Tag: Trust

Where Do you Want to Put Your Trust?

Galloping

When I was a teenager, I saw a commercial that lasted a few seconds but made an impression in my mind for the rest of my life.

The scene showed chariots and horses galloping at full speed, focusing on their strong and mighty legs, as advancing for war. Then Psalm 20:7 appeared at the bottom of the screen.

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

Every time I read this verse, I can’t help it but think of this commercial.

For centuries, chariots and horses were the means used for fighting in battles. They represented strength, power, and even inspired confidence, causing intimidation on the less equipped armies. The more horses the armies possessed, the more powerful they felt and acted upon it with determination and focus. But, as we read in the Bible, those who trusted in the LORD won battles even when they had lesser horses. God delivered them when they put their trust in Him.

My question to you is, what makes you feel secured and confident? Is it your strength? Your health? Your job? Money? Position? Friends? or maybe something else? You can have some or all of these things, but they could change or disappear in an instant, and so goes your confidence.

On the other hand, to trust in Almighty God is a different story because He never changes.  He has promised to be with you always. When things go as planned and when they go as unexpected. God assures you He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6; Matthew 28:20).

If He did marvelous things in the past, you can trust He will continue to do so in the present. He has never failed His children. He has always been faithful to His Word.

So, where do you want to put your trust? In something that could change or in the immovable name of the LORD?

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Él Iluminará la Ruta de Tu​ Vida

‘Tu palabra es una lámpara a mis pies; ¡es la luz que ilumina mi camino! ‘ Salmos 119:105

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Cuando uso el GPS en mi teléfono celular para llegar a un destino y éste me dice que haga un giro o tome una salida, inmediatamente quiero saber cuál va a ser el próximo paso. Deseo saber si debo continuar en la misma carretera, unirme a una carretera principal, girar a la derecha o a la izquierda. Solo para estar preparada.

La aplicación del mapa no muestra la ruta completa; solo revela el área donde el conductor necesita enfocarse en el momento. En ocasiones, me confundo, como cuando me encuentro con salidas consecutivas, intersecciones o bifurcaciones, o cuando conduzco bajo lluvia intensa, lo cual limita la visibilidad.

El uso del GPS me hace pensar en los momentos en que quiero saber qué es lo siguiente en la vida. No hay nada malo con estar preparado o tener un plan para la próxima movida. Sin embargo, aun preparándonos, hay situaciones que llegan a nuestras vidas sin invitación. Y, éstas podrían crear una mezcla de emociones en nosotros, como ansiedad, miedo, confusión e incluso dolor.

Si eres un discípulo de Jesucristo, puedes confiar en la ruta de Dios para tu vida – paso a paso – porque Él ha prometido que nunca te dejará ni te abandonará.

Es posible que no tenga todas las respuestas de inmediato, pero puedes confiar en que Dios te ayudará a llegar al destino que necesitas llegar y en el momento correcto.

La Palabra de Dios provee dirección clara para cada necesidad específica, y las promesas en ella también son para ti. Cree y confía en que Él iluminará tu camino o ruta en la vida

He Will Light Up the Route of Your Life

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105, ESV

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When I’m using the GPS on my smartphone to get to a destination and I’m advised to make a turn or take an exit, I immediately want to know the next step after this one. I wish to know if I should continue, merge, take a right or a left. Just to be prepared.

The map App does not show the complete route at once; it only reveals the area where the driver needs to focus at the moment. On occasions, I get confused, as when encountering consecutive exits, forks, or driving during heavy rain, which makes the view limited.

The use of GPS makes me think of the times I want to know what’s next in life. There is nothing wrong to be prepared or have a plan for the next move. Yet with preparations, there are matters that come to us without invitation. Moreover, these are the situations that could create a mix of emotions in us, like anxiety, fear, confusion, even pain.

If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you can trust God’s route for your life – step by step – because He has promised to never leave you nor forsake you.

You might not have all the answers right away, but you can trust God will help you arrive at the destination you need to be and at the right time.

