Day 402 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 22 of 22!

This is Day 22 of my challenge... {and} my twenty-second and last video of my challenge... 

... Tony Dungy... NFL Coach for well over thirty-five years finally got the message that it was to be in God's term... God's way... in God's time.  Until he wholeheartedly became second, and he understood, keeping his faith and allowing it to gain strength... did he finally get his Super Bowl win.  With God being first and Tony knowing he was second.
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Tony Dungy: I am Second

Tony's video reinforced the idea of submitting 100% to God... keeping continued faith, even more so in difficult times... not giving up... serving the Lord and that in the end knowing that it is all at God's will.  

Just because you work hard at something it doesn't mean that it is good for you.  Maybe unsuccessful journeys are God's way of telling us that what we are doing isn't good for us. 

I also feel that unsuccessful journeys are ways to strengthen our faith in God.  Because when we get angry and retaliate we are allowing the "enemy" to take over and bring us down... we must keep our faith and continue to believe that all will be all right in the end and keep continued faith in God.

I feel it in my soul that all will be all right in the end and have complete faith in God that he knows what he is doing and I am willing to listen and follow.

I understand that I am second.

We are Second when we put Jesus First.  Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others.  Are you ready to become a stronger Second?

I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  ~James 1:2-4 (NIV)

I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 401 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 21 of 22

This is Day 21 of my challenge... {and} my twenty-first video... 

... Jason Castro... Believes wholeheartedly...  "There's always something bigger behind whatever you are doing."   Born to a Christian family, father having a Master's Degree in Theology, he had been raised as such.  The summer of his seventeenth birthday was the summer that he truly found his faith... and found himself second, to his King being first.
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Jason Castro: I am Second

For today's challenge this was my message... "Seconds have a story to share. What would you say if you were in the white chair? Write it out so it is clear in your head."

So I'm in the white chair, huh? 

Hmmm...

I could start by saying that I've had a rough life... survived an ugly divorce from my first marriage... my sons were kept from me... I've been accused of things I would never commit let alone think of  doing... I've had to start over not only once, but twice, three, four, five, six, seven and eight times in my life time.  I am not exaggerating either... 

All of this affects a person... it affected me.  It affected my demeanor... it took the shine out of my eyes... it even took the smile from my face... it took the warmth of my heart away.  It all made me bitter... unhappy... depressed... not a magnet for other people, that's for sure!

Angry.. bitter... lashing out... and alienating myself from all that was good.  Sometimes even handling situations a little harsher than merited.

My anger was a repellent... my moods dark ... my moods angry... lashing out left and right.. sometimes intentionally, yet too harsh... and others without merit... either way I have been taking out my aggressions on others .. Who in their right mind would want to be around that?!  NOT ME!

Although I knew of Jesus from my mother, her family and having gone to both a Christian school (2 years) and a Catholic school (4 years) as a child... I did not know him... I never had a relationship with him.

Today...I have been blogging for a little over a year now.  Loving every minute of it, taking writing challenges here and there... as well as my own challenge to blog every single day as a means for my children to get to know me {when they're ready to do so one day.}

In the process I have discovered myself, forgiven myself as well as others, and discovered many other things about myself... that and the desire to be closer to God.

After being introduced to a couple of  I Am Second videos at church, it prompt my curiosity to look them up on the internet.  Low and behold not only did I have a library of I Am Second videos at my fingertips... but I came across the 22 Day Challenge ...

I didn't give it a second thought... I started the challenge immediately... that was 21 days ago. 

Through blogging I began to learn and understand that I needed to let go of the past... and through this challenge I have not only released all of that, but I am [really ] forgiving myself, and have started a wonderful relationship with God.  I get it.

I really didn't expect anything out of this 22 Day challenge... however... I truly feel soooo much closer to God... and I feel less angry too!!  Seriously... I feel more at peace and less anger.  I am controlling my anger and leaving it to God more.

I understand that I am not perfect... and I also understand that God is so much bigger than what I have given Him credit for...  

This has been an eye opening, faith growing, God loving experience!!  for me.

That's what I would like to share from the white chair...

That He is first and I am second.

We are Second when we put Jesus First.  Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others.  Are you ready to become a stronger Second?

I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  ~Matthew 6:26-27 (NIV)

I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 400 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 20 of 22

This is Day 20 of my challenge... {and} my twentieth video... 

