Rest and Surrender with Zuly Garcia

Zuly Garcia, a wife and stay at home mom to 3 beautiful children. Zuly and her family live in Orlando FL where they serve in their local church. Both Zuly and her husband travel to minister the gospel of Jesus to the body of Christ awakening them to the things of the Spirit.


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Connect with Zuly

chriszulygarcia@gmail.com

Facebook.com: zulygarciaprado

Instagram: @zulygarcia90

Youtube.com/ Chris Garcia
Link to my husband and my youtube: https://bit.ly/2xKSOTa

Transcript

Nicole Clark : 0:26

Hey, what's up everyone, welcome to shining light with Nicole, where we are keeping your 24 Golden. I'm Nicole, and on today's episode we are talking about rest and surrender with Zuly Garcia. Welcome to season two. Zuly, welcome to the podcast.

Zuly Garcia : 0:57

Thank you so much. Hey, Nicole.

Nicole Clark : 1:00

I am really looking forward to our conversation today because we are talking all about rest and surrender. Yes. And so you guys I have to tell you so Julian, I we met at this amazing women's conference. So huge shout out to refresh women's ministry. I just love them so much. But what I love you Even more just divine appointments. And I truly believe zuly and I meeting, you know, that definitely was was that it was a divine appointment. And just one of my favorite things really that I love about you is that you just love the Lord. You're super inspirational and encouraging. But most importantly, you are always speaking the truth.

Zuly Garcia : 1:44

Amen. Amen.

Nicole Clark : 1:47

You are welcome. And I just think, you know, that really just brings us to a place where we have to ask the question, what posture have we taken before the Lord was right? Are we fully submitted to God and resisting the enemy? Or do we resist God and submit to the imitation of the enemy, or intimidation of the enemy? And so, you know, God reveals his will to us, yet we refuse him and the reins of our life. And then Meanwhile, the intimidation of the enemy has us running in fear and I'm sure You know this too he intimidates us through doubt and worry, anxiety, depression, pain, a sense of lack and loneliness, you name it, you know, he's going to use it. And just, even without realizing it, he has, you know, been allowed to take the reins in our life. And we are just in this game of tug of war, tug of war with the enemy of our soul. You know, we just we feel lost. We feel confused and unsure of how to get our lives back in alignment with God's plan plan in our every day. So before we jump in, I just want to read these three Bible verses that just kind of stuck out to me for today, and then I can't wait to jump in into our conversation. Yes. So the first one is James four, seven. And it's therefore submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Matthew 1129 take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. And then proverbs 16 nine, a person's heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.

Zuly Garcia : 3:38

That's so good. One of my favorite verses. Yes.

Nicole Clark : 3:42

So zuly before we you know, get into everything, why don't you tell everybody a little bit about you and your family?