God’s Word provides clear direction for every specific need, and its promises are for you too. Believe and trust that He will light up your path or route in life.

God is Good

Probably you have heard this expression or even said it – “God is good.”

When do we express it? Do we say “God is good” when He answers with a “yes” to our prayer requests? When circumstances favor us? When everything goes as planned?

How about when His answer is “no” or when we don’t hear anything at all? When plans don’t go our way? When we do what is right and don’t see the results we wish to see? Is He still good? The answer is “yes.” He hears your prayers, but there is always a purpose in the waiting.

If you believe the Father sent His Son to die on the cross so you can be saved, then you are His child. And as a father, He desires the best for you and wants to give you good gifts (see James 1:17).

We have expectations in life, but not all of them are met. And that frustrates us. We bring our requests before God, believing in His faithfulness. Yes, He is faithful – to His promises – not to our expectations.

No matter what is the answer you receive, trust God and His written word. He is a good Father.

How is that when you give, you receive?

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Let me tell you a personal experience. We were in the preparations for our wedding. There were things still needed to be paid. Both Danny and I were working, and together we paid for our wedding. During this time, Danny instead of receiving paycheck was receiving chargebacks (where he had to pay back what already had been paid to him). This situation was not helping us at all. Since I met Danny, he has always been paid on commission, not salary. He works hard and with honesty. But what we were facing was beyond depending on our incomes. The big day was approaching; my salary was not enough; I felt anxious. I even considered changing the date.

About a month from our wedding day an evangelist came to preach on a Sunday night service. He shared how a church in another country worked together to obtain the finances to build a place to congregate. All this during a time of recession. At the end of his message, he made a call to give for the construction of the local church building. I felt a strong prompt in my heart that we should give, but I did not dare to tell Danny because we were short of money for our wedding. That feeling did not go away from my heart; it got stronger and stronger; I couldn’t ignore it. Then, Danny asks me, where’s the checkbook? I answered, “is in the car.” He got up immediately and went to get it.

While he was out in the parking lot, I said inside of me, “if he writes a different amount on the check from the one I have in my heart, I will have to tell him.” When he came back, he handed me the check folded in half. When I opened it, I saw the same amount the Holy Spirit had put in my heart. Chance? I don’t think so. God’s plan? Absolutely.

The preacher invited us to come to the altar to pray and give thanks for the offering. While he was praying, I felt the presence of God very close, like a dense cloud above all of us. Right there I said to the Lord, “You have asked us so little for what you are going to give us.” God’s provision was immediate. The next day, Danny went out to work, as usual, meeting with clients, but what the Lord had planned for that day was a miraculous provision. Business was incredible. We were in awe. It paid off not only the chargebacks but also the rest of the wedding expenses. The big day arrived, and we celebrated our wedding as we had planned it. God is always faithful to His Word!

‘Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.#6:38 Or The measure you give will be the measure you get back.”’ Luke 6:38, NLT

¿Cómo es eso que cuando das recibes?

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(Click here for English version)

Permíteme contarte una experiencia personal. Estábamos en los preparativos para nuestra boda. Todavía faltaban cosas por pagar. Ambos trabajábamos, y juntos costeamos nuestra boda. Durante este tiempo, en lugar de Danny recibir su paga, comenzaron a llegarle “chargebacks” (donde tenía que devolver lo que ya le habían pagado). Esta situación no nos estaba ayudando en nada. Desde que conozco a Danny, siempre le han pagado por comisión, no salario. Él es muy esforzado y trabaja con honestidad, pero lo que enfrentábamos iba más allá de depender en nuestros ingresos. Se acercaba el gran día; mi sueldo no era suficiente; me sentía ansiosa. Hasta consideré cambiar la fecha.

