Welcome

Hello all! Welcome to my blog space (if you can call it that). After finding out that Elder Ken Denslow blogged (which I couldn't believe!) I said "if he can, I can" and so I did. I thought it was a cool and personal way to inform everyone of what's going on in the conference. While Mr. President is informing about his where abouts and anouncing some pretty important and exciting news I'll be anouncing some events from my department.

First, let me introduce myself. My name is Lorena Contreraz and I work for the Ministerial and Hispanic Department of the IL Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist under Ed Barnett and Justo Morales. I am married to Johnnie, no kids and kinda young if you have'nt noticed already by my writing. I would like to keep it pretty casual here so please don't expect any really formal text. This is not to be confused with all the important, serious and exciting news that is yet to be posted. I have lots to share with all of you. Please feel free to comment anytime with suggestions, concerns, questions...anything.

Recently my husband gave a devotional here at the conference and his devotional was based on the well known verse John 3:16. It reads, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." He asked the question, "what does it mean to you personally? Have you ever taken a good look at this verse?"
His focus was not on the fact that God gave His only Son or that we would not perish or even that we could have everlasting life. He focused on something that I believe will send us all to the Bible to reread that verse again, if you don't have it already mermorized ofcourse. Johnnie focused on the word SO. So? Well, think about it. The word SO in the dicitonary reads: very, extremely: to a great extent or degree. Where does this two letter word show up in the verse? Does it say, For God loved the world? No, it doesn't. We know that God sent His only son, we know that He doesn't want us to die and we know that He wants us to live eternally by His side. But why? Because He loves us, He loves us So very much! He can't stand to be without you and me. So much so, that He put our well being above His own! Isn't He amazing! I believe like my husband says that Jesus picks His words ever so carefully. His love is wonderful and just so amazing we barely even begun to understand His infinite love. Believe it or not He loves you.

Well, I leave you (for now) with that. I just really wanted to let you know that God really REALLY loves you so SO very much.