Category Archives: Forgiveness

Breaking the Bottle

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As we journey through the holy week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, I’d like take a moment to reflect on one of the events leading up to His ultimate sacrifice and its significance.

Recently, I heard a beautiful song by Steffany Gretzinger and Tiffany Hudson named “Break The Bottle.”  

*”I’m going to break the bottle

I’m going to pour it all out

I don’t waste what’s spent on You

Even if they call me crazy

You’re the One who saved me

I’ll never waste what’s spent on You…

Pour me out like water

Pour me out like oil

There is not another

So worthy of it all”*

The moment I heard the lyrics, I was reminded of Mary (the sister of Lazarus and Martha) and her beautiful, extravagant act of worship—just a couple of days before the Last Supper and three days before the world would witness the most selfless act of love.

“Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

— John 12:3 GNT

Mary’s act wasn’t just about perfume. It was about value, devotion, sacrifice, and worship. In that moment, she symbolized what Jesus would soon do for all of humanity—be broken and poured out. And just as her gift filled the house with fragrance, Christ’s sacrifice would fill the world with the fragrance of redeeming love.

“Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ’s love for you was like sweet perfume to him.”

— Ephesians 5:2 TLB

It’s a powerful image: Christ’s love being like a sweet perfume to God. And now, Jesus calls us to follow His example. We are called to live lives so full of worship, surrender, and love that we, too, become a fragrant offering. May our lives reflect this sweet fragrance. May our acts of love, compassion, and surrender—no matter how costly—be poured out for His glory.

“But thanks be to God! For in union with Christ we are always led by God as prisoners in Christ’s victory procession. God uses us to make the knowledge about Christ spread everywhere like a sweet fragrance.”

— 2 Corinthians 2:14 GNT

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your beautiful sacrifice of love. Please give us Your Spirit of worship that overflows into our lives in a way so that we are broken and spilled out for Your glory, as a beautiful fragrance of love. Amen.

Luz en Tinieblas

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“Milagroso

 abres camino

 Cumples promesas

Luz en tinieblas

Mi Dios así eres tu…”

Este es un extracto de la letra de la canción, “Way Maker,” escrito por Osinachi Okoro. Me encanta esta canción. Nos recuerda de la fidelidad de Dios.

I for blog sarah MG-0047.JPG

 “Por la fe, Sara misma recibió fuerzas para concebir, aunque era estéril, y dio a luz, aun cuando por su edad se le había pasado el tiempo, porque creyó que era fiel quien le había hecho la promesa. Por eso también, de un solo hombre, que ya estaba casi muerto, llegó a tener una multitud de descendientes, tan numerosos como las estrellas del cielo y tan incontables como la arena que está a la orilla del mar.”

-Hebreos 11: 11-12 RVC

En Génesis 12, Dios hizo una promesa a Abraham y a Sara por medio de Abraham. “Pero Jehová había dicho a Abram: Vete de tu tierra y de tu parentela, y de la casa de tu padre, a la tierra que te mostraré. Y haré de ti una nación grande, y te bendeciré, y engrandeceré tu nombre, y serás bendición.”-Génesis 12: 1-2 RVR 1960 Años después, Dios confirmó Su promesa a Sara. Cuando esto sucedió, Sarah se rió con dudas. Génesis 18: 13-14 RVR 1960 dice: “Entonces Jehová dijo a Abraham: ¿Por qué se ha reído Sara diciendo: ¿Será cierto que he de dar a luz siendo ya vieja? ¿Hay para Dios alguna cosa difícil? Al tiempo señalado volveré a ti, y según el tiempo de la vida, Sara tendrá un hijo.” Aunque Sarah se rió con dudas, Dios aún cumplió Su promesa a ella y a Abraham. Como Sara, a veces luchamos con la duda.

Dios sigue siendo fiel!

No importa lo que pensemos o sintamos,

Dios sigue siendo fiel!

¡No importa cuáles sean las circunstancias,

 Dios sigue siendo fiel!

“Mantengamos firme, sin fluctuar, la profesión de nuestra esperanza, porque fiel es el que prometió.”

– Hebreos 10:23 RVR 1960

Si Dios fue fiel en su mayor promesa: hacer un camino para que recibamos la salvación a través de su Hijo, Jesucristo, podemos estar seguros de que cumplirá el resto de sus promesas.

