After the tragic and unexpected death of my mother when I was 15, my life took a major turn with suicide attempts and a nervous breakdown at 16, feelings of hopelessness, despair, and abandonment which resulted in an eating disorder and other self-destructive behaviors by the age of 17, a dangerous and abusive marriage at 20, my father's sudden death at 22, having to flee my beautiful home state of California at 26, and becoming a single mom with next to nothing at 27. I have been divorced for 20 years and over the past 17 years, I have raised my son with God's help, provision, guidance, grace, and mercy. With God's amazing grace I now have a wonderful teenage son, a Master's of Education Degree and a Masters of Arts in Counseling Degree (coming in November) and am busy serving and living for HIM.
God was not done with me yet and gave me a huge vision which has resulted in Rivers of Grace Ministry. Over the course of this last year, God has really had His hand in this ministry and it has taken off like a rocket shooting across the heavens. It amazes me each time a door is opened creating a way to do what He called me to do.
Rivers of Grace Ministry started in 2006 as a result of a dream and a vision God gave me. He not only supplied this vision, but placed a deep desire in my heart to use the many trials and tragedies encountered on this journey for a greater good. I get to laugh in the enemy's face and tell him, he didn't get me down. I'm STILL STANDING and doing the work of GOD! This vision includes helping other single moms navigate the challenging life of raising children alone while teaching them about God's grace, love, and peace. "Empowerment" is a big word to me and I want women to be empowered by discovering their true identity in Christ like I did. It will truly tansform their lives!!!!
The ultimate vision of Rivers of Grace Ministry is to one day build Oasis House, a large transitional maternity home and empowerment program that is free of charge for unwed, pregnant young girls and women ages 14-28 and mothers who are in other crisis situations. In October 2008, Rivers of Grace Ministry merged with New Haven Ministries which was founded and directed by Martha Breeden. Through this merger, Rivers of Grace Ministry is now recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under New Haven Ministries. This came about through a relationship formed by talking with Martha about how she started her ministry and then offering to give the young ladies at her maternity home a Mary Kay pampering party!! Wow!! God sure knows how to create opportunities and open doors! God knew what was in my heart and how overwhelming the process was to get incorporated AND get recognized as a tax-exempt organization. He literally saved us at least 5 years and several thousands of dollars with this merger!! How great is that!
New Haven Ministries was started in 2002 by Martha Breeden, to find a solution to the growing need for the shelter, care, and training of homeless pregnant mothers with children. New Haven Ministries was incorporated as a non-profit in March of 2002. Shortly, thereafter, New Haven Ministries became a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Through God's provision, money was raised to lease and operate a facility near New Braunfels, TX, to house homeless, pregnant women and their children and teach themnecessary life skills. New Haven Ministries' maternity home helped many young women in crisis. In October 2008, the lease on the maternity home expired and God gave Martha a new calling in another part of Texas.
At the pampering day outreach I agreed to take over the single mom support group (which we have named "Girl Talk") and meet at my house. A month later, Martha called me, and a new season for both New Haven Ministries and Rivers of Grace Ministry began. God brought us together through a ministry outreach for such a season as this. The day before Martha talked to me about merging the two ministries, someone at church gave me a prophesy saying God was getting ready to do something huge in my life and for me not to be scared, anxious, or overwhelmed by it. Isn't that cool! God is so good and so amazing. I'm glad I got that word! I may have gotten a bit freaked out by it all, but I knew what God was up to once it happened.
Rivers of Grace Ministry, under the umbrella of New Haven Ministries, has dreamed a GOD-SIZED dream that will one-day include a transitional maternity home for up to 25 mothers and 75 children (Oasis House), on-site professional counseling services, on-site day care, on-site school for the children and any teen moms live there and in the area, parenting and life skill classes, financial freedom, grief share, divorce care, and physical/sexual abuse bible study programs, education, job training, and partnership with crisis pregnancy centers and medical professionals to offer part-time services on-site. Oasis House will be the home for the mothers and children living there and Rivers of Grace Ministry will continue to reach out to area mothers who need our help.
WOW!! God certainly gives us the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions!! Take that devil!! We have the authority God gave us if we believe in Him. It's time to take that authority and use it to turn around what was meant for harm. God wants the BEST for His children. We must remember that, believe it, expect it, and walk in it!
