Welcome to Monday Minute With God.
A place to start the week right and tools to keep you in the Word all week long.
[/fusion_text][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”” bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””/][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””]
[/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Meet Naomi[/fusion_title][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] 
[/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]I love adventures.
When I entered the service I knew I was going to go through many adventures. But a question I always seemed to ask myself was, “Why God? Why here? Why now?” The truth is, a lot of the adventures I have gone through were actually some I did not even ask for. Â
I knew I wanted to join the military when I was in high school. I studied hard and did everything I could to get accepted to the U.S. Air Force Academy. I wanted to follow the footsteps of my older sister. My father was in the Navy so his natural response was “But why not the Naval Academy?” I did not listen –I told myself that I only had one path, and that was to follow my sister. Months later I received a thin envelope that contained the start of my journey on a road of many adventures. It was a rejection letter. I was devastated. I remember reaching out to God and wondering why that happened. I still wanted to leave home, so there was only one choice to make –to go to the Naval Academy. Â
I was so bitter my first year. My sister encouraged me to join Officers Christian Fellowship. It brought me closer to the Lord. There is nothing like having a strong and supportive Christian community. Through the awesome friendships I made to the many different ways He worked in my life during my time there. Â After I graduated, I moved to Japan. Â
My two years in Japan was a great experience. I was able to immerse myself in one of the most fascinating cultures in the world. Yet, it was also an adventure full of obstacles. I felt isolated. I was thousands of miles away from family and friends. An available Christian community like I had at the Academy was not there.  I felt that the military was a dark place –especially when you are the only believer in the room. To top it off, I was overseas on my first ship. That meant many days out at sea and many days studying to earn my qualifications! Sometimes I would cry myself to sleep and ask God why I was there in the first place –I picked Japan after all.
Still, I remembered (even though it was a challenge to remember) that God had a plan for me and God knew what He was doing (just like last time).
Over those two years God revealed to me why He had me there. My command saw that I was “different” and even gave me collaterals that allowed me to help and guide sailors. This included being a mentor, group leader or just being the everyday morale booster. Some sailors appreciated the way I wasn’t like the others. I had something in me that showed compassion and the willingness to always encourage others during many rough days.
I might not have had the easiest of experiences, but God used me in a way to shine a light in the darkness –to show Christ’s love to those who needed it.
My next adventure was on my second ship in Hawaii. But shortly after I moved there I found out that my ship was moving to San Diego. God, why San Diego?! I did not want to leave Hawaii! But just like the previous adventures, I told myself that I had to trust in Him once again. It was a hard transition at first but I found myself helping others like how I helped others on my first ship. God wanted me to show Christ’s love to another environment that needed it.
My adventures through school as well as through three different duty stations have shown me that God was –and is— working in my life. Through those experiences I have learned to trust God even though it was not the easiest to do. Sometimes God places us at certain areas at the right times even when we have no clue why we are there in the first place.
I have learned that God has me right where He wants me to be.  When I give my trust to Him I humbly tell Him that I give my life wholly to Him, for Him to use me for His glory. I don’t know what other adventures He has in store for me. But I do know that I am called as a military woman, sister, daughter, friend, Christian, to be a light unto others to spread Christ’s love.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_images picture_size=”fixed” hover_type=”none” autoplay=”no” columns=”5″ column_spacing=”13″ scroll_items=”” show_nav=”yes” mouse_scroll=”no” border=”yes” lightbox=”yes” class=”” id=””][fusion_image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”http://plantingblogs.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/13902135_10154263451927349_1818002589_o.jpg” alt=””/][fusion_image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”http://plantingblogs.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/13900558_10154263448807349_1961910255_n.jpg” alt=””/][fusion_image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”http://plantingblogs.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/13898687_10154263449197349_66907383_o.jpg” alt=””/][fusion_image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”http://plantingblogs.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/13898436_10154263449257349_28727556_o.jpg” alt=””/][fusion_image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”http://plantingblogs.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/13871843_10154263448787349_1013889325_n.jpg” alt=””/][fusion_image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”http://plantingblogs.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/13682548_10154263449307349_40252422_o.jpg” alt=””/][fusion_image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”http://plantingblogs.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/13682017_10154263465402349_1241022885_o.jpg” alt=””/][/fusion_images][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]
Actionable Intel
- Naomi shares how she often wondered “Why God? Why here? Why now?”. Have you? What conclusions did you come to?
- “There is nothing like having a strong and supportive Christian community.” Do you agree with this statement? Why is it important to be part of a Christian community?
- “I have learned that God has me right where He wants me to be.” There is great peace to be found in that statement. How can you get to that same conclusion today, this week, this month?
[/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]
Directives for the Week
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 ESV
- According to this verse what are we?
- How are we to use our light?
- Can you think of specific ways you can shine your light this week?
Additional verses to look up this week: Isaiah 42:6-7; Isaiah 49:6; Ephesians 5:8-10; Philippians 2:14-18[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]Naomi Marcelo is currently an O-2 in the United States Navy. She is the middle child and grew up all over the world as a Navy Brat. After she graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2013 she went to her first ship homeported in Sasebo, Japan. She is now stationed on the USS PAUL HAMILTON (DDG 60) out of San Diego, CA.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
