Our All Knowing Father

God just knows. He knows our insecurites, our doubts, our shortcomings. The Creator always understands His creation and is faithful and just to supply all our needs. It's through Him we have hope. My friend and Rock Hero, Richard Gijon, is currently undergoing treatment for cancer. Key Leader, Raliza Bautista, had a vision months ago to hold a Praise and Worship benefit night honoring Richard in partnership with Cancer Care, 1825, and Runners Ministry. The benefit night was held last thursday and its focus was not cancer, but hope. All proceeds went to the Cancer Care Ministry. What a night that was!! Below, I provided a copy of Raliza and Richard's testimony shared that night, as well as the devotional that was shared last Spiritual Wellness class meeting. I hope all are encouraged after reading this!

-Raquel



Raliza Bautista's Testimony

Hello everyone and welcome to the Praise and Worship Benefit Night. My name is Raliza Bautista, a member of the Rock church and friend of Richard Gijon. I thank God that you are here tonight and believe me when I say, we have been praying for you. God has ordained this night that, for some of you, will come to know God regardless of pain and circumstance. For most of you, I hope His Spirit will reinstate a newfound love for Him and Him alone. Three months ago, inspired by my sister's completion of a half marathon, I decided to run one. Was I scared? Horribly. Out of shape? Definitely. But little did I know the plan God had for His glory amidst my fears. When I signed up for the half marathon, I was sent many invitations to run for various charities. Yet nothing in my heart tugged me in any direction. That's when the Lord spoke and reminded me of my friend Richard. If you don't know Richard Gijon, let me tell you that much like David he is a man after God's heart. All of us have a great story to tell and I am so thankful that God has allowed Richard to share his. Are you seeking an answer to your pain? Jesus said "come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest." Do you feel God cannot hear you through your struggles? Jesus said of a blind man "Neither this man nor his parents sinned but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life". What I thought would just be an opportunity to make T-shirts with a blown up image of Richard, has become a full charity event. Brothers and sisters, I encourage you, do not limit what God can do with a willing heart. Do not limit God when He wants to use you to further His agenda. Tonight all your proceeds will go to the Rock's Cancer Care Ministry which supports cancer patients, intent on spreading the gospel of our Lord Jesus and providing care and support. This Sunday, some members of the Rock's Running Ministry will be running the Carlsbad half marathon in honor of Richard, but more importantly, in honor of Him who inspires us all- Jesus Christ. So brothers and sisters please give a warm welcome to a great brother and friend-Richard Gijon.

Richard Gijon's Testimony:

I remember my childhood as a time of great joy and happiness. I was raised in southeast San Diego in a loving home. My parents worked hard to provide for me and my two brothers. Our upbringing was humble but very loving. I lived in a world that was very sheltered. Alcohol and infidelity would eventually destroy my home. Shortly after the birth of my younger brother, my mother discovered that my father had another family in Mexico. Broken hearted and pushed away by my father's alcoholism, my mother separated from my father when I was 11. At this same time, my mother began a spiritual journey that would lead her to many "churches" and push me further away from God. At the age of 13, my godmother brought me to a church in National City where I heard the amazing story of a God who loved me beyond measure. In God I found the father that I was longing for and I accepted Jesus as Lord of my life. I began a journey that would lead me through pain and extraordinary growth. For the first four years of my walk, I walked alone without my family and would go home to ridicule and jokes. I finally told my mother that I was going to get baptized. My mother forbade me from getting baptized. I looked at her and told her that I must be obedient to God and that I was going with or without her blessing. I left that night broken hearted but joyful about the step I was taking. As I stood to be baptized I saw my mother in the audience and was thankful for her presence. That night, she gave her life to the Lord. At the age of 19, I was asked to assume the role of Youth Pastor. For 2 1/2 years I was given the priviledge of serving 200 students. Youth ministry, camps, prayer services, mission trips, outreaches, multi-church collaboratives became my passion. I eventually stepped down to focus on school and continued my service by leading the youth choir and serving as one of four worship leaders for the church. Shortly after my 25th birthday, I felt the call to move to the Rock. Years earlier, my church hosted the Toys for Joy event for three consecutive years. Little did I know that God would move me there eventually. I started attending the Rock and officially made it my home church in January of 2009. I joined an amazing small group and through them was introduced to 1825 where I currently serve. I began a new season of service but it would all be shaken with my diagnosis with Leukemia. I was heartbroken and asked God why. The only response I recieved was, "That men may see My power and that I may be glorified." I accepted my purpose and continued on the path which He laid out for me. I continued to lead within my small group and assumed leadership roles within 1825. These included teaching, leading worship and many other duties. There were times where I would be in extreme pain or be extremely sick to my stomach. Even then, I pushed through and continued to serve. A friend asked me why I didn't stay home and rest. "That God may be glorified!" was my response. Also, I loved the people I served with and there was no other place I would rather be. As I start 2010, I look forward to a long and healthy life. My life is not dictated by my circumstances, it is determined by God's Word! With faith and love I push forward!

Hope by Jesse Rose

Hope is the expectation of recieving something good. It is not based on what you have already received, but what you eagerly expect to recieve in the future. Hope means to look forward to the blessings that God has in store for you. Your hope is in Christ, His Salvation, redemption, resurrection, and the inheritance reserved for you in heaven. Make the following confessions aloud and eagerly wait for what God has in store for you.