Thank you God for your amazing love, provision, grace, mercy, and favor!!!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Why God is Such an Amazing Part of My Life
Many people wonder how I ended up here in Texas. I usually tell them it is a long story and the short version is I had to move to Texas. I used to feel trapped here and a captive of circumstances. The truth is, I am EXACTLY where I am supposed to be. God has our lives already planned out for us. We are usually the ones who get in the way and alter His plans through the choices we make. Sometimes it is because of choices other people make and we get caught in the crossfire, so to speak. It would be so much easier for us if we just listened to Him and followed the path He has already designed for us. I'm glad I have been through all of the different experiences and valleys I have walked through. If you don't go through the valley first, you cannot fully appreciate the mountain top you eventually stand on.
So here is my brief testimony of how God has used painful events in my life for a greater good. I would not change a single minute of my life. I have discovered exactly where I am meant to be and the purpose God has put me here on this Earth. I am forever grateful for my wonderful son, Joshua Caleb, that God has entrusted me to raise and for the ministry and dream God has placed in my heart!
I was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Orange County to upper-middle class parents. My parents provided me with a solid foundation that I would use later on in life to raise my own son. I was a competitive figure (ice) skater in the late 1970's and early 1980's and my mother was my biggest fan. My life was wrapped up in my mother's existence and in March of 1980, her unexpected death (at the age of 45) sent me on a downward spiral filled with hopelessness, despair, and feelings of abandonment. I stayed strong, tried to be the perfect daughter, and the champion skater. I had developed an eating disorder during that time and started self-destructive behaviors all the while still remaining the "good daughter" and the dedicated skater. I tried committing suicide and had a nervous breakdown ten months later at the age of 16. These events would later lead me into retiring from my skating career at 18, risky behavior the later part of my Senior year, and into a dangerous marriage the year following high school graduation. Throughout the marriage, I was the victim of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by my husband. My father died suddenly during my first year of marriage and because of the abuse and isolation, I was not able to be that close to him. When it became clear that I was still not safe even after the divorce, had to leave California to come to Texas. My plan was to only stay with an aunt for a few months until reporting to Army Boot Camp. That's right, with no immediate family and no real future, I decided on a new life and wanted to join the Army and become a medic. However, that was not to be and I am grateful for the son I got instead.
At this point I was still walking with God and had a relationship with Him, yet I was still struggling with issues from my past. A few months after moving to Texas, I found myself pregnant, alone, and with no real permanent home. I did know that God was the source for everything and if I was going to give my child a future I would have to go to college. With God's grace, mercy, and educating myself on financial aid options, I began college. It was a long, tough walk along that part of my journey raising my baby alone, going to school full-time, working, and taking the bus everywhere since I could not afford a car.
Despite living in poverty for many years and all the hardships that come with it, I continued pressing on toward my goal. I knew that with every step I took, God was walking right there beside me. Earning my Associate's Degree in Medical Assisting Technology was not enough since I needed more money to become totally self-sufficient and not require assistance throughout my son's life. I decided to stay in school and embarked on a four year degree in education to become a teacher.
Earning my Bachelor's Degree was no easy feat. It was a long, hard struggle still filled with poverty, sacrifices, and courage. Some days I don't know how I did it at all. Many nights were spent in tears because how hard it was, but God was in the middle of it all providing a way for everything as I took each step toward a better future. I started working on my Master's Degree in Education immediately after I graduated with my Bachelor's. God blessed me with a full-time teaching position at a high school six months after receiving my teaching degree and certificate.
Through all these years I have been walking with God and talking with Him each day. I still face the same struggles and trials that everyone faces. I have been growing and maturing in my walk. Through daily prayer, faith, perseverance, learning from great teachers at my church, and a deep relationship with Christ I have overcome many of the things from my past that have followed me through the years. I now live life as a victor with Christ by my side instead of as a victim. In one chapter of my book, I characterize myself as a "little girl" lost and alone in the world. That is not the case today! God has truly turned my mourning into dancing and I sing praises to the Lord daily ( I really do! I get the honor of singing for Him all the time and during praise and worship at church as part of the Summit Christian Center choir).
I know God is waiting to do the same for you! All you have to do is ask Him, then trust Him, take a chance, and go for it! He loves you too much to let you stay the way you are today. He wants you to have a life filled with grace, peace, joy, and abundance. He is waiting for you to call on Him! Do it now, you won't ever regret it!!
God is my heavenly father, my Abba Father (my daddy), and my husband. It is amazing all the wonderful things He has done in my life. It isn't all smooth sailing. God never said He would make things perfect for us. But He has promised that His burden is easy and His yoke is light. If we focus on Him, He is with us through all of our trials, tragedies, heartbreaks, and struggles. Never focus on your circumstances. Keep you eyes focused on God.