Querido Señor Jesucristo, gracias por cumplir siempre Tus promesas. En medio de nuestras dudas, por favor ayúdanos a tener fe en ti y en tu fidelidad. Amén.

 

Publicado en 15 de noviembre de 2019

Posted in English on November 15, 2019

Click on the date to read this post in English.

¿Quieres Tener una Fe Duradera?

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¿Quieres tener una fe que todavía habla incluso después de que estás muerto?

IMG_8020“Por la fe, Abel ofreció a Dios un sacrificio más aceptable que el de Caín, y por eso fue reconocido como un hombre justo, y Dios aceptó con agrado sus ofrendas. Y aunque Abel está muerto, todavía habla por medio de su fe.” 

-Hebreos 11:4 RVC

Tener una fe perdurable implica tener un corazón que está dispuesto a entregar su todo a Cristo. Romanos 12:1 RVC dice: “Así que, hermanos, yo les ruego, por las misericordias de Dios, que se presenten ustedes mismos como un sacrificio vivo, santo y agradable a Dios. ¡Así es como se debe adorar a Dios!”

“Después dio a luz a Abel, hermano de Caín. Abel era pastor de ovejas, y Caín cultivaba la tierra. Andando el tiempo, sucedió que Caín llevó al Señor una ofrenda del fruto de la tierra. Y Abel también llevó algunos de los primogénitos de sus ovejas, de los mejores entre ellas. Y el Señor miró con agrado a Abel y a su ofrenda, pero no miró con agrado a Caín ni a su ofrenda. Y Caín se enojó mucho, y decayó su semblante. Entonces el Señor le dijo a Caín:

«¿Por qué estás enojado? ¿Por qué ha decaído tu semblante? 7 Si haces lo bueno, ¿acaso no serás enaltecido? Pero, si no lo haces, el pecado está listo para dominarte. Sin embargo, su deseo lo llevará a ti, y tú lo dominarás.»”  -Génesis 4: 2-7 RVC

 ¿Alguna vez te has preguntado por qué Dios estaba complacido con la ofrenda de Abel y no con la de Caín? Hay cuatro puntos de vista sobre por qué la oferta de Caín se consideró inaceptable. En aras de la brevedad, discutiré los tres que encontre más plausibles.

  1. No fue un sacrificio de sangre

Sacrificios en el Antiguo Testamento presagiaron el gran sacrificio que Cristo haría para salvarnos en el Nuevo Testamento. Esto habría significado que Caín habría necesitado humildemente cambiar sus frutos por un cordero.

  1. No fueron los primeros frutos de Caín

Cuando venimos a Dios en adoración, debemos traerle lo mejor de nosotros, nuestros primeros frutos. Proverbios 3: 9 RVC dice: “Honra al Señor con tus bienes y con las primicias de tus cosechas.”

  1. Caín tenía la actitud equivocada

Cuando venimos al altar de Dios, no solo debemos venir con una actitud de obediencia, pero también con un corazón arrepentido y lleno de perdon.

  • “Samuel le contestó: «¿Y crees que al Señor le gustan tus holocaustos y ofrendas más que la obediencia a sus palabras? Entiende que obedecer al Señor es mejor que ofrecerle sacrificios, y que escucharlo con atención es mejor que ofrecerle la grasa de los carneros.” -1 Samuel 15:22 RVC
  •  “Al Señor le agrada que se le hagan ofrendas, pero más le agrada que se haga justicia.” -Proverbios 21: 3 RVC
  •  “ Por tanto, si traes tu ofrenda al altar, y allí te acuerdas de que tu hermano tiene algo contra ti, deja allí tu ofrenda delante del altar, y ve y reconcíliate primero con tu hermano, y después de eso vuelve y presenta tu ofrenda.” -Mateo 5: 23-24 RVC

Querido Señor Jescristo, gracias por Tu infinito amor y misericordia. Ayúdanos a complacerte con nuestra adoración y tener una fe eterna, que testifique de Tu amor. Amén.

¿Cómo Murió la Muerte?

