Category Archives: Guidance

El Mejor GPS?

Posted on by
Reply

“Y os restituiré los años que comió la oruga, el saltón, el revoltón y la langosta….”

 -Joel 2:25 RVR 1960 

 IMG_3222

En Joel 2, los Israelitas fueron llamados a apartarse de sus caminos, y a volver a Dios. A veces, somos realmente duros sobre nosotros mismos después de escoger mal  o caer en errores. Sentimos que no merecemos ninguna cosa buena. Pero, Dios todavía está trabajando en nosotros y todavía nos ama. Cuando hacemos tantas malas decisiones, que terminamos en el lugar equivocado; Dios todavía está allí con nosotros para ayudarnos a encontrar el camino hacia donde debemos estar. Es como nuestro  GPS. Profundamente en la parte de atrás de nuestras mentes, Él nos está diciendo que encabezamos una cierta dirección. Y, cuando tomamos la dirección equivocada, Él nos rutea para que lleguemos al destino, que El quiere para nosotros. Sólo necesitamos escuchar a Dios y obedecer Sus instrucciones. Además, “cuando tomamos malas decisiones, es difícil creer que algo bueno pueda crecer en nuestras vidas otra vez” (Nortker, 3-Minute Devotionals For Women, p.322) Pero, Romanos 8:28 RVR 1960 dice: “Y sabemos que a los que aman a Dios, todas las cosas les ayudan a bien, esto es, a los que conforme a su propósito son llamados.” Note cómo dice “todas las cosas” y no algunas cosas. Todas las cosas significan no sólo nuestras buenas decisiones, sino también nuestras decisiones malas. Dios sabe todo. Isaías 46:10 RVR 1960 nos recuerda que, Dios sabe “… lo por venir desde el principio …” Esto significa que Él incluso sabe los errores que haremos en el futuro. Cuando cometemos estos errores, Dios todavía nos amará y tendrá planes para nuestras vidas. Dios es más grande que nuestros errores. 


 “Sólo Dios puede [cambiar]
 Un lío a un mensaje,
Una prueba a un testimonio,
Un ensayo a un triunfo,
Una víctima a una victoria,
 Un problema a una oración. “
 -Nishan Panwar

 Sólo necesitamos ser pacientes y dispuestos a seguir Sus instrucciones, cuando Dios está guiando nuestras vidas. Amén.

Reference:

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

Will 2017 Be Your Best Year Yet?

Posted on by
Reply

“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

     clock-pexels-photo-60267
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.

Suficiente luz para hoy

Posted on by
Reply

“Lámpara es a mis pies tu palabra,
    Y lumbrera a mi camino.” 

 -Salmos 119:105 RVR1960

 ark-technology-oil_lamp_lit_01

A veces quedamos perdidos en el camino. Perdemos de vista de la luz real. ¿Tal vez quedamos distraídos con las luciérnagas o los sonidos de la noche? Terminamos caminando sin la luz verdadera. Entonces, empezamos a tropezad en la oscuridad. Incluso podemos caer y chocar contra los que nos rodea; perjudicando no sólo a nosotros mismos, sino también los quien nos rodean. Cualquier persona (incluso gente “fuerte”) puede caer, si perdien el enfoque del camino adelante de ellos y no pueden ver donde caminan. Al leer el versículo anterior, sabemos que la única y verdadera luz para nuestro camino es la Palabra de Dios. Si fallamos en leer su Palabra diariamente, no tenemos la luz que necesitamos para cada día. Estamos seguros de caer y perder nuestro camino a lo largo de la ruta. Sin embargo, no podemos esperar a ver más lejos que hoy. Dios sólo nos da suficiente luz para cada día. Él no permite que la luz brille más allá de las barreras de hoy. ¿Porqué? Porque él no quiere que nosotros seamos abrumados por lo que está adelante. ¿Porqué deberíamos estar preocupados por mañana? Dios ya sabe lo que está ahí y esta preparando el camino para nosotros. Pero tenemos que asegurarnos que tenemos apenas suficiente luz para los pasos de hoy.

Querido Señor Jesúcristo, por favor ayúdanos a mantener nuestros ojos enfocados en usted y su palabra. Y por favor ayúdanos comprometernos a leer su palabra y comunicar con usted diariamente. Amén.

 

 

 

 

Did you already build your house?

Posted on by
Reply

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

 -Philippians 1:6 NKJV

beautiful-castle-img_0429

On the day of our salvation, God started a “good work” on each of us. Of course we aren’t immediately made like Christ. Instead it is a gradual process, that happens everyday. It’s not an easy process. Sometimes it hurts. Oftentimes, we have to be broken from the inside out, to be rebuilt again. And, we don’t always understand what God is doing, but He always has a plan. James 1:2-4 NIV says,  “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” We must be willing to allow God to remove and add to us. But, most importantly we must be patient and not give up.

