God is in the Details

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Todd

When I was leaving the navy, I was due to fly to Houston from Japan.  I decided I would try a little experiment. Previously, I would fret every little detail, praying for help as every little problem arose.  While there is nothing wrong with praying for help, I did so more out of anxiety then I did out of faith.  This time, I told God that I would trust Him to be in control.  If any problems came up during the trip, I would not fret or get anxious, I would simply trust in Him.

There was plenty to go wrong along the way.  Bags lost, customs issues, flight delays, you name it.  I left Yokosuka by bus and headed to Yokohama (about an hour’s drive), from there I got on a plane and flew to Misawa, to Anchorage, to Seattle, to Phoenix and finally to Houston.  As you can see there were a lot of stops with a lot of potential for things to go wrong. Not only did they not go wrong, things were smoother than I ever could have imagined.  It was a long trip, with just as much waiting in terminals as there was flying.  However and the end, I met up with my family at the Houston airport and all my bags arrived with me.

As I was getting ready to leave for another deployment to Afghanistan, this time as a government civilian, I once again looked at all the things that could go wrong.  I decided, before leaving home, that I would take the same approach as I did in Japan.  It was tough leaving my family, and I did not want to add the load of worry to an already heartbreaking situation. One could make the argument that I should be used to it by now, given how many times I have left my family in the past.  To some extent, we are used to being apart, but that initial separation never gets any easier.  Not for the kids, not for my wife and not for me.

So, before I left home, before saying the heart-wrenching good-byes, I asked God to be in control again.  Not just with the flight, but for the entire week of training.  The only direction I had received from the base here was to go to the USO and ask about the shuttle, but God was in Control, so I got on the plane, they closed the doors and I was on my way.  I arrived in Indianapolis and went to the USO.  The gentlemen there knew exactly what I was talking about.  Told me when it would arrive, what door and even told me the driver would come in as I am still in the National Guard, I was free to wait at the USO and partake of there (desperately needed at this point) coffee.  Detail one: check!

Next up was my concern about arriving.  As I was initially supposed to leave in November, and was pushed back due to mistakes by the government, I was a little concerned, but I arrived, my name was on the list and they had a bed for me.  Even better, the next morning, I received a phone call.  I was not supposed to be in the open bay barracks, but had my own room (with internet).  Concern two:  not only check, but far exceeded what I had expected.

The training itself was another area that much could go wrong:  Medical, Immunizations, Dental, Legal, Finance, ID, Personnel, ANAM, Gear Issue, not to mention a ton of training and briefs.  They pack a lot into five days.  The first day was our medical review.  I was not concerned so much as I had a thorough physical courtesy of Fort Hood while demobilizing from the Army.  I was concerned about my immunizations, however.  I have had many negative experiences in this regard:  ie shot records being lost or missing and having to receive the entire series of shots multiple times.  I came prepared, had my medical record from Fort Hood and all the supporting documentation. My preparation, while wise, was not needed.  I reported here to find they already created a medical record for me, with all the information obtained from the Army database and up to date.  There were a few minor labs I needed to have done (that they could not do at Fort Hood) and those were taken care of that day.  Concern number three:  check!

Next up was dental.  Here they required a particular government form that civilian dentists were supposed to fill out and then the individual was supposed to bring.  As Fort Hood had also done my dental exam upon my exit from active duty, I did not have said form.  Once again, I trust God that things would be alright.  Sure enough, I went up the desk to check in for dental and when asked for the form, I told him that the army did my exam.  He looked me up in the system and took my checklist sheet:  check, check, check, check, check, DONE!  I was in dental for all of five minutes.  Concern number four:  not just check, but again, exceeded!

All of the administrative and legal stuff, was smoother than I had expected.  Last time I went through the process, it was long, drawn out, with a lot of standing and waiting.  This time it was quick, smooth and over before I knew it.  My last main concern was with the gear issue.  When I was in Mississippi for training, they not only gave me all the gear I needed, but wanted to give me gear I already had.  This seemed to be non-negotiable, but I simply did not have the room for it all.  We are limited by number of bags and weight.  The allowance is higher than a normal flight, but with double of some of my gear, I am not sure if I would have made it.  I went back and forth with the Central Issue Facility and finally the man got snippy and said, “Fine, if you don’t want it you have to sign this form stating that you are rejecting our issue.”  I did and managed not to get doubled up on the items I already had.

This time, I had nearly everything.  Knowing I was going back to Afghanistan, I did not turn in my gear at Fort Hood.  Well, except for about 1% that I could not keep.  When I came back here, I was worried about going through the same thing I did in MS.  Well, I got to the Central Issue Facility and they asked my group who had stuff already.  Those of us that did were sent to a nearby building where they looked up our records.  Mine showed that I had everything except that 1% that I had to turn in, so the seargent printed out a form, sent me back to CIF and I was given just what I needed.  Again I was in and out in a matter of minutes.  Concern five:  not just check, but once again, exceeded!

At this stage, but bulk of our deployment training is complete and the gear is issued.  The next big concern is leaving here and arriving in theater with all my gear.  However it is not really that much of a concern.  God is clearly in the details of everything I have to do, and at this stage there is no doubt in my mind that He will get me and my gear to my final destination and take very good care of me while I am there.

Posted in Faith | 2 Comments

Gift Fit For A King

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Debra Hasty

GIFT FIT FOR A KING
By Debra Hasty
www.ourchurch.com/member/m/ministering

“Jesus is the reason for the season”. We see this saying so much around this time of year as we get ready to celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th but we busy our selves so much with shopping and festive decorations, racking our brains what to buy everyone on our list and planning the Holiday meal, but do we truly take time out of our hectic schedules to understand the importance of the first gifts ever given to honor the birth of Christ. Do we put much thought in what we give others as a gift that is fit for a king? Let’s take a look at who the Magi were and the importance of the gifts they gave to honor the King of Kings.

Matthew 2:1-12 gives us the account of the Magi who were a priestly sect from Persia bringing their best gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to honor the Messiah’s birth as they symbolically acknowledged Jesus as being the prophesied King of the Jews.

