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My True DNA


Hi, friends!
Have you had your DNA tested to see where you came from? I’ve been wanting to do that for years. I bought a DNA kit for my hubby a year ago for his birthday. And since then, I’ve wanted to send off for my own. (Darn jealousy–or curiosity, I guess.) I held off until sometime in November of last year, when I received an email for 1/2 off of the regular price. 😮 I requested one that same day.

It took a couple weeks until I got the kit in the mail. I made sure not to eat or drink anything for 30 minutes before I gave my sample–or is it a specimen? Eh, it’s “spit.” I entered all the necessary information online and set it out for the mail carrier.

Can I just say it took forever? Or at least, it seemed that way. Maybe it was delayed because of the holidays–or all the other people who received the offer for 1/2 off. Regardless, I finally got it in the mail.

Before I show you my results, I want to share what I was expecting, based on what I already knew–or thought I knew. 😉

I am Puerto Rican on both sides of my family. I have some Native American background and possibly some Venezuelan. But other than that, I’m … Puerto Rican. That’s all I know. Generations and generations of Puerto Ricans. 🙂

So… I was incredibly surprised to see the following results:


It appears I’m from 15 different regions! (Rough interpretation, I know.) And somehow, someway, people from these areas migrated to a tiny island in the Caribbean years and years ago. Isn’t that cool? (I know you learn about migration patterns in social studies classes, but it’s different when it’s about your own ancestors.)

Of course, I wanted to know more, so I started building my family tree online. It’s addicting! So far, I’ve gone back to the 17th century. 🙂

What makes me–and millions of others around the world–so curious about where we come from and how we got here? What propels us to dig deeper into our past? How far back could we go? Could we be related to someone famous?

And the most important question: Who am I?

We can answer that in any number of ways.

  • I’m Puerto-Rican.
  • I’m part Venezuelan.
  • I’m part Portuguese.
  • I’m part West African.
  • So on and so on.

All that is true–for me. But who am I really? Who are you?



Who are you?



The Bible says, we–you and I–are children of the Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth. He made us. We are His masterpiece, his handiwork (Ephesians 2:10). He fashioned each of us.



You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (Psalm 139:13-16)

From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. (Acts 17:26a)



For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ (Acts 17:28)



He also planned each of us.



God decided exactly when and where they must live (Acts 17:26b).



I might not like where I was born or where I am in life now. I might have wanted to live in another time period, but that’s not what God had planned for me. I was not to live in ancient times. I was not to live in another country. I was not to live in a family of ten or a family of three.

God planned for me–Daphne– to live in the 1970s, to be born to a mostly Puerto-Rican family, whose ancestors had traveled from across the ocean at various times throughout history to a tiny island in the Caribbean. And just like them, I moved around and “wound up” in Florida in 2005–a 30-something divorced woman with a basset hound. Fifteen years later (:o), I am married and have three beautiful children.



What a Creator–and what an adventure!



Life has its ups and downs, its joys and disappointments, but I am a child of God. My DNA comes from my mother and my father. My true DNA comes from Jehovah God. I am His.

Have a listen to one of my favorite songs, “Who You Say I Am” by Hillsong Worship.



httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKw6uqtGFfo


Come alongside… Have you had your DNA tested? What did it reveal? Were you surprised? How do you feel knowing that God is your Heavenly Father? That He created you and planned a beautiful life for you?



God is all you need

 
Hi, friends!
 
godallyouneedrev
What do you need today?

  • Physical healing?
  • Restored relationships?
  • Financial miracle?
  • Direction?
  • Emotional stability?

 
Today, I want to encourage you: God can do all those things. More importantly, God is all those things:
 

  • Healer
  • Restorer
  • Miracle-worker
  • Provider
  • Guide
  • Prince of Peace

 
Whatever you need today, God is “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). He is yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Forever. He is what you need him to be. When life pierces you, keeps you up at night, breaks your heart, and messes with your mind, God is “I AM.”
 
He is God almighty. Nothing is too difficult for him. He needs no one’s help to bring things about. He alone is all you need!
 
Listen to this beautiful song by Phillips, Craig, and Dean and be encouraged. God is “I AM.”
 
 

httpv://youtu.be/y_VR-zwp2KA

 
 
Come alongside… What do you need today? Will you trust that God is “I AM” in your situation? Will you let him be “I AM?” Share with us in the comments. Remember, you can post anonymously.
 
 
 
 
 


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You Don’t Have to Handle Everything All by Yourself

 
Hi, friends!
 
Today, I want to introduce you to my dear friend Terry. I’ve known Terry since 2006, and we’ve become very close friends since that time. Terry has an amazing story of recovery from trying to do all things by herself. I wanted her to share it with you, so I now introduce Terry.
 