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”  – C.S.Lewis

Have you planned out your life and what you want to be like? Did you already decide on all of the details of your future?  Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” We may have plans, but God has bigger plans. His understanding and wisdom is infinite. Isaiah 55:9 reminds us that God’s ways are higher than our ways. It says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” We can’t just give up, because things don’t seem to be going our way. We need to trust God to not only mold us, but lead us to where He wants to take us. Hebrews 10:36 NIV says, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Are you willing to allow God to mold you and change you from the inside out? Are you willing to exchange your plans for God’s plans? We may not understand what God is doing with us or our lives, but if we trust Him and cooperate, He will transform us and our lives into something better than we could ever imagine.

Dear Lord Jesus, please give us hearts that are willing to submit to Your alterations and the patience we need to wait for Your guidance. Please help us to trust You, when we don’t understand, what You are doing with our lives. Please help us to remember Your plans are always the best. Amen.

 

¿Qué es el amor?

Posted on by
Reply

“En esto consiste el amor: no en que nosotros hayamos amado a Dios, sino en que él nos amó a nosotros, y envió a su Hijo en propiciación por nuestros pecados.”

 -1 Juan 4:10 RVR 1960

Slide2

¿Qué es amor? El amor es Dios. Dios es la forma más pura de amor. Como seres humanos, somos incapaces de amar de la manera que Dios nos ama. Él nos ve como somos y nos ama todavía. Ve nuestros errores, imperfecciones y defectos. Él ve nuestra naturaleza pecaminosa; Cómo fácilmente podemos caer en pecado. Él ve nuestro egoísmo, nuestro orgullo, nuestra naturaleza inflexible, nuestra deshonestidad (no solo las mentiras que los que nos rodean decimos, pero las mentiras que decimos a nosotros mismos), nuestra ingratitud, nuestro derroche, nuestra vanidad, nuestra naturaleza a no perdonar. Él ve nuestra hambre de deseos terrenales y nuestra sed de aprobación/alabanza humana. Después de ver todo esto, él todavía ama a la humanidad. Su amor es tan infinito, es incomprensible. Romanos 3:10 RVR1960 dice, “…No hay justo, ni aun uno;” Después de ver la humanidad como lo fue/es, él podría escojido/escojer no amarnos. Pero, en lugar de otro “… mostró el amor de Dios para con nosotros, en que Dios envió a su Hijo unigénito al mundo, para que vivamos por él. “-1Juan 4:9 RVR1960 Dios nos ama como somos y no como deberíamos ser. Claro, él tiene planes para nosotros y todavía está trabajando en nosotros. “… estando persuadido de esto, que el que comenzó en vosotros la buena obra, la perfeccionará hasta el día de Jesucristo…“-Philippians 1:6 RVR1960 Como seres humanos aquí en la tierra, somos y siempre seremos un trabajo en progreso. El punto principal aquí es: el sabe que somos seres humanos imperfectos. Sin embargo, él todavía nos ama. De esta manera, establece para nosotros el ejemplo perfecto de amor.

1 John 4:11-12 RVR1960 dice, “Amados, si Dios nos ha amado así, debemos también nosotros amarnos unos a otros.  Nadie ha visto jamás a Dios. Si nos amamos unos a otros, Dios permanece en nosotros, y su amor se ha perfeccionado en nosotros.” Dios nos puede dar Su corazón, para que podamos amar como El lo hace. Sólo entonces, realmente sabemos qué es el amor.

Señor Jesucristo, por favor ayúdanos a amar como tú. Como vemos a otros en sus imperfecciones, ayúdanos a amarlos todavía. Llena nuestros corazones con tu infinito amor. Amén.

 

 

What is the Best Season?

