A Message for Wives...

There is something I have felt on my heart for a long time, but never really thought about writing on it or if I did, I then worried I would offend someone or I wouldn't be understood.

Today, I realized I need to share. I was sitting at the pool and had just come up to a chair to relax for a minute and catch some sun after swimming with my boy. I sit down and three ladies are sitting right next to me and the one is talking away. There was no way of me NOT hearing. She was a frustrated wife and step mom. My heart hurt as I heard her speaking the way she was about her step daughter and even about her husband. She was complaining about the step daughter seeming ungrateful and wanting things from her dad and then the next sentence she was complaining that it seems like her husband doesn't know how to "stand up" to his daughter.

My heart hurt. I'm hurting because in the midst of something that was once broken (the husband not lasting with the daughters mother) there is still brokenness. So many things went through my head as I sat there hearing it all, so many prayers, asking God to give me the right words to say, if I was supposed to say something. I never ended up saying anything, I didn't feel I was supposed to and didn't know what to say but I did feel God stirring in my heart to write.

First of all, wives, talk to your husband. Talk to God about your husband. Pray about your concerns. Wives, be your husband's teammate, be by his side, help him on this journey of life. Truly BE his partner. I promise you, if you start talking to him and helping him through things, letting him know you are WITH him and not against him, things will change. You two will grow a bond, like you never knew.

Many times as wives, we can run our mouths to friends, we can complain to our husbands, to where it sounds like we are barking at them, but let's try talking, let's try asking a simple question like "How are you? How was your day? How do you feel?" And truly taking time to listen to the answer to that question. When they are stressed, hear them out. Tell him, you are there, that you two will get through it. You married him, you said "til death do us part" in other words, just be there for him and care for him. Instead of your husband responding in defense or brushing his feelings under the rug, you'll begin to see things change, you'll begin to see him open up and you will grow a friendship stronger than ever.

Now, with that being said, if you are a step mom, please don't treat that child, no matter how old they are, like they are your husband's kid. Don't talk bad about them, don't talk against them, don't talk as if they are not your responsibility at all. Love that child! Even if they are not your blood, God blessed you with that child. Show love to them, show that you care for them. Do things for them. Embrace the walk in life you were given with every relationship God placed in your life. There is no reason for division in a family. You are all one together, whether one might have a different mom or not, they should still be loved and accepted by you, just as much as the one you birthed from your womb. Children come into our lives in all different ways, sometimes it's not exactly the way we planned but if you give it all to God, He can and will bring unity to your family.

  Bottom line, love God, love the life you were given, love your husband, love your kids, ALL of them. If you're having problems or concerns, pray about it, don't go talking about it. Yes, you can have people to turn to, that will pray with you and encourage you, but I have found that "talking" about your problems doesn't really do anything for them but possibly stir you up more. Pray pray pray, God will work a miracle in your life, in your marriage and in your family but you have to first, fully give Him your heart.

With Love,

Lynette Colon

You Have a Purpose

Please take a moment and watch this video below before reading my post...

https://www.facebook.com/AngelaSernaPaginaOriginal/videos/772699529418678/

Crying. We may not always realize it, but He is there and He is with us every step of the way. 

Today, I heard about the loss of my friend's friend (I didn't know her) but passed pretty suddenly after her aorta tore, unexpectedly. That's the reason I had open heart surgery in 2012, normally there are no symptoms for it but somehow my God allowed me to have chest tightness that led me to the ER by ambulance and about 24 hours later, they found an aortic aneurysm. I had surgery about 20 days later and was saved. I was fortunate. 

Today, I've sat here and thought, why did you choose to save me, Lord? Why not this woman? She also had two small children at home. Why me? Why not her? I don't have the answer as to why she was taken today, but it has been confirmed to me that I have a purpose. I am a walking miracle and I have so much to be thankful for, but I'm writing this to tell you, if you are breathing right now, if you have a pulse, you also have a purpose. We all have a purpose. Everyday that I wake up, I am thankful for another day of life, but hearing this news today, has made me much more grateful. I am so sad for her kids and husband, I'm sad for the rest of their family and have been praying for them all day. It hit close to home with hearing the words "that could have been you" it really could have. In reality, it could be any of us. We should live everyday of our lives to the fullest, live with joy in our hearts, live on a mission to serve Him and do all the task He has assigned for us to do. 

I hope and pray this post encourages you, pushes you into your calling, strengthens you and reminds you, you DO have a purpose here and don't ever doubt it. Our God needs each one of us, we all have unique callings to fulfill. 

