Forget. Not

Psalms 103:2 (NLT)
Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.

Psalms 103:2 (NIV)

Praise the Lord, my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits—

Forget NOT


You must never forget the one who put you there. The one who bought you out of darkness into the marvelous light. In a situation where God has shown true faithfulness and exercised his right to fix our situations, it is easy to forget the prior hardships and act as though we did it ourselves, or we simply forget to say "thank you", as if we were entitled to the blessings we've received. We act as though God was SUPPOSED to fix certain things, and that's just not the case. God is not our puppet. He doesn't do things for us strictly because we want Him to. He does these things because He loves us, and as a great Father, he wants to make us happy...however, He gets offended when we loose gratitude. God has feelings just as we do, but I'm sure His feelings are intensified since He is the creator of everything, feelings and all. He feels hurt and pain in ways that we couldn't imagine.

 How do you feel when you do something nice for someone, out of the kindness of your heart and they don't seem thankful...in that moment when people act as though what you did was something you had to do, instead of something you did by choice, as if you were not deserving of a simple "thank you".

Isn't that the worst???? Just super ungrateful and rude in action...

Well, this is exactly how God feels. When we don't thank Him for things we often take for granted like air/oxygen in our lungs, beating hearts, stuff that is absolutely necessary for our lives, but that we just don't think about until its gone. We hear it all the time that we should be thankful just that we rose this morning, clothed in our right minds, but someone LITERALLY did not rise this morning. We are NOT entitled to the life we live. Everyday is a true blessing. The mere fact that you are able to read this blog is enough for you to give God some praise! Do you know that there are still people in 2012 that can't read????

God is like "really... you really think you're entitled to the many blessings I give you? Do you not know that at any moment, I can shut it down...shut off the oxygen supply, and ALL."

Thankfully, God is gracious (unlike man) and He does all of these things because He loves us. He definitely likes to hear "thank you" because He says so in His word.

Psalm 100:4
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 (NIV)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:17 
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Let us Remember that God doesn't have to honor any of our prayers, nor are we entitled to His blessings. Let us take a moment to say thank you...Thank you God for EVERYTHING. Everything you can think of!

Let me be honest, I'm real bad about giving thanks for my food before I eat. Lots of time, I'm super ravished before I sit down to eat, and I scarf down my food without saying, "thank you for this food, God". I actually just ate, and I forgot to bless my food...I repent right now, and I say, "Thank you God, for the food  I already ate..."

I will make a conscious effort from this moment forward to not eat before I give thanks. Even Jesus gave thanks to God before they broke bread at the Last supper.

Matthew 26:26 (NIV)
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

I had to repent for there is no excuse. God is working double time on our behalf and He's working out those seemingly impossible situations out for our good, When the Father delivers you, and closes some doors on some horrid things, don't lose your humility, remember the one who bought you out. Give thanks, give glory, honor, and praise every time you think about it because it is not by our own doing, but by the blood of Jesus and the grace that is sufficient in our lives. It is by grace that we have made it this far. I just thank God for Jesus, and for His grace and mercy!

Reflect on this scripture:
Ephesians 2:5 (Amp)
Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved ([a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).

If you do not know Jesus, follow the steps in Romans 10:9
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Also, If you haven't already, please check out Journey to Destiny's new web site!

journeytodestinymini.wix.com/jtdm

There is a spot for you to send comments, and prayer requests! We are here for you! Be encouraged!!! :~)

I love you, but God lovess you wayyyyy more!

~Ximena

Power. Love. Sound Mind.

2 Timothy 1:7(NKJV)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Often times, it is easy for us to have fear and be afraid about things that trouble us such as the "what if's" of hypothetical situations...and situations that have already occurred which left us in fear. Whether or not these fearful situations occur depends on the plan that God has for our life. If our faith is in God and we fear Him, we should know that regardless of what comes our way, we will conquer it, and be victorious. If we are Christians following in the path that God set for us, nothing should move us. I know we are human and our flesh sometimes rises up, and in some moments its easy for us to ignore the Holy Spirit within us, however we should not be moved.

We should plant ourselves firmly in the word of God, steadfast and immovable (1 Corinthians 15:58)  like the tree planted by the rivers of water....

Jeremiah 17:8 
He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

Do NOT fear when HEAT comes!

We have to believe what the bible says regarding us, Gods people. The bible was written to be our guide so that in any situation, such as fear, we can look to see what God says about fear, and be encouraged to activate our FAITH instead of fear. This is why it is important to read our word, so that we can have a solid foundation to stand on when trials come our way. An old hymn says, "On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other grounds are sinking sand", it is so true, because even the scripture tells us to build our house upon rock.

Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Not only should we read and hear the word, but we must apply these biblical principles to our every day lives. When we are tested, because tests will come, we will not falter and lose faith or be fearful because the battle was already won by Jesus on the cross when he said, "It is Finished."(John 19:30). Everything was conquered at that very moment. There is nothing you could ever fear or even go through that is bigger than God. God Created this whole entire universe and He said that it was good. On top of that, He created you and I. How could we not trust Him with our lives, knowing that His plan is better? Would we believe the report of man over our all powerful mighty and sovereign Lord? Would we continue to live our lives afraid of hypothetical situations and things that could possibly happen? Will we continue to pass up God ordained opportunities because we are too scared to move out of our comfort zones?

If God allowed it, He will see you through.

Lately, I've been having reoccurring dreams about someone breaking into my house...BUT the devil is a LIAR!!! I will NOT allow him to make me live in fear in MY OWN HOME because God is my shield. He protects me, and even in the worst of situations, He is ALWAYS there. I have NO other choice but to trust Him, the man who pre-orchestrated my LIFE! I refuse to be a prisoner in my home.

Isaiah 41:10
Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Apply these principles and speak protection and favor over your life. There is no fear in Heaven, so there should be no fear on earth. We pray that, "thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven". BELIEVE that!!! Do we really know how powerful that is? There is nothing negative happening in Heaven so I believe that my God has me protected from anything I can fear on earth.

GET OUT AND LIVE!

Denounce the spirit of fear and speak power, love and a sound mind over yourself!!!

Meditate on this scripture:
1 John 4:15-18

All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 

If you don't know Christ as your personal savior, take the time to read this scripture.
Romans 10:9:
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

I love you, but please remember God loves you wayyyyy more!!!

~Ximena

Kingdom Principles: Sowing & Reaping

You will reap what you sow...

These words are something that we often hear in a negative connotation, in the same respect as "Karma", however, this is a Kingdom Principle...

Galatians 6: 7-9

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Often times we sow seeds that we aren't necessarily conscious of. When you sow in to ministries... when you volunteer your time and efforts for non-profits... when you do things out of the goodness of your heart for someone who is less fortunate than you...when you have a kind word and a smile to give to someone who is hurting...when you choose to love someone rather than judge them...when you drop off your clothes to a women's shelter...when you give the homeless man a dollar at the red light...These things you do willingly, without ulterior motive, are examples of sowing seeds; physically and spiritually. 

Physically, you may be dropping money in to the tithe basket, but spiritually, you're depositing into your heavenly account. When it's time to withdraw, and the time comes to reap, the refunded blessings will be far more than what you deposited in your heavenly account...There will be an overflow of blessings...

Luke 6:38 (NLT)

 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

If you faint NOT!!! 

Don't get weary in your well doing as Galatians 6:9 states. It gets hard sometimes to keep the faith when trouble is on every side. It seems like no matter what you do is good enough. You pray, you read your bible, you spend time with God, you repent daily, you are a good steward over the things God has blessed you with, you treat others with kindness and respect, you love others instead of judge, but nothing seems to be working in your favor...

LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU!!!

These trials come to make you strong and are setting you up for the place that God is taking you...all the great men/women of the bible had to go through things before they could reap the promises! Joseph was sold into slavery, but in the end, he was exalted. Job lost EVERYTHING that he had, but in the end, God blessed him with MORE than he had in the beginning. Ruth's husband died, then God found favor with her and blessed her with Boaz! JESUS was ridiculed, spat on, persecuted, beat, hung and MORE, but NOW, HE IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF OUR FATHER...If we suffer with Christ, we will REIGN with Christ (2 Timothy 2:12). No matter what comes our way, we must remember that GOD is BIGGER than it ALL!!

Remember what your bible says...

The bible says we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37), so we are NOT defeated! Psalms 34:9 says that there is NO lack for those who FEAR God, so no matter what your bank account says, know without doubt that there is NO lack in your life! Make these scriptures work for you! Let your FAITH in God carry you through any storm! 

John 16:33 NIV

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Again, TAKE HEART!!!! He overcame the WORLD!! That's EPIC!!!

Let that scripture minister to you!

The enemy is crafty, but don't let him fool you! God is bigger than any negative picture that the enemy can paint for you! Don't believe his lies! Fight back with your WORD (your Bible)! The scriptures do not lie. Period.

Be encouraged today! You can make it! You are stronger than you think...

When you sow good things, they MUST come back to you...PERIOD. Kingdom Principles....

3 Kingdom Principles to remember: Obey God. Believe his word. Apply his word to your life.

Simple right?!?!? 

