2012 Must Haves!

For this blog post, I thought I would share a couple must haves for 2012. Really these items are just ones that I love...maybe you will too!

Enjoy.

This is one of my favorite finds of 2011. I have pretty sensitive skin and so finding a light skin care product that also refreshes my face has been a struggle. Somehow I stumbled upon Kiehl's. lemmmme tell ya, they are FANTASTIC--especially for how dry it is in Colorado.

I use the Ultra Facial Moisturizer, Toner and Ultra Facial Cream. All of which have cleansed my face and moisturized

it. I am loving this product line. Also, if you're looking for good birthday presents, or just a little something something for that someone special, I recommend the Avocado Eye cream. Works wonders. You better bet is was under the Ruiz's tree this past Christmas.

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This book----------->

I'm loving it. I can't put it down.

Who knew Steve Jobs was such an aggravating genius?

I've learned so much though.

And, as I type on my Mac at this very moment, I have a new appreciate for the art that Steve Jobs created; although, let me tell ya, there will be moments where you will want to just screammmmm. Read it.

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I think everyone should subscribe to a newspaper this year. I prefer the NY Times because of their coverage of International News and their great artsy pieces. But the Denver Post, or any other major city paper is fabulous. Why you ask? Besides the fact that newspapers are becoming historic (OK that is a bit dramatic, but there is just something about newspaper and coffee in the morning. so old fashioned. so romantic.) Also, this year is going to be one to

remember in terms of historic events. Subscribe to the paper, clip out the stories that mean something to you, put them in an old shoe box, and years later show your children's children.

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Anything Mason Jars. LOVE LOVE LOVE. the options are endless. Just a couple ideas.

OK lastly, Brennan Manning is the author of Abba's Child, Raggamuffin Gospel, The Furious Longing of God, All Is Grace, and others. Manning has such Revelation on the Love and longing of the Father. These books will wreck you, challenge your paradigm, make you fall deeper in Love with Jesus and allow Holy Spirit to free you from yourself.

These books are so rich. I would start with Abba's Child.

New Year:New Hope

I was cleaning out my suitcase this morning from a trip that I was just on. I found this old wrapper that held this diet powder that I used to take. A couple years ago, somehow I found myself broken, hopeless and utterly confused. I started taking diet pills. Although this lasted only a couple months, the toll it took on my body and spirit lasted longer.

It was such a sweet moment to hold this old wrapper and think back about what used to be. And stand today with what is. Jesus really is THE Redeemer. There is nothing too big, too small, too insignificant, too broken, too boring, too unthinkable that Daddy God cannot bring back to life.

The best way I can describe my 2011 is Jesus taking a defibrillator to my life and awakening to me to His love. Those couple seconds of shock were a bit painful, exciting and extreme, but my GOSH I am so alive and SO THANKFUL.

I believe that 2012 is the year that Love prevails. As the body of Christ begins to transition into deep relationship with the Father, Love is going to trump hurtful circumstances, painful memories, lifeless dreams, and unsatisfied hearts. This is the year to Hopefully Expect, Radically Risk and Explosively Receive.

Give yourself to Jesus in new measures. If you aren't being challenged, you probably aren't growing.

Instead of making lists of New Year's Resolutions that are self-motivated only because they have not been accomplished for the past 10+ years...Ask Jesus what His Promises are for your life this year. What is He saying, doing and responding to in 2012. Man made resolutions often fail because they are responses to insecurity and inadequacy. BUT God's promises are not done by your strength alone. Only by the blood of Lamb. SOOOO much Grace.

Happy 2012. Oh! the places you all will go!

Psalm 23

I made this video this weekend. It was an absolute honor to hear these three stories and then weave them together.

Although this is only a glimpse into the LIFE these people carry, I hope it brings restoration for those of you who are having trouble getting out of bed in the morning.

Remember, "Even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death fear no evil for He is WITH YOU." --Psalm 23

p.s. when I compressed the file, the video quality got a little fuzzzzzy. Geek squad?

Untitled from alexandra ruiz on Vimeo.

the heartbeat of my life...

I'm making a video. I am interviewing four people and weaving their lives together with the hopes of finding a common thread that ties everyone together (and let's hope this thread holds my video together BY TUESDAY...) I'm usually behind the camera, or at least for the most part. This time I decided to interview myself...if that is even possible.

It is funny being on the other end of the lens.

The main question this video is themed around is, "What was that moment like when you first encountered Jesus. And what has changed since then?"

