Just SHUT UP

The Department of Children & Families offices are kinda like hell on earth.  People are stressed out because they need there checks, insurance bla bla bla & everyone thinks their case is the worst.  So after they did NOT give me Sofie’s Medicaid back on Sept 1st, I showed up to hell in Hialeah myself.  THANK GOD! I took a good book to keep me waiting which has me praying like it’s my job!

Finally, they called my husband’s name (Kevin Sanchez) 3 times with a heavy spanish accent, “KEVEEEEN SANCHEZ!!!” before I realized the lady was calling me.
By the time I got to her she was livid.  As I begain to explain my case she blatantly told me I’d have to wait another 2 weeks to reapply & could not even tell me if they received the package I faxed them.  Ah… hell no!!!  I was about to bust out with MY CHILD HAS MEDICAL ISSUES speech & as she looked at me awkwardly & a still small voice inside me said “SHUT UP!”  OK well maybe not in so many words, maybe it was “hush!” or “callate!” but all I know is that I did.  Suddenly, that awkward look she gave me became more intense & she was looking past me now & it’s as if the volume had been slowly ascending on an arguement happening behind me.

Because I shut up, I was no longer distracting her so she focused more & more on the arguement.  In seconds it was a full blown cursing fight between some man & another medicaid lady.  My rude lady was caught up in the drama & started getting scared so she got up to go help the other lady & POOF, the wicked witch was gone!  I used that crucial time to intercede my little head off asking for favor in JESUS name rebuking every demon who’s using pride & making these people resist my case.  Out of the blue came the lady in pink.  She sat down in front of me & said “May I help you?” Ahhh those sweet words… “Yes you can!”  She began helping me but then came the witch, but with a new attitude. WOW amazing!  Now the witch helped the pink lady help me?! Bananas!

They say you get more with honey than with vinegar, but I say when God tells you to shut up, just shut it!  I could’ve had a wonderful arguement & even got upset bc I have the right, right?!  But God showed me I AM YOUR DEFENDER! I WILL FIGHT YOUR BATTLES!  Lord please help us to be quiet more often! THANK YOU!

God 1st~ Ali

Add comment September 3, 2009 Ali Arielle Sanchez
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I’m in love with a girl…

I’m in love with a girl…I never thought I would say that, but I am. It’s my daughter Sofia Alixandra. She makes every day worth living. There’s so much I can say. Should I tell you about her beautiful eyes that smile at me when she grins? Or how she curls her upper lip when she laughs? Or maybe about the dimples so subtly imprinted on her chubby cheeks? Her beauty is beyond description. How could God give me such a lovely creature? Someone who on this earth is deemed defected, but in my eyes perfection. I love her eyes. One so big & brown, the other more slanted looking blue. They are each divine to me. I love to watch her sleeping with her mouth open. Daddy says she looks just like me. But can I stop to tell you about her strength? How she goes from therapy to therapy tackling the challenges set before her. How despite what the doctors said, she is achieving her milestones & proving everyone wrong. She is resilient. I want to be the best for her. Not just give her the best material things, but really be the best me. Leaving childish ways behind & realizing the best & biggest accomplishment is right before my eyes. There’s no place to go. I don’t need a promotion. She is it. She is the best of me, of us. I sometimes wonder if I can love another as I love her. I sometimes wonder if I could give all of me…my strength, my body, my energy, my time, my life, as I have given to her. All I know is that she’s been such a testimony to me. A beacon of hope, a ball of love, my motivation & inspiration. I can see how people can dangerously put heir kids in front of their spouses & even GOd Himself. But that won’t be me. I realize she’s only mine on earth to borrow. I am her manager, but God is the boss. I get so many revelations through her from Him. Like recently if I leave a room, she throws a tantrum, but as long as she’s in my presence she’s fine. She can play all day by herself, but if I get up & walk away, everything goes downhill. Similarly I think of the Lord in the spiritual. We are the babies & He is our Father. We live our lives, work, play etc. Sometimes we allow our very blessings to make us wander from God. Before we know it, we’re not in His presence anymore & our lives start falling apart. We may not notice He’s always there, through our tantrums & through our joyous moments, but when we give Him the attention & recognize His presence, we are at peace again. I had this urge to pour something out so I hope you were blessed. God 1st~Matt 6:33

Add comment June 10, 2009 Ali Arielle Sanchez
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Chatting in the Throne Room; 52 weeks of love in action! (Book available winter 09)

Throne room
- noun
chamber, usually containing a throne, used by a sovereign for audiences.

