Colegio Espíritu Santo - ¡Damos Gracias con Nuestras Vidas!

This week I learned that my beloved high school, Colegio Espíritu Santo in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, will close its doors tomorrow after 80 years of faithful service. Like so many thousands of alumni, I was shocked and saddened by the news. As I reflect on the implications of this closing -- along with the closing of tens of other outstanding schools on the Island -- I realize this is a sign of the times, and bigger than any one of us. Yet, the overwhelming gratitude I feel for our Espíritu has kept me focused on the future, and how we can honor the treasure we received through superb education of the mind and formation of the human being. 

A small group gathered this morning at the school in solidarity and to sing our school hymn, and I was able to join via live transmission. It was special, and I'm so grateful I could be part of that moment that helped bring some closure to us all. I could barely sing through the tears, and was glad to end the song with our traditional cheer, ¡Espíritu, fuá! 

I can't imagine all the ways my life would have been different had it not been for the blessing of Colegio Espíritu Santo. I may very well owe my strong faith to this institution and the many teachers and inspiring nuns who instilled in me, beginning in third grade, not only a deep, abiding faith and trust in God but also a discerning mind and spirit. My strong prayer life and desire to live a life of service are rooted deeply in Espíritu, our teachers, and the various organizations to which I belonged there.

The blessing of an academically solid bilingual education with a strong foundation of faith, truth, and hope are incomparable gifts. I am forever grateful to my parents for driving 30 minutes in city traffic each day to get my brother and I to school all those years!

I learned to love theater and dance even more through our professionally planned and executed talent shows, for which we became known all over the island. I also experienced the blessing of true community, something desperately needed in our world today.

As the author of four books, I am so grateful for the class where I mastered speedy typing! And who can forget the 'torneos' we'd host and staff faithfully (concessions, anyone?) and the away games we'd join regularly to cheer for our teams and friends!

My friend group -- such exceptional human beings -- are still in my daily life more than thirty years later. What would life be like without each of you, my dear friends? I can't even imagine it. I love you ALL, whether we remain actively involved in each others' lives or not. I love each of you as the family you are!

Finally, I join all CES alumni in expressing our immense gratitude to EVERY teacher who invested in our education and in our lives. Some of you were quite literally lifelines during some of our toughest times in life. Your investment in the formation and lives of young people has left an enduring legacy of love and excellence that will continue to bear good fruit down the generations. 

We LOVE you -- our amazing teachers -- and we are GRATEFUL for each of you. Thank YOU.

Going forward, no matter what happens, I know there is something we all can do to give back, and it has to do with how we continue to live our lives. Each of us will keep the fire of the Spirit alive, making sure the education we received at our Alma Mater continues to make a difference in our communities and in the people we are called to serve, influence, and love. Let that be our legacy for Espíritu.

¡CES por siempre! 

Con gran amor, gratitud y esperanza, gracias a nuestro Dios, quien es la Verdad, nunca nos falta y es el mismo ayer, hoy y por siempre. (With much love, gratitude, and hope -- thanks to our God -- who is the Truth, never fails us, and is the same yesterday, today, and forever.)

Amaryllis (Dr. Mari)

Video from this morning's gathering at Colegio Espíritu Santo.

Video of children singing our school hymn during the pandemic.

Our school hymn, written by Frankie Jirau:

Colegio Espíritu Santo,

Alma Mater sin igual.

Aurora de la enseñanza,

modelo del saber y del triunfar.

Alma Mater, nuestro amor

te cantamos con fervor.

Este himno, ¿qué será?

Luz de Dios que es la Verdad.

Colegio Espíritu Santo

eres flor de inspiración.

Por eso te guardaremos

grabado en el jardín del corazón.

Standing Together in Times of Uncertainty

I've been posting videos for several days to support, educate, and encourage my community, family, friends, and colleagues during this time of uncertainty. During this COVID-19 pandemic that will touch every inch of our nation and world, I choose to first reach up to our God, who is sovereign, for wisdom and strength. Thus grounding my heart and mind in truth and hope, I then reach out to others in solidarity and love.

I led a Lenten Day retreat titled Trusting God in the Deep on March 7, 2020, which ended up being just days before the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in our community. As the days go on, I see how this time we spent in God's Word together helped prepare me (and I pray all who participated!) for the urgency and surreal nature of this moment. Yes, I choose to trust God in the deep, in the wilderness, in the midst of this pandemic that is separating us physically while, perhaps, bringing us closer to one another in heart and mind, in longing and hope. 

