Category Archives: Decisions

Take another step

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“How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given you?” Joshua 18:3
“What are you waiting for?” That was basically the question Joshua was asking. They knew what they had to do but were motionless, even when they had a promised a better place, a bountiful land. Stillness was their answer.

Oftentimes we know exactly what we need to do and just do nothing. There are many reasons for that, but the main one is fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of not having the skills, fear of fear itself. But when we are all by ourselves, we know what we need to do. We know that action is the only option, but we choose to stay put, we choose to do nothing. Probably it is because we are comfortable where we are in life right now and making a change is inconvenient. Or maybe fear has become our master. Can you imagine that? Being controlled by a thought that extrapolates and creates mental circumstances and events that in the majority of time never happen? Fear constricts perception, thinking, and motor processes, but faith and love promote action. That is why repeatedly we find God reassuring us and telling us not to fear. “Do not fear, for I am with you” and “perfect love drives out fear”.

You might have been drawn into a situation that most likely you did not create. Or be in a position today you drifted into because of your inaction. Regardless of what or why you are where you are today, you need to move. The best way to break a series of bad decisions is, you guessed it, make one good decision. It sounds simplistic and obvious but when you are immersed in a streak of constant inaction, thinking of making a change, even when it’s a small one, seems an unsurmountable task. One act, ons step, that is what it takes.

Here are some suggestions of how to start making changes that I found helpful:

  • Rest: Yes, it sounds like an oxymoron, but when you are well rested your body and your mind are renewed, you think better you’re more productive, alert and more prone to move on.
  • Eat well: Take control of your diet and make small changes everyday. Drink water before eating, it will make you feel more full and therefore consume less. Ask for help to make a balanced diet and don’t be hard on yourself.
  • Exercise: Even a small walk around your neighborhood will make you feel better and alert.
  • Analyze who are your influencers: “The people that you listen to, are the preview of the future you.” Jeff Henderson. When we consider the lives of those we regard and seek their advise, we should notice the result of their lives in the area we are seeking advise on. Are they modeling well? If I am asking financial advise, are they an example to follow? In relationships? In work? If not, change your sphere.
  • Ask for help: If you cannot make changes on your own, seek advise of others. Look for people that have different ideas than yours and pick their minds. Sometimes one word or one phrase is all that you need to start moving.

Storms in life and menacing waters may be ahead of you, that’s life. But you are not a quitter, you are courageous and you embrace the future with hope. Every obstacle is just a building block for your character. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor”, if you never quit and you take that first step, you will be on you way to your promised land. Steven Curtis Chapman described this beautifully in his song “Take Another Step”. There’s a paragraph that says:

If there’s an ocean in front of you

You know what you’ve gotta do

Take another step and another step

Maybe He’ll turn the water into land

And maybe He’ll take your hand and say

Let’s take a walk on the waves

Will you trust Me either way

And take another step

Take another step

So you know what needs to be done. What are you waiting for? Take another step.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2014
Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

A view from the bottom

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When life hits us with a storm of problems, the first thing that usually gets impaired is our view. We usually only see the immediate, the here and now, the critical issue that needs attention. Problems are all we see; it is in most cases our first reaction. We get immersed in the situation and our view becomes focused on that particular item. Health, finances, relationships, whatever it is that is hitting close to home, takes center stage and it seems to come to us with a vengeance. We look around and the only thing we see is a hopeless bottom.

Isn’t it curious that we can one day be at the top of our game and seem that we can conquer the world and then suddenly, we are thrown to our knees begging for help because we can’t see a way to even conquer ourselves? Life is hard. For some, it’s harder than most and we cannot understand why, or even make sense of it many times. It is in these moments where an uninvited guest usually knocks at our door and without hesitation strolls in. Regret mines our mind and accuses us continually. “Why did you say that?” or “Why did you do that? If you hadn’t gone there, or If you hadn’t bought that everything would have been different.” That list can go on and on. Regret points us even further down to the bottom, whispering to us that this is a permanent place for us and that we blew it.