A un mes de nuestra boda llegó un evangelista a predicar un domingo en la noche. Él compartió cómo una iglesia en otro país trabajó unida para recaudar fondos y construir un edificio para congregarse. Todo esto durante un tiempo de recesión. Al finalizar su mensaje, hizo un llamado a ofrendar para la construcción del edificio de la iglesia local. Yo sentí un fuerte llamado en mi corazón a ofrendar, pero no me atreví a decirle nada a Danny porque nos encontrábamos cortos de dinero para nuestra boda. Ese sentir no se iba de mi corazón, cada vez se hacía más fuerte; no lo podía ignorar. Entonces, Danny me pregunta, “¿dónde está la chequera?” Le dije, “está en el carro.” Se levantó inmediatamente y salió a buscarla.

Mientras él estaba en el estacionamiento, dije dentro de mí, “si escribe una cantidad diferente a la que tengo en mi corazón, se lo voy a tener que decir.” Cuando regresó, me entregó el cheque doblado por la mitad. Al abrirlo, vi que había escrito la misma cantidad que el Espíritu Santo había puesto en mi corazón. ¿Casualidad? No lo creo. ¿Plan de Dios? Definitivamente.

El predicador hizo un llamado al altar para orar y dar gracias por la ofrenda. Mientras él hacía la oración, sentí la presencia de Dios bien cerca, como una nube densa encima de todos nosotros. Ahí le dije al Señor, “nos has pedido tan poco para lo que nos vas a dar.” La provisión de Dios fue inmediata. Al día siguiente Danny salió a trabajar como de costumbre, reuniéndose con clientes, pero lo que el Señor tenía planificado para ese día fue milagroso. El negocio fue increíble. Nos quedamos maravillados. Dio para cubrir no solo los “chargebacks”, sino también lo que faltaba por saldarse de la boda. Llegó el gran día y pudimos celebrar nuestra boda como lo habíamos planificado. Dios es siempre fiel a Su Palabra.

‘Den, y recibirán. Lo que den a otros les será devuelto por completo: apretado, sacudido para que haya lugar para más, desbordante y derramado sobre el regazo. La cantidad que den determinará la cantidad que recibirán a cambio.’  Lucas 6:38, NTV

Ask and Let the Lord Surprise You

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My children were born in the Caribbean, where all year long temperatures are generally warm. There are rainy days, the hurricane season, and sunny days. One December, while they were tweens or preteens, we planned to take our vacation in the cold weather. We visited Atlanta and Washington, DC. After a few days in Atlanta, at the hotel room, my daughter said to me in disappointment, “I have asked the Lord to let me see snow, and he doesn’t pay attention to me.” I told her that she needed only to ask in prayer and let the Lord surprise her. I also told her that she would not necessarily see snow in Atlanta, but that we were going to DC where there could be a higher probability of snowfall.
We flew to DC, where we met with our dear friends. The temperature was colder than Atlanta, and everywhere we walked, we saw snow piled to the sides from a previous storm. Most of this snow was starting to ice. My children were happy and enjoyed every moment, but it never snowed the time we were there. Honestly, I even forgot about it.
When it was time to go back home, our flight was delayed because of a winter storm in other states. We had to make a stop in Atlanta before going home. We finally left DC and arrived at the Atlanta airport with a 30-minute time frame from one gate to another. We made it to the gate but weren’t allowed to board even when the plane door was still opened. They had given our seats to other passengers, and there were many others in the same situation. Both of my children were frustrated and sad. They wanted to go home. My husband was upset and was doing everything he could to get us on the plane. I pull my children to the side and invite them to take a seat. I told them not to worry, that if we couldn’t make this flight, we would take the next one. I even prayed for the safety of the people on that plane. When my husband came to us, he was disappointed and told us he couldn’t do anything. The airline gave us vouchers to eat and a hotel room for the night since the next flight was scheduled for the following day.
We took our carry-on luggage and headed outside to take the shuttle to the hotel. Once outside, we noticed many people were getting inside the shuttles, and others were waiting for the next ones. It was cold and rainy. Suddenly, my husband looked at me with a smile and said, “look at your coat.” When I looked, I saw snowflakes. My children got very excited, and my daughter started jumping.
She prayed, and God surprised her! The snow they saw at DC was not all that the Lord wanted to give them.
In the same way, we should ask anything in prayer and wait expectantly for his answer. Isn’t God able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine? (Ephesians 3:20) That’s how He surprises us. What we have seen, heard, received is not all that God has in store for us.
We decided to rent a car and buy clothes for my husband because he had checked his baggage. It continued to snow to the point that my children could make snowballs, and they did and threw them to their daddy. I recorded everything on video and took pictures, but most importantly, those memories are recorded in their minds. No prayer is silly; if it’s important to us, it is also important to God.

