Three Things I Learned This Christmas

In this blog, I share the three things I learned this Christmas. Each year I wait for Christmas with anticipation but this year I wanted to learn something new. Could that be possible when we hear the same story over and over? Yes, when we seek to learn, God will show us something we didn’t notice before. We may read the same Scriptures during Christmas and overlook important details that mean something in Jesus’ life.

I enjoy listening to several pastors from various churches that share the same Biblical perspective. And now I’m sharing the three things I learned this Christmas with you:

The legality of Jesus’ Kingship

Matthew 1 records the lineage of Jesus. From Abraham, the father of Isaac who was the father of Jacob, to King David and to Joseph, Mary’s husband. Verse 17 says, All those listed above included fourteen generations from Abrahm to King David, and fourteen from David’s time to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah. Jesus was the legal heir to the throne of David.

The Bible says that Joseph was a just man, so he was going to break the engagement to Mary when he found out she was pregnant. But “an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21 NLT)

In Luke 1:26-37, we learn more about Mary’s side. God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary… “Don’t be frightened, Mary,” the angel told her, “for God has decided to bless you! You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever, his Kingdom will never end.” Mary asked the angel, “But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.” By Jesus having Mary’s physical blood and the Holy Spirit’s seed, He then had the royal blood line to be the King of Israel yet sinless from being conceived of the Holy Spirit. God’s plan is always perfect, legal, and right.

The swaddling cloth

While Mary was about nine months pregnant, the Roman emperor decreed that a census should be done throughout the Roman empire. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea. Therefore, he took Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem. When they arrived, all the inns were full (due to people traveling back for the census). Luke 2:6-7 (NKJV) says “So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

I learned that in those times, when a baby lamb was born and was considered “perfect for sacrifice” the people would wrap them in swaddling cloth. The significance here is that Jesus was “the perfect lamb for sacrifice” and, therefore, he was wrapped in swaddling cloth (because he was born in a stable). My heart broke when I understood this revelation.

The stable and the manger

I used to think that the main reason Jesus was born in a stable was to show his humility. Everyone was expecting the King to be born in a palace as it should. Instead, their King was born in a stable. However, I learned that in addition to humility, the fact that Jesus was not in a regular inn is significant. The story continues to tell us that an angel of the Lord appeared to some shepherds in the fields. During those times, shepherds had the lowest and least respected jobs. And God sent an angel to tell them, “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David. And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12)

Now shepherds were welcomed and able to worship King Jesus, the same way as the three Kings that traveled to see Him. In fact, if Jesus would have been born in a regular inn, they would not allow the shepherds to even enter to meet Jesus. This small part of the story teaches us so much about how approachable Jesus is. And that everyone is welcome to follow Him—all of humanity, regardless of class, race, wealth, age, or anything!

Lastly, the shepherds were invited by the angel and what did they do? They said, yes! Luke 2:15 says, When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Everyone is invited to partake of the gift that Jesus is to humanity—the gift of salvation. However, not everyone will respond with a “yes.” Many people will reject the message and will personally reject Jesus. Later in the story, a man named Simeon told Mary, “This child will be rejected by many in Israel, and it will be their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy to many others. Thus, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” (Luke 2:34-35 NLT)

These are the three things I learned this Christmas. What did you learn?

The Perfect Gift

I once listened to a TED X professional who trains people who want to speak at a TED X event. He said that TED X event planners look for three things: 1) Idea (a new idea that no one else has spoken about), 2) Impact (is your idea going to impact the maximum amount of people possible?), and 3) Coachable speakers (They want people who are humble and willing to be coached. In fact, they don’t want or like professional speakers.). To get to the “idea” he asked a question that I will never forget: If you had one opportunity to send one message to the entire world from the top of the highest mountain, what would that message be?

As a professional speaker I am not interested in doing a TED X talk. But the question impacted my life forever as a speaker. As I reflected on that question, I realized that if I had only one opportunity in my entire life to send only one message that could potentially impact the entire world, it would be “to tell people about Jesus—the Perfect Gift.” Funny enough, event planners won’t invite you to speak on this topic because it’s not considered a “new idea.” What they’re missing is the impact that this 2,000-year-old idea has had on the entire world.

I was invited to speak at an event and all I got was the title “The Perfect Gift.” I was given the opportunity to change it. But I think the title is perfect and it’s exactly what we need to hear about. You see, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the perfect gift for anyone, man or woman of any race, any age, and any background. When someone accepts the gift of salvation, it changes their life here on earth and their eternal destiny forever.

Three Themes of Gifts

Let’s study all the gifts that God gave to all of us. In addition to giving each person some talents that are also free gifts to all, God gave us spiritual gifts, and also many other gifts to help the church which is the body of Christ (all of us believers). Therefore, I thought it would be good to group the gifts into three themes:

1.        Gifts that help us live our lives here on Earth.

2.        The gifts of the Spirit to the Body of Christ.

3.        Gifts that give us hope.

Gifts that help us live our lives here on Earth.

Holy Spirit

The first thing that Jesus did when He left, was to give us the Holy Spirit. In John 14:15-17 (NLT) Jesus said to his disciples, “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”

Peace

John 14:27 (NLT) Jesus said to his disciples, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” And Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) reminds us, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Truth

John 14:6 (NLT) Jesus told him (Thomas), “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Everyone is searching for truth and Jesus told us He IS Truth! When we seek Jesus, we find truth.

Faith

We need faith in God to believe that He is real and that He truly loves us. Even though we need to act, God actually gifts it to us. Hebrews 11:1 explains What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. V3. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. V6. So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Prayer

God gave us a daily weapon we can use to stay strong: Prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 reminds us to Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Righteousness

Romans 10:3 (NKJV) For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. The fact that God is righteous is a gift to us because He judges us righteously. He also gives us an example of how to be a righteous person.

Salvation

In Paul’s letter to the gentiles, Romans 10:8-10 (NLT), he explains: Salvation that comes from trusting Christ—which is the message we preach—is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, “The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

The Whole Armor of God

All of these gifts put together form the whole armor of God described in Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT): A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Holy Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

The gifts of the Spirit to the Body of Christ.

Spiritual Gifts

God gave certain gifts to the body of Christ which is the church. 1 Corinthians 12:7 says that A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church. We each need to find out which spiritual gift God gave us because it is for the purpose of helping others.