I have chosen Psalm 19 as my focus for prayer and worship throughout this COVID-19 crisis. This psalm reminds me of God's eternal nature and sovereignty over all of creation. When everything we know and trust and rely upon crumbles, our Creator remains, day after day, ever in charge of every detail. Ever-present in our dark moments. Right next to us, even there, in the deep. 

Yes! Our God is the Hope that lasts.

When we are anxious, I am so grateful to know we are not alone. Trusting God during these moments infuses the mind and soul with hope, with faith, with the assurance that regardless of circumstances, the One who holds the entire world in His hands ... is sovereign, and He is good. He loves us and brings good out of evil, and order from chaos.

Perhaps God wants to use these last few weeks of Lent to bring families together in the safety and warmth of our homes to refresh our spiritual lives with a different type of worship. Perhaps God wants to deepen our reliance on Him as the very sustenance for our souls. Perhaps God wants us to be still before Him that we may experience and know that He is God — our God (Psalm 46:10). 

Surely, God will work through this crisis in countless ways. I, for one, embrace His sovereignty and am deeply grateful for His great mercy. Let us pray for one another, for our nation and our world. He holds us even now.

Trusting God in the Deep,

Dr. Mari (Amaryllis)
 

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.

They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 

 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
    like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens
    and makes its circuit to the other;
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.

By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.

But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.

Keep your servant also from willful sins;
    may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
    innocent of great transgression.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. 

For more encouragement, read Trust: A Pathway to Peace (a timely message for such a time as this!).

Ever Walk on Sacred Space? Join Me!

I recently published an article titled Sacred Space: A Place of Encounter where I discuss special places where I've encountered God. One of these sacred spaces is right here in Central Florida, in the middle of everything: Canterbury Retreat Center. This December (5 & 6) I will be one of the leaders for a very special retreat at Canterbury focused on the power of prayer. Click on the link at the end of the article to find out more and to register. Here is the article.

“Silence is God’s first language,” wrote mystic St. John of the Cross in the 16th century. His quote was later expanded by 20th century monk Thomas Keating, who added, “Silence is God’s first language; everything else is a poor translation. In order to hear that language, we must learn to be still and to rest in God.”

So how do we do this in our fast-­paced, multitasking, technology-­driven 21st century world? Noise follows us everywhere we go. You can’t even sit in silence anymore in most restaurants or waiting rooms. We have TVs, radios, smartphones, music, interviews, reality shows, and seemingly endless chatter. Silence, however, must be pursued. And sacred spaces help us find it.

Sacred spaces. The very phrase evokes feelings and memories we long to relive. Most of us can think of special places we’ve visited that we consider sacred, though we may define the term in different ways. I’ve experienced a few such spaces in my life, and they’re all special for the same reason: I experienced God’s presence there.

My first sacred space was the church at the foot of the street where I grew up in Puerto Rico. It was the smallest church I’ve ever seen, simple and completely ordinary. The typical Sunday service was packed with twenty people. I don’t remember any of the sermons preached there. We had no choir or Sunday school. There were no bells rung that I can recall. But I do recall the peace I felt walking in, while I prayed, and as we sang together, and the profound sense of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. All that, I remember well, and just thinking about it brings back showers of comfort and peace.

Canterbury Retreat Center is another special sacred space. I’ve been blessed to participate in retreats, icon workshops, and conferences there that helped me grow in my faith. And every time I’m there, I know I’m walking on sacred grounds.

I believe God’s Spirit dwells at Canterbury.

A sacred space is a place where we experience God’s presence. It is more about God’s Spirit than it is about the place itself. And the Holy Spirit is present at Canterbury. Places like my neighborhood church and Canterbury Retreat Center help modern-­day followers of Jesus find outer silence so we may experience inner stillness. They help us be still and rest in God, that we may return to the noise of the world changed—renewed and refreshed by God’s very presence and the Voice we can only hear in stillness.

Sacred spaces say, Come away and sit with God, close enough to hear His voice speak to your soul. Our part is to be intentional and pursue this stillness and silence. Our part is to leave the noise and go to that sacred space where we may “be still and know” that He is God (Psalm 46:10).

