Dando Luz

Velad y orad, para que no entréis en tentación; el espíritu a la verdad está dispuesto, pero la carne es débil. 

Mateo 26.41

La palabra de Dios nos da una alerta de vigilar para no ENTRAR en la tentación. Porque? Por que cuando la persona no es vigilante con sus ojos, pensamientos, palabras, oídos, y principalmente con sus sentimientos, el diablo siembra la semilla de la tentación. Y si la persona en ese momento no rechaza aquella semilla y al contrario la persona lo alimenta, tarde o temprano aquella semilla dará luz al pecado.

Y es eso que acontece mucho en los días de hoy. La persona que caí en la prostitución. Ella entro en la tentación. Ella sabia, el Espíritu Santo mostró que no debería estar a solas con aquel muchacho, el espíritu de ella estaba dispuesta a no caer, mas la carne, siendo débil, venció a la persona.

O la persona que termina matando a alguien. Comenzó con un pensamiento errado. La persona fue alimentando ese pensamiento, después aquel sentimiento, entrando en la tentación, y después dio luz al pecado. Y fue eso que llevo a la persona agredir o hasta matar aquella persona.

Los ejemplos son muchos.

Nosotros tenemos que vigilar para no entrar en el pecado. Porque si no entramos en el pecado, mucho menos vamos a caer en el.

Refined or Burned?

For you, God, tested us;

you refined us like silver.

You brought us into prison

and laid burdens on our backs.

You let people ride over our heads;

we went through fire and water,

but you brought us to a place of abundance.

Psalm 66.10-12

Many times we ask God for something and it seems that the answer is being delayed. However, I have learned that God will not give us something, that we do not have the spiritual structure to possess or maintain. For example, If you have a young daughter or son and she comes to you and begins to cry saying she wants to drive the car, what would you do? Would you be moved by her/his tears and let him/her drive? Of course not. Because you know that if you let you child drive, she/he will end up getting killed or seriously injured. But, when your child has the structure to drive, then you will hand over the keys.

There are other situations where God is preparing the right moment to pour down the blessing, but first, he allows the person to be tested. Example:

A person is seeking prosperity and vowing not to put their heart in what they own, but when something comes to their hands, they are not faithful in their tithe because they see that it is too much.

A person vows to put God first in their lives, but when the boyfriend/girlfriend says "It is either me or your God", and the person does not hesitate to reject God, to be with their person.

A person vows to obey God and do His will, but when a situation comes up, the person shuts out the counsel of the Holy Spirit, to do their will.

Every time we are tested we are being placed in the fire, to see who we really are. Because it is in the fire that true silver is refined.

If you were placed in the fire, would you be refined or only burned?

Waiting on the Calendar verses Waiting on God

We always here the phrase "waiting on God". "It will happen not in our time, but in God's time". But what does that mean? Many people do not understand this because they do not wait on God for their financial life, family life, love life, etc. They are counting the seconds on the clock, or crossing out each day on the calendar. When we are waiting on the calendar for an answer or for a prayer to be responded, the person feels frustrated, anxious, etc.

This is common because we live in a world that revolves around time. There has to be a time where you have to get a job because your not a child anymore. There is a time where a woman feels she needs to get married because everyone around her is already married and she feels that she is getting too old. The world makes you feel that if you do not have something by or certain age or accomplish something by a certain time, then you are a failure or you will not be happy, etc.

But when the person waits on God for an answer, the person is not worried. Time is going by, months or even years can pass by, but the person is calm, with the conviction that God will bless at the right moment. God, Himself, comes and comforts you while you wait for that answer. If it is a need in your love life for example, He comes and fills that need until it is His time, to place the right person in your life.

But Claudia, how do I know if I am waiting on the calendar or waiting on God? How do I wait on God? The answer is simple: trust in Him. When we wait on God, we surrender our needs to Him and focus on Him. When we focus on Him, in pleasing Him, and doing His will, He gives attention and answers that need. Your problem now becomes His problem.

