Category Archives: Life

He will rebuild the walls…

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by DP

Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” Nehemiah 2:17

Nehemiah, the king’s cup-bearer went to Jerusalem, to rebuild it. The city was in shambles. The story describes that he scouted the ruins at night. He even walked through them, alone. He assessed the condition of the city and it’s walls. Then comes this verse, where he acknowledges where they stand and what they were going to do, “let us build the wall”.

Today when you look at your situation, at your life, you might feel not like Nehemiah, but like the walls of Jerusalem; in ruins, destroyed, forgotten and with no apparent hope. You might even feel that the gates of your soul are burned down, and no further protection exists for you. That because of all that you have been through and all the hurt that you have experienced, the walls will remain in ruins. What you see tells you, there is nothing else to do.

But God is telling you today, I will rebuild your walls and I will rebuild your life. As Nehemiah did and told everyone that was with him; yes, their condition was critical and vulnerable, but they would rebuild the walls. You might be in a very difficult plight, and everyone has discounted you already. What they don’t know is that the Master Builder is here. As Nehemiah did with the walls, God is here today, right now, wanting to rebuild your life. He restores your gates, putting new doors. He restores your walls building your heart brick by brick, telling you that no longer you will be reproached, shunned or forgotten because He loves you.

You will stand tall, you will stand strong, you will be a testimony of the artisan ability of the Creative God. Take heart, take hope, the Master Builder is here, He will rebuild the walls!

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright DP, 2010

…for there is the sound of abundance of rain.

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by DP

Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” 1 Kings 18:41 NKJV

How is it that Elijah heard the sound of abundant rain? Clear skies, no clouds, no signs, no rain. Was he out of his mind? No, but Elijah had foresight of the rain to come.

Elijah knew the season he was in. When you are connected with God, you seek His presence and stay obedient, you will have the revelation of the seasons. Not the natural seasons, but the spiritual ones. You will know when to go out and when to stay in, when to talk and when to stay quiet, when to walk and when to stand still. Regardless of what everybody else sees, does and tells you, you will have a revelation of the season for your life and what to do. You will hear the voice that says, I hear the sound of rain!

Rain? We ask, in middle of this trial? Rain? When my spouse has left. Rain? When my finances are a mess. Rain? When I have come to the end of my resources? Rain? When I have no direction in life? Yes, the sound of abundance of rain. It will come without notice, and when it comes it will pour to overflow. There are seasons in our life that are characterized by the drought. The lack of meaning, the want of better and brighter days. We don’t see nothing happening. Our flesh starts to take over our spirit and begins to convince it that as dry as it seems, it will definitely get worse. It is a battle between what we can see and what we can’t. It is confusing, when our emotions take over and try to control our mindset.

But God will pour rain over your health, over your children, over your trial, over your relationships, over your work, over your finances, and when it happens it will be like a flood. You will have to run, so be prepared for His rain.

Therefore, go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain!

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright DP, 2007

Do you know your Father?

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by DP

“My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Luke 15:31-32

Recently, some friends and I took some time to have lunch together. We gathered to talk about life and about how great things the Lord has done in our lives. It was a refreshing time.

When we were about to leave, this passage of the scripture came up. Our friend told us, “If you read carefully, you can understand that the Father had two lost sons, neither of them knew the Father”. I had never heard this portion of scripture displayed that way. One son clearly had sinned and wasted all that he was entitled to, this was known to me. But the other that stood home never enjoyed the blessings of his Father. He simple did not knew his Father. He was at the home physically, but where was his heart?

This made me think profoundly. Do I really know you Lord? Have I spent enough time to seek you, to know you, to spend time refreshing my soul with your presence? Do I enjoy your blessings and pursue my full potential in your hands? Do I seek for you to do great things in me? We are so engulfed in many things daily, and it is easy to be entertained with the busyness of life, work and even in church.

Take time to seek Him in the morning, to know Him through His word, and to feast in His presence. Do you really know your Father?

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright DP, 2006

…depart to the other side

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And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. Matthew 8:18

How amazing it is to know that if He said to depart to the other side, He knows we will get there. Jesus gave the command. It was not a suggestion, much less a question, a command. If you read carefully the scripture, He was also the first on the boat, and then His disciples followed him.