Join me to experience the sacred space at Canterbury Retreat Center on December 5-6, 2014. Set aside these two days (before the busyness of the Christmas season begins) to worship, pray, and grow closer to God.

Be still!
Dr Mari

“Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.” (Mother Teresa)

UPDATE: My next retreat at Canterbury Retreat Center will be September 9-10, 2016. It will be based on my book, The 3 Y's of Faith: Keys to a fruitful walk with God. 

Hope for Today: Inherit the Promise

I recently wrote a study of the book of Hebrews. While researching and reading before the writing phase, I recognized the recurring theme of perseverance weaved throughout the book. This has also become a recurring theme in my life and, indeed, it is a critical element in the life of every Christian living intentionally for God.

In Hebrews 6:12, the author writes, "We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." These words call believers to hold on to what they know, letting nothing shake the foundation of their faith, advancing from spiritual milk to the solid food needed to mature in Christ. Laziness and complacency are our spiritual enemies, but faith and patient endurance are friends on our journey to inherit God's promises.

As Christians, we face the danger of staying stuck in the information phase of our faith — knowledge without fruit. Learning is essential, but if we don't apply what we learn, our lives will not bear fruit for God's kingdom. We may even become puffed up by our knowledge when our lives are starving for a gospel that's alive in us and revealed in the world through our actions.

We have no better example of persevering, active faith than Jesus. Sent to rescue the world from the power of sin and death, he was misunderstood, mocked, and killed. But betrayal didn't stop him. Rejection didn't discourage him. Threats did not diminish him or his resolve. Why? Jesus knew and lived by the truth. He knew who sent him. He knew his creation. And he knew who he was.

Jesus' sense of mission, abiding communion with his Father, and the empowering of the Holy Spirit grounded him completely. Jesus stood firm. Nothing could sway him.

I want that perseverance. I want that certainty. I want that determination. And the good news is that I can have it. We can have it. But, to attain it, we must do as Jesus did. We must claim our identity in God and find our purpose there. We must stay in communion with Jesus, the way to the Father. And we must live filled by the Spirit who gives us the power to live for Jesus.

Lake Gem at Canterbury Retreat Center, a sacred space.

Ponder with me: Am I still sipping spiritual milk or have I moved on to solid food? Am I puffed up and immobilized by knowledge without relationship?

Lord Jesus, help me mature through a relationship with You, that I may not shrink back when life gets tough but continue to believe and trust You, my Savior and my Lord.

Persevere!
Dr Mari

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

Hebrews 6:19

For more on perseverance, read Adversity's Gift: Perseverance and Second Chances: Heaven's Heart.

I wrote and published a version of this post in The Journey, a quarterly publication of Bible Reading Fellowship. 

Living on Mission: Compassion Trumps Fear (Part III)

This week, a human story of compassion and faith winning over fear captured my heart. In the midst of a terrifying outbreak of Ebola virus, Dr. Kent Brantly felt called to Liberia to treat patients with this infection with a mortality rate as high as 60 - 90%. While caring for people with the disease, Dr. Brantly became infected and quarantined himself. After initially insisting that the only available experimental serum be given to an infected colleague (they ended up both receiving the medication), Dr. Brantly arrived on US soil for treatment at a special unit at Emory Hospital in Atlanta.

Transported under meticulous infection control procedures all the way from West Africa, he surprised the world by walking out of the ambulance in a body suit before entering the hospital. Though still critically ill, he seems to be improving while thousands continue to pray for him all over the globe.

This 33 year-old physician, husband, and father of two children (ages 3 and 5) works for Samaritan's Purse, an organization that provides food, water, shelter, medicine, and other assistance throughout the world in the name of Christ. Dr. Brantly was drawn to mission work since youth and wanted to be a missionary even before becoming a doctor. He is a member of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations.

Please join me in praying for this selfless young doctor.

Lord, I thank You for drawing people to know and follow You. I thank You for giving Dr. Kent Brantly a heart of service and compassion. I pray that his health will be completely restored and that, through his illness, a cure may be found for the hundreds of people infected with this virus. I pray, Lord Jesus, that Your Name will be exalted through this doctor's suffering and that many people will come to know You through him. I also pray for his wife and children, for all people infected with this virus, and for every healthcare professional caring for him and others with this infection.

