Author Archives: Danny Maldonado

Unknown's avatar

About Danny Maldonado

I love to inspire people to Breathe expectantly, to Live confidently and to Move boldly. I love coffee. Husband and father. Hungry for God's presence and awed by His unfailing and undeserved Love for me! Did I say that I love coffee?

¡Que viaje!

Posted on by
Reply

Un día como hoy decidimos poner en acción nuestra fe, darle piernas a nuestros sueños. Infundimos vida a lo que había nacido dentro de nuestros corazones. Hace exactamente un año nos embarcamos en esta nueva aventura de una relocalización completa. Parece como si hubiera sucedido ayer y, sin embargo, ha pasado un año. Recuerdo cómo me sentía. Un nuevo hogar, una nueva iglesia, un todo nuevo. La adrenalina era el combustible que me hacía seguir adelante cada día, o eso pensaba yo. Ha sido un año en el que todo estaba en juego. Un año en el que cada aliento que tomamos se tomó con expectación profunda. La expectativa de que el próximo momento sería inmenso, mejor y más grande. Este ha sido un año donde nuestra confianza en Aquel que nos llamó a ser de Él, ha crecido de manera inimaginable en nuestras mentes naturales. Ha sido un año en el que nuestras acciones han tenido la audacia, saliendo de nuestras zonas de comodidad como nunca habíamos pensado.

Todo comenzó con una promesa y un sentido de urgencia. Una promesa de mejores posibilidades para los que más amamos, nuestro hijo y nuestra hija. Todo comenzó hace cinco años, cuando Alex tenía nueve años y Amy tenía ocho años. Entendimos que, incluso, cuando hayamos tenido éxito en nuestra vida profesional, nuestro verdadero éxito lo disfrutamos cuando lo vemos en nuestro hogar. Para nosotros, el éxito es una vida llena de la gracia y la misericordia de Dios. Una vida que irradia su bondad y que profundiza en su sabiduría. Un sentido de urgencia que el tiempo es valioso y que con nuestros hijos no se juega.

El tiempo y el espacio no es suficiente para escribir todo lo que ha sucedido este año. Aun cuando casi pierdo la vida en el proceso, puedo decir sin duda que Él ha estado con nosotros en cada paso. No hemos caminado solos. ¿Ha valido la pena? Ya lo creo. Él ha sido fiel, aun cuando nosotros no lo hemos sido. Matt Redman escribió una canción llamada “Never Once “, que escuché cuando nos mudamos. Describe cómo me sentía y cómo me siento hoy, no por lo que ha sucedido este año, sino porque es un recordatorio de que en cada paso que hemos tomado, aun cuando algunos de esos pasos nos hayan llevado a lugares oscuros, Él ha estado allí siempre. Lo mismo es cierto para ti hoy.

Así que, si crees que estás solo, piensa de nuevo. Él ha estado allí en cada paso, aun cuando estés pasando por la crisis e la incertidumbre. No tengas miedo, sólo toma el siguiente paso, él está allí contigo.

En cuanto a mí, al mirar hacia atrás, no cambiaría nada. Dios es fiel. Ha sido un gran año, y es sólo el principio, lo único que puedo decir es: “¡Qué clase de viaje!”


“RESPIRA con expectación, VIVE con confianza y MUÉVETE con valentía”

¿Quieres esta inspiración de café por correo electrónico todas las mañanas? Ingresa tu dirección de correo electrónico para suscribirte en la parte superior derecha de esta página, debajo de la casilla de “Subscribe” ¿Te gusta este escrito y deseas compartirlo? Simplemente añade tu comentario abajo en “Leave a Reply” o compártelo en Facebook, Twitter, o por correo electrónico usando cualesquiera de los botones al lado de “Share this:”

© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2012

Liderazgo

Posted on by
Reply

“El liderazgo es una mayordomía, es temporera y tu eres responsable” – Andy Stanley

“RESPIRA con expectación, VIVE con confianza y MUÉVETE con valentía”

Leadership

Posted on by
Reply

“Leadership is a stewardship, it’s temporary and you’re accountable” – Andy Stanley

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

The courage to choose

Posted on by
Reply

“I choose not to care, it’s my decision. If I had not said a word about it, no one will notice. My secret is safe. Maybe me not caring is not a big deal. Perhaps why am I so preoccupied? I am sure that they don’t care that I don’t care. Anyway, it is his or her problem. I didn’t make the mistakes, they did, and do you want to know something? I have enough problems myself to get involved with someone else’s issues. One other thing, they are not asking for help and I should respect that, right? why should I be so concerned to help them? I mean, I can see that the path that they are going will not end well, but they can figure it out by themselves, I did. Anyway, its to much of a hassle and as I said before, I got things in my plate also.”