... Colt McCoy... lives by the following Bible verse... “For whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as if working for the Lord.” Colossians 3:23 on and off the football field.  Furthermore, he believes and understands wholeheartedly that God is number one in his life.  Whether he is trying to score a touchdown, get through his day or simply in his own living room.. he knows that he is Second, to God being First in his life
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Colt McCoy: I am Second

I can honestly say that I am sincerely starting to get this.  I can honestly say that I... ME... have wholeheartedly surrendered.  I have given Him full control.  After all, what do I have to loose? It's not as if I have gotten it right all on my own.

How can I say this without coming across like a lunatic? ... nor am I trying to be a Bible pusher... or a born again Christian... or anything like that for that matter.


What I can tell you is that there has always been something missing from my life.  {and} That has been my faith.  My faith in God.  My belief in Jesus Christ.  My service to Him.  As it states in the Ten Commandments...

8Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  9Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.  On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.  11For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.  ~Exodus 20:8-11

I have known Him all my life, BUT I have NOT KNOWN Him.  Do you get what I mean?  I knew about The Ten Commandments and all.. but you kinda ... well never mind, I'm sure you get it.  wink, wink. 


I followed them as best as I could.  But instead my desires came first [instead of God's] and my faith in Him.   


I can not tell you that I have never sinned, because I am not perfect.  Lord knows I have committed my share of little sins.in my life.. and the beauty of it all is that I have asked Him for forgiveness and He has even forgiven me for them too!  Isn't that awesome!?! 


I didn't mean to come across so strong there... but as I mentioned before...my faith has grown tremendously through this 22 Day Challenge.  {and} funny thing was that it was just a matter of letting go ... that's all.  Believing and having faith.  Believing in Him and His word.

Call it whatever you want to call it... I just call it believing in God and Jesus Christ, His son.

Because... I know He is First.... and I know  I am Second. 


On a side note... WOOT WOOT!  Day 400!  another milestone.  Keep 'em coming.  

We are Second when we put Jesus First.  Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others.  Are you ready to become a stronger Second?

I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  ~Matthew 6:26-27 (NIV)

I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 399 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 19 of 22

This is Day 19 of my challenge... {and} my nineteenth video... 

... Tamara Jolee... not only reaches her dreams of becoming a sports television reporter {for ABC and FOX news}, she receives her first award and has her entire life ahead of her.  Then the unthinkable happens... yet instead of freaking out, her faith in God sees her through it... for she knows that she is Second. 

Tamara Jolee: I am Second

Funny my day had a rough start today... even so, in the middle of possibly loosing it... I catch and stop myself and decide to view my I Am Second film clip.

I know I am not suppose to use God's name in vain... but OH MY G!!!  (funny, I still won't say it in that context)  

In the scheme of things, our not being able to make all our bills this month has nothing compared to what Tamara has on her plate.

Here is this woman who's doctor tells her "Tamara I don’t know how to tell you this, but you have cancer.  And not only do you have cancer, its advanced and you’ll probably only live 5-7 years, you’ll never be able to have kids most likely; and oh yea.. it’s incurable." ... what does she do?  What does she say?   ...  "What's next?"

Frankly, I have no right to complain about my situation... at least I know I am healthy and God willing still have a good chunk of life left in me.  Who am I to complain?  Who am I to feel sorry about my life?  No one! 

So ... after hearing Tamara's story I was beside myself.  While still processing what I had heard I turned up the volume on my TV to finish watching the news... you won't believe what I saw next.

Monday, west of Lake Okeechobee, Florida, seventeen year old Kaleb Langdale lost his arm in a battle with a ten to eleven foot alligator.  I found a news clip; you can check it out here. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/alligator-bites-off-arm-17-florida_n_1661306.html 


The fact that Kaleb lost his arm was not what was amazing news to me...  First, Kaleb was very grateful it wasn't his left arm because he uses it to steer his air boat, which he loves... and secondly... he stated that if anyone comes to visit him and they start to cry... well, he wants them to leave.  


I don't know if it is Kaleb's faith that has given him strength to be so brave... after all, he was very positive.  


Hearing these two stories today, back to back... well it has given me tremendous added strength and gratitude for all my family and I have in our lives.  