Kent Bradley is a beautiful example of courageously walking with Jesus in healthcare. What a witness! Please keep him in your prayers.

In Hope,
Dr Mari

For Parts I and II of this series on mission, see Living on Mission: What's That All About? and Living on Mission: A Look Back.

UPDATE, August 15, 2014: Follow this link to an update of Dr. Brantly's progress. As he recovers, he continues to thank God for His mercy and is grateful for the excellent care he's received.

Living on Mission: A Look Back (Part II)

Years ago, my life was transformed after meeting one woman. I don't know her name. I can't even remember what she looked like. But I'll never forget what meeting her accomplished in me.

During my second medical mission trip to Guatemala, after treating hundreds of people one after another, our clinic day was almost over. While I felt exhausted physically but invigorated in my soul with a deep sense of accomplishment and joy, a young woman sat in front of me and smiled nervously. With impressive skill and heartwarming trust, she summarized her life story and current challenges in a brief yet thorough and impactful way.

I got it quickly. I saw into her soul and felt her pain.

Her story included mental illness, physical exhaustion, endless demands on her time as a single mom, and domestic abuse. I quickly summoned in my mind the various resources I knew were available within her community, and ensured good follow-up for her once our brief time together was over.

While she shared her story, I felt overwhelmed. In a continuous inward gaze to God, I prayed while she spoke.

"He hit me and I ran away," she shared of years ago. (Lord, please keep her strong as she raises her children alone.)

"I work the fields now and the kids eat every day. (Oh, I thank You, Lord! Please continue providing for them.)

"But now that I'm sick, I don't know what to do." (Lord, what can I possibly do for this mother when our mission ends tomorrow? Why have me hear this when there's so little I can do?)

Pray with her. Offer to pray with her.

God's voice came, as so often happens, in a whisper — like a soft, soothing rain. My reply was more like a raging storm! 

(Pray with her? I've never done that! Lord, that's not what we do. I'm a doctor, you know. We're supposed to leave our faith on the other side of our exam room door.)

Well, in Guatemala there were no doors. On mission, there was no wall separating my personal faith from my professional practice. Somehow, a certain courage came over me to stop being two different people, leaving the best part of me outside of my relationship with those I seek to help.

Still caught up in a heavenly gaze, I spoke to the soul before me.

"I am so sorry for all you've been through, and I'm so proud of you and your courage in sharing your story. The truth is, I'm not sure how I can help you, but I know the One who can."

And then, the words that changed my life slipped through my lips unto her heart — and mine!

"Would it be okay if I pray with you?"

She looked surprised and excited. Her eyes lit up, and she sprung up and took my hands. Clearly, even the mention of faith and God empowered her like none of my words had. She was in her element. In an instant, hope arrived.

So I, too, rose from my chair (and from my previous life!) and began to pray with simple words, asking our God to guide her steps, guard her heart, and heal her soul. I asked God to bring the right people to help her once our team left. And I thanked God for giving her courage and strength.

I offered a short, heartfelt prayer. And before I was able to speak my Amen!, she shocked me.

She began to pray for me in our native Spanish, and the gates of Heaven opened.

Suddenly, we were two sisters seeking the same God together, and we were not alone. God's presence filled the room and, for a time, I was unaware of our surroundings and felt lifted up to Heaven. It was a holy moment that continues to bear fruit, empowering and filling my soul even now.

As I boarded the plane the next day, I knew life would never be the same again. From then on, I would be myself with patients back home. I would not withhold my greatest treasure — my faith in an all-powerful, good, and loving God — from the hurting people who need Him most.

I decided to live on mission here and now with no need to board planes to the other side of the world. My mission field is here.

That inward gaze changed me. I would go as far as saying that it saved my life. That prayer with a stranger saved me from the apathy and self-centeredness at the heart of our culture's decline. And it saved me from the fear of being genuinely myself as I care for people. Thanks be to God!

Two days ago, our teenager boarded a plane on his second mission trip to Costa Rica. As I reflect on the events of my second mission trip, I rejoice for him and the entire team, for I know these life-changing moments often come during mission trips overseas — outside our comfort zone — where we can become something we were not when we arrived.

Our children have learned at a young age that life is about loving God by loving and serving Him in our neighbors. They have learned that our gifts and talents come from above with a purpose: we are to share them with others. What a blessing!

