Actitudes de un valiente

Admitir que te equivocaste.

Hacer lo que es correcto, aunque los demás no lo hagan.

Hablarle a alguien que no conoces.

Decir “no” cuando otros están tratando de que hagas algo que sabes que no debes hacer.

Decir la verdad y aceptar las consecuencias.

Defender algo en lo que crees, aunque podría significarte el rechazo o el ridículo o incluso un daño físico.

Defender a alguien a quien se considera impopular o inaceptable.

Vivir tu fe con todo tu corazón, tu mente, tu alma, y tu fuerza, sin importar lo que te cueste.

1 Timoteo 4:12
Ninguno tenga en poco tu juventud; pero sé ejemplo de los fieles en palabra, en conversación, en caridad, en espíritu, en fe, en limpieza.

1 Pedro 2:21
Porque para esto sois llamados; pues que también Cristo padeció por nosotros, dejándonos ejemplo, para que vosotros sigáis sus pisadas.

Josué 1:9
Mira que te mando que te esfuerces y seas valiente; no temas ni desmayes, porque el Señor tu Dios estará contigo en dondequiera que vayas.

Fuente

Learning about God through Dressage By Christine Vandenbrink

For those of you who don’t know, Dressage, (rhymes with the word massage) is “the training of the horse through gymnastics to achieve the balance, lightness, and engagement that can be found in horses in nature.”* First practiced by the ancient Greeks and then the Romans, dressage was used in training horses for battle. During the Renaissance, dressage was brought back into existence at The School of Versailles, the French Court of equitation, promoted greatly by Louis XIV.
The key to dressage and a lot of other types of riding is to get your horse moving from behind, back to front. As Gragorio Billikopf Encina says, “Without forward impulsion the horse cannot be molded… As the horse engages the hindquarter and the front becomes lighter, the horse’s head can also fall in the right frame.”
When I started riding my lesson horse, Kay lee, she was used to being ridden with her head up. She hadn’t used her neck muscles much before at all. So, when I asked her to come from behind and put her head down into a frame, she couldn’t do it for long. It hurt. She wasn’t used to using those muscles and she kept throwing her head back up and tried to speed out of the work. My riding instructor just told me to keep asking. I was taught to hold a steady contact with my horse, and if she wanted to fight she would be pulling on herself.
            “Let her fight it out with herself. She’ll figure it out eventually.”
And she did. Eventually she found that it was easier to accept the bit. I began to see a strong connection between the way I was riding Kay lee and the way God was working in me.
At that time in my life it felt like God was pushing me, driving me forward and yet at the same time, He was holding me back. He was asking me for contentment yet sometimes the tears, the pain and the trials felt like too much. They hurt. Yet I had hope that it was all coming to something. I had to believe that He was and is building up my spiritual muscle; He has a purpose, just like I had a purpose in riding and training my horse. Paul says, in Romans 5, “… not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, for we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope…”
Sometimes I struggled, but God would just wait out my struggles and then ask again. I would find too that it was easier to follow His leading than resist it – I would find that it was easier to accept the bit. I knew ultimately, God wanted what was best for me. If I fought I would be fighting against myself.
I learned to see that and realize that my trials - the difficult times, the days of loneliness- were just what He brought into my life so that I would go to Him. He was calling me. He wanted me to seek Him out, trust Him, and take my concerns to Him.
Sue Morris says, “An expression that was very common in Germany in the past and that I haven’t heard in a long time is that the horse has to learn to trust the rider’s hands... the same thing applies to the seat and legs… The horse has to trust especially the rider’s seat not to drop like a rock onto his back every stride in the trot… A horse will actively seek Contact with your hands when he knows he can trust them.” God is kind and loving and gentle, and we must learn to trust Him and know that He wants what is best for us.
Our goal should be that we are in tune with the Master, in tune with His will. His desires are to become our desires. Ultimately, God’s will is for our greater good, for our eternal security. Just as the horse needs to be driven against that contact, that pressure of the bit, just as the horse needs to have impulsion to be molded, we need to be pushed and driven to be molded as well. “Everyone who competes in the games (horses included) goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

El árbol de los problemas

El carpintero que había contratado para ayudarme a reparar una vieja granja, acababa de finalizar un duro primer día de trabajo. Su cortadora eléctrica se dañó y lo hizo perder una hora de trabajo y luego su antiguo camión se negó a arrancar.

Mientras lo llevaba a casa, se sentó en silencio. Una vez que llegamos, me invitó a conocer a su familia.

