Diamond in the Rough Unveiled - Softcover

De Alvarez, Balderes Lucila Santos

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1466997176 ISBN 13: 9781466997172

Publisher: Trafford, 2013

Synopsis

Mother of six children and grandmother to eight grandchildren, Balderes Lucila Santos de Alvarez is a graduate with a master's in theology and a woman with many wonderful and tragic life experiences. She took the time to put in writing thoughts that may be used as tools to help you succeed in an ever-challenging world. Life-altering experiences have caused the author to approach everyday living with a new perspective. Inspirational stories will encourage you to move throughout your challenge-driven world with hope and will lead you in shining out like a Diamond in the Rough Unveiled.

About this title

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Diamond In The Rough Unveiled

By BALDERES LUCILA SANTOS DE ALVAREZ

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2013 Balderes Lucila Santos de Alvarez
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4669-9717-2

Contents

1- DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH BALDERES ALVAREZ...................................
1
2- GET OUT OF THE BOAT BALDERES ALVAREZ....................................
4
3- A FATHER'S LOVE JORGE E. DIAZ...........................................
7
4- THE RISING SUN BALDERES ALVAREZ.........................................
11
5- THE UNDETERMINED FUTURE BALDERES ALVAREZ................................
14
6- IN HIS TIME BALDERES ALVAREZ............................................
17
7- LOVE ETERNAL BALDERES ALVAREZ...........................................
20
8- SHOW GOD OFF BALDERES ALVAREZ...........................................
23
9- STAYING ON TRACK BALDERES ALVAREZ.......................................
26
10- HIS LOVE BALDERES ALVAREZ..............................................
29
11- LIKE CLAY IN THE HAND OF THE POTTER FLO LABRADO & WANDA DELGADO........
32
12- STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT BALDERES ALVAREZ...............................
36
13- OMNIPOTENT FATHER MELODY CRUZ..........................................
39
14- RADICALLY OBEDIENT BALDERES ALVAREZ....................................
43
15- THE HOUSE OF THE LORD BALDERES ALVAREZ.................................
46
16- IF I NEVER FEEL A THING BALDERES ALVAREZ...............................
49
17- SOMETIMES I CRY BALDERES ALVAREZ.......................................
52
18- MY HOMELAND PRISCILLA CHARITE..........................................
55
19- TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE EDELWEISS G. SANTOS DIAZ..........................
58
20- INSECURITIES PORFIRIO THOMAS...........................................
61
21- YOUR OWN PERSONAL TRAINER ALMA RILEY...................................
64
22- WITHOUT WORDS PERSI SANCLEMENTE........................................
67
23- DISCIPLINE PERSI SANCLEMENTE...........................................
70
24- GREAT THINGS CHANNABELLE ARRIAGA.......................................
73
25- NATURE DECLARES HIS GLORY MATTHEW DAVIS................................
75
26- IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS KEYLA CONCEPCION................................
78
27- FINANCIAL ADVISE BALDERES ALVAREZ......................................
82
28- WOULD I SURVIVE? BALDERES ALVAREZ......................................
85
29- ATTITUDE PORFIRIO THOMAS...............................................
88
30- WHAT DID HE SAY? BALDERES ALVAREZ......................................
91
31- REWARD FOCUSED JOANNE SINGH............................................
94
32- RISE UP BALDERES ALVAREZ...............................................
98
33- SWEET GATHERING BALDERES ALVAREZ.......................................
101
34- OUR CHILDREN BALDERES ALVAREZ..........................................
104
35- STORMS MAY COME BALDERES ALVAREZ.......................................
107
36- CHOICES AND DECISIONS BALDERES ALVAREZ.................................
110
37- WHAT I SAY MATTERS PORFIRIO THOMAS.....................................
113
38- HE CAUSES ME TO SMILE BALDERES ALVAREZ.................................
116
39- PROSPERITY PORFIRIO THOMAS.............................................
119
40- WHEN I AM DOWN BALDERES ALVAREZ........................................
122
41- SEASONS OF SUFFERING BALDERES ALVAREZ..................................
125
42- TRYING ... TRAINING ... ALMA RILEY.....................................
128
43- 52 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING CAROL MUÑIZ....................................
131
44- QUIT SLEEPING EDELWEISS G. SANTOS DIAZ.................................
135
45- FEAR BALDERES ALVAREZ..................................................
138
46- GROWING OUT OF STAGNATION MATTHEW DAVIS................................
141
47- TUCK IT IN PORFIRIO THOMAS.............................................
144
48- TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD EDELWEISS G. SANTOS DIAZ...........
147
49- WHAT DO YOU SMELL LIKE? EDELWEISS G. SANTOS DIAZ.......................
150
50- HE TOUCHED ME EDELWEISS G. SANTOS DIAZ.................................
154
51- HE WHO HAS EARS EDELWEISS G. SANTOS DIAZ...............................
157
52- REMEMBER EDELWEISS G. SANTOS DIAZ......................................
161
ABOUT THE AUTHOR...........................................................
165