 


 
 
I grew up in Longwood and Winter Springs Florida. I was one of five children with two older brothers and two younger sisters. Our home had an atmosphere of fear and anger. My parents divorced before I was five and my Mom remarried when I was eight. Both my Father and Stepfather were abusive. In addition, my Mother was working so much and dealing with her own life that she had nothing left for us children. I found out early how to take care of my siblings and myself. By the time I was 11, I was cooking meals, doing laundry, cleaning house, and babysitting to earn some money.
 
TerrySelf
At 14, the abuse worsened so, my sister and I went to live in Utah with my Dad for a year. That turned out to be a nightmare. He was even more abusive than our Stepfather was. We went back to Florida at the end of the school year but things there had only gotten worse. I imagine that the years of abuse had finally rubbed off on my Mom and she had become abusive herself. I started making plans and moved out 5 days after high school graduation.
 

When we were young, my Mom sent us to church on the bus. There I learned all about God and Jesus but never learned anything about knowing them or following God’s word. By the time I was a teenager, I felt like I had gone to Church as much as I needed to and left. I had been baptized when I was eight and had considered myself a Christian ever since. Only, you couldn’t tell that by looking at my lifestyle. I continued to search as an adult and tried several other religions along the way. None of them seemed to make any sense so I filled my life with work. I went to college off and on some but didn’t get to finish my AA degree until 2012.
 
I kept on with using my coping skills of staying busy with work and taking care of not just myself but everyone around me. I was very confident in my ability to take care of any situation that came along. I got married in 1986 and we seemed to have the perfect marriage. We never argued, not once in 10 years. It turns out that we were both experts at avoiding conflict, until he was no longer able to and suggested we divorce. So we did… in 1996.
 
After the divorce, I spent the next 3 years trying to fill the hole with everything the world had to offer but that just made the hole bigger. By the end of that time, I had sunk into a deep depression. I would go home from work on Friday and stay in bed until Monday. Going to work was the only reason I had to get out of bed. I’m so thankful I had a job I loved during that time. The depression continued for 3 months. I was finally up against something I couldn’t handle all by myself.
 
One day, a friend and I were talking about how bad the language had gotten on the radio. She said, “I know a station you would like where they don’t do that and they play the kind of music you would like.” So I thought I’d give it a try and she was right, they didn’t do that and I did like the music. That station was The Joy FM, and I’ve been listening to it ever since. One day, while driving to work, a song came on called I Am Not Alone by Natalie Grant. That song made me realize that even though I had been trying to handle everything all by myself, I didn’t have to. There was help available. In that moment, I was finally able to tell Jesus that I needed His help. After all the years of searching for love and approval, I had finally found it and it was unconditional. It didn’t rely on my performance at all.
 
I visited several churches and finally landed at my home church. In the early days of my salvation, I leaned heavily on the verse in Romans 8:28: “All things work together for good to those that are called according to His purpose.” I immediately started getting involved. I joined the choir and planned activities for my class. I took any extra classes available and within a few years, I was leading a Connect Group and a Ladies Bible Study. In 2004, I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Moldova and then got to go again in 2006. I also led several sessions of Divorce Care and in 2008, I got involved in Celebrate Recovery at my church. After completing a step study, I volunteered and led small groups and eventually became a member of leadership.
 
After being single for 15 years, I married Jim in 2011 and now we both help lead a Celebrate Recovery at another church and I lead support groups at my church on Wednesday evenings. Oh, and Jim and I are involved in an adult class on Sunday mornings to plan and coordinate ministry activities.
 
One of the most amazing changes in my life is that before salvation, it seemed as if I was walking around with a giant mirror in front of me. I could never see a clear path to the future, only the distant painful past behind me. Now, it’s like that giant mirror is gone and I can clearly see the future that is in front of me. Like Natalie Grant says, “I am not alone.” With Christ, I can live in freedom from my past and even be used by God to help others find that same freedom. Now I lean on the verse in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans for good and not for harm, to give you a hope and a future.”
 
Thank you for letting me share.

 
 

 
 
What a great story of moving from self-sufficiency to God-sufficiency! Thank you, Terry, for your courage and transparency. May God continue to bless you and use your story to help others struggling with giving control of their lives to God.
 
 
Friends, I hope you will comment and encourage Terry for sharing her story with us. Tell us what part or parts of her story you related with and why. If you have any questions for Terry, feel free to ask her in the comments section below. If you need prayer, please share that with us as well.
 


 

Terry’s picks

 

 

2nd Graders, Field Trips, and Jesus


 
“This way, kids. Stay with us.”
 
“Joshua… Joshua, this way, please.”
 
“Come on, Jasmine. Time to move on.”
 
 
Oh, the joys of chaperoning 2nd grade field trips.
 
 
We don’t have all 16! Where’s Samuel?!?!
 
 
Nine girls, seven boys. Nine girls, seven boys.
 
 
I felt like I was corralling them as we walked along—trying to catch glimpses of sharks, goliath groupers, and sea anemones along the way.
 