Do you know your calling? If not, post a comment or message me. I would love to pray with you or for you.  

Also, please keep this family in prayer, they are going through something that was completely unexpected and I can't imagine the pain.

Love and blessings,

Lynette Colon

When It Rains, It Pours

When it rains it pours...


We've all heard that saying and have probably even said it multiple times. I don't know about you but I've always referred to it in a "negative" way. Every time I hear it, it's being referred to as so many things going wrong in life. We are so quick to share when things are bad and even say "when it rains it POURS" like we are barely surviving in a time when things are all going wrong. I do understand that, completely, because I have been there many times, it truly felt like I barely had my head above water but it's time we start changing the outlook on life and on that saying. I'm not condemning anyone because I'm one of the ones that have used it too often, but why do we only use it in a negative way.



Think about what could happen if we start to say and claim over our lives "when it rains, it pours" in a positive way. Saying it with boldness knowing that God is going to not only rain blessings over you but they are going to POUR out on you.

I get it, sometimes life is so tough, sometimes it is not only raining but it's pouring in a bad way BUT I challenge you to stop saying it that way, or in the moment that you are going to say it, change it and say things might be tough and it feels like we are drowning but God is about to give us a breakthrough. It's about to be pouring in a GOOD way. Claim it over your life! God is on your side and He WANTS to bless you and He wants to pour out all of His blessings on you.
So today I pray that in your life, it will begin to rain until it POURS with BLESSINGS over you.

Go out there and enjoy the rain, get excited whether you going through great times or bad times, rejoice Him, be Joyful and TRUST that God is about to pour out His blessings on you. <3

Blessings,
Lynette Colon

Are you truly walking "with" God?

Let me start by saying I am not trying to condemn anyone. This is a question I think we all need to constantly ask ourselves. I've been thinking about the verse in Matthew a lot lately and what it really says and means. A verse a lot of us throw out there so easily and frequently when trying to feel encouraged or encourage someone else. 

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 ESV)

It clearly says here, we cannot do it alone. It is impossible with us, unless we allow God in our lives and let Him work in us, then yes ALL things are possible "with" God.

The definition of with is...accompanied by another person or thing. 

When you really take time to look at it this way and soak it in and grasp what His word is telling us, you will see that verse with a whole new meaning. 

Looking at it this way, it says this...

But Jesus looked at them and said, “Accompanied by man this is impossible, but accompanied by God all things are possible.”

When I think of it this way it really makes me see situations different. At every moment of every day, we need to be accompanied by God. How awesome that God Almighty, the Alpha and Omega wants to accompany us!!? I mean that just brings tears to my eyes to think...God, my God wants to truly be by my side with every possibility, every step, every decision and the big one that my heart is always so heavy for is IN my marriage! 

So today, is there an area in your life that you might be struggling in? Let's say it's work, ask yourself, am I inviting God to be with me in those moments at work, am I asking Him on my way to work to help me with the day and inviting Him to use me while I'm there, to be a light for others. Let's say it's finances, my first question there would be am I tithing? Tithing is trusting Him and allowing Him to be in the very first portion of your finances and then if the answer is yes, then am I spending money on foolish things, on things of this world? On things that will only give me happiness temporarily? 

Let's say it's your marriage, my first question here is am I going to church with my spouse? A marriage needs God, worshipping and serving together brings a closeness like never before. And it's not only on Sunday's and or Wednesdays. You have to also invite Him into your home, your everyday life. Pray together! It's amazing what God can do in your marriage when you begin to make Him the most important part of it. I saw the darkest days in my marriage, a brokenness that the human eye says, it will never heal, it's too damaged and it was right with man BUT with God, being accompanied by God, making Him the center of everything healed my marriage and mended it so beautifully. Everyday I feel my marriage grows more and more and that's because we are both allowing God to change us and help us grow more and more in Him. 

If you are with a non believer, then the question would be am I still going to church? Am I still making God MY first priority? Just invite Him in every part of your life, let Him lead the way and keep Him with you at all times. 

I am not perfect, I'm far from it, these are things I have learned and am still learning. I've just been really meditating on this word the past couple days and have realized just how deep this verse is and this was Jesus Himself that said it. I've said this verse about situations I've gone through and I've also said it many times to encourage others and I think that's great to do but tonight, I just wanted to really take a moment and really break it down. I just felt it so heavy on my heart to share. 

God wants to accompany us! He wants to be with us, walk with us and make the impossible, possible. Let Him today, invite Him and keep inviting Him every single day, it's a daily choice we have to make.