Please join me once more in praying for their safety, their health, and for God's work to be accomplished in and through them. Pray for hearts to be transformed and lives changed, including ours as we intercede for them. And pray for God's Spirit to empower them (and all of us!) to love as Christ loves.

On mission!
Dr Mari 

For parts I and III of this series on Mission, read Living on Mission: What's That All About? and Living on Mission: Compassion Trumps Fear.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

"God loves to pour out His Spirit with power on those who will dare to align radically their purposes with His." (S. Childers)

"The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become." (Henry Martyn)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

1 John 3:1

For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1 John 3:11

The Hero Lives!

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Romans 8:11 

Our culture continually produces TV shows and movies about great adventures. They are usually stories of good vs. evil. The adventure recounts the journey of the good side defeating the dark side, usually through a hero. 

Everywhere I see the Christian story retold ... or at least longed for! We are inspired by a hero. We cheer him on and rejoice in his victories. We want and need a hero.

Christ's disciples had a Hero. They lived with him and watched him restore sight to the blind. They saw him free people from the prison of guilt and shame brought on by their sinful lives. They watched their Hero heal lepers in an instant and command paralytics to walk with a word. They sighed in relief while he calmed fierce storms and watched in awe while he walked on water. 

Some even saw him bring dead people back to life!

Through all these miracles, Jesus showed his authority over disease, sin, nature ... and even death. Whether we think he does or not, the creator of the world has complete authority over his creation. This includes you and me.

After years of Christianity, one day it all became real for me. A heartfelt prayer on my knees during a desperate time was answered. When I asked God if He was really real, He showed me His face. After years attending church, I met my Hero face to face and heart to heart. And in that precious moment I discovered something that changed my life.

He loves me!

He loves me, and He accepts and embraces me completely. As His Word promises, I asked and I received. I looked for Him and found Him. I knocked and the door to a full life was opened wide, never to be shut again!

Jesus Christ revealed Himself and I entered the greatest adventure of life--a life of getting to know the ultimate Hero in a personal way, every day, for the rest of my days. 

Thank You, Lord, for the joy of Easter! Thank You that I know You are alive because I've met You. Thank You that You are indeed real and You care deeply about this world and about me!

Thank you that as we seek You, we discover that You've been here all along, for You are a living God. Thank You, Lord, that Your love changes us, and that the closer we know You and experience Your love and acceptance, the more we want to live for You. 

Your plan, Lord, is perfect. Thank You that I am a part of it. Help me today to reveal Your glory in the world, for our broken and sinful world needs a Hero, one who can save, redeem, restore, and recreate. Thank You, Lord, that You make everything new and that, when we meet You and give our lives to You, the world's best adventure begins.

Have a blessed and joyful Easter rejoicing in what God has done! 

Dr Mari

For more on the miracle of Easter, read He Is Risen! So What Does That Mean To you and Me?

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 

 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
Matthew 7:7

But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
John 3:21

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17 

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Ephesians 4:1

Be Still and Know ... Know What?

"Be still and know that I am God." 

Psalm 46:10

Be still and know, says God in the much-quoted psalm. Our Maker ties our ability (and willingness) to be still with knowledge. But knowledge of what? What is it we don't know when we are not still?

When I go-go-go with little time to enjoy a slow meal, a relaxing walk or time set aside for reflection on the events of my days and weeks, I've noticed a few things.

I become restless inside.

My sleep suffers and so does my ability to listen deeply. With many basic needs unmet, I become self-centered. I don't stop to smell the roses and have little time or energy to consider the needs of others. I become impatient and have trouble relating to others, especially the hurting.

Can you relate?

When we don't stop to become inwardly still, we miss out. We neglect the sunset that calls us to reflect on its Maker. We miss the beauty all around us, whether in nature or in people. When we go-go-go, we miss out, and it hurts us (and others).

This is a terrific formula for burnout and a lack of compassion. But Psalm 46:10 implies that our lack of stillness helps create an even bigger problem, one that transcends our temporal lives.

If we're not inwardly still, if we're always on the go with few rest stops to reflect on life and what's of eternal significance, this go-go-go lifestyle affects our ability to know and recognize Truth and God Himself. Though we may complete our to-do lists through such haste, we have missed our Maker, the One who imparts wisdom and helps us live the rich, full lives we crave.