CHAPTER 1

WEEK 1/DAY ONE

Diamond in the Rough

The Urban Dictionary defines a Diamond in the Rough as "someone(or something) that has hidden exceptional characteristics and/orfuture potential, but currently lacks the final touches that would makethem (or it) truly stand out from the crowd."

Have you ever felt less than adequate for the task? Carrying feelings ofuncertainty while your shortcomings overpower your thoughts? All toooften we limit ourselves from doing something God has extended to usas a gift, simply due to low self-esteem. Why not stop and take a lookat yourself through the eyes of God? He sees us through Jesus Christand sees us 'just as if we had never sinned.' He sees the beauty in us.He sees our potential. In His hands we can do remarkable things; farmore things than we could possibly imagine. God is fascinated by you.Believe that!

(Psalm 45:11) Let the King be enthralled by your beauty; honor Him,for He is your Lord.

The Message Bible says it like this; 'the king is wild for you. Since he'syour Lord, adore him.'

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DAY TWO

What characteristic of low self esteem do you possess? Galatians 5:22-23

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DAY THREE

How do you think God sees you? Galatians 5:22-23

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DAY FOUR

What does "made in God's image" imply to you personally? Galatians5:22-23

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DAY FIVE

What is beautiful about you? How can you enhance your spiritualbeauty? Galatians 5:22-23 & 1Peter 1:15

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CHAPTER 2

WEEK 2/DAY ONE

Get Out of the Boat

"If you are afraid to walk on water because of what people think,then you will never experience God and His promise for you and Hewill not become real to you, because a relationship without trust is nota relationship at all." Brown Charite

My husband invited me to go scuba diving with him one summer. Iattempted to do so but was terribly distracted by the millions of crabscrawling on the very rocks where I had to walk to dive in. I could notget past that. My husband assured me that as I stepped forward thecrabs would move. He instructed me to keep my eyes on him. I couldnot do it, so I missed out on the wonderful experience of the sea.

God has a wonderful experience waiting for you. Keep your eyes onHim, trust Him, step out of your comfort zone and He will directyour path.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your ownunderstanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will makeyour paths straight. Proverbs 3:5,6

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DAY TWO

What do you need to do that requires a leap of faith? Will you do it?Hebrews 11:1 & 6

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DAY THREE

What are the storms in your life that keep you from completing yourgoal? Mark 4:35-41

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DAY FOUR

Pray for your pastor, that the Lord will protect him and his family andthat He will place a hedge of protection around them. Hebrews 13:17-18

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DAY FIVE

How will you keep your eyes on Jesus and not be distracted by yourcircumstances? Mark 4:40

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CHAPTER 3

WEEK 3/DAY ONE

A Father's Love

It seems as though the author of 1 John could no longer containhimself when he gets to chapter 3, he writes "How great is the love thefather has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. Andthat is what we are!" (NIV)

If truth be told, at times I do not feel this lavished love surroundingme because of sin in my life. I mess up; I forget God's commandmentsand my shortcomings get the best of me. At times I feel I have causedGod's love for me to diminish, and He feels distant.

Several years ago my wife and I had the privilege of being the caregivers for my 90 year old Dad. While this was a privilege, it was alsochallenging. My Dad had sworn off conventional medicine many yearsearlier, so trying to convince him to go to the doctor's office to get acheckup was challenging, at best. During this same time period, myDad began to show signs of dementia; so the challenges of gettinghim to shower, eating at the right times, changing his clothes regularlykeeping him from leaving the house at three in the morning, becamepart of our daily routine. As the dementia increased, my Dad becamemore stubborn and would not listen to me. One would think that theliving out of this experience with my Dad would somehow diminishmy love for him. On the contrary, my wife and I became more focusedon helping him and we came up with all kinds of innovative ways tomake his life more comfortable. Sometimes it worked, sometimes itdidn't. In the midst of this turmoil, I noticed that my love for my Dadactually grew. Why? Because I loved him immensely and I was notfocused on his actions, rather I was focused on the person my Dad hadbeen all his life.

