Monthly Archives: December 2016

Will 2017 Be Your Best Year Yet?

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

 – 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

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As we approach 2017, we may be finding ourselves reflecting on 2016 and thinking about how to make 2017 better. Maybe you hated 2016 or maybe 2016 was an awesome year for you? Regardless if you had a great 2016 and now find yourself in your best spot yet, there’s still always room for improvement.
As followers of Christ, we always need to be willing to allow God to transform us into the people that He wants us to become. Romans 12:1-2NLT says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Acts 1:19 refers to Apostle Paul as a “chosen vessel.” On the day of our Salvation by Jesus Christ, we became vessels of the Holy Spirit, who came to dwell in us as our comforter and guide. As His vessels, God will continually transform us, as long as we are willing to allow God to use us. As we approach 2017, what are some ways we can become better vessels for Jesus Christ? Perhaps, we could strive to read the Bible and pray more to enrich our spiritual lives and draw closer to the Lord? Maybe we need to be more open with our faith and share God’s Word with more people? We could resolve to live holier lives, that are more set apart for God? We could resolve to spend more of our physical energies in service work to those in need? We could resolve to become better stewards of our vessels (bodies) by eating healthier and exercising more? After all, we need our bodies (vessels) to do God’s work. May we take this time to consider all of the ways we can become better vessels for Jesus Christ in 2017.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”  -Philippians 1:6 NLT

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for all of the wonderful blessings, that You have bestowed upon us in 2016. As 2017 approaches, please give us hearts and minds that are willing to follow Your lead. Please continue to transform us and make us in the people You want us to become. Please help us to use 2017 to not only please You, but to bring you glory with our lives. Also, Lord Jesus please fill 2017 with Your amazing love, joy, peace, guidance, wisdom, protection, and blessings. Amen.

Chosen?

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“If God is pleased with me, why I am I so terrified?”

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Have you ever been chosen to do something, that seemed impossible? You know that you have been living your life to please God in every way. Yet, this circumstance seems unplanned and difficult, even if it is something good.  How did you feel? Perhaps, you felt uncertain or even “terrified”?

“The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God.” 

-Luke 1:28-35 NIV

The song, Be Born In Me by Francesca Battistelli, expresses some the emotions Mary may have felt, when she found out she would be the mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Can you even imagine how she felt? Luke 1: 29 says, “she was greatly troubled.” Initially, she must have felt terrified to see an angel appear and speak to her. The angel told her things, that seemed impossible. She must have also felt frightened. She must have thought about the severe punishment of those days for a woman who conceived a child without being married. Here she was: a girl engaged to be married. And, now all of these plans might change. But, at the same time she must have felt beyond honored and incredibly blessed to be chosen to be the mother the Son of God. At the same time, imagine the great responsibility she must have felt.  In Luke 1:46-50 NIV, “… Mary said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,for the Mighty One has done great things for me holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. “ – Luke 1:46-50 NIV

She must have wondered why God would choose her of all of the other women in the world. In a similar way, we wonder why God would choose to love us. We don’t deserve  His great love. Yet, God sent a King, His only Son, Jesus Christ to earth to pay the ransom for our sins, so that we could spend eternity with Him in heaven. And, all that God ask of us are willing hearts. Will you let the love of Jesus Christ be born in you?

Think about the lyrics to the song, Be Born In Me by Francesca Battistelli:

  “Everything inside me cries for order
Everything inside me wants to hide
Is this shadow an angel or a warrior?
If God is pleased with me, why am I so terrified?
Someone tell me I am only dreaming
Somehow help me see with Heaven’s eyes
And before my head agrees, my heart is on it’s knees
Holy is He. Blessed am I…

All this time we’ve waited for the promise
All this time You’ve waited for my arms
Did You wrap yourself inside the unexpected
So we might know that Love would go that far?…

I am not brave
I’ll never be
The only thing my heart can offer is a vacancy
I’m just a girl
Nothing more
But I am willing, I am Yours

Be born in me, be born in me
I’ll hold you in the beginning, You will hold me in the end
Every moment in the middle, make my heart your Bethlehem
Be born in me”

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us (while we were still sinners) so much that you were willing to humble Yourself by coming down from your throne in heaven to be born in a stable and to make the ultimate sacrifice for us. Please give us willing hearts. Make our hearts Your Bethlehem. May your love be born in us. Amen.

 

Cruce de Caminos

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 “Fíate de Jehová de todo tu corazón, Y no te apoyes en tu propia prudencia. Reconócelo en todos tus caminos, Y él enderezará tus veredas.”

