A cure against wandering

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Listening to the tunes of Agnus Dei and How Great is our God, I wonder of your majesty and love. You have made me yours, even when I wander through this world and ignore your promptings to my own peril.

In the moments where our soul is sober and clear, questions flow and are inevitable. How can we elevate our thoughts and soul to the stature of whom God wants us to be? How can we honor you with the life you have entrusted us? It is for us to look at my own life and ponder where we are. We should not live a life of the likes of chicken, meddling in the earth and always feeding from the ground, scared of everything and tossed around by even the most minuscule of provocations. We should be living a life of the eagles, soaring high and elevating our lives above the circumstances and hitting it’s target with precision. Why? Why is the pull of this earth so strong in the soul and mind?

I can’t conclude definitely what are the facts that contribute to this, but I know that in part is what we let our lives be fed by. We let distractions, well, distract us. Can this be changed? What do we have to do to make life more focused and significant? What are the pressures that need to be alleviate from our life so the “right” food feeds the soul and mind?

I ponder this myself. I should understand better what is it that makes me act and react the way I do. Why the wandering? Why the unfulfilling pursuits and self flagellating journeys? How can I, in the pursuit of happiness, ignore the inclinations of the world and have the right sight of The Most High? How do I shift from the “I” to the HIM? Can it be done? Can I conquer this fallen state of mind and life? Is there a way where the focus of life runs away from the present state and passing satisfactions to the future prize of eternal joy, rest and fulfillment?

HE is Holy. I am not. He is the Most High, not me. When this heart focuses on him and realizes what he has done for it, it melts and drops. The stance is of adoration and prostration. Can this life be lived with that inner stance everyday? Is it possible to fulfill His purpose in life?

God is faithful, We are not. But we want to be. Knowing that never once He has had left our side is comforting, convicting and humbling just because it has not be reciprocated. Shame is the word that best describes the sentiment. Shame of walking away from the path that was made for us at the cross. Shame is the feeling that comes from a life that has wandered many times over. We question; I question. Can you give us a new heart? Can you change the way we respond to life? Can you respond to us when we plea as David plead? Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. – A pure heart, a steadfast spirit. – If I want something in this life is that. This is where I could dare to put my “I” first. A heart that kneels before the Creator and a spirit that longs nothing else but Him!

A pure heart and a steadfast spirit focussed only on that which HE wants. This is what I want in life. So I ask and pray, for a cure against wandering: A pure heart and a steadfast sprit. You should ask the same.

Ps51.10

“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.

A fine-tuning place

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And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 3:17–4:1

The story paints the scene when Jesus had just been baptized by his cousin John the Baptist and the audible voice of God validates to everyone who he was. I don’t know about you but that would be reason enough for me to be emboldened and put a spring in my steps, but obviously I am not Jesus. The scripture tells us a very interesting event that followed; He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and tempted. (Matthew 4:1) In the natural, this might seem very strange and even contradictory but it actually makes a lot of sense. There is a principle hidden here: Nothing substitutes process.

There are times in our lives that we just don’t understand. I mean we receive all the green lights, the approvals and even the support of those dear to us, but then after the euphoria and the emotional high fades, we find ourselves walking alone in a desert place. It is a place that grieves us and antagonizes us constantly and it seems not to end. We don’t understand why if everything seemed right, felt right and looked right we are in a place that is barren and inhospitable.
But if you subscribe to the idea that there are no substitutes for process, you will understand something else also:The wilderness is a prerequisite for the calling. Head knowledge alone does not qualify you, experience does. And even when things look a little dicey right now, this might be the place that will prepare you for your next assignment.

But even if you don’t concur with my beliefs, the principle works in every area of life. Nothing substitutes process. And when you make peace with this, you will see life from a different lens. The question will no longer be why, but what? What is the reason I am going through this? What is it that I have to learn about myself that I cannot discover any other way? What traits in my personality is changing, pruned, modified, strengthen? What is it that I am lacking that this situation is testing me for? Your wilderness situation has the potential to unveil your potential, and that is always a great place to be in.

So even when it might be a hurtful, confusing or dark season of your life, maybe, just maybe this could be the greatest moment for you. Just as the 40 days of testing and temptation that followed, the time in the wilderness became the foundation from which Jesus’s ministry would sprung from.

It is your decision. You can either wither and dry, or you can blossom if the middle of this real or even apparent dry place, it really doesn’t matter which one it is. The wilderness is really a fine-tuning place.

“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, 2013
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.

Band of brothers

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I can just imagine the dialogue between them. One said to the other, “Hey what if he can help?” “You think he could?” The other responded. “I hear that he does it all the time, it’s natural to him.” He replied. “Well, let’s do it. Call the others.” Four men that showed the world the power of friendship. Four men that would risk their own reputations and social standing in order to help their buddy. Each took one corner of the mat where their friend was, and lifted it because he was paralyzed.