I will give more detail on this in a future blog.... :~)

Meditate on this Scripture:

Deuteronomy 15: 5-6 NIV

if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. For the Lord your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.

Don't forget His promises to you! They will come through!! :~)

If you don't know God and have Jesus as your personal savior, I encourage you to follow the steps in Romans 10:9:

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

As always, if you have a question or want to chat, please feel free to contact me!!! Send me an email ximenasherard@gmail.com or find me on fb!!! :~)

I love you but God loves you wayyyyy more!!!

~Ximena <3

FLEE!!!!!

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NIV
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

The scriptures are clear, FLEE from committing sin against yourself. This command is a hard one because most of us have put ourselves in a position where we aren't virgins any more so it's extremely hard to FLEE from sex. I know. I have been FREE from sexual sin for almost 2 years, one and a half months until I celebrate my 2 year Celi-Versary! :~)

I can say that it hasn't been extremely easy, nor has it been an intense daily struggle for me....but there has been some intense moments where my flesh desired sex, however, my flesh is in subjection to the Spirit of the Lord. I am equipped with tools, and I used the tools that are in me by the Holy Spirit to resist temptation. Some of you may say, "but Ximena, it's easier said than done" BUT you can do ALL things through Christ that strengthens you, (Phillipians 4:13) so you too, can be FREE!

God is faithful, and in every situation there are ways of escape...


1 Corinthians 10:13(NIV)
 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Take that exit route next time. Cut it out before you get to the point of no return. If that means that you don't hang out with your boo after a certain time or if you refrain from being touchy feely...even if you have to stop "cuddling" for you to remain holy, that may be what you should do. Be holy for God is holy (1 Peter 1:16). When you make up in your mind that you will serve God, with your whole heart, your soul, your life, and your body, putting your focus more on God than on your "boo thang", then it will begin to get easier to make the choice to FLEE in the moments that lead to sex. If you are spending time with the Holy Spirit that power that god placed in you will work for you and you will have the power of God to over take your fleshly desires. Be led of the Spirit and let Him give you the things to avoid so you don't place yourself in the way of temptation.Put your trust in God. he can truly Deliver you if you REALLY want Him to. He delivered me. Just give Him your life...your ALL! Watch things change!

It's not that we won't be tempted, because even Jesus was tempted. It's hard sometimes. I know. I live it. But my love for God and obedience to His commands helps me to put my flesh in check.


James 1:12 (KJV)
 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.


Greater is HE that is within you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Give Christ your life, your heart, mind and BODY...serve Him with it ALL! You can do it!!! :~)

Meditate on this Scripture:


Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV)
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Be FREE from Sexual Sin!!! Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments, we can definitely help each other in this walk!

If you don't have Christ as your Savior, Read this...


Romans 10:9
New International Version (NIV)
 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.


I love you, but God loves you MORE!!!

~Ximena <3

Obedience....

How many of you know the man? I mean really know him? Commune with Him? Let him have and lead your life? Saved by His grace and pressing toward the mark of the high calling? If you are, that's totally awesome and I am extremely PROUD of you! YAY!!! This is exactly where we should be...

But as you're being led of the Lord, are you being obedient? Not just living right, but are you sensitive and obedient to the spirit? Obedience is better than sacrifice.

1 Samuel 15:22 (NLT) But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

What did God call you to do? Did He tell you to start your own business and become an entrepreneur? Be your own boss? Act in a film? Go evangelize on the streets? Did he tell you to fix plates to take to the homeless? Did he tell you to put an extra $20 in the collection plate last Sunday? Did you oblige? Did you do the things He told you? Or are you at least making preparations toward doing what He told you? If not, I suggest you do so. we have to stay in God's perfect will. This is how we reap the benefits of holy and righteous living, through obedience. 

Have you ever been in a store or something and heard that still, small voice, telling you to give someone a word of encouragement? That voice that says, "tell that lady right there that I lover her.." or something similar? That's God. That is a test. It's not you. It may sound like you but think about this, would you in your right mind, while you're minding your own business tell yourself to tell a perfect random stranger that you love them? Probably not. I know I wouldn't. I don't talk to strangers. I may say hi, but that's pretty much it, so I know I wouldn't make that up.

It happens though, and we question the voice that we've heard with a quick, "Is that YOU, Lord???". When this happens, rule out your options. For instance, you know it's not you because you wouldn't come up with that because it's not something you necessarily want to do. You'll also know when it's not the devil, because he won't tell you to do something that lines up with the Word of God...you'll know that it had to be the Holy Spirit speaking to you.