But the bottom even as hard as it might be, has another vantage point, UP. You see, being at the bottom is sometimes a good place to be to look from. Everything looks different, you see life from a different perspective. You appreciate life in a deeper more profound way. We can decide to continue to roam and resign ourselves to live in the low places, or we can scout the bottom for a step to move up. King David penned it best in Psalm 121; “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” A beautiful view from the bottom.

The bottom is a reminder for us to look up. To raise our voices and focus our view to higher, greater, bigger places. I know that the feeling at the bottom is sometimes a constant angst, despair. A place of loneliness and shame. But it also can be if you decide, a place of hope and new vision. When our inner eyes look up, our outer circumstances will follow suit. A place of despair can become a place of hope. A place of tears can become a place of joy. A place of sickness can become a place of healing. A place at the bottom can become a place to look up.

A place at the bottom can be a vantage point. A place to look up to our Heavenly father, that in the midst of your current circumstances is waiting for you to look to him. You might not know your next step, and even thinking of taking one is frighting because you fear it will make your stay at the bottom permanent. But the great thing to remember is that He created the heavens and the earth and knows and created every path imaginable on your trek up the mountain. And if there is none, he will make one.

No more tears, no more regrets. Lift your eyes towards the mountains and take the next step. Your Heavenly father awaits. And you have the best view right now, a view from the bottom.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2014
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible: Today’s New International Version. 2005. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

It’s time to move

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time to move“…You have stayed at this mountain long enough. It is time to break camp and move on.” – Deuteronomy 1:6b-7a

Change. A word many of us dread because it represents an uncomfortable state in life. It is uncomfortable because it was in one of those changing times were we made our biggest mistake. Change has become an enemy and we have bunkered into our comfortable place of “status quo,” giving fear an undeserved throne. So unknowingly we opt for change; a change of masters. Change has become so difficult for us to handle that we are paralyzed in places that by our own admission are the wrong places. But we remain there because at least we know where we are. We don’t do good with change. Yet change is constant in every one’s life, even when we don’t want to admit it.

Moses was told by God himself to move. To leave the familiar for the unfamiliar. To trade the comfortable with the uncomfortable. To change the easy for the difficult. Every stage of life has a place and people for them. When we reflect intently into our past, we see a trend of who, what, when and where, and the results of those associations. There are places and people that might be a fixture in our life, and there others that are just for a season. There are places that are to remain part of who we are, and there are other places that are just a staging positions of our lives and a springboard for the future. Moses was told this clearly: “It is time to break camp and move on.” And probably this is what you need to do today.

Moving on is fearful and exciting all at the same time. There is hope in change. A sense of better and greater things ahead, even when we have no foresight of what that might be. We press on because hope fuels us. Hope is the oxygen of humanity. The children of Israel were urged to start moving so they could start growing. The familiar was good yet the unfamiliar was best. It would be costly, but worth it. In hindsight, a tipping point in history for a nation and the world.

This might be the inflection point you were secretly hoping for. This uncomfortable, blurry and messy situation might just be the place and the moment to thrust you into a new dimension never thought possible. This change, this decision, this direction, might be the one that defines the entire ending of your story. The truth about this story is the same truth about yours and mine. Because even when we might not acknowledge it every time, God is and has been walking with us all along and will continue to do so in the midst of change. “There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place,” and this should give you and me the assurance, that even when it might not be easy, we will get to the place God has promised us.

You can decide to stay put, to remain in the mountain even longer because it is comfortable and known to you. And your life might go well. Or you can dethrone fear from your life and raise the banner of hope that is branded in your heart. You can become the catalyst that ignites a chain reaction that creates a movement, a brand, a church, a family, a new future that will be traced back to your action. Because action begets expansion.

The message is clear; it’s time to move.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2013

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
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The courage to choose

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“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.

