We all have the capacity to set our minds and energy towards many goals and dreams through out our lives. Many dreams and goals you will fail at, some you will win, but if you never try you will never taste success.
What's burning in your heart? Do it. What have you failed at? Learn from it.
What are you hoping for? Work towards it.
It's worth it.
Shuree
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
I used to fear evil but now I seek to know what's behind the dark curtain...
"We must seek to understand if we want to make a change" S.R.
Darkness used to haunt me, casting shadows in my windows and monsters in my dreams
My mamma would say "Call out to the Light and the darkness will flee," so every night I would scream...
Fear used to grip my soul when I was blind to the unknown, the source, the root.
It's the Truth that sets us free but we live in mystery wondering
when the hammer will fall and dreams be withdrawn
by a hidden enemy seeking to destroy our destines
BUT NOW I SEE...
This blog post is based on Matt 10:26 "For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known." NIV
Darkness used to haunt me, casting shadows in my windows and monsters in my dreams
My mamma would say "Call out to the Light and the darkness will flee," so every night I would scream...
Fear used to grip my soul when I was blind to the unknown, the source, the root.
It's the Truth that sets us free but we live in mystery wondering
when the hammer will fall and dreams be withdrawn
by a hidden enemy seeking to destroy our destines
BUT NOW I SEE...
This blog post is based on Matt 10:26 "For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known." NIV
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
By His cuts we are healed....
THIS STORY IS FROM OF ONE OF THE GIRLS I MET AFTER ONE OF MY CONCERTS, AND IS BEING SHARED WITH HER PERMISSION:
"As a 6 yr old child I was raped for 3 years by a couple of neighborhood teenage boys. I realized at age 11 what had happened to me and I then had to attend counseling which didn't go well because I was too afraid to talk to anyone about it. I grew up in church and received Jesus as my Savior when I was 13. I got baptized a week later. I attended church camp throughout my teen years and enjoyed it very much. When I was 16 I began cutting. I don't really remember why though."
After reading this story here in my living room, I'm staring outside my window at the sun dancing through the tree's wondering how many girls are taking knives to their arms to medicate the pain of life. For me, I see the beauty all around me, but for many other girls, darkness is eating away at their souls and even the sun looks gray to them.
When we suffer abuse it haunts us, it causes an overwhelming feeling of fear and shame. The young woman in this story was not at fault for being raped at age 6, she's not at fault for not being able to tell anyone until she was 11. She was a victim and God's tears flowed down over her situation. God sent His son Jesus to this earth because He knew evil things would be done and many people would need a Savior and a healer. God knew this little girl would need to be healed from the pain caused by the sins of the boys who raped her.
My personal story is not one of rape but there were many painful abusive situations I faced as a child. I remember when the darkness tried to overtake my existence as young woman. I remember wishing that I was dead. What stopped me from hurting myself? The Word of God.
I had to believe with a ton of faith God had plans to prosper me and did not plan to harm me and that God would give me a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
I began to come to God, pray to Him, listen to Him and look to Him with ALL my heart and God came to me and healed me slowly day by day. Jeremiah 29:12-13
The young lady in the story above shared with me that she is now praying and calling out to God with all of her heart and reading the Word of God, and she is losing the desire to cut herself. She is listening to God's word and is trusting He has a good future for her. She is now finding JOY!
She is realizing that Christ already took on her pain and even suffered so she would not have to bring pain to herself. In the Bible Isaiah 53:5 says:
He was wounded(Cut, Pierced) for our rebellious acts. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from his wounds.
The cutting, piercing, wounds and scars have already been taken on by Jesus so YOU and I can have peace and healing.
If you or someone you know is "cutting" please know God knows the pain you have inside and if you call on Jesus and trust Him He will be what you need to get through the darkness and start living in the light and in joy. He was cut for us, we don't have to bear those scars. FOR HELP VISIT: To Write Love on Her Arms website:
http://www.twloha.com/
I love you-
Shuree
To respond to this or to share you story, comment here or send me a personal email to shureerivera@gmail.com
"As a 6 yr old child I was raped for 3 years by a couple of neighborhood teenage boys. I realized at age 11 what had happened to me and I then had to attend counseling which didn't go well because I was too afraid to talk to anyone about it. I grew up in church and received Jesus as my Savior when I was 13. I got baptized a week later. I attended church camp throughout my teen years and enjoyed it very much. When I was 16 I began cutting. I don't really remember why though."