Another verse I'll leave here that is basically stating the same...

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 ESV)

He is a loving God, here to help us, to strengthen us. All we have to do is invite Him in, call on His name during our struggles, give Him praise no matter what is going on around us and He will bless you, strengthen you, see you through it and make the impossible, possible. 

Be encouraged tonight, we serve a Mighty God!

Your time on your knees displays the urgency of your need.

Your time on your knees displays the urgency of your need....

This morning as I am in worship at church, I felt the Holy Spirit so sweetly remind me I need to be on my knees more. Right now my family is going through a lot of changes, nothing completely major but we have had some financial speed bumps and we are believing for some new doors to open for my husband, career wise. We have struggled quite a bit financially for the past couple of months and we pray and we believe it will come to an end soon and we WILL have a breakthrough in our struggles. 

Now, as many of you know, a few years ago, our marriage was attacked and my health. Of course during that time, I was on my knees, day in and day out, praying for healing in all areas. No one had to tell me to do it, I did it. 

Today, I felt God say to me, if this was your marriage or your health, you would be on your knees until a breakthrough happened, so why aren't you doing the same for your husbands job, for your finances, for your ministry to unfold or for the changes coming to your family? When He spoke that to me, I immediately began crying and realizing, why am I not on my knees more? It's like all this time, I thought no, I can't cry out that much because He already got me through so much in the past that this is nothing, this isn't that high of a need so I just need to sit back and be patient. BUT today, God reminded me that every single one of our needs or issues or battles are important to Him and depending on how important we make them and bring them to Him, is how He will respond. If we feel it can go on the back burner and we just wait for it, then why would it be a big deal for Him, if that's where our faith is...but if we know and believe He will answer it, no matter the level of what WE think it is and we get on our knees and pray for it and call His name in it, daily, then He will answer it and allow miracles to happen. 

So, today, if you're anything like me and just feel, no I don't want to be stingy God, I'll just wait, it could be worse....STOP! Because, yes, it could be worse but that's why we thank Him for what we have and also bring whatever needs we have to Him, so that He can answer them and allow miracles to happen in our lives. 

Get on your knees and pray, lay your burdens at His feet, allow Him to sweep it away and answer your prayers. Believe for a miracle today, no matter how little or big you think your need is, IT MATTERS to Jesus!

It's your choice...choose Him!

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5 ESV)

I'm not sure why it takes us so long to grasp this...I know in the past, it's like I almost kept God on the back burner or in my back pocket, only pulled Him out when I really needed something. I served Him when it was convenient or when I needed something. For some time now, I have finally chosen to serve Him, live for Him and only Him. I have never felt so joyful in my life as I do now. Countless times on Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights, I am tired or not feeling the greatest but thankfully, I have learned to push through it and what's so crazy is once I get to church, serving with others and doing what I love to do, I have way more energy than I thought I could have or my headache or stomach pain goes away...it's amazing! We aren't just supposed to tithe our money, there is more, we need to give of ourselves too, to help build His Kingdom and He will bless you for it. So, if you are stuck in a rut and just feel like "Oh I'll serve Him someday." make the choice to serve Him now. It's a choice! He can't make us serve Him. I'm telling you though, once you do, you will be amazed at the energy you have, the joy you will carry with you, living for Him is the only way. No, my life is not perfect and we have been hit with some crazy things lately but thank God, I know where my help comes from and all I have to do, is continue to turn my situation over to Him the one Who made me and trust that He WILL see me through it as He always has...trust Him today. Choose to live for Him today. Let Him know He is worth it. Once you do, it's a choice that you will need to make daily. The choice is YOURS.
‪#‎JesusFirstJesusAlways‬

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! (Psalm 105:4 ESV)

His word clearly states that we need to seek Him. He is there waiting on you. Turn to Him today, stop carrying worry, unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, etc. Give it to Him. He WILL see you through whatever storm you are facing. Just call on the name of Jesus.

He Saved my Marriage, my Family and My Life...

He Saved my Marriage, my Family and My Life...