….

the location of actual power or authority, as in a particular government or business organization


Preface~
“Chatting in the Throne Room” started off by me wanting to get more intimate with God in a brand new, creative way.  The traditional ways are great, but I felt like if this is a RELATIONSHIP, then it’s my responsibility to keep it growing strong & alive, as I would with any relationship.  It was time to get more personal in some little & even big ways.  Not taking away from Bible reading, worship & prayer, but doing them in a different manner. God is always doing things to surprise me, so I figured let me try some unique ways to bond with Him!  So I started text messaging my
friends every Monday with different “Refresh Challenges” I called them.  Refresh is defined as to make fresh again, stimulate, reinvigorate & make new energy.  The challenges consisted of some
type of activity to initiate intimacy with God to be done that week. Whether or not they completed the challenge was up to them.  No strings attached.  After getting some awesome responses, I decided to turn this into a book of love in action.  Notice, I did not say “devotional.”  The Word of God should be your daily source, or choice meal a.k.a. soul food, this should be more like a dessert.  I have a problem with devotionals because they do all the dissecting for you.  Now where’s the fun in that?
Beloved, I hope this book of love in action sky rockets your relationship with God.  I pray you take Him out of the box & get intimate in new, deeper ways.  I pray it stretches your character & strengthens your relationship.  I know some of these things you’ve heard before, but have you ever really committed to it? I hope you are challenged, grow closer to God & truly develop your own special relationship with Him.

Be blessed! And remember, if you’re not having your own intimate time with God, what’s the point of church & church activities?  God says He sees passed the outside & looks straight into our hearts.  He also reminds us to remember our 1st love always.  He wants quality relationship, not quantity of religion.  I have given you some, not all, of my personal examples to guide you.  Some things I do with God are just between us!

Dedication~
This book is dedicated to the King of my heart, Jesus Christ.  Lord, I truly love you, just for you.
To the pastors, leaders & members of New Life Ministries, Miami, FL who have preached the Gospel fearlessly & whose instruction, correction & love has developed me into the woman of God I am today.  Thank You! And finally to my amazing, supportive family, better half husband Kevin & my “punky punky” Sofia.

Week 1: PRAISE

Pick out 5 NEW praise words you normally wouldn’t use to worship God.  Define & meditate on them & use them!

Breathtaking~ thrillingly beautiful, remarkable, astonishing, exciting
*I chose this because that’s how He makes me feel during worship.  Sometimes I just have to be silent & I put the microphone down & cry or be still.

Devastating~ tending or threatening to devastate: a devastating fire.
*Seems like an odd choice, but this word reminds me of my fear of the Lord & how sometimes in His presence I
am devastated at how far I can be from Him.

Captivating~ to attract and hold the attention or interest of, as by beauty or excellence
*Self explanatory, He’s amazing, I think of the sky He created!

Luminous~ radiating or reflecting light; shining; bright.
*HE is the only Super Star!

Incomparable~ not being able to compare or equate
*After reading Ephesians 2, I found this word used twice….once after the word RICHES & the other after POWER.  Rock on God! Nothing compares to you!

“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” Psalm 34:1~


Week 2: ARISE

Wake up an hour early this week & pray & worship the Lord. I know it’s a big sacrifice, but remember anything we do for Christ, is really much more of a gain isn’t it? Try at least 1 day. C’mon you can do it! He will meet you there & what a sweet time you’ll have!

“In the morning, O LORD, hear my voice. In the morning I lay my needs in front of you, and I wait.” Psalm 5:3~

Week 3: SING

Pick out your most recent favorite song & worship with all you have till it hurts!

My favorite worship song lately is “Desert Song” by Hillsong.  The musicality is sweet but melancholy to me & the lyrics are fantastically AMAZING!!!  I relate to every verse. It really touched my soul & I find myself closer to God because of it.  That song is found on the “This is Our God” album.

“Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.” Psalm33:3~

Week 4: WRITE

Pick out your favorite Psalm & rewrite it in your own words.

Week 5: WORSHIP

Invest in a new CD.  BUY it, don’t burn it.  Support those worship ministries because if we burn them we are stealing from God’s own people!  Enjoy the new music & be blessed!

I bought the new Group1Crew album “Ordinary Dreamers.” It’s inspired me to make “eye contact” with Jesus! What a clever analogy I love, love, LOVE it!

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.” Psalm 40:3~

Week 6: MEMORIZE

Pick out a favorite verse.  Post it up & memorize it =)

I chose…

“Because, whatever you do, eating or drinking or anything else, everything should be done to bring glory to God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31~

Week 7: HONOR

Let us honor the 4TH Commandment this week by taking the time to remind
our parents that they are appreciated.  First, in word then, in deed.


I sent my mommy a sweet text telling her she is “a pillar in which my life is built upon” & gave her a 30 min shoulder massage, she loves those! I sent my Daddy a heartfelt letter enclosed with new pictures of my daughter.