Mientras nos dirigíamos a la puerta, se detuvo brevemente frente a un pequeño árbol, tocando las puntas de las ramas con ambas manos. Cuando se abrió la puerta, ocurrió una sorprendente transformación.

Su bronceada cara estaba plena de sonrisas. Abrazó a sus dos pequeños  hijos y le dio un beso a su esposa.

Posteriormente me acompañó hasta mi automóvil. Cuando pasamos cerca del árbol, sentí curiosidad y le  pregunté acerca de lo que lo había visto hacer un rato antes.

“Oh, ese es mi árbol de problemas”, contestó. Sé que yo no puedo evitar tener problemas en el trabajo, pero una cosa es segura: los problemas no pertenecen a la casa, ni a mi esposa, ni a mis hijos. Así que simplemente los cuelgo en el árbol cada noche cuando llego a casa. Luego en la mañana los recojo otra vez.

Lo divertido es, añadió sonriendo, que cuando salgo en la mañana a recogerlos, no hay tantos como los que recuerdo haber colgado la noche anterior…

Mateo 6:34
Por tanto, no os preocupéis por el día de mañana; porque el día de mañana se cuidará de sí mismo. Bástele a cada día sus propios problemas.

Mateo 6:25
Por eso os digo, no os preocupéis por vuestra vida, qué comeréis o qué beberéis; ni por vuestro cuerpo, qué vestiréis. ¿No es la vida más que el alimento y el cuerpo más que la ropa?

Mateo 6:27
¿Y quién de vosotros, por ansioso que esté, puede añadir una hora al curso de su vida?

Lucas 10:41
Respondiendo el Señor, le dijo: Marta, Marta, tú estás preocupada y molesta por tantas cosas;

Lucas 12:11
Y cuando os lleven a las sinagogas y ante los gobernantes y las autoridades, no os preocupéis de cómo o de qué hablaréis en defensa propia, o qué vais a decir;

Lucas 12:22
Y dijo a sus discípulos: Por eso os digo: No os preocupéis por vuestra vida, qué comeréis; ni por vuestro cuerpo, qué vestiréis.

Filipenses 4:6

Por nada estéis afanosos; antes bien, en todo, mediante oración y súplica con acción de gracias, sean dadas a conocer vuestras peticiones delante de Dios.

1 Pedro 5:7
echando toda vuestra ansiedad sobre El, porque El tiene cuidado de vosotros.

My neghbor's ducks

“Love your neighbor” (Matthew 19:19)
For most of my life, I have lived on acreage. As a child, I grew up on a wonderful sixty-four acre farm with rolling hills and a creek full of trout. For most of our married life, Marvin and I have lived on small farms. We loved it.
When our children were younger, there was a fad among city folks to buy a small farm in the country and keep a few animals. It was a ‘back-to-nature’ kind of thing; however, most of them had no idea that animals require supervision twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
One of the new neighbors bought ducks. The ducks seemed innocent enough; however, they were allowed to run loose in their yard and the neighbors’ yards – including ours. Our cucumber patch was one of their favorite spots to graze. Often we would ‘shoo’ the ducks home and wonder why there wasn’t a fence to keep them in their own yard.
One day I saw my neighbor in her yard and I asked her if she realized her ducks were ruining my garden. She shrugged it off and told me that they were not her ducks, they were her husband’s ducks and he was away traveling. My attitude and response to her was not gracious.
We realized that the neighbors were not planning to build a fence to keep their ducks at home, so we had our son build one to protect our yard. The ducks now stayed in their own yard. I didn’t see my neighbor again until months later. In all that time, my attitude had not improved.
A women’s church group asked me to speak at their mother and daughter banquet. The topic was “Love.” Much to my chagrin, the first woman I saw when I walked into the church was my neighbor. You can imagine the struggle that began within me. I knew I could not speak about love to these women and their daughters when I hadn’t been patient with my neighbor. So with God’s help, I walked up to her and apologized for my attitude and asked her to forgive me. I should have done it months ago. She was gracious and forgiving and I was able to speak with a clean conscience.
Do you have anybody like that in your life? Let me encourage you, if at all possible, to clear the air between you. Ask God to give you the courage to do it now.
Father, You don’t beat around the bush. You are very clear about what you expect of us. Sometimes we don’t like it and it takes us a while to obey. But thankfully, You have given us the Holy Spirit to empower us to do whatever You ask us to do. Thank you! Amen.
Source