Magi were renowned in their knowledge of astrology with regard to it being science and related their knowledge to the Star of Bethlehem. Even though the area of Persia was predominately Islam the Hebrew prophet Daniel was highly regarded by the Persian court. In Daniel 9 the Magi had been given the prophecy of Messiah being cut off in the midst of His 35th year. They knew this event would occur 483 Babylonian years of 360 days after the Persian King Artaxerxes issued a decree. With this piece of information they deducted the Messiah would be born 32B.C.

There was also a Mesopotamian prophet named Balaam who foretold the coming of the star that would signify the rise of Messiah for the tribes of Israel. It was foretold that the Hebrews would receive a King Messiah and that his coming would be noted by a sign in the heavens specifically in the constellation known to Magi as Virgo. One of Daniels pupils, Zoroaster, incorporated these prophecies in his bible called the Zend Avest. Zoroastrianism was the state religion of Persia at the time of Jesus’ birth.

In Matthew 2:9-11 indicates that something would be marking the very place of Messiah’s birth and it is possible that Magi witnessed the Shekinah Glory Cloud, the same cloud described in Genesis at the entrance to the garden of Eden, in Exodus 13:21, 22 as the Pillar of Cloud by day and Pillar of fire by night and in Job as he witnessed the Shekinah when God spoke to him from a whirlwind of a bright and shining cloud.

The trip from Persia to Jerusalem by camel had to take at least three weeks as a camel can travel 500 miles in ten days plus giving time for rest along the trip. Being that the path they took could have been the Silk Road, which was an unsafe road especially when you were traveling with goods of worth, the Shekinah Glory Cloud not only led their trip it protected them until they reached the site where Jesus was born so they could humbled themselves before the King of the Jews and worship him with their best gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

All three gifts that were mentioned in scripture had real value and also possibly a prophetic one as only the Magi recognized Jesus as being a king at his birth even though no one else did, not even his own family. Gold was a traditional gift to families to help with the financial burden of a new child and it also symbolized virtue. Frankincense was used as incense and perfume as a soothing gift for a new family. It also helps to keep away pest especially around a new baby. Frankincense was one of the elements used in holy anointing and was placed in a purified form on the showbread in the tabernacle, Exodus 30:34; Leviticus 6:15; 24:7. Myrrh was another ingredient of the holy anointing oil, Exodus 30:23-33). It was also useful as a deodorant. Its preservative properties allowed myrrh to be used along with aloes and other scents and spices to anoint the dead.

These three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh represented the life and death of Jesus in respect to gold as being his kingship here on earth, frankincense his priestly office and myrrh signifying his suffering. As these three gifts symbolized the life and death of Christ we also humble ourselves before him bringing our best gifts to bring glory and honor to the name of Jesus.

The gifts of the Magi were fit for a king and we have to ask ourselves what are our best gifts or are we even giving our best gifts to the Lord. Gifts are not only monetary like what you place in the offering plate, but it is also giving the best of us to others as Jesus gives us his best.

Gods will is for all of us to love unconditionally as Christ loves us this way. We need to be obedient to one another’s needs, concerns and passions through being true to our own selves of what is the best we can do for others.

John 14:15 if you love me keep my commandments. Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus said unto them, thou shalt love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the Prophets.

Some ask, “Who are my neighbors”, and Gods answer to this is everyone around the world. As we help others in the name of Jesus this honors him with a gift that is fit for a king as in doing so we bring faith, hope and the love of Christ to others that have no faith or hope.

Our works are not our own, but the works that Jesus started and left for us to continue. When we follow in the steps of Jesus we maintain a true heart and others will trust in the Lord through us allowing the light of Christ shine through us.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in heaven.

What does works have to do with gifts you might ask, well works and gifts go hand in hand as what we do for others is a gift from the heart as we allow the light of Christ to shine through us. Some families at Christmas time instead of giving store bought gifts to each other will use that money to help others that are less fortunate then themselves and this is giving the best gift of all which is the gift of love.

The works of the Lord are not just teaching his word behind a pulpit, Matthew 25:35-40, the works of the Lord also include feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and not turning our backs on those that are in prison. The works of the Lord is the witness of God shared with people that do not know him.

The basics of what we are to do as a child of God is to know that the calling from God is to take his word out into the world according to Matthew 28:18-20, and to take His word out with love and compassion in our hearts, Matthew 22:36-40, and the works of the Lord are helping those who need our help, Matthew 25:35-40. Grace is what saves us and the works we do are done unto the glory of the kingdom of God.

The best gifts we ourselves could ever receive are those treasures that are stored up in heaven that are not temporal like the ones we receive here on earth, but are eternal that has brought much glory and honor to the Lord, Matthew 6:19-21. Never boast about what you do as this will be your reward on earth instead of heaven when others give you praise of what you do and this takes away from the gifts you give to the Lord as you take the praise away from his glory.

Mat 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them
otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Mat 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory of
men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
Mat 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand
doeth:
Mat 6:4 that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Titus 3:5-11 it is not our works that get us to heaven for there is nothing we can do of ourselves lest any of us should boast of the works we do, Ephesians 2:8, 9, 10. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.

There are material and Spiritual gifts we give to others like those gifts of the Magi
that were used for finances, health and anointing. The material gifts we give to
others help’s sustain nourishment of body, fiancés of maintaining household
priorities such as rent and utilities and the anointing comes from the word of God
we share with those we help for Spiritual growth.

To me one of the most precious things to see is the face of the children when you
bring a box of food mixed with toys that they knew they would not receive on
Christmas day and the gratitude on the parents face as tears of joy stream down
their cheeks, but not only on Christmas, we need to be helping others all year
around. Jesus said in Matthew 25:40 Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the
least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Gifts that are fit for a king are those that come from the heart as we share our love
and compassion for all our neighbors and the best place to start distributing those
gifts are in your own backyard.

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luke 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luke 2:13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

There may never be peace on earth until the coming of the Lord, but until then we
can bring peace of mind to those who are in need as we become like the Magi
bringing gifts fit for a king.

God bless all of you and have a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Posted in Ministry | 2 Comments

When Tradition Hardens the Heart

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Yilda

Tradition vs. love of God; therein lies the conflict. There are many Christian denominations who make void the word and the love of God because of their traditions. During Jesus ministry on the earth, the religionists accused the Lord’s disciples of transgressing their tradition. But the Lord condemned the religionists for transgressing the commandment of God because of their tradition. They cared for their tradition, but they ignored God’s commandment. Jesus called them hypocrites:

 1 Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? (…) 3 And He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? (…)  7 Hypocrites! Well has Isaiah prophesied concerning you, saying, 8 “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart stays far away from Me; 9 But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:9)

 Sadly, this is still happening within the church. Religious tradition leads to self-righteousness. Beware of that because this is contrary to the Grace of God.