Your race

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Many times while I’m alone I ponder where I am and where am I headed in life. It is sometimes a challenge because there are so many voices around, and many “benchmarks” that are available. So many bloggers, writers, preachers, politicians, professionals and in the end everyone has a different opinion about almost everything. At times, it is just overwhelming to reach a definitive conclusion of where should my steps go. Have you felt the same? When there is uncertainty of what to do next. That uncertainty is so powerful some times that it becomes paralyzing.

Making decisions is basically what we do every single day. We either get good at it or someone else does it for us and we reap the consequences of the decisions made for us. I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel comfortable by being controlled by someone else’s decisions. Just think for example about all of the laws that have been enacted by our elected officials, (yes, you and I or someone else voted for them to do so, but that is besides the point) that when you read them you say, “What were they thinking?”, or what about the policies that have been “thought up” by your boss that seem to make no sense at all and creates more work for you? We all have experiences of decisions that have been made that affect us. I know, there are bigger reasons we have laws and rules in place, but the fact remains that because of them we are required to make decisions every day.

Every day, every decision, big or small is important. Many are simple but other are life altering. It’s all connected no matter how simple it seems, so you want to get good at it. Recently I read in the book of numbers an interesting story about Joshua. He was being handed the leadership of the people of Israel and these were the instructions: “He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.” Talk about precise instructions! Wouldn’t that be just a perfect arrangement? Yes I know, it feels a little controlling, but in the end if was the best for the people of Israel.

For me today, I seek the exact relationship with God, but not through a third party, a prophet, a priest or a pastor, but by delving into God’s word. The precise instructions of how to live and finish well in life, are written in it. And the more we seek, the wiser we get. The problem with our times is that we want immediacy. Flip a switch, touch a button, click a link, you get the point, and we forget that just as our bodies take time to develop, the same is true for our character. It’s a process, but if we do not seek to get good at making decisions that can alter our lives and those around us, someone else will do it for us. The sad part of this is that, unlike the people of Israel that were being directed by God himself, you will have no one else to blame but yourself for the decisions made by someone else for you. When you don’t decide, you are actually deciding.

Take courage and find your path in life. You might have been avoiding it just because it was easy to read someone else’s blog, or article and unconsciously you walk in life by “their” view, not yours and in the end you carry with all of the consequences, good or bad for that. Don’t live anybody else’s view for your life.

The day will come when your eyes will open for the last time and you will breathe your last breath. A day will come when a final sentence will be said about you. What will that be? I truly hope that I can say as Paul told Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Run in life with all your might, all your heart and all your strength, but run your race.

“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 INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Saying “No”, creates capacity

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How hard it is sometimes! Saying this dreaded word for the new writer, the starting preacher, the rising businessman or the aspiring entertainer is difficult. For the seasoned ones it’s also hard. The two letter word, NO. When we say to ourselves, “This will make all of the difference”, saying no in our minds, means to stop any progress or even kill our dreams. It is difficult to say no at times. not because we are afraid, but because we struggle with the idea that an opportunity can be slipping from our hands and we might not see it again.

In reality accepting everything that comes our way, is a reflection of how much we value ourselves to the eyes of the world. Learning to saying no might be just what you really need to be good at in order to become precisely what you have always dreamt of becoming. Let me be clear, I am not suggesting that you pose as a negative person. All the contrary, your personal skills are very important to develop. What i’m suggesting is that you become a more selective individual. Learning to say no to good opportunities opens your capacity to accept the better ones. Many times we struggle with this, I do too, but it is especially hard when you are starting out any new endeavor. There is always learning curve for every line of business, craft or calling, but if we step back and carefully study those that have excelled in the arena we pursue, you will find that there is a “selectiveness” (if that is even a word) to what they do. It creates the capacity for them to continue doing what they do best. This in turn actually makes them even more appealing to those around them and in there sphere of influence.

