THIS IS LOVE (Making An Informed Decision)

 

 

 

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

(1 John 4:10 NIV)

 

 

 

 

Beloved one, as I awoke and read the above truth that I now rejoice in, the below is what I was divinely inspired to write. With that said, I now invite you Into My HEART...

In His Word Prayer Will Come

I don’t know what to pray about? Does that sound familiar? It has to me, but this morning (9/2/2012) I had the great blessing of learning that prayer is simply a two-way communication— God’s Word coming into us, and God’s Word coming out of us.

Let me explain: As we read His Word, let us not pray to God simply about helping us fulfill some obligation financially, or seek healing emotionally, but let us ask that God would ‘Open our eyes so that we may contemplate wonderful things from His instruction.’ (Psalm 119:18 HCSB), so we can be blessed by God to say confidently, “Your decrees are my delight and my counselors.” (Psalm 119:24 HCSB)

Amen.

My Book Report (Chapter 7): Every Day A Friday

Chapter Seven

Today is April 5, 2012. I'm including the date on this particular post as what I will share with you in this paragraph took place today, and not the day you will read this. Just me being thoughtful, that's all. This chapter was one that I didn't read through completely in one sitting. It actually took me several days to read through it. Not because I'm a slow reader, but because of many factors, but I tell you this! I'm glad It took the time it did, as it was a confirmation to me from another post I wrote earlier in the morning (in which you can see by clicking HERE), and a conversation I had earlier in the morning with my girl friend over the stresses of this world and how they can overwhelm us but the good news of how the circumstances of this world do not affect God, who is Jehovah Jireh; The Lord Our Provider. Amen.

I don't know about you, but I'm amazed at how God pieces everything together. Only someone who believes in God and the Salvation received only through His Son Jesus, can understand what I'm saying. So know that I'll be praying if you don't already know Jesus, by the end of this read, you will! Here's another place where you can experience that in your own personal time (PLEASE ENTER THIS PLACE OF BLESSING HERE.)

Getting back to Every Day A Friday in this chapter Joel gives many practical ways to "Know What To Ignore." Knowing what to ignore isn't as easily done as said. It all boils down to choosing our battles wisely. Something I'm steadily learning. Please pray for me on that. That word battle, makes knowing what to ignore something that will hurt you, right? Battles do cause and create pain. But I believe more importantly we can see from this word, that battles also are fought for something. If we are choosing our battles wisely, then it's safe to say we are choosing wisely what rewards will come from those battles. That's exactly what Joel suggests. He says we should ask ourselves when we are going to enter into battle, "Are the battles I'm engaged in worth fighting? Do they have any rewards? Are they furthering me toward my God-given destiny?"


Many things in life have the potential to be seen as a battle. The question both you and I have to ask ourselves is this: Will I enter into this battle to settle to injure and be injured, or am I wisely choosing this battle because the rewards far exceed everything else?


My Takeaway:


In knowing what to ignore and what to engage, shows great integrity on your behalf. It shows that you choose your battles wisely, and lead out by example. Choosing your battles wisely isn't easy. It takes practice. It takes a heart that desires to be of peace. It takes a problem solver by being a solution giver...It takes a peacemaker.

Father, thank You for a Spirit of peace, that leads to so many other blessings. Give us the strength to endure all challenges with peace and a good attitude. In Jesus name, Amen.

My Book Report (Chapter 5): Every Day A Friday

Chapter Five

"Enjoy The Journey." These words are synonymous with anything that puts a smile on our faces and contentment in our hearts. But why do so many of us fail to experience a life that would have those words as a banner of accomplishment in all our endeavors? One word- Busy. 


As I read chapter five of Every Day A Friday by Joel Osteen, I was amazed to be reminded of something so simple I shouldn't have to be reminded of it. That's to stop and smell the roses. Joel shares many incidences were he was caught up on the excitement and grandeur that is, to be busy. Yet Joel is quick to inform us of a lesson to be learned in every moment he passed on enjoying his journey for being busy. That although being goal-oriented is a good thing, never allow it to supersede spending time with those of whom matter most as they are here one day and gone the next. Joel further displays that sentiment by these words from the Bible, 'you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (James 4:14 NIV). There is one thing I desire more than anything for my life. That is to experience it with enjoyment.