God has totally blessed me through all of these trials. It has been 29 years since my mom died and I begin that downward spiral, but God has always been there for me and has never left me. I know He never will. My son will be 17 in a month and a wonderful young man of God who loves serving people, especially kids. God recently made a way for me to be in a big house, in a wonderful location, and with enough space to run my ministry and help other single mothers out there. The next house He will provide will be Oasis House, the transitional maternity home He has put in my heart to build. Please pray with me about God making provision for His vision here in San Antonio. Blessings to all of you!!!
Chelle4him
aka: Michelle Rodriguez
http://www.riversofgraceministry.org
So here is my brief testimony of how God has used painful events in my life for a greater good. I would not change a single minute of my life. I have discovered exactly where I am meant to be and the purpose God has put me here on this Earth. I am forever grateful for my wonderful son, Joshua Caleb, that God has entrusted me to raise and for the ministry and dream God has placed in my heart!
I was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Orange County to upper-middle class parents. My parents provided me with a solid foundation that I would use later on in life to raise my own son. I was a competitive figure (ice) skater in the late 1970's and early 1980's and my mother was my biggest fan. My life was wrapped up in my mother's existence and in March of 1980, her unexpected death (at the age of 45) sent me on a downward spiral filled with hopelessness, despair, and feelings of abandonment. I stayed strong, tried to be the perfect daughter, and the champion skater. I had developed an eating disorder during that time and started self-destructive behaviors all the while still remaining the "good daughter" and the dedicated skater. I tried committing suicide and had a nervous breakdown ten months later at the age of 16. These events would later lead me into retiring from my skating career at 18, risky behavior the later part of my Senior year, and into a dangerous marriage the year following high school graduation. Throughout the marriage, I was the victim of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by my husband. My father died suddenly during my first year of marriage and because of the abuse and isolation, I was not able to be that close to him. When it became clear that I was still not safe even after the divorce, had to leave California to come to Texas. My plan was to only stay with an aunt for a few months until reporting to Army Boot Camp. That's right, with no immediate family and no real future, I decided on a new life and wanted to join the Army and become a medic. However, that was not to be and I am grateful for the son I got instead.
At this point I was still walking with God and had a relationship with Him, yet I was still struggling with issues from my past. A few months after moving to Texas, I found myself pregnant, alone, and with no real permanent home. I did know that God was the source for everything and if I was going to give my child a future I would have to go to college. With God's grace, mercy, and educating myself on financial aid options, I began college. It was a long, tough walk along that part of my journey raising my baby alone, going to school full-time, working, and taking the bus everywhere since I could not afford a car.
Despite living in poverty for many years and all the hardships that come with it, I continued pressing on toward my goal. I knew that with every step I took, God was walking right there beside me. Earning my Associate's Degree in Medical Assisting Technology was not enough since I needed more money to become totally self-sufficient and not require assistance throughout my son's life. I decided to stay in school and embarked on a four year degree in education to become a teacher.
Earning my Bachelor's Degree was no easy feat. It was a long, hard struggle still filled with poverty, sacrifices, and courage. Some days I don't know how I did it at all. Many nights were spent in tears because how hard it was, but God was in the middle of it all providing a way for everything as I took each step toward a better future. I started working on my Master's Degree in Education immediately after I graduated with my Bachelor's. God blessed me with a full-time teaching position at a high school six months after receiving my teaching degree and certificate.
Through all these years I have been walking with God and talking with Him each day. I still face the same struggles and trials that everyone faces. I have been growing and maturing in my walk. Through daily prayer, faith, perseverance, learning from great teachers at my church, and a deep relationship with Christ I have overcome many of the things from my past that have followed me through the years. I now live life as a victor with Christ by my side instead of as a victim. In one chapter of my book, I characterize myself as a "little girl" lost and alone in the world. That is not the case today! God has truly turned my mourning into dancing and I sing praises to the Lord daily ( I really do! I get the honor of singing for Him all the time and during praise and worship at church as part of the Summit Christian Center choir).
I know God is waiting to do the same for you! All you have to do is ask Him, then trust Him, take a chance, and go for it! He loves you too much to let you stay the way you are today. He wants you to have a life filled with grace, peace, joy, and abundance. He is waiting for you to call on Him! Do it now, you won't ever regret it!!
God is my heavenly father, my Abba Father (my daddy), and my husband. It is amazing all the wonderful things He has done in my life. It isn't all smooth sailing. God never said He would make things perfect for us. But He has promised that His burden is easy and His yoke is light. If we focus on Him, He is with us through all of our trials, tragedies, heartbreaks, and struggles. Never focus on your circumstances. Keep you eyes focused on God.