 But go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,” for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. (Matthew 9:13)

 The New Testament Recovery Version, study version, says about this verse: “The self-righteous Pharisees were confident that they knew all things concerning God. In order to humble them, the Lord told them to learn more. Mercy is part of the grace that man receives from God. But self-righteous men do not like to receive mercy or grace from God; they prefer to give something to God. This is contrary to God’s way (…). Just as God desires to show mercy to pitiful sinners, so He wants us to show mercy in love to others.”

Be careful not to put religious traditions in front of God’s word. Jesus reminded us to Love God and then love your neighbor. In Matthew 22:36-39, we read:  

36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?” 37 Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and most important command. 39 And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’

 Can you see that both commandments are a matter of love? Can you see that we need to love not only with all our heart and soul; but with all our mind as well? When tradition is prioritized before the ‘love of God and your neighbor’, then it hardens the heart and love fades away, love vanishes. When loves fades away, then the mind gets clouded. Then again, How can you love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind with a hardened hart because of tradition?

 We are not called to relinquish understanding, on contrary! We are called to love God with our minds. This means to seek understanding of the word of God to grow into His knowledge and be transformed by His grace. 

 Now, hardening the heart blocks the understanding. In Ephesians 4:18 we read: “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.” The New Living Translation states that their minds are full of darkness because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. So the order in which Jesus presented that first commandment is important and has a reason.

 God’s word invites us to seek understanding of His will:

  “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

 “5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:5)

 In that same first chapter in the book of James, we read:

 “22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

 Is your devotion for tradition clouding your compassion and hardening your heart? Is your devotion for tradition clouding your mind? Remember that we need to fully seek God’s will.  In seeking God’s will, consider Jesus. Look at him…start with a study of the fourth gospels, the first four books in the New Testament. Don’t know where to start? Start with the 4rth Gospel, the book of John. Dare to challenge yourself to know Him more and to learn from Him. It is not a matter of religion it is a matter of love.

 The first two most important commandments are a matter of love. They are a matter of the state of the heart, soul and mind. Do not be deceived. If you are hurt by religion, then, do not remain hurt. Learn to separate Jesus from religion.

 I grew up in the Christian faith. But that did not define me as a Christian. I had to go thru conflicts of the heart to understand what is really to be a Christian, and it has nothing to do with keeping Christian traditions. It is not about an outward appearance but about the inward transformation of oneself when we accept the Lord’s grace and follow and do. We don’t start by making the choice to love Him; because, how can we love someone we don’t know? We come to love Him when we realize who He is and what He did. Then because of that, we surrender our self to Him and then make the continuous choice to love… because if we love Him, we follow Him. It is to listen and do. And following Him is a daily thing, not a season, nor a cult, nor a place, nor a particular tradition. How can we say we love Him and not follow Him or obey Him?

 Here is a Paul’s powerful prayer I love in Ephesians 1:16-23. I made that prayer mine and I present it to the Lord when I’m praying for the ones I love, for the ones who have hurt me, for those who don’t know Christ and for the Church:

 “ (…) I always remember you in my prayers, 17 asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you will know him better. 18 I pray also that you will have greater understanding in your heart so you will know the hope to which he has called us and that you will know how rich and glorious are the blessings God has promised his holy people. 19 And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength 20 God used to raise Christ from the dead and put him at his right side in the heavenly world. 21 God has put Christ over all rulers, authorities, powers, and kings, not only in this world but also in the next. 22 God put everything under his power and made him the head over everything for the church, 23 which is Christ’s body. The church is filled with Christ, and Christ fills everything in every way. (Ephesians 1:16-23)

 If you are clouded or feel enslaved by tradition, seek to be filled by Christ instead; the One who fills everything in every way.

Are you hurt by religionists? Have you said “I had enough” and walked away? Understand that Jesus started preaching in the wilderness and not in temples made by men. He started revealing God’s mystery to the common people, the lowly and the sick, and not the ones who justified themselves by tradition. He sought and reached for the rest of us, with compassion and wisdom. Do not be deceived. Seek to be filled by Christ; the One who fills everything in every way.

Posted in Love, Ministry | 1 Comment

PASS OVER A TRANSGRESSION

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Debra Hasty

PASS OVER A TRANSGRESSION
By Debra Hasty

Hate is one of those words that can easily set off a series of emotions within you when you speak hatred towards those who come against you. Hatred is usually followed by anger that can set a pattern for the rest of your life if you are not careful. Hatred and anger causes others to place judgment on you without knowing the circumstances that caused you to be this way in the first place and this can set a social president that will only add to the fire that is raging inside of you.

You can feel justified in anger towards another person when they wrong you by society’s standards and this world has become a social majority rule kind of place that has leaned more on retaliation than forgiveness. This is why we have wars between countries that are no different than the war you have raging in you against those who wrong you and you want to bring your own retaliation against them.

People are quick to use the phrase an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth within their justification of retaliation for after all this is what Jesus said in the Bible, but they have either never read the Bible or else they have just omitted the rest of the verses as Jesus gave instruction on how to deal with our enemies in Matthew 5:38-48.

Love and forgiveness is hard to accomplish especially if you do not know the love of Christ in your own life as it is Gods greatest commandment and his will that we love everyone, even our enemies, Matthew 22:36-40. As a child of God through the Spiritual rebirth when you are in the flesh you allow yourself to be separated from the Holy Spirit as flesh and Spirit can not mix and flesh is a hostile enemy against God, Romans 8:5-8. This also allows Satan a window to enter into your thoughts that could cause you to do things you could regret later.

People ask me how I can be so quick to forgive and I simply tell them it is because Jesus is quick to forgive me my trespasses. I know if I hang onto unforgiveness this will shut down the blessings of God in my life and those things I pray for will only fall on deaf ears as when I do not forgive my Father in heaven will not forgive me when I stumble and fall at times Mark 11:25,26.