The word says in 1 John 4:1 (NIV) "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." Use your discernment of the Holy Spirit. If it lines up with God's Word, and will build you up positively, and affect others positively, then it's God. Just be obedient.

Have faith and know that God would never instruct you to do anything that is contrary to His word, and he will also not put more on you than you can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).  What God ordains, He will maintain, as Donald Lawrence says. His grace is sufficient. No matter how it looks, go ahead out on the water and walk, as Peter did. Don't be afraid because you've got the best possible team on your side, leading you every step of the way. I encourage you to start taking steps toward making that BIG God given dream of yours come to life. I encourage you to start basing your decision making on what the spirit says to do so that you can be blessed in your obedience to God.

With HIM you can't lose so press on! Let God write the pages to your book, and you just follow along. People may not understand, and lots of folks probably will think you lost it. Remember that carnal minds can not understand the things of God. They don't understand faith, because standing on faith makes no "earthly" sense. Remember 1 Corinthians 1:27 (NLT) :

Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

A lot of things God tells you probably won't make sense to you at first, but you will understand it later. I promise you that god's plan for you is FAR better than any plan we could ever think up! I would be so lost with out HIM! So I encourage you today, my friends. Whatever God charged you to do, no matter how big or how small, JUST DO IT...like Nike...haha! :~)

Meditate on this Scripture:

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 NIV

See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse—  the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today;  the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.

If you do not have Christ as your personal savior, follow the steps outlined in Romans 10:9 NIV:

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

I love you, but God loves you wayyyyyyy more!! 

~Ximena <3

The Thirst

Psalm 63:1-5 NIV
You, God, are my God,
    earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
    my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
    where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
    and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
    my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Hallelujah to the Lamb of God who sits on the throne with majesty and power...HE's AWESOME!!! King of Kings and Lord of Lords...Have you ever just sat in His presence, just in reverence? Just to sit at His feet...to glory & praise Him...to seek HIS face! If not, I encourage you to really spend some serious time with God. How can you say that you know Him and never spend time in His presence communing with Him?

You may be thinking, "Ximena,I don't have time to get in my bible or spend time with God" or you may be saying, "I have a tight schedule, there are only 24 hours in a day, where can i fit Him in..."

I would say to that, people will make time for things that they want to make time for; the things that they deem, "important". Priorities. For example, If you LOVE to shop, and you caught wind that your favorite store, let's just say your favorite store is Forever 21, is having a HUGE ONE DAY 95% off sale. You work from 9 to 5, and after work, your schedule is packed until bed time, you would probably still find time somewhere in that day to stop by that store before the one day sale is over. Even if you squeeze in some shopping time on your lunch break, you will still find time. If shopping is a priority of yours, you will cut back on something else to fit that shopping time in....BUT spending time with God should always be a priority. You shouldn't just "fit" time in with God when your schedule permits, He can't be wedged into slots of your day that are already filled with other priorities. God is TOO major to take a back seat to other things. Make God the CENTER of your day. Make Him a priority FIRST and watch your schedule begin to open up to give you more free time, and watch your days run a little smoother. Spend time with God DAILY and you will begin to see seemingly dead situations in you life turn around! I'm a living witness!!!

I encourage you to pick a certain time of your day to diligently seek the Lord, everyday. Yes, EVERY day! I am a witness that it will change your life, literally! God has given me instructions concerning my life. My purpose in life has been revealed to me through my obedience in seeking God every day, at a particular time...

I know, it is so easy to go through life ignoring God, and only talking to Him when we want or need something from Him. We can easily get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, that we forget all about the GIVER of Life.

He is calling us to much more! A higher office in Him. Not just going to church, on Sunday, but having a pure relationship with Him. I was in bible study, and someone said "its hard to truly worship God and say things aloud to Him on Sunday when we haven't communicated with Him all week...If you don't really know Him, you won't have much to say to Him in service..". I found that to be soooo true! Worship service really does start at home. Before I started spending time with God purposely everyday, I would go to church and pretty much "chill". I would wait for the praise team to "get me hype" and "pump me up". I would rely on them to get me excited to praise God, but now, since I've been spending personal time with Him, I go to church ready to praise. I am way more involved in service now because I know God intimately. I go with a pure heart, ready and open to receive what God has for me there.

It is so important that we go before the Father on a daily basis. It is through that personal time that the Holy Spirit speaks. He gives us encouragement, direction, instruction, purpose, warnings, correction, and shows us the amazing plans God has for our future.

