New Season, New State

That's right!  The Sotomayors are off to Texas!

We will be leaving Florida at the end of September to make our way to the great state of Texas.

Back Story:

During the revival at our church last summer, in July (specifically), the Lord told me that Sean and I are being realigned/readjusted.  Naturally, that also means we are in transition.  We weren't exactly sure what God was doing or what He wanted us to do.  So we stayed where we were because it's not smart to just change or move out of the position you are in without any direction.  

That time has come for us to move!  We have been in a transitional position since November 2015, physically.  God shifted us out of our local church.  Then we went through some unexpected job changes where we had to solely rely on the Lord for our income.  It was not easy for me or Sean but it was a great test.  The Lord has provided for us during that time of income and it was wonderful to see what He was doing for us.

Why Texas?
Back in April I asked the Lord what our we to do next?  I was asking should we stay in Florida and if we are to stay, then what will we do here.  Nothing was happening here and we have no ties to stay in southwest Florida.  In May, we heard how God is doing some great things in Texas through some of our friends.  Our friends were telling us what God laid on their heart and that God is telling them to move to Texas.  As Sean and I were listening to this, we both were asking if this is what we are to do.  By the end of our time together on the day we met with them, all I could hear over and over, louder and louder, "YOU'RE GOING TO TEXAS."  I'm freaking out on the inside as I kept hearing this.  I was trying not to get excited or be moved by my emotions.  God continue to confirm this to Sean and I following the next few weeks.

We are not completely sure what our role or our purpose yet, ministry speaking.  We are not concerned by it either.  God told us to go and that's what we are doing.  We are not moving to be a part of ministry staff.  We are going to be a part of a community that move in the prophetic and apostolic.

We are so excited for this new season and new chapter of our journey together as one.  God has been confirming this journey for us everyday and He has been taking care of all of the logistics that need to be completed.

We are so thankful for our time in Florida (even the heat & humidity).  We have established an amazing kingdom family here and we will miss them terribly.  We know that our season in Florida is over but the family and community we made in Florida will be forever lasting.

Please be in prayer for us as we make our journey to Texas!!
God is going to be doing some great things!

America's Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!

It's a slow and relaxing day in the Sotomayor household today and this weekend.  We are preparing for a big transition in our lives (not a baby); more details on that at a later date.

I've had a longing in my heart lately to spend more time with the Lord.  It's been a little hard due to changing jobs and learning a new field.  It's been absolutely amazing but that desire and longing has always been present.

I didn't realize that I've been trying to put old wine in a new wine skin.  I've been listening to some amazing sermons lately and one topic was to stop trying to do things like you did into today's life. That means that my life back then cannot be fitted into my life today.  My life back then was great and my life now is great.  It looks much different but I'm learning that I have to let that old life go and be flexible with my time, even though it's not what I want.  I must be willing to change my routine to spend time with the Lord.  That is very hard for me because I love routines.

I woke up early this morning so I could do some work and spend time with the Lord.  I have done little work and just spent time with Him, praying, journaling, and reading a couple of scriptures.  I woke up with a thankful spirit.  God has been so good to me and Sean this year.  It's been a season, a year really, of transition for us.

Transition isn't always easy.  It's about a season of flexibility, humility, pruning, and discipline.  One thing I have been praying about during this time is to remain thankful and have a spirit of gratitude.  I don't want to lose that.  I don't want to become entitled with the things that our Father has given us.  He can easily take it all away.  I'm not one to be patriotic but I have learned over the last few years that America is great and we must support it as a whole, even when we disagree with the choices of our leaders.  America is the land of the free and the home of the brave.  We must pray for our country.  God's mercy is new every morning.  Every morning we get a new chance in this world.

I'm so thankful for His new mercies.  I'm thankful for His loving-kindness.

Well, this post is not where I wanted to go but I think it's meant to be.  I hope you enjoy the thoughts that were going through my head this morning.  I hope you enjoy your time with your loved ones on this 4th of July.  I truly appreciate all the men and women who serve daily to keep America free and great.  You are the heroes of this country.

We give praise and thanks to You, O God, we praise and give thanks, Your wondrous works declare that Your Name is near and they who invoke Your Name rehearse Your wonders.  - Psalm 75:1 [AMP]

[I apologize for my rambling. I feel like I am all over the place in this post and I have more to say but at this moment I can't articulate it into words]

Tale of Three Trees

On Palm Sunday, our kids did their first musical, A Tale of Three Trees.  They did an amazing job too!  They learned all the songs, motions, & speaking parts in about 4 weeks!  I have never seen kids so genuinely excited for a musical.  I grew up in doing kids' musicals at my church and I also helped with some too and I have never this much excitement as these kids.  They loved it so much that they wanted to start working on the next one!  There are not many kids at our church at the moment but these kids can sing too!  When I was in the musicals, we always had the back up voices but these kids knew their words and sang.  It was so refreshing and so much fun watching them.  Sean and I helped with the lighting and I got stuck doing the spotlight...  I have no experience with that either.  haha.  But I did enjoy it and it was more fun that I got to do it for the kids at the church.  These kids are absolutely amazing and full of so much joy.  I think I am just as excited for the next one as they are!!  Here are some pictures from the play.

Me practicing with the spotlight.

All the kids performing.

After the play, Pastor Tommie spoke a little bit.  At the end he started to encourage everyone (including the kids) to worship together.  The best part is seeing the kids participate in worship.  They may not understand everything we talk about yet but they do know how to be respectful to their elders and engage in worship.  The Holy Spirit is known to our children.  I absolutely love them.

Wednesday Wisdom

God has been doing some amazing things these last couple of weeks.  Sean and I are officially working with the youth now.  We are co-leading the Sunday school class and drama with another couple, who are amazing!  We have been spending more time with them lately and I am loving every second of it.  The youth here are great.  I'm still trying to get their names right and figure out who they belong to! We are already seeing God move in some of their lives and it's truly incredible to watch God transform someone into His image.  I know He's definitely molding me!

Now that we are involved with the kids, Ginger (wife of the other couple) and I want to have a day for the young girls about image.  We want to teach them the basics of hygiene, self-esteem, etc.. basically a girls' day.  So, I have a couple of books we can also teach or do a devotion together with them.  I came across an old book that I read in high school from a Bible study I attended.  I have started to read it again & within the first few pages God has already pointed this excerpt out:


"You are looking for rules to restrict their behavior.  Rules will not keep them.  The empowerment they need must be born out of relationship.  Change you focus from what they can't do to what they can do.  Tell them that they can go as far with their boyfriends as they are comfortable doing in front of their fathers.  For fathers are the protector and guardian of the virtue for daughters."
Kissed the Girls and Made them Cry by Lisa Bevere

This excerpt is regarding sex & relationships. How 'far' is it okay for kids to go, physically, in a relationship? The Holy Spirit revealed this revelation to Lisa Bevere when she was asked to speak on sex with teenage girls.  This answer is probably the best answer I have ever seen.  I know I will keep this answer in mind. 

I just wanted to share this because as a youth leader, I have been asked types of questions regarding relationships.  And sometimes I am not sure how to respond besides saying, "don't date at all."  So as a youth leader, I do feel like this is a great answer to tell students.  I do not want to say something without parents, either being there or saying something that the parents have not discussed with them.  Parents want & should be the ones discussing these topics with their children but we all know that this isn't always the case.  So, I encourage those who have to discuss these types of questions with students that this response is a great response to use.