Corazón valeroso

Se cuenta la historia de un querido amigo y miembro de la iglesia, que falleció luego de una larga vida de amor y servicio.
En el funeral, sus hijos se levantaron uno por uno a contar historias referentes a su padre y pronto pudo notarse un tema común: que su más singular y extraordinaria cualidad fue su voluntad para servir a otros, sin importar cuál fuera la necesidad.
Era uno de esos hombres siempre dispuestos a tender una mano, hacer un favor, algún trabajo peculiar, o simplemente ofrecer un transporte a alguien. Una de sus hijas mencionó que a dondequiera que se dirigía, llevaba consigo una caja de herramientas y un par de vestimentas de mecánico en el maletero del carro, “por si acaso alguien necesitaba alguna reparación”.
Muchas veces, cuando escuchamos la palabra “coraje”, pensamos en actos heroicos en períodos de crisis. , No obstante, en nuestra vida cotidiana, no debemos pasar por alto la valentía de simplemente estar ahí. Las vidas cambian cuando con fidelidad proveemos para nuestras familias, cuidamos de los ancianos, o prestamos atención a un amigo en dificultad. Persistir en hacer de este mundo, un mejor lugar para vivir, es definitivamente una expresión de coraje.
Albert Schweitzer, el gran misionero cristiano, doctor y teólogo, fue una vez interrogado en una entrevista. Le pidieron que mencionara el nombre de una gran persona viva en la actualidad. De inmediato respondió: “La persona más genial en el universo, es aquel individuo incógnito que en este mismo instante, ha acudido en amor a socorrer a otro”.
Mientras se desarrolla tu día, recuerda que podrías ser el héroe de alguien.
3 Juan 1:5
Amado, fielmente te conduces cuando prestas algún servicio a los hermanos, especialmente a los desconocidos.
Fuente

Feelings, forgiveness and peace - Muriel Larson

 

Angelique had never really known her father. He had deserted her mother for his homosexual lover when Angelique was just a toddler. But it often pained her when she saw other children?s fathers at their birthday parties or picking them up after school.

"Why doesn't my daddy ever come to see me?" she asked her mother.

Her mother looked down at her sadly and said, "I don't know, honey. According to Jesus, you have a Heavenly Father who loves you, you know."

Nevertheless, the situation caused heartache for both mother and daughter. When Angelique was nine, her mother went to visit a friend in another state. As they drove through the countryside, Angelique's mother talked about her friend, Donna. "Aunt Donna grew up in a broken home, too," she said. "She never knew her daddy either. So I'm sure she would understand how you feel, Angelique. You can talk about it with Aunt Donna."

The day after they arrived, Donna took Angelique out for breakfast. As she looked across the table, she felt a kinship with the sad-faced freckled little girl. She listened attentively as Angelique poured out her thoughts and feelings.

"Nobody seems to understand how much I wish I had a daddy to take me places," she said. "I try not to get angry at my daddy. But just this morning I felt really bad toward him because he has never come to see me or sent me presents."

"I understand that myself," Donna sympathized. "I went through the same thing."

"Well, I knelt by my bed," Angelique continued, ?and did what Mama told me to do. I prayed to Jesus and I forgave my daddy. And it made me feel better."

Donna was quiet for a moment, remembering the battle she had had with pain and forgiveness. Not only had she needed to forgive her father for deserting her, but she also had had the even harder task of forgiving her mother for the awful physical and emotional abuse the latter had put her through while she was growing up.

Then Donna said gently. "One thing you must realize, Angelique: These feelings will pop up again at certain times in your life - like when you graduate from high school and your father is not there?when you get married and he doesn't give you away, and even when you are my age and you watch your children having fun with their daddy such as you never had. At such times you will again have to look to Jesus and forgive your daddy. For the Lord Jesus can help you forgive again and again, and He can take the pain out of your heart, even as He has done for me."

Donna realized that Angelique wouldn't fully understand what she was saying until those unhappy feelings about her father?s absence assailed her on future days. But she knew from Angelique?s attentiveness that she would remember what was said and would be able to deal with the situation when it arose again.

Feelings and forgiveness

Often when we have dealt Scripturally with bad feelings that have been aroused by a certain situation, we like to believe that we will not suffer them again. In some cases, we don't. But, as human beings, we may experience situations in our lives that stir up painful feelings about certain persons or events. Those feelings in themselves are not sinful. But if we respond to them with unremitting anger and hostility, they can rob us of fellowship with the Lord, His peace and joy, and abundant life. Psalm 37:1 advises us not to fret because of evildoers (Psalm 37:1). We mustn't dwell on the grief others have caused us. Instead, we are to seek the Lord's help, and forgive again.

