Tag Archives: Faith

What a ride!

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Today marks the date when we decided to put action to our faith, legs to our dreams. We instilled life to what was being birthed inside our hearts. Exactly one year we embarked into this new adventure of a complete relocation. It just seems like it happened yesterday, and yet a year has passed. I remember how I felt. A new home, a new church, a new everything. Adrenaline was the fuel that kept me going every day, or so I thought. It’s been a year where everything was on the line. A year where every breath we took, was taken with profound expectation. The expectation that the next moment would be better, greater and bigger. This has been a year where our confidence in the ONE that called us to be HIS, has grown in ways unimaginably to our natural minds. It has been a year where our actions have been bold, moving out of our comfort zones like we never thought.

It all started with a promise and a sense of urgency. A promise of better possibilities for those that we love the most, our son and our daughter. It started 5 years before, when Alex was nine and Amy was eight. We understood that even when we’ve had success in our professional lives, our real success is enjoyed when it is seen in our home. For us, success is a life full of God’s grace and mercy. A life that exudes HIS goodness and that delves into his wisdom. A sense of urgency that time is precious and our children cannot be gambled with.

Time and space will not be enough to pen down all that has happened this year. Even when I almost lost my life in the process, I can say without a doubt that HE has been with us every step. We have not walked alone. Has it been worth it? You bet. He has been faithful even when we haven’t. Matt Redman wrote a song called “Never Once”, that I heard when we moved. It describes how I felt and how I feel today, not because of what has happened this year, but because it is a reminder that on every step we have ever taken, even when those steps have lead us to dark places, HE has been there always. The same is true for you today.

So if you think you are alone, think again. He has been there every step, even when you are going through turmoil and uncertainty. Don’t be afraid, just take the next step, HE is there with you.

As for me, when I look back I wouldn’t change anything. God is faithful. It’s been a great year, and it is just the beginning, all I can say is, “What a ride!”.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright Danny Maldoando, 2012

Faith is movement

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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

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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.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© 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.

Surrounded

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Those who trust in the LORD are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, both now and forever. – Psalm 125:1-2

As I searched information about Mount Zion, the Mount of God, many amazing facts came alive. For example, it is really three peaks of almost equal height which form the mount. Many significant events happened here also such as the Transfiguration of Jesus, the declaration that his church would be edified over “this rock”, meaning himself and many more.

But Mount Zion is much more than a piece of land. It is a visual reminder to us of the faithfulness of God. Because when we look at a mountain, we have this mental picture that it is unmovable, strong. Wind, water and the elements will make its mark on the face of the Mount over time so the landscape might change, but the foundations will never be removed.

Such is our life, as the elements we endure every day will change us and leave its mark in us, but if we trust the Lord we will endure them. It is in our trust (the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something) in Him, that hinges this promise. He will surround us and guard us. From time to time, some of the “elements” in life might get to us, but we will not be defeated. When we are insufficient, He is sufficient. When we are weak, He is strong. When we are fearful, He is courageous. When we are inconsistent, He is constant. When we are unlovable, He loves us to the end. When we are shunned, He opens his arms. When we are dead, He gives us life. And when we are threatened, He surrounds us both now and forever.

Yes, there is always lessons to be learned by our own mistakes that will help us everyday. It may be that these mistakes had put you in a place you would rather not be and today you might feel you have been sieged to the point of defeat. But remember that those who trust in the LORD are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever, so when we trust in His Word we can be confident that it is firm, because every word God has given will always come to pass.

Don’t fret, He is near and he is with you. And when you are under attack, he has you both now and forever, Surrounded.

“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.

The spirit of the avenger

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When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. – John 11:33

Avenger: someone who takes vengeance. This is a term we usually hear in action packed movies. It usually brings to mind the rouge and unrestrained man that continues his hatred filled agenda and his passionate pursuit of revenge. We portray scenes of blood thirsty vigilantes taking the justice in their own hands. But in this passage we see a different picture.

Jesus had delayed his arrival to Bethany, knowing that Lazarus was sick. In those moments of delay, I can imagine his heart pounding faster and faster. He loved this family, they were his friends and were very dear to his heart, and to wait patiently was a hard task to undertake. And as he obeyed God’s direction, the expectations began to grow inside. His was cool, calm and collected. But inside, something was happening, a spiritual tsunami was developing within him. The most inner fibers of his nature flourished to the skin of his being. There was hurt, sadness, and weeping all around. Then, it became real, clear and present, his enemy was before him. Death had challenged Life.