When they got there, a huge crowd separated them from the miracle. There was no way through. One said to the others, “Now what? It’s impossible to go through.” One replied, “Yes, it’s impossible to go through, but not impossible to go over.” Wow! Everyone needs friends like these. There is no question of their commitment and faithfulness. There is no question that the interest of others came first.

What about you?

Will you stand still and submit to the circumstances and the obstacles or will you go beyond your duty? Which friend are you? The one that sees what needs to be done and does it, or will you close your heart and hands in the cold name of convenience? Real friends walk two, three, four miles and more to see the miracle happen. They don’t need to do it, but they want to.

Which corner will you lift? What role will you play? How strong will you lift? Are you deterred by the seemingly impossible in front of you? Do you say, in any event, I did what I could why push it further? Why go through so much inconvenience? Why bother?

Books, and stories that are worth saying and emulating are not written of those that stood still and did nothing or just did what conveniently came their way. The stories that stir our hearts and move us to actions are those in which we see those who were daring enough to break the norm. The stories of those that decided to be bold in a world of mediocrity. History remembers the deeds of those that decide that good is not good enough, but being great is a way of life.

We do not know the name of these four men that carried their friend to the presence of Jesus. Yet a story was written of what they did. This tells us that our name is not as important as what we do. They carried someone to their miracle without prevention or asking for attention to themselves. Let us do the same.

What story are you writing? Which corner are you lifting? Who are you carrying to their destiny? What are you doing for others that they cannot do for themselves? You and I can be part of a select few if choose to do so. A band of brothers that will change the world. Let’s do it!

“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, 2013
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

El hacer es mayor que el hablar

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“Lo que hacemos es el reflejo de lo que está dentro de nosotros. Podemos decir muchas cosas, pero nuestras acciones revelan nuestro verdadero ser. Cambia tus acciones, cambia tu vida “-. Danny Maldonado

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

Doing is greater than talking

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“What we do is the reflection of what is inside of us. We can say many things, but our actions reveal our true self. Change your actions, change your life.” – Danny Maldonado

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

Don’t rush

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Making good decisions in emotionally charged environments is very difficult. Better to stop and think first, than to rush into a commitment.

No te apresures

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Tomar decisiones en un ambiente emocionalmente cargado es muy difícil; es mucho mejor esperar y pensar bien primero, que comprometerse apresuradamente.

From a storm to a whisper

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Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.

This passage describes a scene of distress at sea like those in the movies with great captains. But this scene is different from the ones we usually see at the big screen. It acknowledges that the sailors were skillful but the mighty sea proved to be a bigger and mightier opponent. So much so, to the point that hope of survival was dimming every minute, and then something happened in the middle of the ordeal. When their skill and knowledge got to their end point, they cried out for help and that made all the difference. They knew that nothing else could be done and that the situation was beyond their human endurance. Psalm 107:28-29 tells us that they asked God for help, not knowing what more to do for their preservation; all of their wisdom was swallowed up, and they were ready to give up.

Doesn’t this seem familiar? Many times we are in the middle of a situation we cannot control. We got into it, but then it became uncontrollable. We thought we could manage a business and then the trend went the opposite way. A promising job is cut after a short period of time due to unforeseen factors. We trusted that someone would keep his or her word and honor a promise and that didn’t happen. An external factor has created a storm in the path of your life and you are in distress. You have tried everything you know that worked in the past, but now it doesn’t. And you are out of options. But this is not an issue of skill but of trust.

The same happened when Jesus told the disciples to cross to the other side of the sea, and then a raging storm menaced to sink the boat. He was in he stern sleeping and they were trying to control the vessel. When they cried out to Him he hushed the storm and everything became calm. I refer sometimes to this event as if Jesus woke up and said to the sea, “Hey, cut the attitude, I’m here.” In times of trouble, cry out to the Lord. The force of the seas of life are something we cannot control or tame. But the psalmist describes here a beautiful picture, “He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.” Wow, wow, wow!, was my expression when I read this. How amazing it is to know that God can just hush any situation in your life and what seems like a raging storm, be converted into a whisper! It not only brings peace to our souls but a confidence that even when we might not have the knowledge or the power or the skill to manage many situations in our lives, He is the Almighty and he is hearing our cry. He can tell that situation that is menacing your very existence, “Cut the attitude, I’m here, he’s with me, she’s with me.’

Don’t be shy, call on to Him and cry out for help. This issue is no match for his power. And you will see this situation convert from a storm to whisper.

“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, 2013
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.