Those who are in the faith, see time as an opportunity. An opportunity to use this time to grow, to mature, to invest in yourself. But those who are of the world, see time as a barrier.

My friend, trust in God. If you place your trust in Him, He will consume all anxiety, all worry, and fill you with the conviction that He will bless you.

VALOR

Me gustaría pedir que usted observe la imagen cuidadosamente. Que usted ve? Un dollar puede ser rompido por la mitad, aun sera un dollar. Un dollar puede ser cortado en pedacitos, aun así, sigue siendo un dollar. Un dollar puede ser puesto en fuego, aun sigue siendo un dollar. Un dollar puede ser pisado o hasta escupido, aun sera un dollar. A donde quiero llegar con esto?

No importa lo que acontece con el dollar, no pierde su valor. Lo mismo es con usted. Quizás usted fue humillado en el trabajo, en hasta su propia casa, usted aun tiene valor. Quizás usted ha sido empujado por alguien en la escuela, usted aun tiene valor.

Las personas le pueden decir que usted no es nada, que usted nunca sera nada, hasta pueden reír en su cara, aun así, usted tiene valor.

Mucha de las veces nosotros dejamos que nuestro valor sea basada en lo que otros piensan de nosotros, o lo que otros dicen de nosotros. Mas, mi amigo y amiga, su valor viene de Dios. Usted sabe porque? Por que usted fue creada/creado por las propias manos de Dios. El formo usted para hacer cosas extraordinarias en este mundo, y no solo para ser uno mas en el mundo. Y el le salva por la sangre preciosa que fue derramada por Su Hijo.

Mi amigo y mi amiga, usted tiene valor.

Quizas usted dice, mas Claudia, yo crecí en un hogar abusivo, donde nadie creo en mi, yo eh tenido una vida muy dura. Mas, yo le digo, yo también tuve esta vida, pero hoy le doy gracias a Dios, porque todas las humillaciones, todos los momentos difíciles me formaron para ser la persona que soy hoy.

Usted no es diferente. Recuerda una cosa, Dios no hace basura. Yo eh leído la Biblia muchas veces, y El nunca hizo basura. Al contrario, El siempre escogí aquellos que son débiles, aquellos en cual todos dudaron, aquellos en cual nadie creía.

Dios te escogio : )

-------Claudia Prado--------

VALUE

I would like you to take a look at the picture carefully. What do you see? A dollar can be ripped in half but it will still be a dollar. A dollar can be cut in pieces, it is still a dollar. A dollar bill can be set on fire but it will still be a dollar. A dollar bill can be stepped on or even spat on, it will still be a dollar. What I am trying to get at?

No matter what happens to the dollar, it does not lose its value. The same thing applies to you. Maybe you have been humiliated at work, in your own house, you still have value. Maybe you've been pushed around by someone at school; you still have value.

People can tell you you are nothing, that you will never be anything, they can even laugh in your face; you still have value.

Many times we let our value be determined based on what others think of us, what others say about us. But my friend, your value comes from God. You know why? Because you were made by His own hands. He formed you to do great things in this world, and not to just to be another person. He saved you by the precious blood of His son.

My friend, you have value.

Maybe you say, but Claudia, I grew up in a abusive home, where no one believed in me, I have had a very hard life. I tell you, I also had this life, but I thank God now, because all the humiliations, all the put downs, all the hard moments made me the person I am today.

You are no different. Remember one thing, God does not make trash. I've read the bible many times, and He never made garbage. On the contrary, He always chose those who no one believed one, who everyone doubted.

God chose you. : )

-------Claudia Prado--------

Light vs. Darness

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 john 1.5-7

When I read this passage the first thing that came to my mind (which many youth will understand what I'm talking about) is that early morning when you're still fast asleep, then suddenly the light of the morning comes through your window to wake you up. Or maybe you have parents that open the curtain so that you will wake up. You know what I'm talking about. You even try to hide from the light by turning away from it or even hiding under your blanket. Yes or no? ( : ) )

So, what does that scenario have to do with this verse? Many times a person claims to be in the light; to have an alliance with God. But, when the person is corrected, or God shows this person what they need to change or what they are doing wrong, the person many times denies it. Or, the person justifies themselves. Or, they think "Oh no, this preaching today was not for me". The person hides themselves from the light by going under the blanket which we call pride.

