A year of Correction

A Year of Correction
by Tina Fernandez

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live,
but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 2: 20(NKJV)

As a child growing up I was told by my grandmother that faith is a part of your
being, just as you breathe, think and move, you must have faith. I think back to all the
conversations that I have shared with her and they always ended with, “Have faith and
trust in the Lord our God.” And yet I struggled most of my life with the concept of
having real faith and trust, not only God, but people in general.

2009 started out with promise, expectation and excitement, not only for me but
for my family as well. We made goals, had dreams, believed for miracles and expected
God to show up and show off, and that He did. In the first months of 2009 it was going
awesome and then suddenly the economy began to change. Our co-workers started
being laid off, some forced into retirement, and some being let go period. Family
members lost homes, marriages fell apart and spiritually strong relatives fell. My
husband and I felt as if we were standing outside the box looking in.

I heard a pastor preach about having faith beyond what the eye could see, and
many times I found myself not being able to see past my eyelashes. What faith? What
trust? I speak life, declare life, I believe life and yet I’m slowly dying inside with fear of
losing my job or my husband losing his. Only correction or destruction can come from
that kind of thinking. So I chose correction. One morning in my devotional time I
began to cry uncontrollably and I didn’t know why. I was thinking to myself “Tina, what
is wrong with you stop crying,” and the crying became more hysterical, finally, I gave in.
I broke down. God spoke to me in that moment and said “I can only move and bless you
where you allow me to be in your life. You build walls if you don’t allow me into the
secret places, and will live in fear, and I never dwell where fear is present.”

Talk about a reality check. It was true though, my fear was drawing me away
from God and he was only going to call me back one time, I dare not expect him to call
me back again. Every person has something they struggle with, for some it may be
drugs, alcohol, lying, stealing, mine has been faith and trust. Until this year I have held
up walls as high as mountains and as thick as dams, but with correction and guidance
from an amazing leader and awesome teachings from my pastors, I have learned to have
faith and trust through God.

2009 has been a year of correction and growth, a year of shed tears, some good
and bad. But all in all I would say that through the tough times, I have never been
without anything I need to live. I’ve been able to pay off debt and bless people along the
way in times of need. Our financial situation, says it’s impossible, Gods financial
situation says I can do more. When people were losing their jobs, I got a raise and was
offered two promotions! I’ve watched families be restored and wayward children come
home, when there was no home to come to. I went through school of leaders II,
“whoohoo!” I’ve sat forty-eight hours in a hospital room with my grandmother on her
death bed, praying all night, believing God could heal her from total heart and kidney
failure, and He did! My husband and I have enjoyed watching our daughter grow into a
beautiful, joyous and bright light, little girl. Nothing beats that.

2010 is going to be an amazing year for my family, friends, congregation and
disciples! I can’t wait to ring in the New Year with the people I love and care about. This
is just the beginning!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the
new has come!”
2Corinthians 5:17