Samuel Johnson said, "A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true value of time, and will not suffer it to pass away in unnecessary pain." (The Rambler).

Painful feelings may involve a missing or abusive parent, an errant or abusive mate, an ungrateful, uncaring child, or even something wrong that we did in the past. As an example of the latter, some women I have counseled have told me of their guilt and self-accusation concerning abortions or the breakup of their marriages that have haunted them for years. Even though they had asked the Lord's forgiveness, they had not been able to forgive themselves, until they realized the depth and reality of God?s forgiveness.

According to the psalmist, God has removed our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Forgiveness is a key remedy for relief from painful feelings. If those feelings are caused by another person, we are wise to follow Jesus. advice when He said we are to forgive those who sin against us a limitless number of times, "until seventy times seven' (Matthew 18:22).

Two ways to go

Jesus gave us this teaching perhaps as much as for our sakes as for those we forgive. How can we enjoy His love, peace, and joy if we harbor wrath, malice, anger, bitterness and hostility toward someone else, or speak slanderously of that person. According to Ephesians 4:30-31, we grieve the Holy Spirit when we do that. And the Spirit is the source of love, peace, and joy (Galatians 5:22). The proper response is given in Ephesians 4:32 "being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, even as God for Christ' sake forgives us." How can we do that?

The Son of God knew all things; so He also told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). According to Roget's Thesaurus, 'persecute' means to molest, wrong, or 'torment' 'to annoy or disturb with hostile intent or injurious effect.'

When I've found it hard to love someone who has hurt me, I hold that person up in my hand to the Lord and ask His help. As I pray for that person I realize what a miserable person he/she must be to cause others pain. This gives me sympathy for that person, and the love of God fills in the rest.

Bitterness and anger at God and others because of past experiences cause many people misery for years. Such hurtful feelings can mar their lives and those of others close to them. How sad that they have thus wasted their lives on self-pity! The best way we can reject bitter thoughts and feelings is through forgiveness. "Make every effort to live in peace..See to it that, no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many" (Hebrews 12:14-15). Wise Christians put their trust in the love and power of God and reject bitterness and self-pity. Like little Angelique, they have in childlike faith forgiven those who have hurt them. Like Donna, they continue to forgive whenever hurt feelings rise again, and turn their thoughts to better things. In so doing they have achieved Christ's abundant life in spite of whatever has happened in their lives. And they enjoy the peace of God that passes all understanding. 

Source

Los tres sobres

La gente dice que hay dos formas de aprender:

Por la experiencia, la cual se obtiene de los errores cometidos; y por la sabiduría, la cual se obtiene de los errores de otros.

Recomiendo que hasta donde sea posible, se aprenda de los errores de otros.

reflexiones - cartasAprender de los fracasos es siempre más fácil con la ayuda de un buen consejero. Después que cometo mis errores garrafales, pido consejo de algunas personas: mi papá, Jack Hayford, Elmer Towns, y mi esposa Margaret, quien siempre está dispuesta a compartir conmigo sus opiniones acerca de mis fracasos.

Es importante buscar consejo de la persona correcta.

Oí la historia de un servidor público recién nombrado que estaba instalándose en su nueva oficina.

Al sentarse ante su escritorio por primera vez, descubrió que su predecesor le había dejado tres sobres con instrucciones que deberían abrirse únicamente en tiempos de angustia.

No habían pasado muchos días antes que el hombre entrara en conflicto con la prensa, así es que decidió abrir el primer sobre.

La nota decía: «Échele la culpa a su predecesor». Y eso fue lo que hizo.

Durante un tiempo todo anduvo bien. Pero unos pocos meses más tarde, de nuevo estaba en problemas, así es que procedió a abrir el segundo sobre.

La nota decía: «Reorganícese». Y eso fue lo que hizo.

Eso le permitió disponer de más tiempo. Pero debido a que en realidad nunca había resuelto ninguno de los asuntos que estaban complicándole la vida, volvió a tener problemas, y esta vez, peores que nunca. De modo que, desesperado, abrió el último sobre.

La nota adentro decía: «Vaya preparando tres sobres».

Pida consejos, pero asegúrese que sea de alguien que haya aprendido a manejar sus fracasos en forma exitosa.

