Faith is movement

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Danny Maldonado

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1

In the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews, we see a myriad of examples of faith that are set forth for our inspiration. Each and every one of them expressed their faith not only terms of an emotion or a philosophy, but it was also expressed by an action.

Abel by faith brought a more acceptable offering to God. Noah, built the ark to save his family from the flood, preaching about something that had never happened before. Abraham by faith left his land to a place he did not knew and it was also by faith that he offered his son as a sacrifice. By faith Isaac promised blessings to his sons. By faith Moses parents hid him for three months, and when he grew up he liberated the children of Israel from slavery. By faith the people of Israel marched across the Red Sea and also around Jericho until the walls came falling down. By faith, Rahab hid the spies so her life was spared and became part of the genealogy of Jesus.

On thing is certain, faith without works is dead, so action needs to happen. It is not enough to sit around and talk about what you would like to do. Unless you take action, it is just wishful thinking. You might be hiding behind the curtain of inaction, rationalizing that you are being careful and calculated. There is certainly a space and a time for that. But God did not send his only Son to this earth to be safe. He came to be dangerous and died on the cross for you and for me. He did this, knowing that by faith you and I would be saved, can you see it?, He had to act on our behalf.

Faith is action. Faith is becoming vulnerable. Faith is walking even when we don’t have it all figured out. Faith is moving ahead even when you can’t see a clear path. Faith is sometimes the opposite of reason. I agree, faith is dangerous. But we are called to walk where we have never walked before. To act in obedience even when everyone else thinks we are out of our minds. Faith is being bold and not holding anything back. Faith is moving to become all that God wants us to become. Faith is looking to the future even when our circumstances blur our vision, and believing that what He has promised will come to pass. Martin Luther King Jr. said it this way: “Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase”.

Faith is trusting that God has a better plan for us and moving in obedience. Faith is movement.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© 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.

Just a crumb

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Danny Maldonado

She was weary and desperate. But she would do anything for her daughter. She pressed on and walked with desperation and hope. “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon possessed and suffering terribly.” She cried out loud. She knew that she was not in her turf, and was expecting anything to happen, but no answer.

This silence was like a queue for those that walked with Him as they came and urged to send her away.This was supposed to be a meeting that no one knew about, and she was spoiling it. This was supposed to be an “inner circle” meeting and she kept crying after them. They wanted to be left alone with the Master, and this was a very familiar scene. So they stopped and she knelt, disregarding the obvious body language that the disciples were showing. And then it happened: Jesus spoke the words that challenged her “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

There and then the miracle happened. She knew who she was talking to, or maybe she was so desperate that she did not care how she was perceived. The love she felt inside was greater than the possible humiliation she could experience. She wanted just a crumb. Her faith was big enough to understand that only a crumb of the Masters words could be enough. Not the feast, not the entire bread, just a crumb, that’s all she needed, and she got it all in the end.

Some of the greatest breakthroughs in life came from small moments, just as it came for this woman. What do you need today? Do you find yourself glancing at the feast and ignoring the crumbs? We often do that and forget that our miracle can come from small things. Your breakthrough can come from that “crumb” meeting, from that “crumb” phone call, from that “crumb” presentation. But you need to want it bad. Bad enough to do whatever it takes to get to your “crumb”. His word is more than enough to change the direction of your life and make this moment a turning point.

Be alert because you might be looking for a feast, but God can use Just a crumb.

© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2012
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by Biblica®. Used by permission of Biblica®. All rights reserved worldwide.

Look at the rainbow

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Danny Maldonado

I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. – Genesis 9:13
The great flood. We have all heard the story one way or the other. We learned how Noah built the ark and preached to men about the flood that was coming and how he was ignored and even rejected. Then after many years the day came when clouds started to form and drops of rain began to fall. Soon those drops became streams and every living creature on earth, perished. Only those in the ark survived.

What was it like inside the ark all of those months? What were their reaction when the water receded and they were able to come out on the top of a mountain? What were the conversations? We just can make conjectures. But one thing is certain, God made a covenant with Noah that he would not destroy the world with water again. It was understandable, after all they had been through. I can imagine what they could have been thinking if it rained again. How vulnerable they must of felt. But God knew best. But why a rainbow? What was it so significant about it? Why would He used something that was never seen before and call it a rainbow?

