Dominican Republic, a Country of Love

The trip that seemed doomed from the beginning. An expired passport, bad weather, a billion flight delays, and an injured team member who also didn't make it spelling trouble. But on Monday morning when I walked on to our work site for the next few days, and saw where Milagros and Ramon had torn down their home, a tiny shack, in complete belief that a bunch of complete strangers, whom they know nothing about, would show up that morning and build them a home, I felt God's presence here more than ever before. The pile of old, weathered wood that used to be a home to a family of four broke my heart and more than ever confirmed that this was where I needed to be. Romans 12:13 says, “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.” We all serve and worship the same God, the same Father, and my brothers and sisters in christ were in need, and the ability to help was placed in SRCC’s hands. As the neighbors sat and watched, members from the church came out and helped build this house in three long days, the joy that visibly grew within Milagros, Ramon, Daniel, and Daniela was immeasurable. At the end of each work day, I'd hug Milagros and the intensity of the hug was all the words she couldn't say, the gratitude, joy, love, appreciation, and so much more. As I sat, played, and talked in my broken spanish to the Daniela and her friends, I was able to show them, through my actions and time, that not only I loved them, but God loves and cherishes them beyond words. Watching the dedication with sweet Daniela sitting on my lap, hearing the worship being sung in Spanish, and Ramon hammering the plaque on his house, God set in my heart an overwhelming sense of peace and joy and love for this family, their church, and their community, and the Dominican Republic because he is working there. Pastor Louis and his congregation, Justin and Julie Kirkland, the interns, the other churches, and every individual striving to bring heaven here on earth are making a kingdom impact, being kingdom workers. So praise God, for he loved us first and now we can love, and that we have the privilege to be the salt and light in this earth.

Dios de bendiga, Blake Bell

Respect yourself (3ways)

alrighty guys, here is take two, a bit on respecting yourself (mostly). I have three major points, I guess that's how to put it, that I wanna tell you about, more or less coinciding with each other.
1) respect yourself mentally
okay, so mental respect is something that I believe that everyone struggles with, regardless of their age. it is SO easy to beat yourself up over every little thing that you do wrong, can't do, or never had. I do this for sureeeeeeeeee, but let me tell you about someone in one of my classes. I don't know him well, but well enough to know that he has a rough background. he sits behind me, it's a crazy small class (uhh 6 peps in there), so of course we talk most days. well the way he sees himself breaks my heart. when ever he messes up, even just the tiniest mistake, like a calculator error, he mutters to himself that he's stupid, that he has to do better, that he won't get it. imagine if you told yourself that every. single. day, just over a little error. wouldn't it just tear you down, but wait, we all do it, whether it's "Oh I'm fat, I need to diet", "I'm not smart enough to do that", I'm not hot enough to be with them", etc. I could literally go on forever. if you said that to someone, you would be called disrespectful, so why is it different when it's to yourself? so let's take a look at scripture. when the prophet Isaiah was speaking to God, he proclaimed

"Still, God, you are our Father. We’re the clay and you’re our potter: All of us are what you made us." (Isaiah 64:8 MSG).

we are each made by God, for God. he made each and everyone of us with a plan in mind. we are to be Kingdom people, living and preparing the world for Christ's return. and we each are designed for something different. you may be musically gifted, have a way with words, passionate about living the old, ANYTHING that you are good at you can do for God. so I challenge you, the next time you start to call yourself stupid, or ugly, STOP IT! and think of something your good at and how you use said thing to glorify God, because that is really what it is all about. okay so just FYI, I will be talking about music soon, bc what you put in your noggin comes outta your mouth.
2) respect your body sexually
this is soooooooo important, and do not let this topic make you skip over this part. I'm gonna start with scripture here. 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 is some craaaazzzzyyyy powerful word written by Paul. let me just tell you what these vs 18-20 (MSG) say.