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“El fundamento del Cristiano es la paz eterna; es lo que ningún  tiempo, ningún cambio puede destruir. Permanecerá cuando el cuerpo muera; permanecerá cuando las montañas se vayan y las cerros se quitarán, y cuando los cielos se enrollarán como un pergamino. La fuente de su consuelo nunca disminuirá, y la corriente nunca se secará. Su consuelo y alegría es un manantial vivo en el alma, una fuente de agua que brota de la vida eterna.” -Jonathan Edwards

   Cross-Empty-Tomb

 “… Sorbida es la muerte en victoria. ¿Dónde está, oh muerte, tu aguijón? ¿Dónde, oh sepulcro, tu victoria?”

– 1 Corintios 15: 54-55 RVR 1960 

¿Alguna vez has pensado en la muerte? Que es la muerte ¿Y por qué se teme? La Biblia nos dice que la muerte es un enemigo, que nos separa eternamente de Dios. [Lea 1 Corintios 15:26 y 2 Tesalonicenses 1: 9] La muerte vino al mundo después de que se cometió el primer pecado.

“Por tanto, como el pecado entró en el mundo por un hombre, y por el pecado la muerte, así la muerte pasó a todos los hombres, por cuanto todos pecaron.” -Romanos 5:12 RVR 1960

La muerte fue el castigo por el pecado. Pero, Dios amó tanto a la humanidad, que creó un camino para que los humanos se reconciliaran con El.

  • “Porque la paga del pecado es muerte, mas la dádiva de Dios es vida eterna en Cristo Jesús Señor nuestro.” -Romanos 6:23 RVR 1960
  • “para que así como el pecado reinó para muerte, así también la gracia reine por la justicia para vida eterna mediante Jesucristo, Señor nuestro.”-Romanos 5:21 RVR 1960
  • “Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo, que ha dado a su Hijo unigénito, para que todo aquel que en él cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna.” -Juan 3:16 RVR 1960
  • “Jesús le dijo: Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí.”-Juan 14: 6 RVR 1960
  • “De cierto, de cierto os digo: El que oye mi palabra, y cree al que me envió, tiene vida eterna; y no vendrá a condenación, mas ha pasado de muerte a vida.”-Juan 5: 24 RVR 1960

Pero, no podríamos tener victoria sobre la muerte sin la muerte y resurrección de Cristo. “Porque si no hay resurrección de muertos, tampoco Cristo resucitó. Y si Cristo no resucitó, vana es entonces nuestra predicación, vana es también vuestra fe. Y somos hallados falsos testigos de Dios; porque hemos testificado de Dios que él resucitó a Cristo, al cual no resucitó, si en verdad los muertos no resucitan. Porque si los muertos no resucitan, tampoco Cristo resucitó; y si Cristo no resucitó, vuestra fe es vana; aún estáis en vuestros pecados. Entonces también los que durmieron en Cristo perecieron. Si en esta vida solamente esperamos en Cristo, somos los más dignos de conmiseración de todos los hombres. Mas ahora Cristo ha resucitado de los muertos; primicias de los que durmieron es hecho. Porque por cuanto la muerte entró por un hombre, también por un hombre la resurrección de los muertos. Porque así como en Adán todos mueren, también en Cristo todos serán vivificados.” -1 Corintios 15: 13-22 RVR 1960 Solo por el sacrificio de un Salvador (sin pecado y) inmortal, estamos vestidos de justicia e inmortalidad. Es solo por la resurrección de Cristo, que tenemos la victoria sobre la muerte. 1 Corintios 15: 50-57 RVR 1960 dice: “Pero esto digo, hermanos: que la carne y la sangre no pueden heredar el reino de Dios, ni la corrupción hereda la incorrupción. He aquí, os digo un misterio: No todos dormiremos; pero todos seremos transformados, en un momento, en un abrir y cerrar de ojos, a la final trompeta; porque se tocará la trompeta, y los muertos serán resucitados incorruptibles, y nosotros seremos transformados. Porque es necesario que esto corruptible se vista de incorrupción, y esto mortal se vista de inmortalidad. Y cuando esto corruptible se haya vestido de incorrupción, y esto mortal se haya vestido de inmortalidad, entonces se cumplirá la palabra que está escrita: Sorbida es la muerte en victoria. ¿Dónde está, oh muerte, tu aguijón? ¿Dónde, oh sepulcro, tu victoria? ya que el aguijón de la muerte es el pecado, y el poder del pecado, la ley.  Mas gracias sean dadas a Dios, que nos da la victoria por medio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.”