God's call for us to be still and know is of critical importance. And it feels very different from haste.

When I take time to be still, perhaps through gardening, music, or painting, nature walks or simply sitting with God in silent, trusting prayer, peace returns. My mind quiets down and I experience a deep rest in my soul. And in that stillness I experience God's presence.

I hear God's gentle whispers of love and comfort and there, with God, I rest.

Such stillness is a gift, for in it I discover the God who never left me, though I'd wandered off once more. And the more I sit with Him, the more I recognize His voice — the voice that rescues me from impatience and haste unto love.

Be still and know that I AM God, says God to you and me.

Be still ... that you may know, experience, and believe that I AM God. Your God.

Be still!
Dr Mari

Listen to Fernando Ortega's rendition of Be Thou My Vision to help you be still today.

For more inspiration, read Seek and You Will Find: The Joy of Relationship.

Inspiration for Today: The Importance of Yielding

"We cannot be filled with the Spirit until we are prepared to yield ourselves to be led by the Lord Jesus — to forsake and sacrifice everything for this pearl of great price." 

(Andrew Murray)

Yield. There's an unloved word. It means to relinquish. To give up, as to superior power or authority. To surrender.

Any volunteers?

Counter-intuitive and difficult as it is, yielding our wants and desires is a path to life — the abundant life Christ offers.

As we yield, we give up our right to forge our own path. We step aside to let Another lead. And as we surrender the illusion of control over our lives and destinies, we discover a freedom previously not even accessible to the self-centered, self-actualizing existence.

Yielding involves forsaking and sacrifice — no doubt about it. But the pearl of great price is more than worth it!

Yield!
Dr Mari

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:13-16

Healing is Possible ... And It Starts With Me

This weekend I experienced a moving time of worship at a concert by All Sons & Daughters and Tim Timmons. It would be inaccurate to simply call it a concert; it was an experience of God's presence and an opportunity to thank Him with our voices and our hearts. I especially enjoyed watching so many young people kneeling and praying alongside their friends, together, in worship. I have many new favorite songs, including Great Are You Lord, God With Us, and Called Me Higher (by All Sons & Daughters).

Another new favorite is Tim Timmons' Starts With Me. He shared his story of finding hope in Christ when dealing with what doctors deemed an impossible medical challenge. But in Matthew 19:26, Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Twelve years after he was told he wouldn't live beyond five years, Tim Timmons travels the country telling others about the God who redeems, restores, and makes us whole.

As a doctor, I point toward God whenever people experience healing and thank me for it. Although we can all be instruments of healing in various ways, it is the Healer who works through us every time. We are the broken; He is the Healer.

Malachi 4:2 proclaims, “But for you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays.” Such a promise makes me want to thank my Healer and give Him all the glory!

Lord, help us come to You as we are, 

broken and in need of Your healing touch. 

May we experience the joy

that comes from trusting You with our lives. 

For when we fall on our knees and surrender to Your will, 

our life begins. 

I agree with Tim Timmons that revival starts with me. It starts with each one of us ... on our knees ... trusting a loving, all-powerful God who loves us and gave everything for us.

May we, too, give Him everything.

Trust Him!
Dr Mari

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” (James 1:17)

For more inspiration, read Healing, Faith, and Love: A Father's Day Tribute.

Photograph by Manuel Diaz Photography. Used with permission. All Rights Reserved.

From My Heart to Yours: A Prayer and A Song

Here's the cry of my heart as I continue to intercede for so many people I love who are suffering or in the midst of great spiritual battles. My prayer is that your minds will be renewed with God's Word, that every lie will be drowned out by the Truth, grace, and life found on every page of God's holy Word.

During times of great need, my prayers get so simple. Invariably, in that simplicity, I meet God. I am found. And in His presence, I am healed. May this be your experience as you call on Him and seek His face.

I pray for all of you in the words of Paul, a man transformed by the love of Christ,

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

I invite you to meditate on every verse in this passage from Ephesians, to read it several times today and every day for a season and reflect deeply on its truth and hope. Let it renew your mind and give you a fresh start that fans into flame the gift of your faith in Christ.

And may this song help you as you pray and trust.

Be still and know that I am God. 

(Psalm 46:10)

Be still.
Dr Mari

Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through Me.'