After reading this story here in my living room, I'm staring outside my window at the sun dancing through the tree's wondering how many girls are taking knives to their arms to medicate the pain of life. For me, I see the beauty all around me, but for many other girls, darkness is eating away at their souls and even the sun looks gray to them.
When we suffer abuse it haunts us, it causes an overwhelming feeling of fear and shame. The young woman in this story was not at fault for being raped at age 6, she's not at fault for not being able to tell anyone until she was 11. She was a victim and God's tears flowed down over her situation. God sent His son Jesus to this earth because He knew evil things would be done and many people would need a Savior and a healer. God knew this little girl would need to be healed from the pain caused by the sins of the boys who raped her.
My personal story is not one of rape but there were many painful abusive situations I faced as a child. I remember when the darkness tried to overtake my existence as young woman. I remember wishing that I was dead. What stopped me from hurting myself? The Word of God.
I had to believe with a ton of faith God had plans to prosper me and did not plan to harm me and that God would give me a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
I began to come to God, pray to Him, listen to Him and look to Him with ALL my heart and God came to me and healed me slowly day by day. Jeremiah 29:12-13
The young lady in the story above shared with me that she is now praying and calling out to God with all of her heart and reading the Word of God, and she is losing the desire to cut herself. She is listening to God's word and is trusting He has a good future for her. She is now finding JOY!
She is realizing that Christ already took on her pain and even suffered so she would not have to bring pain to herself. In the Bible Isaiah 53:5 says:
He was wounded(Cut, Pierced) for our rebellious acts. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from his wounds.
The cutting, piercing, wounds and scars have already been taken on by Jesus so YOU and I can have peace and healing.
If you or someone you know is "cutting" please know God knows the pain you have inside and if you call on Jesus and trust Him He will be what you need to get through the darkness and start living in the light and in joy. He was cut for us, we don't have to bear those scars. FOR HELP VISIT: To Write Love on Her Arms website:
http://www.twloha.com/
I love you-
Shuree
To respond to this or to share you story, comment here or send me a personal email to shureerivera@gmail.com
Monday, May 16, 2011
I wanna be ready...
So I am NOT a big fan of fire and brimstone preaching I am more on the side of helping people discovering Gods love and falling deeply in love with their Father-God. I want to see people coming to Him with a heart that is not bitter but full of gratitude for what He has done for us through His Son Jesus.
With that said: I read a scripture today that moved me:
23 "If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, 'Here's the Messiah!' or points, 'There he is!' don't fall for it. 24 Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better.
This was a reminder to me that we live in a world where the pure gospel is being hidden and adjusted to fit what makes us humans more comfortable or looks more appealing rather then what the gospel really is: A call to lay down your life as Christ laid down His life. A call to love others as yourself and to love the Lord God with all our hearts and all our strength and all our minds. This is what the true God desires. The false Gods and preachers of this world will say " Do what you want as long as that's how your were born" or "Look out for self above all else" or "Give tons of money to the church and then God will love you." God is not out for your money or your fame or even your prefrences HE desires that His glory and Love would be seen on the earth and that His creation would worship Him and live in His presence doing the good He created each one of us to do. The bible talks about Jesus returning for His children, and to be ready. I want to be ready when Jesus comes and be found doing the good He has called me to and being true to the pure gospel of Jesus.
With that said: I read a scripture today that moved me:
23 "If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, 'Here's the Messiah!' or points, 'There he is!' don't fall for it. 24 Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better.