-Proverbios 3:5-6 RVR 1960

Crossroads

“Y Gedeón dijo a Dios: Si has de salvar a Israel por mi mano, como has dicho,he aquí que yo pondré un vellón de lana en la era; y si el rocío estuviere en el vellón solamente, quedando seca toda la otra tierra, entonces entenderé que salvarás a Israel por mi mano, como lo has dicho.Y aconteció así, pues cuando se levantó de mañana, exprimió el vellón y sacó de él el rocío, un tazón lleno de agua. Mas Gedeón dijo a Dios: No se encienda tu ira contra mí, si aún hablare esta vez; solamente probaré ahora otra vez con el vellón. Te ruego que solamente el vellón quede seco, y el rocío sobre la tierra.Y aquella noche lo hizo Dios así; sólo el vellón quedó seco, y en toda la tierra hubo rocío.”

  – Jueces 6:36-40 RVR 1960

¿Alguna vez usted ha pedido a Dios una señal? ¿Ha orado usted alguna vez que si una cosa pasara, usted se tomara el siguiente paso? Tal vez usted no ha llegado a pedir a Dios una señal. Tal vez no tienes duda tan grande o incredulidad como Gedeón tenia. O tal vez no eres tan audaz como Gedeón. Tienes que admitir que Gedeón fue bastante audaz para pedir a Dios otro signo después de pedir a Dios una segunda señal. “Es asombroso que Dios no estaba enfadado con Gedeón por su incredulidad. Dios conoció a Gedeón que él era. La fe de Gedeón fue creciendo; eso es lo que importaba a Dios. Cuando nos sentimos inadecuados sobre nuestras calificaciones para el trabajo que Dios nos ha dado, podemos tomar una página del libro de Gedeón. Gedeón no pudo contener su miedo al fracaso. Necesitaba tranquilidad y paciencia de Dios en su camino de fe, y Dios amorosamente proveyó ambos.” (Nortker, 3 minutos devocionales para mujeres, p. 303) Tal vez, señales como las que Gedeón pidió son una cosa del Antiguo Testamento. O, tal vez se consideraría irrespetuoso o insensato pedir a Dios una señal. Sin embargo, siempre podemos orar y pedir a Dios su guía en cada paso de nuestras vidas. En Salmo 32:8 RVR 1960, el Señor dice “Te haré entender, y te enseñaré el camino en que debes andar; Sobre ti fijaré mis ojos.” Él es fiel y paciente con nosotros. Él siempre está ahí para escucharnos y darnos la paciencia necesaria para esperar su orientación y sincronización. Y, si nosotros mismos hacemos silencio en la presencia del Señor y escuchamos, nos proporcionará la tranquilidad que necesitamos para dar el siguiente paso. Amén.

Referencia: Brigitta Nortker, comp. 3-Minute Devotionals For Women. Uhrichsville: Barbour, Ohio. Print.

Are you worrying about something?

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“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

-Matthew 6:34 NIV

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It seems almost impossible not to worry. There is so much that consumes our minds on a daily basis and even hourly basis. Worse yet, all of this worry tends to affect us on a deeper level: impacting us emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, socially, and physically. This makes us poor stewards of what God has given us. How can we ask for more if don’t take care of what we have? If we can’t trust God with little, then we will most certainly  have a harder time trusting God with much. Yet, the thought of being out of control (when it comes to most of the things that happen all around us) can be incredibly daunting and even frustrating for us mere humans. But, God didn’t intend for it to be that way for His children. Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” We don’t have to worry about anything. The song, Sparrows by Jason Grey reminds us, “if He can hold the world He can hold this moment….even the sparrow knows He holds tomorrow.” Matthew 10:29-30 says,“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”  Think about the lyrics to the song, Sparrows by Jason Gray:

“You can’t add a single day by worrying
You’ll worry your life away
Oh don’t worry your life away
You can’t change a single thing by freaking out
It’s just gonna close you in
Oh don’t let the trouble win

You may feel alone
But you’re not on your own

 If He can hold the world He can hold this moment
Not a field or flower escapes His notice
Oh even the sparrow
Knows He holds tomorrow

Lean in and it’s hard to miss
Everything can change
When you make it His
Oh He wants to carry it
Carefree in the care of God
When you let it go
You’ll find that He’s enough
Oh you never leave His love

You don’t walk alone…

There’s not a single star that’s out of place
There’s nothing broken He can’t remake
If you long for hope when you’re afraid
Oh look at the sparrow
Look at the sparrow

If He can hold the world He can hold this moment
Not a field or flower escapes His notice
Oh even the sparrow
Knows He holds tomorrow…”

Dear Lord Jesus, please help us to put all our trust in You, knowing that whatever happens is for our good, according to Your purpose and plans. Amen.