My Takeaway:

I myself am extremely guilty of looking to be so busy to feel as if I accomplished something, that I just blow right past the roses and trample them underfoot. Enjoying life should be easy but our unwillingness to slow down and our stubborn willingness to speed up has made enjoyment something to work hard at. If what we're doing is wrong, let's do the opposite.

Beloved, I am not the worlds smartest man, or the worlds most handsome man. I do not have tremendous influence on many and I make a ton of mistakes. But this one thing I know. Unless you and I desire enjoyment in our lives, we won't experience it. As chapter five is so appropriately titled, as I started with them, I'll leave you with these words...Enjoy The Journey.


As always...YOU ARE LOVED

A Quick Post: Attitude Of Gratitude

Today I was reading in Matthew 8 and I was reminded and so humbled by these very words I read "So He (Jesus) touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them." (Matthew 8:15 emphasis added).


This woman's attitude of gratitude is an example for all of us to follow. I myself know I do not spring into action with an attitude of gratitude as often as I would like but I'm committed to getting better at it and having a sustained attitude of gratitude. As Easter is fast approaching us (17 days away), let us all look to have an attitude of gratitude for what the Lord has done for us many times over and honor Him. 


Asked yourselves this question. Has God ever helped you through a dangerous or difficult situation? If so, you should ask, "How can I express my gratitude to Him?" 


Be it at His house (Local Bible based church) in giving of your time, treasure and talents, do so to honor God for what He has done for you by being quick to serve Him and His followers as that woman 'Arose and served them.' Amen.


Here's a passionate plug. If you are in the South Florida, North Florida, Bahamas, or abroad in Peru and desire to be a part of and serve a Church that will partner with you to reach your God potential, then look no further as we at Potential Church are looking for more than a few good men and women to serve with passion and excellence in our upcoming Easter 2012 services. Want more info? Simply click here (TO VOLUNTEER). Follow the prompts and you can't go wrong. While you're there feel free to look over our entire website. Lots of great things for you to become a part of. God bless you.


As always...YOU ARE LOVED.

Emergency Post: Positive vs. Negative (Reinforcement)

Positive vs. Negative...which one are you?

Good morning beloved. Yesterday was my 32nd birthday as I mentioned in yesterday's post (click HERE TO READ POST.) Well, I'm thankful to share with you all that the Lord gave me an amazing birthday. Filled with so much love, laughter and ROLLED TACOS..YUM!

Early in the afternoon prior to my birthday dinner kick off I was talking with my cousin (Elizabeth Lopez) about the differences of being encouraged and being forced to do something. In life I have noticed when it comes to relationships as all things are relational, you have positive and negative reinforcement. One encourages and the other forces you. Somewhere along the line there's a break down between the one who is applying the reinforcement and the one who is being reinforced. 

There's a way to get a message of encouragement across to someone without forcing them to do it. There's a difference between telling someone to "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near" through the example you set that positively reinforces that message and the lack of example you set that causes that message to fade away- in one ear and out the other. You can only reinforce what you yourself do. 

Now in saying this, there comes a time where "tough love" needs to be enforced and this also is by the example you yourself lead out in. You must be a leader in what you think, say and do. Otherwise you fall in everything. As author and leadership speaker John C. Maxwell says, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." He is right! You cannot affect change in anyone's life until you yourself have changed. And that is leading by example. What you put out there is what you live out daily. Don't get me wrong. All leaders have their moments of failure, but it's not something that is consistent and not learned from. That's the key to effective leadership...Positive Reinforcement. You model it, you commit to it, you're consistent with it and although failure may come you don't step back in defeat but press on towards the goal. Any leader will tell you that it's not in the amount of failures that your leadership incurs but the amount of successes despite those failures that makes all the difference.

I myself am learning these principles, and as my Pastor Troy Gramling shared to a room filled with over 1700 men during the 2012 Men's Conference (V.I.P.) at Potential Church (see HERE), "Even if it wasn't modeled for you, doesn't mean YOU can't model it." Amen. We have all experienced the pain of not having others in our lives to lead us and encourage us through positive reinforcement, but that doesn't mean we can't decide to model it for others. I myself never had a dad to teach me to be a man, a father, a husband and a leader, but I look to the example Jesus models to perfection in the Word of God to help me and build me to be the man I'm called and created to be then I can model it for others who experienced not having a dad either. 