Maxwell, John C.: El Lado Positivo Del Fracaso; Failing Forward. Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2000; 2003, S. 169

Aprendizaje es un elemento esencial en la vida. Dios es un maravilloso Maestro que nos enseña a través de las circunstancias de la vida. No pierdas ni un solo detalle.

Aun si fuera verdad que me he desviado, mis errores son asunto mío. Job 19:4.

¿Quién está consciente de sus propios errores? ¡Perdóname aquellos de los que no estoy consciente! Salmo 19:12.
Fuente

How Can I Deal With Inner Turmoil

“Love, joy, and peace would be ours if only we could get off this island.” These were the words of a couple who found themselves in a frustrating situation.

You might identify with this couple’s statement because you’re feeling,

“If I could only get out of the situation I’m in, that would do it for me. I could be happy. I could do the Lord’s work. I could love other people.”

But the truth of the matter is: God is with us in every situation, and He is with us right where we are! What we need to discover is how to respond appropriately to our current circumstances. You can either have a wonderful time underneath your skin, or a miserable time underneath your skin, and it’s all up to you. The question is: Do you want to experience true peace, or are you more content with being angry, with bearing a grudge, with complaining, with being cranky? The answer to that question requires some personal reflection!
Jesus has offered us a solution to responding to our difficult situations! In Matthew 11:28 He calls us to

“Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me. I am gentle and humble in My heart, and you will find rest for your soul.”

“Come unto Me . . .” Not come with me to the golf course or the gym. Not come and engage with me in a class or some form of recreation. Not “just get busy” with me as we take on planning a party, or a trip or a church event. “Come unto Me!” True contentment and peace is found in HIM!
John 14:27 tells us

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Not as the world gives.”

“Not as the world gives” is an important point. There are two kinds of peace: the world’s kind and the Lord’s kind. And it’s important to know the difference between the two. The world’s kind of peace offers exercise and all kinds of facilities where you can work off your tensions and find relaxation. To get your mind off yourself there are books, radio, T.V., and hobbies. And there are fun things to occupy your time, as well as all kinds of relaxation courses and exercises. All these “outlets” can keep you occupied for years, but they ultimately only offer the world’s peace.
The Lord’s kind of peace is a peace that gets into your soul. In John 16:33 Jesus says

“These things have I spoken unto you that IN ME you should have peace. In the world you’ll have trouble, but I have overcome the world.”

Jesus is talking about an untroubled heart in a troubled world .Isn’t that what you’re looking for?
God is just waiting to give you that peace. He’s waiting for you to ask Him to give you that peace.  To open up your life to Him. To allow Him to change you, and challenge you, and transform your inner reactions to life’s situations.
Read Matthew 11:28; John 14:27; John 16:33
TAKE A STEP
Find a little time to evaluate your reactions to your current situations.
What is keeping you from experiencing God’s love, joy, and peace?
Are you willing to yield yourself to the Lord?
Are you willing to release the emotions to Him that are affecting your life in a negative way?
Do you truly desire His peace?
Ask God to fill you with His peace and to show you how you can change.

Los pañales de ayer

 

Patricia tenía el mal hábito de pasar por alto a los demás cada vez que estaba muy ocupada.  Una tarde su esposo se quejó:  Me siento como los pañales de ayer.

Patricia le dijo que estaba muy ocupada y que no tenía la intención de tratarlo mal, pero cuando se fue a dormir esa noche, pensó en lo que le dijo su esposo.  ¿Lo había estaba desatendiendo?

Pensó en sus muy ocupados días, cambiando pañales, comprando las provisiones, lavando ropa, llevando a los gemelos a las prácticas de fútbol, las representaciones de teatro de la escuela, las reuniones de padres y maestros y su trabajo voluntario.  Se sintió extenuada de solo pensarlo.  Olvidándose de las preocupaciones de su esposo, cayó en un sueño profundo.

Entonces un día descubrió por sí  misma cómo se sentía él.  Había ido a las oficinas de una organización muy conocida a dejar una información.  Había esperado encontrarse allí con algunos de los voluntarios y hablar con ellos, pero para sorpresa de Patricia, todos estaban demasiado ocupados como para hablar con ella.

Convencida de que no fue bien recibida, se marchó desalentada.