So how do we master to say no to good opportunities for the better ones? Every situation is different, but I have experienced that when I have a clear understanding of what is important for my family and me on the long run, it is much easier to say no. This leads me to where I suggest you should start: with the end in mind. I know it is difficult for many to look beyond today, but it is possible. Recently I had the opportunity to discuss further about the legacy we construct with our lives. Regardless if we admit it or not, we all are constructing something, but how we construct makes a big difference. I used an illustration to explain this: Picture a well organized garage with boxes clearly marked. Two adults suddenly approach you. They are well dressed and appear to be well groomed and educated. These are your children. On another scene the same garage but in complete disarray. Garbage is all over and the two adults that approach you are disheveled and clearly disoriented. The time is two weeks after you have died, and this is your legacy to the world. Which will you choose? This brings me this principle: What you choose today will directly reflect on how you will end tomorrow. Everything is connected.

Having a clear perspective, will help you say “NO” to those opportunities that might be good, but not great. It will help you discern what will impact your legacy. You might start by asking yourself a lot of questions like these.

  • What are my values? What is it that moves me?
  • Where is my family and I headed in life?
  • Saying yes to this opportunity, will it mean that my time and resources will be compromised beyond my capacity? Who will be robbed of my time?
  • Will my family be impacted by saying yes? Can this be done by someone else?
  • What are the options?

Another tool I use is a decision matrix. This is a process of assigning values to the factors more important to me for any set of options I might have. After adding them up, the greater the total, the most “logical” the answer. You can request a template here.

Learning to say “NO”, should be an action you want to master, because it will determine your success or failure. We all struggle with this, I still do, but Im getting better every day. And sometimes the most “logical” option might not be the one you end up pursuing, but it will be the one that brings you and those you love, the greatest peace. Saying no will lead you to greater capacity and greater purpose. You will be able to construct your life, immensely, beautifully and purposefully for the generations to come.

Learn to master that two letter word, because saying No, creates capacity.

“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

While we wait

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Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Romans 15:4 NLT

A friend of mine who had recently relocated to another country, was seeking for a job in order to also relocate his family. Being alone for some time and going from job interview to job interview with no results to show, had started to make his uneasiness grow. Not that he had been idle, in fact he was getting up early every day and doing his part. He had made a plan and put it to action, counted his resources, and made provision. For him, this was a move like no other one he had done before. Him moving was not prompted by his desire, but he was certain that it was directed by The Master. He had a promise, and God always fulfills his promises.

So why he had not seen any results? No offers, no glimmer of hope. While he was being faithful and waited, his available resources were being depleted. He had calculated the time it would take exhaust them, and that time was close. And then his wife told him that she was also “all in”, and went on to quit her job and told him so. God had given them a promise and she believed it.

One of those “waiting days”, we had the chance to chat early in the morning and this issue came up. We exchanged some comments and then he said, “I’m waiting, waiting”. I could sense some frustration about the process in his comments, so I reminded him about this scripture, “…as we wait patiently…”.

Paul exhorted the Romans as to how to live and care for those that were among them. Had been telling them how to conduct themselves and why and apparently there were some among them that had been having some trouble and their patience was running slim when it came to considering their brothers and encouraging them. Then this verse comes in the middle of all his instructions and summarizes his teaching and seals the truth about God’s character. God cannot die, lie, be fooled or stop loving us.

Everything that is written in the scriptures is there to give us hope and encouragement, while we wait for the promises of God to be fulfilled in our life and on the lives of those around us. Paul with this verse is stating that the promises of God are not to be doubted or questioned, but to be expected. We live on promises not explanations. Just as the romans had troubles, tribulations and issues, we have our share of situations, but no situation will ever be as tangible as promise made by God.

Back to my friend. Just a couple of days later he received not one, but several job offers at the same time, and his problem now was to decide which one to accept. At the time of this writing, his family is traveling to meet him, their promise came to pass and their new journey begins.

Do not despair, do not be anxious, his promises are true and while we wait we should delve into his word to be filled with hope, encouragement and instruction. They were written long time ago to prepare you for your next assignment, and the process will help you grow into the man and women that God intended you to be. And all of this will happen, while we wait.

“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, 2011
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.