I am so grateful for my life... the good... the bad... and the ugly... for it all has made me who I am today...  Which at the risk of sounding redundant... I am grateful... and I am blessed!

Because... I know He is First.... and I am Second. 

We are Second when we put Jesus First.  Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others.  Are you ready to become a stronger Second?

I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  ~Matthew 6:26-27 (NIV)

I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 398 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 18 of 22

This is Day 18 of my challenge... {and} my eighteenth video... 

... Sam Bradford... was blessed enough to be able to do what he loves... play football... and felt even more blessed when he played college ball for his home state school... today he is a pro quarterback for the St. Louise Rams.  What makes this young man that more special is that he knows that he is not the only one on the football field... he has teammates.  He also knows that he is not alone in life... he has God.  More importantly he understands that if it were not for God, and if He did not want him to play ball... he wouldn't be... for he knows that he is Second, only to God being First.

Sam Bradford: I am Second

What a wonderful outlook he has in life.  Not only that, but he understands this at a young age of 24.

There have been plenty of times in my life that all has been turned upside down and all the plans I had, vanished.

What I have been learning here and as of late is that I have been putting my desires before those of God.  

Sam stated something that really hit home with me... “The minute you start to think that you`re first and your plans matter more than God`s is the minute your life starts to go the wrong way." 


Boy oh boy, I can truly understand and relate to this more than anything.  Strange, I have always tried to control things in my life and when things have not gone according to plan... well I basically gave up.


Recently, since I have been attending church regularly, studying the Bible, given God a place in my life... well I feel better.  It's not to say that miraculously everything in my life is spectacular... it's not.  However, the faith in God which is growing inside of me is making me feel that I can accomplish anything.


I know that I have a long road ahead of me and that's okay.  Even better is that I know the road that I will be traveling will not be traveled alone.  I will be walking with God.


Because I know He is First.... and I am Second. 

We are Second when we put Jesus First.  Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others.  Are you ready to become a stronger Second?

I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.  ~James 1:5-8 (NIV)

I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 397 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 17 of 22

This is Day 17 of my challenge... {and} my seventeenth video... 

... Ken Hutcherson... was raised in Alabama, in a time that racism was not only blatant, but flagrant as well.  At a mere age of five he was given a life lesson by his uncle which not only took his innocence, but planted hatred in his heart.  He practiced racism for years with such anger and hatred, and it wasn't until many years later when he learned that Jesus died on the cross for everyone... every skin color... that his heart softened.  Today not only is he a Pastor {in Washington state) in a multiracial church... but he is Second. 

Ken Hutcherson: I am Second

After watching today's video I hugged my daughter for what seemed an eternity.  Why?  Because she is five {and a half} years old and I can not even begin to fathom someone taking her innocence away... let alone let it be a family member... let alone filling her heart with hatred.

My heart literally ached for Ken.  This little boy's life was changed and his heart was replaced with a heart of stone.  No child should feel or experience hate... ever!

At about the same age I learned about prejudice and racism myself.  I am Latin as you know (Argentina/Peru), however I do not look as if I am.  I was made fun of by all the "white" girls because I had a last name that wasn't American (whatever that means) and spoke funny (Spanish accent)... and I was not accepted by the few Latins that existed at the time in Los Angeles {late 60s early 70s} either, because I did not look the part.  

Yes... you read right... there weren't very many Latins in Los Angeles at the time.

Anyhooo... as I grew older and my English perfected, I still was not easily accepted by schoolmates (girls)... but that did not stop me from standing up for those who did not have a voice.  No... I did not get into fights or anything like that, I just preferred to hang out with the underdog as opposed to the popular bunch.

Today, I still experience racism.  I live in town where the majority of its residents are Mexican.  As I mentioned I do not look Latin... however I do speak Spanish fluently and understand it just as well.  

I can not tell you how many times I have heard remarks made of the racial persuasion...  

I can not tell you how many times I have responded back to these people really sweet in Spanish (funny, each time the person being ugly has been an older woman).  

{and} I can not tell you how many times I wish I would have taken a picture of them as their chin dropped to the ground!

I don't get mad or even... I just strike back with kindness.

We are Second when we put Jesus First.  Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others.  Are you ready to become a stronger Second?

I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  ~John 13:34-35 (NIV)

I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.