“Honor your father & mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12 ~

Week 8: LOVE

LOVE strong this week!  Do something for a stranger & tell them it is from Jesus who loves them, not from you or your church.

Examples:

When I went to Starbucks (drive thru) I gave the cashier $5. for the person behind me. I gave him a card that says “God does provide.” These cards came from a Love campaign we had at our church.

My husband & I also double tipped a waitress & left her a card as well.

“And one of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other
commandment greater than these.” ~Mark 12:28-31

Week 9: PRAY

Create a prayer list. If you already have one, edit it.  Reflect on what God has done, thank Him & petition for your heart’s desires.

“And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it. ” John 14:13-14~

Week 10: READ

Buy a new book.

I was just blessed & transformed with “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan.  This book has cut
me to the core of my crooked character & it’s definitely changed my perception of God. It has influenced me to analyze why I do the things I do, say the things I say, love the people I love etc. So this week’s challenge is to invest in a godly book.

“A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel” Proverbs 1:5-6~


*This is an excerpt.  For the other 42 weeks you have to buy the book! Release in winter 09!

Add comment April 3, 2009 Ali Arielle Sanchez
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Surrender to Laughter

On Wednesday March 18, 2009 something supernatural happened to me. I want to first thank God for blessing me with this experience which I will treasure forever.

That week was really rough.  First, my mom was hospitalized only it was in Italy so prayer was really the only weapon.  Next, my husband & I got this demonic virus that had us hugging the toilet more then my 16 year old drunk days in Cancun!  Then my daughter got it, not cool.  We took her to the hospital & after some TLC we we’re all better, but not before a fire almost consumed everything we owned.  My grandmother who really has no sense of smell decided to microwave a dish sponge that happen to have metalllic fibers…uh!  Nothing was damaged, but the smell was hideous.  Then my daughter gets diagnosed with glaucoma a.k.a. going blind slowly.  And last & worst, but not least, my husband & I have been at each other like fighting pit bulls.  Still it was Wednesday night & I knew in the back of my mind God needed to be worshipped…

I drove to prayer night that night struggling with myself.  Ashamed for things that had flown out of my mouth recklessly that week & feeling just crappy & unworthy.  I had decided I couldn’t talk to God that night. I would just sit there & pray for others.  I sat in the back & opened up this journal I have as a friend, Sito, begin to share.  He asked “What are you doing here? What is the point of driving here & then sitting on your butt? God is looking for those who will worship Him.  What are you going to do?”

Needless to say, that cut like a knife.  I’m good with the direct.  I don’t get offended when I know a rebuke is from God. But I still struggled with myself.  So I looked down at my journal, wrote down two names & glanced to catch the scripture at the bottom.  It said “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name. Bring an offering & come before him; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” ~1 Chronicles 16:29
Only the true Word of God can pierce your soul like this. I was speechless…

Humbled & feeling foolish I apologized to the Lord & proceeded to get into His presence & prepare to worship Him.  Time with Him felt as if I had left this hemisphere, it always does.  I spent most of it crying & broken & I knew He was doing things in me as He has the business of doing.  Then Pastor Rigo told us that God wants us to go to the front & form a circle holding hands & pray for one another.

“Here we go…” I rudely thought.  I felt torn away from God’s presence & dragged my feet to the front like a stubborn child.  Again God was revealing to me just how prideful I am.  As we held hands I had Nancy, Pastor’s wife, on one side & a new believer, Vanessa, on the other.  He told us to ask each other what we’d like the other to pray for.  I didn’t even turn Nancy’s way embarassed.   I asked Vanessa what she wanted me to pray for & blatantly told her, “Pray for my attitude, its sucks.”

As we started to pray, the presence of the Lord felt heavy.  All of sudden with no warning I had this sudden urge to laugh.  Think of milk coming out of your nose laughter.  I tried to hold it & it came out in little bursts.  Sorta like “PPPPppppp!”  I wasn’t laughing at anything at all.  I was trying to hold it & that was making it worse.  I started laughing SO… hard tears were streaming down my eyes & I was shaking, but I was still managing to keep it quite. All of a sudden I leaned forward & dropped Nancy’s hand catching myself with my knee & now sound came out.  It sounded like “Ahhhh!!!!” & I knew people thought I was probably crying.  I couldn’t fight it anymore & dropped to my knees.  Laughter poured out of my mouth & my stomach roared with abdominal good pain.  Pastor proceeded to walk towards me & I stopped him saying, “I’m not crying, I’m laughing!”