You and I have found ourselves having internal conversations like these at some point in our lives. Many of us will not even admit to having them, but the fact remains that we have all struggled with this in one way or the other. And we choose. We choose to stand still and do nothing and keep on our merry way. Life will be unchanged for us and we will not be inconvenienced with a pause of our busy lives. Its all great, for us life remains uninterrupted.

Or we can choose to act. We can act at the expense of being inconvenienced and rejected. We can act being almost certain that we will not be thanked or recognized at the moment. But we act with the expectation of the promise of a life changed. We act on the expectation of a disaster averted, and when we do, the feeling of relief is unexplainable. And it doesn’t take much from our part. Sometimes it is like moving the lever to change the tracks of a train to avert a colission. We have all seen it in the movies, when someone makes this effort to move that lever so the train can change from one track to another. It seems to be a very big effort at the beginning, but when it is done, the relief is so visible, that for those that made the effort, it was worth it. In many of the cases no one on the train even notices, but their lives have been spared from disaster. Lives directed into the correct track, and it is just awesome.

This reminds me of Matthew 9:36. “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd”. Jesus saw the crowds he had to act. He saw their condition and decided to do something. And he knew he was going to be rejected. He knew that his effort would not be recognized at the moment or even thanked. His secret ambition was the promise of changed lives, disaster averted and redeemed souls. And he chose. And it cost him. but for that reason my life and yours were changed. He made the effort to move us into the track that would change everything.

What about you? Have you had these internal struggles. To act or not to act? Sometimes it only takes a small effort from our part and almost all the time it will not cost us our life. The effort will be just a nudge, a word, a smile, a conversation, an invitation, a handshake. But we must choose to do so. I promise you that the feeling is amazing. You will see the train changing lanes, but more importantly how your own life has changed, because you had the courage to choose.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

Want this inspiration of coffee by email every morning? Enter your e-mail to subscribe at the top right of this page under the box for “Subscribe”. Like this writing and want share it? Just add your comment below on “Leave a Reply” or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or by email using any of the buttons next to “Share this:”

© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2012
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Forgive others

Posted on by
Reply

“If we would read the secret history of our enemies, we would find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering, enough to disarm all hostility” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive – Matthew 6:14

Perdona a los demás

Posted on by
Reply

Si leyéramos la historia secreta de nuestros enemigos, encontraríamos en la vida de cada hombre suficiente angustia y sufrimiento para desarmar toda hostilidad – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 Si ustedes perdonan a los otros sus ofensas, también su Padre celestial los perdonará a ustedes – Mateo 6:14

Running on empty

Posted on by
Reply

I have stories while in college where my friends or myself pushed the envelope and we ran our vehicles to the limit. We wanted to know how far we could run while the gas gauge showed that we were running on empty (sometimes it was just because we had no money). It was and exhilarating feeling and fun at the time. We had very few life commitments and we thought that it was cool. I know what you’re thinking, what in the world were they thinking? Isn’t that the dumbest thing to do? Looking back I admit it was foolish. What if we’d had a real emergency and had no fuel to go on?

We were ignorant to the obvious, we would be out of gas soon. This created even bigger problems because we ignored a fact about the vehicles system: when a car runs on empty, usually because of constant usage and time, dirt and other unclean components accumulate in the gas tank. When it is pushed to the limit of running on an empty tank, it can damage the vehicles system and become a costly and unnecessary repair.

Usually, the times my car ran out of gas were in times when I needed to get somewhere the most. It was times in which I was not playing that foolish game, but forgot to replenish the tank. Not a good feeling at all.

There is a good resemblance to our lives. When we stop replenishing we run the risk of getting stranded in the most difficult places, without spiritual, physical or emotional fuel. It happens all the time. We forget the most important things in life. We stop being inspired, and we walk through life as if the charge we have, will be enough to carry us through. Our heart, our mind and our soul needs refueling, constantly. We can kid ourselves that we will be ok, but the truth remains that we know deep inside that we are not. Our priorities start to drift and we loose focus.

Running on empty creates a greater and tougher experience in life. We create a lot of smoke, and we find out pretty quick, it is easily dissipated by even a small wind. When this happens, discouragement kicks in. Because all of the focus has shifted to efforts that have no substance and that are unsustainable on a “one tank”. These are the moments when we start to feel restless, we see signs of burnout and sometimes even feel depressed. Our thought process is blurred and we make mistakes. I think that we run on empty on the belief of our infallible talent, that we are above everyone else and we have it all figured out. Somehow the rules of life apply to everybody else but us and that we have something special that no one else has. In reality what we are showing is a prideful heart and a sense of entitlement. It’s similar to when the tank is empty. It clogs the system and the vehicle doesn’t run well or it even won’t run at all. Dirt and foreign objects are interfering with the normal flow of supply.