En nuestro ocupado mundo, a menudo nos desalentamos los unos a los otros.  Muchos trabajamos en exceso y nos extralimitamos en capacidad, y descubrimos que es fácil habituarnos a dejar de lado a las personas, incluyendo a las que más amamos.  No obstante, podemos ser determinantes en las vidas de las personas que nos rodean si dedicamos el tiempo de escucharlas, si les mostramos que son preciosas para Dios… y para nosotros.

Jesús dijo que el mayor mandamiento es amarse los unos a los otros, y que a sus seguidores les conocerían por su amor… un amor profundo y verdadero.  Así que mañana, mientras llevas a cabo tu día, toma un momento de tus muchas tareas.  Haz una llamada telefónica y dile a un amigo que crees que es muy especial.  No solo alegrarás el día de tu amigo, sino que darás un gran testimonio a un mundo que sufre y que se siente abandonado.

Este es el mayor mandamiento que se amen los unos a los otros.
Juan 15:17

Clean House - By Sue Tholken

Psalm 55
7 I would flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm."
I am sitting in my shelter, which is a mobile home, in the deserts of southern California, in the middle of a sand storm.  We listened to the wind howl all night long, and wondered what possessions were flying around outside like missiles in the wild wind.  While we felt quite safe, it was still intimidating, as all storms of life are.  We do not like losing control of our lives or our environments.
In the morning, the sun was shinning but it exposed a thick haze of sand still blowing around, and the beautiful mountains, once visible from our front windows, were obscured from view. Our connection to the outside world, the satellite dish, had blown over in the night, giving us a greater feeling of isolation.  I touched the counter tops to begin breakfast preparation.  How could this be?  A thin layer of sand had invaded our home even though the windows and doors were shut tight.  Upon close examination, everything had this thin layer of fine sand on it and I knew that I had my work cut out for me cleaning, thoroughly deep cleaning after the storm abated.
My mind quickly shifted to my life and thought about the sin in our lives and the way it gets in no matter how tight the barriers we think we have placed against it.  We can do all the "right things", read the Bible, pray constantly, go to church, tithe, evangelize, do good to all men etc, etc….and still the "fine sand-sin" slips in through the human vulnerability cracks in our armor.   It is our very humanity that required Jesus to die in order that we can be reconciled with God.  God could not have ever entered our homes to sit on sofas covered with sand, eat on dishes covered with sand, walk on floors filled with grit.  I shudder at the feel and thought of it. Jesus is our big vacuum cleaner.  He has taken all our grit away.  He has cleaned house, he has born our sins so that God can see me as his Princess, his daughter, and visit my clean house and have fellowship with me.
Leviticus 26:12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.

Father God, thank you for Jesus who has cleaned out all the corners of my life so I can be acceptable to your Holiness and you can fellowship with me.  Father, thank you also for the Holy Spirit who continues  to teach me and brings me further along each day in my quest for spiritual perfection.  Thank you for your promises, and the Bible, where we can read of them, and be reminded of just who you are to us.  We love you Almighty God, and worship you to the end of days. We pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen and Amen.

¿Cuál es?

¿El día más bello? Hoy.
¿La cosa más fácil? Equivocarse.
¿El obstáculo más grande? El miedo.
¿El mayor error? Abandonarse.
¿La raíz de todos los males? El egoísmo.
¿La distracción más bella? El trabajo.
¿La peor derrota? El desaliento.
¿La primera necesidad? Comunicarse.
¿Lo que más hace feliz? Ser útil a los demás.

¿El misterio más grande? La muerte.
¿El peor defecto? El mal humor.
¿La persona más peligrosa? La envidiosa.
¿El sentimiento más ruin? El rencor.
¿El regalo más bello? El perdón.
¿Lo más imprescindible? El hogar.
¿La ruta más rápida? El camino correcto.
¿La sensación más grata? La paz interior.
¿El resguardo más eficaz? La sonrisa.
¿El mejor remedio? El optimismo.
¿La mayor satisfacción? El deber cumplido.
¿La fuerza más potente del mundo? La fe.
¿La cosa más bella de todas? El amor.
¿Los mejores profesores? Los niños.
¿Las personas más necesarias? Los padres.
¿Una de las mayores alegrías? Tener amigos de verdad, saber que cuentas con alguien, aunque sepas que ellos no van a resolver tus problemas…
Pero toda esta belleza que encontramos en la vida… La tenemos gracias a los dones que Dios nos dio y a su infinito amor…
Teresa De Calcuta
1 Timoteo 6:11
Mas tú, oh hombre de Dios, sigue la justicia, la piedad, la fe, el amor, la paciencia, la mansedumbre. Pelea la buena batalla de la fe, echa mano de la vida eterna, a la cual asimismo fuiste llamado, habiendo hecho la buena profesión delante de muchos testigos.