This blog post is absolutely a blessing from God, and this I have had the great pleasure, privilege and honor to witness and model myself. God will use anyone to speak His message through, and if we are humble enough to receive the message despite age, background or gender we will be all the more blessed by it. With that being said I thank God for the brief conversation I had yesterday with my cousin Elizabeth. God inspired me through it and because of it, the treasury of my heart has grown. Thank you Jesus.

In closing there are two verses in scripture that I want to share with you that will increase the treasury of your heart. They speak to leadership and the humble manner in which you should lead your people. The first one is by the Lord Jesus Himself. 

So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45 NLT emphasis added)

Whenever you speak to someone in order to influence them, let the reinforcement given be positive and not negative, then the individual(s) set before you will not only grow and become stronger. They will become leaders through your example that you yourself consistently model. Why is this important to seek to do always? Then the individual(s) will carry in their heart an image of them self that will cast a leadership shadow everywhere they go. No one desires to feel bad about themselves but rather feeling great and walking tall. “As a man thinks in his heart that he is.” (Proverbs 23:7)

Beloved, I pray these words will sharpen and grow you as they sharpen and grow me. It's my prayer that through effective communication we will experience record breaking growth in our lives and in all our leadership endeavors.

As always...YOU ARE LOVED.

What happened 7/3/2009?

"Embraced, redeemed and restored- God's love for us as we reflect in remorse than repent."- F. Lugo

I'll start by asking you this simple and direct question: What happens when you lose something very valuable and then you find it?  You would get excited; celebrate, even want others to rejoice with you because what was once lost is now found.

I was reading the Parable of the Lost Son (see Luke 15:11-32), and started to reflect and revisit what happened on July 3, 2009. It was a day I will remember always. Although it was a day to celebrate, sadly the day was marred with sorrow, displeasure and discontentment of all sorts. Allow me to catch you up on the situations and circumstances that lead to a day of sadness. There was this young man who had decided in his own heart that he would do things himself. Although it was made clear to him what he should have done and shouldn't have done, he still decided to be lead by his emotions instead of leading his own heart. The year is 2007 and this young man decided to get married although all signs pointed to it being the wrong decision but it seemed like the adult thing to do. The wedding was small and very few people gathered around them to witness it. A year and half later through lack of leadership, counsel and humility the young man left his wife, lost the potential blessing of being a parent, and destroyed his marriage where trust, love and unity was no more.

I'm sure you can picture in your mind why July 3, 2009 was a saddening day for this fellow. Well he is now 29 years of age, living with family as he returned back to his family's home a broken shell of a man, with low self-esteem, anger, disgust, sorrow and disbelief in himself. Now it happened when everyone was asleep, and this young man was laying down crying himself into dehydration as he had no peace to rest, something started to change direction deep within him. He sat up at the edge of his bed and cried, and cried, and cried. He was so tired of messing up everything. He knew that his mistakes would take a long time to correct, yet he didn't have the strength to accomplish it. This young man looking into the absolute darkness and silence of his room, heard a voice deep within himself say, 'What you cannot see and cannot hear, is the darkness of your heart and the silence of love that was once in you.' This young man in tears cried out and said, "God, I can't do this anymore. I'm so sorry for what I have done. I need you. Please help me." What was presented to him would forever change his life. This same voice deep within him said, "I come with a gift. A gift no one will ever take away. As you lay your head down and it rises in the morning, all will be different. You will now hear and see."


As the young man rested in peace and arose the next day, he thought about what had happened to him the previous night. With a new sense of hope he found himself desiring to read the bible. The young man being as he is, found a bible application on his phone and started to read, and read and read. He couldn't get enough of the life changing words in the Bible. He was fascinated by the encouragement, the counsel, the direction the words seemed to speak into his heart, his mind, his everything. It was as if the words he read were life themselves. They were refreshing, inspiring, and also warned him of things he actually did and things he was afraid of and never wanted to do. The young man felt so very loved from the words he read. The more he read them, the more he heard that same voice from that troubling and faithful night. In actuality the young man was thoroughly convinced that Jesus had truly spoken to him and His presence was literally in the room with him on that night and he was amazed how God cared so much about him that He would intervene in his ruined life. The young man was smitten with the Word of God. He read it constantly. Carried it in his phone always, and felt this great urge to write about it and what it has done for him and what it could do for others. As the young man looked back on the night of July 3, 2009 he realized that it wasn't a sad day after all, but the beginning of a new life. One where he would never be alone, but God who came to him on that night would remain with him always and forever.

