Monday, February 18, 2008

OMIKASE STYLE



So...I was asked at an interview for this really cool blog this past week about my life as a Believer. The interviewer asked: "So...everybody knows you as the owner of one of the most famous fashion websites in Brazil...but I googled your name and found that you also have a blog that expresses your faith, who did you write that for?". So many people that read The Hype BR have also found this blog right here, however...it was the first time that I was going to talk about it in a public way. My answer was..."Pretty much, I don't like religion...religion messes things up...however, I love Jesus and Jesus loves everyone who seeks him. "Luke Believes" expresses this aspect of my life. I didn't create it or write it for anyone in particular...I write it for anyone who's wants to read it." Well...was my answer good or bad?! Who cares... that's in my opinion secondary...however, It was crazy being sort of put against the wall for the first time because of my faith...and that's when i was like..."Wow...hey, I really have a serious responsibility here." The Lord has blessed me soooooooo much this past year, especially also coming from a year (2006) that was probably the worst one in my life and then...HE gives me this huge oportunity to not only get back on my feet but to also tell others about what and in Who I believe in. It's truly amazing! Today...I went to a Bible Study and my friend Elby gave a really good analogy of the "Omikase Style" of eating . Omikase Style, which I have only done a couple of times...is when you allow the chef to serve you whatever he wants; Mainly because you trust him so much or you believe He's that good...that you know whatever he gives you will be great. That touched me deeply because that's how we should trust our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I personally struggled for years with that...trusting that what HE had prepared for me was THE BEST. I always felt like..."Hey, what if HE has something for me I don't really like, etc..." but I recently found that not only HE has the best...but also HE doesn't play with our feelings, He is not here to joke around...HE wants the best for us (Psalms 37: 5-6) and will prepare us somehow, emotionally, phisically, however...to go through what HE has instore for us . Yes...it could be a bit scary but I wouldn't want it any different. I always used to compare my spiritual life to a "Rollecoaster" now...I would compare it to a road with a few bumps along the way (John 16:33). The Lord has really come through as ALWAYS and when I realized all I had to do was trust????!!! It almost upsets me..haha..Why didn't I do it before?! Ok...such a cliché question but so true!. That being said...I must say that, trusting in the Lord might be a life long learning experience but honestly...Who else is also ready for that "Omikase style" spiritual cuisine? God Bless, Lucas Penido.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

SEEN ANY FROGS LATELY?

I have been extremelly busy latelly and I thought I didn't want to "post just for posting"...so I was really waiting on something that spoke deeply to my heart and yesterday I received this email..it's a devotional written by Dana Congdon. Check it out and see if it also speaks to your heart:

Feb. 9 Exodus 7:14-9:35 Matt. 24:32-51Exodus 9:35

"So Pharaoh's heart hardened, and he did not let the children of Israel go,just as Jehovah had spoken through Moses."It is hard to believe that someone could be so hard hearted. Pharaoh now has defied Jehovah nine times and the cost is getting greater each time.

Is it possible that people today could be so hard?It seems that man learns to adjust to curses, wraths, plagues and judgments because there is just no rational reason for them except bad Karma, lousy luck or "that's life".

What does it take for God to get the heart's attention? When these plagues are matched up with the final events in Revelation we see men well into the great tribulation and still hardened of heart and full of rationalizations.

But then there are those who fear Jehovah. And just his slight displeasure causes pain. And their consciences have been sensitized by the Light of fellowship until they at times suffer from over-sensitivity.

Such dear ones are kept in the eye of the storm as when the crops and the cattle of Goshen were preserved through the plagues.And what would the difference be that marks the 'sensitive ones'? Mainly this, that they heard the Word before it happened and BELIEVED and were consequently readied and sheltered. Moses had spoken the whole thing step by step before each stage happened. The end times cause little fear to those who are prepared and provided for by believing the Word.

Seen any frogs lately?

-Danda Congdon