I Corinthians 12:8-11 lists them all: To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another he gives the gift of special knowledge. The Spirit gives special faith to another, and to someone else he gives the power to heal the sick. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and to another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to know whether it is really the Spirit of God or another spirit that is speaking. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, and another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. These gifts are experienced in the church when believers assemble.

God’s appointed gifts to the church

In addition to the gifts distributed throughout the body of Christ, the Holy Spirit gave the church special gifts. They are to help the church grow, learn to work together, and bring more people to the knowledge of Christ. I Corinthians 12: 27-28 (NKJV) tells us, Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. We must remember, however, that When the end comes, these special gifts will all disappear (I Corinthians 13:10).

Sometimes these are referred to as the fivefold ministry gifts that we find in the church:

·        Apostle: They plant churches and preach the Gospel.

·        Pastor: They take care of the sheep.

·        Teachers: They teach the Word of God and have the gift of teaching it well.

·        Prophecy: They prophesy God’s messages to His people.

·        Evangelist: They bring the harvest of souls to Christ.

Gifts that give us hope.

Repentance

Repentance is the first step towards salvation. God is continually calling us individually and calling nations to repentance and to return to God. There are many instances where God sent prophets to nations to warn them that if they don’t repent from their sins and worshiping other gods, He will send punishment. Then when the people repent, God withholds the punishment.

2 Kings 22:19 describes the story of a prophet (Huldah) who told the king of Judah this message: “You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. So, I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city.’”

Forgiveness

God gave us the amazing gift of forgiveness to us individually when we repent and to nations when they repent. But He also expects us to forgive others just as He forgives us. In Luke 1:77 the Bible describes Zechariah’s prophecy over John the Babtist when he said, You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.

Grace

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. It is by God’s grace that we are saved. He also gives us grace to endure the tribulations of this world while we’re here. 2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us, And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Love

God is love. This is the biggest gift of all. It was because of His love for us that He sent Jesus to die for our sins so we could be restored to Him. I Corinthians 13:4-7 describes what love is. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. V13. There are three things that will endure—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Conclusion: Jesus is the Perfect Gift!

Jesus embodies ALL these gifts above. Jesus IS the Perfect Gift to us and for us to gift to others. The story of The Perfect Gift begins and ends with love. What is God? God is love. He is the beginning and the end. Because of love, God sent Jesus to die for us. Because of love, Jesus suffered the death of the cross. Because of love, Jesus left us the Holy Spirit while we wait for His return…

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I recently worked on a project for a family-owned community bank and the project involved reviewing their Employee Manual. When I read the cover page, I stopped and reflected on this statement:

“If you do not look after your own family, who will?”

I work with many family-owned community banks. But this was the first time I saw this powerful statement communicated to all employees. This institution treats their employees—owners or non-owners—as family. I held discovery sessions with several employees and the main theme that rose up was, “We are treated like family.” This family-oriented culture creates loyalty and dedication that goes beyond an employer-employee relationship. It creates long-lasting success.

Christmas is an opportunity to gather with our family and to reconnect with those we haven’t seen for a while. Many people travel long distances to meet with their loved ones because that’s what you do when you belong to a family. Unfortunately, some people don’t feel accepted or loved within their own family, which creates division and deep wounds. But I have good news for you!

Jesus came to change all of that! And we celebrate Christmas to remind us that regardless of who your earthly, blood family is, you will always be welcomed to join the family of God. It’s free and there are no deeds required to earn God’s love as your Father. All you must do is believe that God sent His only Son Jesus to save you. Romans 10:9-13 (NLT) tells us that, If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Salvation is the perfect gift that God gave each one of us for Christmas. Jesus Christ is that perfect gift! And you can freely share it with your family and friends at home and throughout the world as your Christmas gift to them!

I John 3:1 says, See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. This Christmas I encourage you to take care of your own family by simply reaching out to those you don’t see often. Invite your family to spend time with you. Attend the events that you’re invited to and participate. Engage with your family members that you don’t see often and get to know them better. Make your family feel welcome and that they belong with you. And if you have an opportunity, introduce them to Jesus so they can belong to the family of God too. After all, if you do not look after your own family, who will?

I wish you a Merry Christmas with your family and loved ones!

Ready for Your Final Trip?

If today was your last day on earth, are you ready for your final trip? And do you know where you’re going? In this blog, I share how you can prepare for your final trip in your life. My husband’s grandma’s wish was to live to the year 2000. And she did. She passed away in June 2000. God granted her that wish. She loved to travel, and she visited many countries with her husband.

She was not vocal about her faith like many people are. So, one day I asked her directly if she was a believer in Jesus Christ and she said yes. She died of old age and during her last days we went to visit her as often as we could. During one of those visits, I noticed her Bible on top of a shelf, and I reached out to get it and inside it was her passport.

I cried... of happiness. That told me that she was ready to take her final trip and that she knew her destination—heaven. If today was your last day on earth, are you ready for your final trip? And is heaven your final destination? Just as grandma loved to travel and also loved God in her own quite way, I want to do the same when my turn comes to leave this earth. And I hope that God also grants me the wish to die of old age so I can see my kids and grandkids grow up.

To prepare, let’s go through a “travel checklist” and compare it to our final trip from earth:

Need a ticket.

Whether you’re traveling by airplane, train, boat cruise, or simply driving to a place, you may need a ticket or pay something to get into your destination. If you want your final destination to be heaven, there is no payment necessary. Your ticket is free. Jesus paid it in full! Romans 10: 9-10 tells us that “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.”

You need a valid ID.

We all know that when traveling domestically within the country, you need to identify yourself by showing a valid ID. When you travel to another country you need a passport. When you are a believer in Jesus Christ, He writes your name in the Book of Life. Therefore, you won’t need an ID of any kind to get into heaven. Your name will be there, and Jesus himself will recognize you and welcome you into heaven. Revelation 3:5 tells us that “All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.”

Make a reservation.

To enter a hotel, a restaurant, a museum, a movie theater, or any other special place, you need a reservation. Jesus makes your reservation to enter heaven. It’s done! He reserves a place for you the moment you allow Him to enter your heart. Jesus tells us in John 14:2-4: “There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will be always with me where I am. And you know where I am going and how to get there.”

Choose the place.