God has totally blessed me through all of these trials. It has been 29 years since my mom died and I begin that downward spiral, but God has always been there for me and has never left me. I know He never will. My son will be 17 in a month and a wonderful young man of God who loves serving people, especially kids. God recently made a way for me to be in a big house, in a wonderful location, and with enough space to run my ministry and help other single mothers out there. The next house He will provide will be Oasis House, the transitional maternity home He has put in my heart to build. Please pray with me about God making provision for His vision here in San Antonio. Blessings to all of you!!!
Chelle4him
aka: Michelle Rodriguez
http://www.riversofgraceministry.org
God's Promise of a Double Portion!
God's word says He will give us a double portion for anything the enemy has taken from us, double for our trouble. He has certainly kept his promises! With the close of this past school year, I reflect back on all that He has done for us. This year at work was an extremely difficult one, but God was walking with me everyday. I finally learned how to leave all the cares, struggles, and challenges of the classroom at school and not take it all home with me. That in itself was a huge blessing. God also moved us into our very first house and helped me focus my attention on the things that are of God and for God, rather than focus on all the negative junk out there. The house has enabled me to leave the chaos of the day behind and go retreat into my own little oasis. Of course, with my super hectic schedule, sometimes I had to wait a bit longer in a day to come home to that oasis, but there was nothing better than pulling into my garage.
God is so very good!God has given me double portion already for many things in my life and I live with an expectancy, a promise that there is more to come. Just thinking back to when I found out I was pregnant with my son, Joshua Caleb, almost 18 years ago I am overwhelmed by the promises God has kept in our lives. I had to leave my home state of California to escape an abusive ex-husband and a few months after moving to Texas, I got pregnant. While the enemy could have used that situation against me and my son (giving us a negative outcome), God was in the middle of it all and turned it around for His glory. I was pregnant, single, with no real permanent home, no support, and had to give up my part-time job due to a high risk pregnancy/medical complications.
Even living in poverty for several years as I went to college, God was always there providing for us and protecting us (we lived in some scary places). My son is turning 17 in July and is a mighty young man of God. He is in an Engineering HS, taking advanced classes, National Merit Scholar, and working hard to get into A & M next August. I give all the glory to God! He has been Joshua's father all these years, especially since Joshua's father has never wanted anything to do with him.
I have been through so many valleys and trials, but I know my God goes before me to make a way for me. He continues to keep His promise of Double for my Trouble. I'm still hoping for a double portion of parents (surrogate parents of sorts) and perhaps a soulmate one day to make up for my parents who passed away so long ago (I've lived more of my life without parents, than I did with) and my former fiance ( and then, good friend) who passed away last October. God has been working overtime to bring people, friends and situations into my life to replace everything the enemy has stolen from me.
Just thinking about this house we've been in since August '08. I reflect back on how it used to be when I first had Joshua. The low-income housing apartments filled with pests, rodents, drug dealers, and everything scary has been replaced by a beautiful, amazing house. It's not completely my house yet, my friends who moved to New York are the owners, but God has placed me into this house and I think of it as my home.
The very small amount of money I used to make while going to school full-time has been replaced by an substantial amount as a teacher. I still don't think we get paid what we are worth, especially when we have advanced degrees, but we do get paid a pretty good salary. The time off in the summer is much needed as well to get away from it all. Teaching is a tough job and we cherish our breaks! It also gives us the time needed to attend workshops and training to make us even better teachers.
Joshua and I used to take the bus everywhere up until 7 years ago. God blessed us with our own car, which got totaled 8 months later by a head-on collision (not my fault). You know what He did? Replaced it with an even better car! A car that was cute and would have been paid off by now, but I went out and got a bigger one for me. Now I am STILL paying on that one and it is older now. What was I thinking?!? Do I know better than God? Absolutely not! So if God blesses you with something, don't go out and get something else that you think is better. He knows what you need. Stick with His choices. The outcome is much better and brings more peace.
As I sit here typing this, my mind reminices of friends who are in my life now and those that passed away. My very best friend of 10 years lost her battle to cancer 5 years ago and since then, I hadn't had any really close friends. I have a lot of social acquaintances from work, church, school, but no one really, truly close. After a few years, God has blessed me with 2! Double than what I had.