This was a reminder to me that we live in a world where the pure gospel is being hidden and adjusted to fit what makes us humans more comfortable or looks more appealing rather then what the gospel really is: A call to lay down your life as Christ laid down His life. A call to love others as yourself and to love the Lord God with all our hearts and all our strength and all our minds. This is what the true God desires. The false Gods and preachers of this world will say " Do what you want as long as that's how your were born" or "Look out for self above all else" or "Give tons of money to the church and then God will love you." God is not out for your money or your fame or even your prefrences HE desires that His glory and Love would be seen on the earth and that His creation would worship Him and live in His presence doing the good He created each one of us to do. The bible talks about Jesus returning for His children, and to be ready. I want to be ready when Jesus comes and be found doing the good He has called me to and being true to the pure gospel of Jesus.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Words of David Wilkerson that have inpired me as I continue my journey
I thank God for family
I thank God for ministry
I thank God for for 50 years of ministry
But folks it’s boiled down to one issue
One desire
It’s more then wanting to be loved and appreciated or the cheers or praises of man
It’s more then wanting to be comfortable or secure in your old age and having some retirement plan
That means nothing
It comes down to this one issue
I want to be like Jesus
I want to see his face
I want to be a reflection of who He is
Lord when you said seek my face my heart said unto you thy face Lord your face will I seek
That’s the answer
Learn more about David Wilkerson's legacy. How he turned thugs into priests, cities into temple and a generation into God seekers.
Follow this link: http://vimeo.com/23002650
I thank God for ministry
I thank God for for 50 years of ministry
But folks it’s boiled down to one issue
One desire
It’s more then wanting to be loved and appreciated or the cheers or praises of man
It’s more then wanting to be comfortable or secure in your old age and having some retirement plan
That means nothing
It comes down to this one issue
I want to be like Jesus
I want to see his face
I want to be a reflection of who He is
Lord when you said seek my face my heart said unto you thy face Lord your face will I seek
That’s the answer
Learn more about David Wilkerson's legacy. How he turned thugs into priests, cities into temple and a generation into God seekers.
Follow this link: http://vimeo.com/23002650
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The lil ones
Recently at church I was talking to a little girl who loves to sing. She showed me a YouTube video of herself singing a hit pop song that's out right now. I watched the video and waited to see if she would sing some of the lyrics that were clearly not biblically on point, she sang the lyrics all the way through. I asked her do you know what you are singing, she said yes and went on to explain. I asked her do you think what you just sang is Gods view? She said yes. The interesting thing is when I showed her scripture that revealed a different view she was shocked. I told her I love the song your singing but just because I love the way the song sounds it does not mean that what the song is saying is right. I told her I sing these songs in my wedding band and I re-write some lyrics that I know are not God honoring when I have to sing the songs and encouraged her to get creative and try to do the same.
This interaction got me thinking about how tweens and teens are getting their theology. In this case the artist was giving a very strong and compelling theological view of sexuality, in fact the artist was even stating that their view was Gods view. What I think is interesting is that a lot of parents have no idea what their kids are listening to/singing. The lyrics in a lot of songs that are out are hidden behind a lot of cool sounds but underneath the sound is a message that is teaching young ones a worldview. It made me think I want to keep making music that can sound amazing and stand with the top artists but give positive uplifting messages that align with scripture.
So should you empty your kids I pod of all pop music? I don't think so. I think you should teach them to discern what is right and what is not. Listen to the music they listen to. Talk about it. Help them discover Gods truth. It's not the musical sound that's going misguide your kid, but the message might.
This interaction got me thinking about how tweens and teens are getting their theology. In this case the artist was giving a very strong and compelling theological view of sexuality, in fact the artist was even stating that their view was Gods view. What I think is interesting is that a lot of parents have no idea what their kids are listening to/singing. The lyrics in a lot of songs that are out are hidden behind a lot of cool sounds but underneath the sound is a message that is teaching young ones a worldview. It made me think I want to keep making music that can sound amazing and stand with the top artists but give positive uplifting messages that align with scripture.
So should you empty your kids I pod of all pop music? I don't think so. I think you should teach them to discern what is right and what is not. Listen to the music they listen to. Talk about it. Help them discover Gods truth. It's not the musical sound that's going misguide your kid, but the message might.
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