Vent

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Warning: What follows is a complete ventilation of feeling (really, more specifically, frustration)…

So, the creepy guy at the library who always looks around at people, more specifically Felicia and I, like he wants to abduct us, GO AWAY. No one likes the way you cough all over the keyboard and look around like you want to do something criminal. I was nice and gave you the benefit of the doubt for a while, but by the time you showed up next to me in a different library, I knew something was wrong. I have come to the conclusion that you are indeed creepy, and this is not an assumption. I am a journalist, and I work based on facts. Stop sitting next to us, and go see a doctor (this cough is a genuine concern)!

Have you ever sat through a class with a person chewing gum like a cow into your ear the entire time? This is also the class where your poor, overworked, exploited TA is sick as a dog because of the previously mentioned reasons and the fact that he doesn’t sleep probably thinking about how he will pay his next set of groceries. Get well soon, beloved TA. We all love your class. Sleep, and forget about administration and fee hikes. Sympathetically, your class.

Or how about a mediocre professor who sits there with a notepad and stares at the class, and if you have no new update on your reporting (which is often times not your fault because you rely on people you can’t control to get back to you) he will just scold you and say, “See you next time,” (this is followed by a eerie wink). He also gives you no advice, and watches you slave over a piece, and when you edit what he wants you to change, he gives you a grade that matches his teaching style. This is also the professor who doesn’t mention a book the whole semester and then wants to give a final exam on it. He is HILARIOUS. Only 3 kids do something in this class (ME INCLUDED).

THIS- is not my idea of quality education.

One last thing, since when do people talk about the meaning of life in the bathroom? Lately I have heard about boyfriends, life, and how to take naps. People… really… the bathroom?

I am over this. I had to express my disgust with the world today. And I promise I am smiling while I am writing this.

Got to love college life, and the sunshine which makes me smile.

Henry Ward Beecher: Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things.

Let us hope so, (non-creepy wink), let’s hope so…

Belief &Truth

By: Gabriela Yareliz

The words of this song are so meaningful. In times of uncertainty, it pays to think of those who faced big decisions and trials before you and how God delivered them in the past. God does not change, He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

/Many nights we’ve prayed

With no proof anyone could hear

In our hearts a hopeful song, we barely understood;
Now we are not afraid

Although we know there’s much to fear

We were moving mountains long before we knew we could–
There can be miracles, when you believe

Though hope is frail, it’s hard to kill

Who knows what miracles you can achieve, when you believe, somehow you will; you will when you believe.
In this time of fear,when prayers so often prove(s) in vain; Hope seems like the summer birds, too swiftly flown away.
Yet now I’m standing here; My heart’s so full I can’t explain; Seeking faith and speaking words I never thought I’d say…
There can be miracles, when you believe. Though hope is frail, it’s hard to kill. Who knows what miracles you can achieve, when you believe, somehow you will– You will when you believe.
They don’t (always happen) when you ask; And it’s easy to give in to your fears; But when you’re blinded by your pain– Can’t see your way straight throught the rain; A small but still resilient voice Says hope is very near./

“Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right.”    ― Max Lucado, He Still Moves Stones

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”    ― Corrie ten Boom

 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Faith is believing in what is not seen, and the reward of faith is seeing what we believed in.

Faith is about trust and truth. It is not blind, however. God gives us evidence for belief.

This video, with the ever-so-philosophical Clifford Goldstein, is great.

/Give your heart a break/

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Latina.com was raving about this song, and at this point so am I. Demi Lovato’s vocals are perfect. She modulates her voice super well, and the lyrics are really sweet.

The day I first met you

You told me you’d never fall in love

But now that I get  you

I know fear is what it really was

Now here we are, 

so close, yet so far, haven’t I passed the test?

When  will you realize

Baby, I’m not like the rest

Don’t wanna break your heart

I wanna give your heart a breakI

 know you’re  scared it’s wrong

Like you might make a mistake

There’s just one  life to live

And there’s no time to waste, to waste

So let me give your heart a  break

The world is ours,  if you want it

We can take it, if  you just take my hand

There’s no  turning back now

The Spanish cover is awesome, too 🙂

The reality of salvation and being “saved”

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Yesterday, I decided I would actually take time to eat my lunch, so I went to the outdoor area by the Welcome Center in front of the fountain to watch as parents and their children took tours where the tour guides would be bubbly and lie about where students love to hang out and talk about the importance of certain things on campus none of us notice as parents delightedly laugh and swell with pride at the fact that their child was accepted into such a fine institution.

It strikes me how all the tour guides are the same type of people except with different color skin tones. Wow, such diversity. Anyway, that is a tale for another time…

The thing is, that as I began eating my sweet potato chips, two girl approached me and decided to ask me about my personal experience and relationship with God for some survey.

They shared with me their view of salvation, one I’ve been hearing a lot about from people and even radio talk show hosts. A view that is erroneous and unbiblical in many subtle ways.

I am not going to go through our entire discussion, but I will summarize some of the arguments they presented.