Because when the person is humble, the person can be corrected a million times a day, the person will receive the correction with joy with love regardless how much it hurts because he/she knows that God is trying to mold this person to be more like Him. The person knows that this mistake this will only bring the person closer to God and help them grow spiritually.

I remember there was a time that a Pastor's wife sat down with me and she was showing me where I was wrong. Her words hurt me so much on the inside because I knew that what she was saying was true. And I remember that I held in my tears but when I got in my car I started to cry. And you know what I told God at that moment? "Thank you God. Thank you for showing me where I was wrong. Thank you because I know that you love me and that I am capable of doing better". And right after that prayer my sadness turned to joy.

Those who are in light seek the truth. They seek what is right. However, those who live in darkness, as soon as they see light, they hide under the blanket because they do not want to be in truth.

And you? Have you been in light or darkness?

Think about it.

ANGER: ARE YOU ANGRY?

Marry Me

Every person dreams of that very special day when they will walk down the aisle with their future husband or wife.

My father today was actually talking to me about marriage and there is something he said that caught my attention that I wanted to share with you.

He said the following, "Claudia, the day you get married their are three things that you need so your marriage will be successful".

The first and most important thing is communication. If there is no communication between the couple, the marriage will die with certainty. Because when there is communication, a constant contact between the couple. There is no room in their minds for the devil to place doubts, jealousy, or the need to find someone else.

Two, never make decisions without consulting your partner. He explained that when a person gets married they no longer do what they want, or when they want. Every decision the person makes needs to be consulted with their partner. This keeps the couple on the same page and helps them make decisions as one, and not as individuals. Many times couples struggle because they make big decisions without consulting it with their partners. So what ends up happening is that that the man, or the woman feels that her opinion does not matter, or that he/she is not even there.



Finally, respect. There are men and women who have the habit of putting down their partner without even realizing it. These words could be "useless" "pathetic" "you can't do anything right" etc. My father said, when there is no respect from the partner their cannot be a marriage. This respect includes:
submission, faithfulness, politeness, etc.


Now that you know these three key points to a successful marriage, I have one question.

How has your marriage with God been?

Wait, Why am I Doing this?

Have you ever done something so many times or for so long that it became something automatic?

This can be some very dangerous in our relationship with God. Why? Because we become blind or we begin to see things with bad eyes.

What has stopped being natural and now become automatic in your life?

Reading the bible. You used to read it because you wanted to to hear God's voice. You wanted an answer to a question. Now you quickly skim through it so you can say that you read the bible today. You happy you got that out of the way.

Praying. You used to give God the first words of your morning and the last ones before bed. You used to find opportunities you could be alone with God and tell Him what was on your mind. Now you praying is just something your expected to do. You know you need to do it, so you pray really quick and even though it was fast, even though your mind was somewhere else during the prayer, at least your prayed, right?

Souls. You used to always joy speaking to others about Jesus. You were the first one ready to go out and evangelize for souls. You felt good knowing that people would listen and that they would come to you when they had a doubt. Now, evangelizing is a burden. You have more important things to worry about. "Why do people always come to me with their problems, I have things I need to be doing right now. "

The church. You used to clean the church with all your heart as a special offering to God. You would stay late and not even worry about the time because you wanted to serve God. Now, as soon as the service is over the person flees before the pastor asks for help with something.


This list goes on and on.

What has become mechanic or automatic in your life?

Ask yourself, "What, Why am I doing this This?

Insecurity

         One of the things that most, if not all youth deal with are insecurities. You know, that voice that tells you you can't do something, that your not good enough, that there are better, and the list goes on. This problem is not only among the youth who do not know God, but also, this has been a problem for those even baptized with the Holy Spirit.