There were times in my early teenage life before I accepted Jesus that I carried so much hurt and anger inside of me, but suppressed it around my parents for my own sake. Forgiveness was not even an issue as I could not forgive what caused the anger and hate to well up inside of me. I became defiant around my classmates and even my teachers and this caused me to fail in what I truly would have liked to accomplished within my schooling as I carried an I do not care about anything attitude until the day I graduated.

Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
It took me many years, even after I became a Christian, to truly let go of my anger and surrender it totally to Jesus so he could start the healing process inside of me so I could forgive and love that which tore me apart as a child. This is not to say I never get angry anymore, but now I can be quick to forgive those who come against me and truly love them even though they may be an enemy to me for but a moment.

Who better to be angry and have unforgiveness for others than God himself having to see his creation of humankind that he created for his own good pleasure become contaminated by those who have chosen to walk not after the statures of God and reject his covenant he made with Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, but walk after the condition of their own heart deceiving, abusing and using anyone they can along their path of unforeseen destruction.

God at anytime could take out all of mankind like he did with the flood in Genesis chapter 6, but even though his wrath is against those who have rejected him his love is even more for those who have yet to reconcile back to his grace as he has only to forgive those who will came back to him. We might look on the outside of a person thinking they are unworthy of Gods grace, but God’s love is unconditional that says it does not matter who you are or what you have done I will always love you as God is longsuffering not wanting anyone to perish, 2Peter 3:9, but knows not everyone will come to him.

I went through a time in my walk with the Lord that I questioned many things of his love and forgiveness. I just could not get my head wrapped around how he could love and forgive us even though we did not deserve it. One day we were taking communion, but before I took of the bread and wine (grape juice) I asked Jesus to reveal himself to me in a way I have never seen him before. Like they say, be careful for what you ask for.

This is graphic if you have a mind like me that actually plays out like watching a movie when something is presented before you. I wanted to truly know what Jesus went through and he took me in the Spirit and when I took of the bread and broke it in two as I always do I could literally see and hear his skin, muscles and ligaments being ripped apart as he was being whipped and when I took of the wine I saw him hanging on the cross and all I could see was an unrecognizable figure, blood flowing from the top of his head to the ground below until it touched my feet. I could have thrown up, but instead all I could do was cry.

In all my sin, my anger and my hate for others before I knew Jesus as my personal Savior he knew me, loved me and made the greatest sacrifice for his love for me over 2000 years ago knowing that someday I would come to his mercy and grace. Still today I can not fathom such a love for another person and it shames me when I get angry at others as this flesh will get angry at times, but praise God we can take that anger and lay it at the feet of Jesus for healing and forgiveness.

John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.

This is where we need to be in our walk with Jesus that we would also be willing to lay our lives down for another if it meant another person would come to the Lord by the witness of our sacrifice as Jesus sacrificed himself for us. Father forgive them for they know not what they do. This was said by Jesus while hanging on the cross and this should also be said by us especially when others come against us no matter if it’s a family member, a friend or nations against nations we have to have forgiveness in our hearts for those who have no knowledge of the love of Christ in their own lives. We need to be a witness to others and allow that light of Christ shine through us instead of hiding it under a bushel.

When others see you treating them with love and compassion instead of retaliation this will send a message to them that you will not be shaken or moved by what they do to you and in some it might even draw them to Christ by your love and forgiveness. We have enough hate and anger in this world and this is why we have wars between nations, wars between individuals as everyone has their own causes of why they do the things they do. I believe God is shaking the earth right now with all the earthquakes to send us all a wakeup call that the coming of his son Jesus will be soon, even though no man knows the day or time of his return, but that we had better make ourselves ready as this world will only wax worse and God would that no one would perish, but have eternal life with him, John 3:16.

Haggai 2:5 according to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
Haggai 2:6 for thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
Haggai 2:7 and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

Let love and forgiveness flow from you like the blood of Jesus flowed for all of us as he made the greatest sacrifice for his love and forgiving grace for all of us, even though we do not deserve it, so you will be found in all holy conversation and godliness.

2Peter 3:9 the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

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Excess Baggage?

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Yilda

Nowadays, we all know the cost of traveling with excess baggage, especially when traveling in airplanes. We get hit with a big fee, that whatever savings we had in the airfare, are encumbered by the additional cost. Those fees keep increasing reminding us not to carry excess baggage wherever we go. But the baggage I’m moved to talk about is another kind of baggage.

Many times we are victims of ourselves without knowing. We keep holding on onto a lot of baggage that it is so hard to let go. We carry on our shoulders resentment, emotional wounds, guilt, stuff that we store deep down in ourselves that end up getting all tangled up in our hearts. I’m referring to those heavy burdens. We may think that everything is under control as long as we “don’t go there.” But the truth is that that baggage doesn’t go away. It’s costing us in every step.

All what that baggage bear with itself are feelings of anger and sadness that are stored into a big jug we carry everywhere. We close the lid tightly to keep it under control. Unaware of it’s heaviness we start “leaking” sarcasm, isolation from others, frustration, aggressiveness, inability to sustain meaningful relationships, hurtful comments to others or to ourselves… Yes, we go along our path “leaking” and venting off different stuff from our own “pressure cooker.” The list could go on and on.   

There is so much to add to this matter… But I’ll get to the point. You shouldn’t keep paying the high cost of dragging and holding on onto that heavy baggage. You are risking too much. Jesus words in Matthew 11:28-30 tell us something about this burden. He’s here to help us:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

I can add no more. What can I say? Just, let go all your baggage. He will help you on the way. Just let go… He will set you free.

One of the great experiences in life is to experience to be released from our own chains. I invite you to know him. And if you already know him… to know him more.

If you need prayer… don’t hesitate to contact us.

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The Image of a Hen With Many Legs

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Yilda

It was a stormy afternoon. Rain was pouring hard and driving was really difficult and hazardous considering the narrow road my husband had to take on his way home. He pulled to the side of the road and stopped for a while, and called me to let me know rain was really heavy and that he was going to be delayed. Then, he immediately added in excitement – “Yilda, I’ll call you later! You won’t believe what I’m seeing!… I gotta take a picture!” He opened his glass and took a picture with his cell phone. On the other end I was trying to figure out what captivated him.