So, tomorrow marks 6 months from me having unexpected open heart surgery. I am still amazed at the road I traveled this past year. If you would have told me one year ago, I would be facing the many things I faced over this past year, I would have began running and panicking, thinking I could never get through it all. But good news is, we serve an awesome God that is so amazing and will see us through anything and everything. 
This year I faced things I never ever wanted to face in my lifetime. I really thought I never would face these things and if it even crossed my mind, fear would strike me harder than anything. I will try to make this as short and to the point as I possibly can, I just feel there may be at least one person or many that needs to hear my story and be encouraged by it. Someone that may need reminded that God will get you through anything. 
The 2012 trials started right after we welcomed the new year, a few days into January, Jon and I began having marital problems, something I never felt we would have or if we did, it wouldn't go as far as it did. The problems progressed over the next 3 months and in March we separated. The friendship and love we once had and had for so long felt like it vanished. Gone! My best friend, who I talked to about everything, was gone, I cried, I begged, I prayed and nothing worked. The man I married, wasn't there, I couldn't connect with him, couldn't get through to him at all. We hardly saw each other anymore, he basically came home to sleep. I finally became fed up and asked him to leave, something I never thought I could do. 
From the day I helped him out the door with his clothes, I fell to my knees in prayer. I never ever could see me doing such a thing. As much as this sounds like I was giving up on my marriage, I didn't. For us, I feel this was part of God's plan. He needed him out of the house to be able to work on him and me alone, for God to truly change me and work on me. You see my husband was always up there, level with my God. I didn't know how to put God above him, I didn't understand, I just love Jon so much that I didn't know how to love Christ more. When that person is gone, the person you turned to about everything, you learn very quickly how to turn to God for everything and truly put Him first. 
Morning and night I was on my knees praying, giving Him my first minutes of the day and my last minutes of the night. All throughout the day, when I would struggle at different times, I would fall to my knees in prayer. You know the saying "Have you prayed about it as much as you've talked about it?" during this time, I truly prayed about it instead of talking. Only my immediate family knew about our situation and even they could barely get me to talk unless it was me asking for prayer. I would constantly tell them, this is my marriage, I don't want to "talk" about it. I just want prayer. They were awesome and gave me just that, as a family every night they would offer me prayer and we would get on the phone and pray. I never lost hope in my marriage, I knew God had a plan bigger and better than mine could ever be and I knew He was going to do big things. Overall I trusted Him, not Jon, not my family, not me but I trusted God and knew He would do the impossible. 
Prayers were constant, I was living and breathing prayers. Worship music on repeat, I only wanted positive things coming in and out of my life. I didn't want to hear or be around any negative. I fasted food at different times, which was my first time ever doing that. I fasted Facebook, first time on that too. I truly felt Him constantly filling me with peace and joy knowing something better was in the works. Jon and I had not seen or talked to each other for over a month after him leaving our home, so I was truly leaning on Jesus and wow, He is amazing! 
I had Isaiah and felt what it feels like to be a single mom for a while and I know now it is not easy. The hardest part for me is trying to make up for what they're missing from their father or them asking for their daddy. It was hard! I hand it to the many women who have to live this life everyday. So since I constantly had Isaiah, my moment, my alone time was a shower by myself every night with my worship music blasting. One night I was listening to a song, I listened to a lot and it was "I give myself away" the words say "I give myself away, so you can use me." That night I cried out to God singing that song with ALL of my heart and also added my own words, I sang "I give myself away, so you can use me. I give my marriage away, so you can use it. I give my husband away, so you can use him. I give my family away, so you can use us." I sang those words over and over, truly crying out to God and truly meaning every single word to that song. So much so that, that night I felt like a burden had been lifted. I felt lighter, I felt like I had a breakthrough in my shower that night. 
A few nights later, I was lying in bed, going to sleep and that is the night I started with chest pain and tightness. Isaiah was sleeping and of course it was just the two of us. I called 911, I could barely catch my breath or even sit up straight, I was laying on the floor when they arrived. My blood pressure was extremely high, they gave me some spray for my heart and several aspirin. Lynn, my sister in Tampa had been on the phone with me and had called Lisa and Lori, my sisters who live close to me. Lori arrived just after the paramedics to stay with Isaiah and Lisa followed me in the ambulance to be by my side at the hospital. 
After many test in the ER, everything was coming back normal and negative. One thing sparked the ER doctors concern, it was that I responded both times to the nitroglycerin which usually means there is something going on with your heart. He told me based on that they will keep me for 24 hours to do a series of blood test to see if that shows a heart attack. 24 hours later, test after test came back negative for heart attack. The cardiologist came in to question me about anxiety and if I had ever been diagnosed, I said no, I understand anxiety and I have never had anxiety, especially during a time that I had been turning to God for everything. He was my peace and protector. I told the doctor I really don't think it is anxiety, I know I'm going through a lot but that felt more serious than anxiety. I then asked him if he had looked at the echo and he said no, he hadn't seen it. He said I'll take a look at that then I will be discharging you. After a few minutes he came back in and said he needed to order a ct scan, according to my echo there is a questionable aneurysm and it needs a closer look. The ct scan was ordered and waited for hours for the results. 
During the waiting time, Jon showed up, my husband, my love, the piece to my puzzle that had been missing for nearly two months. He didn't look himself at all, he looked sick, stressed, worried. Lynn had text him and told him what was going on and that I was hospitalized. I filled him in on what was happening and that we were waiting on the last test results. While waiting, we began talking, sharing tears, laughter, sadness and joy. Talked about the road our marriage had taken, talked about how he felt guilty for me being in a hospital bed and he hadn't been there. We had a conversation that we hadn't had in months, all because I landed in a hospital bed. 
Hours later I got the dreaded phone call from the cardiologist stating the ct scan results weren't good, that my aortic valve had enlarged and was a 5cm aneurysm. He said I would need to see a cardiac surgeon right away because they begin doing surgeries on this when they are 4.5 cm, mine was already 5 cm. he explained this would be open heart surgery. Tears began to flow, I was in shock. I cried and cried. Jon was still there and he tried encouraging me but I just didn't understand. The road I was traveling just seemed to keep getting more and more tough. 
Over the next couple of weeks, I had to see my family doctor, cardiologist and was then referred to the cardiac surgeon. Jon said that he would be at every appointment and he was, he showed up at every appointment I had and the last was with the surgeon who told me, yes I needed open heart surgery and the latest I could wait was until June. We went ahead and scheduled for May 29, 2012, the day after Memorial Day. Jon and I were still separated but were working on things. He came by the house to spend time with Isaiah and I, we would also meet at church and go out as a family to dinner. The week before my surgery we met with our pastor that married us and his wife, to begin pastoral counseling on our marriage. We had a great session and things really began to turn for the better. I still had my own questioning I was dealing with on why I had to have this surgery and kept wanting healing. 
One evening I was again in the shower, only at my parents house and I had that same worship song on repeat "I give myself away" I was singing it and just in a zone not really understanding all that was happening in my life when suddenly I felt like God sweetly reminded me, "you sang this to me, you sang it with all of your heart, you told me to use you. I am using you." It wasn't an audible voice but I just felt it so heavy and clear on my heart that I broke down into tears, He answered me, He reminded me. I gave myself away and begged and prayed for Him to do whatever it takes to save my marriage and my family. That is what He is doing. He is working in us. I got my answer. At that moment, I began to accept and understand I needed open heart surgery and I knew He would see me through it. 