The first question you must answer when planning a vacation is “where are you going?” You learn about the place you plan to visit by conducting research and reading reviews. Then you decide. But there is a place that you must choose to go when your life here on earth is done. And you must choose it in advance while you’re alive because you don’t know when your last trip will happen. You choose heaven the moment you say “yes” to Jesus. Revelation 21:10-27 gives us a clear description of “the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” I encourage you to read it and imagine heaven in your mind.

Obtain directions.

Once you decide where you want to go the next step is to figure out how to get there. You research Google maps and choose to fly, drive, or take a train. You typically want to choose the quickest and safest way to arrive at your destination. Jesus gives us clear directions in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Get to know your host.

The best vacations happen when you know the person receiving you, the host. They take care of you and treat you like royalty. You develop a great relationship and communicate with your host often. You wait in anticipation to meet your host, and your host also awaits your arrival with great enthusiasm and love. The same way, you can develop a deep close relationship with Jesus, your personal host, before you arrive to heaven. You get to know Him by reading the scriptures and by spending quality time with Him in prayer and worship. 1 John 3:1 says, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” In heaven, you will be treated like royalty!

Other preparations.

Below are other questions you may ask when you prepare for a trip and what you need to prepare for your final trip with destination heaven:

·        How long does it take to get there? The moment you take your last breath here on earth, in that instant, you are with Jesus in heaven.

·        Who’s coming with me? This is an individual trip that we each take. Each person must choose heaven on their own. Your job as a believer is to share the good news of the Gospel with as many people as possible. The goal is to share the “free ticket of salvation” with the world, starting with your loved ones.

·        What do I need to bring? Nothing. Your physical body is left behind and your spirit joins Jesus immediately upon arrival.

·        When do I leave? When God says it’s your turn to go. You have no control of when your last day on earth will be. That’s why it’s crucially important to decide to follow Jesus early in your life. You will then have the blessing of walking this life with Jesus by your side and continue your journey in heaven.

·        How do I prepare physically? There is no physical preparation other than your legal will and a health care directive, so your loved ones know what to do. The preparation is spiritual.

It’s hard to discuss death. But it’s a reality we all must face at some point. I hope this message encourages you to prepare spiritually to meet your Savior when God calls you. Are you ready for your final trip?

Why Does God Love Us? Happy Thanksgiving!

Why does God love us? That was the question my five-year-old grandson asked me the other day. And that question inspired me to write this blog with the theme of Thanksgiving. My first response was “Because He created each one of us.” But there are so many more reasons. Therefore, I encourage you to discover with me how much and how wide and how deep God loves you!

God made us in His image.

From the beginning, God loved us because He created us, humans, in His image. Genesis 1:27 tells us, So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God loves everything He created from the start, and that includes you.

God created every detail of who you are.

In Psalm 139:13, David says, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.” God developed and created each little part of your body since conception. In verse 14, David thanks God, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”

The apostle Paul later reminds us in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” God has a plan for you! A “masterpiece” is a work of art, a masterwork—the culmination of His creation and He gave us dominium over all the rest of creation.

God chose you!

God chose the Jews to be his holy people to fulfill His master plan of salvation which was to bring Jesus into the world through the Jewish people. When Jesus came and the Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah, then God opened the plan of salvation for the rest of the world—the Gentiles—which is all of us. Why? Because He loves all of us!

Colossians 3:12 encourages us to have all these character traits. “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”

Paul, Silas, and Timothy wrote a letter to the church of Thessalonica to remind them of God’s love for them. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 “We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.” Paul also encouraged the church of Ephesus in Ephesians 1:4-5 “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” The church needed to be reminded of God’s love consistently.

God wants us to ask Him for everything we need.

John 16:26-27 “Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.” When we love Jesus, we automatically love the Father because they are one. Therefore, we can ask anything we want in Jesus’ name and the Father will hear our prayers.

Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

In this encouraging Scripture, Paul reminds us that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. Read these verses as if they were written directly to you:

Romans 8:38-39 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let’s thank God during the Thanksgiving season and every day for simply loving us!

I leave you with these final scriptures to meditate on and remember God’s love for you.

Ephesians 3:18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Focus on Hope rather than the Problem.

When we are living through difficult circumstances, it is difficult to focus on hope rather than the problem. And who is that “hope”? Jesus is our only hope. I travel often for work and when I travel alone things tend to not go well for me. I can share countless examples of why my flights are often (very often) delayed or even cancelled. That of course triggers stress which begins with the inconvenience of just having to wait when I’m tired.

On my last trip to Indiana to facilitate a forum, I was just about to board when all the passengers who had already boarded came back out to the gate. I then heard the message, “We apologize but the plane needs a tire changed. And there are no tires in this airport. We will need to have it flown from Ohio and it will take about four hours.” I called my husband and told him about a new reason for delayed flights to add to my collection of experiences. About half hour later, they announced, “We have good news, we found a tire! It will only take about 1 hour to change it.”

All the while, all of us passengers were looking down at our plane that was at the gate. They needed to change one of the front tires. The mechanic shows up with the tire and starts using the jack to lift the plane. I started noticing that the tires were not being lifted. I mentioned to someone, “I don’t think the jack is working. The tires should be up in the air by now…” And so I was right. Another message, “We apologize but the jack is broken. The mechanic must go back to the garage and get a new one.” Half hour goes by and he returns now with another mechanic and a bigger jack… which was too big. After maneuvering it, they got it to work and the tire was off. Now there were three mechanics trying to change the tires. They finally got done and we heard another message. “Good news, as you can see, they got the tires changed and we are boarding again soon.”

We were finally on the plane and we waited another twenty minutes without moving. I guess they have to rewrite the “manifesto” with the passengers who decided to stay on this flight. Many had to stay overnight in Indiana because this was the last flight out to Minneapolis. I had no choice but to wait. In the end, we were delayed 2 hours and I got home safely, just exhausted.

I texted my daughter while this was going on and sent her pictures and videos of the tire changing attempts. She replied, “You know, maybe it’s just that God stops the plane to fix it for you to protect you in the sky each time.” And she’s right. As I started thanking God for fixing the plane because the alternative to waiting is much more catastrophic if the plane is not fixed. Then I looked up and you could see the mechanics fixing the tires below and the amazing sunset right above.