The starfish

Once a man was walking along a beach. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Off in the distance he could see a person going back and forth between the surf's edge and and the beach. Back and forth this person went. As the man approached, he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide.

The man was stuck by the the apparent futility of the task. There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish. As he approached, the person continued the task of picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf.

As he came up to the person, he said: "You must be crazy. There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can't possibly make a difference." The person looked at the man. He then stooped down and pick up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean. He turned back to the man and said: "It sure made a difference to that one!"

Muchos lápices

 

Mi madre vive sola. Hace ocho años que mi padre murió. Ella no puede salir sola excepto a dar caminatas cortas. Tiene muchas dificultades con su memoria corta. Las conversaciones se limitan a unos cuantos comentarios repetidos.

Sin embargo, mi madre me dijo algo profundo: «El otro día estaba pensando en mis problemas y decidí que no tengo nada de qué quejarme. Dios me está cuidando y tengo gente que me ayuda. Mi único problema es que no puedo acordarme de nada, y tengo muchos lápices y papel para escribirlo todo.»

El apóstol Pablo luchaba con lo que él llamaba «un aguijón en la carne» (2 Corintios 12:7). Pero descubrió que en su debilidad, él experimentaba «el poder de Cristo» (v.9). Dijo: «Por eso me complazco en las debilidades, en insultos, en privaciones, en persecuciones y en angustias por amor a Cristo» (v.10).

Todos tenemos luchas. Éstas se pueden relacionar con la edad, las finanzas, las relaciones o miles de otras dificultades. Pero si de verdad disponemos nuestro corazón a confiar en Dios, y si permanecemos agradecidos incluso en medio de nuestros problemas, es más probable que reconozcamos que «no tenemos nada de qué quejarnos». 

–Dave Branon

I Believe! - Author Unknown

I believe . . .

that we don't have to change friends
if we understand that friends change.

I believe . . .

that no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.

I believe . . .

that true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I believe . . .

that you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I believe . . .

that it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.

I believe . . .

that you should always leave loved ones
with loving words. It may be the last
time you see them.

I believe . . .

that you can keep going
long after you can't.

I believe . . .

that we are responsible for what we do,
no matter how we feel.

I believe . . .

that either you control your attitude
or it controls you.

I believe . . .

that regardless of how hot and
steamy a relationship is at first,
the passion fades and there had
better be something else to take its place.

I believe . . .

that heroes are the people
who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.

I believe . . .

that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe . . .

that my best friend and I can do anything
or nothing and have the best time.

I believe . . .

that sometimes the people you expect
to kick you when you're down,
will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe . . .

that sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me
the right to be cruel.

I believe . . .

that just because someone doesn't love
you the way you want them to doesn't
mean they don't love you with all they have.
You have to decide if that is enough.

I believe . . .

that maturity has more to do with
what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them
and less to do with how many
birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe . . .

that it isn't always enough to be
forgiven by others. Sometimes you
have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe . . .

that no matter how bad your
heart is broken the world doesn't stop for
your grief.

I believe . . .

that our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who
we become.

I believe . . .

that just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do.

I believe . . .

that you shouldn't be so eager
to find out a secret.
It could change your life forever.

I believe . . .

that two people can look at the exact
same thing and see something totally different.

I believe . . .

that your life can be changed
in a matter of hours
by people who don't even know you.

I believe . . .

that even when you think you
have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you
you will find the strength to help.

I believe . . .

that credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.

I believe . . .

that the people you care about most in life
are taken from you too soon.

Tazas de té

Un hombre calvo y demacrado se hallaba en su cama, la cara pálida, le habían trasplantado la médula ósea porque tenía leucemia.

La enfermera Hanne Dina se le acercó, lo saludó y le preguntó si quería sopa y él dijo que no, que solo quería dormir. Al rato Hanne le llevó la medicina y él se la tomó con disgusto y volvió a hundirse en la almohada.

Hanne fue a la cocina del hospital preparó para ella una taza de te, preparó una bandeja y colocó la tetera y dos tazas y se dirigió al cuarto del enfermo preguntandole: Lo molesto si tomo el té aquí? Quisiera ver las noticias acá mientras tomo el té.

Claro que no me molesta respondió. Ella encendió el televisor mientras le decía: Traje una taza extra por si quiere té. Sí, me sirve media taza, por favor, respondió el enfermo.