I mean basic case and point:

1] You are “saved” in an instant. It bothers me when people say they got “saved” when they were nine or something. Like it happened just once. What is that all about? Okay, so you accept Jesus in your heart, that is wonderful. Jesus’ sacrifice covers our sins when we repent and turn away from them. Understood.

These young women were arguing that once you are filled with the Holy Spirit then you are good-to-go, and your sins for past, present and future are forgiven.

Where does Paul’s statement of dying daily go then?

1 Cor. 15:31

“I protest by your boasting which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily“

Why does Christianity become a slogan, where people feel they are safe and fine and nothing they do will make them lose their salvation.

Don’t get me wrong, Jesus is powerful to save, and we are saved only by grace, but then where does the biblical thought of: sin separates us from God, the penalty for sin is death, therefore, to have eternal life we must through the power of Christ obtain victory over sins and have His blood cover us– if not we are separated from God?

The young women seemed not to believe in sanctification. Sanctification is key to our growing in Christ. We can do NOTHING to earn salvation, but if we love Him, we keep His commandments and by beholding His eternal and righteous law (His character) we become changed.

2] They asked me if I believed that if I died now I’d be saved. I laughed at this thought. How can I say whether I am saved or not. Sounds a bit presumptuous in a way.

I have NO doubt that Christ can save me from my sins, and that by accepting Him daily, and moment to moment (not just through words but through the way I live) He can save me. But what if God has spoken to me, and I have rejected Him? What if I am harboring sin in my life without realizing it? After all, the heart is deceitful above all things… I have no doubt in the power of Christ to save me but salvation is a choice, my choice of whether through my life and how I live, I am accepting His sacrifice.

People fail to remember that Christianity is not by word but through following the Bible.

I told them that I could accept Christ today, but if I reject him tomorrow, then I have made my choice. If I die after I reject Him, He is just and will not give me the eternal life I decided I wanted no part of. That is why our walk with Christ is so crucial. Every moment, every thought, every act counts. I want to think I have followed and walked in the light He has given to me, but if I instantaneously die then it all depends on where I was in my walk with Him at that very moment.

The young women proceeded to say that if people end up away from the Lord, it is because they were never saved in the first place and had no experience with God.

Who are we to judge? Mercy! I am no one to judge. People make mistakes and decide for eternity at every step of the way. Pastors and great men have all fallen. Even David sinned and you are going to tell me that by Him turning away it proves He had never experienced God truly?

Let us look at King Saul: look at 1 Samuel 15 (his fall), and then 1 Samuel 16:14

“But the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.”

He was the anointed one, and the Holy Spirit departed from him because he made his choice. Was it that he had never experienced God? No, he had, but he still made his choice.

If the Holy Spirit, according to the young women, never leaves us, why did 5 of the 10 virgins (which represent the church in purity) run out of oil (a symbol of the Holy Spirit throughout scripture).

My point is you are not “once saved, always saved.”

No one who comes to Him will be cast out, He has all the power to save anyone, but as stated before it is a daily walk and a moment to moment surrender. We must also remember that He gives us power to overcome sin. He didn’t tell people in the Bible to “go and sin no more” to be funny or in a joking way. By saying that we cannot change, we deny the very power of Christ.

“Peter’s fall was not instantaneous, but gradual. Self-confidence led him to the belief that he was saved, and step after step was taken in the downward path, until he could deny his Master. Never can we safely put confidence in self or feel, this side of heaven, that we are secure against temptation. Those who accept the Saviour, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or to feel that they are saved. This is misleading. Everyone should be taught to cherish hope and faith; but even when we give ourselves to Christ and know that He accepts us, we are not beyond the reach of temptation. God’s Word declares, ‘Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried’ (Dan. 12:10). Only he who endures the trial will receive the crown of life (James 1:12)” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 155, emphasis supplied).
I am concerned with the growing number of people who believe they are saved and can live however they want disregarding biblical standards and true sanctification, not an outward show. I am concerned that people think that if you stray from the path, then you never experienced the Lord and that if you are “saved” you are saved no matter what you do. It is so easy to think that way. Wouldn’t Christianity be simple then?

If it was to be so easy, why does the Bible call it spiritual warfare?

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.” Eph. 6:12

Let us make sure we don’t end up like the people in Matthew 7:21 “Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

I ate my lunch after sharing with these young women what the Bible says about salvation, and we prayed together. My lunch hour ended up being not so peaceful, but instead disconcerting.

Let us accept that eternal sacrifice, not just in word because this can be so shallow, but in deed. Let us do as Phil. 2:12 says:

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

I’ve had the time of my life

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I really love this movie. The Heartbreaker (L’arnacoeur) is about a man who breaks people up for a living, and while faking to be his next job’s bodyguard, he of course falls in love with her. Her favorite movie is “Dirty Dancing,” so he learns and dance and takes her out and surprises her. I thought it was a really romantic scene, and the song of course is a classic.