When he came back home, he showed me this picture:

A Hen with Many Legs - Taken by Angel L Morales

There it was! A hen protecting all her chicks under and inside her wings from the storm. She didn’t mind getting all wet and beaten by the harsh pouring rain. I was as well captivated by the image. That image it’s not something you see everyday.  Yeah, not only cute; beautiful indeed.

Many years after I saw this picture for the first time, I’m reading Matthew 23:37 – Jesus Laments over Jerusalem:

“ ‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, (…) How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

I cannot help to think about that picture and the fact that Jesus had that same image in his mind when he said those words in Matthew 23:37. He was yearning for us. He was talking about himself thru the years, thru the ages.

I wonder, and make a pause and think about that simple image. A hen gathering all her chicks under her wings to keep them safe. And then about how many times God has longed to gather all of us together under his wings to keep us safe from the nonsense, from the lies, from deceit, from lack of love.

I wonder… if you have felt what it is to be under his wings, how it is to be loved by Him… Then, Why it is that many of us are still not together under His wings? Why many of us keep pointing fingers at each other? Why if so many of us have experienced His redemptive love, decide to put many prejudices and disputable matters ahead of us, before choosing to pass on that Love and knowledge forward as it was a matter of life and death? It is like fighting with each other under His wings and this way we cannot be together. Note that Jesus says “how often I longed to gather your children together”, not just “gather your children”.

We are called to follow Him, to be disciples. A disciple walks with his master to learn from him, from his words and his actions, and should act coherently with what is learned.

Sometimes I feel like the man in the middle of the desert shouting to others who pass by – “Here is the Well! The Well of water that if you drink you will never be thirsty!” – and the people just keep passing by choosing to be thirsty and/or to drink a soda which will dehydrate them even more! Is it because of the hypocrisy of others? But then, that is just another excuse, because for hypocrisy to be, there shall be truth as well. Do not be caught in hypocrisy! Do not be deceived by hypocrisy! Do not let it blur your decisions, your way!

If you have experience how it is to be walking under God’s wings, then walk under His wings and act coherently with the Love revealed to you. Don’t adjust what you learned to fit the way you want it to fit.

Yes, we are humans, so we may have questions, differences and prejudices; but we can choose what to put ahead of us as priority: A wall to divide or a bridge to connect. Start simple asking: What would Jesus do?

***

“that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. (…) As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:1-7)

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love,which is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:12-14)

Posted in Love, Ministry, Unity | 1 Comment

Shine! – What About It?

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Yilda

My kid was in a camp recently and he was told to bring a flashlight. He had this small flashlight he wanted to use, but the light was faint and dull. We cleaned the lens and replaced the batteries with new ones. The light now was brighter, constant and strong. He wanted to test his favorite flashlight in the darkness, so we got into the closet, lights out, door closed, and he turns the flashlight on. It was so bright and shiny; but the best thing for me was that thru that light, I was able to see in the middle of the darkness his face and the big smile he had.

When I look at Matthew 5:14 that reads: “14 ‘You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” That “you” means the believer. In the same way, that a city on a hill top cannot be hidden, we need to reflect light, our light needs to show. Phil Newton comments about this verse:

“We know that Jesus uses the same language of Himself in John 8:12, ‘I am the Light of the world.’ That passage speaks of light in an originative sense. He is the origin of such light so that He can add, ‘He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.’ Christians are light in a derivative sense in that the light we have comes as a result of relationship to Jesus Christ. We do not produce the light, but like the moon that reflects the light of the sun, we too reflect the light of His indwelling life.”

Note that Newton is not saying that Christians are light because they are Christians. This is something that, sadly, many have used to boast about themselves. Based on John 8:12, we know that God is the origin of the light and in order to reflect light, believers need to maintain a close relationship with the Light, Jesus Christ. He cleanses us and thru Him, we shine. But we cannot ignore the rest of the verses after verse 14; we have a conduct, an action, associated to the light:

“15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:15-16)

We need to shine thru serving others in good will and doing good works with the purpose to glorify God. It is not to look pretty or to be more than others. By all means, no!

I like the way Bruce Hurt in ‘Preceptaustin.org’ illustrated this passage: “Think of the believer’s light this way – When Jesus walked the earth, He was the light of the world (John 8:12, 9:5, 12:35, 36, 1:4, 9). He was like the sun. He was the Source of all spiritual light. But just as the sun goes down and is followed by the rising moon which reflects the light of the sun, so too believers are now to be “moons” who reflect the light of the Son! (…) Jesus left, but He did not leave us alone. He sent His Spirit to “energize” His light in and through us.”

I like that analogy of sun and Son. I like the way he refers to the Holy Spirit as the energy in us. That reminded me about the new batteries in my son’s flashlight. I like the synergy that this represents. This should be true experience for all believers.

Criswell explained it this way:  “The moon provides light for the earth just as the sun does. Yet, the actual source of light for both (…) is the sun. The moon only reflects the light of the sun. By the same token, Jesus, the God-man, is the source of all light. His disciples become reflectors in a darkened world, transmitting through their lives the true light of the eternal Son of God.”

Then, are we doing that? Are we shining? Are we sharing? Are we serving? Are we loving? Are we reflecting the glory of God in what we do?

We need to shine. Shine meaning sharing the light, and to be able to share we need to foster a real relationship with Christ.

Do you reflect what you preach? Do you reflect what you say? Do not forget the Source. Let the Light lead you and then the things will fall into place. Let the Light give you the understanding you seek.

“God is Light. If we want to be carriers of the Light we must be connected to the Light source. We must walk in God’s Light.” (Rev Arno Stegen) – What a simple way to put it!

Believers have to serve as He served. We have to humble ourselves as God humbled himself in the flesh of Jesus to dwell among us (John 1:14). Believers are called to love (Matthew 22:37-39). So, beware of the craziness around us and do not let yourself be caught in the cloudiness of doubt and in the rat race. Be humble and abstain from finger pointing.

There is a song that I remember as a child that said: “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine…” Now I know that “this little light” is huge. Are you letting it shine? Are you sharing it? Are you reflecting the glory of God? Are you doing things so that others can see the source of your light and glorify God?

Shine!

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The 5 ‘W’s – “I want what I want when I want it!”

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Yilda

How many times we approach in prayer in this behavior? – “I want what I want when I want it!” How many times this behavior has impacted our relationship with God? We are so focused on what is what we want and when we want it. We tell or ask God what we think we need, and as time passes and we don’t see any hint or response, we may get disappointed. “God didn’t hear me”, “God didn’t give me what I needed” – we maybe think. And we distance from the One who wants to approach to us.