Querido Señor Jesucristo, gracias por hacer el sumo sacrificio en la cruz y resucitar de la muerte para que podamos tener victoria en Ti sobre el pecado y la muerte. Amén.

 

Referencia: Kurtbubna.com | http://kurtbubna.com/wpcontent/uploads/2015/03/Cross-Empty-Tomb.jpg

Publicado en Ingles el  16 de abril de 2017

Old Version Published in English on  April 16, 2017

Click on the date to read this post in English.

 

Reflections on the Advent and Looking towards 2019

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IMG_3671

HOPE:

Before the birth of Christ Jesus, hope was found in the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah, that would come to save the world. Today we find our hope in that same Savior, Jesus Christ.

“ And in another place Isaiah said, “The heir to David’s throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on him.” I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

 – Romans 15: 12-13 NLT

LOVE:
Love came down from heaven and dwelt among us. Jesus Christ, our King and Savior, gave up His throne to come to earth to bridge the gap between us and God by His death on the cross and resurrection.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 ESV  
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 NIV

JOY:

The magi, also known as the wise men, were seeking the promised Messiah. They traveled many miles from the east in search of a Savior. When they found the Jesus, they were filled with joy and worshipped Him. Today, we find our joy in that same Savior.

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

– Matthew 2:10-11 NIV

Side Note: To read more about the Magi and their pursuit of the Messiah, read “Searching.”

PEACE:

We find true peace in knowing Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6 NIV

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27 NIV

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IMMANUEL: God is with us.

All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

-Isaiah 7:14 NLT

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”

 – Matthew 1:23

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2019: As we look towards 2019, may we remember the great sacrifice of love Jesus Christ made for us through His birth, life, death, and resurrection. May we strive to know Jesus Christ, our Savior, more with each day that comes.

“I want to know Him. I want to have the same power in my life that raised Jesus from the dead. I want to understand and have a share in His sufferings and be like Christ in His death. Then I may be raised up from among the dead. I do not say that I have received this or have already become perfect. But I keep going on to make that life my own as Christ Jesus made me His own. No, Christian brothers, I do not have that life yet. But I do one thing. I forget everything that is behind me and look forward to that which is ahead of me. My eyes are on the crown. I want to win the race and get the crown of God’s call from heaven through Christ Jesus.” 

-Philippians 3:10-14 NLV

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for loving us so much that you were coming to earth and pay the ultimate price to save us. Thank You for all of the blessings You have bestowed upon us in 2018. As we start 2019, please help us to leave our past mistakes and failures behind us. Instead, please help us to keep our eyes set on the goal before us. Please help us to seek to know You more and become more like You every day. Thank You for the hope that we have in You. Please fill our new year with Your infinite love, joy, and peace. Amen.

Searching?

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Have you been searching for something? Have you been looking for something? Have you been hoping for something? Have you been yearning for something? How far would you go to find it?

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“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,  are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

 -Matthew 2:1-12 NIV

The magi, also known as wise men, were educated men from the east. They traveled many miles from the east in search of a King. They could have easily given up and turned back half way there, but they didn’t. Perhaps, they persevered because they had spent many years studying and had never given up searching for answers.  Perhaps, they had read the prophecy of the Old Testament, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel…” – Numbers 24:17 They just had to find the Messiah. They just had to find the King, who would save the world. One of the most valuable and unanticipated results of many years of study is perseverance. It is something that is not usually sought after, but comes unexpectedly when in the pursuit of something else (e.g. knowledge or wealth). Similarly, when the wise men arrived at the home simple people they may have been confused and wondered: How could this infant King we searched for, for so long belong to parents of such humble origin? Where’s his crown and scepter?  They could have turned back when they got there, but they didn’t.

“Follow the star to a place unexpected 

Would you believe, after all we’ve projected,

A child in a manger?

Lowly and small, the weakest of all

Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother’s shawl 

Just a child 

Is this who we’ve waited for? 

‘Cause how many kings step down from their thrones

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

And how many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?” (lyrics by Downhere)  

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

– John 3:16 NIV

God gave the magi the wisdom to know that they had found what they been seeking for all of their lives. They had finally found what there hearts had been yearning for.  

They bowed down and worshipped the King.

