“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.” – Kenneth Blanchard
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
Influence vs authority
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Category Archives: Life
May four
The Big Apple was the setting. Her heart was beating intensely, she knew it was time, she knew this was different. Her eyes moving from side to side and every vein in her face was filled with the pressure of every muscle concentrated in the task. Pain and struggle filled the atmosphere, and in a moment, joy and calm reign the room. It was the fourth of May at 3:00 am when it all began.
That day a voice surged, and it was heard powerfully like prophesying the passion that would guide her steps for the rest of her life. It wasn’t understood that way at the time, like many other great voices that had emerged, it was confused to be “another” voice. But her voice that day was rehearsing to what would be her lifelong task; To praise the Almighty. A strong voice, a humble heart, loving hands, and a firm spirit.
May four, that day it all started. That day a promise was brought to life. A promise of a life filled with joy, hope, potential, and praise. Also a life that would see many obstacles, scars and trials which had tried to silence her voice. But praise always found its way from her heart to her lungs and resounded in her voice.
Today that voice continues to be heard. Sometimes in the wee hours of the morning or late at night, her voice reverbs the words of the One that gave her purpose, and gave her her voice.
May four, that was the day that the woman I love was born, and that day my promise was born, too.
Happy birthday Sandy!
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Fe
“La fe es dar el primer paso, aún cuando no veas toda la escalera” – Martin Luther King Jr. EE.UU. Líder de los derechos civiles y clérigo. (1929 – 1968)
“RESPIRA con expectación, VIVE con confianza y MUÉVETE con valentía”
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You will not stop, nor stumble
by DP
When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. – Proverbs 4:12
Have you ever wonder why you go through so many issues? It seems that every time you open your mouth, something wrong happens. Or what about the business endeavors? Every time you get into one, you come out bruised emotionally and hurting financially. It’s tough, I know, been there, done that, got the t-shirt. A constant rolling of thoughts that could lead you to despair.
God knew our propensity to miss the mark. To trust in our own senses and not seek a higher opinion of how to live this life. Salomon knew it very well and had experienced the do’s and don’ts of life and discovered that when our hearts surrender to God’s love and his wisdom is applied to our life, we will walk without distractions and run with confidence. This is the promised made to those who embrace wisdom and it is actually, practical advice.
There are seasons in life that we would like to run through but they are meant to be walked. Seasons where delicate issues arise and we have to ponder very carefully what we say and what we do. These are seasons that have the potential to show us a great deal and at the same time help us grow as individuals; we are to learn with every step we take. It can be times where your health, your children, your marriage, your work or your relationships are being tested, transformed or challenged. These seasons are to be walked. Then comes the time where we need to apply what was learned while we were walking. Time to execute and to bring to life the dreams birthed in our hearts. A time to run.
The book of Proverbs tells us that when wisdom is harnessed, in the walking season we would not be held back. Our pace will be strong, steady and confident. The world will see that there is something different about our stance, even when the situation we are in is not the best. Wisdom is on our side. And the time will come when you will be able to run and where there will be no apparent obstacle in your path and the road will be clear. It would seem to you that it is so, but you’re actually running in the midst of uncertain times and even then you will not stumble a bit; because Wisdom is at your side.
Wisdom is given by God for our good to all that ask for it. And when you do so, you will walk, you won’t be held back and when you run, you won’t stumble.
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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© Copyright DP, 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.
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Who can ever be against us?
Paul was writing to the Romans, and in this chapter he punctuates how to live in the spirit. He made contrasts of his own life, stating that the afflictions of the present time are not comparable to glory to come, which will manifest in due time. A contrast filled chapter. A sobering recount of the true situations of this life and our human condition. But in spite of that, and in spite of recognizing our flaws and afflictions, Paul makes a statement: Who can ever be against us?
This to me is an expression with an attitude. If God is for us who or what can stand against us? There is nothing that could stop us moving forward. There is no circumstance that will slow us down. Neither sickness nor lack, neither tribulation nor anguish, neither the present time nor the times to come, neither the high nor the profound nor any other created thing will separate us from God. Nothing will stop us from fulfilling our destiny.
Are you being stalled? Are you in a crossroad? Is your purpose being questioned and attacked? Is your dream being ridiculed by your resources? Be certain today, that nothing will ever stop you if our God is for you. He turned water into wine, he stood up to the scribes and pharisees, resurrected Lazarus from the dead, he conquered sickness and opened the eyes of the blind. He conquered death, sin and fear, so who could ever in it’s right mind even think to stop us? Shout it out loud, WHO?
In the book of Psalms 8:5, there is a declaration that says that we were created a little lower than Elohim. In essence a little lower than himself. Elohim means “the uncalculated power of God”. So why have we chosen to live a lesser life? If he has created us to his image, why would we be afraid to dream Big, to dare to do what He has birthed in our hearts to do? To go to places no one else has gone before, to do what has not been done before. If he said it, if he birthed it in your heart, who can ever be against? Even when you feel that your life is over, that the possibilities for you are slim to nil, don’t count yourself out, if God is for you, who can stand against you?