When I faced the reality that I had breast cancer, I was tempted so many times to pray like this. I knew that God loves me and that He knows my heart and that He is merciful. Based on this knowledge, I was so tempted to ask Him to get that stupid cancer out of my body now (or soon, to be humble) so I could testify that He healed me. Note that I say I was tempted, because I could feel that God had something bigger that he wanted me to focus on.  He wanted me to focus in the journey and not in the end. He wanted me to focus in His glory and not on what I thought I needed or what I thought it was convenient.  Then my prayer was instead: “show me”, “let me feel your presence”, “guide me thru this”, “prepare me to feel your glory”, “hold my hand”, “shine”, “this is for Your glory”.  I realized I didn’t have to get what I think I needed to testify, but that I could testify even in the middle of the storm about witnessing His presence, love and hope in the middle of uncertainty. It was not only about the end, but about the journey.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

I had to hold high my faith in spite of the many fellow Christians who looked at me as if I did something wrong in my spiritual life and I was paying for it, or making me feel that I was not filled enough with the Holy Spirit. Wow! Sad but true. I also knew that there were lots of people praying for me in different ways. I experience joy because I knew that God was also hearing them. Life is so much precious to be living in fear or cultivating feelings of bitterness.

I was experiencing so many blessings that I had to share them. I couldn’t wait until I got it all or until I figured it all to be able to share or experience life… Life is short. I had to go thru the journey confiding the Lord my weakness, and growing in His knowledge, serving others, engaging in doing, living to show my kids not to live in fear or despair, but in trust and faith, no matter the circumstances around. I had the urgency to show them at their young age that our circumstances do not define us, but how we face and endure the circumstances. God’s love and the real life thru Jesus was my precious gift, I had to share that to them with the time I have.

Yes, I was so tempted to pray “I want what I want when I want it!” I’m glad I didn’t. Because although I know that God took care of that cancer, He also showed me something bigger: He gave me his hand, He showed me his loving care, He carried me, He let me experience his Word, He let me feel how He was fighting my battles with me, He led me with shining light, He inundated me with his presence, He let me experience a more closer relationship with him, He guided me to a precious bonding with my husband and kids. That experience helped me to feel His glory in me and around me. I now see life with different eyes. Life is short, and there is so much to do and serve.  Life is not to gather for ourselves.

“I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)

If you have been in the 5 ‘W’s or are the stuck in them, it’s ok. It’s just a matter of choosing to move on and change behavior.  God has promised to guide us, …even in prayer.  So let him. Don’t attempt to judge Him or judge others. Choose what is what you want to share and reflect on if that is what you are sharing.

Posted in Faith, Ministry, Prayer | 1 Comment

Congruent With God’s Love – A Prayer Challenge

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Yilda

(Because I felt an urgency to spread these words to many as possible, I put the Spanish version at the end as well.)

On these days that we are experiencing churches’ pastors making statements of hate and contempt toward others, my heart fills with sadness. How can persons that are supposed to preach the gospel of God’s love and His grace, dare to separate from God those who do not think like them? How can persons that are supposed to be in communion with God operate in a manner so incongruent with Him and distance themselves from Him and at the same time distancing others from approaching God.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)

The love of God is a gift, not a privilege. How sad is that many churches and believers are asleep, so passive and distanced from prayer! Oh church! Our communion with our Lord is an essential requirement for a true communion with our neighbors. Do you think that by criticizing you will ever get someone to approach Christ? The spirit of criticism, the pursue to find errors and faults in others, the hate toward others, are things that we need to eradicate from our lives.

We need to be in touch with Him. When we pray, our God reveals His thoughts and will through his Holy Spirit. He introduces in the one who pray, new ideas and thoughts and reaffirm His will in him/her. God has many things to tell us and to give us. What happens many times is that we are so busy “in doing” that we neglect “hearing” His will. Through prayer, we give God the opportunity to speak to us and reveal us His will.

In these days I have had a lot of revelation about prayer. I have been praying for things that I never thought I would be praying for. I was challenged to pray for the worst person I know. A person that caused me so much displeasure due to the hostility, deceit, evil and threatening manner that characterizes him. Such a person could run away from our words, but not from our prayers.

It was difficult in the beginning. My heart and understanding felt exhausted by the idea of begging for that person to be freed by the power of Jesus from his hostility and hardness, and that his life were filled with the power of God and his heart restored by His grace. Oh my God! Then I asked God to help me pray for that person. So God enabled me to pray and was putting in my heart the necessary words. Still to this day I continue to pray and persevere in this prayer. I will thank you if you also help me in prayer for this person because I know that God answers the prayer according to His will.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.We do not know what we ought to pray for,but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” (Romans 8:26)

 It is not simply to pray saying “in Jesus name” as if these were magic words, but praying “in His will”. But then; What and how it is to pray in His will? This I will briefly discuss further on. Prayer is a subject so comprehensive and so fascinating. Even more fascinating is the insistence of Jesus in that we pray constantly and that we ask Him to receive.

 “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13)

 “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24)

 “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1)

 When we pray for others, we open the way for God to influence those for whom we pray. Why instead of criticizing others, we pray for them instead? And not just say “I put in them in the hands of God” and walk away. We must pray that God will transform them and also to give way for God to transform our own hearts. This, understanding that prayer is not a yoke, but a joy. The joy of being in the presence the Almighty, the same joy that a child experiences when in confidence he/she approaches a loving father and asks for something, knowing that his/her father is listening and will give according to His knowledge and will for his/her own good.

One day a girl was in bible school at church. They were talking about how God speaks to men (using men as a collective noun referring to human being). The verse to memorize was: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.” That girl felt compelled for those words. “Wow! That God Himself speaks to my heart!” – She thought. She was amazed of the possibility to clearly hear the voice of God. So one day, in awe, she decided to pray like that: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.” That girl was me.