The word used in the Hebrew in this portion for the word bow is “qesheth/keh·sheth/“ which translates as the bow used by a warrior. So what God was telling Noah was that He was hanging his “weapon” in the sky and would not destroy the earth anymore with it. But his covenant needed to be visible so you and I would be reminded not only of this covenant, but of the faithfulness of God. He knows our propensity for do wrong, but in spite of that, He has promised that as long as this earth remains, planting and harvest, cold an heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.

You might be going through a flood of trials. You look around and the only thing you see is waves of uncertainty. So if you are in the middle of a storm that feels is going on for days, months, and even years, remember that He has hanged his warrior’s bow in the sky and has decided to love you and not destroy you. The water will recede and your ark will be anchored on high ground, and that is an advantageous place to be, because you will see everything renewed.

His promises are true and will forever be present for you and for me. Need any proof? Just look at the rainbow.

Mira el arcoiris

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Danny Maldonado

He puesto mi arco iris en las nubes. Esa es la señal de mi pacto con ustedes y con toda la tierra. – Génesis 9:13

El gran diluvio. Todos hemos oído la historia de una manera u otra. Hemos aprendido cómo Noé construyó el arca y predicó a los hombres acerca del diluvio que se avecinaba y la forma en que fue ignorado e incluso rechazado. Entonces después de muchos años llegó el día cuando las nubes empezaron a formarse, y las gotas de lluvia comenzaron a caer. Pronto esas gotas se convirtieron en arroyos y todo ser viviente en la Tierra desapareció. Sólo aquellos dentro del arca sobrevivieron.

¿Cómo habrá sido en el interior del arca todos esos meses? ¿Cuáles fueron sus reacciones cuando el agua bajó y pudieron salir a la cima de una montaña? ¿Cuáles fueron las conversaciones? Sólo podemos hacer conjeturas. Pero una cosa es cierta, Dios hizo un pacto con Noé que no iba a destruir el mundo con el agua de nuevo. Es comprensible, después de todo lo que había pasado. Me puedo imaginar lo que podrían haber estado pensando si llovía otra vez. ¿Qué tan vulnerable se deben haber sentido? Pero Dios sabía mejor. Pero ¿por qué un arco iris? ¿Qué tenía que era tan significativo ? ¿Por qué usó algo que nunca se había visto antes y llamarlo un arco iris?

La palabra usada en el hebreo en esta porción para la palabra arco “qesheth/keh·Sheth/” que se traduce como el arco utilizado por un guerrero. Así que lo que Dios le estaba diciendo a Noé era que él estaba colgando su “arma” en el cielo y no destruiría la tierra más con él. Pero su pacto necesitaba ser visible para que tú y yo recordáramos, no sólo este pacto, sino la fidelidad de Dios. Él sabe de nuestra propensidad de hacer el mal, pero a pesar de ello, ha prometido que mientras la tierra permanezca, la siembra y la siega, el frío y el calor, verano e invierno, el día y la noche nunca cesarán.

Podrías estar pasando por un diluvio de problemas. Miras a tu alrededor y lo único que ves es olas de incertidumbre. Así que si estás en el medio de una tormenta en la que parecen pasar los días, meses e incluso años, recuerda que Él ha colgado el arco de guerrero en el cielo y ha decidido amarte y no destruirte. El agua se retirará y tu arca será anclada en terreno elevado, y ese es un lugar ventajoso para estar, porque desde allí podrás ver todo nuevo.

Sus promesas son verdad y siempre estarán presentes para ti y para mí. ¿Necesitas alguna prueba? Basta con mirar el arco iris.

“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

Las citas bíblicas son tomadas de la Santa Biblia, Nueva Traducción Viviente, derechos de autor © 1996, 2004, 2007 por Tyndale House Foundation. Usado con permiso de Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. Todos los derechos reservados.

The sum of our decisions

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Danny Maldonado

by DP

Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance. Proverbs 1:3-5

It is undeniable, even when we fail to accept it: we are the sum of our decisions. Nothing more, nothing less. All we have and have not achieved, is a product of the decisions we have made. I will concede that for some, unique situations are not of their own making, but even when these exogenous situations have come to our lives, it is up to us to make the right decisions in the midst of them.