Amazing, isn't it.There is so much more that God has given me a double portion of lately. The ministry He gave me three years ago is finally growing and fantastic things are happening. The single mom support group that I wanted to start as part of the ministry is finally a reality. Getting the support group plugged in at church is also finally started to happen. I tried doing that 2 years ago and it never came to be. It wasn't time. Again, I was trying to do something in my own strength, yet it wasn't God's timing. Now that I have placed it in God's hands and have made this ministry (and God's work) priority #1 in my life, things are taking off! Rivers of Grace Ministry (New Haven Ministries) and our group "Girl Talk" is an actual ministry/group helping real mothers and their kids. God is so good! I can't say that enough.
If you want to find out more about what God has done in my life, the ministry, and the vision He has given me, check us out Facebook, My Space, or on the web at http://riversofgraceministry.org/
Blessings,
Michelle
"Chelle"
God is so very good!God has given me double portion already for many things in my life and I live with an expectancy, a promise that there is more to come. Just thinking back to when I found out I was pregnant with my son, Joshua Caleb, almost 18 years ago I am overwhelmed by the promises God has kept in our lives. I had to leave my home state of California to escape an abusive ex-husband and a few months after moving to Texas, I got pregnant. While the enemy could have used that situation against me and my son (giving us a negative outcome), God was in the middle of it all and turned it around for His glory. I was pregnant, single, with no real permanent home, no support, and had to give up my part-time job due to a high risk pregnancy/medical complications.
Even living in poverty for several years as I went to college, God was always there providing for us and protecting us (we lived in some scary places). My son is turning 17 in July and is a mighty young man of God. He is in an Engineering HS, taking advanced classes, National Merit Scholar, and working hard to get into A & M next August. I give all the glory to God! He has been Joshua's father all these years, especially since Joshua's father has never wanted anything to do with him.
I have been through so many valleys and trials, but I know my God goes before me to make a way for me. He continues to keep His promise of Double for my Trouble. I'm still hoping for a double portion of parents (surrogate parents of sorts) and perhaps a soulmate one day to make up for my parents who passed away so long ago (I've lived more of my life without parents, than I did with) and my former fiance ( and then, good friend) who passed away last October. God has been working overtime to bring people, friends and situations into my life to replace everything the enemy has stolen from me.
Just thinking about this house we've been in since August '08. I reflect back on how it used to be when I first had Joshua. The low-income housing apartments filled with pests, rodents, drug dealers, and everything scary has been replaced by a beautiful, amazing house. It's not completely my house yet, my friends who moved to New York are the owners, but God has placed me into this house and I think of it as my home.
The very small amount of money I used to make while going to school full-time has been replaced by an substantial amount as a teacher. I still don't think we get paid what we are worth, especially when we have advanced degrees, but we do get paid a pretty good salary. The time off in the summer is much needed as well to get away from it all. Teaching is a tough job and we cherish our breaks! It also gives us the time needed to attend workshops and training to make us even better teachers.
Joshua and I used to take the bus everywhere up until 7 years ago. God blessed us with our own car, which got totaled 8 months later by a head-on collision (not my fault). You know what He did? Replaced it with an even better car! A car that was cute and would have been paid off by now, but I went out and got a bigger one for me. Now I am STILL paying on that one and it is older now. What was I thinking?!? Do I know better than God? Absolutely not! So if God blesses you with something, don't go out and get something else that you think is better. He knows what you need. Stick with His choices. The outcome is much better and brings more peace.
As I sit here typing this, my mind reminices of friends who are in my life now and those that passed away. My very best friend of 10 years lost her battle to cancer 5 years ago and since then, I hadn't had any really close friends. I have a lot of social acquaintances from work, church, school, but no one really, truly close. After a few years, God has blessed me with 2! Double than what I had.
Amazing, isn't it.There is so much more that God has given me a double portion of lately. The ministry He gave me three years ago is finally growing and fantastic things are happening. The single mom support group that I wanted to start as part of the ministry is finally a reality. Getting the support group plugged in at church is also finally started to happen. I tried doing that 2 years ago and it never came to be. It wasn't time. Again, I was trying to do something in my own strength, yet it wasn't God's timing. Now that I have placed it in God's hands and have made this ministry (and God's work) priority #1 in my life, things are taking off! Rivers of Grace Ministry (New Haven Ministries) and our group "Girl Talk" is an actual ministry/group helping real mothers and their kids. God is so good! I can't say that enough.
If you want to find out more about what God has done in my life, the ministry, and the vision He has given me, check us out Facebook, My Space, or on the web at http://riversofgraceministry.org/
Blessings,
Michelle
"Chelle"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