Going back to What and How it is to pray in God’s will, I go, back to the words I learned as a child: “Speak Lord for Your servant hears.” I remembered that these words were spoken by the prophet Samuel when he was a child. A child ready to listen to the will of God. I could not remember the exact passage in the Bible where that was. As a child I only retained the text and not the reference because I was maybe about 5-6 years old. But I felt a great need to pray those words and to know where to get them. I felt a strong hunger to read about that passage and look for more of what my mind remembered. I didn’t have my computer nearby to give it a search. Suddenly the passage 1 Samuel chapter 3 verse 9 came to my mind as clear as when you turn on a light in dark room. I opened my Bible to confirm the reference and this is what I found:

“7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.8 The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’ Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say,‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel! ” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”(1 Samuel 3:7-10)

My heart filled with joy and gratitude. God speaks. God responds. Let’s pray that He teaches us to pray in His will and thus prepares us to reveal us the secrets of His grace that He wants to show us, so that we  keep ourselves sprinkled with His presence to be able to share the gift of Christ with others.

If just many pray like Samuel did. Oh church! If you just pray like Samuel did. Take off the criticism, differences, and contempt for others, and seek above all to show a willing heart before God. Train yourself in prayer and learn from it and in it. Do not forget your first love… Jesus.

“2 ‘I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. … 7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. …’”
(Revelations 2:2-7)

Spanish Version:

Congruentes con el amor de Dios – Un reto a la oración

Ante estos días que estamos viviendo donde pastores de Iglesias hacen declaraciones de odio y desprecio por otros, se me retuerce el corazón de tristeza. ¿Cómo personas que se supone que prediquen el evangelio del amor de Dios y su Gracia, osan separar de Dios a otros que no piensan como ellos? ¿Cómo personas que se supone estén en comunión con Dios obren de manera que no congruente con él y se distancian de él y a su vez distancian a muchos?

“Porque no envió Dios a su Hijo al mundo para condenar al mundo, sino para que el mundo sea salvo por él.” (Juan 3:17)

 El amor de Dios es un regalo, no un privilegio. ¡Qué triste que muchas iglesias y creyentes esten dormidos, estén pasivos y distanciados de la oración! ¡Oh iglesia! Nuestra comunión con Dios es esencial como requisito previo a una verdadera comunión con nuestro prójimo. ¿Acaso creen ustedes que con críticas se puede conseguir jamás acercar a alguien a Cristo? El espíritu de crítica, el buscar errorers y faltas en los demás, el despreciar a otros, son cosas que debemos sacar de nuestra vida.

Necesitamos estar en contacto con él. Cuando oramos, Dios nos revela su pensamiento y voluntad a través de su Espíritu Santo. él introduce en el que ora nuevas ideas y pensamientos y reafirma su voluntad en el. Dios tiene muchas cosas que decirnos y que darnos. Lo que sucede muchas veces es que estamos tan ocupados en “el hacer” que nos descuidamos “en escuchar “cual es su voluntad. A través de la oración, le damos la oportunidad a Dios para hablarnos y revelarnos su voluntad.

En estos días he tenido mucha revelación acerca de la oración. He estado orando por cosas que jamás pudiera estar orando. Se me present el reto de orar por la peor persona que conozco. Aquella que me causaba tanto desagrado por la hostilidad, engaño, maldad y actitud amenazante que le caracteriza. Esa persona podría correr lejor de nuestras palabras, pero no de nuestra oración.

Fue difícil al principio. Mi corazón y mi entendimiento se sentían fatigados por la idea de rogar que esa persona fuera liberada por el poder de Jesús de su hostilidad y dureza, y para que su vida fuera llena del poder de Dios y su corazón restaurado por Su gracia. ¡Oh Dios mío! Le pedí a Dios entonces que me ayudara a orar por esa persona. Así que Dios me capacitaba para que orara y fue poniendo en mi corazón las palabras necesarias. Todavía al día de hoy sigo orando y perseverando en esta oración. Les agradeceré que ustedes me ayuden igualmente en oración por esta persona pues sé que Dios contesta la oración en su voluntad.

“Y de igual manera el Espíritu nos ayuda en nuestra debilidad; pues qué hemos de pedir como conviene, no lo sabemos, pero el Espíritu mismo intercede por nosotros con gemidos indecibles.” (Romanos8:26)

 No es simplemente orar diciendo “en el nombre de Jesús” como si fueran unas palabras mágicas, sino pedir “en Su voluntad”.  Pero entonces; ¿qué y cómo es orar en su voluntad? De esto le hablo más adelante. La oración es un tema tan abarcador y tan facinante. Y aún más facinante es la insistencia de Jesús de que oráramos sin cesar y de que pidiéramos para recibir.

  “Y todo lo que pidiereis al Padre en mi nombre, lo haré, para que el Padre sea glorificado en el Hijo.” (Juan 14:13)

 “Hasta ahora nada habéis pedido en mi nombre; pedid, y recibiréis, para que vuestro gozo sea cumplido.” (Juan 16:24)

“También les refirió Jesús una parábola sobre la necesidad de orar siempre, y no desmayar,” (Lucas 18:1)

Cuando oramos por otros, abrimos el camino para que Dios influencie a aquellos por los que oramos. ¿Por qué en vez de criticar a otros, no oramos en vez por ellos? Y no simplemente decir “los pongo en las manos de Dios” y alejarnos. Es necesario orar para que Dios les transforme y asímismo dejar paso a que Dios transforme nuestros propios corazones. Esto, comprendiendo que la oración no es un yugo, sino un gozo. El gozo de estar en la presencia del Altísimo, el mismo gozo que experimenta un hijo cuando en confianza se acerca a su padre y le pide algo sabiendo que su padre le escucha y le dara conforme a su conocimiento y voluntad para su propio bien.

Una vez una niña estaba en una clase biblica en la iglesia. Se estaba hablando sobre como Dios le habla al hombre (usado como colectivo referente al ser humano). El verso a memorizar era: “Habla Jehová porque tu siervo oye.” Aquella niña se sintió motivada en gran manera por aquellas palabras. “¡Wow! ¡Qué Dios mismo hable a mi corazón!” – Pensó. Estaba maravillada de la posibilidad de escuchar claramente la voz de Dios. Así que un día con mucho temor decidió orar así: “Habla Jehová porque tu siervo oye.” Esa niña era yo.