Posted on by
Reply

“There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens: …a time to weep and a time to laugh… He has made everything beautiful in its time…”

Ecclesiastes 3:1,4, 11 NIV

 the-four-seasons

There is a time and a season for everything. We can’t rush through the stages of our lives. Just as we cannot live in the past, we can not live in the future. This is particularly difficult to say, because I’ve learned that some people are more past oriented while others are more future oriented. I can relate more to the latter. As a more future oriented person, I can tell you it is difficult not to live thinking about the future. But, I think it’s important for us to take a deep breath and take it all in on a daily basis. We need to live in the present. American historian and author, Alice Morse Earle, wrote, “The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.” In truth, all that we have is today. And, that’s why it is important that we know where we stand in God’s eyes. Today, the most important thing to know is that we will spend eternity in heaven with Jesus Christ. “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” -John 17:3 NIV If you are not confident of your salvation in Christ Jesus, now is the time to change that [Please read Romans 3:23, John 5:24, and Romans 10:9]. “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” -2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV. We don’t know what tomorrow holds. But, as Christians, we can trust that is it is all in God’s hands. Matthew 10:29-31 NIV says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[b] And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” As children of God, we can trust Him with our future. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?” –Matthew 6:26-27 NIV  So, if we are spending our time worrying about the future, then we can’t truly enjoy the present in its fullness. Furthermore, in today’s society, there is also a huge focus on technology. And, technology can do many beneficial things. But, we need to be careful not to become so distracted by it, that we fail to see and experience all of the beauty that God has for us, today. Today, we need to appreciate not only God’s many blessings in our lives (ie. health, people, nature, music, etc.), but also the lessons God has for us today. Society may tell you, that your life needs to fit a template and you need to do things when everyone else is doing them. But, who are they to define our life stages and experiences? Aligning our lives with God’s plans is what we really need to do to avoid missing out on everything that He has for us. If we rush into tomorrow, we might miss out on the lessons we need to know for tomorrow. “Today is a gift.” We might miss the simple joys and gifts God has given us for today. “There is a season for everything.” We just need to trust God, knowing that if something isn’t in our lives at the moment, then it’s not its season. We entrust our lives to God everyday, by seeking His will and patiently taking our lives one day at a time.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time”

Now is the best season!

Dear Lord Jesus, please open our eyes to see all of the joys and blessing you have for us today, in this moment. Please help us not to get so caught up in our pasts or future that we fail to enjoy the gift of the present. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to be Ambitious Without Falling into a Trap

Posted on by
Reply

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”  

-Matthew 16:24-26 NIV

tightrope

What does it mean to deny yourself? I think denying yourself means being willing to give up your life desires and ambitions. What are ambitions and aren’t they good? 1 Thessalonians 4: 9-11 NIV says, “Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other…. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life…” This is a very different picture of ambition than what the world paints for us. The world portrays ambition as aggressively pursuing riches, power, and recognition. It almost justifies chasing after earthly ambitions or relentlessly climbing the corporate latter: not stopping until you have the best job, the best house, the best car, the best of everything, and all of the fame and admiration from the those around us. But, God didn’t intend it to be that way. God gave us gifts and talents to bring Him glory by pleasing Him and serving others. 2 Corinthians 5:9 NASB says, “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” God gave us passion and drive to use our talents for His glory, not just for our own gain. Of course we need to work to provide for ourselves and our families, but He doesn’t want us to become so caught up in our talents and our abilities, that we fail to remember where they came from. This reminds me of walking on a tightrope. We need to be ambitious, but not so ambitious that our goals, jobs, accomplishments, and fame become more important to us than serving God and others. But, I do understand that sometimes humans fall into the trap of using their gifts and talents to gain recognition, approval, and/or attention from others. And in these cases, if others cease to give us that attention, we end up feeling empty, unappreciated, unsatisfied, insecure, and/or angry. But, we never should have been relying on other people’s approval in the first place (we were mistaken into seeking human approval over God’s approval).

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”- Galatians 1:10 NIV

Furthermore, Philippians 2:3 NIV says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” We must strive to use our work and ministries as an opportunity to bring glory to God and improve the well being of other’s lives.

“My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise—Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame”

-Hillsong United

Dear Lord Jesus, please help us to use Your gifts and talents to bring You glory. Please help us not to use your gifts solely to receive recognition, praise, and approval from others. Help us to remember, that You gave us unique gifts and talents to serve You, and not solely for our own gain. Amen.

 

 