"In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for “becoming one” with another. Or didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body."

okay, so I know that really long but here is what is most important, is that Christ died for you, and he payed the price to save you, and your body is a temple of God, and because he payed for it, you must respect him with it. so girls, don't let that guy talk you into sex. guys, if she sends you pics, either talk to her or remove yourself from the equation, and it goes both ways. adults, stay faithful, if you don't, it will not just hurt your spouse, but everyone around. when you are able to fully realize that your body is Christ's, it will change the way you live and look at yourself. our heavenly Father cherishes us with everything in him because he LOVES us, all we are, as we are. and a way we can show him our love is to respect our bodies sexually.
3) respect your self physically
I play tennis and I workout about once a week. I don't eat dairy, wheat/grains/gluten, and I tend not to eat a lot of added sugars, just a bunch of nutrient dense foods. but I'll be honest with you, if you look at me, you probably can't tell. I'm not stick thin, but I know I'm not fat. I am considered a healthy growing human. i have a bit of belly, i wear loose clothing, and an incredibly self conscious, and struggling with acne right now. but everyday I remind my self that regardless of everything up there, i am loved and valued for so much more than the way I look. in order to respect your body physically, you must cleanse yourself, you must eat well, you must get up and exercise some. I'm not like telling you to become a crazy dieting, fitness spaz, or anything like that. I'm just saying that some days, instead of sitting in the couch Saturday, stinky, eating chips and Ice Cream, binging on Gilmore Girls, or Twin Peaks, or High school Musical, take the opportunity to take your dog on a walk, or call up a friend and go to Chewacala and hike or take a bike ride. there is so many small ways to just incorporate being active into your life, as simple as dancing to your favorite song. BUT DONT GET ME WRONG HERE, you are made by God, and do not try to change that. everyone of us is made different, composed different, and do not ever forget that. 1st Corinthians 6:19 says that

"your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God"

, and chapter 10, verse 31 says
"what ever you eat or drink or what ever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

so I leave you with this reminder, you are made by God, so respect the body he made with your every action. (and eat that cookie, or doughnut, or ice-cream , but don't forget to chew on some carrots every once in a while ;))
Father, today I pray that I am able to respect myself as I remember that I am your wonderful creation, your daughter. I ask you help me respect myself mentally, sexually, and physically, and allow that all I do be for you and for your glory. in Jesus's, amen and amen.

well, this is all over the place but you'll live

Okay, so let me introduce myself. I am a teenage girl that struggles with insecurity, fear of loneliness, family issues, and basically everything else imaginable. I never in the whole world thought that me, Blake, would ever want to write a blog. I mean, for crying out loud, I basically hate English and writing. but that's besides the point. So enough about me, I want to speak to you about boys. 

So my best friends, Mal and SA are both in relationships. Mal and her boy are going on over a year steady, and SA is freeking beautiful inside and out, with boys chasing her. But me, well I prefer joking about dating, like seriously I joke about it all the time but if I'm gonna be honest, I'm terrified. 

I have a fear of commitment, marrying the wrong person, staying with someone just to seem OK. But I'm also terrified to be alone. I know, two completely opposite ideas, but still, it's a constant battle in my head, to take a chance, or to just forget about him.

And I don't know if your like me, or if you like one of my best friends, but I have to say, there is some thing I must tell you about. Girls, as, well girls, it is not our place to seek out boys. We are called to wait patiently for a man to come and pursue us. Today, there are so many boys who have their mind on our bodies, and that is not all we are. and I say this because of a recent conversation with a guy friend. he has these girls who are like basically all over him, and he doesn't have to do anything, but he is basically dating someone. he's been going on for months about breaking things off with her, but doesn't because he doesn't want to hurt her feelings, but he likes this girl more than her and blah blah blah. I must tell you, that this breaks my heart so much to see this.

and I really must tell you that you are loved, I mean, God sent his one and only son to carry your sin to the cross to save you, to rescue you. and I just say all this to remind you to be careful how you act. that what you may think is "harmless" flirting is making a boy covet you and what you want. this is a reminder to sit back and wait for the perfect person to come and let me say, yall, I am young and I have time. and God's has a plan for you. he knows all.

Jeremiah 29:11For 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.