Volviendo entonces a qué es pedir en Su voluntad, regreso a las palabras que aprendí cuando niña: “Habla Jehová porque tu siervo oye”. Recordaba que esas palabras las dijo el profeta Samuel cuando todavía era un niño. Un niño dispuesto a escuchar la voluntad de Dios. No recordaba yo el pasaje exacto de la Biblia donde se encontraba. Cuando niña sólo retuve el texto y no la referencia pues tenía tal vez unos 5-6 años. Pero sentía yo una enorme necesidad de orar esas palabras y de saber donde conseguirlas. Sentía un hambre fuerte de leer alrededor de ese pasaje y buscar más de lo que mi mente recordaba. No tenía mi computadora cerca para dar una búsqueda. De pronto el pasaje 1 Samuel capítulo 3 verso 9 vino a mi mente tan claro como cuando uno enciende una luz en cuarto oscuro. Abro mi Biblia para confirmar y esto encuentro:

“7 Y Samuel no había conocido aún a Jehová, ni la palabra de Jehová le había sido revelada. 8 Jehová, pues, llamó la tercera vez a Samuel. Y él se levantó y vino a Elí, y dijo: Heme aquí; ¿para qué me has llamado? Entonces entendió Elí que Jehová llamaba al joven. 9 Y dijo Elí a Samuel: Ve y acuéstate; y si te llamare, dirás: Habla, Jehová, porque tu siervo oye. Así se fue Samuel, y se acostó en su lugar. 10 Y vino Jehová y se paró, y llamó como las otras veces: !!Samuel, Samuel! Entonces Samuel dijo: Habla, porque tu siervo oye.” (1 Samuel 3:7-10)

 Mi corazón se llenó de emoción y gratitud. Dios habla. Dios responde. Oremos para que él nos enseñe a orar en su voluntad y así nos prepare para revelarnos los secretos de Su gracia que quiere mostrarnos y mantenernos salpicados de Su presencia poder compartir el regalo de Cristo con otros.

Si tan solo muchos oráramos así como Samuel. ¡Oh iglesia! Si tan solo orases así como Samuel. Despójate de las críticas, diferencias y del desprecio hacia otros, y procura ante todo estar dispuesto ante Dios. Ejercítate en la oración y aprende de ella y en ella. No olvides tu primer amor… Jesús.

“2 Yo conozco tus obras, y tu arduo trabajo y paciencia; y que no puedes soportar a los malos, y has probado a los que se dicen ser apóstoles, y no lo son, y los has hallado mentirosos; 3 y has sufrido, y has tenido paciencia, y has trabajado arduamente por amor de mi nombre, y no has desmayado. 4 Pero tengo contra ti, que has dejado tu primer amor. 5 Recuerda, por tanto, de dónde has caído, y arrepiéntete, y haz las primeras obras; pues si no, vendré pronto a ti, y quitaré tu candelero de su lugar, si no te hubieres arrepentido. … 7 El que tiene oído, oiga lo que el Espíritu dice a las iglesias. …” (Apocalipsis 2:2-7)

Posted in Ministry, Prayer | 8 Comments

COUNSEL AND INSTRUCTION ON OUR CONDUCT

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Debra Hasty

God has always given his people constructive criticism, counsel and instruction, not to condemn us or punish us, but to help us to grow in truth, love and compassion so we can use the power and authority he has given us through His grace to be an effective member of his body in ministry. Matthew chapter 5-7 gives us instruction how to live our lives according to Gods word. I have paraphrased these chapters and verses through the Holy Spirit to define what is expected of us and how to walk that narrow path that leads to life. Please read all the verses and draw from the power of God what you need from His word. Matthew Chapters 5-7 Chapter 5 Vs. 1-6 we need to learn to recognize the need to speak to people about Gods word which is instruction for our lives here on earth. When we speak with confidence and convictions of truth, that truth will draw others unto the reconciliation of grace. We live in a world that is always focused on monetary gains, which are only temporal. When we can humble ourselves and be thankful for what we do have, even though it may not look like much, Gods blessings become more relevant to our lives and draws us closer to trusting in the Lord for our needs, which also produces testimony to others of the greatness of God. Vs. 7-9 Forgiveness is one of the hardest acts of kindness we can achieve in our lives. When our hearts are truly sincere through the love of Christ within our own heart then we must have compassion towards anyone no matter what they have done to us. If we can show that love and give out compassion this too witnesses to others and brings glory unto the Lord. Make peace with yourself so you can make peace with others. Vs. 10-12 Persecution will always follow truth. Anything that comes against the carnal mind of reasoning will develop into misinterpretations and false accusations. Never waver for when you stand grounded in all truths greater is your reward for your convictions. Vs. 13-16 Show your strengths so others can see the works of the Lord through you. If we hide our knowledge and never share it then what good does knowledge gain. There is nothing that we can do of ourselves apart from the Holy Spirit working through us. We are to be examples of Christ here on earth and continue in the good works he has started in us. If we are weak and easily swayed then we are no good for anyone. Vs. 17-19 Live your life through the righteousness of the heart of God’s law, which is to love the Lord with all your heart and to love you neighbor as yourself, Matthew 22:36-40. Jesus had to come to fulfill the law for the law had no saving provisions within it for Salvation. Jesus was made to be the final blood sacrifice for all our sins so we could live life eternal with the Father. There were over 613 Mosaic laws, which were added to daily by the Priest and Rabbis to justify their own misgivings. The laws soon put man under a curse for they could not keep all the laws and if found guilty of breaking just one you were accursed by breaking them all. The laws were of man and not by the seed of faith God promised to Abraham and all generations to come. Genesis 12:1-3; Galatians chapter 3. Vs. 33-37 do not be fence riders Vs. 38-48 walk in unconditional love towards all people Chapter 6 Vs. 1-4 do for others in secret wanting nothing in return Vs. 5-15 pray with a sincere heart and present your petitions before God with praise and thanksgiving Vs. 16-34 humble yourself to the needs of others to fulfill the happiness of your own heart knowing that this is the perfect will of God Chapter 7 Vs. 1-6 never judge others, but put yourself in their place to see where they are coming from and help them to be an over comer Vs. 7-14 pray knowing that God always has our best interest at heart and be not inpatient and learn that all things are in Gods timing and God alone knows what is best for us Vs. 15-23 learn how to discern what truth is so you can be a vessel of honor for God Vs. 24-29 stand strong for what you believe in as you gain knowledge and understanding through the Holy Spirit so others cannot shake or break you down

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