It occurs to me that at times I am stubborn. I do not always dowhat my Heavenly Father wants me to do. I do not always make theright choices in my life. And thus, I wonder if God still loves me. Ihave come to know that God's love and compassion for me actuallyincreases during these times in my life. God is not focused on myactions, he is focused on the person I can be when he is allowed fullreign in my life.

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DAY TWO

Do you ever feel as though you do not measure up to God's standard?Luke 15: 17-20

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DAY THREE

Are there recurring issues in your life that you desperately want God totake away or help you with? (1 John 1:9)

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DAY FOUR

Can God really identify with my weakness and still love me? Hebrews4: 15-1

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DAY FIVE

How can I give God full reign in my life? Luke 1:27

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CHAPTER 4

WEEK 4/DAY ONE

The Rising Sun

"From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the nameof the Lord is praised."

The words of this chorus remind me of my need to rise up like the sunand praise my Lord with my first breath.

Will this day bring challenges? Will we have moments of difficulties?Will there be opportunity for us to be less than pleased with ourcircumstances, or the news we heard, or the treatment we received?Will there be interruptions? Probably! How 'bout in the middle of eachun-welcomed situation we rise up and thank God for two things.

Example: Wi-Fi is not operating properly so I will not be able tocontinue my work ... thank God because #1, I can take a well neededbreak and #2, I can take this moment to call my friend who reallyneeds me and encourage her.

Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for goodto them that love God, to them who are the called according to Hispurpose."

As you rise today to take on the daily affairs of life, rise to the thoughtof God's love and take advantage of every interruption. Look out forthese and praise your Lord!

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DAY TWO

What difficult situation did you have to deal with this week? How didyou handle it? Matthew 11:28

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DAY THREE

How will you trust God today to help you with your day? Matthew 21:2

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DAY FOUR

What concern do you have that you still have not surrendered to theLord? Will you surrender it now? James 4:8

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DAY FIVE

Who can you pray for that has very serious problems? Will you praynow? Psalm 61:1,2

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CHAPTER 5

WEEK 5/DAY ONE

The Undetermined Future

"Indeed, how can people avoid what they don't know is going tohappen?" Ecclesiastes 8:7

There is a reason why we do not know the future, why the future is amystery to us. Perhaps it would cause us to make poor choices. Maybeit would limit us from doing good things. Possibly because we would goahead of God and not live and learn the lessons set before us. Or perhapswe don't know the future so that we can rely upon God to guard our steps.

There are things we can do today to secure our tomorrow. There aremany things that we can anticipate. Make good choices, yes! But, neverlose sight of the fact that our future is in the hands of our loving God.Listen to Him with your heart and He will lead.

Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares theLORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give youhope and a future."

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DAY TWO

Since tomorrow is not promised, what can you do today to make abetter tomorrow? Galatians 6:7-10

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DAY THREE

How much good can you do in one day? Galatians 6:9

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DAY FOUR

How will you prepare for life today? Philippians 4:8

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DAY FIVE

Often times our future sets us up in places where we have to react.How will you know what to respond? Proverbs 4:7

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CHAPTER 6

WEEK 6/DAY ONE

In His Time

Solomon says that God makes all things beautiful in His time. I don'talways feel that way. Very often I feel that I have failed Him. I feel thatI am sinful and ugly. I am deceived by the whispers of the enemy thattell me I will amount to nothing. Repeatedly my mind reminds methat I am not good and my thoughts revert to the poor choices I havemade.

Has that ever happen to you? Have you struggled with thoughts of"I will never be good enough for God?" "How many times will I failHim?"

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Diamond In The Rough Unveiled by BALDERES LUCILA SANTOS DE ALVAREZ. Copyright © 2013 Balderes Lucila Santos de Alvarez. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Edition details

• Publisher: Trafford
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1466997176
• ISBN 13: 9781466997172
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 182