Zuly Garcia : 3:49

Oh my okay. For the sake of time, I'll go ahead and, and share briefly just who I am and, and you know who my family is and what the Lord's doing well, so I live here in Orlando, Florida, but I'm originally from Chicago, Illinois. lived there till I was 10 and moved here to Florida and since then, I've been I've been here I'm 29. Now I'm married to my amazing husband, Chris. Our sixth year wedding anniversary is coming up. Next month main. We have three beautiful children named JBL. Zoe and David. Each just a blessing from God and each so special and unique in their own way. And so we live here in Florida and we're serving right now under sonship. International. We work for Eric Gilmore, he has a teaching ministry. And so right now my husband is his personal assistant. And I work in donor relations. And so we've been faithfully serving there and serving in our local church as well, at whatever capacity they need us to serve. Whether it be me in the women's ministry, my husband, you know, preaches and we do travel on minister from time to time, and different locations from churches, other other states. So, but just a little bit about myself. As I said, I was born in Chicago. I grew up in a blended family. My parents, unfortunately divorced when I was two but I would say that has definitely those experiences of growing up in a blended family has molded who I am today when I moved down here at the age of 10, that my mom brought us from Chicago here because she wanted to provide us a better life. A slower paced life because for those that don't know Chicago is, is known to be the Windy City it's it's busy there's it's the city life so she just wanted to provide us a better slow paced life. And I want to say that has been the best decision she made because it was here in Florida that I met Jesus at the age of 12. I accepted the Lord into my life and and since then my life has totally been radically change. And I encountered Jesus in such a beautiful, beautiful way. So with that I grew up just seeking his face at such a young age serving in my local church. I served anywhere from children's ministry, and I started preaching at the age of 14. And I was in a dance ministry, I saying, you know, I kept myself busy, I kept myself busy, because I knew that the Lord just wanted to do a work in my life and I just wanted to be used by him. And I knew I was called but I, I didn't know quite yet what for. So I knew that, that I just wanted to seek his face and do his role and I, I will tell you this during that those pivotal years of my life, they molded me and shaped me and set me up for for today and for what I had to face later on as a teenager and then an adult At the age of 18, I became a mom I which was a the Scripture, Proverbs 16 nine blesses me when it says a man's heart plans his weight, but the Lord directs his steps because, you know, I did not plan to have, you know, be a young become a young mom, but, you know, God in His sovereignty knew what was I was going to face. And he turned that sticky situation for something good because, you know, it shaped me, you know, I had to I had to grow up fast. I was the girl that when I accepted Jesus, I, I, I knew what I wanted. I knew that I wanted to serve the Lord and and do his work and do his will in my life. I wanted to marry I had everything set like I want to get married at 23 and I want to have, you know, kids by 27 and and Have my last child by 30 I only want two kids. And nonetheless, I didn't expect to have to go through what I went through, right. And I finished high school at 17. And I just was always in a rush, always in a rush. always wanting to have control of every aspect of my life. So when I graduated high school, I was faced with the real world and and went to college. And I went to Southeastern University at first and studied there for a little bit. And unfortunately couldn't finish because it just became very expensive for my family night for me to continue my studies there. So I went off to, to massage school. And so I was in massage school for about a year and graduated and got my diploma. And it was there that I met my oldest son's father. And there were things changed. Turned around in my life. And it was something of course that like I said, I didn't expect but God turned it around because in the midst of that sticky situation of becoming pregnant and becoming a teen mom, and you know, going down that path. God really just met me there. And it was because of those times that I had encountered Jesus at my, in my young teenage years, where I would save that time in prayer. It helped me face the situation that I face. At that age. A lot of it stems from so you guys can understand a little bit. You know, why I was led to that place in spite of me, having met Jesus, there were some things that I faced at a younger That I think no one should face I at the age of eight was unfortunately sexually molested which I kept so hidden from everyone. And, and it opened up a lot of insecurities in me. And so when, when and coming from from a homework, my family loved me and cared for me but I felt like something was missing and then going through that, it just left a void in me and you know, and so I grew up with that and I stood quiet about it even in spite of, you know, accepting Jesus in my heart. I felt like that part I didn't completely let go of and surrender to Jesus. And I kept it quiet and so I struggled. I struggle with with my identity I struggled with insecurities, body image I was, you know, always very to myself, I was bullied at a young age. And so I carried all of these things. And so, when I grew up, you know, and was faced with the real world, you know, because being at home and going to church, I was in my bubble, you know, I didn't, I didn't really experience life I was there and on my own, but when I had to step out to the world world, I, I was faced with reality. And I was faced with decisions. And because I didn't have the iPhone felt like I didn't have the people that I needed to talk to. I didn't feel that freedom to speak to anyone about what I was struggling with internally. It led me to that place of where now I'm here. I made a decision and that decision led me to having my son and but God turned that around. And he used my son to slow my life down in such a way that I can't even describe it. But now I was faced with something new. I thought to myself what good man is going to look at a woman like me, a young girl like me, that has a son. And, and nonetheless, a man of God, you know, because I still burned for Jesus in spite of that. And and I know, I came to a point where I had slipped away from the Lord for a little bit. And when I came back, the Lord did a work in me and and what got me out of that situation was I had to completely give my life surrender every every part of me the good, the bad, the ugly, and even though things didn't look the way I had planned, it God still, in his goodness, turned it around for my good and I had to trust what he was doing in spite of that. And so, fast forward a couple years later, my oldest son was three. And I met my husband, Chris, and that to me and he loves Jesus, He loves Jesus. When we met, he had just graduated Bible college and, and, you know, he had all these things that he did. And I thought to myself, Lord, I am not worthy to even be around this man. But God said, No, you are, you are worthy. And I remember meeting my husband. And the first thing I told him is I have a son. If you don't like it, you can go somewhere. Like, don't don't talk to me. And the first thing you He said was I'm not going to put God in a box. And I remember looking at him.