He really does speak ya'll! God has shown me who my husband is, more than once. He told me when we will get married, down to the exact date, and the meaning behind the date...No, I am not lying. The word says in Psalm 84:11 that He will withhold no good thing from us. This information was freely given to me through my THIRST for God, and the things of God. From me seeking His face, with no hidden agenda, just really desiring more of Him, everything else has fallen into place. I have watched his hand moving on my behalf in ways that I never would have imagined, even on this week. However, it started with me being obedient to his word...


Matthew 6:33 (NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

His precious and Holy word will not lie. Again, I encourage you to really get in the word, so you will know what it says...(blogged about that here)

Now, you may say, "How do YOU spend time with God, Ximena"... I thought you'd never ask!! LOL :~)

God was tugging at my heart for a while, calling me to spend more time with Him, but I had excuses. So one day, my friend told me about a woman named Heather Lindsey. She also blogs, and one time she blogged about spending time with God daily, and started a journal challenge. Well, it was on my mind heavily so I asked the Lord, "God, what time should I pick to spend time with you everyday?" Being the awesome on-time God that He is, He immediately responded, "5 am". I was like whaaaaatttt???????? And again, I heard 5 am. The spirit proceeded to tell me that 5 am is the only time that I can spend with Him, and will be free from all distractions. I thought about it and it made sense because the baby is still sleeping at that time, and clearly no one else calls that early. Of course, God would want me at a pure uninterrupted time so that I would be focused and ready to hear from Him. Now, I ain't perfect, so there has been days that I have slept through that alarm and missed 5 am, however, I repented and still got that time in. There has also been days that I've missed time with Him completely. That was probably the worst thing I could do because the day just went completely wrong and I felt as though I could not get myself together...from experience, try not to miss any days! LOL

So, I get up at 5 am. I pray, I play worship songs, and I sing....then, I *PAUSE*. I pause to hear back from God. I speak, but I also listen. Having a notebook is extremely beneficial to me. I write everything that I heard the spirit saying down in my notebook. God actually told me that I needed the notebook because I am human, and if the things He gives me isn't written down, I would forget it.With the notebook, I have a record of all the things He's told me and I can go back at anytime and be reminded of his promises. I'd encourage everyone to get a notebook and write down what the spirit is saying.

I got a little free revelation that the Lord gave me, I want to share it with y'all....
Every morning when I spend time with God, my spiritual battery gets charged, so that my LIGHT can shine all day...BUT if I am not seeking God daily, my light will dim, and eventually turn to dark because my battery is not being properly charged. If you don't keep your phone charged, it dies right???? Same thing spiritually....

OK, that was free!!! HAHA but I want to wish you guys BLESSED meetings with the Lord, and I pray that He reveals His plans for you, answers your questions, and shares with you His purpose for your life as you diligently seek His face... BE THIRSTY, FOR GOD!

Meditate on this Scripture:
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
 However, as it is written:“What no eye has seen,what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

Also, If you need help in this area, or any area, please send me an email or facebook message! I am here for you! We are in this life together, we need eachother... ximenasherard@gmail.com <3

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal savior, please give him your life today! It is written in Romans 10:9 (NIV)
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.


I love you, but remember that God Loves you wayyyyyy more!!

~Ximena Sherard

Living with the Holy Ghost

Anyone know that POWER lies within you? So many times we look for other sources for power. Whether it be our pastors, teachers, other ministers, authority figures, our parents, or whoever, but we must remember that the power of God lives within us. If we are born again, saved, and filled with the Holy Ghost, (Acts 2:38) then we have the SAME power that Jesus did. When he died, he sent his comforter, the Holy Spirit to live within us. John 14:16-17 (NIV) says:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

 If the Holy Spirit is within us, then we should see our lifestyle change. If we are saved and living with the Holy Ghost within us, there are certain things we cannot say or do...there are certain places that we can't go and blatantly shouldn't desire to go because of the precious power that lives within us. We don't want to hide the power within us, or taint the power that lies within by our acts or our lack of action. We never want the Holy Spirit to be hidden from the view of others. People should be able to look at us and tell that we are followers of Christ BEFORE we tell them. It should be something different about you that sets you apart from the average human, which is the Holy Spirit that's living within you, radiating through you.

We are to be lights to the world.
Matthew 5:14 (NLT) You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
We represent the LIGHT in darkness and the water in desert places. We represent Christ and the Holy Spirit lives in us, so greater works we shall do... (John 14:12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.).

At some point, we have to stop merely just talking about the Holy Ghost and the power therein and activate the spirit within us. We have to allow him to take control of our lives and LEAD us through every day. We can not lead ourselves or do anything in our own strength. WE NEED GOD, JESUS, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. PERIOD.