My Darkness is not Dark to You

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The apostle Paul together with other prisoners were sent from the west coast from the province of Asia to sail for Rome. On their way, they stopped on different harbors and passed across other places. The winds were against them, but they continued their journey hoping to reach Phoenix, a harbor in Crete, to winter there before heading to their destination. The winds were so strong that they were swept away from their course.  The men were afraid and began to throw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. Several days passed as the storm continued raging. They didn’t know where they were. The Bible states that they had given up all hope of being saved; neither the sun nor the stars appeared for many days. They were in complete darkness. (Acts 27:20)

At the fourteenth day,  being in constant suspense and without eating anything, Paul encouraged them to eat and told them God was going to save everyone.

Have you experienced dark moments in your life? Those situations force us to get rid of things that cause weight on us. We battle with emotions such as anxiety, fear, anger, abandonment, etc. We wish to see the light, and we make all the efforts we can, and then come to a point where we need to surrender.

However, we are not left unattended. King David wrote in Psalm 139:11-12

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me 
and the light become night around me,” 
even the darkness will not be dark to you; 
the night will shine like the day, 
for darkness is as light to you.

 

God sees you in your dark moments. Serving the Lord doesn’t mean that we are exempt from difficult situations. The difference is that we can trust on His promises to us because He is faithful.

I invite you to listen to this song from Chris Tomlin and be encouraged today. The season of darkness will pass and you will able to see the light!

Whom Shall I Fear by Chris Tomlin

The Lord bless you

¿Pescado o Serpiente?

jeremy-yap-199223-unsplashFotografía por Jeremy Yap en Unsplash

¿Quién de ustedes, si su hijo le pide pan, le da una piedra? ¿O si le pide un pescado, le da una serpiente? Pues si ustedes, aun siendo malos, saben dar cosas buenas a sus hijos, ¡cuánto más su Padre que está en el cielo dará cosas buenas a los que le pidan! Mateo 7:9-11, NVI

Por muchos años no entendía por qué Jesús dio estos ejemplos. ¿Qué tiene que ver una piedra o una serpiente con comida? En realidad, Jesús quería explicar algo acerca de las cosas que pedimos en oración. ¿Le has pedido algo específico que, de acuerdo a tu lógica, es bueno? Yo lo he hecho. Sin saberlo, a veces le pedimos a Dios que nos dé una “serpiente,” aunque creemos que estamos pidiendo “pescado.” Una serpiente nos puede morder, hacernos daño. Y Dios desea lo mejor para ti y para mí. Recuerda, Él ve el cuadro completo; nosotros no. Él escucha nuestras oraciones, pero no responde a todas ellas con un “sí.”

La próxima vez que te encuentres preguntándole a Dios por qué no te ha contestado, medita en estos versos. Podría ser que te está protegiendo de una situación peligrosa, o podría ser que aún no es el momento. Confía en Aquel que ve el cuadro completo y tiene en mente lo mejor para ti.

Fish or Snake?

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“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11

For many years I did not understand why Jesus gave these examples. What a stone or a snake have to do with food? In reality, Jesus wanted to explain something about the things we ask in prayer. Have you asked Him for something specifically that, according to your logic, is good? I know I had. Without knowing, sometimes we pray asking God to give us a “snake,” although we think we are asking for a “fish.” A snake will bite us, harm us. And God wants the best for you and me. Remember, He sees the big picture; we don’t. He listens to our prayers, but not all our requests are answered with a “yes.”

Next time you find yourself asking God why He has not answered you, think about these verses. It could be He is protecting you from a dangerous situation, or it could be it’s not the time yet. Trust in the One who sees the big picture and has your best in mind.