The wise men had found the King who loved them so much He would die on a cross to satisfy their longing, heal their broken hearts, liberate them from the chains of sin, and give them the gift of eternal life. 

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us so much you that You were willing to step down from Your throne in heaven to take the form a human, dwell among us, die on a cross for our sins, be separated from God, and ultimately be raised again. We worship and adore You alone. Please give us perseverance not to give up in our pursuit of You and Your will for our lives. Please give us the wisdom to know when gifts are from You (even when they  come as unexpected blessings in disguise). Amen.

 

 

Searching?

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Have you been searching for something? Have you been looking for something? Have you been hoping for something? Have you been yearning for something? How far would you go to find it?

 

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,  are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

 -Matthew 2:1-12 NIV

The magi, also known as wise men, were educated men from the east. They traveled many miles from the east in search of a King. They could have easily given up and turned back half way there, but they didn’t. Perhaps, they persevered because they had spent many years studying and had never given up searching for answers.  Perhaps, they had read the prophecy of the Old Testament, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel…” – Numbers 24:17 They just had to find the Messiah. They just had to find the King, who would save the world. One of the most valuable and unanticipated results of many years of study is perseverance. It is something that is not usually sought after, but comes unexpectedly when in the pursuit of something else (e.g. knowledge or wealth). Similarly, when the wise men arrived at the home simple people they may have been confused and wondered: How could this infant King we searched for, for so long belong to parents of such humble origin? Where’s his crown and scepter?  They could have turned back when they got there, but they didn’t.

“Follow the star to a place unexpected

Would you believe, after all we’ve projected,

A child in a manger?

Lowly and small, the weakest of all

Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother’s shawl

Just a child

Is this who we’ve waited for?

‘Cause how many kings step down from their thrones

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

And how many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?” (lyrics by Downhere)  

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

– John 3:16 NIV

God gave the magi the wisdom to know that they had found what they been seeking for all of their lives. They had finally found what there hearts had been yearning for.  

They bowed down and worshipped the King.

The wise men had found the King who loved them so much He would die on a cross to satisfy their longing, heal their broken hearts, liberate them from the chains of sin, and give them the gift of eternal life.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us so much you that You were willing to step down from Your throne in heaven to take the form a human, dwell among us, die on a cross for our sins, be separated from God, and ultimately be raised again. We worship and adore You alone. Please give us perseverance not to give up in our pursuit of You and Your will for our lives. Please give us the wisdom to know when gifts are from You (even when they  come as unexpected blessings in disguise). Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

¿Cuando te Sientes Roto?

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“El sana a los quebrantados de corazón, Y venda sus heridas.”

-Salmo 147: 3 RVR 1960 

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¿Alguna vez te has sentido demasiado roto o te has caído demasiadas veces? ¿Te has sentido demasiado roto para Dios? En Isaías 57: 18-19, el Señor dice que Él sanará a los israelitas, a pesar de sus caminos. “He visto sus caminos; pero le sanaré, y le pastorearé, y le daré consuelo a él y a sus enlutados; produciré fruto de labios: Paz, paz al que está lejos y al cercano, dijo Jehová; y lo sanaré.” Isaías 57: 18-19 RVR 1960  Proverbios 24:16 RVR 1960 dice, “Porque siete veces cae el justo, y vuelve a levantarse…” Tal vez, sientes como los dolores de este mundo han sido demasiado pesados ​​para soportar solo. Solo recuerda que no estás solo. Dios no te ha abandonado. Romanos 8 nos recuerda que nada nos puede separar del amor de Dios. “Por lo cual estoy seguro de que ni la muerte, ni la vida, ni ángeles, ni principados, ni potestades, ni lo presente, ni lo por venir, ni lo alto, ni lo profundo, ni ninguna otra cosa creada nos podrá separar del amor de Dios, que es en Cristo Jesús Señor nuestro.”-Romanos 8: 38-39 RVR 1960 Pero, ¿tal vez sientes que alguien te ha lastimado o te ha roto al punto, donde ya no puedes ser reparado? Tal vez, esta persona te ha lastimado tanto, ¿que sientes que no puedes perdonarlo? Y, puedes sentir que no merecen tu perdón. Tal vez, has elegido castigarlos al no perdonarlos. Desafortunadamente, al no perdonarlos, les está permitiendo que ellos to continuamente lastimen en perpetum. Al no perdonarlos, te estás alejando del proceso de curación. Varias veces en la Biblia, se nos instruye a perdonar a los demás, así como Dios nos perdonó (Lea: Colosenses 3:13, Mateo 6: 14-15, Efesios 4: 31-32, Marcos 11:25). Incluso si ya no puedes hablar con la persona, quien te hizo daño, igual puedes perdonarlo/la. Hoy, te animo a soltar las heridas del pasado y seguir adelante sabiendo que el Dios del perdón está allí para consolarte, sanarte, enmendarte y darte paz. La palabra de Dios nos dice que, “Cercano está Jehová a los quebrantados de corazón;Y salva a los contritos de espíritu.”-Salmo 34: 18 RVR 1960 La canción llamada Mended (abajo), de Matthew West, describe cómo Dios nos ve, incluso cuando nos vemos como demasiados heridos, rotos o demasiado dañados para ser reparados.     