Even the enemy has a counterfeit of this. It is called being possessed by demons. Try the spirit by the spirit to see that it is God (1 John 4:1). CHECK THAT SPIRIT WITHIN YOU! Is there something in you that is always encouraging you to do bad things, or making it easy to sin, with no conviction afterward...maybe the RIGHT spirit ain't in ya'! The RIGHT spirit will be the calm in the storms of life...it will lead you to do the right things and help you make the right choices when faced with temptation (even if you choose to ignore it).

So, how do you allow the Holy Ghost to take control of your life??? I'm so glad you asked!!! :~)

First, you have to accept Jesus as your savior (if you don't already have Him). Then, you have to read and study your bible to gain knowledge of God, the things of God, what God says about you, and His Holy Spirit...I blogged on how to read your Bible here...The Holy Spirit brings back to your remembrance the things that God said about you in His word (John 14:26), however, if you don't know what the Word says, you can't possibly be reminded of anything. It starts with having an understanding of the word.

Next, have an ear to hear what the spirit of God is saying to you...(Revelation 2:7) When the Spirit is speaking , DON'T SHUT IT OFF! The more time you spend reading your bible and meditating on God's words, the clearer the voice will become...you will be able to decipher between your words and God's words. One key way that I know it ain't me speaking is because of the fact that I am not clever enough to come up with the things that the Holy Spirit says to me. The word choice, and the things that are said could NEVER have been made up by me. You will know the difference, and when I say He speaks, y'all, HE SPEAKS!!! You just have to be open to His instructions and to let Him rule your life. Relinquish your rights over to God and let the Holy Ghost within you guide you through life comforting you. He will let you
know which purchase to make, what school to attend, what job to pursue and even what your purpose in life is...ANYTHING you could ever need help or guidance with, allow God's Holy Spirit to lead you so that you are in the perfect will of God. God will cover you away from potential harm and protect you from the hands of the enemy when you are in His will, following his commands.

If you read this blog and you are puzzled because you haven't completed the first step, which is giving your life to Jesus, say this prayer out loud:

Lord Jesus, Come into my life. I am a sinner and I want to be saved by your grace.I have done wrong in the past, and I want to make things right. Jesus, I believe that you are Lord. I believe that You are my Savior. I believe that You died for my sins and that You were raised from the dead. Please forgive me of my sins. Create in me a clean heart and renew your spirit within me. Help me to live everyday for you. Thank you Jesus for saving me! Amen.

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE NOW SAVED!!! THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN ARE REJOICING! =)

Now that you are saved ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit so that He can lead you and comfort your life...Just as Jesus breathed His Holy Spirit on the disciples when He appeared to them after the crucifixion and resurrection, He has given His Holy Spirit to you, His now disciple...(John 20:21-22)

Meditate on these scriptures concerning the Holy Spirit..
Romans 8 NIV

 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Take advantage of the Power that LIVES in you! It is there for you! Speak positive things over your life such as peace and prosperity. Make sure that you don't speak negative things for life and death is in the power of the tongue. Speak LIFE over seemingly dead situations and watch God move! We are blessed to walk in our purpose and the power of God because we know that the Holy Ghost LIVES within us! You are SO blessed to know Jesus, and don't forget it!

I love you, and remember God loves you wayyyyyy more than you can imagine!!!

~Ximena A. Sherard

Forgive. Let it Go. Move on.

Often times, we look at the things we cannot change and get caught up on it. We say things like, "Oh, if I could go back, I would do it this way", or we say, "I wish I could have done this or that in my childhood". Past memories can not be changed. They can only be replayed or relived in your mind. If they are unpleasant memories, it is not wise to constantly replay them in your mind.
God says in Romans 12:2
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Renew your mind DAILY and allow God to carry the burdens of your past pain.

 Forgive. Let it go. Move on.

Do not allow your past to predict your future. Don't say something like, "well, my daddy used to beat my momma, and statistics show that battered women witnessed abuse from their dads, so I'm probably gonna marry an abusive man"...

NO!!!!!! NEVER SAY ANYTHING LIKE THAT!

It doesn't matter how you saw life as you grew up as a child. It doesn't matter if you are a part of every negative statistic in the world. You can overcome. It doesn't matter if you were raised in a single parent home, or if your dad left you, you do not have to accept that same future for yourself. Speak positive things over your life. If you have experienced some negative things, have faith, believe, decree and declare that your LATTER will be GREATER than your past!

Job 8:7 (NKJV)
Though your beginning was small,Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.