May 29, 2012 Jon and I went to the hospital at about 5am. I got about 2 hours of sleep that night, we stayed the night at my parents so that Isaiah could stay with them while he took me. As they wheeled me away from Jon, that is when he broke, he was crying so hard and could barely talk. He told me it would be ok but you could tell, he was scared. I thought I was going to be a complete wreck but instead I was ok, kept crying here and there but was not panicking as I thought I would be, I just kept praying, asking God to get me through the surgery. 
After the surgery my surgeon went out to tell my family I was doing ok and recovering. He told them if I had not had the surgery, I would not have seen the age 30. Wow! I still don't know why this all happened to me, to my family, to my marriage this year, it was tough for everyone BUT I do know our God is stronger and He can do ANYTHING! It was a tough year and at many times, I was wishing I could run far away but instead I ran for God and I am so thankful I did because He saw me through it all. He is to thank for everything. There are times when we ask why but instead we should try to just turn to Him and thank Him in advance. He is always up to something better than we can ever imagine. Just trust Him. He is so good and no matter how hard things seem at times, press into Jesus and He WILL get you through it. 
In one month, I will be 30!! I am here and able to see age 30 because my God reached down and saved me. Yes, I have a big scar down the center of my chest and another on the side of my chest but that is just a reminder of what God did for me. I'll take the scars, the aches and pains, the discomfort and itching and just be completely thankful for all He did through the hardest time of my life yet. 2012 started out to be a really hard year but when I take a look back at it, I'm amazed that He reached down and saved my marriage, my family and my life. 

Never doubt! Our God is good!

I wrote this November 2012, here it is Feb 2014 and thank God I am doing wonderful health wise, my marriage is stronger and more beautiful than ever.   I have so much to be thankful for and I owe it all to my Lord and Savior.  Thank you Jesus!

My prayer is that someone who might be facing a difficult time or a road that seems to keep getting more rough, is encouraged by this and can have hope that if you press into God, He will get you through ANYTHING! May God bless you all. Please let me know if I can pray for you in any way.