Rebecca Gomez

There is an imaginary pendulum that swings in my heart for young people and our world that is so lost and corrupt. Earlier this week, I had the privilege to watch a film called “I-Heart: We’re All in This Together.”  The stories shared through this documentary opened my eyes to see the suffering and pain going on throughout the world. Several stories, to name a few, were of people who are without hope, lost, without vision or goals, and generation upon generations of families that live in poverty. A few outstanding statistics were: There are 2-billion children that exist is this present world which 1-billion live in poverty. Think about that for a brief minute, every other child in this world is poor. As though poverty wasn’t enough of a problem, other outrageous stories include child trafficking in foreign countries, drug abuse, manual labor, and prostitution.  As early as 9 years of age young precious little girls are abducted every day. Many of them slave over paying a debt that was inherited from their families past money owing. By the age of 16 or 18 years, many of them are diagnosed with different sexually transmitted diseases. Some of the diseases are treatable but because of lack of medical supplies and money many of them die. What could you be doing to change our community in a significant way? For starters, when you see a need… meet it! So many times we shut our love off when it comes to people who are in need because we don’t want to feel bad. What are you going to do?

What a week!! As it turns out I got sick all over again :/ Well it I found out that this “bug” going around has a certain technique to its attack. First, for about two or three days, you get sniffles and fever then, right after, you get better for another three or four days. Right when you think you are in the clear… it hits you like a freight train. I’m talking about everything from high fever to mocos (I know, tmi), lol. I so wish someone would have warned me about this. Anybody!! Needless to say, I’m feeling so much better and I all I have to deal with is just an annoying cough. Well being sick and all, we had an awesome pastors & leaders conference. It was such a blessing! Our very own, Pastor Jaime Loya,  gave an awesome word and my life was truly transformed and blessed. Anyhow, during the time I was at home resting, I had time to surf the web and check out some SNL (Saturday Night Live) videos. If you are a Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig fan, you will love this. I must have watched it 20 some odd times and laughed so much. I couldn’t keep it to myself, so I’m sharing with you. Just click the link below:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/73360/saturday-night-live-lawrence-welk

I may be part of the only few out there but Thanksgiving and Christmas are my two most favorite holidays. They are a time of giving and being thankful. I’ll tell you one thing I am thankful for… the summer heat and humidity being GONE! Seriously, I can wait for the first day of winter. You know, when you open your door in the morning and realize that its sooooo cold you have to go back for a sweater. Brrrrrr, I love sweater weather and of course not excluding the hats, jackets, scarves, and boots. There is something about winter that makes life so much more pleasant. Drinking hot coco, eating smore’s and watching The Grinch all snuggled in blankets. I know, sounds really cheesy but it’s so true. As busy as we become, we get so lost in buying presents and preparing for celebrations that we forget to embrace the moments in between. The holidays, although bitter to some, gives me the opportunity to be grateful about having my husband and my family by my side. Even though some have passed and are no longer with me, I’m thankful that they impacted my life when they were here. I don’t know, maybe it is about the presents and turkey or maybe not. Whatever the case, I’m taking it day by day and giving thanks.

What is the bittersweet truth? Exactly how true is the whole truth? Wikipedia describes it as this: The word truth has a variety of meanings, from honesty, good faith, and sincerity in general. The truth behind “little white lies” is that they only cover up the bigger ones. As time progresses, the compilation of little lies becomes one big lie, nevertheless making you one big fat liar. By the time you know it your head becomes very cloudy and you can’t seem to make sense out of anything. You soon forget how the lie even started and eventually your life becomes a huge mess.
There are so many days that I have to look and reflect on where I’ve been. I’ve made some pretty wrong choices before, choices that have cost me everything. I believe it is hard being transparent especially to your peers and loved ones. Being transparent, the truth caught up to me. It revealed itself in its ugliest form at the most imperfect time. I found that being honest to myself about the truth was not easy but the reconciliation was great. Hidden emotions are only bombs waiting to explode. Honesty is only evidence of progress. If you plan to progress, tell yourself the truth and let go. Do not waste your time and energy on losing your mind but walk in truth in everything you do. Ultimately, it will set you free.

Wow, our summer is finally considered over!! Students return to school in a couple days and we ended with an exciting back to school block party. It has been so hard to blog these past couple of months because of my schedule… lets review: Refuel, Chix Lock-in, Transformed Student Conference, Fuelympics, Prep-time for school, Wednesday night worship, became BICC Youth Pastors, 3G Youth Conference and etc. Of course I didn’t include practices, meetings and our non-profit functions. However with great rewards, I’ve been given an opportunity to lead worship at an all girls youth conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma next spring.  Anyhow, with joy in my heart, I’m happy to say that we survived the summer and are ready for our vacation :I

This will be our first official vacation as a couple. We’ll be going to Chicago, IL for about six days. What are we going to do… You ask!! Well lets see. We’ll be going to a pre-season Chicago Bears game -vrs- NY Giants @ Soldier Field, can’t forget the Wrigley Field (baseball… even though we’re Redsox fans… gotta support the sport), Museum of Science and Industry, Sears tower, Navy Pier, all the fabulous restaurants which include our favorite “Cheesecake Factory” ( I can eat there all day), visit Oprah *lol… well maybe,  Field Museum, try a Chicago-style hotdog and so much more. I’m really excited for my hubby it will be his first time there. I know we’re going to have a great time

As soon as we return, we’ll be celebrating my Daddy’s 50th anniversary in ministry w/ an honorary doctored degree, my mom & hubby’s birthday, then I go to school that next Monday! Praise God for his strength that helps me endure through everything!! Well I’m off… ttyl

Okay this is not a significant kind of blog… look at it more like a fussy one.  I have yet to find a place as dreadfully hot as the valley besides hell itself.  As though it wasn’t hot enough outside… my house is hot… my office is hot… the church is hot…. HOT HOT HOT!!!!!!! Not that I’m going through menopause or anything is just stinking hot!! 