Your words have POWER, whether you realize it or not. Remember, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 18:21NIV). You can speak LIFE or DEATH. It is up to you. You can accept the negativity from your past, forgive, let it go and move on, OR you can constantly be held captive of it...the choice is yours!

No need in living in mental captivity for Christ has made you free.
John 8:36 KJV
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Tomorrow is not even promised, so make a conscious effort to live EVERY day like it's your last. Don't mess up your FUTURE by bringing in your PAST, & don't even bring your PAST into your PRESENT. When you give your life to Christ, the slate is wiped clean. When you repent (ask God to forgive you for your sins, and turn from your sinful ways) He forgives EVERYTHING you did wrong in your past. If God isn't worried about it, why should you be? Don't beat yourself up about your past mistakes. There is redemption in our Father. There is nothing you could have EVER done that God will not forgive.

Forgive. Let it go. Move on.

It is God's job to bare your burdens, so let Him. Cast ALL your cares to Him. The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:7, "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you (NLT)".  In the same way that you would tell a friend about your problems, tell our Father in Heaven. You will feel much better. It is truly therapeutic to be able to go to God with every worry or issue that we have, AND it's FREE! When you take things to God, you don't have to worry about God gossiping and spreading your business! He's a safer outlet than any earthly confidant you could ever have.

It doesn't matter what you've done, He just wants it all. God wants you to realize that you need Him, willingly, before judgement day arrives and He says, "depart from me". Then it will be too late. He loves you and He just wants your life. Your willing statement of, "YES LORD". The closer you get to Him, the easier it will become to choose Him over your sinful fleshly desires. You have nothing to lose. Just relinquish your rights to the One that genuinely cares, loves, and will NEVER fail you! He is coming back, PERIOD. It's not a game, it's not a joke. God is coming back. The trump will sound and the dead in Christ WILL RISE.

Will you be ready?

If you are not ready, and want to get ready, give your life to Christ NOW! Don't wait.
 Romans 10:9 says,
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (NIV)

Repeat this prayer of Salvation:
Lord Jesus, Come into my life. I am a sinner and I want to be saved by your grace.I have done wrong in the past, and I want to make things right. Jesus, I believe that you are Lord. I believe that You are my Savior. I believe that You died for my sins and that You were raised from the dead. Please forgive me of my sins. Create in me a clean heart and renew your spirit within me. Help me to live everyday for you. Thank you Jesus for saving me! Amen.

Congratulations, you are now saved!!! Welcome to the best days of your life!!!!!! The Angels in Heaven are rejoicing because your soul has been saved!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you need spiritual guidance. We are in this journey to destiny together. I may not have all the answers, but I can definitely pray to the Man who does!

Remember: Forgive. Let it go. Move on.

Know that I love you, but God Loves you wayyyyyy more! :-)

~Ximena

How to Read Your Bible

Often times, we want to read the Bible and we have grandiose plans of when and how we will do so; however, when we open the bible, we do not know where to start. I have been there many times. I have always had good intentions on studying the Word of God, but the book overwhelmed me a bit because it is so big, with so many chapters, and I had no clue how to start...

If this is you, have no fear, this blog is here to help you..... :)

For starters, pick a time to study that you will be focused and receptive to whatever you are reading. DON'T attempt to watch your favorite TV show, or listen to your favorite song while simultaneously studying the Bible. It will not work. These things will be a huge distraction. If you do so, you may finish the verses, but you probably will not retain the knowledge of what you have read. Give God your full attention and I promise that He will speak to you through His word.

If you find yourself struggling to understand the Word, ask the Father to give you wisdom. The Bible says in James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."(NIV). Before you begin to read, ask God to give you wisdom and understanding. Sometimes, the Word can be very deep, so you will need the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you through it so that you are not just reading, but that the words are being absorbed into your spirit. You do not have to be a scholar to understand the Bible, you just have to be open to receiving the message that God has for you.

If you are overwhelmed by the language used in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, try picking up a New International Version Bible (NIV) or New Living Translation (NLT) Bible. The language used in those versions are easier for our modern society to understand. I personally use a NIV Life Application Study Bible and I must say it is AWESOME! It is a bit pricey (I found it on sale, PRAISE GOD) but it is worth every penny. It gives you knowledge on the history surrounding the Bible stories that you're reading and it also has a part at the bottom that breaks down the verses, so that you can better understand it and relate it to everyday life. I also have a NLT Bible and I like it as well.

***Let me say, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG with using the KJV Bible. It is the closest version of the Bible to the original, which is awesome! If you prefer that version, by all means stick with it. If ever there is something that you may not understand in the KJV, ask of the Father. He will give you understanding.