           Why is this? Because insecurities are our battle. Something we as individuals need to overcome. While the person does not face and overcome their insecurities, they will find themselves stuck. Stuck to make decisions in their life because of the fear of failure. Stuck to making a difference through their life.

So, the quesiton is how does a person face and overcome their insecurities?

         The first step is to recognize/realize that we need God for everything. And as the bible says, without Him we cannot do anything. When we humble ourselves and recognize this, we tell are insecurities, "Yes, your right. Maybe there are better. Yes, maybe I cannot do it, BUT God will give me the capacity, the strength, and wisdom to do it".

        The next step is to confront your insecurities. If your insecurities say no, then you say yes. If they say you wont be able to, then you say, "Let's find out if I'm not going to be able to do this".

        Another thing that provokes insecurities are comparisons. Never compare yourself with others because God makes each person with different talents with their individual value.

        Finally, dont be afraid.  Well, the fear will come but it is like I always tell the youth. I never let my fears, insecurities, timidness, stop me from doing what I have to do.

        God gives a secret weapon to confront insecurities which is called faith. You have it inside of you, now it is time to use it.

        God Bless,

       
     

Cuanto puedes pesar?

   Hace unos días un amigo mio del grupo joven me estaba platicando sobre el ejercicio, y lo que el hablo para mi tiene mucho que ver con nuestra vida espiritual.


  Cuando una persona esta en el press de banca, levantando las pesas, están haciendo ejercicio. Mas, una de las cosas que lo decepciona, es que cuando la persona se cansa de levantar las pesas, paran. Aquella persona coloca las pesas de nuevo en su lugar para tomar un descanso. El me estaba diciendo que cuando nosotros estamos cansados, y cuando sentimos que no tenemos mas fuerzas para seguir, es allí cuando tenemos que luchar aun mas. Nosotros tenemos que salir de nuestra zona de confort y hacer el intento adicional, ir un paso de mas para ser mas fuerte. Si la persona desiste cuando este cansada, o cuando lleguen al punto de su zona de confort, entonces nunca crecerán, y se mantendrán  en el mismo lugar. Nunca alcanzaran su potencial.

  Cuando mi amigo me estaba platicando esto, yo misma pensaba, esto es lo mismo que acontece en nuestra vida espiritual. Cuando la persona no ejercita su fe, la persona se mantiene en el mismo lugar. Con las mismas situaciones, los mismos problemas, lo mismo todo. La persona que no usa lo que Dios coloco adentro de si, nunca crece. Esta persona se mantiene en su zona confort. Solo escuchando del poder de Dios, solo escuchando los testimonios de los de mas, pero nunca probando por uno mismo.

   Cuando una persona quiere una transformación en su vida, tienen que perseverar, tiene que luchar, mas, por causa que esto requiere esfuerzo, dolor, sacrificio,  la persona muchas veces prefiere continuar con la vida que tiene aunque de duela. La persona sigue sufriendo porque prefieren quedar en esta zona y estar cómodo en vez de levantarse y luchar hasta alcanzar la bendición.

   La vida de una persona solo puede progresar cuando la persona llegue al punto de decir YA BASTA!! Cuando la persona dice que ya no puede vivir de tal forma. O la vida de ellos cambia o cambia mas no aceptan vivir de la misma manera. Todo comienza con una decisión.

   Como ha estado su vida espiritual? Has ejercitado tu fe, o solo sentar en el sofá de la zona de confort? Si su fe fuera representada por las pesas como en la foto de arriba, cuanto puedes pesar?


Dios los bendiga,

How Much Can you Bench?

      A couple days ago a good friend of mine in the youth group was talking to me about working out. Although we were talking about exercise, what he said is very much related to our spiritual life.

When a person is on the bench press lifting up the weights, they are exercising. However, one of the things that disappoint him, is that when a person gets tired of lifting they stop. They put the weights back in their spot to take a break. He was telling me that when we are tired, when we feel that we have no more strength, that is when we have to try even harder. We have to break out of our comfort zone to do that extra push, to go that extra mile to become stronger. If the person stops once they are tired, or once they reach the line of their comfort zone, they will never grow, they will maintain themselves in that same spot. They will never reach their full potential.