God reminded me of the hope of glory when we look up to Him. It’s much easier to look down at the circumstances and get discouraged. We can get stuck only looking down and not make the effort to look up to God. I immediately got inspired to share this story with you to simply encourage you to focus on hope rather than the problem. Jesus is our only hope. I will leave you with these encouraging scriptures to lift your spirit:

Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Psalm 39:7 (NLT) And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Do You Know God’s Name? He Knows Yours.

Do you know God’s name? He knows yours. What is the first thing you learn about a person when you first meet him or her? Their name! Have you ever wondered what is God’s name? Have you ever asked Him the question, “What is your name?” I had always wondered because He is called a lot of names in the Bible, and we refer to him as “God.” But His name is not God. His name is “Yah.” God is the noun we use to describe the highest of all gods. The only true God. That’s why we capitalize the name.

God is, more than anything, LOVE. And He wants a relationship with each one of us. His name is Yah. And Yah means “love,” and it also means “the one who saves.” Let’s study other names we use to describe and to worship God.

The Only God

Isaiah 43:10 “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord. “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God—there never has been, and there never will be.”

The Lord, the Almighty

Revelation 4:8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

The First and the Last

Isaiah 48:12 “Listen to me, O family of Jacob, Israel my chosen one! I alone am God, the First and the Last.”

Isaiah 41: 4 Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time? It is I, the Lord, the First and the Last. I alone am he.”

Revelation 2:8 (Jesus is talking to John) “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive…”

The Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”

Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Yah (or Jah), Yahwe, Yahova (Jehovah)

The “Lord” means Yah which means salvation in Hebrew.

Exodos 6:2 And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh—‘the Lord.’

The phrase "hallelujah" translates to "praise Jah/Yah." The word “halel” in Hebrew means “a joyous praise in song, to boast in God.” The second part, Yah, is a shortened form of his name "God, Jah, or Jehovah".

Father

When Jesus was being punished for our sins on the cross, in Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing.”

As Jesus was dying on the cross, in Luke 23:46, Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”

Jesus is waiting for us. John 14:2 “There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you.”

Jesus taught us how to pray to our Father. Matthew 6:9-13: This, then, is how you should pray:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”

Jesus is God

Revelation 1:17-18 (John speaking) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.

So we established that there is only One who is the Lord, Yah (short for Yahwe), the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Almighty. And it is clear too that He is the One who died and is now alive. Jesus is therefore God!

Yah knows your name. And He knows everything about you too because He created you. And He loved you since the moment of conception in your mother’s womb. David said in Psalm 71: 6 “Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!” and in Psalm 139:13 “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.” God told Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

So today I want to introduce you to my Father, my friend, the One who saved me by sacrificing His own Son, Jesus, my God… “Yah.” He wants to and yearns to have a relationship with you too.

Are You Spiritually Hungry?

Are you spiritually hungry? Do you feel hungry for “solid food” and not just for “milk” in your spiritual life? What does it mean to be “spiritually hungry”? It means you want to learn more about the things of God. You want to seek God and get to know Him as a person and as your Father. You have a deep desire in your heart to know Jesus personally. And you have the Holy Spirit inside you who guides you into a deeper relationship with your Creator. The Holy Spirit is like the “translator” that helps you understand what the Word of God says. He reveals the things of God and helps you apply them to your everyday life. I am spiritually hungry!

When you seek Jesus, you will find Him. He will satisfy your hunger in every aspect. He will not only feed you physically by providing financially for your family but will also satisfy your spiritual hunger. In Mark 8:1-10 (NLT) we learn about the story when Jesus fed four thousand people. A large crowd followed Jesus for three days listening to his teachings. By the third day, they had no food, and Jesus didn’t want to send them home without eating because many had come from long distances. Therefore, Jesus asked his disciples to bring whatever bread and food there was available. They found seven loaves of bread and a few small fish.

Jesus first told all the people to sit down on the ground (v6). This is important because our part is to sit and wait in anticipation to be fed. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, broke them into pieces, and gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd (v6).

Jesus first blessed the bread, gave thanks to God, and broke them into pieces. Notice that Jesus was the one who broke the bread into pieces. He took the action of breaking the bread; therefore, He did the miracle! Then He blessed the fish and told the disciples to pass them out. Verse 8 says that they ate until they were full, and when the scraps were picked up, there were seven large baskets of food left over!

The disciples’ job was to obey Jesus and act which was to distribute the blessing of the bread and the fish to the people. This is an illustration of how when we follow Jesus and are hungry for more of Him, He does the miracle of feeding us—both physically and spiritually. What’s more, He will do so abundantly! Meaning, you will have enough for your family and to give to others around you! God doesn’t do anything halfway. He is always thinking big and His love overflows in everything He does for us.

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 the apostle Paul addresses the church of Corinth saying, Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?

Paul explains to the church of Corinth in that letter that when we just start our walk with Jesus, we are like a baby and can only digest “milk.” But as you grow up in the Lord, learn more about Him and in your relationship with Him, you can now handle “solid food” (or “meat.)” The meat is deeper knowledge of the things of God and a deeper relationship with Him. And the funny thing is, the more you hunger to know God and deepen your relationship with Jesus, the more you discover how little you know. You will want more! The seeking becomes part of your life’s journey walking alongside Jesus here on earth and then in eternity.

I leave you with two powerful scriptures to encourage you to be hungry for God, seek Jesus, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand the Bible!

Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Are you spiritually hungry? If you seek Jesus, you will not only find the truth and life, but you will get to the Father and will spend eternity in heaven with Him. Let’s thank God that He gave us the One way to get back to Him… Jesus!

Life is Uncertain but God is Certain

When talking with leaders around the nation about the current situation we live in, I am reminded that life is uncertain, but God is certain. Planning with uncertainty being the only thing that is for certain is extremely difficult. But when we look at everything from the spiritual perspective trusting that God will help us along the way, planning in uncertain times becomes doable. In fact, planning is our responsibility.

Planning is a must for leaders to succeed, not only in their own careers but also for the companies they lead. I encourage you to plan in the midst of uncertainty to the best of your ability. Then stay the course you set out to do.

