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]

A testimony in the making

The last post was about Sean and I starting a new season in our life.  It's safe to say that we have done just that!  So many things have changed for us in the last few months.  We have both had career changes where we have to rely on God.  Our faith has increased in Him to provide every need and He has done just that.  God wants us to be available for Him.  When Sean and I said "yes" to Him in being available for Him, God expedited us into the season we were expecting.  But, we did not expect this season to come so suddenly.  When I look back on the prophetic words of 2016 all I can remember is the word 'suddenly' and how to expect the suddenly's.  It's a great year to expect them and to know that they are from God.  He wants us to be ready to move for Him.  He wants us to be available at all times.  I'm realizing that the more available I am to do His work, the more I see how He excels me.  I'm experiencing it now.  He has done so much for me already this year.. and it's only March!

Sean and I are a 'testimony in the making' (as I like to say) in this new season.  We are still walking out this new journey in our lives and I have enjoyed every aspect of it.. whether it's been good or tough.  It makes us stronger.  It makes us one.

So, are you ready to be available?  Are you ready to be willing to do things for our Father?  If you are ready and take that step to do it all for Him then you will never regret that decision.  God is going to take you places that you will never imagine!  He's doing that right now for me!  You will be blessed beyond measure if you start to become available for Him.

And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19 NKJV

To God be the glory.

Inheritance

Last Friday was Sean's birthday! He is now 30!  We went to Ruth's Chris for dinner and enjoyed some amazing food!  They also gave him free dessert for his birthday.

On Saturday, we went to a friend's house and celebrated his birthday with some of our closest friends here in Fort Myers.  These people have truly become our family and it was a beautiful day to celebrate Sean's life with them.  I found this idea for his cake online.  Sean's favorite cake is Red Velvet.  So our friend Robyn, who owns Heavenly Sweetz by Robyn, made his favorite cake and added regular M&M's in the center.  It was delicious!  Make sure to get her for your next party!

One thing Sean truly wanted for his birthday was to have those who pour into him on a regular basis pray over him.  On Sunday, we were able to do that.  It was such a sweet, sweet blessing.  This year is going to be an incredible year for him and I am so honored to stand along side of him as his wife.

The reason why this post is titled "Inheritance" is because in the Jewish culture when Jesus was walking the earth, at the age of 30 is when the first born receives his inheritance from his father.  The time comes for the son to take over the family business/inherit the trade of his father.  We strongly believe that Sean is receiving his inheritance this year.  We can't wait to see what will happen in our lives!

Last but NOT least!!  My little brother and Sean share the same birthday.  This guy turned 12!!  It's crazy to see how much he has grown!  He also loves his long hair!  I'm so proud of this kid.  He is so smart and I know he is going to do some amazing things with the knowledge that God has given him.

The Dropbox Film

Last night I went to see the movie, The Dropbox Film.  I went with a lovely lady from church who has adopted children.  She knows mine and Sean's heart for adoption and I knew this would be good for us to go see together.

This movie, literally wrecked me.  My heart is so full with happiness and brokenness.  This man, Pastor Lee, has literally laid his life down to care for these children he has adopted and for the ones that come in daily through the baby box.  Yes, babies come almost daily to this man's home.

I did not realize how bad it is for women who are unwed to get pregnant, especially minors.  Most babies that get put in the baby box have mothers who are TEENAGE GIRLS and cannot take care of them alone.  Their families will not help raise the child; it's either abort the child or abandoning the child on the streets of Seoul.  Most babies have been abandoned on the streets and this pastor has provided an option to give them up so these babies can be adopted.  It is a great thing that this man is doing.  There is some controversy over this baby box, which I do understand why, however, I believe this is a great alternative to bring Life in this world.

Pastor Lee says every child that comes into the home has a purpose.  Most of the babies he has adopted have special needs and have to be cared for.  He prays over child and thanks God for saving their life.  Seriously, how amazing is this?!

We need to wake up.  Our society needs to be willing to be transparent and open their homes to these children who have been abandoned by their families.  Now is the time to take care of the orphans and the widows (James 1:27).  We can no longer wait for someone else to take care of it.  It's our time to get over ourselves.  It's time to give our time with a servant's heart.  

One of my favorite things about this movie is how the director of the file, Brian Ivie, found his identity in Christ.  It was an amazing gift of how God orchestrated this.  I have posted the link to his interview of how this film came together.  

Brian Ivie's Story


I have more things to say regarding this but I don't have the words yet to write down at this moment.  I can't wait for this film to be out in stores and share it everyone I know.

Stand4Life

"Jesus, we plead Your blood over my sins and the sins of my nation.  God, end abortion and send revival to America."

Saturday was the national day for Stand4Life.  It was a national day to stand and pray against abortion.  I had known about it for a few weeks and then on Wednesday of last week, I got a call asking if I would participate as well as be a captain at one of the local abortion clinics.  Of course I said yes.  I was so excited and honored  to be a part of this day!  I have never been a captain and honestly, after thinking about it for a while, I got nervous.

The first & last prayer siege I have been a part of was in 2010 when me and a few friends drove to Atlanta, then to Houston for the emergency prayer siege.  We rode with the Atlanta Bound4life group to Texas.  It was called Midnight Ride for Justice.  If you are not familiar with what happened in 2010, here is the basic info:  Planned Parenthood was opening their largest abortion, not only in the nation but in the Western Hemisphere.  The building was/is 6 stories high and I believe that building was originally intended to be a bank.  It is strategically placed in a lower income area that had 2 Hispanic communities and 1 African American community.  Most people do not think it is strategically placed but I do.  (If you don't, then that is okay... no need to start a debate on this).  Anyways, we got there on a Friday afternoon, had an emergency Call meeting/prayer rumble.  We prayed and cried out for 6 hours.  The following day, we had the silent siege.  Bound4Life only asked for 400 people to stand at the building, and then a few hundred to do the prayer march throughout the community.  We ended up having over 1200 people there altogether and people were standing for life across the parking lot, street, to the other side of the interstate.  It made national news and it was truly an experience I will never forget. 

Back to Saturday, Sean and I went to the Planned Parenthood.  It was our first time doing this together and it ended up just being the two of us.  It started off raining so we just sat in our car the whole time.  But when we drove up to the plaza where the clinic is, we saw a couple and their friend walking into the clinic like it was nothing to them.  At that moment, we were unaware that they provide other services (remember this was our first time).  After seeing them walk in with that attitude, it struck something in both of us.  We are still unsure if they perform procedures on Saturday's at this clinic but it doesn't matter because the thought of abortion is being placed in these peoples' minds.  It was a surreal moment for both of us and I was so glad that we got to experience this together.  We know that one day we will adopt and being there just confirms it.  It also confirms that we have to fight for those who do not have a voice.  I don't see why babies are any different than animals, environment, etc.  We fight for those who cannot verbally fight for themselves. 

I thank God for this time with my husband as we start to get more involved in the Bound4Life, Fort Myers Chapter. 

To learn more about the Bound4life organization click here.

wednesday wisdom

So my Wednesday wisdom has continued over to Thursday.  I started this yesterday but did not get to finish...
BUT
This quote is so true!  How can you live for today and the future if you cannot let go of the past?  I am guilty of this myself.  I remember how I did things in Alabama and I think to myself, "why can't I do this again now?" or "I wish I was still like I was back then." If I keep doing this, I will completely miss what I am supposed to do in Florida and I would not fulfill my duty as a wife to Sean.

So I challenge you to move forward with remembering the past, but not letting it decide your future.  This is a challenge for myself too!  Let's do this together!