himself this never could have happened for us because Love is from Himself and He, Himself is Love.
My prayer is that God would press this on your heart, it is not that I can convince you in my own weakness, but it is to the power of God that you believe.
God did not send His Son For us because we loved Him, no, but because He loved us. You see, we needed someone to die in our place to pay the debt of our sins and someone had to do this because we could never do this on our own. So God gave up His Son in our place because He loved us. This is God's ultimate act of love(I can't accurately put words to this....) that He has done for us and apart from Himself this never could have happened for us because Love is from Himself and He, Himself is Love.
My prayer is that God would press this on your heart, it is not that I can convince you in my own weakness, but it is to the power of God that you believe.
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