We see all of the turmoil around us and we consciously rationalize, I’m not going that way. But deep down inside His voice is saying, “depart to the other side”. We know it, but we are afraid, we feel uncertain and uncomfortable. Haven’t you noticed that He is the first one on the boat? Jesus knew that a storm was on the horizon, and maybe his disciples saw the sky and realized, it’s going to get ugly. Nevertheless, Jesus was the first on-board. His power over everything was later manifested in the middle of the storm.

What is it today that is depriving your sleep? What has surrounded you that keeps you unease? Are you concerned about the future, the what ifs’ of life. Those situations and mental outcomes that we create and dread so much. He is already in the boat. He knows your condition, He knows what you are lacking, wanting, needing. He knows. In middle of the situation we often don’t see Him. We just see the waves. We just see ourselves, alone. Our hearts fill with fear of the unknown.

His command is to -depart to the other side-. And if He said it, we believe it and that settles it. He intends and will perform his word. His thoughts for you are thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. He is already in the boat. He is waiting for you to get in and start sailing. Yes, a storm might be in the horizon, a difficult situation is probably around the corner, or maybe you are already in one, but the good news is that He is in the boat, and more importantly, He said to depart to the other side.

Don’t fear, He will arise in middle of the storm and rebuke the wind and the sea. Remember, He said, “depart to the other side”

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2008

Polish your shoes

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by DP

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

This morning after mi kids left for school and I was left home to tend to the morning chores that I have to do (or sometimes impose myself to do), I went to my closet to dress up for work. I selected a suit, a shirt, tie, belt and of course my shoes. Then it hit me. These are very nice, comfortable shoes but they didn’t look particularly clean. So even when I don’t like to do it I headed to clean and polish them. This is a process I don’t like, because you get your hands dirty and sticky and after you finish you have to wash your hands very thoroughly so the wax is removed.

Obviously, I am not a professional at doing this, but I do make sure that everything is clean and polished. This is my process: I start by using a coarse brush to wipe clean the entire shoe. Then I select the polishing wax and apply it either by hand or by a smaller brush that is able to penetrate the most intricate places of the shoe, around the sole and between the laces. I let it to dry a little and start brushing out the excess with the same brush I started with. It makes me feel good when I start to see the luster coming out. But there is still more to do. This luster is still a little dull. For that I have another brush, that has more softer and gentle bristles that when applied to the shoe more luster is revealed. This is a brush I like to use, because it reveals the nicer shoe that I was looking for. I also use a cloth, that will polish even further what the brush had already treated and left behind.

While I was doing this, I started to think how God polishes our character every day, if we let Him. You see, a decision needs to be made. That is, the realization that you need cleaning and polishing. And after that, heading to a place or towards the circumstance that will start that process. Once there, if one is to dirty and dull, a coarse brush will do the first job of cleaning and preparing the surface, then you will receive that what is missing, that which will polish you life. Once that is applied the excesses are removed and the luster starts to be revealed. After that only finishing touches and maintenance would be the only thing needed.

Decide today to head out to the polishing pit. Decide today to maintain your life in absolute luster. And even when situations appear to be very coarse and hurtful in your life and you might not understand them, it may be that God will use them to clean and polish you. It may be the only way that the luster of your life will be revealed to the world and make the best impression ever. Maybe God is using this circumstance, this uncomfortable moment to turn around your life and make it shine like never before. It all starts with one decision that only you can make. So go ahead, polish your shoes.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright DP, 2010

From a mistake to a miracle

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by DP

The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” Joshua 10:8

Joshua had been instructed to eliminate all of the enemies of Israel. He had done so in Jericho, and the city of Ai, but he made a promise to spare the life of the Gibeonites. Most likely they would be the next in line for defeat as these other cities. That is why when the people of Gibeon heard of this, they resorted to a ruse. They would disguise themselves as inhabitants from a distant city, with worn out clothing and moldy bread. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath. Joshua did not seek God’s will on this matter and compromised himself and the nation. When the neighboring cities heard of this alliance, and army was assembled to attack Gibeon. But because of their oath, now Israel had to protect them.

Even when Joshua had not consulted God for this decision, which clearly had a binding effect, God performed a miracle that day; the sun stood still for an entire day. Joshua was in this situation because of a bad decision he had made, a mistake. Nevertheless, God acted on his behalf and heard his prayer.