    While my friend was telling me this, I was thinking to myself, that this is the same thing that happens in our spiritual life. When a person does not exercise their faith, they maintain themselves in the same spot. With the same situations, the same problems, the same everything. The person that does not use what God has placed inside of them, never grows. This person remains in their comfort zone. Only hearing about the power of God, only hearing the testimonies of others, but never knowing for themselves.

When a person wants a transformation in their life they have to persevere, they have to fight, but because this requires effort, pain, sacrifice, many people prefer to continue in the life they have even though it hurts. The person continues to suffer because they prefer to stay in this zone and be comfortable than to get out of their comfort zone until they reach their blessing.

A person's life can only progress when a person reaches a point where they say ENOUGH!! When they person says they can no longer live this way. Or their life changes or it changes but they will not accept living in the same way. It all starts with a decision.

How has your spiritual life been? Have you been exercising your faith, or lying down on your comfort zone couch ? If your faith was represented by the weights in the picture of above, how much could you bench?

God Bless.

How do you Smell?

    There are two types of people in the world. One, is person that carries and aroma, and two, a person that carries an odor. How do you know which type of person is which? A person that carries an odor, is someone that nobody wants to be around. Their words are filthy because everything they say is negative and profane. This person is everything you don't want to be like. This person is someone people try to avoid, because their words bring you down, their actions dissapoint, nothing good can be expected of this person.

    On the other hand, we have the person that carries an aroma. This person is someone people look up to. Someone you admire and love to be around. This type of person is someone who has the Holy Spirit. Why? When you are around someone that is of God, their presence alone, blesses you. Everything they say gives life, gives hopes, and even renews you spiritually. A person that is of God has an aroma, in such a way, that you want to be around them as much as possible. When this person speaks their words transmit life to those who hear them.

Which person have you been?

GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         But I call to God, and the Lord saves me.
                                       Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress,
                                                     and he hears my voice.
                                                                                       Psalm 55.16-17

           I remember a few months ago, I watched this video clip in the church and it came to my mind while I was meditating on this verse. Every day it seems as if we go through battles and tribulations. It seems that when one problem is solved another one appears. But when we are going through these hard moments, moments when all seems to be lost and everything seems to be going wrong, God is only a call away. It does not matter who you are, the mistakes you've made, nothing. When we call out to our God, He is quick to attend His children.

           If you pay close attention to this video clip, what happened? The bear cub was far away from its mother. We can say, this cub went his/her own way and wondered off. When we are far from God what happens? We are unprotected and an easy target for the devil. Remember this verse:

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for
someone to devour. 1 Peter 5.8

            So, after the bear cub was chased and at the point of death, it cried our for its mother and the mother quickly came to attend its baby. When you feel that you are at the bottom of the pit or in a situation that seems to be slipping out of your fingers, call out to God and He will answer.

The House

  

“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

                            Haggai 1.4-6

Many people find themselves worried somuch about their lives, their personal needs. So much to the point that obeying God is not a big deal. Because of their worries an anxieties they settle for very little. They stay comfortable with the house they have, while the Holy Spirit is seeking a place to dwell.

When a person does not have the Holy Spirit they never see the fruit of their work: economically, spiritually in proposals, etc. Why? Because they are working with their own strength. However, when the person has an encounter with God, they receive wisdom and now the person is not fighting alone, but now with God on his/her side. 

When a person has not received the Holy Spirit, they fill themselves with so many things: friends, pleasures, everything that makes them "happy", but at the end of the day when they are alone in their room, they feel empty, unsatisfied. They even ask themselves, "Why do I feel this way?" "Something is missing..." 

Now, let's take a look at the last part of this verse:

. . . You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.

Who places their wages in a purse that has holes in it? Logically, no one. So, why would a person do this? Most likely, the person does not realize there are holes there because a person with intelligance will normally place their wages in a place they know and they trust will be safe. What am I trying to say with this? When a person places their trust in their friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, even family members, they are let down. At some point the person they thought they could trust and count on let's them down or back stabs them. Yes or no?