You might argue that your situation is different, or is it? Our nature always makes us make excuses that will try to put our conscience at ease. I know this firsthand, I have done it myself. But by doing that will not change the facts, we are just ignoring them and hurting ourselves and those close to us. As a father I have the responsibility to provide and guide my family. Providing, in the practical sense of the word, is the easy part because it can be measured instantly. To guide takes a whole lot of other skill sets. It is more difficult, because at the expense of being shunned or disliked by those you love, one has to make the right decisions and think about the end and not the moment. So making right decisions, for whatever situation we are, remains in my opinion, the top priority in life.

There are so many options today, so many voices that our sons, daughters and ourselves can lend our ears to; good and bad voices. And it is here where making good decisions is crucial. For many of them, the results cannot be measured immediately; time will prove them right or wrong. So decisions come to be basically a look at the end result. In thinking at this I could find myself at a loss. I want to end well, and I know for a fact that my inclination to get my way could hinder my chances to ending well.

What reference should I use? What guidance can I get that will help me make the right decisions along the way? How can I make my relationships, my finances and my health blossom? What is the standard to follow? There are many great individuals in that have exuded examples of making great decisions. Men and women that occupy positions of leadership and are very well known. There are others that their names are not that public but have made an impact in our everyday lives with their example; we could name many. But there is a reference that has proven, time and time again to be the undisputed standard of making right decisions. The Bible is a book of how to end well. In it we find the sum of the stories of men and women like you and me, that quite frankly were presented with options, seeked counsel and made decisions. Many followed the counsel given and ended well, and those that didn’t lent their ears to wise and Godly direction, did not.

What point of reference are you using? Could it be that you have relied on your own understanding and have not even considered to seek a different point of reference? Has your decisions taken you to a place you don’t want to be? Decide today to make the right choices and change your reference point. In the end, God wants your well being. His love for us is so big that he sent his Son to ensure a way for us to end well. His word is full of guidance and wise counsel. Give yourself a chance. In the end we are the sum of our decisions.

La suma de nuestras decisiones

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Danny Maldonado

Su propósito es enseñarles a vivir una vida disciplinada y exitosa, y ayudarles a hacer lo que es correcto, justo e imparcial. Estos proverbios darán inteligencia al ingenuo, conocimiento y discernimiento al joven. Que el sabio escuche estos proverbios y se haga aún más sabio. Que los que tienen entendimiento reciban dirección. Proverbios 1:3-5

No puede negarse, incluso cuando no somos capaces de aceptarlo: somos la suma de nuestras decisiones. Nada más y nada menos. Todo lo que hemos y no hemos logrado, es producto de las decisiones que hemos tomado. Debo admitir que, para algunos, hay situaciones únicas que no son de su propia creación, pero incluso cuando estas situaciones exógenas han llegado a nuestras vidas, nos corresponde a nosotros tomar las decisiones correctas en medio de ellas.

Usted podría argumentar que su situación es diferente, ¿o lo es? Nuestra naturaleza siempre nos hace buscar excusas que tratan de poner nuestra conciencia en paz. Lo sé de primera mano, lo he hecho yo mismo. Pero al hacerlo no cambiarán los hechos, sólo estamos ignorándolos e hiriendonos a nosotros mismos y quienes están cerca de nosotros. Como padre tengo la responsabilidad de proveer y guiar a mi familia. Proveer, en el sentido práctico de la palabra, es la parte fácil, ya que puede medirse al instante. El guiar lleva una gran cantidad de otras habilidades. Es más difícil, porque a expensas de ser evitado o rechazado por aquellos que amas hay que tomar las decisiones correctas y pensar en el final y no en el momento. Por lo tanto la toma de decisiones correctas, para cualquier situación que nos encontramos, sigue siendo en mi opinión, la prioridad número uno en la vida.

Hay tantas opciones hoy en día, tantas voces que nuestros hijos, hijas y nosotros mismos a la que podemos prestar nuestros oídos; voces buenas y voces malas. Y es aquí donde tomar buenas decisiones es crucial. Para muchas de ellas, los resultados no pueden medirse inmediatamente, el tiempo ha de demostrar si estaban bien o mal. Así que las decisiones vienen a ser básicamente una mirada al resultado final. Al pensar en esto, pude encontrarme un poco perdido. Quiero terminar bien, y sé que es un hecho que mi inclinación a hacer las cosas a mi manera podrían obstaculizar mis posibilidades de terminar bien.