Below are some reminders from the book of wisdom—the Bible—that tells us how to plan during uncertain times:

Do plan if you want to succeed. Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5)

God has good plans for you. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Trust God not money. Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17

Ask God for wisdom. If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you do to—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent you asking. (James 1:5)

Planning brings you honor and respect. My child, don’t lose sight of good planning and insight. Hang on to them, for they fill you with life and bring you honor and respect. (Proverbs 3:21-22)

As you can see, it is in God’s will for us to plan so we can have certainty in our lives. Lack of planning brings uncertainty and fear. Planning brings peace, certainty, security, honor, and respect. If you are a planner, those who watch you will see you as a wise person. Then you’ll have an opportunity to share your wisdom and where it comes from. Proverbs 2:11 says, “Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.”

By planning all aspects of your life, you take control of your life and responsibility for your actions. But it also means you choose to give that control to God and let Him guide you. With God as part of your planning, you can’t go wrong because you have God’s will for you as your plan. And even though the enemy may try to change and confuse those plans, the Lord will give you wisdom “and you will know how to find the right course of action every time” (Proverbs 2:9).

I hope these scriptures from the Bible encourage you to plan, seek wisdom, and trust God in your journey. Remember, life is uncertain, but God is certain. He is always there for you and ready to help you. All you have to do is reach out and ask for help.

Honoring Country and Freedom Is a Daily Journey of Gratefulness

Honoring country and freedom is a daily journey of gratefulness. During the month of May, we honor mothers. In June, we honor fathers. July is the month we celebrate our country’s independence. Therefore, it is appropriate to honor our country and the freedom we all hold so dear that comes at a cost.

In May we also remember all the men and women who gave their lives—the ultimate sacrifice of love—to ensure we all enjoy freedom. In October, we give thanks to all the Veterans who risked their lives to fight for our freedom and to protect our country. We dedicate one day each year to celebrate, honor, and remember these special people. However, it’s not enough to honor them only one day out of an entire 365-day year. We must honor our mother and father daily. Similarly, we must remember those who died and fought for our country all the time. Every time we experience the feeling of being free, when we can still make choices on our own, we must remember why.

The cost of freedom is blood… The blood shed by those who dare to step up and risk everything they’ve got, up to their own lives. Why? That is a question I often ponder on. What drives the men and women to fight for our freedom and to protect our country from all its enemies? I believe the main reason is a deep conviction for patriotism and love for Country.

When I became an American years ago, I received the most encouraging and inspiring letter from the President of the United States of America. While it may be a “form letter” sent to all the immigrants who chose to become an American that year, I appropriated it as if it was written personally to me. Since then, I have lived my life with the fire it ignited within me. Here is the letter!

“Dear Fellow American: 
I want to congratulate you on reaching the impressive milestone of becoming a citizen of our great nation. As you enjoy the benefits of American citizenship and assume the responsibilities that accompany it, you follow the many brave men and women who have sacrificed to establish and preserve our democracy over the last two centuries. 

You now share in a great experiment: a nation dedicated to the ideal that all of us are created equal, a nation with profound respect for individual rights. The United States is a land of unparalleled natural beauty, vast opportunity, and freedom. It is home to people who have been drawn to our shores from all over the world and who share a common love for life and liberty.

Please join me in devoting your hopes, your prayers, your energies, and your labor to our common good and to the future of this wonderful country. Together we must strive to safeguard the freedoms we hold so dear, not only for ourselves but for future generations.”

Below are five things you can do in your daily journey of gratefulness:

1)      When you experience the feeling of freedom, simply remember the men and women who made it possible for you. You honor them by remembering them and their legacy.

2)      As you walk by a member of the military anywhere, stop to say, “thank you.” This includes police officers that risk their lives daily to keep your own city safe.

3)      Pray for the members who are on active duty right now. Ask God to give them strength and grace as they are away from their families. Pray for protection and for them to return home safely.

4)      Keep their families in your prayers. They too sacrifice by staying home, sometimes all alone, waiting to hear from their loved one. And, often wondering if they will even return home.

5)      Thank God that there are men and women who are called to serve in the military. Because, more than anything, it is their calling. And we reap the benefits. Let’s hold them in highest esteem and respect for their sacrifice.

I hope this letter inspires you to love this beautiful country of America and to remind you of the cost of our daily freedom.

May God continue to bless America, even though many Americans no longer want God involved.

Happy Independence Day!

Honoring the Father by Praying for Our Children

Honoring the Father by praying for our children is one of our biggest responsibilities as a parent. God our Father created each person in the entire world. Every child is God’s unique creation, and He wants each human being to go to heaven and spend eternity with Him. Why? Because God is love and He loves us.

When a person becomes a parent, you experience a type of love that is the closest you will ever compare to God’s love for you. Having children is a direct blessing from God. And it is a privilege to raise children in the Christian faith. What does that mean? It means parents have the responsibility to teach the children about the things of God, starting with the truth that God created them and loves them. Proverbs 22:6 (NLT) tells us to “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they won’t leave it.”

Many parents are experiencing a falling away of their children leaving their faith. But we must stand firm on that promise and believe your children will return to God. What is happening? The attraction to the things of the world is stronger than the desire to follow Jesus. The younger generation is disappointed at how “Christians” behave towards other human beings. The hypocrisy amongst believers who judge everyone around them is just as damaging as when an unbeliever hurts another person.

Being a follower of Jesus Christ is hard. No one said it would be easy. Jesus told his disciples in John 14: 6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Jesus continued telling them what was to come after He left this earth. Later Jesus said to His disciples in John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

If you are a parent, this message is for you. Because we celebrate Father’s Day in June, I dedicate this message to all the fathers and to my dad. I encourage you to pray for your children and never give up on your faith. If you don’t know God the Father, I encourage you to seek Him, and you shall find Him! In Jeremiah 29:13, God told His people, “If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. I will be found by you.” Read the Bible, as it is “the manual” for life and for raising our children. I am thankful that I still have my earthly father at 97. And I’m even more thankful that my Father in heaven loves me and I will spend eternity with Him. I pray you have this revelation in your heart as well.

Happy Father’s Day!

Gracias papa, te quiero mucho!

Honoring Moms on Mother’s Day

Honoring moms on Mother’s Day is not enough. The experience of carrying a child and giving birth to a human being is indescribable unless you are a mom. Mothers around the world sacrifice throughout their lives to provide for their children’s needs. But the greatest need of a child is the need to be loved and accepted, which most moms do well.

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:1-3 (NLT) Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” The verb to honor means to “to hold in honor or high respect,” to “venerate and esteem.” Although we celebrate mothers one day of the year, we (children) must honor our mother and father daily. This is one of the only commandments from the Bible that comes with a promise of long life on earth.

