A Friendly Wednesday

So I've decided I going to use today's blog to give a shout out to one of my dearest friends back home, Ayla Cabarubio. We've known each other for about three years now, we meet for the first time senior year in Mr. Tella's Economics class at Mercedes High. An interesting fact about the two of us, I moved away to Michigan after the third grade and she moved from Houston to Mercedes the same year (I'm pretty sure our cars passed each other on the road). Alot of you may be scratching your heads right now, wondering how we came to know each other if I moved away; the simple answer is I moved back to Mercedes after freshmen year.

Ayla is a pretty sweet girl, she's down to earth and doesn't really care what other's think, as long as she's happy! We've spent many a nights just chilling with the "gang" (Luis, her boyfriend, and Ruben); watching movies, playing guitar hero, developing the extreme sport of frisbee, football, soccer, and dodgeball all in one at the track, and a lot of time thinking about the future and the past.

She was also the first to notice the changes in me when I accepted Jesus Christ. This was the message she sent me after I went home to visit during thanksgiving...

"I hope I don't offend you by this, but when did you find God? cuz last time you were here you weren't as holy I guess you can say.... dont get mad I'm just curious.

peace out homie,

la, la, love your friend
ayla, or kayla, or ayala, or chayala.
(which ever one is easier to say) haHA"

And as I was getting ready to respond I got this message...

"I forgot to add that its kewl that you "found God"... peace"

And it's true, Ayla called me out. In high school I was living my own life, Jesus was there but in the background, I used Him a lot times for the butt of my jokes. To me it was amazing to see that other's noticed the difference in my lifestyle, when I was still fighting the idea that I was even being changed at all. It's from these messages that our friendship has gotten stronger, just being able to talk about Jesus with your best friend is sometimes the most difficult thing to do, but not when the Lord's by your side, anything's possible.

Take care Ayla, miss you much and I'll see you soon.


Dream Big, Run Hard
-Rico

Destino Tuesdays

Today's Lesson: Jesus Christ is Living Water

We often find ourselves craving something to quench our thirst usually at meal times, or even after a hard workout, however, we crave water more times than these instances. On simple terms when water quenches our thirst we are happy, that is until our mouths dry up again.

So what is it that you go to for this temporary happiness? Is it the bottle of liquor you have in the cabinet? Or...maybe a cigarette to relieve the stress? For me its neither of these; I value you both my lungs and my liver to much. Instead I look towards praise from my peers and even strangers. I often times find my working hard to be acknowledged by anybody who is around. Whether its do something extra on a group project, or walking an old lady across the street when I know someone might be watching me. To hear the words, "Man that's awesome," or even "You're doing a great job, keep it up," is like giving a kid a lollipop. (It's a little ironic that I say this, because for those who really know me can attest to the fact that I am probably one of the shyest person you'll meet.) In all reality these phrases probably make everyone happy, who doesn't like a pat on the back every now and again, but the thing is the happy feeling will always go away at sometime and then you have to start all over again.

If we really truly want to quench our thirst we have to look towards Jesus Christ. The answer is in John 4:13 when Jesus is talking to the Samaritan Woman by the well, "Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indded, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

So the next time you need to relieve stress, or are just looking for some sort of happiness, don't reach out to a bottle, or a cigarette, or even another person. Just open up your Bible or simply just talk with the Lord, he likes to listen to our stories.

I'd like to live you all with a quote from my Bible study partner, Felicia (she's the girl I'm dancing with) , "Did you know they sell happiness at Starbucks? It's amazing,...but it's only temporary."


Dream Big, Run Hard
-Rico

From the Beginning

I have decided to officially undertake the life of a blogger. My goal for this blog is to share all the fantastic things that God has going on in my life in hopes that it may inspire readers to come into the light. Along this journey I'll mention things that are most important to me, the list can be endless but I believe they can be summed up into the following categories:

• Jesus Christ
  
• My Family
• Destino (A Latino Christ Centered Movement across the nation)
• Friends
  
• Misc.

For now, I'll end the post and will get to blogging soon.

Dream Big, Run Hard
-Rico