Nicole Clark : 14:27

Oh my goodness,

Zuly Garcia : 14:28

right? Oh, my goodness, that is a great answer. And since then, I mean, here we are going to celebrate six years married eight total together. And God has just been so good to us a year into our marriage. I had our daughters though we, and then in 2018, we had David and since then I have seen God's hand move in my life. You know, he had to put my guard down. There I was this girl that thought, I am not good enough to have a good man because, you know, I did this and nothing went as planned and I thought I failed. But God said, No, you didn't. You know, like, I mean, yes, you this wasn't my perfect world for your life. You know, I had this wasn't the ideally what, you know what it was, but he was still so good enough to turn things around. And let me see that. He can make things work out for my good if, if I just gave him that opportunity to come and do what he had to do with me and I did. And I am living honestly, the best days of my life seeing my kids grow and love Jesus, serving alongside a man that loves the Lord with all his heart and all his might, and how God used him to teach me and vice versa. And so that's just a gist of who we are and who I am. There is just, I would say, had I not surrendered all of all of my thoughts to Jesus. I don't think I would be here Today, had I not said yes to the Lord in spite of the circumstances that I went through.

Nicole Clark : 16:29

Wow. Zuly Oh my goodness, your story, I mean, talk about encouraging, but also you are an overcomer. And I just love I mean, because Romans 828 that's, that's my verse to like that is a promise that I hold on to all the time, just that the Lord He really is working it out for our good. And I love that you held on to that so tight to just continued to walk out in faith.

Zuly Garcia : 17:01

Amen. Amen yet now that you mentioned Romans, Romans 12 two is one of the Scriptures that really got me through those hardest moments in my life. Romans 12 two says, do not conform to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind then you will be able to test and approve God's will is his good, pleasing and perfect well, another scripture that got me through so much was proverbs three, five and six where it says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways, submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. those scriptures in spite of all that I went through, and my young age, got me through the hardest times because I understood, you know, the world says, she's a teen mom, she's not going to succeed in life. You know, she's just gonna go downhill from there. She can't, she can't, you know, just everything's going to be harder. And, you know, the, there's a list of things that the world says, right for a young girl like me, but yet, I chose it to say no, you know, I'm a clean on the Word of God. And he says that if I don't conform to what the world says, into its pattern, but I let him have his way in me and Trump For my mind and I just give myself to him completely. I am going to see his promises fulfilled in my life in spite of it Do I have to take a little detour and there's going to be some little bumps and I have to go that's that it's going to happen and that's okay but he is faithful and he will fulfill and and I'm not going to lean on what I what I think I know right now I'm going to lean on his word. I'm going to lean on him and let him guide and teach me through this process and season and I'm just going to go with his current flow of the Spirit.

Nicole Clark : 18:55

So good. So Zuly, tell us how so how do you start your day because I truly believe it all begins with how you start.