It is very difficult to understand the emotions and feelings Jesus had at that time. He was being faced with a very personal situation. He became troubled, and anger started to well up within him. A sense of justice and unconformity of the human condition, became a fuel that ignited his passion for redemption. I can imagine that every scene around him blurred as he walked unfazed toward the tomb. His mental stage was clear; death had to be stopped, suffering had to end and joy had to return. Nothing and no one, would stop him now, it was very personal, it was very real.

So He wept. He felt the same emotions you and I feel when someone is lost. When this life gets to us and we question every single belief we have and have ever considered. He went through the motions that you and I have traveled many times. But he remained and he conquered.

And then came those timeless words, “Lazarus, come out!”. Life had emerged in center stage and death recoiled at the sound of his vocal wave. Justice, life, and transformation had prevailed.

The same sense of purpose might be lingering inside of you. And it might come in the most unexpected way. It will appear in the midst of a very troubling time in your life. But it is probably that in that time in which you are most pressed and confused, that will thrust you into you calling and your destiny. Not to perform your own justice, but that of the One who knows all and loves all. A sense of destiny and purpose that will mark a new beginning for many, in the very middle of apparent chaos and confusion.

So your current situation can make you or break you, it is your decision. If you put your trust in God, believe his promises and abide in Him, it will be clear to you and to all, that your spirit has been stirred and everything around you will be transformed. Even those impossible and dead situations that you confront, because you have been infused with the spirit of the avenger.

“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, 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

Get your feet wet

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It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho. Joshua 3:15-16

This story tells about the amazing miracle God performed for the people of Israel. Joshua had received instructions to cross the river and conquer Jericho. This undertaking was no small one. This generation was not the same one that had gone out of Egypt and seen the Red Sea divide. This moment in time, even to Joshua, was new territory. Clear instructions were given. The people of Israel should move when the Ark of the Covenant was moved. The story goes on to tell that the moment the feet of the priests got wet, the Jordan river piled up a great distance away from them allowing them to pass to the other side over dry land.

There is much to learn about this story, and about the context, but one thing stands out. As soon as the feet of the priests touched the water, the river flow stopped. What seemed impossible, was made possible, what would have never crossed the mind of the people of Israel, happened before their eyes; as soon as the feet of the priests touched the water.

You may be confronted today with an impossible task in front of you, uncharted territory. You might not see any dry, safe place to go through and your heart may be dismayed to what your eyes are seeing. Sometimes we just sit around and give up to the first sign of opposition or trouble that arises. It might seem and be difficult what you are confronting today. Or you might not even know what will be waiting for you on the other side. But in order to know, you have to move.

Your miracle won’t happen without your involvement. You have to move, you have to get your feet wet. And when God sees this bold move, this faith move, the waters, the problem, the opposition, will back up, not right close to you, but far away. So today, stop complaining, stop fearing and move boldly on the promise of God for you. You need to get your feet wet in order to see the water stop. You will see the problem, the situation, back up before your eyes and the path in front of you will be dry, safe and promising.

Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”

The instruction is clear; move on and get your feet wet.

“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, 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

…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

No place for playing it safe

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by DP

Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. Matthew 25:16-18

Jesus was referring to his disciples the parable of the talents. A businessman had left his money for his servants to take care of it. They were given what in today’s currency would be the equivalent of $150,000.00 per talent. Quite an amount of money! Two of them took risks. Big risks! They traded and multiplied what was given to them, but the last one that had only one talent, hid it and played it safe. The parable goes on to say that when the master came and requested a report, the first two could account of their dealings and outcome and they where praised and rewarded, but the last one just returned what he had been given, without even interest and he was reprimanded and punished; even what he had been given, was taken away from him.

You and I have been given much and we will have to give an account for it. What will you say when it is requested from you? What will your report be? The parable has many profound teachings, but one that stands out is that God wants us to take risks, to be bold, audacious and firm. He made our life to be an adventure and for it to reflect his character. God seeks fruit in our lives, He expects a return of all he has created. He is the definition of fruitfulness. He created everything out of nothing and has made us to his image and resemblance.

This is not the time to play it safe, this is not the time for that. He has given you talents and gifts that are to be used and multiplied. Don’t be afraid to undertake new challenges and to use those gifts and talents that God has entrusted you to the fullest. Yes, you could even feel uneasy because everything is not “just right”, but it might be your desire for control everything, and in doing so, you could miss one of the greatest moments in your life. Ask God for his direction and your paths will be directed. Dream big, pray hard, be bold and audacious.

You don’t want to live a should’a, could’a, would’a life and die. Better to try and fail, that not to try at all. This might be your greatest moment, so there is no place for playing it safe.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright DP, 2011