Al día siguiente Hanne volvió con la bandeja y dos tazas y así lo hizo por una semana. A los pocos días se fue: se había restablecido lo suficiente para irse a terminar su convalecencia en su casa.

Cuatro meses más tarde Hanne estaba en un centro comercial cuando oyó una voz potente. ¡ Hanne, que gusto de verla”. La enfermera lo reconoció. Era el enfermo de la taza de té. Él la abrazó y presentándole a la esposa , dijo: “ Ésta es Hanne, la mujer que me salvó la vida con una taza de té”.

Pequeños gestos pueden mostrar grandes amores y grandes simpatías. No tenemos idea de lo que Dios puede hacer con lo poco que tenemos a mano. Pueden ser dos panes y dos peces pero con el aderezo del corazón algo milagroso puede suceder. No menosprecies lo poco que tiene y extiéndelo hoy al que está cerca de ti.

“Les aseguro que Dios no se olvidará de premiar al que dé un vaso de agua fresca a uno de mis seguidores, aunque se trate del menos importante”.Mateo 10:42

Luego tomó los cinco panes y los pescados, y dio gracias a Dios. Partió los panes y los pescados en pedazos y se los entregó a sus discípulos, y ellos los repartieron a la gente.Mateo 15:36

Jesús les dijo: –Denles ustedes de comer. Pero ellos respondieron: –Sólo tenemos cinco panes y dos pescados. Si fuéramos a dar de comer a toda esta gente, tendríamos que ir a comprar comida,Lucas 9:13

Package!

Recently, I got a package notice from the post office. Because I was not expecting a package, I thought, "Oh no, it’s probably a package from some company that I will not want, so I will have to go to the trouble of sending it back…"

Later that day a good friend mentioned to me that I should be getting something in the mail from him. Well, my attitude about the package waiting for me at the post office changed immediately because I now knew who had sent it! I was excited to see what it was, so I went expectantly to the post office as soon as I could. I was delighted to get a set of stainless steel pots for backpacking as a thank you from some friends I had recently taken on a backpacking trip! I fired off a thank you note that night.

Later that evening I had a thought… In life there are many unexpected packages…Some I like and others I don’t. I have come to realize that no matter what comes, God is in control.

Even in moments of bewilderment or despair in the past, when I would have loved to have written, “RETURN TO SENDER”, I have survived and even come to a point of anticipating the future because I chose to focus on the Sender, and on the knowledge that God does love me and really does know and care about my life’s circumstances. Sometimes I have doubted but in those moments I always come back to the cross as the ultimate proof of God’s love. Jesus died for me, he proved his love. The words of Romans 8:28 are profound… “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose.”

What are the packages you hold today? Can you trust that God does have a plan? The nation of Israel was dealing with the reality of being in captivity, and in Jeremiah 29:11 God reassures them by saying, “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”

Can you trust him? And what about writing Him a thank you note…?
Taken from here

Pequeñeces

Una señora de edad había esperado toda la vida la oportunidad de viajar en un tren. Quería contemplar, devorar cada paisaje con los ojos y disfrutar todo cuanto pudiera en los kilómetros que iría a recorrer.

Entró muy decida en el vagón de pasajeros y cuando el tren partió, comenzó a acomodar los paquetes y cestas que traía, trató de arreglar confortablemente su asiento y acomodar las cortinas, y colocarse en situación cómoda pero …
de repente, cuando ya estaba lista para comenzar la contemplación del paisaje, el conductor voceó el nombre de la estación a la cual iban, ¡habían llegado!.

“Que pena”, dijo ella, “si hubiese sabido que llegaríamos tan pronto no habría perdido tiempo en pequeñeces”.

No perdamos el enfoque real en nuestra vida. Las pequeñeces muchas veces nos desvían y distraen del verdadero paisaje, de las cosas grandes que Dios tiene para nosotros.. démosle a Él, el lugar que merece…

¡El Primer lugar!

Efesios 5:15,16

“Mirad, pues, con diligencia cómo andéis, no como necios, sino como sabios, aprovechando bien el tiempo, porque los días son malos”

Mateo 6:33
"Mas buscad primeramente el reino de Dios y su justicia, y todas estas cosas os serán añadidas".

Deuteronomio 6:5
"Y Amarás al Señor tu Dios de todo tu corazón, y de toda tu alma, y con todo tu poder".

Tomado de Renuevo de Plenitud