Zuly Garcia : 19:04

It sure does. It really really does. That is the most important thing. So on a normal day, I because I have three kids so my on those days where my daughter does not wake me up super Early, My day starts. I definitely love to get my cup of coffee, right? But I just sit, I'll just sit and soak in the presence of God like I won't, I won't put any music. I won't do anything, I will just sit in silence. And I will acknowledge the moment I opened my eyes, the first thing I do is acknowledge the Holy Spirit I acknowledge Jesus, I thank him for the life he has given me because that is truly important that you know many people, the first thing that they do is grab their phone, right? And I've been guilty of that. And as many of us have been guilty to check our emails or check Hey, and I noticed that when, when I discipline and myself to the first thing I do is wake up and acknowledge the Lord and thank him and set my eyes and fix my eyes on him. everything flows, so I just sit and I just soak in the presence of God for however long that is, it can be five minutes, it can be 30 minutes on a good day. And I just sit and then from there, you know, read a scripture as as the Holy Spirit leads me or, or I'll put a worship song. And I'll just enjoy his presence. And so that's how I start my day. And when I noticed when I do that, the day just flows so nicely for me and for my kids. I noticed a change even in the atmosphere, my home when I do that.

Nicole Clark : 21:01

Love it. That's so good. That's when you were talking. I was like, Okay, how can I switch up my morning? A little bit more. You know, you know what one thing can I change it new because especially how you talked about the atmosphere in your home. Mm hmm. It changes because of how you are starting your day and fixing Your eyes first.

Zuly Garcia : 21:23

That's right. It's so important. It's so important that it's pivotal for us to start our mornings. Right? And I would dare say, end your night, right? So you can start your morning. Right. So and the practical side of that. I will say I, you know, I'm a little bit OCD when it comes to like, my cleaning and stuff like that. And I tell my husband laughs at me all the time, because I'm like, Look, I need to have a clean kitchen. Because there's something about having everything in order the night before, that it really helps set the tone in the morning. It just it does something to the atmosphere of the house, you wake up and you just feel like wow, you know, so in the practical, you know, I make sure that my house is set. So when I wake up, I am just at ease, you know, and there's nothing that I have to do per se So I can spend my morning with the Lord.

Nicole Clark : 22:26

That's good.

Zuly Garcia : 22:26

Yeah. And

Nicole Clark : 22:27

so so what does surrender mean to you? And how and how can we surrender all things to God.

Zuly Garcia : 22:36

So surrender to me is completely giving up what you think everything that you are and living your life at the feet of Jesus. So, just completely pouring your heart out to the Lord, your thoughts, your mind and everything and just going before Jesus and laying it at his feet. That is true surrender, where you hold nothing back. And you give it all to Jesus. It's so it's sometimes I would say this It may seem so complicated in our minds because we're like how God in how can I do this, but it's really just making a choice in your mind and in your heart. To say, Lord, have your way, I have no control you, I'm giving you full access to just take over. And it's a heart posture thing. It's where you make a decision to fully give God full rein in your life. And let him teach you by the leading of his spirit to do so. And he'll expose it, he'll show you things to do. He'll, he'll highlight things in your life like, Hey, this is to alive in your life, like this side of like, you wanting to control this aspect of your life. He'll help. There's a lot of things he will highlight. And we'll know because we'll think about it, you know, and the spirit will lead us and we just have to surrender it to him and be Willing to just place it before his feet in prayer, and in the time that we spend with him?

Nicole Clark : 24:32

Absolutely. So So what are some things you think that get in the way of surrender

Zuly Garcia : 24:39

our mind, the business of life, the demands of life, our plans, you know, what we think should be happening in our lives in the lives of those around us. distractions like social media, you know, there's just so many, especially in this day and age where everything's so techie, right? And everything is so go, go Go and busy, busy, busy. We think busy means you're being productive. Right? And it's like, you know, no, I God has told him you have to shift my mind on that. in, in, in one of the things he's told me is, you know, everything that I do and I know it'll lead into the next, you know, theme of our conversation, because rest, surrender and rest have a lot to do with each other in this. But one of the things the Lord told me is everything you do slowly do it from a place of rest. And so surrendering that that side and in disciplining myself in not in setting my day up to where, you know, I set time away with Jesus, you know, I do what I have to do, but I I structure my day in a way where I let the Holy Spirit come in and where I can be with him. I think if everyone practically sets their day up that way, whether it be you know, early in the morning or late at night, it will help you learn To live a life of surrender, because you are giving your day to him, You are structuring yourself in a way to receive from him. And so when we don't all when we're not intentional about doing that, it makes it very difficult for us to give the Lord everything because we're keeping ourselves so occupied. And so when we acknowledge that, we don't need to always be busy doing that.