For me, it was a series of hours, days, months...that brought me to this place of dependency. I am finally beginning to realize that I was created in the GLORY for the GLORY. and that is the sweetest place to be. It is there that you find your belonging.

So the question I have for you is: what is the heartbeat of your life?

what does it look like to be beckoned by Daddy God? And if you don't think you have been, are you listening?

p.s. stay tuned for the video!

Those Christmas Lights

I've always loved christmas. Half the time for good reason, the other half not so much.

This Christmas I'm choosing to play it a little different.

Coldplay's new Christmas song is brilliant. There is this line that says, "When you're still waiting for the snow to fall, it doesn't really feel like Christmas at all."

Yeah, I get that.

I've never been more excited for Christmas than this year. Why? because I have never seen Jesus the way I do now.

He came so near. So close. He took on human frame and in that, Jesus became the connecting point between Heaven and Earth. Jesus, the air you breathe.

I pray that for you this season. That you draw near to Emmanuel, God with us.

Abba for the Holidays

I was listening to K-Love in the car today...(well, everyday for that matter...) They are doing this Christmas surprise exchange event. Wait, it is called Home for the Holidays. But what they are doing is giving the opportunity for people to connect with their loved ones over Christmas.

OK. So I was listening today and this teenage girl called. She was adopted many years ago. She loves her family, but now she wants to be connected to her biological mom. So home for the holidays sweepstakes finds her mom.

So for the first time, this teenage girl is talking to her mom ON AIR. I can hear it. And not only can I hear it, I can cry about it. I was crying. The mom was crying. The daughter was half crying, half explaining who she was.

_____________

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!" Romans 8:14-15

As I was driving around listening to the melodic joining of this sweet mother and daughter, the Father began to share a piece of His heart with me during this Christmas season.

There is this poem by Brennan Manning that starts with "Abba, I Belong to You."

Abba is this intimate word for Father.

You see, the Lord is renewing identity. He is beginning to breathe new revelation over our hearts. He is showing us that we are sons and daughters.

My identity is not that I am:

-Student

-Story teller

-Friend

-Sister

-Terrible cook

-Librarian to my own special stash of books

-people person

-hopeful romantic

-you get the point.

My identity is the I belong to Papa God. My identity is the I belong to Jesus. All the days of my life I am a daughter of the Most High. Do you have ANY idea what that does? What it changes?

IT DOES EVERYTHING. IT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

When I was listening to the K-love home for the holidays deal, the Father spoke very clearly. He is calling us back to sonship. He wants to be your daddy...your Papa...your Abba. And get this: He wanted that relationship so bad that He sent His own Son to take your place. Why? so intimacy could be re-established and that we could utter the words "Abba." Distance from your heart breaks His. Papa doesn't want an employee, a church worker, a list maker. He desires what He created. OHH that is YOU! that is so good. so rich. so safe.

This Christmas season, receive the gift of Salvation. For what you will find is a place of belonging. A relationship so intimate that He becomes the very air you breathe.

You were created to cry out for Abba.

He waits, beloved.

Secrets of the Secret Place

One of my favorite things to talk about and encourage people on is the Secret Place. It is in this place that my life has been transformed. Literally. My Secret Place is either in my car or in my room. It is here that I encounter the Father in an intimate way. I lock the door. And there I wait for the living Presence of God to walk in the room. Every encounter looks different. And every time, the intimacy with the Father is unique.

The desire of my heart is to see transformed lives transform cities. I believe that the KEY to seeing that happen is the Secret Place. It is the heartbeat of revival.

Matthew 6:5-6

"Also, when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.

But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open."

yeah, yeah, yeah!

It is time for men and women to set aside time and just wait on Holy Spirit. As I started doing this consistently over a year ago, my life has never been the same. I still go back and remember encounters I have had in the Presence of God that have ruined me for the rest of my life...in the best way possible. I have started making memories with Jesus. And I plan on doing that all the days of my life.

You see time with the Lord is crucial. That is where you find your strength. That is where you go deep into the insights of the Father. There is something about the secret place that is so unique; it is something you cannot get at a conference, church service, prayer meeting, etc.

Luke 5:16

"But He [Jesus] Himself withdrew [in retirement] to the wildnerness (desert) and prayed."

Develop your personal history with God. You will never be the same. My favorite part of the day is just meeting with Jesus. I live to be in the Secret Place. Why? Because it fuels my response to LOVE.

I encourage you to just get away. Spend time with Jesus. Invite the Holy Spirit. Wait in silence until He speaks. Train your senses to recognize when Jesus walks into the room. Most of all, just love on the Father. Your life is radically changed because He loves you so.