Below is him practicing, and then, their dance:

Boy: Now I’ve had the time of my life No I never felt like this before Yes I swear it’s the truth and I owe it all to you
Girl: ‘Cause I’ve had the time of my life and I owe it all to you
Boy: I’ve been waiting for so long Now I’ve finally found someone To stand by me
Girl: We saw the writing on the wall As we felt this magical fantasy
Both: Now with passion in our eyes There’s no way we could disguise it secretly So we take each other’s hand ‘Cause we seem to understand the urgency
Boy: just remember
Girl: You’re the one thing
Boy: I can’t get enough of
Girl: So I’ll tell you something
Both:This could be love because
(CHORUS) Both: I’ve had the time of my life, No, I never felt this way before Yes I swear it’s the truth And I owe it all to you ‘Cause I’ve had the time of my life And I’ve searched through every open door ‘Til I found the truth And I owe it all to you
Girl: With my body and soul I want you more than you’ll ever know
Boy: So we’ll just let it go Don’t be afraid to lose control
Girl: Yes I know whats on your mind When you say: “Stay with me tonight.”
Boy: Just remember You’re the one thing
Girl: I can’t get enough of
Boy: So I’ll tell you something
Both: This could be love because
(CHORUS) Both: ‘Cause I had the time of my life No I’ve never felt this way before Yes I swear it’s the truth And I owe it all to you ‘Cause I’ve had the time of my life And I’ve searched through every open door Till I found the truth and I owe it all to you
*Instrumental*
Boy: Now I’ve had the time of my life No I never felt this way before
(Girl: Never Felt this way)
Boy: Yes I swear it’s the truth and I owe it all to you
Both: ‘Cause I had the time of my life And I’ve searched through every open door Till I’ve found the truth and I owe it all to you
Both:  “cause I’ve had the time of my life No I’ve never felt this way before Yes, I swear it’s the truth And I owe it all to you…

Amor del Bueno /True Love/

By: Gabriela Yareliz

“True Love”

Like a knife in the butter you entered into my life; When i was dying;

Like the moon in the aperture– Just like that you wedged yourself between my pupils;

And so did i love you daily; Without any law– Without a timetable

And so you woke me up from every dream where you were;

And nobody searched for it, and nobody planned it this way; It was written that you were mine

And nobody bet that i would be so happy, but Cupid had mercy on me

Like the rain in plain desert did you moisten with hope my heart; Suffocated my fears;

Like the sweet voice in the silence; This is how love got to us; True love

And nobody bet That i would be so happy But, Cupid had mercy on me.

“When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew “-Shakespeare

Providence is an interesting thing…

The Unchangeable Character of God

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I’ve been reading the book of Deuteronomy. It is a fascinating book so far whose main theme is to let the Lord fight your battles and to keep His commandments.

Deut. 11:1 ““Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always.”

It never fails to amaze me how people who believe in other religions other than Christianity have such devotion, and they follow their beliefs no matter what the sacrifice.

In Christianity no one wants to sacrifice convenience and tradition. People fail to realize tha tradition and man’s ways do you not save you.

John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

1 John 2:4 “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

If there is anything that has been on my mind lately is how we try to shape everything into the way we think. We want things our way, yet things have already been established.

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

God does not change, neither does the reflection of His character which is God’s moral law. If it could have been changed or nailed to a cross… why did Jesus have to die? If that which pointed out our sin could have been changed then why did he have to die?

 

“The substitution of the precepts of men for the commandments of God has not ceased. Even among Christians are found institutions and usages that have no better foundation than the traditions of the fathers.

Such institutions, resting upon mere human authority, have supplanted those of divine appointment. Men cling to their traditions, and revere their customs, and cherish hatred against those who seek to show them their error.

In this day, when we are bidden to call attention to the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, we see the same enmity as was manifested in the days of Christ. Of the remnant people of God it is written, “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 12:17.

But “every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” In place of the authority of the so-called fathers of the church, God bids us accept the word of the eternal Father, the Lord of heaven and earth. Here alone is truth unmixed with error.

David said, “I have more understanding than all my teachers: for Thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Thy precepts.” Ps. 119:99, 100. Let all who accept human authority, the customs of the church, or the traditions of the fathers, take heed to the warning conveyed in the words of Christ, “In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

(Desire of Ages, Ellen G. White, page 398)

When type met anti-type in the sanctuary services, the sacrifices of a lamb and much of the Mosaic law was no longer needed. Unfortunately people forget that the 10 commandments was not a mosaic law, but it was established long before a Jewish nation was. It is eternal because it is the character of God, and it was given to man at creation.

We see of Abraham, who was not Jewish, the Bible says Genesis 26:5 “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

The people of ISrael had been enslaved by the Egyptians for quite some time, and so God gave them His law written out as a reminder of how to worship Him.

We must remember Psalm 19

“7] The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

8The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

12Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Let us all study God’s word and strive to keep His commandments, not because that can save us– no, we are saved by grace, but we keep His commandments because we love Him.

Suavemente

By: Gabriela Yareliz

This song was a hit. Everyone has heard it whether it was in Dancing with the Stars, anything involving salsa, or at a restaurant that is trying to have Latin flavor. They’ve played it on runways, dress showcases, parties and now finally someone has redone it and is trying to reap the success the song has had. It was originally sung by Elvis Crespo, a Puerto Rican signer and it was #1 on the Billboards in 1998.

Check out the original and the remake (which has been changed a bit to suit the style of Pitbull and Nayer)