We need to realign our lives to the basics. In our spiritual journey, nothing is a replacement of daily worship. In business, new prospects and clients are the lifeline that replenish the cycle. At home, nurturing our relationships everyday is a must. With your body, rest and eat well; you get the point. Don’t run on empty.

Slow down and get back to the basics, you might need it in the moment you least expect. Having a full tank will at least give you spiritual, emotional and even physical margin, to endure the tough times. Replenish your life, and stop running on empty.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

Want this inspiration of coffee by email every morning? Enter your e-mail to subscribe at the top right of this page under the box for “Subscribe”. Like this writing and want share it? Just add your comment below on “Leave a Reply” or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or by email using any of the buttons next to “Share this:”
© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2012

To finish well

Posted on by
Reply

What will you story say at the end? Is your story worth saying? I make myself these questions everyday. Is it because of how I see myself in the story? Do I have an “ordinary” life and reading about all of the other extraordinary ones, creates an angst in my chest of, not being “there” or having “it” (whatever any of those mean). I think about the end, a lot. I think of how my actions today will impact the lasting memory of my likeness in the minds and hearts of those I love. Will my life reflect greatness? Will my actions exude my highest and most noble thinking? I hope so. In fact, I pray so. What will my story say to those that will remain? What is my story saying now? This really gets to me.

Recently I attended a mens group called Seven, that met for seven weeks at seven in the morning on Fridays. We explored the seven questions that rattle the minds of most men. Great conversations and even better community. The theme that really got to me was that of leaving a legacy; finishing well. How will I be remembered? How will my wife, my son and my daughter be impacted in the days, the months and the years to come? What will my grandchildren say about me? More importantly, what will God say about me?

I am a big fan of movies that depict true stories. I feel attracted to them when I can relate to many of those to whom it happened to. But if you are like me, what really stirs my heart are the endings. The underdog finishing on top, or the dejected changing his or her ways, or the stories of how the human resilience conquers the most difficult situations; epic endings. Maybe I feel attracted to them because I wonder if my story will be memorialized as those that have made it to film, not because of fame or fortune, but because of the inspiration it can bring to generations to come. Will my story inspire someone else to achieve the impossible? Will my life change the course of someone else’s story? Can I make a difference for the world to see? Will my story be epic? Have you made yourself these questions, or is it only me?For some of us, when we look at our present life we recognize that by our standards, we are not living an epic tale. And we question our existence, over and over again. I don’t know the answers to any of the questions I have made and are still making to myself. But I know they will be answered in due time.

So I have resolved that until those answers come, when I’m faced with impossibilities, I will continue to believe that all things are possible. When i feel discouraged, I will continue to inspire and be inspired. When I’m talked down and demeaned by others, I will continue to think like an eagle when everyone else around me is not. When handed the worst, I will continue to expect the best. When all seems at a lost and at a dead end, I will continue to trust that God has a plan for my life and for those I have been entrusted with. A bigger, greater, brighter, stronger and more wonderful plan than what I can possibly imagine. When faced with small minded people that want to water down my existence, I will continue to dream BIG because I serve an unmeasurable God. When wronged by someone I consider a friend, I will continue to believe in friendship, because it is the face of kindness in the world. When there is no clear path, I will continue to live my life based on the possibilities, because living by fact alone ignores any faith and greatness. If times are scarce, I will continue to give even when all is taken from me. If shunned by the world, I will continue to love. If I fall, I will brush off the dirt, clean my wounds and get up every time. When faced with injustice, I will continue to fight for those that cannot fight for themselves. If I’m left as forgotten, I will continue to remember those in need even when nobody else acknowledges me. And by doing all of this, I trust, I hope and I pray that I will be able to answer many of my questions and dilemmas. Maybe you should do the same.

I long for the day when I bow before the Almighty and lay my crown at his feet and say, “Lord, I made it. There were times when I thought I’d fail, but I made it”. That day, that glorious day, I will know that I finished well.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

Want this inspiration of coffee by email every morning? Enter your e-mail to subscribe at the top right of this page under the box for “Subscribe”. Like this writing and want share it? Just add your comment below on “Leave a Reply” or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or by email using any of the buttons next to “Share this:”
© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2012