Nicole Clark : 26:53

Amen to that.

Zuly Garcia : 26:56

You learn that, okay, I, the Lord doesn't want me always doing stuff. He just wants me to be in him and he'll teach you. he'll teach you in that. How to fully surrender. It's something that you're going to grow into naturally. When you're intentional about seeking Him.

Nicole Clark : 27:15

Zuly, when you start to realize your priorities are out of order. What are some of the things that you do you know, To get back in line, or back focused with the Lord.

Zuly Garcia : 27:26

Oh, so, wow, that's a great question. I have to do that a lot. Okay, I'll be honest, I have to do that a lot. Um, one of the practical things I did that really helped me a lot. I love to sing and I love to worship, I literally will just lock myself up. Whether it be in my room in the closet, I'll go for a walk or in my car, I don't know what it is about being in my car alone and driving, that it does something to me I'm and I'll just start worshiping. So when I feel like overwhelmed and and just like I'm getting distracted, and not focus, I'll just worship I'll put on whether it be my favorite song, or or I'll just sing a new song, and I'll just sing on to Jesus, I'll sing and worship Him. And that does something to my heart in a way I can't even describe it. refreshes me it reinvigorates me. It wakes me up. It shakes me up, you know, and I make sure that the songs that I listen to our songs that are that exalt Him that, you know are just speaking life to my spirit that are just word, you know. That is not just songs that make me feel good but that exalt Jesus and the name of it, you know, so that's, that's honestly the main thing I do other than you'd all start cleaning and cleaning. And that helps me also kind of so but that's my go to I just started singing. There's something about worshiping that's so good, and it doesn't matter. You don't need to learn know how to sing. Just hear you.

Nicole Clark : 29:19

Yes, he just wants to hear you.

Zuly Garcia : 29:21

That's right.

Nicole Clark : 29:21

Hey, So, so let's shift a little bit and let's talk about rest. I think that this too is just such an important subject and topic because I know I am super guilty of this. I do not rest in and I think rest can also just, it could mean so many things, but I mean, but physical rest, mental rest, spiritual rest, like this is something that I know, like the Lord, He is asking me to do. And, you know, I'm not being super obedient, that you know, in finding rest and all those things.