“Cuando ves roto más allá de la reparación, veo la curación más allá de la creencia. Cuando ves demasiado lejos, veo un paso fuera de casa.

¿Cuántas veces puede un corazón romperse?

Nunca se suponía que fuera así.

Mírate en el espejo, pero encuentras a alguien que nunca pensaste que serías.

Oh, pero aún puedo reconocer.

Aquel a quien amo en tus ojos manchados de lágrimas,

sé que es posible que no lo veas ahora, así que levanta tus ojos hacia mí …

Ves tu peor error

Pero veo el precio que pagué

Y no hay nada que puedas hacer, perder lo que la gracia ha ganado

Así que espera, no es el final

No, aquí es donde comienza el trabajo del amor Estoy haciendo todas las cosas nuevas

Y Haré un milagro de ti …

Veo a mi hijo, mi amado

La nueva creación en la que te estás convirtiendo Tú ves las cicatrices de cuando te caíste Pero veo las historias que dirán

Que ves que no valen nada, no veo valor. Ves dolor, pero Veo un propósito que ves indigno, inmerecedor Pero te veo a través de los ojos de misericordia

Cuando ves roto más allá de la reparación Veo curación más allá de la creencia No estás muy lejos Estás a un paso de tu hogar

Cuando ves nada más que bienes dañados Veo algo bueno en la fabricación Aún no he terminado, no

Cuando ves herido, veo reparado

Ooh, Veo arreglado

Woah, oh veo arreglado

No he terminado todavía

Cuando ves herido, veo remendado “

Querido Señor Jesucristo, por favor, ayúdanos a recordar que cuando nos sentimos rotos estás siempre allí para recoger las piezas y enmendarnos. Amén.

Publicado en Ingles el 12 de julio de 2017

Published in English on July 12, 2017

Are You Looking for Freedom?

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Have you ever felt like something was holding you back? Have you ever felt like something was keeping you from reaching your destiny? Maybe you feel like a prisoner to bad habits or poor decisions?  Maybe you feel too broken to become whole again? Maybe you feel chained by pain, anger, bitterness, resentment, or past sins? Maybe you feel shackled by fears of failure and disappointment? 

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Two weeks ago, we had Vacation Bible School at my church. John 3:1a was one of the memory verses for the children.

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I love this verse because it reminds us of our God’s great love for us and of our true identity in Jesus Christ. God never meant for us to live like prisoners to fear, resentment, or past regrets.  John 1:12-14 NIV says “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” It is by God’s grace and mercy that we are freed from our past and the identity the world tries to give us. In Christ, we can find our true identity: the beautiful person God meant us to be.  John 8:32 says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice on the cross so we could be freed from sin and hurts of this world.

“So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”  

Galatians 4:7 NIV     

Think about the lyrics to the song, “You found me,” by Switchfoot. 

“When I found healing for my wounded heart
I found mercy in Your open arms
I found freedom when You set me free
I found myself when You found me…
When You found me, I was lurking in darkness
When You found me,
When You found me, I was turning away
When You found me,
When You found me
When I finally found my redemption
You found me and You made me whole
Yeah, I didn’t know that I’ve been missing
‘Til You found me
When You found me”

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You were willing to send Your only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to pay the ultimate price on the cross to redeem us from our sins. Thank You for the gift of salvation, freedom, and love we find in You. Amen.