Welcome Friends! Thank you for joining me on this incredible journey I’m on with God.  I’m so excited for what He has in store for me.  Yes, I may sound a little crazy at times but I assure you, I am a perfectly sane Texas gal that loves big hair and sweet iced tea.

My husband Rene and I live in Humble, Texas along with our three handsome sons, our daughter-in-law, our precious little grandbaby, and our beloved dog Jax.  Some see Jax like a big ol Clifford looking dog.  We love him and his great big ol hugs he loves to give us.  Life has had it’s roller coaster rides and moments of sheer bliss, and in all this we give God the glory for seeing us through every moment.

My journey with God started the day I was born.   Raised partially by my Grandfather Pastor Ramirez and my beautiful Grandmother,  I spent most of my time in church learning about God and His amazing merciful love for us.  As years passed on, I ventured off the path God had me on and I tried doing life my way without Him and boy did I learn some hard lessons.  I needed God in my life and without Him I just couldn’t be who I am today.  I have gone off my path many times but always found my way back to Him.  Just like the scripture says in Proverbs 22:6, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

My faith and love for God has grown immensely and everyday I look forward to see what new adventures He and I will go on.  I live my life for God and my precious family.  I love all He has done for me and the changes I am going through as I grow with Him.  I can’t express to you enough how much God has made a difference in my life and my heart.  He has given me courage when I was afraid, strength when I was weak, hope when all else fell apart, second chances when I made mistakes, comfort when my heart was heavy, mercy and His undying love.

In 2014, God called me to get back into teaching His Word but I just didn’t see myself as qualified much less ready for this. I was all like, no way, no how God.  You’ve got the wrong gal here.  I felt unworthy and pretty much disqualified myself by all my standards, but God showed me different.  God showed me that I didn’t need the approval of man, and every discouraging thought was replaced with encouragement from God.  I began believing that if God did in fact call me to teach, then I was going to follow.   And with that came the Girlfriends, Coffee and Jesus Women’s Bible Study Group now known as LIVING ENCOURAGED MINISTRIES. I could not be more excited to be studying His word with so much intensity and sharing it with women everywhere.

God has completely taken hold of every area of my life and now I am devoted to Bible study teaching, writing,  blogging and being a Christian Life Coach.  In January of 2018, I published my first book, “My Journey With God” which is now available on Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, and Lulu.com.  And towards the tail end of this very same year, I published my first Bible study guide, BECOMING A WOMAN OF COURAGE.  I’m already working on my new book, “Utterly Perfectly Imperfect” along with the “Utterly Perfectly Imperfect Bible Study Guide” expected to be released in 2019.  God has taken this once broken Texas girl and filled in all those broken areas with His grace and mercy, creating in me a new heart and spirit.  He gave me new visions, new goals and since then has propelled me forward going after every one of those visions.  It’s exciting seeing all these new adventures I’ve been on.

My dear friend, my deepest prayer for you today is that God will guide me to give you the words of encouragement and strength and to remind you of how much He loves you.  I pray your heart will be filled with peace, love and lots of laughter as you join me on this beautiful journey.  God wants you to know you are not here by accident.  You have a special purpose in life and I pray I can help you unveil your purpose.  You are God’s greatest creation.  We are all utterly perfectly imperfect and that’s ok.   He is waiting with open arms for you…imperfections and all.  So let’s get this journey started together.

XOXO…Ileen

http://www.IleenBocanegra.com

Psst…God loves you

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you”  John 15:16 

https://www.amazon.com/My-Journey-God-Ileen-Bocanegra/dp/1387363239/