Zuly Garcia : 29:59

Hmm, that's good. I think we're all guilty of this. This is something so this topic of risk is something that the Lord's really been highlighting to me. I want to say it's been off since I had my daughter Zoey, I had her back in 2015. And the Lord since then has really been dealing with me on this subject. My husband jokes About Me it jokes with me about this. He says, Martha, Martha, just yet to be and I'm like, Hey, honey, no, I'm a Martha Mary. I try to do things, you know, get things done, but then I'll sit at the feet of Jesus. But in all seriousness, God, He wants us to be that Mary, he wants us to just sit at his feet and resting, resting. What rest does, you know, there's, like you mentioned the physical benefits of it. And I'm going to speak on the site. You know, I'm a licensed massage therapist. So, you know, studying the human anatomy and physiology in our bodies. The the benefits of rest have are tremendous. I mean, when your body's at ease, there's, you know, your blood is able to flow. I mean, your organs receive the nutrients that they need your mind just, you're able to function at optimal You know levels when you are fully rested. But now in the spiritual side of rest, rest is into something. Just what the Lord has shown me rest allows you to have clarity and gives you the ability to live a life of fullness and wholeness in him. Rest is a form of surrender because when you're at rest, and you're at ease, what you're telling the Lord is, you know, I'm trusting you to be the Lord of my life in everything. When you don't rest, rest, the lack of rest what it what it can do. If you're not resting you and you can become hard in the heart to the things of the Spirit in sensitizes you because you're so busy and tired. When you're tired in the natural for example, do you have the energy to fully function throughout the day You can't really function fully you can't. You can't Devote yourself and commit yourself fully to a task because you're so tired so you become frustrated, agitated, but when you rest, you're able to, to be more receptive. And in the spirit when you rest, it avoids you hurting in your heart and being desensitized to the things of the Spirit. And that's something that the Lord when he showed me, that aspect of it, it just makes so much sense because as a mom of three, you know, life is busy, it gets really really busy and overwhelming at times. Because there's always something to do with with the kids and work and everything. And when the Lord told me, Hey, you know, I want you to do things from a place of rest. I asked him that very same question. Like how How can I do that? And he showed me, he showed me an image of this fountain. And he actually showed me this. When I went to Texas, and this really, really got to me. There was this fountain at the Plaza in the little shopping center, and I sat down and I looked at this fountain, and the Holy Spirit told me Do you see that fountain? And I said, Yes. And he says, You see how that water's flowing? It doesn't have to do anything. Because it's connected to its source. And when it's connected to its source, the water just flows from it. And it just keeps going and going and it refreshing, refreshing. That is how I want you to be with me, I want you to be in constant connection with me. At ease, you don't have to, you know, thrive you don't have to do anything. You just You're in me connected to me, I will give you rest, I will refresh you, I will be the source of your strength that will help you get through the day that will help you do what you have to do. But you have to do it from that place that you are connected with me at all times. And that broke me because I mean, who would have thought sitting and looking at a fountain that the Lord will speak right? But, but he did and that just rocked my world. And so I have been learning every day to as I connect to him, I noticed that I have more strength and energy to do things. As I acknowledge that I can't do it on my own strength with my own strength. But as I'm connected to him through the word through through prayer, through reading scriptures that He gives me the the energy and the strength and the rest that I need in him. So, I would say that that is the the essence of what rest is, is total complete surrender to Him and being connected to your source, which is Jesus Christ.

Nicole Clark : 35:43

Absolutely, amen. I'm so encouraged. I'm like, this is so good, especially just for this season. Oh my goodness, I'm just, you know, praying that this just blesses all of you guys who are listening. Because I know, that's just something we struggle with. Especially just women, we, you know, we want to control the situation. We want to control everything. And we, you know, I keep hearing that multitasking is not really great and you know, no, and no one can really, you know, do you know, no one can really multitask but it's like, we have so much on our plate as just moms and daughters and sisters and business owners and employees and employers and so there's just so much and we just feel like we have to push through we have to continue we can't give up we got to pull up our, you know, bootstraps and just keep on going, you know, but no, we got to just be connected to the source.

Zuly Garcia : 36:46

That's right. That's right and he'll he'll he'll align things and you know, what's gonna get them will get done and when we just realize that we don't have to get everything done in a 24 hour period. Unless you know, it's a major project or something, you know, for work, but when we understand that, you know, things will get done, you know, our kids, you know, and family, they're going to be there, you know, projects in the home, they'll get done, don't miss we need to learn to not overload ourselves. You know, let's pace ourselves and and slow down again, naturally. conforming to this world. This world wants us busy, busy, busy, busy, because otherwise, if we're distracted and we're busy, then we're not doing what we need to do for the kingdom. Because we're and while and we're, or even if even even when we're doing things for the kingdom per se, if we're always so busy, busy and doing there's times that we miss hearing God and His voice in leading us maybe in an in a direction that he wants us to go. Because we're so caught up in this is my to do list to get this done, because I'm doing this for the Lord, but the Lord's like, thank you, but this is what I want you to do right now. You know,

Nicole Clark : 38:01

so, Oh, that's good. So zilly please talk to that person who's listening. And they are just struggling to find rest right now. And they are just forcing everything and they're just taking all the things into their own hands and they are not releasing their lives to Christ.