The LORD is my portion, I will hope in Him. Lamentations 3:24

You are my hope LORD: You will hear me, O Lord my God. Psalms 38:15

You are my hiding place, my shield: I hope in Your word. Psalms 119:114

My hope in You Lord is steadfast, knowing that as I am a partaker of the sufferings, I will also partake of the consolation. 2 Corinthians 1:7

The eyes of my understanding are enlightened; and I know what the hope of His calling is, and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:18

I will gird up the loins of my mind, I will be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to me at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13

I will sanctify the Lord God in my heart: and I will always be ready to give an answer to every man that asks me the reason of the hope that is in me... 1 Peter 3:15

Uphold me according to Your word that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Psalms 119:116

LORD, the thoughts that You think toward me are thoughts of peace and not of evil, You give me hope to the very end. Jeremiah 29:11

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him who is the health of my countenance and my God. Psalms 42:11

Hope deferred makes my heart sick: but when the desire comes it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

There was a time when I was without Christ, being an alien from the commonwealth of Israel and a stranger from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus I am brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:12-13

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten me to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance incoruptible, and undefiled that does not fade away and is reserved in heaven for me. 1 Peter 1:3-4

I wait for You Lord, my soul waits, and I hope in Your word. My soul waits for You Lord more than they that watch for the morning: My hope is in You LORD: for with You there is mercy and redemption. Psalms 130:5-7

God's Voice

It would take more faith not to believe in the Lord than to believe in Him after witnessing the love that was present in the room last night. God moments are always good for our Spirit and I'm happy we shared one together as a class.
Below is a copy of the devotional that was given last night. You may also find the music played for each class on our myspace page here. Enjoy and be blessed!

-Raquel


God's Still, Small Voice
by Rubel Shelly

Ever feel guilty when somebody cites this Bible verse, "Be still, and know that I am God"? (Psalm 46:10) I'll bet you'd just love to find a quiet time today, wouldn't you? Maybe you are even planning for it. Wonderful things can happen in times of solitude, stillness, and silence before God. But "stillness" is hard to come by--and simply isn't available on some days or in certain life experiences.
There's precious little time for stillness when production deadlines are close. A report is due in three hours. An inspection is in progress. If you live in a big city, there are voices and horns. There is constant motion. Shared living space has someone else's music, someone else's TV, and someone else's voice. Where are you supposed to find God in the midst of all the noise?
Then there is "noise" of a different quality altogether. Pain from illness or injury screams at you. The pressure of finding a new job or putting life together after a death takes away your tranquil sense of God. Sadness, disappointment, and loss crash over you with the roar of an angry sea.
Strange as it may seem, the greater need for some of us may be less for stillness than to learn how to hear God's voice smack in the middle of all the noise, chaotic activity, and disorienting trouble.

"They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord..." (Psalm 107:27-31)

Do you really think ours is the first generation of humankind to feel the pressure of noise, tension, and uncertainty? Of course not. And the experience of some of those people can guide us in our times of stress.
Whoever the subjects of Psalm 107, they were reeling and staggering under their load. There was no serene stillness before God for them. To the contrary, they were "at their wits' end." So right in the middle of their frenzy and distress, "they cried out to the Lord in their trouble"--and God heard them.
If your life has more tumult than stillness, more crash than tranquility, God has not eluded you. He beckons you to cry out to Him, and He will show himself.
Amidst the noise, you will find His presence enfolding you in his peace.

First RockSWM Class

We just completed our first orientation of the year last friday with a nice number of women showing up! God is so good! For anybody who would like to bring a friend next time, we have Key Leaders available every class meeting to conduct the same orientation we did last friday. We are so excited to start the PraiseMoves® exercise this friday with the new members of the ministry! Will write how that goes!

Last night, I found a really nice yoga mat at Walmart from Danskin Now for only $9. They came in purple and green and had everything you needed for our PraiseMoves exercises: studio quality, non-slip surface, lightweight and durable, and includes (heres what won me over) a carry strap. This will be my second yoga mat. Honestly, the word yoga in yoga mat never fails to make me cringe. I feel like I should be using something else since I'm instructing an alternative to yoga. But one thing that has helped me overcome that feeling is remembering that many things in this world hold a redemptive power to bring glory back to Him. For example, an instrumental from a song that once did not glorify God can be extracted and placed into lyrics that will.

Here are some interesting responses I found online on common questions which were asked at the orientation:

How long should one wait after eating before they start any type of exercise program?
According to Molly Kimball, R.D., Sports Nutritionist at Ochsner's Elmwood Fitness Center, it all depends and varies from one individual to another. You should experiment in an environment where it really doesn't matter. To read the rest of this article, click here.
Fit by Friday correspondent Liz Neporent says "Depending on how heavy a meal you eat, you should wait 30 minutes to two hours before exercising. The bigger the meal, the longer you will need to wait. If you just eat a light, high-carbohydrate snack like half a bagel or a few low-fat crackers, you should be good to go almost immediately. To read the rest of this article, click here.


What's the difference between wearing socks and going barefoot while doing mat exercises?
Elaine Ewing, Certified Pilates Instructor of Rhinebeck Pilates writes on her blog "At my studio, Rhinebeck Pilates, I leave up to the students to decide if they want socks or not becuase I feel like its a personal preference." She also writes "socks can be dangerous because your feet are more slippery." But then she adds, "on the other side of things, with socks off, what about the germs being spread from the bottoms of other people's feet?" To read the rest of her blog, click here.