The Door

Posted on by
Reply

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

 – Joshua 1:9

FullSizeRender

Sometimes, God calls us to do things that seem impossible or calls us to positions that seem too big for us. For example, in Joshua 1, God calls Joshua to take Moses’ position. Moses was one of the greatest Old Testament leaders. God had used him to bring about the plagues on Egypt, lead the Israelites out of captivity, part the Red Sea, obtain water from a rock, convey the ten commandments, and so much more. Joshua must have thought how could I ever fit into this man’s shoes. Have you ever felt that way in your life? Maybe God has called you to a new job, which you feel totally unqualified for? Perhaps, God has called you to a new ministry, which you don’t feel prepared for? The person, who held this position before you had been much more talented and equipped for your position than you are. Or perhaps, God has closed some doors in your life, giving you almost you no choice, but to take the more difficult path toward the bigger door ahead. If God gives you the key to that door, than that door is yours and you need to open it (regardless of what lies behind it). As humans, it is only natural for us to fear the unknown. But, whatever lies behind that door, is not unknown to God. In the same way that He prepared Joshua, He has also prepared you for it and will be with you. We can’t let fear get in the way of doing, what God has called us to do. Joshua didn’t! If Joshua would have let fear stop him, he would have missed out on so much. If you read further to Joshua 5:13-15, you discover that Joshua was privileged to become one of the few  individuals of the Old Testament to he have met Jesus Christ in His pre-incarnate form. A number of commentaries (including MacLaren’s Expositions and Matthew Henry’s concise commentary) concede that the “Captain of the Host of the Lord”(who Joshua worshipped) of the Joshua 5:14 is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But, the point is: Joshua was able to reach this point, because He trusted God and didn’t let fear stop him. “No matter what we face or where we go, He is with us. He will help us through it all.”(Nortker, 3-Minute Devotionals For Women, p.334) But, we need to be willing step up to the plate. We need to“be strong and courageous.”Amen.

Think about the lyrics to this song: Make A Way  performed by I Am They

 “…Wherever you lead me, I know you won’t leave me
Wherever you call me, You will make a way
Wherever we’re going, I will be holding
To the promise you have made
You will make a way
You will make a way…”

Breaking Point

Posted on by
Reply
“Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.”
-Psalm 55:22
 dreamstime_xxl_4704425_klein

“Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled fortydays and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.”  -1 Kings 19:1-9 NIV

Everyone has a breaking point. Even the great prophet Elijah reached a point, where he said, “I have had enough, Lord,”… “Take my life;.” You may ask: what happened to his great faith? He had just seen God give him great victories. But, have we not done the same thing? Have we not seen God do great things for us, only to find ourselves once again in the dark shadows of the valleys of doubt, fear, or unbelief? Have we not cried to God in our depths of despair? Have we not reached our physical, mental, or emotional breaking point at some time in our lives? I know I have. God has taken me through deserts and valleys; every time leading me to higher ground. I recall having gone through a time, where I reached my breaking point. My faith was flailing. Sometimes, we place our trust and hope in the wrong places. Here, Elijah was placing his trust in his own strength. God could have been angry with Elijah for losing his faith in Him. Instead, God was tender and patient with Elijah. He sent His angels to care for Elijah. If God allows us to reach one of our breaking points, it’s so that our faith will grow. He is our best caretaker. He will reach out to us, when He knows we are too weak to go any further. He may send His “angels” and mysterious blessings into our lives to help carry us, wherever He is leading us. We just need to hold on, with all that we have left. God always steps in at the right time and provides for us in unimaginably magnificent ways.
 Think about the lyrics to this song: Worn by Tenth Avenue North

“I’m tired
I’m worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes to keep on breathing

I’ve made mistakes
I’ve let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed
By the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends…

 And my prayers are wearing thin
I’m worn even before the day begins
I’m worn I’ve lost my will to fight
I’m worn so heaven so come and flood my eyes

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends…”

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for always being there to step in, when the “weight of the world” is too heavy a burden for us to bear on our own. Amen.

“

The Best GPS

Posted on by
Reply

“I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten.”

 – Joel 2:25 KJV 

 IMG_3222

 In Joel 2, the Israelites were called to turn from their ways, and to turn back to God. Sometimes, we are really hard on ourselves after we make bad choices or mistakes. We feel like we don’t deserve any good things. But, God is still working on us and still loves us. When we make so many bad choices, that we end up in the wrong place; God is still there with us to help us find our way to where we need to be. He is like our built in GPS. Deep in the back of our minds, He is telling us to head a certain direction. And, when we go the wrong direction, He reroutes for us to get to the destination, that He intended for us. We just need to listen to God and obey His directions. Furthermore, “When we make bad choices, it’s hard to believe anything good can grow in our lives again.” (Nortker, 3-Minute Devotionals For Women, p.322) But, Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Notice how it says, “all things” and not some things. All things means not only our good choices, but also our bad choices. God knows everything. Isaiah 46:10 reminds us that, God knows “…what will happen in the end…” This means He even knows the mistakes we will make in the future. When we make these mistakes, God will still love us and have plans for our lives. God is bigger than our mistakes.

 “Only God can turn

 a mess into a message,

a test into a testimony,

a trial into a triumph,

a victim into a victory,

 a problem into a prayer.”

 -Nishan Panwar

We just need to be patient and willing to follow His directions, when He is rerouting our lives. Amen.

Reference:

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