But when our trust, our life, is in God's hands we do have to be worried, anxious, nor afriad, because God Himself is now in control of your life and every situation you will face. 

If you look at the picture above, could it be that your interior has been this way? Dead, empty, without life? God is looking for those who want a new life; those who want to know what it means to live, to be happy. 

The first thing He wants to do in your life is not bless you financially, in your love life, in your family, no. The first thing He wants to do is MAKE you the blessing which can only occur when He comes inside of you.

If you are ready for a new life in this new year of 2014, then take advantage of this Wednesday to seek His Spirit. God does not come over the anxious, but rather, those who are thirsty. Thirsty for a new life, thirsty to finally meet the God that you have read about and heard about up to now. 

Are you ready for a new house?

Blameless

Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must blameless-- not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkeness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.   
                        Titus 1.7



   Those of us who pretend to be of God and desire to serve God, need to be blameless before God's eyes, and of course, of those around us. This verse gives us perfect examples of how we need to be blameless:

not overbearing, not quick-tempered:

           In other words, we need to be blameless when it comes to our attitude or character. When people look at your attitude, do they see Jesus?

not given to drunkeness, not violent,

           These are examples of things we do; the choices we make. Have your actions been blameless or have you give reasons for your family members to talk?

not pursuing dishonest gain

           Finally, we need to be blameless with our intentions. Sometimes we do things for others, but, we do these things for the wrong reasons. Sometimes do things expecting something in return or, we do things to please others.


If you examine your character, actions and intentions, have you been blameless?

Get out of Bed!

  The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than whenwe first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

           Romans 13.11-12



       You ever have those days where the blankets seem softer and the bed couldnt be any more comfortable? The same thing happens in regards to our spiritual life. Many times we are sleeping which makes us an easy target for spiritual destruction.

       When a person is not vigilant, the devil patienly works to destroy our life with God. How? The devil does not pull the rug at one moment. He works slowly. First, he puts in your mind that you don't need to be reading the bible every day. So, the person begins to read it less. The person who used to pray right when he/she woke up, now prays if they have time during the day. Little by little we stop taking care of the little details that are a BIG part of maintaining our life with God. 

     As soon we begin to slumber, that is when the devil comes and pulls the rug from beneath you. Suddenly, you feel far from God even though you're not living in sin. You still go to church you may even help out with the things of the church, but it's not the same. It feels like you are on auto pilot. You pray but you don't feel like He is listening. You feel spiritually weak, and ask yourself, "what happened?"

     If this has been you, it is time to wake up. Remember from where you fell, and return to the first works. Clothe yourself with armor of God. 

Are you ready to get out of bed?

               

Who's Message?

     

You may say to yourselves, "How can we know 

when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?"

If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord

does not take place or come true, that is a message

the Lord has not spoken.      

                                                           Deuteronomy 18.21-22      

When I was reading this passage, I was thinking about the members of the church. Every time we go to church, the pastor preaches the Word of God. He explains the promises, the benefits that we receive when we surrender ourselves to God. While the pastor is preaching the promises of God, many people do not believe. They go to church just to fulfill a religious tradition. They hear about the wonders of God, yet they don't believe it can actually occur in their lives. The person lacks faith.

How do we know if God's Word is true? How will we know if what is written in the bible will actually happen? According to this verse, IF the message does not take place/come true then it is not from God. So in other words, this verse is saying that when the Lord speaks, when He says something will happen, it has to happen.

When I started coming to the Universal Church and the pastor was talking about the Campaign of Israel, I told God this: "If what the pastor is preaching is true, then I want to see it". I said this because God cannot lie, He is not man to let us down. 

However, many people lack this Spirit. If they see God's promises amen, if they don't, "Oh well". If we want to take possession of God's promises, we have to use our intelligent faith.

If what is written in the bible is God's word, then it will happen in your life. If not, then it is not His Word.

Amen?