This month, I want to celebrate my own mother and will share a little bit of her background. She was born in Leon, Nicaragua. Her father passed away days after she was born, and her mom (my grandmother) raised eleven children on her own. My mom married my father, a native of Managua, and they had six children. 2024 marks their 60th anniversary!

Life has been difficult for both my parents. They survived several natural disasters such as the earthquake in Nicaragua in 1972. They lived through the two-year revolution that culminated in June 1979 with them losing all their properties. They fled to the Dominican Republic where two months later encountered Hurricane David which devastated the island. Moved to America in 1986 sending one kid at a time until it was their turn and the family reunited after one year of being apart.

Although they had their working visas and eventually became American citizens, life in the United States as immigrants was very hard. After several years they moved back to Nicaragua to recover the properties taken by the government after the revolution. They never recovered the properties. They only received government bonds worth a fifth of their value. Nevertheless, they lived in Nicaragua for over twenty years until recently. Two years ago, we (the children) moved them back to the United States where they can be at peace and no longer live in fear.

Someday I may write a book about my family’s story. But today I want to thank my parents for always loving me and for introducing me and my siblings to Jesus. My mom has always been strong in her faith. She never gives up, is hard working, and has never blamed God for anything that life has thrown at them. Seeing her example of faith has strengthened mine over the years.

If you still have your mom on this earth, I encourage you to tell her with words that you love her and appreciate her. Our parents need to hear us say it. If you can visit your mom and give her a hug to show her support during this season in her life, do it. If you have an adoptive mom, love her, thank her, and appreciate her!

Here is to all the moms! Happy Mother’s Day!

Gracias mama, te quiero mucho!

All Because of Love

All because of love. That’s the reason Jesus suffered the worst death possible. The death of the cross. His motive? Love for us. It’s difficult to grasp the amount of love Jesus has for each individual person in the world. Remember, God sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and make us right with Him again. “When he (Jesus) sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.” (Isaiah 53:11)

What does it take to be a loving person?

How do we become a loving wife or husband, a loving brother or sister, a loving daughter or son, a loving mother or father, or a loving neighbor? We choose to do it. We are intentional about it, and we ask Jesus to show us how. He gave us tons of examples on how to be a loving person during His ministry days. God also tells us what to do in His Word. To love others is a command.

Below are several Scriptures where we are told to love others and how to do it.

Romans 12:9 tells us, “Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them…Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”

Romans 13:8 encourages us to “Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God’s law…Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.”

Ephesians 6:2-3 reminds us to “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise. And this is the promise: If you honor your father and mother, “you will live a long life, full of blessing.”

Ephesians 5:2 inspires us to “Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased because that sacrifice was like sweet perfume to him.”

Ephesians 5:22-23 motivates women, “You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of his body, the church; he gave his life to be her Savior.”

I know this is a controversial verse for women. But notice why and when we are to submit. The husband’s responsibility and expectation is way bigger and harder:

Ephesians 5:25-26 commands men, “And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God’s word.”

As you can see, we have plenty of encouragement to become a loving person in whatever circumstance you may find yourself throughout your life. I hope you are inspired to become a loving person and love others as Christ loves you.

During this Easter, meditate on what Jesus did for you personally and thank Him for that eternal gift of salvation. Happy Easter!

What Is a Giant, Mimi?

What is a giant, Mimi? My grandson asked me on the way home from preschool. Henry and I were talking about the story of David and Goliath. I explained to him that David conquered Goliath, who was a “giant.” When he asked me to describe a giant, I explained “a giant is a person that is very, very tall. Giants are taller than everyone else and they can even see over our heads because they are so, so tall. Henry thought for a few seconds, and then said, “My daddy is a giant.” Trying to contain my laughter, I explained that his dad is indeed very tall (he is 6’ 6”!) but he’s not a giant. He’s just taller than all of us. I also told him one day he will grow to be as tall as his dad.

Reflecting on this funny conversation, got me thinking that from Henry’s perspective as a child, everyone is taller than him. Therefore, everybody seems like a giant to him. From the spiritual perspective, I also asked myself, who are my giants? In a way, somedays I feel like David facing my own Goliaths. A “giant” in my life can be anything that I feel is so much bigger than me. A situation that I cannot conquer on my own. I need help—supernatural help. The giant can be a workload that is unsustainable or a series illness in the family. It is watching one of my loved ones turn away from God or a relationship that breaks. It is a circumstance or situation too big for me to handle alone.

That supernatural help only comes from God. But before He can interfere to help us, we need to take several steps:

·        Recognize that the battle we’re facing is too big for us to handle on our own.

·        Ask for help, both from our friends and family as well as from God.

·        Accept the help with humility understanding that the “giant” is simply too big to face alone.

·        Arm ourselves with the armor of God—especially faith that we will be victorious with God’s help.

·        Understand that it is only because of Jesus that we can win the battles.

·        Release and let God take over the situation.

The story of David and Goliath

I encourage you to read the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. The Israelites were to fight the Philistines. Here is the description of Goliath: 4 Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! 5 He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. 6 He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. 7 The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.

No wonder the Israelites were terrified of Goliath! He challenged the Israelites and requested them to send one person to defeat him. If that person defeated him, then the Philistines would become slaves to the Israelites. But if he won, then the Israelites would be slaves to the Philistines. When David, a shepherd, heard of the challenge and how scared the Israelites were, he was furious. 26 David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”

When King Saul heard about David’s question, he asked to see him. David told the King, “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” After being told no several times, David insisted and told King Saul: 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” and so he went. 40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. As the giant approached David, he told Goliath that the God of Israel would conquer. The battle is God’s, he proclaimed… 48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. 49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

There are so many lessons learned from this story. For today, I ask you: What are the giants in your life? Nothing is too big for God to help you conquer the battle. Trust God that He will deliver you from your situation, and He will.

I Found the Fountain of Life: Living Water

How many people would like to claim that they found the fountain of life so they can live forever? Not only do human beings desire to live forever, but they also want to look young, strong, and healthy. Multiple movies filmed and books written about the fountain of life, yet they are just fiction. And thousands of health and beauty products claim to restore your youth. But the truth is, no one and nothing can stop humans from growing old, let alone make anyone live forever. And lastly, every person will someday experience physical death. So how can we live forever?