It fell like a wave & then Nancy & several others around me were heavily drenched in the spirit of laughter.  This wasn’t a little laughter.  Think of the longest, loudest laughter you’ve ever had & this was like that to the tenth power! After it subsided I felt lighter spiritually.  I didn’t think something like that would ever happen to me, but I KNOW it was God & He knows I needed that.  It’s been a struggle for me in this walk with the elements of the supernatural, but this is just another milestone that reminds me, God is a healer, THE Healer, all powerful & wise & if we surrender to Him despite our failure, sin & shame, He will transform us! The goal is being more like His son daily & I believe I needed some whipping back into shape.  Who would’ve guessed God would do it through laughter?!

  • I hope you were blessed & I hope you will never let your attitude, sin or shame stop you from worshipping the King.  I’d also like to add that though supernatural encounters are awesome, we should not look for these, but stand firm on God’s Word & know when we least feel Him, He is still with us.  Also I pray that you belong to a bible-based church & follow your Pastor’s direction as he has been placed in that position by God himself.  Lastly, my daughter was recently tested & zero glaucoma was found! GLORY TO YOU GOD!!!

~Laugh Often

Add comment April 2, 2009 Ali Arielle Sanchez
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Then they will know…

“Then they will know that I am the Lord” is a repetitious line in the book of Ezekiel.  God punishes the people for their blatant idolatry & the ones who survive are expected to change their evil ways.  So what about today?  If God’s wrath is being poured upon certain people or places, can He still say “Then the will know…”  In an era where many disclaim the Christ & even the idea of a Creator, what happens when calamity strikes?  After 9-11 churches got filled up for a couple of months, but then it all dies down.  Many people will attribute catastrophes to the weather or terrorists or an insane person, but what if it was God’s doing?  What if He is punishing people & saving the rest?  Would an atrocity change our hearts?  The answer is no.

As I was spending some time in the Word tonight, I halted at the thought.  We are here.  We have truly arrived to the end of days when even the worst thing can happen & most people will still not cry out for God.  Take for example Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans.  Now I’m not saying God sent the hurricane there, but you have to admit, it’s a city known for it’s wild party life.  The notorious Mardi Gras Festival is known for is nakedness, drunkeness & fighting among other things.  In addition, the crime & rape rate go up dramatically that night.  After the hurricane hit, I remember hearing the mayor insist that the tragedy & loss of the hurricane will not stop the festival from happening.  I was bewildered.

At a time of intense suffering & devastation why proceed with the party?  For traditions sake I guess…  But seriously, I just didn’t get it.  Now going back to Ezekiel, it just blows my mind.  God was clearly upset at these people and upset is actually a huge understatement.  He wiped alot of them out and He can because He’s God.  The rest we’re lucky to be alive & He expected them to learn a lesson.  It’s just crazy how something “life-changing” can happen to someone & it no longer changes their life.  Does anyone see the irony in it?  Society is so hard hearted it’s all about rebuilding, moving on, but what did we learn people?  I am afraid for what God would have to do in this era for us to know that He is the Lord.

Add comment March 12, 2009 Ali Arielle Sanchez
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What’s in a name?

Ali & Sofie“Lioness of God” Blogs? I guess I should start off with an introduction. Birth names actually do relate to people. At least that’s true in my case. No offense, I don’t particularly click with “Nicole’s” & “Susie’s” have always been pretty promiscuous in my world, but I don’t like to sterotype. Anyway, MY name is Ali, no not Aaaa-lee as in Arabic, but just Ali, like Aly Mcbeal, short for Alixandra. It means “Defender of Man.” I once defended some random guy in a class wearing a jean shirt, versus our standard light blue Catholic school uniform. Maybe he couldn’t afford the stupid uniform or is wasn’t clean. Whatever the case, my Spanish teacher gave me a detention & said I should be a lawyer. I don’t know about a lawyer, but I definitely have a knack for seeing justice come to light. And now for the infamous middle name…think Disney movie & hottest mermaid in the sea…ah ah AAAAhhhh!!! You guessed it, it’s Arielle. Arielle was going to be Marielle after Mariel Hemingway, grandaughter of the famous writer Ernest Hemingway), but was cleverly chopped to Arielle because of the 80’s cuban Mariel boatlift.  Thanks mom!  Pretty amazing because I have by BA in Language Arts & love to write.  So, Arielle means “Lioness of God.” Ahhhh…..That’s so fresh to me because I love lions & God!!! I’ve had reoccuring dreams of this huge lion chasing me for years! Once I became a Christian, they stopped. My pastor said it was the devil chasing after me. He was probably right! So put it together & what do we have…Defender of man, lioness of God Sanchez! Sounds exactly like me. Nice to meet ya world, hope you’re ready for a rocking blog!

alilionessofgod@yahoo.com
Lioness of God
http://wordpress.com/

1 comment January 30, 2009 Ali Arielle Sanchez
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