(John 14:6) 

'No weapon forged against you will prevail,
    and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
    and this is their vindication from Me,'
declares the Lord.

(Isaiah 54:17) 

For more inspiration, read Trust: A Pathway to Peace. 

Thirst No More

A few months ago, the hospital floor where I was scheduled to speak was flooded, forcing much last-minute scrambling. Thanks to the organizer's diligence and faith, we were still able to meet and hear the message God had for us that morning. I also lost my voice two days before the talk, which forced me on a silent retreat that moved the talk in a whole new direction. Though I wouldn't describe it as a flood, I experienced God's living waters while preparing and speaking that day. It is hard to describe, so I won't try, but you can read more about it here.

Ever since that day, there's been a recurrent theme of water in my spiritual journey. I love times like this when God's Word continually drives home the same message. I can't imagine a better message for me during this season of life -- a season of waiting.

Are you in a season of waiting? Are you wondering why God's gone silent? In the waiting, are you in need of a fresh experience of God's living waters?

Here's a bit of encouragement to refresh you as you wait on God. The first verse may not sound encouraging, but it is ... because of its helpful warning. As we wait on God, we must resist the temptation to dig our own cisterns!

"'My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.... Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,' 

declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty." 

(Jeremiah 2:13, 19b)

Jesus' words below inspire the sense of awe God says we need,

"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice,  
'Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.  
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, 
rivers of living water will flow from within them.'” (John 7:37-38)

What a promise!

Two thousand years ago, Jesus went to Samaria and sat down by Jacob's well in the town of Sychar. "When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, 'Will you give me a drink?'" (John 4:7)

Imagine that! The God of the universe asking you for a drink!

Knowing that Jews did not associate with Samaritans, she said to him, "'You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?'

"Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.... Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life'" (John 4:9-10,13-14).

I don't know about you, but I'm thirsty. I'm thirsty often. And like the Samaritan woman, I have found that Jesus keeps his word. When I come to him thirsty, I am no longer thirsty. He satisfies the soul. He IS the Living Water my soul needs.

So speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening. I am thirsty for Your Word. Your living Word. I am thirsty for Your Truth. Your Wisdom. Your Life.

I give you my broken cisterns, Lord. Feed my soul with Your living water, and I shall live.

Drink!

Dr Mari

Photo by Manuel Díaz Photography. Used with permission. All Rights Reserved.

Healing, Faith, and Love: A Father's Day Tribute

In Luke 4:38-44, Peter Simon's mother-in-law was "suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them" (v.38-39).

I love that this healing involves Simon’s own mother-in-law. When Jesus calls us into ministry, we, too, witness the miraculous in our midst, even with our loved ones. I experienced this with my father.

Years ago, I traveled home to Puerto Rico when Dad’s heart began to fail. I found him at the coronary step-down unit after a “small heart attack.” Although he looked strong, I knew how weak his heart had become, its pumping capacity having dropped to a mere fifteen percent. His heart was seriously failing.

Though I’d prayed for Dad for years, I’d never prayed with him—and it was time. When I timidly asked if I could pray with him, his eyes lit up! So I laid my hand on Dad’s chest and prayed like a child who knew this could be her last week with Daddy—even her last hour.

There were no fireworks, no visible angels, and no physical changes that I could detect. But as I prayed, I knew that my father would be okay. And not just his physical heart, but his spiritual heart as well. I gained a complete peace about his physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being that became an anchor for my soul and a comfort to my family and to him. 
 
Papi lived for three more years with an implanted defibrillator and fulfilled many of his lifelong dreams in that short time, including becoming a published author—twice! 

More importantly, I believe that my father gave his life over to Christ. Our last years together were the best in our relationship. We grew closer as he became more alive, at peace, and full of joy. As with Simon’s mother-in-law, Jesus stepped into my house, where He continues to draw my family to Himself one person at a time.

Is there someone in your life that needs you to step out in faith and pray with him or her? Be courageous, have faith, and pray. Our God delights to answer.

Walking by faith,

Dr Mari 

* This is an excerpt from my book, Walking with Jesus in Healthcare. I post it in memory of my father, a humble and sincere man of integrity whose intelligence, creativity, and sense of humor blessed us. ¡Te amo, papi! Recordarte me hace sonreir. (I love you, Daddy! I smile when I think of you.) *