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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© Copyright DP, 2010
You can hear and purchase this wonderful statement on the song titled “Our God” by Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman on http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/and-if-our-god-is-for-us-deluxe/id399909224
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Within your reach!
by DP
Samson had been tied up with two new ropes, after he had taken revenge over what the Philistines had done. They had killed his father in law and his wife, although these events unfolded after Samson himself had provoked this retaliation. He had burned their crops and villages. Chaos created more chaos, uneasiness more uneasiness.
To avoid a mayor retaliation he was taken over to the Philistines by his own people. The story says that after they started shouting in signal of victory, the ropes that were bounding him became like nothing. And he used a fresh jawbone of a donkey that he spotted on the road and was within his reach and with it killed a thousand men. A moment of certain failure, became a moment of great victory. This story tells us that everything that you need is within reach.
We may not be facing the situation as Samson was, he was bound by physical ropes and being marched to be handed over to his enemies by his own people. But you might be bound with many other ropes. Depression, anguish, financial lack, divorce, sickness, a legal proceeding, betrayal by your own and many others that might be marching you down to what might seem a definite failure. You might even feel, that this chaos and this uneasiness was provoked or created by you. Even when your situation appears that there is no way out, God’s word reminds today that what you need to be free, is within your reach.
Everything you need to fulfill your destiny is within reach. He gives us a seed to plant or an idea to harvest. Look around intently, see with His eyes, and you will find that jawbone, that resource, that idea, that encouraging word that will thrust you to a new experience, a new season in your life. What seems to be a life threatening situation, will become a life changing experience, not only for you but for all that are watching. This moment is made to change your path, to change your legacy in a way that will surprise your enemies and will glorify the Lord Almighty. What seems to be certain defeat, it becomes an opportunity. Opportunity to let God be glorified, and work in and through you.
How good is to have a God that uses what seems small and insignificant, much more abundantly than we ask or think. Use whatever he has given you, but use it with His strength, not yours. All odds against you will be defeated and your life will never be the same, because everything you need is within reach.
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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© Copyright DP, 2010
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And suddenly…
This word has been resounding in my spirit for quite some time. It is specially important to me since this portion of the scripture was the one that was read and studied the day my life was surrendered to Him, some twenty-five plus years ago (March 27, 1981). Suddenly, in an instant, without delay, right now, suddenly!
They were gathered in one accord when suddenly a rushing mighty wind came and filled everything. It permeated the place. There was no emptiness. It came announced by a sound from heaven, so everyone there would recognized that this sign was no ordinary one, it was certainly a supernatural experience.
When we are puzzled as to how, when, why things will happen, then God suddenly…Many men and women have experienced the suddenly’s of God. Moses was between the Red Sea and pharos army, surely a death trap, when suddenly the sea was parted and they walked thru dry land. Ruth a moabite in a land that was not her own, became the wife of an important man and part of Jesus genealogy, when suddenly Boaz sighted her. Joseph interpreted a dream and then suddenly became second in command right from the depths of the dungeons. David confronted Goliath only with a sling and five stones, when suddenly he defeated the giant. Mordecai, Esther’s uncle a jew in a foreign land was about to be killed by Aman’s hand, when suddenly the king ordered this same Aman to honor him in front of all of the people. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were thrown into the fiery furnace, when suddenly a forth man like the Son of God, came and made them loose. Daniel was thrown into the lions den, when suddenly an angel came and closed their mouths. Peter had not caught nothing all night then Jesus told him to throw his nets on the other side and suddenly the one net he threw was so full that it was breaking. And the list goes on and on.
It stirs my spirit that we serve a powerful and mighty God that suddenly changes everything for His glory and sometimes we don’t realize it. So don’t be discouraged as what you see with your physical eyes, you serve the God that acts suddenly. He can change every circumstance in an instant. He has the authority, He has the power.
Remember, it will not be slowly, it will be SUDDENLY!
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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© Copyright DP, 2008
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I will restore the years
by DP
What a breathtaking thought! The mere possibility inspires me. The possibility to restore what has already been! You mean that I will make up, relive those years? You mean that there is a way to redo my life? A way to amend those relationships, those moments that marked my life in a way I did not desire?
Years that were taken by the ignorance, the unawareness of the times that were being lived. The time that was supposed to propel you into new heights, new levels, and now you feel stuck in the midst of your life. The most persisting thought that comes to heart is the sense of the years. That feeling that nothing can be done, because your time has passed. That paralyzing thought that controls you. The feeling of powerlessness, the silent voice saying, “I cant do anything, the years have passed and I have made many, many mistakes. Mistakes that have affected not only me, but those that are close to me too”.
But then, I read this verse in the book of Joel. “I will restore the years…” Wow!. What an amazing God we serve, that knows how we will be accusing ourselves. Not seeing how He sees us. We stop at the thought that “If I did it, I cant do anything about it” and we don’t give the fight. But you can. I am not ignoring the fact that consequences will follow our actions, be good or bad, but what I am saying is that in spite of those consequences, God can restore your years, He can restore your relationships, he can restore your marriage, he can restore your dignity, he can restore your family, and make up for the mistakes and decisions your have made, if you truly follow and obey him.
What a wonderful thought, and more importantly what a wonderful promise!, I will restore for you the years…
“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 DP, 2010
BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE boldly 