Por lo tanto, ¿Qué referencia se debe usar? ¿Qué consejos puedo obtener que me ayudarán a tomar las decisiones correctas en el camino? Cómo puedo hacer que mis relaciones, mis finanzas y mi salud florezcan? ¿Cuál es el estándar a seguir? Existen muchas grandes personalidades que exudan ejemplos en la toma de grandes decisiones. Hombres y mujeres que ocupan posiciones de liderazgo y son bien conocidos. Hay otros que sus nombres no son tan públicos, pero han tenido un impacto en nuestras vidas cotidianas con su ejemplo; podríamos nombrar a muchos. Pero hay una referencia que ha demostrado una y otra vez a ser el estándar indiscutible de la toma de decisiones correctas. La Biblia es un libro de cómo terminar bien. En ella encontramos la suma de las historias de hombres y mujeres como tú y yo, que francamente fueron presentadas con opciones, buscaron consejo y las decisiones que tomaron. Muchos siguieron el consejo dado y terminaron bien, y los que no prestaron sus oídos a la dirección sabia y piadosa, no.

¿Qué punto de referencia estás usando? ¿Podría ser que hayas confiado en tu propia inteligencia y ni siquiera has considerado buscar un punto de referencia diferente? ¿Tus decisiones te han llevado a un lugar que no deseabas estar? Decide hoy tomar decisiones correctas y cambiar tu punto de referencia. Al final, Dios quiere tu bienestar. Su amor por nosotros es tan grande que envió a su Hijo para garantizarnos un camino en el que podamos terminar bien. Su palabra está llena de dirección y consejo sabio. Date una oportunidad. Al final, somos la suma de nuestras decisiones.

“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
Las citas bíblicas son tomadas de la Santa Biblia, Nueva Traducción Viviente, derechos de autor © 1996, 2004, 2007 por Tyndale House Foundation. Usado con permiso de Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. Todos los derechos reservados.

Warning signs

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Danny Maldonado

by DP

“I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him. But since my people refuse to return to me, they will return to Egypt and will be forced to serve Assyria.” – Hosea 11:4-5

“Hey folks you might have realized that we have gone out of the line for takeoff. We have received a warning sign here on the cockpit and we need to check it out and be sure it is safe for us to continue.” – moments later – “Folks, thank again for your patience. We have a hydraulics problem that we cannot fix ourselves so we will need to head back to the gate so our mechanics can take a look at it and we will let you know how much time it will take to fix. Thanks for your patience.” These were the words from the captain on the flight I was on. Immediately the guy that was sitting on my side said audibly, “Nooo”, and I looked at him and said, “Hey man be cool, better late than dead”. And no, he did not say another word.

I’m grateful for the captain of the plane. He saw the warning sign and took action immediately. No second guessing it, no bargaining and no playing games. He alerted us and put our safety as his highest priority. He did what was needed to be done, even when we might not understand it, be inconvenienced by it or did not like it. He might as well saved all of our lives. I also realized something else: I had complete trust and confidence on the pilot, even when I had not seen him face to face. I did not had any concerns when I got on the plane nor did I ask for his credentials or license. I just trusted.

This made me think about lots of things and reflect in my own life. How many times have I received a warning sign in my emotions, my finances, my health, my relationships and have not paid attention, and received the consequences of it? How many times have I ignored those warnings because I thought I knew better? Furthermore how many times have I complained like the passenger I told before, ignoring that by doing so there was much more at stake?

What about you? Have you done the same? Have you complained by he “delays” and “detours” you are faced with every day, and you ignore that these might be warning signs that something is not right? These might be situations that are meant for your preservation and not your destruction.

I heard once from a doctor that said, “pain is good, it tells you that something in your body needs attention”. God has many ways to catch our attention, and he permits or does it, because he loves us. These might be issues you need to pay attention to. Tending to them might seem as a delay to your apparent progress, but it will ensure that you get to your destination as it was intended. Ignoring them, and not trusting, could be catastrophic for you and your loved ones. You are much important to Him, to be neglected. You are too important to him to ignore the warning signs along your path.

As I trusted the captain, (since I still don’t know how to fly an aircraft), so should you trust our Lord and Savior that knows what is best for our lives. He loves us so much that he will do whatever is necessary to draw us to himself. By doing so, His mercy is extended to us and His love sometimes is revealed, through warning signs.

Sal y ponte a trabajar

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Danny Maldonado

“La inacción engendra la duda y el miedo. La acción engendra la confianza y el valor. Si quieres vencer el miedo, no te sientes en casa a pensar en ello. Sal y ponte a trabajar.” – Dale Carnegie