Don’t get discouraged just yet. First, God created us in His image and that means we have an eternal spirit that lives forever. In Genesis 1:26, Then God said, “Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves.” (God uses the pronoun “us” to refer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit because they are One) Secondly, there is indeed a fountain of life, a fountain of living water that only comes from God. He gave it to us through His Son Jesus who had to die and resurrect so we could then have the Holy Spirit which is the living water.

We don’t have a choice as to where we are born. But we do have a choice as to where we want to spend our eternal lives when we die physically. In the story of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman in John 4, Jesus sat next to a well after a journey, and a Samaritan woman came soon after. Jesus asked the woman (v.7) “Please give me a drink.” The woman responded “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink? (v.10) Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” When the woman asked Jesus how could you give me better water than our ancestor Jacob who built the well? Jesus replied (v.13) “People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them giving them eternal life.”

Later in John 7:38, Jesus promises living water: “Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit being the “living water.” However, when this took place, God had not sent His Holy Spirit yet because Jesus had not died on the cross. It was after Jesus died and resurrected that, before leaving us, He promised to leave us with His Holy Spirit so He could be with all of us at the same time, in our hearts.

Later in John 20:19-23, Jesus appeared to his disciples after He resurrected, and told them “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Then he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive them, they are unforgiven.”

In Mark 24:49, Jesus told his disciples when he appeared to them, “And now I will send you the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

In the Old Testament, God spoke through his prophet Jeremiah, in Chapter 2, verse 13: “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!

As you can see, God refers to himself as the “fountain of living water.” Then Jesus says anyone who believes in Him can drink of the living water that then will flow from their hearts. And Jesus refers to living water as being the Holy Spirit that Jesus left us with as He went to heaven. Therefore, we can claim that we found the fountain of life – the living water – the Holy Spirit that Jesus gives us because He died and resurrected so we could have eternal life with Him in heaven.

Are You “Self-Made” or “God-Made”?

Are you “self-made” or “God-made”? I just recently learn of the old saying “Self-made, dues paid.” I had never heard of that saying and it inspired me to write this blog for you. The saying means that you are successful because of all your hard work. It means you have paid your dues and earned your reward. The formal definition of this saying is “rich and successful as a result of your own work, and not because of money from your family.”

It is commendable when a person works hard to earn their success. However, I encourage you to view this statement from God’s point of view. Additionally, it feels great to say, “I paid my dues.” But consider that all your dues were paid by someone else—Jesus. Let me explain.

When we say we are “self-made,” that implies that no one else helped us—not even God. In our lives, there are always people who helped us arrive at where we are now. And be assured that your talents and ability to create wealth came from your creator, God. You didn’t choose your talents. God did.

Romans 12:6-8 (NLT) says that God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

As you can see, God gave talents and abilities to all people. Our part is to use them to help others. In addition, it is He who gave us the power to get wealth. Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV) reminds us, But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

God wants us to know He gave us the talents plus the power to get wealth to begin with. So, are you self-made or God-made? I am definitely “God-made.” There is another saying that goes “give credit where credit is due.” Therefore, God deserves all the recognition and glory instead of me and I choose to give Him all the credit.

The other part of the saying is “dues paid.” Paying your dues in your career means you start at the bottom and climb the ladder of success. It means you prepared yourself in many ways including investing time and resources in your education. You also probably worked longer hours than others and took risks beyond what some consider normal. But what about paying your dues for your sins? How do you pay for that? You can’t. Jesus did it for you and for me when He died on the cross for our sins. That’s when He paid our dues. And we can never repay Him back. The only thing we can do is accept His amazing gift of salvation.

Allow me to share how Jesus paid our dues. It’s described in detail in Isaiah 53 (I encourage you to read the entire chapter):

3 He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.

4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth. 8 Unjustly condemned, he was led away.
No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream.
But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people.
9 He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.

10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.
12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

So, are you self-made or God-made? Have you paid your dues or has Jesus paid your dues?

I will leave you to reflect on these deep concepts. Thank Jesus for what He did for each of us…

I Can’t Take You to Heaven with Me

I can’t take you to heaven with me. And that’s a fact. The first thing we want to do when we become a believer in Jesus Christ is to take our loved ones to heaven with us. Becoming a follower of Jesus is a personal choice and no one can make it for you. You can fake it in front of others, but God sees your heart and knows if you’re truly a believer.

God created human beings in His own image. (Genesis 1:26, Then God said, “Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves…”) What that means is that we each have the will to choose God or the world. In this passage, God says “Let us” referring to the Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Watching our loved ones make wrong choices is difficult. But watching them reject Jesus is the hardest thing to hear because we understand the eternal implications of that decision. Every decision we make during our lives has consequences. Some of them are financial, relational, or career decisions that carry consequences we must live through. But the most important decision of one’s life is to accept the gift of salvation. That one decision is what gets you into heaven.

Allow me to share the story of the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard found on Matthew 20:1-16 (NLT). The landowner went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. He found a few and offered them a denarius to work for the day. The landowner went out several times throughout the day and kept hiring workers that were idle. He offered a “fair pay” to each one—even to the ones hired at the eleventh hour. At night, the landowner ordered his steward to pay the last ones hired first. And the ones he hired first, got paid last. Everyone got paid a denarius.

Those who were hired first were angry. They asked the landowner why he paid the same to the ones who only worked one hour. They assumed they would get paid more since they had been laboring all day. The landowner responded it is his right to pay whatever he wanted to his workers. He assured them he had been fair with them by paying the agreed amount.

The point of this story is that the landowner (God) is always seeking for workers. Everyone who responds “yes” to His invitation gets the same reward—the gift of salvation. God prefers if you choose Him at the beginning of your life and walked with Him your entire journey. But if you choose Him during your last hour on earth, He will still take you. He’s interested in you choosing Him while you are on earth and then spending your eternal life in heaven with Him. That is the main point of this story.

The second point of this story is that there is plenty of work available. And God is always inviting everyone to join Him and become His worker. But few respond. He takes all who accept His invitation. Personally, I rather walk my entire life with Jesus alongside me than live through this life without Him. Living life without Jesus is like going on a long journey to climb a mountain alone and without any equipment or tools. If at the end of your life, you repent and accept Jesus, we will both spend eternity with Him in heaven. But I much rather you accept Jesus now and not wait until your last hour. You will miss the blessing of having His love, wisdom, discernment, peace, joy, and His overall blessings in your life.