It makes no sense… I went to the beach the other day and the water was freezing cold. NO SENSE!!! However being out there for 30 minutes I got sunburned. Geeeezzzz…. there is no way of getting around it down here. Hot air, 100% humidity, & the scorching sun….. hotness!!!!!!!!!

Ugh… I’m moving to Alaska ;p

Where do you find yourself at this point in time? Are you the woman at the well about to drink from the living water? Are you Moses at the Red Sea believing and having faith that the waters will part? Are you Hannah crying out for a Samuel to be birth in you? What crossroad are you in right now? How far away are you from your moment, your salvation or your miracle?

I recall the story of Jonah and how choices are so important. One simple disobedient act cost him being eaten by a huge fish. He was at a crossroad.  A crossroad that demanded for him to take a risk and step towards something he was not familiar with. He was challenged to act on faith and believe that God’s purpose and faithful plan was especially designated just for him.

The woman at the well never anticipated to meet Jesus on her basic daily water run. She had no clue that this would be her moment to be completely transformed.  Even the great leader Moses, I’m sure deep inside he had to replace fear with faith and believe that God’s supernatural hand would move in the instant they needed his salvation. Or even Hannah, empty and barren, with just the hope… the hope that God would grant her a son.

I’m at a time in my life where all three of these things are so important. I need to make sure that my spirit (wo)man is quenched, my faith helps me overcome hard tribulations and that I can cry to God to fill any emptiness or voids. It is so important to keep yourself accountable.  We demand and depend on our pastors to fill us with word but what are we doing to keep ourselves charged and refreshed.  When you’re at a crossing be prepared to lift up your staff and believe that God will sustain you.

Worship is more than an act

It comes from the heart

Worship is a tool

It involves you as a whole person

It takes all our strength,

Our entire mind

And all our body to love God enough

To become living sacrifices for Him

Worship is a lifestyle

It’s how you walk & talk

It’s letting go of the old you

And placing God in its place

Worship is love

Forgetting how great you are

And surrendering

It’s allowing to be transparent

Without walls or barriers

It’s the entity of a living relationship

Without conditions

It is the evidence of submission

Without fear or doubt

Worship is nothing else but truth

Worship is God.

Last week, as you may have read in a previous blog, i had the chance to go and audition for the producers of America’s Got Talent. It was an experience I will never forget.  There were so many people there… at least two or three thousand and that was just the first day of auditions.  I saw a couple of  Michael Jackson’s, a Bobby Brown, and an Elvis Presley.  Also, not including all the different animals.  However,  long story short…. I didn’t get to advance to the next round but that’s okay the experience and free trip, lol, was well worth it.

During this process, I received so much support from family & friends. What a way to feel loved!! My appreciation and gratitude goes to everyone who believed in me and especially my husband who stood by my side during this whole process I thank God for every one of them and for allowing them to be great pillars in my life.

Needless to say, our trip in Houston was so much fun. We got to visit the town of Kemah north of Houston and it has the most beautiful boardwalk. It was filled with candy shops, great restaurants, aquarium, rides, roller-coasters, music and more. My beautiful auntie was such a wonderful host and we had a great time the whole weekend!!

To cap the weekend off… we had the opporutunity to go to my aunts church and receive a good word from guest Bishop Tudor Bismark. What a TREAT!!!! God is so good in everything that he does big or small. Listening to the bishop, he confirmed how God’s blessings cancels every curse in our lives. It doesn’t matter how far back through the generations it goes. God will always be God!!!

As the days lead up to my audition for America’s Got Talent so do the nerves.  I can’t help but think of what song I get to sing for 90 seconds. How long is 90 seconds exactly? In reality that’s only a minute and a half, but in a singer’s world that’s maybe the intro verse and pre-chorus.  How can I woo the judges in just a minute and a half… 90 seconds? Thinking about all this and what could possibly be a major change in my life has built up uncertainty, fear, doubt, and just plain chickness. Then I thought, wait a minute what goes first? When do you realize that your deepest dreams you have placed aside could possibly start to become a reality?

This is where I am.  I received a call today from a rep of the AGT and he asked me so many questions I wasn’t ready to respond to. Later when I hung up the phone I thought…. ugh, I should of said this, that, over here, over there, I remember when, and oh blah blah blah. I talked with my hubby about possibilities.  Like the wonderful husband that he is, he reassured me that taking this step of faith was more than just a dream… it was destiny.  I was created to sing and be at this appointed time for such a time as this. 

I started to realize that so many times I had placed my dreams aside for things I thought needed more of  my attention. Not realizing that I had left what I wanted behind. Everything is beautiful in its time. My love for God goes first, my dreams, my husband, and then ministry. Everything else will follow. Knowing my priorities has reassured me that uncertainty, fear, doubt and chickness are part of the growth. Howelse are you going to trust GOD? You can’t always know everything. It takes the fun out of HIS PLAN!!

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.

On a side note: My audition is on Saturday, May 9th. Keep me in your prayers:)