 
I wanted them to enjoy the aquarium to the fullest—protected, safe, without getting lost and scared.
 
 
I was there for them.
 
 
Dear one, Jesus is there for us too–except He’s not just a chaperone. He is The Great Shepherd.
 
 
“This way, Daphne. Stay with me.”
 
 
“Daphne… Daphne, this way, please.”
 
 
“Daphne, time to move on.”
 
 
He doesn’t want to spoil our fun. He loves us and wants us to enjoy life to the fullest. His boundaries protect us, keep us safe, and help us not to get lost or scared along the way.
 
 
We might want to go our own way—and many times we do, but Jesus comes back for us.
 

If a man has a hundred sheep but one of the sheep gets lost, he will leave the other ninety-nine on the hill and go to look for the lost sheep. (Matthew 18:11-14)
 

 
 
When we’re weak, tender, sick, burdened, or hurting, He gathers us in His arms. He carries us close to His heart. He gently leads us (Isaiah 40:11).
 

 
 

***

 
 
At the end of the day, we made it back to school with all 16 kids. No major injuries–just a few cuts and scrapes along the way. I set boundaries–they felt loved. Some kids even fought to hold my hand.
 
 
“It’s my turn to hold her hand.”
 
 
“You already had a turn.”
 
 
“Mrs. T., when can I hold your hand?”
 
 
Dear one, hold Jesus’ hand. Stay within His boundaries. You will feel His love.
 
 
 
 
Come alongside… Have you ever been a chaperone? What was that like? Has anyone ever chaperoned you? How has God shepherded you? What is He trying to get across to you? Please share with us in the comments.
 
 


 

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I Just Want to Hear Your Voice

 

Last night, I tossed and turned. Stared at the clock. Tried to get comfortable. Fluffed my pillow. Snuggled up in a fetal position. Still couldn’t seem to get there.

 

 

1:05

 

1:30

 

2:15

 

2:45

 

3:10

 

 

Sigh.

 

I guess that’s what I get for drinking coffee, which is not a “regular” thing for me. I’m usually a decaf person. 😉

 

In the past, I’ve breathed deeply, tried to clear my head, counted sheep. Even cried.

 

Although I’m not always consistent with it, one thing I’ve started to do whenever I can’t sleep is to pray. Have you tried praying when you can’t sleep?

 

  • For your husband.
  • Family.
  • Children.
  • Friends.
  • Work.
  • Finances.
  • Missionary friends.
  • Pastors and church leaders.
  • Situations and circumstances—you know, the stuff of life.
  • Oh, and for yourself.

 

You can also thank and praise God when you can’t sleep.

 

  • For His faithfulness.
  • Forgiveness.
  • His love.
  • Jesus Christ.
  • Food, shelter.
  • Protection.
  • Not giving me what I deserve.
  • Giving me blessings I didn’t—and couldn’t—earn.

 

God doesn’t sleep, dear one. He still works when we are fast asleep—or wide awake.

 

 

The one who watches over you … never tires and never sleeps (Psalm 121:3-4).

 

 

Isn’t that reassuring? God watches over you! Even during the nighttime hours, He’s working things out for your good, for the good of your family, for someone you might not have thought of in years. Sometimes, He wants to hear from you in the middle of the night: What’s on your mind, what’s worrying you, what’s exciting you lately. So he gently nudges you awake. “I want to hear your voice. Can we talk?” Or if you’re already tossing and turning, “Hi, wanna talk?” He longs for it!

 

 

O my beloved, lingering in the gardens, how wonderful that your companions can listen to your voice. Let me hear it, too! (Song of Solomon 8:13)

 

 

Let me hear your voice. Your voice is so sweet. Your face is so lovely. (Song of Solomon 2:14)

 

 

 

Wow! God longs to hear from you. He desires your heart–and your voice–during your busy day and restless night. To Him, “Every syllable you speak [is] a delicacy to savor” (Song of Solomon 4:11). Oh, how He loves you!

 

 

 

I could’ve had too much coffee. Or maybe God wanted to talk. Or both. Regardless, He wanted to hear my voice. And I, His.

 

 

Afterward, sweet dreams.

 

 

Come alongside: How do you handle insomnia? Do you pray when you can’t sleep? Do you have a testimony of unknowingly praying for someone during the night, later learning that, at that very moment, they needed prayer? Or maybe you were on the receiving end. Please share with us in the comments. Remember, you can comment anonymously if you so choose.

 
 


 

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Daphne Tarango is a participant in affiliate programs with Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, DaySpring, Church Source, Hazelden, Christian Strong (via Conversant and ShareASale). These advertising services are designed to provide a means for sites like DaphneWrites.com to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to said merchants. Some images and articles may contain links to products on merchant sites. Should you choose to make purchases through those links, please understand that I will receive a small commission. Please do not feel like you need to use these links to make any purchases. The links are only for your convenience. Thank you.