Zuly Garcia : 38:22

Well, I'm just going to tell you all that are listening right now. You don't have to strive. You just I want to encourage you right now, just to focus on Sitting at the feet of Jesus. I know it gets it gets hard, it gets challenging your face daily with different kinds of trials and situations and decisions. But the Lord says to just come to me all you are weary and burdened, and He will give you rest. If you come to him. And you surrender your ideas, you surrender your situations, you surrender your heart to Him, the good, the bad, and the ugly, he will give you rest, he will give you peace. If you just let him come in and have his way, if you give him permission and full access, all you have to say is yes, it's it's really not that complicated. And I just want to encourage you That is so simple, with just saying yes to Him, and, and acknowledging that you need him to be able to live life, to the fullness, he will come in, and he will totally have his way with you. And He will teach you, day by day, how to live from that place of rest as you just fix your eyes on him. He will guide and direct your very step. I want to encourage you again with this scripture, in Proverbs 356. If you can make this yours, I promise you, this will help you so much. It says Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to Him and He will make your paths straight. He will make everything right. If you just trust Him with all of your heart and not lean on your own understanding. So I encourage you seek Him, rest in him. surrender everything. To Him and He will make things right and straight in your life

Nicole Clark : 40:29

amen I'm over here just so excited. Thank you so much for today. Oh my goodness. It was just so amazing. Please tell everybody how could they find you online like share your socials and all the things?

Zuly Garcia : 40:48

Sure think so. You can find me on Facebook, sweet Garcia, Prado and on Instagram it will be Oh my sushi Garcia and let's see here. So the Garcia 90 on Facebook. And then you can also follow my husband and I on YouTube. We have a YouTube channel called it's under Chris Garcia. We post dating inspirational videos, a weekly inspirational videos and we just share the heart of God Through that, that media source of YouTube and we think for them connect with us, we want to connect with you and get to know each other more.

Nicole Clark : 41:32

Yes, we will definitely put all of that information in the show notes so everybody can connect with you. And then we just have to the final two. And so this podcast is all about Matthew 516 and just letting our light shine for the kingdom. And I truly believe that God uses our story to change the world. And so how did your puzzle pieces lead you to where you are today?

Zuly Garcia : 41:58

Wow, well these puzzle pieces and really every my, my saying yes to the Lord. And letting him have his way in me led me to where I am today it meeting my my husband and just Everything it led me to where I am today in saying yes to Him in spite of everything and not conforming and not letting myself be swayed by the current situations that I was facing in every season of my life is what led me today here to where I am where I am married with my three kids serving the Lord doing ministry and spreading the good news of Jesus. That one yes. led me to that.

Nicole Clark : 42:59

That is so beautiful. Oh my goodness. Okay, it's so I think you do such a great job of just shining bright and not hiding your light for the kingdom. Have you always been that way and what can you share just to encourage us and help us do the same?

Zuly Garcia : 43:14

Sure. I have not always been this way. I actually like the shy, timid girl. That preferred sitting in the back and not being bothered. But when when I accepted the Lord into my heart, I remember thinking, I want to do more. So I got involved in, in everything from dance ministry, which that really got me out of my, my shell, you know, I love the dance and expressing myself that way. And that really is what helped kind of break the ice in my life, you know, and that shyness, and then I started singing, and being involved in those activities in the church really got me out of my comfort zone. And so, as I started growing up more and more, I just said, you know, even if it scares me, I'm gonna, I'm gonna do it. You know, I'm going to speak, I'm gonna do what he wants me to do, whether it be speaking in front of a crowd of 510 100 or speaking on a podcast, you know? And so I wasn't always this this vocal or comfortable with sharing my story or my life, but I think God that through these activities like dancing and singing, and through me just breaking out of my shell like them I'm able to do so today and, and share everything that he's done in my life.

Nicole Clark : 44:52

So good. Julie, thank you so much appreciate you.

Zuly Garcia : 44:54

Appreciate you Nicole, thank you so much for having me.

Nicole Clark : 45:11

Thanks for tuning in. To learn more about shining light with Nicole or to get involved with 1212 ministries, visit 1212 ministries.org. Now go out and let you Your light shine for the kingdom. And remember, you shine so that others can see you, be you and they can be them. Keep your 24 golden and I'll see you next week.