You might be questioning every single decision you have made and every single action done in the past that caused you to be in the situation you are in today. It might feel that there is no use to ask God for direction because it was you who blew it, and you pound and accuse yourself. You even have these solo conversations in your car, asking why could I be so naive? Why didn’t I see this? Why did I trust? Question after question that is only making a bad situation make you feel worst and you translate this failure to make it your identity. Failure does not define you. Failure is an event, never a person.

Stop demeaning yourself. Stop questioning why you did or did not do or say something. Shake off those accusing voices from your life and press on. The past cannot be change, but the future is waiting to be transformed by you. You can go around and around the same issue for the rest of your life, or do something about it. You can continue complaining or lift yourself up and change your life.

Thats what Joshua did. He marched all the way to the battle. He was in it because of a mistake he had made, but he marched on to win the battle, and in doing so a great miracle unfolded. The sun stood still. So could be with you. If you rise up and march on, God can turn things around in your life even if your predicament has been caused by you. God can change everything around if you believe. You will see your life unfold from a mistake to a miracle.

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© Copyright DP, 2011

You have come for such a time like this

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by DP

For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such time as this? Esther 4:14

Esther was an orphan, a captive in king Ahasueurs kingdom, raised by Mordecai as a daughter. When Vasti, the queen, didn’t want to come before the king, he decreed that another woman should take her place as queen. All virgins in the province were gathered, Esther was among them, a jew and she found favor in the eyes of all. Her preparation took a whole year, before she was selected by the king to be the new queen.

Haman which had lot’s of influence with the king, plotted and crafted a plan to destroy all of the jews since he hated Mordecai. His plan was made known to Esther by Mordecai and he reminded her that it might be that a time like this, she was risen to power.

Ever wonder why you are were you are now? Do you constantly long to be in a different place? Or do you wish you’d rather have someone else’s circumstances? We need to acknowledge that God has appointed us to the be were we are, to perform with excellence in this place. Be assured that this is your mission. God does not give you blessings just for the sake of it, He always has a plan, a greater plan. The place that you are in, is a place in which God will do great things, through you. You might not understand it right now, but at the appointed time, you will step up to the plate and be a blessing. We usually want to do things in our own time, but it might be that you are in the time of preparation right now. Learn, get prepared, the time is near.

Esther, came from being an orphan, a captive, to become the queen. She understood were and why she had what she had, and recognized that God himself had appointed and made her rise above all. She found favor, and favor violates every human perception. So, don’t look at where you are now, look at where God wants to take you.

Who knows, you may have come for such a time like this.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright DP, 2006

Growing!

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by DP

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. Luke 2:52

Jesus prompted a search for him after Joseph and Mary had left him behind in Jerusalem. He was only 12 years old. Three days he went missing until finally they found him in the temple, where he said those famous words, “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Luke 2:49. After this nothing else is known about Jesus until he is 30 years of age. Eighteen years of silence, or where they?

A very successful and talented friend, which by the way has impacted thousands of people this year alone, told me that he was at a meeting where he saw some old acquaintances. When they greeted him they asked, “What have you been doing? It seems that we haven’t heard or seen anything from you lately. You have been silent”. My friend, very politely replied, “I have been doing a couple of things,” and he changed the subject knowing deep down inside that he has been fulfilling his purpose and his calling.

When we spoke about it, I reminded him about the “apparent” silent times in our lives, and how the perception of those around us will try to sidetrack and discourage us from our vision and our mission. I asked him, Do you know what happened between the years 2 to 12 and from 12 to 30 of Jesus life? These were silent years. Years where we know little or nothing about Him. In those silent years, Jesus grew.

You might be going through rough and unexplainable times. You might wonder if the problem or the issue is you. It might be, but it might also be that during these silent or quiet days, months and even years, God is helping you do one thing; to grow. Every process, every change is poised to make us grow and to let God do great and wonderful things in us. It might not be clear today, but you will see it in due time: You are growing.

Maybe we view these times as waisted because there is no exposure or busyness. But if we appreciate these years and we look intently, we will grow to our biggest potential and discover God’s work in us. We will be prepared for our assignment. Because all God’s work is handcrafted, never mass-produced.

So remember, when your are presented with discouragement or doubt, whisper to yourself, “It’s not stagnation, It’s growth!”.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright DP, 2011