What an amazing story. I told you it was a day I would never forget. You may be asking yourself why? Because that young man is me. Praise the Lord!

As I mentioned in the beginning of this story, when something is lost and now found you rejoice! As it is written in the very inspiring, forgiving, loving, counseling, correcting, directing, saving, life changing, immutable and infallible Word of God, Jesus speaks "Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:10)


I leave you with this, we all make mistakes, but the biggest mistake you could EVER make, is not crying out to the Lord, to save you. As the Word of God declares to all people of all the world, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)

Beloved, repent of your mistakes and cry out to the Lord. YOU WILL BE SAVED! Amen.

As always...YOU ARE LOVED.

One Body

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:14)

"There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28 NLT)

Hello beloved, I do hope your day is going well and by reading, meditating and praying through these words your day's hope, joy, peace and success will amount to an even greater faith in God. Amen.

I wanted to start by telling you why I choose to write this blog post which is a page from God's heart, to my heart to all of your precious hearts. As I read a devotional that encapsulated the verse in scripture above, It made me think of two things. One- my day at church yesterday and the many blessings I was privileged and honored to be a part of. Two- my desire and truly a plead to God to help me share my faith and the wonderful love that God shows and shares with me everyday with those who are not like me (namely people who do not believe or do not know about God). 

The second one has been hard for me at times. But, that's just it! I don't want the most amazing and beautiful on going experience of my life to be hard at times, but comes with ease as I am simply sharing what happened to me, which will always be unique and a personal testimony of how God works and how God truly loves us and no amount of disbelief or clever speech can ever deny a personal testimony. Amen!

Let me share with you what was my blessings yesterday, then you can see why the verse in scripture above in red speaks and resides as truth in my heart, in my mind, in my soul and throughout my walk with Christ Jesus in my life. Amen. Yesterday, I finally was able and let me be honest; willing to talk with my fellow brother and sister (Ozzy and Anna) and to my great delight two individuals who I have seen in church I finally embraced them as family 'one in Christ Jesus,' and we had an amazing conversation. I also was honored to pray for a man named Frank that came up to me, because he needed prayer because his heart was failing and his voice was diminishing. His voice was so horse. I took him aside away from the crowd and noise and prayed over him that God's hand of power, mercy and grace would heal Frank's heart and strengthen his voice. Once I was done praying, I looked at Frank and I told him as I would continue to pray for him believing for healing and strength, I wanted him to remain believing in what he asked for and what I prayed for would certainly become a reality. He said he would, then I left him with this encouragement. I said, 'Frank you are still alive and God isn't finished with you. He will finish what he has started in you. You will have a strong heart like a young man and a voice booming from the mountains declaring How awesome God is.' The great moment of God's power at work was when Frank responded in a clearer voice saying I can speak better already. Praise God!

Once more, I was able to listen to a young man by the name of Carlos share with me his hurts and pains. I'm always amazed how God brings comforting in the midst of pain. I was also pleasantly surprised to see two of my beautiful sister's in Christ Jesus (Francesca & Josephine) as they came up to me to say hi. Every time I see them I want to hug them and protect them and never let them go. Amazing what God's love does to a man. When I was talking to them and hearing them talk about school and spring break coming, It was as if God slowed down the moment and I was allowed to take in the splendor of two amazing young ladies who look up to me. Seeing there eyes light up as they spoke and laughed was so touching. I told them that I loved them very much and they are my family. God's love does just that, he unites us all as one in Christ Jesus. Amen.

To top it all off, I was able to share my day with my beloved (Olimka Mishel Estrada), as we served in the Connect Ministry of Potential Church together. God is good.

Now for part two. It's my desire and constant prayer to God that I will never discriminate nor segregate my family in Christ Jesus by an unwillingness to get to know them or share my time with them. But rather, I desire to listen to them and always embrace them with all the unconditional and sacrificial love that we receive from God through Christ Jesus, and to share my faith with those who do not know God to which they will get to know God's great love for them. Amen.

