Monique B. Rodriguez
Teacher. Entreprenuer. Speaker.
Passionate. Genuine. Ready.
My maternal grandmother, Lilia Limon was my greatest spiritual influence of my youth. Every time I turned around she seemed to be in prayer. At the sink washing dishes, behind the stove cooking, or at the church altar. These are some of my favorite memories of her that taught me the necessity of prayer in every situation. "I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you." II Timothy 1:5 NIV
There's this song: "I have decided to follow Jesus.... the cross before me the world behind me....no turning back, no turning back!" I often sang this song with hopeful determination of a steadfast Christian walk. I'd say, this time God it's gonna be different!! However, most times I chose sin over holiness and fell into despair and depression because I felt I had "turned back to the world." Although, I had many intimate encounters and miracle experiences with God, I was stuck in a cycle of works for grace. My prayers included disclaimers: "God I know you may not answer my prayer because I didn't tithe, go to service, or read the Bible, etc. My obedience & perseverance failed in my human frailty. However, God would rescue me from a pit of depression with a revelation from His Word.
Romans 8:4-6 (NKJV) "4-that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5-For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6-For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
We are challenged to live according to the Spirit in our daily lives and not according to the flesh which will only lead to death. My own human attempts at religious perfection were futile as they were rooted in the flesh. Dying to the flesh and inviting the Holy Spirit to take over was and is the only way I was truly able to "follow Jesus with the cross before me."
It can be so difficult to stand on your beliefs when you may not know how to find facts and information outside of university classes. I absolutely love the approach authors: J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hayes take in their book, Grasping God's Word. In an effort to better understand the Bible, the authors ask the reader to take the biblical text through five steps. 1-Grasp the text in their town. What did the text mean to the original audience? 2-Measure the width of the river to cross. What are the differences between the biblical audience and us? 3-Cross the priniciplizing bridge. What is the theological principle in this text? 4-Consult the biblical map. How does our theological principle fit with the rest of the Bible? 5-Grasp the text in our town. How should individual Christians today live out the theological principles?
It is important to investigate the unknown ourselves and find clarity concerning the biblical text. How can I help in this pursuit? Go to the contact-me page and send me a message.
Overall, faith itself is more than a positive expectation of an unknown outcome, its scope is broad and moves from an idea to action. The hopeful perspective of faith can only be achieved through study and inquiry, which then leads to action based upon what is known. All of these things then become evidence of a relationship with God and a willingness to operate in faith. In Hebrews 11 there are many accounts of biblical characters who moved by faith and experienced supernatural happenings in their midst. Although verse 1 in this same chapter is often used as the definition of faith, Christians are challenged to seek the true message that is conveyed. In the face of adversity and when human understanding would limit possibilities, the exhortation is to have an assurance in things hoped for and conviction in things not seen. In order for this to occur, the Christian must have a preexisting knowledge and relationship with God and then have the will to act deliberately with faith. Since faith is a lifestyle its scope is not limited to future events, but is indeed active in everyday choices and events. The biblical characters of the past exemplified this faith and are recorded in the Bible in order for the believer to reference and identify with in their walk of faith.
When Manny and I married almost nine years ago, I had no idea what it would be like to be a musician's wife. In our first year of marriage, we went on a "Vision Retreat" where we prayed and discussed what the next year would hold concerning our family, finances, ministries, etc. We QUARRLED over the financing of his music projects because I didn't understand concepts like "mastering" and "instrument tracks: drums, horns, keys," etc. I'm thinking: Mastering-I'm getting my masters, can I master it? Beats-Can't we get synth beats on our casio keyboard? Why we gotta pay separately for these things and why does it take so long before I see a finished product?
Many of you who are musicians are probably getting a good chuckle out of this, but it's all true! I literally had to seek God on my knees and surrender this issue to Him. After a month or two of continued prayer, God pressed upon my heart that music was not a HOBBY but a MINISTRY for Manny. Once I understood this revelation then I grasped the vision and passion of Manny's heart for worship and made it a part of me. I know my husband is called to the nations to announce God's prescence with his trumpet and to make the theology of music plain for artists and musicians so that they may produce effectual worship.