Category Archives: English

Cut or prune

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by DP

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” – John 15:1–4

This passage brings forth many teachings that will enrich the life of any human being. Here, Jesus was talking to his disciples about the importance of the relationship with the Father and with Him. He stressed the invaluable principle that relationships play in everyday life. And he makes very clear in the following passages that without a relationship with Him, the works of men, would be temporary.

But it is very interesting that he makes a distinction between cutting and pruning, and rightfully so. When you cut off a branch it is displaced completely, it is severed. All nutrients, water, and everything that gave it life are gone. It is discarded as not being part of the grapevine any longer. No effort, no energy will be spent in order to maintain, to nurture or give life to this branch. Likewise there are some relationships that need to be severed in our lives. Relationships that only take from us our energy, time, and resources, and we never see any fruit. These are relationships that never add to your life, they only take. They don’t celebrate you, they criticize you. These are relationships that need to be cut.

But when you prune the grapevine, it might appear that you are also cutting it since you are making its appearance lest abundant. But in reality what pruning does is that it creates capacity and space so it can grow ever bigger. The same way happens with us. Sometimes we have to prune some areas of our lives. Not to sever them but to create capacity, to make space in order to grow and be fruitful. Be it relationships or at work, sometimes less is more. The space created by the events that prune your environment, will translate into focus, and fruitfulness.

In each case, your actions will lead you to a better place in your life. And when we remain in Him, the True Grapevine, we will bear much fruit and our lives and those around us will benefit from it. So what will it be, to cut or to prune?

“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.

Solutions

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“God already has the solutions for problems you haven’t even had” – Joel Osteen

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. – 1 Corinthians 10:13

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

What are you doing?

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by DP

These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” – Luke 10:2

So many organizations, so much need, too little helpers. What are we doing? Reading on the internet about some causes that I am drawn to, I realized once again one thing: There is a lot to do, and it seems very few of us are helping. It is overwhelming of how much need there is out there. It makes me consider what is really important, and what are we doing with our resources.

There is a quote by Dante that says: “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.” The essence of this statement is not a truth about theology or biblical principle, but that it is actually worst for men and women that see the wrong and do nothing, and say nothing when their voice, their hands and their leadership is needed. Being motionless is even worst than the wrong deed or the perpetrators of them.

What are you doing? In the parable of the good samaritan, religious leaders walked by a man that had been beaten and left for dead and did nothing. Only a samaritan, despised by those same leaders, had compassion, crossed over and did something. Compassion is not compassion until you cross the street and help. We all feel moved when we see need, or read about touching stories, but it means nothing unless you take action. There is no difference between the religious leaders of the parable and us, if we keep walking.

There is a story of a boy that was at the beach after a high tide had brought hundreds or even thousands of starfish to shore. The boy started to pick one by one and threw them back into the sea. A man that was passing by and saw the boy asked him. What are you doing?, the boy replied “I am saving the starfish”. The man looked at him and said, “there are thousands of them here, you can’t make a difference”, the boy looked at the man with fierce eyes and picked up another starfish, and with an even stronger effort he threw it back into the water and said, “I made a difference for that one.”

Jesus himself said that the harvest was great, but there was not enough workers. We should pray and ask the owner of the harvest to send more workers, but we should ponder very intently if it is us who should respond to that calling. And more importantly, to what calling we should respond to. There is much to do, that sometimes it is overwhelming. But you might be able to do a lot from where you are, from the platform you have been planted in.

Let’s change the world, one starfish at a time, one life at a time. It does make a difference. So, what are you doing?

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

Here are some of the causes: Compassion International, A21 Campaign, Stellas Voice, International Justice Mission, Alive Generation and many others here.

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, 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.

The Masters hand

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by DP

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” Luke 4:18-19

There is a song written by Wayne Watson called the The touch of the Masters hand. It depicts an auction of which the last one to be sold was an old violin. Even the expert auctioneer didn’t find much worth in it by it’s appearance and started off the auction at one dollar. When the bids had come to three dollars and the auction was about to close, a gray haired man stood up from the back and walked to the front. He picked up the violin, brushed the dust from it. He adjusted the strings, picked up the bow and started to play. What came out from that violin, was music that not even angels could sing.

Then the auction resumed. The auctioneer started it’s cry and said, “One thousand dollars, two thousand dollars, three thousand dollars”. When the auction finished, the people asked, what changed it’s worth? And the auctioneer said, “It was the touch of the Masters hand”.

Like that old violin, your might feel shunned and forgotten. People might look at you and find no worth, no significance and no future. They might even label you, and limit you by what they see. It is hard, it is tough and it is taking a toll on you. But if you decide to give yourself the opportunity, you will find that the Master is watching intently. If you let Him, he will clean your life and adjust your soul. The sound that will be heard, will show that the Master’s hand has been upon you. And the sound will be melodious.

Open your heart, lift up your eyes, you will see the Master walking towards you wanting to restore you. And anything He touches, is changed. And anything He touches, is made worthy and extraordinary. He came to release the captives, free the oppressed and to heal the sick. This is no ordinary hand, it is the Master’s hand.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

You can hear and purchase this song titled “Ths touch of the Masters Hand, by Wayne Watson from iTunes following this link.

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, 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.

A hope and a future

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by DP

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

In the movie, Narnia, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Reepicheep a little mouse, tells Eustace, the boy converted to dragon, that his current state was happening to him, so he could fulfill his destiny; “Extraordinary things only happen to extraordinary people. Maybe it’s a sign that you have an extraordinary destiny. Something greater than you can have ever imagined.” he said. His countenance was not feeling that extraordinary at that time, but he ultimately saved the day.

We all have situations that don’t make sense and our days start to come too slow and seem to end without a hope in hand. But it might be that these things are not happening to you, but more likely they are happening for you. In the midst of the storm, the conflict, and the uncertainty, it is only natural that you will feel uneasy, but this moment in time could be the your defining moment. It can break you or you can choose to break it. You can choose to learn and to grow. You can choose to despair or to hope.

I know, it is easier said than done. But in reality what is the alternative? You can choose to stay where you are and not take hold of God’s promises in your life. You can choose not to forgive, to live in the past and not realign your way of thinking. What will happen is that days will become weeks, weeks will become months and months will become years and you will be in the same place you are today. And If you get the epiphany, to the point that you realize that time has gone by, you will then see that you have just repeated one day, one week, one month or one year, many times over.

But that is not God’s plan for your life. He wants you to thrive and to become all that he has planted in your life for you to become. Those dreams, visions, ideas will come forth and change your life and all of those around you. He wants you to achieve your full potential. A life full of hope, a life filled with His love, direction and purpose. It’s your choice today; make it happen.

God’s plans for your life are good. He has given you a hope and a future.

“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, 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.

Influence vs authority

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“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.” – Kenneth Blanchard

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

Influencia vs autoridad

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“La clave para un liderazgo exitoso hoy está en la influencia, no la autoridad”. – Kenneth Blanchard

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

May four

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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!