Beloved, enjoy your day and by all means pray and look out for those opportunities to share your time, talents and treasures with others, then they too can receive the love of God in Christ Jesus. Amen.

As always...YOU ARE LOVED

Proud to be a member

"Being a part of such an amazing diverse family is overwhelmingly satisfying to say the least." F. Lugo

As I read from my bible this morning, the message was spoken loud and clear into my heart. Be proud of your family. Be proud of what they are doing and accomplishing. Be proud to be a member of such a family, with such a rich history. Be excited to see your family members and root them on. Their tasks are no mere mole hill but mountains to be climbed, great distances to trek, and many sorrows and afflictions to remain hopeful and faithful through. Be proud...your family is amazing. 


A great sense of thanksgiving overcame me, as I envisioned my family members faces. The smiles, the embraces, the words of joy and excitement exchanged to one another. The tears, the sorrow, the moments when listening is all that can be done accompanied by a hug. I am very proud of my family. I love my family. They're all amazing. Some are great speakers and teachers. Some are amazing leaders. Others manage tasks quite well. You have those who love to connect with others; absolute people persons packed with smiles and always having words of encouragement. Some have such a great loving heart for children. There are those who will keep the house unbelievably tidy, and we belong to a very BIG house. I'm so thankful to them. Their tasks are quite time consuming. You have those who feed the family, and food is very much needed to remain energized to continue on. I am thankful to them as well as we belong to a very BIG family and they're many mouths to feed. You are such a blessing! You have those who earn much more money than others and they supply much for the family. Without them, our tasks would be that much harder to accomplish. So grateful for all of them, truly I am. You have those that make sure all the cars in the parking lot and drive ways are secured and traffic flows well. So many areas to tend to in our house, and every last one of my family members executes their duties to the best of their ability, but you can be assured that we will always be challenged to improve on our improvements. That's a good thing though. Belonging to such a big family with such a rich history, success is all about the next step taken, not the last step. The the most influential member of our house is a quiet humble man. He's shy yet powerful when he is called to the task. Out of the many brothers and sisters I have, I remain amazed to see them growing in all their ways right before my eyes. As I walk around the house and look around at my huge family, I am filled with joy, excitement and of course you can see how I'd be a proud member of such an amazing family.

The words I read today speak to such a thing, and I very much want to share them with you:



Unity and Diversity in the Body


 ¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. ¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body. ²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. NIV emphasis added)

As I reread the above words, that overwhelming sense of being proud of my family brought tears to my eyes. We may not all succeed in all the same areas. We may not always get along with each other as we very much would like to. We may not always see eye to eye. Being a very big family, with a very big task, can cause some friction at times, yet it's love that binds us all together in perfect unity, and that is what makes us unique, and for that I am thankful to God for my family. 

Love Is Indispensable

We all desire to have the more excellent way of being a tightly knit family, and the way to such closeness is shared so eloquently here, ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV emphasis added) 

All of these put into perfect practice will give us that wonderful unity. Now out of all these amazing attributes being applied to one entire family executed by every member, there are three overseeing attributes that govern all the above to remain in perfect unity, and they are, ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV emphasis added)

As I am very proud of my amazing family. I know you will be as well. Take the time to let your family members know they are loved and appreciated. You are more than welcomed to come see, and be a part of my amazing family. We're called Potential Church.

As always...YOU ARE LOVED.

 

Potential Church

My friends if you are in the So. Fla area, come check out Potential!

Potential Church
Main Campus: Cooper City
Website: potentialchurch.com (for other campus locations, service
times, and much more)
Address: 12401 Stirling Road, Cooper City, FL 33330
Dress code: Come as you are (suit, jeans, shorts, dress, etc... It's
all good).
If you don't have a bible, we'll give you one...FREE!!!!
If you have felt that nudge in your heart, and have chosen Jesus as
your Lord and Savior and want to know what's next, come to Potential
Church, and we'll be honored to point you towards your next step.
We can't wait to meet you. God bless.
P.S.
Starting January 26 we will be having Wednesday night service at 7pm.
How awesome is that? Very! :)