I leave you with these beautiful Scriptures to encourage you to choose Jesus today:

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Never Stop Asking “Why?”

Never stop asking “why?” and let your curiosity live on throughout your life’s journey. Children are naturally curious and the best way they learn is by asking the one-word question: Why? I am reminded of this amazing ability by my four-year-old grandson who always inspires me to write and share with you. He is in the season of life where he wants to know why everything happens and how things are made. Every time you tell him to not do something, you can count on his next words to be “why not?” He asks “why?” repeatedly on the same subject until we run out of answers or until he satisfies his curiosity.

When someone asks you “why?” on the same subject several times, it challenges you to really think of each answer. And the deeper you get the more challenging it gets to respond. It’s like you start peeling an onion with never ending layers! Here was my conversation with my grandson:

Mimi: Henry, never stop asking “why?”

Henry: Why?

Mimi: Because it’s good to ask questions.

Henry: Why?

Mimi: So you always learn new things.

Henry: Why?

Mimi: So you never stop being curious.

Henry: What is “cu-ri-ous”?

Mimi: It’s when you never stop asking questions.

This funny conversation led me to think of us as children of God asking Him all kinds of questions. He created us to be curious naturally and therefore, we are always seeking for answers. Let’s study what the Bible tells us about seeking:

Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. The King James Version says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” When we put God first above everything else in our lives (career, money, and even our children) and also seek his righteousness, only then all these things that we put after God will be given to us anyway. All God wants is for us to put him first.

The other important point to make is that God wants to be found by us. He wants us to pursue seeking him above all and He will make sure that we find Him. Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT) tells us that “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” This is an amazing promise! God does not play “hide and seek.” He desires to reveal himself to each one of us. But because He gave us free will, we must initiate the pursuit of Him and His righteousness.

Don’t let your curiosity die away. But be careful what you seek and where you seek for truth, pleasure, and riches. I will leave you with these Scriptures that guide us in our journey.

Seek truth: John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Seek the eternal: John 6:27 Jesus replied… “Spend your energy seeking eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you. For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose.”

Seek righteousness: Proverbs 11:28 (KJV) He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

So, never stop asking “why?” and let your curiosity live on throughout your life’s journey. God will not get tired of your questions and knows the answers to all of them!

We Need Constant Communication with God

One of the biggest challenges business leaders face is the poor, or lack of, communication amongst the leadership team or with the staff. There are many communication programs in the market to help leaders improve their communication skills. But there aren’t that many resources to help us communicate better with God. Except there is one – the Bible! The Word of God is our best source to teach us how to communicate better not only with each other, but most importantly, with our Father in heaven.

When Jesus left this earth to be with God, He left us a comforter, a helper, an advocate. He left us with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the only way we, as humans made in the image of God, can communicate directly with God. Remember the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

To survive all the struggles that we go through during our life here on earth, we must be in constant communication with God. We need to remain in the vine and stay encouraged daily. When we are communicating with the Lord, He refreshes our spirit, renews our hope, and gives us wisdom to navigate every aspect of our life.

The Holy spirit is the translator of the Word of God. In other words, it is through the Holy Spirit inside our hearts, that we can truly comprehend the Bible. Otherwise, we read it as a history book and absorb nothing. The Holy Spirit is the revealer of truth. Jesus is the truth, and the Holy Spirit helps us understand that mystery. Jesus left us His Holy Spirit to comfort and help us through our journey. He guides us as He gently nudges our hearts when we’re about to do something wrong. He guides us when we ask for direction in everyday matters of our life such as which job to apply for. He encourages us to not give up and to continue following Jesus no matter how hard it gets.

Let’s study these concepts from the Word of God in the following scriptures:

John 14:26 (Jesus is telling his disciples.) But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

Matthew 12:31-32 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.

Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Mark 13:11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

John 8:31-32 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

I hope this message encouraged you to be intentional about staying connected with God through the Holy Spirit. Remain in Him. Spend time with God and talk to Him. You can! He hears our prayers and our cries when we are in trouble. Thank God when everything is going well. And when you want to know the truth, seek Jesus and you will find truth.

Are You Joyful or Are You Happy?

Are you joyful or are you happy? It is important to differentiate these two emotions or feelings as they are actually different. Happiness is momentary whereas joy is a matter of the heart.

The dictionary defines happiness as the “state of being happy.” Happy means being “delighted, pleased, or glad over a particular thing.” Joy means “the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying” and “a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated.” Being joyful means “full of joy, as a person or one's heart.”

Now let’s look at what the Bible says about joy. When I looked up the word “joy,” 333 verses came up! But today, I want to emphasize the two that I believe to be the most important ones:

The Joy of the Lord is Your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10: And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

I encourage you to read the story of Nehemiah to learn how God sent him to rebuild the walls around the city of Judah that had been destroyed by their enemies. It was a monumental task that took an immense amount of effort, but they rebuilt it in only 52 days, only with God’s help. On the day of celebration, the people were tired and unhappy. Nehemiah told them to not be sad and to recognize that the joy of the Lord is the source of their strength. And that hasn’t changed today. The joy of the Lord is supernatural and when it fills our hearts, it gives us supernatural strength to go on and face whatever life throws at us.

Jesus endured the cross because of the joy awaiting him.

Hebrews 12:1-3: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

That same joy that comes directly from God was the source of strength that helped Jesus go through the process of the dying on the cross. Jesus knew that after the suffering came His reward—our salvation and eternity in heaven with Him. We are each His reward! And that is how He was able to get through it all. If Jesus endured crucifixion because of the joy as His source of strength, we also can bear our lives’ struggles.

It is okay to be happy and enjoy life… But it is better to live with joy in your heart and share it with others. I leave you with Scriptures to lift you up and fill your heart with the joy that comes from the Lord:

Deuteronomy 16:15 For seven days you must celebrate this festival to honor the Lord your God at the place he chooses, for it is he who blesses you with bountiful harvests and gives you success in all your work. This festival will be a time of great joy for all.

1 Chronicles 16:33 Let the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth.

Psalm 19:8 The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Psalm 32:2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Psalm 41:1 For the choir director: A psalm of David. Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.

Psalm 89:15 Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.