For those of you who are puzzled on where to start reading, I would suggest for you to start with the very beginning. If you're unfamiliar with the word, or haven't been taught a lot about the things of God, Genesis is definitely a good starting point. Start with Genesis 1:1. In order to know where you're going, you have to know where you've been and we all began with creation. Get a thorough understanding of what took place in the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve were created, and sin was introduced. Read through Genesis, and you will find very interesting stories such as Cain & Abel, Abraham & Sarah, Joseph and his brothers, Noah's Ark, Sodom & Gomorrah, and countless other stories. It's one thing to be told about these different stories, but when you read them for yourself, they become real to you, and you can apply the principles to your life.

The whole Bible is full of stories, and it states in Ecclesiastes 1:9, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again;  there is nothing new under the sun."(NIV) This is absolutely a true statement because the things that took place in the Bible days can be easily related to the things that are happening now. Have you ever noticed how fashion trends continuously repeat? It is the same thing. The Word of God is ALIVE, and it will continue to be relevant to our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

God's Word does not lie and it is imperative that we as people read and allow the word to become LIFE to us, and become ingrained in our spirits. It has to become REAL to us. We have to know what the Word says concerning us so that we can be girded and able to fight the enemy. When he says that you will never be able to do something, you have to know that the scripture says we can do ALL things through Christ that strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). If the Dr. tells you that you have cancer, you can tell that cancer, "By His stripes I am healed"(Isaiah 53:5). You don't EVER have to accept any negative thing that the enemy says because God says that He has plans to prosper you {Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(NIV)} and that is the ONLY thing that matters. Use the concordance in the back of the Bible to help you find scriptures to get you through your situation. If you need healing, go to the concordance and look for healing, and find out what God says concerning healing. There is no situation you could be dealing with that can't be helped by the Word of God.

Mediate on this scripture...

Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.


If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal savior, please give him your life today! It is written in Romans 10:9 (NIV)
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.



Remember I love you, but God loves you more!!!

~Ximena Sherard

Thankfulness

This was originally written on 9/7/12

Friday, September 7, 2012. Another day to be drawn nearer to the precious Father. Another day that I have taken breaths. Another day I have been blessed to laugh, love and indulge in small luxuries. Luxuries such as electricity, and driving a car, indoor plumbing, running water and central air and heat. We must be thankful because no matter how hard our situation seems, it TRULY could be worse. Someone out there doesn't even have the simple luxuries that we very often take for granted. Refrigerators, beds with comfortable mattresses, and even comforters to keep us warm at night are all luxuries that lots of people can not afford. Look at our African counterparts, some of them live in mud houses with dirt floors. Some people that live in rain forests have houses at the top of a TREE to call their home, with no electricity, and a roof made of leaves (I saw this on National Geographic), and we can't tell God THANK YOU for our beautiful homes that plenty of people would love to have. To us, what we have is not much, small, minuscule on the scale of what others who may be more well off than we, may have. To us, our homes are shacks, but to others, our homes are incredibly crafted mansions.

Life is too short to concern ourselves with worry over things we don't have or that we feel we should have, when God wants us to be sincerely thankful for the blessings He was gracious enough to give us. Heather (my car) is a 1997 Honda Accord. She's old, but to me she is a luxury vehicle. I am super thankful to God for her because I was able to pay for her with cash, in full, no car payment (PRAISE GOD), and I have not had any problems with her in the year that I've had her. I get her scheduled maintenance done (oil changes, etc.) but no major breakdowns. Some may look at Heather and wonder why I, the owner has put cheetah print seat covers and eye lashes on her headlights when she is a bit old, not an up to date car, but her owner understands Kingdom principles. I take good care of her and I am extremely proud to call her my car.

God will never bless anyone with anything better than what they have until they have proven that they are thankful, trustworthy, and responsible with the things they already have. Maybe God hasn't opened up the door for you to receive your dream house yet because you can't keep your apartment cleaned, or your rent paid on time? Maybe He hasn't blessed you with that BMW yet because your '85 Honda hasn't had an oil change in 3 years? These are all things that are important to God.

Be thankful and content with your blessings because at any point, things could change for the worse, or for the better...we never know. We should take things a day at a time, step at a time and take GOOD care of what we do have. We must keep our things in good condition. God appreciates our faithfulness, and our thankfulness. Like a good Father, He wants to shower us with blessings and give us the things that we desire, we just must be in the proper position to receive.

Meditate on this Scripture:

Philippians 4: 4-9
New International Version (NIV)

 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Also, if there is anyone who does not have Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, follow the steps in this scripture:


Romans 10:9
New International Version (NIV)

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

I love you, but remember God loves you more!

~Ximena